I'm holding out for the more historically accurate prequel: Benjamin Franklin, French Prostitute Corpse Dismemberer
Just an update on these ones: The Line: Meh. Not bad. To be honest I feel like this book is more like an extended prologue to the actual story that begins in book two (which I don't think I'll read). The author does a decent job of giving you enough information on the world that you aren't confused without spelling everything out for you. Kind of the opposite of China Miéville's Embassytown which didn't explain a damn thing and, generally, that book wasn't his best work. I would recommend the Bas-Lag series (Perdido Street Station, The Scar, and The Iron Council...great speculative fiction) The Last Thing I Remember: I liked this one. There was a heavy focus on being a high schooler and the drama involved (i.e. I like this girl but she doesn't know I exist, I had a fight with my friend, etc.) but other than that it was pretty cool. Now I'm reading The Scorch Trials which is the second in The Maze Runner series. Not a bad read so far but I'm only like 60 pgs in. Oh, while I'm on a decent rant: for anyone who likes sort of fantasy novels but not really Tolkien rip-off types (i.e. no elves, orcs, fairies, dragons, etc....just good old swords and sorcery stuff) check out The Mistborn series by Robert Jordan. It's got a very, very unique world. A very cool magic system and lots of twists and turns you don't typically see in a fantasy novel.
I've heard good things about Billy Lynn's Halftime Walk. Trying to find a light read for a trip to Mexico. Not sure that book or the one I'm currently slogging through, Team of Rivals, is that kind of read.
I just began reading R.A. Dickey's book, i've gotten through about 5 chapters so far and i'm very pleased, it is an excellent read, he knows how to write since he was an English Lit major at Tennessee
I'm reading a book by Robin Lane Fox written in 1973 simply titled Alexander the Great. This guy knows how to write, the book is gripping at the very least. you can buy this for 99 cents on amazon, it's truly a masterpiece and the hailed as the best book of the 1472 books that have been written on the maniac and greatest legend of all time. He's a professor from Oxford, and it shows.
Not sure how anyone can bring up Cormac McCarthy 5 times and never mention Child of God. Vonnegut? Jail Bird please. Mother Night? F Slaughter House 5.
I have been reading the first book in this series, and its pretty awesome. Just so well written, great characters, and tons of action. Not on an intellectual level of some of the better adult fantasy series, but a really great read with nice pacing of the story (never drags) It's a 10 book series, the first 7 are out already, but only the first 4 are on Kindle so far, which I have already purchased. http://www.amazon.com/Empire-Black-...C8T6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337205383&sr=8-1
Not sure what has or hasn't been recommended yet (possibly by me, can't remember if I posted in here), but here are a few books I highly recommend. Orson Scott Card - Ender's Game Fast paced read, and one of my favorite sci-fi books of all time. Speaker for the Dead and Ender's Shadow are also great, and part of the same series. David Brin - Uplift Trilogy This contends with Ender's Game for me. It is 3 books; Sundiver, Startide Rising, an Uplift War. Sundiver is a little tough to get through at points because he gets too technical, but it is well worth the effort as Startide Rising and Uplift War are absolutely incredible books. Awesome concepts and exciting writing. Kurt Vonnegut - Slaughterhouse-Five Perfect book. So it goes.
Different seasons -Stephen King This is a collection of 4 short stories where 3 of them have gone on to be pretty good motion pictures. The movies that came from these stories were The Shawshank redemption, Apt Pupil, and Stand by me. Good one to own for sure.
If it hasn't been printed yet you're probably in for a wait. George R.R. Martin is notorious for making his fans wait on this series. I actually never finished A Feast for Crows because it took so long to come out. Loved the first two and liked the third but the 5 year wait for Feast was too long. I bought Feast but put it down after the first couple of chapters and just never picked it up again. My tastes had moved on at that point.
Currently reading The Outpost, about COP Keating in Afghanistan. Really good read so far. Sure as heck not light summer reading though. http://www.amazon.com/The-Outpost-Untold-Story-American/dp/0316185396
Have you read anything by Jack Kerouac or Charles Bukowski? Orwell's Down and Out In Paris and London were really good too, so that's a nice read, especially when you're dealing with relatives you don't want to. Nick Hornby has a lot of novels about down and out characters, so you might want to check out High Fidelity. I know this thread is pretty old, but hey, there's always next Thanksgiving.
Here are my suggestions and reviews: The best book I've read in the past two years is The Light Between the Oceans by ML Steadman. You probably need to be a parent to appreciate it, but it is a book that you will think about for a long time after you put it down. Other good reads- Six Years by Harlen Coben 11/22/63 by Stephen King The Harry Hole series by Joe Nesbo - read them in order ( I have read Redbreast, Nemesis and The Devil's Star) Gone Girl is interesting, but the ending was disappointing For sports books, I just re-read Muhammad Ali His Life and Times by Thomas Hauser -great book about the most influential and interesting sports figure of the 20th Century. Anyone who coaches youth or high school sports or has a son (age 5-18) playing organized sports MUST read Season of Life by Jeremy Marx. It completely changed my coaching philosophy and greatly informed the parenting of my sons. Great book with a tremendous message about what is important in coaching and raising young men. I am reading The Round House by Louise Erdich and it is very good so far Books on my Kindle to read (any reviews would be appreciated): And The Mountains Echoed by Khalid Hosseni The Dog Stars by Peter Heller Fault in our Stars by John Green The Signal and the Noise by Nate Silver Army at Dawn/The Day of Battle/Guns at Last Light by Richard Atkinson As for the Game of Thrones series - I have no desire to read it. The Hunger Games was ok and a quick read, but the second book was bad and after reading it, I have no desire to waste my time on the third book. As for history: The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara is an unbelievable must read by every American No Ordinary Time by Doris Kearns Goodwin Enemy at the Gates - the book, not the movie (the movie was awful and based on two pages of the book)
"son of hamas" is an amazing book. written by the spiritual leader Hassan Yousef's son. it is an amazing look in to the lives of the palestinian people and the terrorist group.a must read for anyone with interest in the middle east turmoil
I think you may be the first person that I have ever encountered that didn't think that the third book was head and shoulders better than the first two.
