The Currently Reading Thread .........

[karkarinus]

Don't know if this has ever been done, but I would like to start a "Currently Reading" Thread. I am not an avid reader, as the book has to be superb for me not to get bored after the first page, but I'm half way through The Da Vinci Code after 4 days!

 

What are you lot into ATM?

[Malchik]

Actually the Da Vinci code is not very well written. The story line isn't so bad though for a piece of total escapism.

 

I used to read all sorts of stuff. Now I write and so only read when out of ideas.

 

My reading is pure escapism too and revolves around humorous fantasy like Terry Pratchett and defective stories.

 

Last book I read was Thud by Pratchett.

[loveme4whoiam]

Thud! is one of the best books I have ever read - no book apart from that one has actually made me cry out "NO!!" whilst reading at 2AM. It even knocked off Men at Arms as my favourite Pratchett book.

 

So I'll stop now before I get going :P I am a total Bernard Cornwell fan - I love the Sharpe books, they are the reason I'm going into the career I am, and the new Uhtred series that he is writing now. And what's more, I might even meet him in August if our shop manages to win negotiations with HarperCollins :D

 

I'm currently looking to diversify what I read - I'm such a completist with the two above authors that I haven't read much else. I read Da Vinci Code (like everyone else in the country, apparently three times over judging by the sales :dry: ) I prefered Angels and Demons to DVC as it took a more even-handed look at the Church (not that I don't mind DVC's attacks on it) and kept the reader twisting and turning a bit more. I'm not generally into thrillers/conspiracy theory stuff so I can't really judge it in the genre.

 

I've just read two David Gemmel books, apparently the "master of heroic fantasy". And I'll admit, he's pretty good at that. The most recent one I've read reads just like how one wishes online RPs would play. However, he rushes through the story a bit too fast for me, especially in Sword In The Storm - that book could have been double the thickness and not suffered a jot. Maybe that's just my taste though.

 

I'd like to read some David and Leigh Eddings books (because there are so many it'll take me a while) and maybe some sci-fi, Isaac Asimov or... damn, can't remember the guy's name. Wrote Hyperion at any rate. Can anyone recommend something in those genres?

 

Oh yes, and I want to read some of Macdonald Fraser's Flashman books, just because in the blurb of them Flashman is described as a "cad and a bounder". Nothing with a character description like that can be bad :D

[Peregrine]

damn, can't remember the guy's name. Wrote Hyperion at any rate. Can anyone recommend something in those genres?

 

Dan Simmons is the guy you're thinking of, and they're definitely worth reading. Also, I'd suggest Iain M. Banks' Culture books, if you can find them. Most of them are out of print and hard to find at a sane price (at least in the US).

[Stampede]

I don't see any harm in making this a sticky.

 

I'm currently reading 'Salem's Lot by Stephen King and Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S Lewis.

 

Talk about opposites! (I read the King book during the day because I'M A BIG WUSS!)

[ThetaOrionis01]

Currently reading 'The War Among The Angels' by Michael Moorcock. Love his style of writing and use of language.

 

 

I can definitely second Peregrine's recommendation of Iain M. Banks' Culture novels - 'Excession' and 'Player of Games' are my favourites among his books. Very well written, and stunningly imaginative - science fiction doesn't get much (if any!) better than that.

Peregrine: Have you tried ordering from amazon UK? Iain M. Banks' books are widely available here.

[Peregrine]

Currently reading 'The War Among The Angels' by Michael Moorcock. Love his style of writing and use of language.

 

 

I can definitely second Peregrine's recommendation of Iain M. Banks' Culture novels - 'Excession' and 'Player of Games' are my favourites among his books. Very well written, and stunningly imaginative - science fiction doesn't get much (if any!) better than that.

Peregrine: Have you tried ordering from amazon UK? Iain M. Banks' books are widely available here.

 

I've found plenty of sources for the books, the only problem is the cost. Between the higher cost of the out of print editions and the shipping costs, they end up costing way more than normal prices. I just checked amazon UK and it's the same problem again... they want $12 just for the shipping cost on the cheapest shipping option (normal books cost $8 at most, shipping included).

[loveme4whoiam]

We have loads of Iain M. Banks stuff in store (Waterstones - your local book store :P), and that was one of the guys I knew I'd left off my list. Cheers for the reminder of Dan Simmons, and for the recommendation. I only mentioned them because the covers are shiny and good-looking :blush:

 

Never really liked the look of Stephen King - I'm not one for horror movies or books, although I have it on good authority that Rats by James Herbert is scary as hell. C.S. Lewis enjoyed something of a rebirth in sales when the Narnia film came out, but nothing like as spectacular as LotR did, of course. I'm thinking about reading one of his religious texts just to see what he was going on about.

[Stampede]

I'm not a King fan either. I think he is little more than a hack these days. His novels from the 70s (ie: his early work) is his best stuff. The Dark Tower books (I-IV) are epic and some of the best examples of writing around. When he returned to finish the series, he pulled a George Lucas...changing the previous books and giving the whole thing a very lacklustre cliched finale. Ugh.

 

Also he has something against animals, I have not read one book of his where the sod does not go into detail about killing or hurting a dog.

 

I was a big fan of the 70's mini-series of 'Salems Lot however.

 

As for C.S Lewis, one must keep in mind his books are for children and on that level they work really well. I do enjoy childrens fantasy as it is not as pretentious as some 'adult' works and I don't have to slog through awkward sex scenes by nerdy authors.

[karkarinus]

No, Da Vinci Code is not well-written in a literary sense, but is does keep pulling you on and on through your own relentless quest to find out what the hell is going on. To keep me interested is a merit in its own right!

 

If all authors throughout history should suddenly disappear except one, it should definitely be Tolkien. J.R.R. that is - not Christopher's attempts to milk the legend dry. Admittedly, he has exposed previously unknown material, but now he's just living off the name, IMHO.

 

I've never read King either, but Salem's Lot does attract me.

 

As soon as I finish DVC, I'm going to start on my Dad's (complete) Terry Pratchett collection. He met him many years ago, and had him dedicate a hardback copy (of "Mort", I think) to me!

 

Anybody ever read any Jack Vance? A true magician with words, but so hard to find :( .