books

[lillyxandra]

I want to start reading more. I have recently taken up an interest in the written word. Anyone got any good suggestions?

Comments

[seiryu_16]

The Lies of Locke Lamora - Scott Lynch
Motherless Brooklyn - Jonathan Lethem
Neverwhere - Neil Gaiman
The Amazing Adventures of Cavalier and Clay - Michael Chabon
His Dark Materials (series) - Philip Pullman
Song of Ice and Fire (series) - George R.R. Martin
The Left Hand of Darkness - Ursula LeGuin
The Shipping News - E. Annie Proulx

...just to name a few ::wink::

[lillyxandra]

i just finished Neil Gaimen's American Gods, and just fell in love with it. Think I'll check out Neverwhere.

[sadistic_apollo]

If you just read American Gods go ahead and read Anansi Boys. It's practically a sequel (of sorts)

I can't recommend the Song of Ice and Fire books (starting with A Game of Thrones) enough! They are the definitive fantasy after Tolkien. Simply a must read =)

[accela]

YES, seconding Anansi Boys like no other. the book is awesome *_* (i actually liked it more than American Gods, which shocked me at the time).

[solipsiae]

It's "practically a sequel (of sorts)" because I don't think Gaiman, at this point, can't not write about "oooh myths and legends in everyday modern life!" For me, his opus was Sandman and I've been routinely disappointed with all his novels. Short story collections are good, but if I have to read about one more god or goddess at a truck stop or something, I will abandon him altogether.

[solipsiae]

I came in here to post about His Dark Materials. They're making movies out of them and so far the casting and pictures look great, but I suggest reading them first. They are as good if not better than Harry Potter or Narnia, but in the same class. What they do with Christianity is very interesting and it is easily one of the most underlooked high fantasy series out there.

The Time Traveler's Wife, by Audrey Niffenegger, is really beautiful. It's about a guy who time-travels but can't control it, and the woman he loves/has always loved, who lives life in a normal, chronological fashion. It's made a lot of Book Club lists, and there are rumors that Rachel McAdams (I love her) will be playing the female protagonist role.

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell is a giant monster of a book, but if you take pleasure in historical-sounding English, it's a true pleasure to read. Imagine magic taking place in a much more stuffy, older England.

For the record, I still have yet to resume House of Leaves. I see it's been suggested a few times

[ex_legein446]

Ohh yay, another His Dark Materials fan! Although I heard that they're taking a crucial element out of the story for the movies, so I'm extremely worried about that. :\

[solipsiae]

Frustratingly, I heard the element was the Christianity, which is why I'm really wary. I realize they want to compete with the Harry Potter and Narnia franchises, but that's such a huge and integral part of the story and HDMverse that if they were to fuck with it a lot, I would be heartbroken.

[ex_legein446]

I would be heartbroken as well. I can't imagine how they're going to pull off the story if they remove God from the equation. I keep trying to consider the possibilities, but the central themes of the story will be hollow without it. I guess we'll have to see....

pardon the preachin'

[solipsiae]

Not just "God" but the church -- the relation and distinction between the two, and all the church is responsible for orchestrating, their ties to characters in the series, etc. While Narnia is a lovely fantasy fairytale sprouted out of the fluffiest parts of Christianity, the HDM trilogy confronts the reality of the role the Christian church has played throughout modern civilization and history in a way that is both childlike and arresting, a mix not easily achieved.

Re: pardon the preachin'

[ex_legein446]

Oh absolutely! Themes that an American audience (in particular, I mean) may have a difficult time digesting. It's just unfortunate that "difficult" would translate into "let's make it fluffy".

alternate alternate translations

[solipsiae]

"Big studio producers don't want to rock the boat," "It was okay for Mel Gibson and his 'Passion' but that wasn't targeted towards kids even though lots of churches organized viewing trips for young children," "We have a lot of investors who would like to see the more 'offensive' or 'controversial' elements removed," etc. etc.

Re: alternate alternate translations

[lillyxandra]

i think you convinced me to pick up His Dark Materials. I like stories in that vein.

Re: alternate alternate translations

[solipsiae]

I can't wait to hear what you think of them!

[huongstar]

I had to stop reading House of Leaves; it really really freaked me out.

[solipsiae]

I read the intro and still have yet to resume it. No way is that going to happen during the cold seasons, either. Brr!