Good books you've read lately

[LollerBrader]

Originally posted by kvg
The Man Without a Face: The Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin

Interesting. Please share impressions/learnings.

[HyperZell]

Originally posted by GorG
Leviathan wakes - it's a science fiction book based 200 years in the future. Humans have colonized the solar system and a major conflict erupts between various political organizations (earth, mars, and the other planets). Quick read and action packed, I highly recommend it.

That's the Expanse trilogy by James S.A. Corey, right? I've read that and Caliban's War, and I just downloaded Abaddon's Gate. Very interesting writing style that somehow works; I like it.

[01RedDX]

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[bjstare]

With vacation coming up over Christmas, I'm going to need some ideas. My usual go-to is a Michael Crichton book... but now I've read them all.

Does anyone have an author to suggest that writes similar style books to him?


Also, if you're into sci-fi stuff, the last two Michael Crichton books I read have been by far the most enjoyable to me: Timeline and Micro (Micro was the one that he died partway through writing and was finished by someone else, IIRC).


I also plan to read the Sonny Barger biography, heard that's pretty interesting.

[SkiBum5.0]

The Big Short by Michael Lewis is pretty eye opening. It outlines the who's and the what's before the financial meltdown in the US - not a boring read at all as it follows different people in the financial industry who essentially hedged their bets against the markets they were investing other people's money in.

[zipdoa]

Originally posted by 01RedDX


I just finished The Five People You Meet in Heaven, highly recommended for anyone looking for a quick and easy inspirational read.

That's a good one. Read it 10 years ago!

I'm a big fan of Dave Eggers.

Check out:

"A Heartbreaking work of staggering genius"

and

"What is the what"

[LollerBrader]

Currently reading "Roadside picnic".

Russian science fiction from the 70's recently translated into English.

This is a fantastic book, with an original concept, and would make a great movie.

Concept: A brief and unnoticed alien incursion has left 6 small uninhabitable "zones" across the planet. These zones are littered with alien debris and artifacts - All of which have mysterious, dangerous, or wonderful properties. The protagonist is a professional looter, who breaks into these sealed off "zones" to pilfer alien artifacts for black market sale.

It echoes themes reminiscent of Frederick Pohl's "Gateway", and Sci-fi Channel's "Lost room". If you liked either, you'd like this.

It's fairly dark, with a couple of messed up twists.

Still reading, can hardly put down.


Update: Finished. Excellent book. Concept and exectution 10/10 each. Bonus points given for an smooth translation job that didn't feel awkward like some translations can. It's a smaller book - More of a Novella. Only around 4 hrs reading time total.

[freshprince1]

Gotta throw out props for the "Malazan Book of the Fallen" series, by Steven Erikson (Canadian!).

If you like High Fantasy and series'....this thing is beyond any other series on the planet. 10 books at 1200+ pages each, basically chronicling the entire history of a world over hundreds of thousands of years. Hundreds of characters. The depth and breadth of the plots turn away a lot of people due to it's sheer magnitude and size.

In depth, verbose, incredible character development..etc.

I'm on the 8th book.

It's almost beyond description.

[Tik-Tok]

Just finished reading Ready Player One. Whimsical fiction combining Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, MMORPG's, and 1980's nostalgia.

I'd suggest it for any gamers. (it's young adult fiction as a heads up though, nothing too deep here, lol)

[ArjayAquino]

Originally posted by Tik-Tok
Just finished reading Ready Player One. Whimsical fiction combining Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, MMORPG's, and 1980's nostalgia.

I'd suggest it for any gamers. (it's young adult fiction as a heads up though, nothing too deep here, lol)

yep definitely recommend that, it's a fun read and they're making a movie out of it.

The Martian is also a must read, god damn witty and you learn shit too. The movie is gonna be good.

Another good one I read recently is "First fifteen lives of harry august". It's about a guy that when he dies he is born again in the same life but with all his memories from his previous lives.

[asp integra]

If you like the action/thriller/political type book check out anything by Vince Flynn. He writes about CIA operative 'Mitch Rapp' Great series of books. I would suggest starting at the beginning (you don't need to read the whole series in order but it does follow a timetable)
Great books that are hard to put down, highly recommended!

[BigDL]

Anything by Brandon Sanderson but starting with Mistborn series.

[FraserB]

Originally posted by ArjayAquino
The Martian is also a must read, god damn witty and you learn shit too. The movie is gonna be good.

The Martian was awesome. Started reading it on a flight an had to finish is before I did anything else when I got home.

Can't wait for the movie, although I think people should read the book first.

[C_Dave45]

Anything by Dean Koontz was always good. His books are often made into "TV" type movies, and they suck quite badly, as opposed to the books. Worse than the normal "the book was better".

But I discovered Lisa Jackson when I was camping. Picked up a couple of her books at a small grocery store. NY Times top 10 authors.

The three I read while camping, and just finished this morning:

Hot Blooded, Cold Blooded, and Never Die Alone.

New Orleans setting. Serial murder mystery, very suspenseful.

[D'z Nutz]

Just finished reading Beastie Boys Book. Fuck, the way they talk about MCA bums me out.