Recommendations

[sugersh]

Because if I have to read about one more conveyance I will scream, I thought I'd take a break and ask for some advice about my actual break. I'm planning on vegetating hardcore after exams, and I'm trying to decide on a video game and a novel to buy myself as presents for getting through exams without killing anyone or having a nervous breakdown (

Comments

[terra_lily]

FFXII for video games. But given the fact that there's no way I can beat it before law school starts again -- and given the fact it'll probably make me fail spring semester -- I'm not really sure whether that counts as a "super" recommendation or a blacklist.

For books, Has Feminism Changed Science? by Londa Schiebinger and Pink Ribbons, Inc: Breast Cancer and the Politics of Philanthropy by Samantha King. Also, Money-Driven Medicine by Maggie Mahar (aka the "damn, if they had this five years ago, majoring in health policy would have been cake" book).

[terra_lily]

Oh, you said novel. I apologize; I don't do fiction. :-\

[sugersh]

Would FFXII be ok for someone whose last rpg was played in the mid 90's? I'd love to get into one, but I fear extreme incompetence.

And, yeah, I used to enjoy reading nonfiction, and I still would, but after all this law school I'm looking for something at least borderline escapist, and nonfiction rarely fits that category for me.

[terra_lily]

Probably. It's not nearly as complicated as Xenosaga, and it's roughly on par with FFIII.

I can understand the escapist part. I tend to rely on t.v. for that, if only because I don't have a very visual mind.

Speaking of which, actual conversation with my brother:

B.: So I finally got around to watching Battlestar Galactica?

Me: And you thought...?

B.: You were right, it's well done. Didn't quite get one or two parts, but I think that's because I came in in the middle.

Me: Well, it's always nice to pass the addiction along.

B.: Honestly, with a name like "Battlestar Galactica" I thought it would be Star Trek like crap. I only started thinking you'd be right when I saw that it was the second-highest show on Metacritic. Actually, you'd probably like that website. Every show you like is well above 95%.

Me: Wait, you didn't think I had taste until you saw it on a fucking website? What the hell is wrong with you?!?

[aligaff]

have you read the handmaid's tale by margaret atwood? or the kiterunner? those are my two most recently read novels and i loved them both. i'm reading bill bryson's a sunburned country right now and it's good, but travel writing doesn't technically count as a novel...

[sugersh]

I (heart) the handmaid's tale. Even if the cat thing does make me cry. I should get the kiterunner, I'd been meaning to read that.

[bvokt]

I agree with the suggestions above--I love Bill Bryson, and yes, it's not a novel, but it's sufficiently fluffy.
You're not quite as girly as I am, granted, but I loved The Time Traveler's Wife... also, The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver, the Namesake by Lahiri, the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime... anything by John Irving... American Pastoral by Philip Roth... The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay...
Anyway, yeah, I love books. Just some thoughts off the top of my head.

[terra_lily]

Just a word of warning: Bryson's views on science are so off-base I don't even know where to begin.

[bvokt]

A Short History of Nearly Everything was probably my least favorite. But I loooooooove all the travel writing and books on America and whatever else.

[kaiserbrown]

yeah, he's a fun read. his appalachian trail one was good.

[kaiserbrown]

guitar hero!

[sugersh]

hee. doesn't that cost like $80?

[joifulgurl]

kingdom hearts! that game sucked my life away for several weeks.

and in terms of books: the kite runner (omg SO GOOD,GET IT), the house of the spirits (isabel allende), and the time traveler's wife. i'm reading the last one right now, but i've heard nothing but fantastic things about it (from folks whose book reviews i trust completely). and i am really enjoying it (although i'm only about 3 chapters in).

oh! and if you want a fun juvenile fiction series, get Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events. i read a book in a day or two, and they're really enjoyable. :)

[terra_lily]

kingdom hearts!

Agreed.

Also, that game is deeply creepifying if you replace "heart" with "soul."

[sugersh]

<>

Hee. Yeah it did. I don't know why I didn't think of that one. I think there was a full week period during which you were playing it every time I saw you.

[joifulgurl]

hahahahaha that sounds about right... but seriously, the game is the shit. it is so fun & cute & time-sucking. perfect for playing during break!