Can anyone recommend a book to read?

Question

i enjoy reading everything! from fantasy to horror! big fan of everything

Answer 1

Fantasy:
Have you tried Terry Goodkind? His series starts with 'Wizards First Rule'

Other authors that are really enjoyable are Robin Hobb, Anne McCaffrey, Elizabeth Moon & Holly Lisle.

And if you've never tried him - Terry Pratchet's Discworld series is wonderful.

Horror or Whatever:
I don't know how to classify him - I'd really recommend anything by Dean Koontz. He has wonderful 'heros' - real people - the sort that you'd really like to have as friends. (Or maybe it's just me being rather sad wishing that some of the characters were real, lol)

Science Fiction:
David Weber's Honor Harrington series is great with a likeable female heroine.

I also enjoyed David Feintuch's Seafort saga - sort of like Hornblower in space - you'd have to try it. (David Feintuch has also written Fantasy)

I'd also recommend Robert Heinlein - espescially the later ones.

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Try visiting the Baen Books site - the Baen free library has a selection of authors who have allowed their books to be published on the web. You can read the books on line or download them in a variety of formats.

The books are either fantasy or science fiction. I much prefer real books as I prefer to do my reading, relaxing in or on the bed - but this site has introduced me to new authors & I really recommend it if you want to 'try before you buy'

Answer 2

I can recommend several.
My favorite: Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy. Philosophy, humor, and interesting characters. Written by Douglas Adams.
There are five books, but it's easy to find them bound in a single large book. Don't be intimidated by the size, just read the first chapter. If you so feel inclined, read the second, and so on.

Runners up:
Life of Pi. Another philosophy and humor option that has been already recommended. Written by Yann Martel.
An indian boy on a lifeboat with a tiger. With a twist ending. Very well written.

Pawn of Prophecy. The first of a very long fantasy series called the Belgariad. The Mallorean is a follow-up. Written by David and Leah Eddings.
In my opinion one of the best fantasy series out there. Epic in scale, with superb characterization, a fully fleshed world, and a compelling storyline.

Good Omens. An amusing and original take on the return of the antichrist. Written by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaimen.
Funny, funny, funny. But with some commentary slipped in.

Neverwhere. It's been a while since I've read this, but I recall it being quite compelling. Written by Neil Gaimen.

The Onion Girl. Introspection, artistic life, and catastrophe. Written by Charles de Lint.

The Neverending Story. A classic in the truest sense of the word. Written by Micheal Ende.
Ignore all the bad screen adaptations.

The Bardic Voices series. Music and fantasy. Written by Mercedes Lackey.

The Hour of the Gate and Spellsinger. Music and fantasy, but with a very different take. Writtent by Alan Dean Foster.

Answer 3

Non-fiction; The Fatal Shore by Robert Hughes. Horror; The Shining(Stephen King's best) or Domain by James Herbert. Humour; Pratt of the Argus by David Nobbs,Crime; any Donna Leon, Ian Rankin or Reginald Hill.Best Military/War fiction has to be From Here to Eternity by James Jones.Best of luck

Answer 4

My favourite book(s) is/are the Fionavar Tapestry by Guy Garviel Kay. It is a trilogy comprising The Summer Tree, the Wandering Fire and the Darkest Road. A fantasy with well rounded characters unlike the usual 'rent an elf' mob and a story that keeps you turning the pages. The author is not afraid to take out major characters and they struggle with real feelings and emotions. I probably read this at least once a year.

Brief extract from Wikipedia:-
"The Fionavar Tapestry is a trilogy of fantasy novels by Guy Gavriel Kay, set partly in our own contemporary world, but mostly in the fictional world of Fionavar. It is the story of five University of Toronto students, who are drawn into the 'first world of the Tapestry' by the mage Loren Silvercloak. Once there, each discovers his or her own role and destiny in the framework of an epic conflict."


My second favourite is Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson. Cyberpunk in genre, but please don't let that out you off. Male and female main characters just a little different from normal and some real research went into the backstory. A bit hard on the brain sometimes, but if you persevere you should enjoy it.

Extract from Wikipedia:-

"..Like many postmodern novels, Snow Crash has a unique style and a chaotic structure which many readers find difficult to follow. It contains many arcane references to geography, politics, anthropology, philosophy, linguistics, history, and computer science, which may inspire readers to explore these topics further, or at least consult relevant reference works. The novel explores themes of reality, imagination, thought, perception, and the violent and physical nature of humanity, in the context of a socially-constructed (virtual) reality imposed on a political-economic system in the throes of radical transition."

Good luck with your choice.

Answer 5

OMG so many books! I love everything, from Jane Green and Marian Keyes to Stephen King! Top 5.... (but in no particular order!)

Things my girlfriend and I argue about - Mil Millington
e - Matt Beaumont (that IS the title, not a spelling error!)
Lorelei's Secret (Cant remember author but amazing book)
IT - stephen King
Last Chance saloon - Marian Keyes

Happy reading!xx

Answer 6

A short History of Tractors in Ukrainian by Marina Lewycka. Don't worry. It's not history, it's not about tractors and it's not in ukrainian. It's a cute story and easy to read. Anything by Jane Green, Marian Keyes, Joanne Harris is very readable.

If you've never read it, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott is a must for girls everywhere.

Answer 7

Try reading anything about Hegelian metephysics, which is about the very nature of thought itself. Human consciousness itself is never fixed but continually changing and developing new categories and concepts. These determine how we experience the world, so that knowledge is always the result of a series of conflicting positions - hope this helps.

Answer 8

Green Mile or The Talisman (Stephen King)

Red Storm Rising (Tom Clancy)

But, the best one I have read is `Surviving the Killing Fields` by HAING S. NGOR`. He was the Cambodian who played DITH PRAAN in the film THE KILLING FIELDS, his own story is compelling and heartbreaking, and, a good read.

For a laugh-out-loud book though read TOM SHARPES `The Throwback` Hilarious!

Answer 9

i really like the chicken soup for the soul books. Im not a huge fan of reading but these books are brilliant as they have lots of short stories which warm the heart. i have read most of the stories many times but i could never get bored.

Answer 10

An Inconvenient Truth by Al Gore(don't be put off by the author, I'm Canadian and personally have an aversion to american anything(no offense) but this book is really worth the read