Wander into a bookstore and start judging books by its covers. Go to a section that is somewhat related to what you are enjoying right now. Like playing sci-fi games? Science fiction section. Fantasy? Fantasy section. Feeling glum and blah? Read some motivation books. Pick up random books, read like the first chapter or two or even three and then see if you can tear yourself away without wondering what happens at the end of the book.
After you have found a book that you finish try to see if there are sequels or works by the same author. Sometimes you will enjoy the authorās work (like me with Lawrence Block). Other times you will notice the āread one, read 'em allā feel (R.A. Salvatore for me), or sometimes you will just lose interest and thatās fine. Try to avoid the whole NY Timeās Bestseller list because there have been plenty of garbage ass literature that made it to the list.
Worse comes to worst and you still canāt figure stuff out, try the classics. I recommend āThe Count of Monte Cristoā just because that was the first novel I read that made me go āWow, I canāt believe I want to make time to sit down and read straight for 7 hoursā. Might not be your cup of tea of course. You can also try hopping on the bandwagon as there is no shame in that. George RR Martinās A Song of Ice and Fire series (more well known by āA Game of Thronesā) is really awesome, albeit he takes his time to write.
Some books that I do not suggest you read, even though they are considered classics, are āA Scarlet Letterā, āCatcher in the Ryeā, āPride and Prejudiceā and āHeart of Darknessā. I remember having to read some of those so-called classics in High School but they were either really really really boring or just hard to appreciate because of the difference in timeā¦unless you read āPride and Prejudice and Zombiesā in which case youāll pretty much know the story of āPride and Prejudiceā and still chuckle.
Donāt watch the movie. I know youāve already decided, but I just wanted to reinforce your correct opinion.
Love McCarthy.
Finally finished Game of Thrones book 5.
Todos:
Snowclash
Slaughterhouse Five
William Gibson novels besides Neuromancer
Murakami novel, not sure which one though. Iāve only read After Dark and I donāt want to read Norwegian Wood after seeing part of the movie.
It was a sad day when my local mom&pop bookstore(4 blocks from me) finally shut down after 10 years or so. Even with the renovation and adding coffee/dessert items/free wifi, it just couldnāt survive. Bought the entire Harry Potter books, William Gibson stuff, 50s/60s/70s/80s scifi short stories collections among other things. It was such an awesome book store :sad: :sad:.
Speaking of books: whatās everyoneā favorite signed book? Mines 2nd edition print of Neuromancer signed by Gibson and Neal Stephensonās REAMDE. I was hoping Gibson would at least write my name but nope, he was literally scribbling his name on everyoneās book . Neal though was awesome: i told him his books partly inspired me to get into Computer Science in the first place and he appreciated that.
I honestly donāt know how folks are able to complete e-books. I work with computer all day; the last thing I want is to read stuff on another damn monitor off-hours.
Figured I would bump this post for you. I still havenāt read Burning Chrome, or Neuromancer for that matter (though itās really high on my list of ānextsā), but its in my dropbox therefore on my tablet and will be read within a couple of months. If the link doesnāt work lemme know Iāll post mine up.
I feel like I need to break up the SciFi kick Iām on. The problem is I donāt like a lot of fantasy stuff. The most recent venture was Book 1 of The Mongoliad, not strictly fantasy more like alternate reality middle ages or something. But armies and sword fights donāt do it for me like drug addicted hackers and genius programmers.
Also fun note for goody since he mentioned his work: Neil Gaiman wrote the introduction in the HHGTTG omnibus Iāve got and before he wrote any of The Sandman he wrote a nonfiction: Donāt Panic :tup:
My friend called me up one day saying āGeorge RR Martin is giving out autographs for A Dance with Dragons to the first 100 orders just now and oh wait itās sold out nevermindā.
I downloaded Ulysses from Project Gutenberg and had a similar reaction.
On e-readers: I prefer the physicality of a real book, but when traveling it is a hell of a lot more convenient to toss an e-reader in your bag. But Iām not buying any e-books with DRM. I wish all the publishers and sellers the best, but the books I bought from Borders are still on my shelf, you know what I mean?
The last minute or so is him replying to comments about the video of the week prior which covered Sci Fi authors, specifically Gibson, as modern day āsoothsayersā so thereās that too.
Havenāt read The Road and canāt vouch either way, but Iāve read three other McCarthy books. His stuff is pretty dense. Rewarding, but he makes you work for it.
I like to read the books before lambasting them. That way Iām not talking out of my ass. Besides, I rarely ever read fiction books. I guess Iām making up time from when I was in college. Iāll make my English minor work for me, damn it!
This is my fault. I mean āOn the Roadā by Jack Keroac not āThe Roadā by Cormac McCarthy.
. Neal though was awesome: i told him his books partly inspired me to get into Computer Science in the first place and he appreciated that.