Book thread!

[Lais Irideika]

Zaxares, I am actually a fan of stories that don't end with "and they lived happily ever after"... Not that I don't like it when a story ends well, but sometimes some authors (especially those in the movie industry) try way too hard to have the ending be a happy one at all cost, even if it hurts the realism and poignancy of the story... Off-topic, but take The Last Samurai movie for a good example of a story that should NOT have ended a good note... I almost walked out of the movie theater 5 mins to the end with The Last Samurai, cuz I just simply could not swallow the fact that the character played by Tom Cruise actually survived the hundreds of bullets he received... Not only did it not make sense, but it actually damaged the storyline and what the movie was all about.)

Now, back to the topic of books...

[Zaxares]

Zaxares, I am actually a fan of stories that don't end with "and they lived happily ever after"... Not that I don't like it when a story ends well, but sometimes some authors (especially those in the movie industry) try way too hard to have the ending be a happy one at all cost, even if it hurts the realism and poignancy of the story... Off-topic, but take The Last Samurai movie for a good example of a story that should NOT have ended a good note... I almost walked out of the movie theater 5 mins to the end with The Last Samurai, cuz I just simply could not swallow the fact that the character played by Tom Cruise actually survived the hundreds of bullets he received... Not only did it not make sense, but it actually damaged the storyline and what the movie was all about.)

Now, back to the topic of books...

Oh, I definitely agree with you there about forced "happy endings", but Martin's work usually has characters who suffer through SO much and they deserve to be happy, but they only ever receive more misery and heartbreak.

Then again, I AM a sucker for "happily ever after" endings, so maybe it's just me.

[Kalidri]

I echo Terry Pratchett - particulary Small Gods...which is hilariously funny but also a great philosophical read too.

I like the first six Thomas Covenant novels by Stephan Donaldson...last one was...cruddy. Did not like his other novels that much. The hero is an utter ******* who none the less proves true to himself and others. I love the descriptions of the Land.

Other recent stuff I read that I really enjoyed:

Life of Pi - Trippy book...all about what's real, what's not and which story would you prefer was real? I prefer the fantasy to what probably happened (eww)

Death of Vishnu - a good book if a bit difficult at times to read. About the rather self absorbed residents of an apartment in Bombay, India. The writing is very good even if the story bogs and jerks along.

Animals in Translation by Temple Grandin - Interesting book about how animals might think and feel alot like Autistic people - written by an autistic person. Really gets you thinking about how you perceive things.

Tad Williams - War of the Flowers - stand alone novel about modern times in fairyland. Interesting read and not as long as some of his big huge series book. I read his novels when I have a nice big chunk of time and don't mind a bit of a slog, but a stand alone was a nice treat from him.

Niel Gaiman - Of course I like his Sandman series. I also very much enjoyed yet another take on fairyland in Stardust. American Gods - though a bit overblown, had lots of good bits. Neverwhere has two unforgettable psycho villans :D

[maina]

Hiya,

Back in for some more ideas, The suggested works above for fiction are good! So little time, so much GW, so much I am still reading....lol

I am of the opinion that everybody should read Alice in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking Glass at least once in their adult life. There's a *lot* of content in those books that simply isn't for kids, and I have a great appreciation for Dodgson's work

I so agree. I have been re-reading Martin Gardners "Annotated" version at least once a year. I would say Richard Adams "Watership Down" is also great.

The two "Epiphanies" (is that right?) from books I read was:
Michael Shermers' "Why we Believe", and
Joseph Cambells' "The Hero with a Thousand Faces"


And add for enjoyment,

James Morrow "Towing Jehovah" and the rest of the series...
Neal Stephensons' "Snowcrash"


Maina

[Lady Rhonwyn]

Oh, I definitely agree with you there about forced "happy endings", but Martin's work usually has characters who suffer through SO much and they deserve to be happy, but they only ever receive more misery and heartbreak.

Then again, I AM a sucker for "happily ever after" endings, so maybe it's just me.

You forget to mention that he is very, very good at pretending everything will go better from that point on... Everytime you think: Now they will survive, they die...

Btw. I still need to read the last book... I somehow can't start it, too afraid I'll be depressed again...

[katya]

There are some awesome suggestions in here. I'll add something a little bit different.

Try "The Nameless Day", book one of the Crucible by Sara Douglass. I will warn you now, though, she does write fairly maturely so there are some disturbing scenes in her books, but that is an intriguing, if historically distorted, look at Joan of Arc and a war between Angels and Demons.

I loved it!

[Cérilia]

Too many good books to advise... So I will just go for the last one I read:
One year in the merde by Stephen Clarke. It's the comedy of errors of an Englishman coming in France to work there. Quite funny (well from a French point of view at least!)...

[The Real Dio Around Here]

other great fantasy novels which i loved were by Weis & Hickman.....you know im quite suprised no one mentioned tolkien once

[SilentMoon]

Neil Gaiman - Of course I like his Sandman series. I also very much enjoyed yet another take on fairyland in Stardust. American Gods - though a bit overblown, had lots of good bits. Neverwhere has two unforgettable psycho villains :D

Worth mentioning, Neverwhere was recently adapted in Comic form for DC's Vertigo inprint. I think they did a pretty good job of it. Mr. Croup and Mr. Vandermar really do stand out. :)
I think we're still missing a couple of issues though.

[snowkissed]

Lord of the Flies, by William Golding. I absolutely loved this book when I had to read it, and I think everyone should have to read it. The symbolism is just amazing, and it truly is a wonderful story.

Tigana, by Guy Gavriel Kay. This is my favorite fantasy book ever. I've read it many many times over, and it just keeps me captivated every time. The characters, the story, I fall in love with it all. Some people dislike Kay, but I say "Bah!" to them.

I agree with Zaxares in regards to GRRM. He's an amazing writer, and it's nice to have a story that isn't black and white, Good vs Evil.

Sara Douglass' The Troy Game series is also excellent. It mixes in some actual historical "facts" and plays with the history from the Ancient Greeks to the Second World War. I'm just reading through the fourth and final book, and I love it.

If you want fiction that isn't fantasy or science fiction, I'd recommend Clive Cussler for some entertainment. It's very James Bond/Indiana Jones-y, and is focused in underwater discoveries. I always enjoy his books for an entertaining read, even if it gets a little overthetop

As for a French Canadian classic, Bonheur d'occasion by Gabrielle Roy (translated version is The Tin Flute) is also an excellent story, focused around a young woman in Quebec struggling to survive. The story is very touching, and the writing (at least in French) is excellent. I haven't read it in English, so I can't comment on the translation.