im an avid reader and am interested in a variety of subjects,
can anyone suggest something?
i prefer sci - fi. but like anything that is interesting / factual things are fun too, like mythology, physics, spirituality, martial arts etc etc etc etc.
i will give you a thumbs down if i have read the book you suggest cos im a mean boy lol
2006-10-18 03:11:57 · 36 answers · asked by Mr Gravy 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
1421 - great book!
by the way, a vague outline of the book would be great as well
2006-10-18 03:17:09 · update #1
Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M Auel.
2006-10-18 03:14:32 · answer #1 · answered by Andrea P 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Connie Willis is a fantastic sci-fi/historical fiction author. I would particularly recommend The Doomsday Book and To Say Nothing of the Dog. Both involve time-travel, the former to a plague stricken village in medieval England, and the latter is a comedy of manners set in Victorian England (though nothing at all like Jane Austen, thank god).
My favorite interesting/factual author is Michael Farquhar, who has written a trio of books that cover the greatest scandals of the last few centuries. The stories are told in anecdotal style, each is handled in only a few pages, and the style is very conversational.
If you're interested in spirituality (in general) you may be interested in Christine Wicker's book, Not In Kansas Anymore: A Curious Tale of How Magic Is Transforming America. The author ventures into various alternative religions/lifestyles (voodoo, witchcraft, vampirism) and is a great, nonjudgemental look at the impact of spirituality on modern society.
2006-10-18 04:30:41 · answer #2 · answered by lcraesharbor 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've just finished reading the Shaman's Crossing, the first book in the new Soldier Son Trilogy by Robin Hobb as I've just saved up enough to get the second one, Forest Mage.
It's not SF, more fantasy, but none the less enjoyable for that.
In this kingdom, the first son of the Lord inherits his title & lands, whereas the second son becomes a soldier. This is the story of one such second son, so far giving his experiences of training to be a cavalary man & his mystic experience whilst gaining experience with one of the conquered plainspeople. Why not check out Amazon for a more specific review?
Have you read any of David Weber's books? - set in space, a bit like the David Feintuch Seafort Saga - but different (oh duh)
Why not try the Baen Books website? They have lots of authors in the fantasy & SF range - with free books that you can either read online or download in a variety of formats.
I much prefer the sort that you can hold in your hands & curl up & read but the website is a great way to sample new authors & all the books should be available in print.
2006-10-19 15:05:42 · answer #3 · answered by Solow 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If You want Profound and Unusual try
"Joseph andHis Brothers By Thomas Mann
This was Being Written By A German Jew during The Rise of Hitler and The Third Reich
He Like Joseph is forced into Exile and eventually he finish`s it in
America It Took Me Three Months To Read it is So Dense full of Mystical Allusion:
Sense of Loss of place and Family
Most definitely One of The Twentieth Century`s Most Profound Book
2006-10-18 05:18:46 · answer #4 · answered by sorbus 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Seafort Saga beginning Midshipman's Hope David Feintuch great sci-fi series
2006-10-18 09:14:22 · answer #5 · answered by Bobby B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Like Sci-Fi? Me too. Try the "father of Sci-Fi," Rober Heinlein. Just about any of his books is a good read. My personal favorite by him is "The Cat Who Walked Through Walls" but that's just me.
Another good Sci-Fi writer is Spider Robinson. He has some excellent series out that you would probably enjoy. My favorites are the Callahan series but his Time Travelers are good too.
He and his wife wrote a series together that was excellent sci-fi, the "Standancer" series.
Hope you enjoy those.
2006-10-18 03:24:53 · answer #6 · answered by MAQdragon 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My tastes also eclectic but favouring good scifi -- just the right blend of unreality and possibility for pure escapism.
scifi -- read Ursula le Guin The Left Hand of Darkness or any of the Earthsea trilogy. they are brilliant. the type of books that shape the way u think and see the world.
Male protagonists that u can identify with on a sometimes spiritual level.
Billions and billions -- puts the universe in perspective in a very engaging way by teaching cool maths stuff. cool if you interested in astronomy without the boring details.
erotica -- anais nin. wow... in an age of instant gratification and been there done that, this stuff in the printed word still works!
best!
Secrets of the god's -- cool convincing conspiracy theory putting forward evidence that the pyramids are eons older than we think and weren't built by the egyptians...
If you want a brutal brilliant anatomy of a divorce by a guy: Intimacy by Haniff Kureishi
Midnight's children by Salman Rushdie is exotic and surreal as is Life of Pi by Yan Martel
Hannibal Lector Trilogy
Haven't read it yet but getting there: Disgrace -- highly highly highly recommended
once you got me started, i couldn't shut up! sorry
2006-10-18 05:36:36 · answer #7 · answered by sirenrosso 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We love anything by Lincoln Childs and Douglas Preston. One of my favorites is Thunderhead..about searching for a lost city of gold..kinda sci-fi-ish..also by them is The Relic and several more..All are good with good keep you reading type stories.
Also a really good book is The Manhatten Hunt Club....do not know the author, but it was a great read and he has lots more to choose from
2006-10-18 03:23:00 · answer #8 · answered by JIM D 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the godfather by mario puzo... so so so so much better than the movies... this book grips you by the throat and doesnt let you go... first time i read this is started it about 10pm at night, and was finishing it at about 4am the next morning... i read right through the night cos i couldnt put it down...
its basically the 1st of the godfather movie trilogies, but alot better cos it explains alot about the godfather and why he became the man that he did...
if you havent watched the movie, then its basically about a guy (called the godfather or don corleone) who is the chief of the scilian mafia and comes to new york to create a better life for his kids... basically a gangster book with loads of fighting, tension and different plot lines running through based on the different characters... the book tells the story of his life, and the life of his kids as they grow up in usa. i wont say too much though, about the plot in case you dont know it... dont want to give too much away!
this book tops my list every time, i highly highly recommend it.
2006-10-18 03:24:51 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you haven't read it 'HIS DARK MATERIALS TRIOLOGY' by PHILIP PULLMAN is a must.
The first book is set in a parrallel universe similar to ours except that peoples' souls take an animal form that they can talk to. Children start going missing and the main character Lyra goes to look for her best friends who's been kidnapped, She meets witches and armoured bears.
The story continues and involves a rebellion against god and religion in general. Death is ended and the whole world is changed. They're the most amazing books I've ever read.
Read themm before the movie is released (either 2007/2008) and they ruin them
the books are
Northern lights
The subtle knife
The amber spyglass
Please read them, for your own good.
2006-10-18 03:29:23 · answer #10 · answered by Gomduri 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋