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Kontradaz posted:A while back I read "The Stranger", by Albert Camus. Can anybody recommend a book with similar themes (i.e existentialism; absurdism; realism/starkness), would like it if it wasn't all depressive story-telling. Short books (<200pg's), and with a clear and concise writing style. Nothing too flashy or wordy. I need to get back in the swing of reading books, but I'm just so put off by tomes of sci-fi or fantasy. I just want a good flowing book that tugs at my emotions. It would be even better if it could be based in reality or with a historical backdrop- in fact, that's exactly what I would like. Nausea by Jean-Paul Sartre is excellent and short.  I found the writing very evocative and surreal... some of my favourite quotes are from that novel.
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May 5, 2011 05:36
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Hm, anyone know a good biography about Oliver Cromwell?
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May 5, 2011 08:05
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Kontradaz posted:A while back I read "The Stranger", by Albert Camus. Can anybody recommend a book with similar themes (i.e existentialism; absurdism; realism/starkness), would like it if it wasn't all depressive story-telling. Short books (<200pg's), and with a clear and concise writing style. Nothing too flashy or wordy. I need to get back in the swing of reading books, but I'm just so put off by tomes of sci-fi or fantasy. I just want a good flowing book that tugs at my emotions. It would be even better if it could be based in reality or with a historical backdrop- in fact, that's exactly what I would like. The next logical progression would be Camus' The Plague. It's pretty drat depressing but much more uplifting and ultimately more optimistic than The Stranger. It's loosely based on William Dafoe's Journal of the Plague Year, which was a fictionalization of the events surrounding the Great Plague of 1665 in London. Hieronymous Alloy fucked around with this message at 19:32 on May 5, 2011 |
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May 5, 2011 14:08
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Kontradaz posted:I'll admit I have a little trouble coming up with too many starkly light-hearted absurdist-realist romps though. Not going to say Beckett. inktvis fucked around with this message at 15:34 on May 5, 2011 |
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May 5, 2011 15:32
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modig posted:Check out Jack McDevitt's stuff, like Devil'ls Eye, Cauldron, A Talent For War. All the stuff that stars Alex seems to spend more time talking about his female employee Chase Kolpath, who is the more interesting characte. It's kind of like scifi Indiana Jones, but more mystery and less action. This is probably really obvious, but if like big cats eating people you'll really enjoy The Man Eaters of Tsavo by J.H. Patterson. They made a pretty good movie out of it called The Ghost and The Darkness. It's the true story of an engineer who went to Africa, and was faced with two lions who were attacking the railroad's workers.
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May 5, 2011 19:38
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modig posted:
It will cover a little of the same territory, but John Vaillant's The Tiger is amazing- one of my favorite non-fiction books of the last few years. The main story is great and could easily be filmed as a taught thriller, but Vaillant weaves a lot of Russian history and anthropology to give the reader an excellent big picture, as well.
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May 5, 2011 20:50
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Kontradaz posted:looking for... Califa fucked around with this message at 23:34 on May 5, 2011 |
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May 5, 2011 23:30
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PatMarshall posted:This is probably really obvious, but if like big cats eating people you'll really enjoy The Man Eaters of Tsavo by J.H. Patterson. They made a pretty good movie out of it called The Ghost and The Darkness. It's the true story of an engineer who went to Africa, and was faced with two lions who were attacking the railroad's workers. I actually didn't finish The Man Eaters of Kumoan because it got pretty repetitive, so I wasn't thinking about other man eater books. But it sounds different... engineer rather than sportsman and africa rather than India, so maybe I'll give it a shot. Well see if I have enough big cat reading in me to make it to The Tiger too.
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May 6, 2011 05:19
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I thoroughly enjoyed Charles Stross' Accelerando (as well as his others, but Accelerando moreso than the rest). I've already read Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash and The Diamond Age, as well as most anything Gibson has put out (hence the username), what other sci-fi books/authors have that post-cyberpunk flair to 'em?
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May 6, 2011 16:40
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Chiba City Blues posted:I thoroughly enjoyed Charles Stross' Accelerando (as well as his others, but Accelerando moreso than the rest). Definitely Richard Morgan Altered Carbon and the subsequent books. AC is the best, though. If want to try a more relaxed, somewhat surreal sci-fi, you might pick up Haruki Murakami Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World. Solid novel, though not as cyberpunky.
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May 6, 2011 22:17
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Also, if you haven't read Bruce Sterling yet, you'd probably like him.
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May 7, 2011 00:25
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Theomanic posted:Definitely Richard Morgan Altered Carbon and the subsequent books. AC is the best, though. Ive had my eye on Altered Carbon actually. Next time I'm on a book run I'll pick it up. The name "Murakami" rings a bell, actually... Discussions on io9 maybe? I don't know, but I'll keep an eye out for his work. PatMarshall posted:Also, if you haven't read Bruce Sterling yet, you'd probably like him. Thanks, both of you!
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May 7, 2011 01:38
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I just finished reading Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds and enjoyed it. I'm looking for another sci-fi book with much more strategy and large-scale warfare. Although I don't mind aliens and stuff I'd rather have the book be about mankind. I have already read the Ender's game series, as well as Dune, and the Foundation series.
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May 7, 2011 06:28
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I like Richard Yates. who should I reaD?
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May 8, 2011 00:45
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Thanks for all the recommendations! I'll check out a few next time I swing by the library. But, can you guys recommend to me books similar to Howard Zinn's "A People's History of the US"? Basically, books looking at history/historical events through a different lens and providing an interesting narrative.
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May 8, 2011 02:15
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Kontradaz posted:Thanks for all the recommendations! I'll check out a few next time I swing by the library. But, can you guys recommend to me books similar to Howard Zinn's "A People's History of the US"? Basically, books looking at history/historical events through a different lens and providing an interesting narrative. The Race Beat by Gene Roberts and Hank Klibanoff. It's how newspapers covered the Civil Rights era and how each side influenced the other. It almost exclusively focuses on the south, but that's where the majority of the excitement was.
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May 8, 2011 03:33
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Kontradaz posted:Thanks for all the recommendations! I'll check out a few next time I swing by the library. But, can you guys recommend to me books similar to Howard Zinn's "A People's History of the US"? Basically, books looking at history/historical events through a different lens and providing an interesting narrative. One of my all time favorite non-fiction books is Cocaine: An Unauthorized Biography by Dominic Streatfeild. It is really an amazing book, not at all a pro-drug book by a barely disguised druggie (not that there's anything wrong with that). In fact the author has never done coke (as I remember it, it's been a while). It is a history of cocaine as a commodity, from the indians of South America to Freud, to Coca-Cola, to the modern drug wars. It's fascinating from a cultural and political standpoint, plus well written to boot. Yes, I picked it up because I like doing coke, but I found myself reading bits out loud to my mom because they were so fascinating and revealing. It is definitely an alternative history of something we think we know all about.
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May 8, 2011 05:29
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Look! A Horse! posted:I like Richard Yates. who should I reaD? John O'Hara -- Appointment in Samarra. Also look into Cheever's short stories. (Assuming it was Revolutionary Road you liked) Also check out the Man in the Gray Flannel Suit by Sloan Wilson.
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May 8, 2011 05:35
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CaptainScraps posted:John O'Hara -- Appointment in Samarra. Appointment in Samarra is fantastic, as is Cheever. I've always been curious about Gray Flannel Suit. Have to check that out.
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May 8, 2011 05:58
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Kontradaz posted:Thanks for all the recommendations! I'll check out a few next time I swing by the library. But, can you guys recommend to me books similar to Howard Zinn's "A People's History of the US"? Basically, books looking at history/historical events through a different lens and providing an interesting narrative. Rogue State by William Blum is a pretty decent look at U.S. foreign policy along that same vein.
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May 8, 2011 21:49
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Old Janx Spirit posted:Appointment in Samarra is fantastic, as is Cheever. It's worth a read. It's no Revolutionary Road but it's got a couple of similar themes. Oh poo poo, also, if you want it from the other side, check out The Best of Everything by Rona Jaffe. It's a weird look at what life was like for career women in the 1950s.
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May 8, 2011 23:20
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I just got finished rereading a lot of my favorite fantasy series- Raymond E. Feist, George RR Martin, Tad Williams, Robert Jordan- and have found that my taste for epic nerdom isn't fully sated. Any recommendations? I prefer swords over sorcery, and lots of political intrigue and war (think Martin!). Actually, just stick to series similar to Tad Williams' Shadowmarch and George Martin's ASOIAF and I'll be content. Also, the longer they are, the better. And to make this post less goony goonish, I'll also accept post-apocalyptic recommendations. No zombies, though, please. turtlehammer fucked around with this message at 11:15 on May 9, 2011 |
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May 9, 2011 11:12
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turtlehammer posted:I just got finished rereading a lot of my favorite fantasy series- Raymond E. Feist, George RR Martin, Tad Williams, Robert Jordan- and have found that my taste for epic nerdom isn't fully sated. Any recommendations? I prefer swords over sorcery, and lots of political intrigue and war (think Martin!). Actually, just stick to series similar to Tad Williams' Shadowmarch and George Martin's ASOIAF and I'll be content. Also, the longer they are, the better. The Name of the Wind and The Wise Man's Fear, if you haven't read them.
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May 9, 2011 15:58
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turtlehammer posted:I just got finished rereading a lot of my favorite fantasy series- Raymond E. Feist, George RR Martin, Tad Williams, Robert Jordan- and have found that my taste for epic nerdom isn't fully sated. Any recommendations? I prefer swords over sorcery, and lots of political intrigue and war (think Martin!). Actually, just stick to series similar to Tad Williams' Shadowmarch and George Martin's ASOIAF and I'll be content. Also, the longer they are, the better. Joe Abercombie's The First Law trilogy and the followup books.
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May 9, 2011 16:02
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Now that the lf book thread is gone there isn't really a good place to ask this, so I'll just drop it here. What's a good David Harvey book to get into? I've gone through a bunch of his stuff on Marx and appreciated it and I'm looking for a good book to take with me on an upcoming trip and I can fit about one book into my month's budget. Choosing between 'A Brief History of Neoliberalism' and 'Enigma of Capital'
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May 9, 2011 16:52
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Does anyone have any recommendations for me? I want to read something with a similar feel to 'the beach' by alex garland, failing that I'd like to read something about travellers who get in over their head with drugs/crime. Another type of book that interests me are stories about people starting a new life somewhere exotic, in se asia if possible. fiction or non fiction it doesnt matter.
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May 10, 2011 15:17
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papac posted:Does anyone have any recommendations for me? I want to read something with a similar feel to 'the beach' by alex garland, failing that I'd like to read something about travellers who get in over their head with drugs/crime. I think there are a lot of these books out there. First thing that came to my mind is Lightning on the Sun by Robert Bingham. Takes place in Cambodia, the hero is an American, and it's all about drugs/crime. Great but bleak book. I liked it a lot. The author died of an overdose soon after writing it. Dog Soldiers by Robert Stone is a classic and was probably a big influence on Bingham's book as they are very similar. The Quiet American by Graham Greene might work. Another classic. This is all off the top of my head. I should be able to come up with more once I'm home. Edit: All three of these take place in SE Asia Old Janx Spirit fucked around with this message at 16:07 on May 10, 2011 |
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May 10, 2011 15:58
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papac posted:Another type of book that interests me are stories about people starting a new life somewhere exotic, in se asia if possible. fiction or non fiction it doesnt matter. This is pretty much what the first few books of Clavell's Asian Saga is about; white men colonizing/settling/integrating or not in Japan or Hong Kong, depending on the book. Maybe give Shogun a shot? e: you might have meant modern stuff, Shogun is set in 1600 just FYI.
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May 10, 2011 16:00
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I'm looking for a good modern crime drama, something like The Wire in novel form. Any recommendations?
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May 12, 2011 01:12
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Traxis posted:I'm looking for a good modern crime drama, something like The Wire in novel form. Any recommendations? I would look into Richard Price. Excellent modern crime writer who wrote for the wire. He also wrote the novel Clockers, later adapted by Spike Lee.
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May 12, 2011 02:58
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Please recommend Indiana-Jones type adventures, but set in the modern day? I love stories featuring the uncovering of ancient civilisations and dashing archaeologists and danger and thrills and all that. An example I enjoyed is Decipher by Stel Pavlou, but I'm a bit over Atlantis popping up everywhere in these books. What else is out there? (PS: I hate Matthew Reilly, so anything smarter than him would be fine. Doesn't have to be literary, I'm after fun escapism. Prefer it not to be full of sperging over weapons and vehicles.)
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May 12, 2011 13:06
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I haven't read them but you might enjoy the works of Andy McDermott (who is a goon - Payndz I think). They're all about the kind of stuff you're talking about. Although be warned, the first one has "Atlantis" in the title. It might not be that far removed from Reilly but... in his favour Payndz has a sense of self awareness (which is obvous in his posts, he seems like a jolly nice chap) that Reilly is completely lacking. There's also the airport fiction megathread lurking around here somewhere (http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3282164) that may have some crossover with this kind of stuff. Gravy Jones fucked around with this message at 15:58 on May 12, 2011 |
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May 12, 2011 15:54
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Hedrigall posted:Please recommend Indiana-Jones type adventures, but set in the modern day? I love stories featuring the uncovering of ancient civilisations and dashing archaeologists and danger and thrills and all that. An example I enjoyed is Decipher by Stel Pavlou, but I'm a bit over Atlantis popping up everywhere in these books. What else is out there? (PS: I hate Matthew Reilly, so anything smarter than him would be fine. Doesn't have to be literary, I'm after fun escapism. Prefer it not to be full of sperging over weapons and vehicles.) It's not fiction, but The Road to Ubar is a pretty good story.
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May 12, 2011 16:05
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WarpZealot posted:I just finished reading Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds and enjoyed it. I'm looking for another sci-fi book with much more strategy and large-scale warfare. Although I don't mind aliens and stuff I'd rather have the book be about mankind. I have already read the Ender's game series, as well as Dune, and the Foundation series. Singularity Sky and Iron Sunrise by Charles Stross should be right up your alley. Also I just started reading through the Flashman Papers and holy crap they're hilarious, more so if you take the trouble to do a bit of research about the time period beforehand. Continuing series of books written about an officer in the British Army during the 1840s on who is a horrible human being and an utter coward but keeps managing to make everyone think he's a hero, and in the process becomes embroiled in most of the major political events of the time.
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May 12, 2011 16:13
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Traxis posted:I'm looking for a good modern crime drama, something like The Wire in novel form. Any recommendations? David Simon has written two books: Homicide and The Corner. They don't have the same width as The Wire, but they're both pretty good. Homicide was eventually made into a show of it's own.
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May 12, 2011 18:10
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Traxis posted:I'm looking for a good modern crime drama, something like The Wire in novel form. Any recommendations? I'd also recommend George Pelecanos. He wrote for The Wire as well and has written a terrific series of books set in D.C. For crime with a Boston flavor, check out some of Dennis Lehane's work as well, particularly Mystic River.
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May 12, 2011 19:27
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Gravy Jones posted:I haven't read them but you might enjoy the works of Andy McDermott (who is a goon - Payndz I think). They're all about the kind of stuff you're talking about. Although be warned, the first one has "Atlantis" in the title. It might not be that far removed from Reilly but... in his favour Payndz has a sense of self awareness (which is obvous in his posts, he seems like a jolly nice chap) that Reilly is completely lacking.
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May 12, 2011 20:06
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Although my to-read list is long, I need some post-finals mind numbing action (I'm envisioning scifi, but that's flexible for sufficiently good action). I'm looking for a highly competent protagonist and copious awesome action scenes. I don't care if it's totally gratuitous and lacking in the plot department (although it doesn't have to be poo poo). I've never really sought out anything like this, so the only things that immediately come to mind for comparison is Bourne in the movies (not really the books), or Culture agents in Iain M. Banks' stuff. Recommend me some badass-ness with a healthy sprinkling of violence!
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May 12, 2011 22:12
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incogneato posted:Although my to-read list is long, I need some post-finals mind numbing action (I'm envisioning scifi, but that's flexible for sufficiently good action). Both of them have extremely awesome protagonists and a lot of poo poo blowing up, and are a hell of a lot of fun.
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May 12, 2011 22:49
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incogneato posted:I'm looking for a highly competent protagonist and copious awesome action scenes. I don't care if it's totally gratuitous and lacking in the plot department (although it doesn't have to be poo poo). I've never really sought out anything like this, so the only things that immediately come to mind for comparison is Bourne in the movies (not really the books), or Culture agents in Iain M. Banks' stuff. Have you read Banks' Against a Dark Background? It's a bit more action packed than his Culture stuff and a lot of fun. It's got several great set pieces. It fits both of your bolded prerequisists and is a pretty good story too. I haven't got round to reading any myself yet, but from what I've heard Neal Asher might fit the bill as well. It's been ages since I read it and it may be a bit dated now, but I recall Walter John William's Hardwired as being a more action orientated take on the cyberpunk genre that I enjoyed at the time. Edit: Oh one more, The Black Lung Captain: Tales of the Ketty Jay by Chris Wooding. I really wasn't a fan of this, but it got really good reviews and a couple of nominations so what do I know. It's pretty much a steampunk rip-off of Firefly, and is pretty heavy on the action. Gravy Jones fucked around with this message at 23:25 on May 12, 2011 |
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May 12, 2011 23:22
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