Yakoob on 18/2/2017 at 06:49
Ooh good thread idea ! Can I ask we all bold book titles or even genres to make readability easier as the thread grows?
My recommendations, more on the non-fictiony side to mix things up:
* World War Z (Max Brooks) - zombie apocalypse in format of brief academic papers. I read it right after completing my masters and it was great. "It's like all the case studies I read... but with zombies!" Ignore the terrible movie though
* Masters of Doom (David Kushner) - the story of iD software and the two Johns. Really eye-opening and very honest, not playing favorites (and often criticizing the two). Very motivaing as well.
* The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses (Jesse Schell) - an absolutely stellar premier on game design which changed how I approach my games a lot. Highly recommended to all the devs here!
* Made to Stick (Chip Heath, Dan Heath) - simple but not easy rules for making ideas and messages stick. Really useful marketing primer with a lot of examples and case studies.
Quote Posted by PigLick
Also Brian Sandersons Mistborn series, a political magic/steampunk world, something I think Yakoob would enjoy (hits some real karaski notes)
Thank for reminding me, I've heard it recommended a lot and in a mood for good fantasy. Adding to reading list :]
Quote Posted by demagogue
Honestly I've been reading a lot of hard science books, cognitive science most of all, because I'm upset with reality these days and want to finally understand how things tick.
Oi, I like those, but those that fall on more practical side rather than pure theory (ie. Made to Stick and Art of Game Design). I recently wrapped up Willpower Instinct (Kelly MocGonigal) which was pretty interesting, tho not amazing.
Quote Posted by Sulphur
By the way, how are people on Murakami? I read Kafka on the Shore, and I didn't quite get why it was so celebrated, though that may be a function of me not getting past the book's surface level in the first place.
Same, intriguing at first that grew just too random for my tastes. I'm sure there's plenty of symbolism and hidden meaning in there but the problem is - symbolism doesn't work if it completely flies over your head :|
Vivian on 18/2/2017 at 10:15
Read the wind-up bird chronicle, or wild sheep chase, or (probs my favourite), hard boiled wonderland. Those are really good. Kafka on the shore is definitely b-grade murakami. I didn't think much of Norwegian wood either.
Renzatic on 18/2/2017 at 10:48
Quote Posted by hopper
Any good ones you can recommend?
When I'm in the mood for some internet ghost stories, I'll hit up NoSleep and SCP Foundation. Every once in awhile you'll get something really, really good.
The last actual book I read was the first part of the Southern Reach trilogy a couple months back. It was fairly decent.
henke on 18/2/2017 at 11:37
I don't read books much anymore, but I did recently listen to the audiobook of Stephen King's 11.22.63. It's about a high school teacher who discovers a timeportal to 1958, and decides to use it to try and save JFK's life. It was exciting as hell.
Gryzemuis on 18/2/2017 at 11:54
I'm afraid I must admit that the last books I read where the A Song of Ice and Fire books by G.Martin. And I really regret that now. If I had known in advance that I had to wait 7 years for book 6, and that book 7 will never be written, I would not have bothered reading them. I don't read books just for the ending. But if a book (or book series) does not have an ending at all, that ruins everything.
A colleague of mine recommended the "3 Body-Problem" series (chinese sci-fi, 3 books). But then I saw that a movie will be released this year. Now I can't be bothered to give it a try. I'll wait for the movie. Fuck GRRM.
PigLick on 18/2/2017 at 12:42
Hey henke I have read that it was good but suffered from typical Stephen King bloat, especially the middle section where he does this whole reference to
IT. I found that a little pretentious. If you want a decent King read the
Mr Mercedes books are pretty good.
Another good read I just remembered is the Stephen Leather
Jack Nightingale series of books. Its a supernatural realism/detective thing, very urban fantasy with demon summoning, weird ass conspiracy groups and quite dark and gritty.
Also John Birmingham's series (
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23965758-emergence), its set in modern times and is about an underworld that exists full of demons and orcs etc that breaks through to the real world in an oil rig catastrophe, its absolutely ballistic and you all need to read it now
PigLick on 18/2/2017 at 13:05
And of course there is probly the ultimate scifi series, the Julian May Saga of the Exiles, its way too complex to describe here but godamn it is amazing, not an easy read, in fact you would need to read it multiple times to grock the entirety of it, and the follow up series The Galactic Milieu trilogy deepens the story and plot even more. Plus its just really really good, in fact I wish I lived in the future world she created.
Starker on 18/2/2017 at 16:24
The Lies of Locke Lamora, a picaresque taking place in a Venice-like city built by an ancient civilization. Like the Kingkiller Chronicle, it has the problem that the author is too much in love with the protagonist, but it's pretty well written otherwise.
Quote:
Father Chains sat on the roof of the House of Perelandro, staring down at the astonishingly arrogant fourteen-year-old that the little orphan he'd purchased so many years before from the Thiefmaker of Shades' Hill had become.
"Some day, Locke Lamora," he said, "some day, you're going to fuck up so magnificently, so ambitiously, so overwhelmingly that the sky will light up and the moons will spin and the gods themselves will shit comets with glee. And I just hope I'm still around to see it."
"Oh, please," said Locke. "It'll never happen."
Renzatic on 18/2/2017 at 18:05
Quote Posted by henke
I don't read books much anymore, but I did recently listen to the audiobook of Stephen King's
11.22.63.
Since you liked it so much, I suggest checking out the series. It does a great job of getting to the core of the story while cutting out most of the excess fat.
ToolHead on 18/2/2017 at 19:23
Currently reading:
"Lincoln in the Bardo" by George Saunders, "The Croning" by Laird Barron, "The Circle" by Dave Eggers, and "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss.
"Lincoln itB" is fantastic. Three fourths in, it's truly moving, absurd, and completely unlike anything else - even Saunders' previous stuff.
"The Croning" is off to a promising start. I've been on a Barron trip lately, having ploughed through most of his work this winter. With the exception of "X's for Eyes" it's all great stuff.
"The Circle" seems interesting. It's been a while since I've read anything by Eggers apart from bits and pieces in "McSweeney's." Such a talented, funny writer.
"The Name of the Wind" is a bit meh so far. I like my fantasy dark and gritty, and so far this seems a bit too polished for my liking. Not a bad writer, though. I'm reading it as an "I'll read yours if you read mine" type of deal with my brother who'll read "Annihilation" as his part of the deal. Lucky bastard.
