What book is on your nightstand? Readers!

[Homercidal]

Moby Dick was a book that I was a little disappointed with. Not that it was bad, but it has been built up as the greatest English language novel of all time, and I just didn't think it quite lived up to that. Melville could have made that book half as long had he not obsessed over boring and irrelevant details regarding whale anatomy and biology. Just my opinion.

I kind of agree with you there. I think it wasn't uncommon for people who wrote about scifi and even natural subjects, to flesh out their subjects so that people who only had a small amount, if any, learning on it would be able to comprehend the story, or imagine it as if they were actually there.

He inserts a lot of philosophical wanderings. Some of that is interesting, to read how his mind works, and some of it gets tedious.

I think there could have been a bit less of both, to be honest. He did well when he was concentrating on the story, rather than the tangential content.

It is interesting to read up on him and learn that when he wrote this story, it was only popular for a short time and it wasn't until years after his death that it got the attention that makes his name recognizable today.

 

[Homercidal]

Reread this a few years back. It's just an excellent book. Impossible not to picture Jack Nicholson in your mind's eye.



I read half and quit. I don't fancy the SciFi any more.

I'm reading Jonathan Franzen's Freedom right now. He's a great writer. Almost exactly what I am looking for in a writer. His The Corrections was superb.

I read Dune after seeing the movie with Sting and Kyle McLaughlin. Went with my BIL who had read the book. I thought it was fantastic!

Then at about book 3 or so I just could NOT follow it anymore. I'm not sure what kind of spice Herbert was taking, but it was getting the better of him.

I thought the newer version was a LOT better and closer to the books than the old 80s movie.

I probably could not read something like that today and enjoy it.

 

[Setesh]

I read Dune after seeing the movie with Sting and Kyle McLaughlin. Went with my BIL who had read the book. I thought it was fantastic!

Then at about book 3 or so I just could NOT follow it anymore. I'm not sure what kind of spice Herbert was taking, but it was getting the better of him.

I thought the newer version was a LOT better and closer to the books than the old 80s movie.

I probably could not read something like that today and enjoy it.

I'm with you on that. First book was excellent, the rest went downhill fast. Pretty steep bell curve on that series.

 

[hunter_le five]

My brother's been begging me to read Dune for years. But every time, I remebered how awful the movie version was, and just wrote it off.

Maybe I need to give it a try.

Seriously, that movie was terrible. And I'm a pretty big David Lynch fan.

 

[Ridire]

I'm not much of a sci fi reader, I suppose, but I loved a bunch of stuff by Vonugut, and A Clockwork Orange is one of my all time favorites. I think I decided to read Dune when I discovered it was written in 1965. I suppose I like older sci fi. I also liked the LOTR trilogy...is that really sci fi?


Sent from here, because that's where I am.

 

[pricelessbrewing]

The stormlight archives by Brandon Sanderson
Kingkiller Chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss
Dresden files by Jim butcher
Irondruid chronicles by Kevin Hearne
Thiefs magic by Trudi Canavan
A song of ice and fire by George R.R. Martin

 

[Billy-Klubb]

I'm not much of a sci fi reader, I suppose, but I loved a bunch of stuff by Vonugut, and A Clockwork Orange is one of my all time favorites. I think I decided to read Dune when I discovered it was written in 1965. I suppose I like older sci fi. I also liked the LOTR trilogy...is that really sci fi?


Sent from here, because that's where I am.

LOTR is fantasy. I let a friend borrow my copy of A Clockwork Orange & never got it back.

 

[passedpawn]

LOTR is fantasy.

I've thought about this a lot. I consider fantasy to be based in the past, where magic and supernatural are allowed. Sci Fi is future, where technology or the devastation from past technology exist.

I'd agree with Billy here.

 

[pricelessbrewing]

I'd argue that lotr is the defining archetypical fantasy trilogy.

 

[gratus fermentatio]

I read Dune after seeing the movie with Sting and Kyle McLaughlin. Went with my BIL who had read the book. I thought it was fantastic!

Then at about book 3 or so I just could NOT follow it anymore. I'm not sure what kind of spice Herbert was taking, but it was getting the better of him.

I thought the newer version was a LOT better and closer to the books than the old 80s movie.

I probably could not read something like that today and enjoy it.

+1 on book #3 of Dune. I enjoyed both movies tho, the one with Kyle McLaughlin & the remake with William hurt. Ever read Frank Herbert's White Plague? You might enjoy it, I did.

I enjoyed The Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher quite a bit, been waiting for the latest one to come out in paperback. I enjoyed the Ashes series by William Johnstone, but lost interest after about book #8, it got to be the same basic story, just with a few different characters & slightly different scenarios.
Regards, GF.

 

[Homercidal]

I usually read Fantasy, but have dipped into Scifi a bit. The most recent Scifi books I've read were the Foundation and Robot series by Asimov. Call me blasphemer, but I did not enjoy them all that much. The first couple were kind of interesting, but after a few, I lost interest.

I just finished Moby Dick and the end was kind of abrupt. It was an interesting read. At the end, the Mellville spends about 1-2 pages on the final events. You get the climax and then it's over. I am used to a little bit of what happened after.

 

[DrunkleJon]

I thoroughly enjoyed Neal Stephenson's Cryptonomicon, the Jim Butcher Dresden books, Got many laughs out of Iron Druid. Have recently been reading the Odd Thomas series by Dean Koontz.

I have so many. I think I am switching to brewing books for a while. I am a little ways into Yeast currently.

 

[Homercidal]

I thoroughly enjoyed Neal Stephenson's Cryptonomicon, the Jim Butcher Dresden books, Got many laughs out of Iron Druid. Have recently been reading the Odd Thomas series by Dean Koontz.

I have so many. I think I am switching to brewing books for a while. I am a little ways into Yeast currently.

If you haven't done so yet, I recommend reading either of Randy Mosher's Brewing books, Radical Brewing and Tasting Beer.

I love his writing style and they are very entertaining while also being thought provoking and informative.

 

[Setesh]

I thoroughly enjoyed Neal Stephenson's Cryptonomicon, the Jim Butcher Dresden books, Got many laughs out of Iron Druid. Have recently been reading the Odd Thomas series by Dean Koontz.

I liked the Odd Thomas books a lot. I have read most of Koontz' books and for such a prolific writer he has quite a few good ones. I highly recommend checking out his Frankenstein books, I enjoyed them the most out of all of his books I think. I also liked the Moonlight Bay Trilogy a lot.

 

[wxman73]

Hey Drizzt,

Years ago, a guy i was in the Air Force who i didnt know all that well handed me a book by RA Salvatore about Drizzt. I read it and loved it. I dont know whic one it was though. Is there a place to go to find out what order to read those books? Btw Drizzt was in a great video game called Baldurs Gate.

As far as my to read list right now:
Wheel of Time Series by Robert Jordan.

I have recently read Patrick Rothfuss' first two books and I highly recommend them.

Everyone should read Dune at least once. Don't bother going any further on the series or you will tragically disappointed with the quality.

One of my other Favorites is Kardinal in the Kremlin by Tom Clancy. Awesome US vs USSR espionage.


Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

 

[Setesh]

Is there a place to go to find out what order to read those books?

Yup!

http://www.amazon.com/Drizzt-Books-in-chronological-order/lm/R2LUO036IY8SGZ

 

[BrewerinBR]

My book shelves are 9 feet high by 15 feet long ...

Contain so much it is not able to list them here is a short list

Stephen King (all hard back versions and paper back)
Winston Churchill Complete Memoirs
Mien Comp
The Genesis of the Pharaohs
Guadalcanal Diaries
New Jerusalem Bible
Dean Koonz (many)
Complete works of Edgar Allen Poe
Complete works of Sir Arther Conan Doyle
Complete works of Shakespeare
Isaac Asimov
Philip José Farmer
Danielle Steel
T-REX and the Crater of Doom
A dinosaur named Sue
Yeast
Hops
Water
IPA's
How to Brew
The Complete Joy of Homebrewing
Brew Like a Monk
The Brew Masters Table
Brewing Classic Style
Gardening for the Homebrewer
Aristotle
Homer
Pythagoras

 

[Billy-Klubb]

you "speeled" Mein Kampf wrong.

 

[passedpawn]

Finished The Fault In Our Stars last night. Read most of it on my trip to/from Vancouver this week. I'd recommend, but check your testosterone at the door. It's a sad teenage tragedy, with lots of interesting intellectual dialog, and from a girl's perspective. If you liked Perks of Being a Wallflower, you'll like this.

Tonight I'm digging into Michael Crighton's Eaters of the Dead. I need to get back on balance now.

 

[Homercidal]

Good Omens.

I love Pratchett's style.

 

[DrunkleJon]

Great book.

 

[pricelessbrewing]

Good omens is great, you know they wrote alternating sections and would change bits of each others work to get them to mesh together better. Some of the funniest parts are from where the two writers meet!

 

[jiggs_casey]

Richard Marcinko, Tom Clancy, Payne Harrison, Stephen King, Michael Jackson, Jimmy Buffet, and a little Hunter S.

 

[hunter_le five]

Hunter S.

I've been making my way through his books lately. I'm on #4 now (by order of publication). Hilarious and fascinating stuff.

 

[Ridire]

I've been making my way through his books lately. I'm on #4 now (by order of publication). Hilarious and fascinating stuff.

Just finished Dune (decent but not great) and came here for ideas. I love the movies with Depp, so maybe I'll try some Hunter S.

 

[passedpawn]

Just finished Dune (decent but not great) and came here for ideas. I love the movies with Depp, so maybe I'll try some Hunter S.

Give The The Gold Coast a try by DeMille. Cheap book, and I can almost guarantee satisfaction The nice thing, if you like it, is there's a LOT more just like it from DeMille.

 

[Ridire]

Give The The Gold Coast a try by DeMille. Cheap book, and I can almost guarantee satisfaction The nice thing, if you like it, is there's a LOT more just like it from DeMille.

I've read it, I loved it. A friend told me I had to read Gold Coast because he claimed the main character was me...only more interesting.

 

[passedpawn]

I've read it, I loved it. A friend told me I had to read Gold Coast because he claimed the main character was me...only more interesting.

DeMille wrote a bunch more. I probably read most of them. Maybe try another. There was one or two I never finished though. Maybe give me a PM if you want advice.

Read any Vince Flynn? It's a little pulpfictiony, but very entertaining. If you haven't tried one of the Mitch Rapp stories, I'd like to suggest giving American Assassin a try. $6, nothing to lose.

 

[Ridire]

DeMille wrote a bunch more. I probably read most of them. Maybe try another. There was one or two I never finished though. Maybe give me a PM if you want advice.

Read any Vince Flynn? It's a little pulpfictiony, but very entertaining. If you haven't tried one of the Mitch Rapp stories, I'd like to suggest giving American Assassin a try. $6, nothing to lose.

Talked me into it. Downloading American Assassin now. I read a lot of non-fiction but need a bit of a break before I tackle the giant Ted Williams book I have sitting on my night stand http://www.amazon.com/dp/0316614351/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

 

[Airplanedoc]

Just finished the "Arsenal of Democracy", after "One Summer America 1927". I found both facinating