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Since I seem to be stuck in a reading rut, I thought I'd ask you all to recommend some books for me. At the moment, I'm having a rather difficult time finding books that look interesting enough to bother reading. I'm right in the middle of reading Jingo by Terry Pratchett and The Hallowed Hunt by Lois McMaster Bujold, and while I love both of these authors to death (Bujold is one of my all time favorites for her Vorkosigan series), these two particular books aren't doing a hell of a lot for me. I'm kind of stalled out reading them (I've taken to re-reading both the Dresdon Files books and the Miles Vorkosigan books instead of finishing them), but every time I go to the bookstore and browse I can't seem to find anything that captures my attention.
So I'm turning to you all for help. Recommend a couple of books for me (and when you do so, tell me why you like the book). I'm pretty open to any genre or style, although I do admit that while I'm a sucker for a good romance, I detest 99% of romance novels out there. I also am not a big fan of most fantasy books (because seriously, if it has hot elves in it, I instantly tune out), but have enjoyed the occasional fantasy novel. Non fiction is also fair game, even though I tend not to read much, but I suspect that there are some seriously interesting books out there. Comic books are also fair game as well, although I like to read things in the trade paperback format and finished story arcs.
I very much like books that are *different* from the norm, or take an old, worn out idea and do something new with it.
So I'm turning to you all for help. Recommend a couple of books for me (and when you do so, tell me why you like the book). I'm pretty open to any genre or style, although I do admit that while I'm a sucker for a good romance, I detest 99% of romance novels out there. I also am not a big fan of most fantasy books (because seriously, if it has hot elves in it, I instantly tune out), but have enjoyed the occasional fantasy novel. Non fiction is also fair game, even though I tend not to read much, but I suspect that there are some seriously interesting books out there. Comic books are also fair game as well, although I like to read things in the trade paperback format and finished story arcs.
I very much like books that are *different* from the norm, or take an old, worn out idea and do something new with it.
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With my luck you've read both.
As for books, I'd rec The Farseer Trilogy starting with Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb, it's a fantasy book without elves and daises and all the annoying let's over describe the surroundings. It has more of a realistic medieval feel with some slight magic thrown in. And you will a very special love hate relationship with the main character. It's first person, as a warning, but it's probably the best first person I've ever read.
I enjoyed it, because the narrated didn't know everything, but there were clues around him to show the reader what was going on even if he was clueless.
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Re: With my luck you've read both.
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Re: With my luck you've read both.
As far as the Farseer books go, everyone I respect seems to recommend them, but for some reason the blurb on the back cover of the book always stops me. It just sounds like the typical fantasy novel of the special stable boy (who is really the son of the king) with the special powers that everyone discovers and who changes the world. There are so many books with almost exactly that beginning, that I admit that I'm leary of reading the series.
I'm going to have to look past that, I think, because a lot of people I respect seem to love that series. From what everyone has told me, I suspect the summary doesn't do the book justice.
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Re: With my luck you've read both.
It just sounds like the typical fantasy novel of the special stable boy (who is really the son of the king) with the special powers that everyone discovers and who changes the world.
He does have special powers. They disgust most people. This does not change through the course of the series. I really enjoyed the books, and the "Liveship Traders" trilogy she did immediately after (though I think I'm one of about three people on the entire Internet that prefers the Liveships). There's also "Shaman's Crossing", though I don't think it's out in paperback...a little Wild West, a little proper Edwardian stuff, a whole lotta shamanism, and the usual creeping doom that comes from a Hobb book.
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Re: With my luck you've read both.
It's refreshing in several ways. First, he's not really all that powerful and he's often lost, overwhelmed, used, and abused. Second, it's the characters and the grittiness of the whole story that really stands out.
But it's the second Farseer trilogy that really stands out for me!
Another series that stands out for me is "The Bone Doll's Twin" (the name of the first book) by Lynn Flewelling.
Also, try the first quartet by Ian Irvine "View From the Mirror". Excellent and definitely different! (He has a second quartet, but I stopped reading that one... the writing was good, but the characters and general flow were too similar to teh first one IMHO)
And then there's my favorite, Charles de Lint. I generally save his books for when I want something really good. (Though the last couple of books were a bit tired, so get something from at least 3-4 years back).
BaM
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Re: With my luck you've read both.
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Also, read stuff by Barbara Hambly. No Mary-Sue's with god-like powers there. Gritty!
BaM
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Re: With my luck you've read both.
Me, I think I might now check out teh Free Man of Color one.
BaM
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And The Diaries of Adam and Eve by Mark Twain is short and can be finished in less than a night. Twain at his best, Adam writes stuff like not knowing what baby Abel is, so he chucks him in a pond to see if he's a fish. I've reread that one a few times, until I lost my copy, but I'll be honest in that I've skipped over Eve after the first read through.
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The Mark Twain one sounds really entertaining. Definitely going to check that one out.
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I haven't found any fantasy novels to pique my interest lately, either. Fray is definitely worth checking out.
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I know these're by Pratchett, but it's a totally different theme/voice sorta thing from the Discworld series. Try Only You Can Save Mankind (set in our world, 21st century) and the Wee Free Men series (Discworld), which starts with Wee Free Men and has a second book called A Hat Full of Sky.
There're prolly excerpts on the Harper Collins website. They're more children's/young adult books, so there's little of the usual Vimes cynicism/innuendos/satire you may be tiring of in Jingo. Pratchett pokes all sorts of fun into the old 'wicked witch'/fairy tales theme in the Wee Free Men series, and the gaming industry in the Johnny book. I found them a refreshing change, anyway. Maybe when Eric grows up, you'll be reading these to him. :)
The Deed of Paksenarrion (omnibus that collects the trilogy) by Elizabeth Moon is one of my favorite books. Okay, it does have elves (and dwarves) in it, but not the cutesy-wutesy ones with wings types. Mostly it's about a sheepfarmer's daughter who doesn't exhibit OMG sparkleponyprincess unicorn healing touch powers right at the get-go. Not to say she does (or doesn't) do this later, but it's quite believable as she progresses through life as a common soldier recruit, battle against pretty ordinary foes, etc. You have no trouble believing this, an ordinary person, can overcome life's obstacles. If you don't want to spring for the omnibus, flip through the first book, maybe, at the bookstore (Sheepfarmer's Daughter).
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And if you're in the mood for Southern-Fried, there's always Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, which goes fast for the sheer period-ness of the deep south through the latter half of the 20th century. It also makes you feel good to be a girl and is much better than the movie. :D
I'm only now reading Jim Butcher's Dresden Files (I was writing something similar and didn't want to unduly influence myself), but I also hear from others who like Dresden and Buffy-type tales that LA Banks' "Vampire Huntress Legend" series (the first one is "Minion" but I can't remember offhand the rest--there are four or five) is good reading, too. The protagonist is a hip-hop diva and vampire hunter.
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I recently really enjoyed "Devil Wears Prada" and "Nanny Diaries", but I think that's just an indication that my brain has turned into mush. "Other Bolelyn Girl" and all the other historical fiction from Phillipa Gregory is also fun. "Kite Runner" is teh sad. "Middlesex" is cool, if you haven't read it, and it's set in Detroit.
Comics: Runaways and Y: The Last Man. But I think you're reading those already?
And see the HBO series "Rome" if you havent. Also "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" -- I know you said books, but... both of these shows are a ton of fun.
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Forgot One
And Zahn's the best SW writer out there, IMHO. His plots are dense and complex, his people are engaging, and his villains are smart.