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[stjudesshipper]

So I'm terminally bored with the internet, and I haven't read a good book in forever. Since ya'll (you know, the two or three people who still look at their livejournals) are interesting and well-read folk, what's something you've read recently that you'd recommend?

Comments

[area_woman]

I just discovered the Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin, though my guess is you've already read it. If you haven't, you should -- it's bawdy and nerdy and reads quick.

If that's not nerdy enough for you, there's also an interesting new book on the nature of time. It's a little technical (at least, I'm having trouble with bits), but it's really interesting. I forget the author, but the title is "From Eternity to Here."

[area_woman]

Also, I recently learned from Ariel that there is such a thing as well-written YA-lit fic. Like, Narnia fic and such. I'm sure I could get her to pass on some recs.

[persistent_sun]

They're making a TV series based on the Song of Ice and Fire books.

[ilaifire]

Well, I constantly check it, but I never post since my life is boring.
Depends on the books you like, if you're into epic fantasy then the Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin. The only problem with it is he's written only four of the seven books so far, and he's long overdue for book five.

[natasha_fawn]

Ha! I recently read the Song of Ice and Fire books and quite enjoyed them. Not high literature or anything, but fun and gritty.

Hm, if you like fantasy, I'm currently enjoying Joe Abercrombie's First Law trilogy. I reread Roger Zelazny and Robert Sheckley's Bring Me the Head of Prince Charming a while back, which is just funny. I've got more, but my non-work reading is most fantasy with a touch of sci-fi, so if that's not up your alley I don't want to inundate you.

[stjudesshipper]

Oh, but it totally is. Inundate me, please!

[natasha_fawn]

Mwahahaha. Hokey dokey, here goes.

Dark fantasy
-Anything by China Mieville (Aries beat me to Perdido Street Station, but Iron Council is my favorite, and The Scar is quite good...)
-The First Law Trilogy I mentioned above (these books are cynical-kind of if Epic were populated by real, very flawed people)

Epic fantasy
-The Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson (actually a series of 10 books, the last couple aren't out yet; definitely my favorite recent fantasy, but long [the first book is the shortest at 500ish pages, some of them top 1200])
-The Prince of Nothing by R. Scott Bakker (actually a trilogy; I consider this to be pretty dark, too; lots of philosophy and politics)

Non-epic fantasy
-The Gentleman Bastard books by Scott Lynch (I don't really know why I like these so much, but I do; compelling characters, fast reads, but the writing's nothing fancy; fair warning, the second book ends on a cliff-hanger and the third isn't even finished yet dammit-Heroes Die by Michael W. Stover (I think this is a love it or hate it

[tgunter]

Seeing as everyone else so far has recommended the A Song of Ice and Fire series (the first book is A Game of Thrones by the way) I feel I should probably recommend something other than that.

Unfortunately it's also a fantasy novel so you're not getting too much variety in your suggestions, but I just recently finished The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss, and enjoyed it quite a lot. The main downside is that it's the first part of a trilogy, and the next two books aren't out yet. On the upside the author is much younger and healthier than George Martin, so unlike Song of Ice and Fire this series is likely to actually be finished within the author's lifetime. Also, Rothfuss is originally from Madison, which is a cool bonus.

On a different note, I have baby pictures now. I'll try to send you some soon.

[lerite]

George Orwell, Homage to Catalonia.