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Post by KarotsaMused on Aug 23, 2004 12:12:07 GMT -5
Much like the Anime recommendation thread, but for books. Lit-ra-ture! I figure this may as well go the same as the Anime Rec's thread. Name: Author: Genre: Summary: Warnings: Why you Love it: The people I have met online through fanfiction dot net are suprisingly well-read and I'd like to see what everybody recommends. (And I always need new stuff to reference in "Breakroom", right? )
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Post by kanshu on Aug 23, 2004 16:08:00 GMT -5
Ohhh... so many favorites to pick from. I guess I'll start with one at a time, eh? Name: Conundrum (The New Doctor Who Adventures) Author: Steve Lyons Genre: SciFi/Adventure/action Summary: A time traveller named Doctor Who and his companions get stuck in a dangerous plain of existence. Quote from the cover text: "Doctor, we're talking about an old man who used to dress up in a skintight white jump suit and fly around New York catching super-villains. Don't you think there's something just a bit unusual about that?" Warnings: Don't read this with food in your mouth. Age 12+ Why you Love it: I always loved time travel and universe manipulation. And apart from a very catching plot, this story has a lot of humour and tongue-in-cheek stuff in it. It's more fun if you know the series, though. And you really don't know how it will end and how or if they get themselves out of the mess they are in until the very last page.
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Post by cesmith on Aug 23, 2004 16:20:59 GMT -5
I can't believe there is another Doctor Who fan. I have been watching Doctor Who for more than 24 years. I started watching it shortly before my oldest was born. I have read many of the novelizations of the episodes and a few of the original stories. I will definately check this one out.
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Post by KarotsaMused on Aug 23, 2004 16:21:26 GMT -5
Ooh. That sounds majorly shibby. ^^ Alright, my turn because if you like something like that, you'll adore this one: Name: Good Omens Author: Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett Genre: Satire/drama Summary: We hear the world is going to end on a Saturday. Unfortunately, the Antichrist has regrettably gone missing. A further hindrance to the Apocalypse comes when the Heaven and Hell's representatives on Earth decide they rather like the place. Not to mention the fact that one of them keeps getting mistaken for a witch, and all of the tapes left in the car for more than a fortnight turn into Best of Queen albums... Warnings: Mild language, side-splittingly funny, religious satire and musings on Christianity (some are offended, though I can't imagine why), 10+ (but it helps to have some knowledge of the eighties!) Why I love it: Anybody who's read Pratchett knows the man's incredible sense of dramatic timing and witty writing. Teamed with Gaiman, though, the pairing is so dynamic that I literally couldn't put it down. The humor is piercing, often tongue-in-cheek, and always honest. Plus, I love the humanity of the ethereal representatives, and how you'll never know what's going to happen next, not for the unpredictability of the characters but because outside forces beyond the main characters are allowed to come in and muck around.
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Post by Me-Nuriko on Aug 23, 2004 16:41:55 GMT -5
Your recommendations sound nice. I must check them out. Funny. I have read a lot of books, and there are many I love, but do you know what book that first popped up in my head when I saw this thread? A Swedish Children Book! So I'm actually going to recommend it. I think it's translated to English since the author's books are translated to very many languages. I don't know the English name though.
Name: Bröderna Lejonhjärta (literally that means 'The Lionheart Brothers')
Author: Astrid Lindgren
Genre: Fantasy for children.
Summary: Two brothers die and enter the next world. They find that not everything is as good as it seems from the beginning. An evil man is enslaving a town, and they have to fight against him and his army to rescue the other town and themselves.
Warnings: Deaths. Tissues are needed. I can never read the last chapter without crying.
Why I love it: It's a book written for children with the uttermost respect for them. Even adults love this book. It deals with deaths, diseases, unfairness, loneliness, but also with hope, and the need to do what needs to be done. One of my kids had a classmate who got killed in the traffic, only seven years old. The teacher read the last chapter of this book to the other children in the class to help them deal with her death.
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Post by cesmith on Aug 23, 2004 18:05:20 GMT -5
Hard to follow such a sweet sounding book with this series but I love it.
Name: Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter (Series) Author: Laurell K. Hamilton Genre: Horror, AU Summary: (From the jacket) " My name's Anita Blake, and I'm a preternatural expert-I raise the dead and kill vampires legally." Anita is dating an Alpha male werewolf and the Master Vampire of the City. The three form a triumvrant, linked through each others' thoughts and sex. She also works for the Police, advising them on Preternatural Murderers. Warnings: Graphic violence and sex. Definately for adults. Why I love it: This series is set in the New Orleans of today, drawing on many different legends of Vampires, Wereanimals, Witches, and Necromancy. She weaves a very realistic reality. The main characters are flawed and vulnerable, but they protect their own groups, and usually each other. There are 10 books in the series.
Guilty Pleasures The Laughing Corspe Circus of the Damned The Lunatic Cafe Bloody Bones The Killing Dance Burnt Offerings Blue Moon Obsidian Butterfly Narcissus in Chains Cerulean Sins
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Post by KarotsaMused on Aug 23, 2004 21:36:23 GMT -5
Wow. I'd heard of Anita Blake but I had no idea it was so much like BlackWidower...(*grumblegrumblethe author friendslocked the LJgrumblegrumble*) And the Swedish children's book sounds really cool!! Especially if it can make you emotional at the end The best sort of books, right? Alright, because I quoted it in my little signature, I've got to put this one up as well. Name: Choke Author: Chuck Palahniuk Genre: Satire Summary: Victor Mancini is the quintessential victim. Every night, he purposefully chokes on his food at a restaurant, and lives off of the checks sent to him by his saviors. He turns people into heroes. He works a day job in a historical Colonial town, and most of his money goes to paying for his incapacitated mother, who resides in a nursing home. He trolls sexual-addiction clinics for potential hook-ups. He has to keep choking or he can't pay his mother's bills. Warnings: Graphic sex, foul language, absolute and utterly blunt truth that you can only laugh about after the fact. Definitely for mature readers, and a bit of a cut above "Fight Club", for those who have -only- seen the movie. (Gah. Ed Norton. Brad Pitt. (Who, coincidentally, was slated to play Crowley in the scrapped ( ) plans for a "Good Omens" movie!) So awesome.) Why I love it: This is a book that stays with you, really, and while Victor is prone to some surprisingly poignant moments, the book normally serves to point out some of the ridiculous parts of today's world. And yet, no matter how dark the book gets, the dry wit is interspersed with small moments of light. The ending is fantastic...like the extra chapter of Burgess' "A Clockwork Orange" that wasn't put into the original printing (or the film, if you've seen it). Victor doesn't really change, but watching the changes in the people around him, especially Denny, prompts my comparison to CO.
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Post by therhoda on Aug 23, 2004 21:59:25 GMT -5
cesmith don't forget Cerulean sins!! ( I Adore asher!) or the NEW one due out Incubus dreams which is out in 35 days. (me a fan never)
Now really how is a book worm (trust me when we moved there were 60 boxes of just books!) suposed ot give You a favorite. I can give You authors but man How do I do single books. Do You mass markets or beginners? Do you want high fantasy or space opera? I need a place to start.
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Post by kanshu on Aug 24, 2004 1:13:10 GMT -5
Ohhh... "Brothers Lionheart"!!! My mom gave me this as a birthday present last year. I had wanted to buy it all the time (like, ever since I read it in the public library two decades ago) but never got around to do it. Lindgren's books are a must read. They are very special and precious, and appeal to grown ups and children alike. And they are translated to English language for you people over the big pond. I'd love to toss in the "Mark Brandis" sci fi saga, which influenced me a lot with its "Life and die for what you believe in" message and my most favorite character ever (John Harris). But not only is that out of print, but never made it to English. So... you're stuck with this: Name: Star Trek #50: Doctor's Orders Author: Diane Duane Genre: SciFi/Adventure Summary: While on a routine diplomatic mission on the planet, Kirk disappears, leaving Dr. McCoy acting captain. When a Klingon vessel arrives laying claim to the planet, its landing party also vanishes, resulting in a confrontation with the Enterprise. Warnings: None, age 10+ Why you Love it: Used to be a die hard Trek fan. I still am, somewhat more mature, but a classic Trek episode can always catch my attention. Dis I mention I love pointed ears? And McCoy rules. Without him, Spock wouldn't be half as much fun. "Acting Captain" McCoy literally suffers from the problems of working out of his field. There's a lot of tension in the book and when the Klingons show up, things went straight out of the window.
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Post by cesmith on Aug 24, 2004 5:33:39 GMT -5
Was going to put Cerulian Sins too, but ran out of time (Fixed it). I can't believe my book club didn't have a preorder for her next one. My favorite character in the Anita Blake series is Edward, the Assassin. He is so complex and twisted .
Loved Doctors Orders. I have always been a Dr. McCoy fan, from day one. I cried the day DeForest Kelly died.
Name: A Kiss of Shadows Author: Laurell K. Hamilton Genre: Horror, Fairie lore Summary: Princess Merideth is in hiding from her Aunt, The Queen of Faries. She is summoned back to The Court and given a challenge between herself and her cousin, Prince Cel. Whomever gets Pregnant, or impregnates some one, will inherit the throne. Merry works for a detective agency/bodyguard service in L.A.. Her Farie powers are awakening and she's half Human, an unwanted child her Aunt had tried to drown, which is why her Father had taken her away and hidden her with the Humans. Warnings: Extreme Violence, Graphic sex Why I love it: Like her other series, Laurell K. Hamilton creates a believabe world. The stories are exciting and full of Farie Lore. The female lead starts out in need of protection, but as she comes into her Farie powers others will need protection from her. A Kiss of Shadows A Caress Of Twilight Seduced by Moonlight
I love stories that come in a series. You get to know the characters. Laurell K. Hamilton also wrote a Star Trek: the Next Generation Story. Haven't read it, I keep forgetting to look for it in the bookstore. It's old, so it might be out of print.
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Post by kanshu on Aug 24, 2004 14:56:28 GMT -5
Name: The Science of Discworld Author:Terry Pratchett, Ian Stewart, Jack Cohen Genre: Science, Fantasy Summary: The wizards at the Unseen University start an experiment that creates... Roundworld! Alternating between popular-science eplanations and story, the reader is taken through the universe and evolution. Warnings: religiously offending. Age 12+ (because it's 'heavy' in party) Why you Love it: It has the perfect mixture of fun story and scientific explanation. The story part deals with the thoughts of the wizards about a universe so very different from their own. And the science part explains in a wonderful, slightly ironic, but very decent way how the universe works. My favorite line is about the "Lies for children, lies for grown up" about how facts are presented. It's a very smart book, and if I wasn't already head over heels into sciemnce, I'd fall for it through this one.
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Post by KarotsaMused on Aug 24, 2004 23:32:43 GMT -5
Yess! *major hearts* Science of Discworld is sidesplitting. Then again, so are all of the Discworld books. Pratchett's got a bit of a following on this board ^^;
Alright, fairy tale time. It doesn't at all fit in with the faerie type books that have been put up before, but rather deals with original bedtime stories in a new and different way.
Name: Kissing the Witch Author: Emme Donoghue Genre: Fantasy Summary: Basically, as the cover says, "Old Tales in New Skins" - different, sometimes radical takes on familiar fairy tales such as Cinderella or Rapunzel. Everything that has been Disney-ized is brought back to the nitty gritty, grungy and vulgar with humanity.
Warnings: None aside from subtle sexual reference, 10+ on the safe side
Why I love it: It takes the tales everybody has heard a million times and rewords them, turns the characters from idyllic into flawed and real. Princesses are conceited, happily ever afters don't last too far past the honeymoon, adults are allowed to lust. I think I just take pleasure in reading about how the once perfect characters everyone is familiar with are forced into the mud to survive. Knocks them off of their pedestals, but in gorgeous prose as well. Yay for Irish authors (What? Me? Biased? No!!)
TheRhoda: Heh, start with one and add as many as you like - if you must, pick a favorite author and go from there ^^ I certainly want to see what you have in your cache.
cesmith: I must agree, when stories come in series, they're so much more detailed and full. Recognizing a character and watching them develop over the span of a few books is so much more fulfilling! There's a lot more room for development there. ^^
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Post by kanshu on Aug 25, 2004 10:49:03 GMT -5
Three books I bring to you... Alas, they are more reference books than novels. I still love them, so I thought I'd share. Yes, I know. I'm weird. Name: Body Trauma - a writer's guide to wounds an injuries Author: David W. Page, M.D. Genre: Reference book Summary: Body Trauma explains what happens to body organs and bones maimed by accident or intent. Warnings: None. But you will think twice before you injure your characters again. Why you Love it: Apart from that this nook simply helps me not looking like a complete idiot (like, there are some things a character just shouldn't be able to do, even if his name is Son Goku...), this book also is educational. It's easy to use and explains things in layman's terms, ready to use for authors. Still, once you start out, you can't help but research further. Name: Cause of Death - a writer's guide to death, murder & forensic medicine Author: Keith D. Wilson, M.D. Genre: reference book Summary: Cause of Death is designed to be an efficient desktop refernce for the layperson, with vital information indexed and cross-refernced for easy access. Warnings: None. Except for death. Lots of it... Why you Love it: Since CSI, there's a lot known about forensics. STill, I like this book, because it always gives me ideas, or warns me about possible unhealthy sideeffects for my characters. Name: Robin Hood Author: J.C. Holt Genre: reference book Summary: The book tries to unravel pure invention from real possibility and brings the reader closer to the Robin Hood legend. Warnings: None. Conatins lots of facts and tales. Why you Love it: I'm a sucker for reference books, I admit it. This particular book helped me to dwelve into the England of Robin Hood. You learn about the political and social situation. It compared various old legends and it's overall very usefull if you are creating AUs It shows how tightly cause and events are connected, and how wishfull thinking creates legends.
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Post by therhoda on Aug 25, 2004 15:05:11 GMT -5
umm cesmith? You do know that You got the two series mixed together, don't ya? Cerulean Sins, is an anita book. The first Merry book is Kiss of Shadows. It looks like You knew but I thought I should point out the goof.
Oh yes Edward, isn't he tasty. He is in the new book she said when I saw here in june. Apparently everyone shows up in this new book. Which is why it is the longest one she has ever written.
Now for all of You that love angst and cute men in uncomfortable positions. You will adore Merry's life, so try Kiss of Shadows!
Humm for a recomend of my own:
Name: Dragon Bones Author: Patrica Briggs Genre: fantasy Summary: Ward's life has always been hard. Now it has gone to a new level. Go with him on a journey that will either kill him or save his world. Warnings: I don't have any. Why you Love it: I adore this writer she is just getting her feet under her. She has 7 published books and so is starting to become popular slightly. I love her cause she personally answers email. Nothing like sending something to her because you noticed something expecting a secretary response and getting actual author feed back. She is still small time now but you won't be able to resist her is you try her.
another favorite author and my favorite book of hers:
Name:Wild Magic Author:Tamora Pierce Genre:Young adult fantasy Summary:Ever wonder where you came from and where you are going, Daine has too. Join her as she learns, you can't out run yourself. Warnings:None Why you Love it:I love this story because it is the beginning of the Immortal set. you meet such interesting characters in this story with magic and animals. I love all of Ms. Pierce's work but this is my favorite so it is my recomend.
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Post by cesmith on Aug 25, 2004 17:59:54 GMT -5
therhoda: Thanks for the fix-up. That's what comes from living life with only 3 hours of sleep a night. ( Hangs head in shame, and promptly falls asleep)
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