Something to kick-start me again...?

MrPLD · 10-05-2010, 12:14 AM

I don't get to read a lot of fiction, most of the time I'm chewing away at electronic part datasheets or maybe enjoying something written by James Gleick.

The last book series I really got into was the Belgariad by Eddings, it was light reading and the story was still enjoyable ( I mean, who can't enjoy being imbued with such powers

).... sadly that was 20 years ago. Recently I picked up "His dark materials" aka "The golden compass / The subtle knife / The amber spyglass" but it didn't really draw me in as much.

The other book that stays significant in my mind was Feist's "Faerie Tale" which was one of the few books that I couldn't stop reading until the end.

So, anyone got any suggestions as to what I can expand my life with?

Paul.

crich70 · 10-05-2010, 12:21 AM

One series I have enjoyed is the Harry Potter series of books. The Hornblower books by C.S. Forester are good as well. I don't know if either series is as yet in ebook format but both are good reads I think.

Piper_ · 10-05-2010, 12:29 AM

Have you read George RR Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series?

Four huge books, the series is a way from being complete, but it's still some outstanding, gripping storytelling. I told myself I'd pace myself, but I couldn't. lol I zoomed through all four in <2 weeks.

HBO will be starting the series early next year, starring Sean Bean, in case you'd like to watch for it.

MrPLD · 10-05-2010, 12:30 AM

So far as I understand bringing HP to eBook format has been a big point of discussion for a while now. As yet no indicators that it'll happen in the short term.

Haven't seen/heard about C.S.Forester, I'll dig around for that one to check it out.

Paul.

MrPLD · 10-05-2010, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Piper_

Have you read George RR Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series?

I have heard of them... mmm... so the series isn't yet complete, that could drive me insane (waiting). Any indicators that they will be completed any time soon.. or ever?

paul.

Piper_ · 10-05-2010, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crich70

One series I have enjoyed is the Harry Potter series of books. The Hornblower books by C.S. Forester are good as well. I don't know if either series is as yet in ebook format but both are good reads I think.

Hard to go wrong with Harry Potter, and if you're in the mood for those coming of age stories and/or enjoy mythology, another cool series that's kinda like it, and even lighter, is Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson & the Olympians series.

MrPLD · 10-05-2010, 12:36 AM

The "coming of age" thing isn't the draw for me in this case, more the whole mythology and mystercisim.

I don't mind a good mystery/detective type story if it's centered around technological tricks and written by a good writer who knows their stuff (unlike say... "The Net"

).

Paul.

Piper_ · 10-05-2010, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrPLD

I have heard of them... mmm... so the series isn't yet complete, that could drive me insane (waiting). Any indicators that they will be completed any time soon.. or ever?

paul.

Welll... lol No indicators that I'd put a lot of hope in. Actually, he's behind and it wouldn't surprise me if he never finishes. If you absolutely need closure on all story lines, then I'd wait until it was surely done.

Personally, the last book left me feeling OK enough about it, I'd read them again, regardless. They are just so incredibly good, it's worth it.

And that's from someone who doesn't do cliffhangers or waits well, at all. I even put off TV series until they're out on dvd so I can watch them all start to finish.

Piper_ · 10-05-2010, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrPLD

The "coming of age" thing isn't the draw for me in this case, more the whole mythology and mystercisim.

I don't mind a good mystery/detective type story if it's centered around technological tricks and written by a good writer who knows their stuff (unlike say... "The Net"

).

Paul.

Then, have you read Neal Stephenson? The Baroque Cycle?
Nobody does it better than Stephenson.

crich70 · 10-05-2010, 02:32 AM

The Dark is Rising series of books by Susan Cooper is good as well. It's based in the legends of King Arthur and is a series of 5 books.

MrPLD · 10-05-2010, 02:52 AM

Thanks everyone - I'll give it a shot and see what I can find locally - or on the Kindle.

I'll probably get into trouble though if I read them before I finish going over ToL again

neilmarr · 10-05-2010, 03:46 AM

The person who knows you best must be an avid reader to be an effective author. My advice, Paul would simply be: ask your wife. Good luck. Neil

Georgiegirl2012 · 10-05-2010, 05:50 PM

You could try The End of Mr Y by Scarlett Thomas - certainly something to get the brain cells ticking.

There is a book that sounds quite interesting to me which is called HyddenWorld: Spring. It's the first of 4 with the others, surprisingly enough called Summer, Autumn and Winter. It will need you to wait a while, because they are due to be published during the relevant season in 4 consecutive years. So Summer will be published next year. The inspiration for the author (William Horwood) was apparently the hidden world of the grassy bit in the middle of the motorway.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hyddenworld/...6315174&sr=8-3

MrPLD · 10-05-2010, 11:48 PM

Thanks again everyone - I'll compile a reading least likely to contain a couple of these suggestions.

Things have gone a bit crazy around here again with worlds colliding between my "normal" job (electronics, programming) and Elita's book promotion, lovely how everyone needs you all at the same time

Paul.

SneakySnake · 10-05-2010, 11:52 PM

Have you had a look @ Xenolith?

xenolith

Its free too!

10-05-2010, 12:14 AM	#1
MrPLD Author's pet-geek Posts: 933 Karma: 1040670 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: North Queensland, Australia Device: Kindle 3 Wifi, Onyx Boox M96	Something to kick-start me again...? I don't get to read a lot of fiction, most of the time I'm chewing away at electronic part datasheets or maybe enjoying something written by James Gleick. The last book series I really got into was the Belgariad by Eddings, it was light reading and the story was still enjoyable ( I mean, who can't enjoy being imbued with such powers ).... sadly that was 20 years ago. Recently I picked up "His dark materials" aka "The golden compass / The subtle knife / The amber spyglass" but it didn't really draw me in as much. The other book that stays significant in my mind was Feist's "Faerie Tale" which was one of the few books that I couldn't stop reading until the end. So, anyone got any suggestions as to what I can expand my life with? Paul.

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10-05-2010, 12:21 AM	#2
crich70 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,305 Karma: 43993832 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Monroe Wisconsin Device: K3, Kindle Paperwhite, Calibre, and Mobipocket for Pc (netbook)	One series I have enjoyed is the Harry Potter series of books. The Hornblower books by C.S. Forester are good as well. I don't know if either series is as yet in ebook format but both are good reads I think.

10-05-2010, 12:29 AM	#3
Piper_ ~~~~~ Posts: 761 Karma: 1278391 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: USA Device: Kindle 3, Sony 350	Have you read George RR Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series? Four huge books, the series is a way from being complete, but it's still some outstanding, gripping storytelling. I told myself I'd pace myself, but I couldn't. lol I zoomed through all four in <2 weeks. HBO will be starting the series early next year, starring Sean Bean, in case you'd like to watch for it.

10-05-2010, 12:30 AM	#4
MrPLD Author's pet-geek Posts: 933 Karma: 1040670 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: North Queensland, Australia Device: Kindle 3 Wifi, Onyx Boox M96	So far as I understand bringing HP to eBook format has been a big point of discussion for a while now. As yet no indicators that it'll happen in the short term. Haven't seen/heard about C.S.Forester, I'll dig around for that one to check it out. Paul.

10-05-2010, 12:36 AM	#7
MrPLD Author's pet-geek Posts: 933 Karma: 1040670 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: North Queensland, Australia Device: Kindle 3 Wifi, Onyx Boox M96	The "coming of age" thing isn't the draw for me in this case, more the whole mythology and mystercisim. I don't mind a good mystery/detective type story if it's centered around technological tricks and written by a good writer who knows their stuff (unlike say... "The Net" ). Paul.

10-05-2010, 02:32 AM	#10
crich70 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,305 Karma: 43993832 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Monroe Wisconsin Device: K3, Kindle Paperwhite, Calibre, and Mobipocket for Pc (netbook)	The Dark is Rising series of books by Susan Cooper is good as well. It's based in the legends of King Arthur and is a series of 5 books.

10-05-2010, 02:52 AM	#11
MrPLD Author's pet-geek Posts: 933 Karma: 1040670 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: North Queensland, Australia Device: Kindle 3 Wifi, Onyx Boox M96	Thanks everyone - I'll give it a shot and see what I can find locally - or on the Kindle. I'll probably get into trouble though if I read them before I finish going over ToL again

10-05-2010, 03:46 AM	#12
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,215 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	The person who knows you best must be an avid reader to be an effective author. My advice, Paul would simply be: ask your wife. Good luck. Neil

10-05-2010, 05:50 PM	#13
Georgiegirl2012 Connoisseur Posts: 84 Karma: 7038 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Cwmbran, Wales, UK Device: Sony touch prs600	You could try The End of Mr Y by Scarlett Thomas - certainly something to get the brain cells ticking. There is a book that sounds quite interesting to me which is called HyddenWorld: Spring. It's the first of 4 with the others, surprisingly enough called Summer, Autumn and Winter. It will need you to wait a while, because they are due to be published during the relevant season in 4 consecutive years. So Summer will be published next year. The inspiration for the author (William Horwood) was apparently the hidden world of the grassy bit in the middle of the motorway. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hyddenworld/...6315174&sr=8-3

10-05-2010, 11:48 PM	#14
MrPLD Author's pet-geek Posts: 933 Karma: 1040670 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: North Queensland, Australia Device: Kindle 3 Wifi, Onyx Boox M96	Thanks again everyone - I'll compile a reading least likely to contain a couple of these suggestions. Things have gone a bit crazy around here again with worlds colliding between my "normal" job (electronics, programming) and Elita's book promotion, lovely how everyone needs you all at the same time Paul.

10-05-2010, 11:52 PM	#15
SneakySnake I'm watching you! Posts: 6,113 Karma: 22344652 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Sunny Coast Qld, OZ Device: Sony PRS-900(unused lately) iPadAir2, want me Kindle Oasis	Have you had a look @ Xenolith? xenolith Its free too!

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