Topic: Books You're Currently Reading?

@Th3solution Sometimes I read your posts and I'm surprised at how closely we think.

I tried to get into a new Donaldson series after reading some Simmons, (not the hyperion series, something a little newer) and just couldn't get into Donaldson's writing at all. His overuse of adjectives and adverbs sounded somehow egotistical after reading Simmons's masterful smooth prose. I've read some books by writers on writing, and to a man, all of the ones I respect subscribe to an 'occam's razor' approach. Say what you want to say in as few words as possible. Every time you use an adjective or adverb, according to them, you are being lazy. You're better off using a new sentence if the adverb was so important to you. (Not: Mary was extremely pretty. Rather: Mary was pretty. John's heart raced just looking at her.)

Have you read much Simmons besides Hyperion? He wrote a horror book, can't remember the name, but it was about, well, sort of vampires but not really. They could suck your energy and you'd age prematurely so they could fuel their superhuman capers. One of my favorites. I've even read his crime fiction, though it's not my preferred genre, and I've enjoyed everything I've ever read by him. His range is amazing. Crime fiction, historical fiction, horror, sci-fi, and even fantasy with the Greek gods on the moon or mars (2 book series, it was WILD! based loosely (very) on Homer's Odyssey.) He's probably one of my five favorite authors.

Based on what I know of you, (not much, admittedly, just words on a web page) I think you'd be a perfect candidate to love Hamilton and the Night's Dawn Trilogy. You've got to be smart to read and appreciate him, more so than the other authors above, but not as much as Stevenson. Also, he might be just as guilty of over-verbosity as Donaldson, but I really don't mind it with him. He's trying to articulate some mind-blowing concepts at times, and it feels more like he's challenging himself.

Look into Howey if you can. His style is easy to read and yet not 'simple'. What I like most about him is just the story. Wool, the first book of the series, has a premise and story that stuck in my mind longer than the next ten books I read. I don't know if you like dystopia, but if you do, it may end up being one of your favorite books.

I read Dark Matter by Blake Crouch recently after hearing good things about him. It was a decent enough read; an interesting central premise that didn’t quite hit the mark for me but was a difficult one to put down. It definitely picked up in the final third though.

@LordSteev Wow, great minds... and all that! Although it’s terrifying to think that there’s another mind out there as twisted as mine, there is comfort in knowing that I’m not a complete outlier.

And that’s an interesting tidbit about writing technique as it relates to adjectives and adverbs. I’ve never made a detailed analysis of why certain writers harmonize with me, but what you say makes a lot of sense. I’ve made plenty of attempts at my own creative writing and I think most of it ends up lousy. If I ever decide to be serious about it I’ll have to look further into some of these important axioms.

I don’t believe I’ve ever read any of Dan Simmons other works. I’ve definitely noticed Carrion Comfort and Olympos on the shelves at the bookstore and/or the digital storefront. Good to know they hold up. I was a little perplexed as to why he jumped genres so much, but I’m glad to hear he’s equally as proficient in all his undertakings.

I did read some excerpts from The Reality Dysfunction and I won’t lie — I was concerned that the composition was a bit inflated and verbose from the small sections I sampled. It didn’t seem on the level of Donaldson or Nathaniel Hawthorne or anything, but it did give me pause. I’m glad to see you still think his books will resonate with me. I got the feeling that his space epics are very cerebral so I feel like I need to give the series the proper time and attention, which I haven’t had much of lately.

Appreciate the recommendations, though! One of these days I’ll have a chance to try them out.

@LordSteev I picked up Hyperion from your list among a couple of other books so I will report back when I get round to it!

@Thrillho Hey! Was Dark Matter the one about traveling to different dimensions, one a house buried in snow, and a lot of talk about Schrodinger's Cat? If so, I read it too, and kinda liked it. I was surprised to find out how young the author was, and I liked it enough that I'd try out his next book. Glad to hear about Hyperion. It's a book I think anyone who reads it would like, but that's just my opinion. Hope you enjoy it!

@Th3solution I've tried many times myself, this writing, and no matter what I've read on the subject I can't keep myself from being too wordy in my own mind when I read it back to myself. Still try every once in a while, but unless it can be good to my own tastes, I'll never share it.

@LordSteev That’s Dark Matter alright! Clever idea, particularly the multiple versions of himself, but the first third of the book was a bit plodding.

He’s had his own series in Wayward Pines which has been made into a TV programme so I might give them a go at some point.

@Thrillho I remember it picked up speed pretty well once it got going, and had me pretty riveted during the second half. It was probably 20-30 books ago, but I remember missing sleep to finish it. Heck, any time I can remember a book after reading so many afterwards, it's a good one in my book!

If you want a fast page-turner that zooms along, I'd throw in a recommendation for a book called Lexicon by Max Barry. I read it around the same time I read Dark Matter, and I remember loosing a lot of sleep to finish it, too.

World War Z by Max Brooks

Currently reading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry.

I always was a sucker for westerns but this one's really speaking to my soul.

I'm halfway through The City of Dreaming Books by Walter Moers. The same author of The 13½ Lives of Captain Bluebear. Really fun fantasy novels, definitely worth considering.

@LieutenantFatman I read Captain Bluebear many years ago and enjoyed it immensely, I remember not being able to track down his other books at the time so maybe it's time to get looking again. On holiday this week so hoping to get through several books and games!

@MightyDemon82
It was great wasn't it? Love the unique style of the author, he really knows how to entertain. Should be easy enough to get hold of a few of them now, I didn't have any trouble.

@LieutenantFatman I may even give that one a reread and pick up the others.

I'm currently reading through my copy of the complete and unabridged works of James Thurber, as recommended on the TV programme by none other than Dr. Frasier Crane. @Jimmer-jammer Do you read? Reading anything good right now?

@Jimmer-jammer I used to love the Sandman by Gaiman, have you read that as well? My favourite was 'Endless Nights' perfect return to form. Mike Mignola did Hellboy as well, did he not? I thought the first film was good but not as dark as the original graphic novels. Too much Hollywood humour.

@Jimmer-jammer I think Thurber is very amusing, but, of his time. I don't think fans of things like Curb Your Enthusiasm would find him amusing unless they are willing to be open-minded and a little bit nostalgic. Do you like Curb? Feel free to respond in The TV Show Thread as it might derail things here!

@lolwhatno I read them back when I was in high school out the school library. I quite enjoyed them but they were pretty depressing. I probably preferred Charlie Higson’s Young Bond books but I’m a massive fan of The Fast Show so I’ll read anything he writes.

Finished Consider Phlebas last week and overall I thought it was very good... the final chapters didn't quite hit the mark for me though. The actual ending was decent though with a suitably downbeat ending to reflect the nature of the stupidity of the Galactic War raging on as a backdrop to the story.

Started Look to Windward next... it wasn't the next book written in the Culture 'series' but I've been told that it is somewhat of a pseudo-sequel to CP.

@colonelkilgore I don’t think I’ve read “Windward” but most of the Culture series are a great read and don’t really require you to have read the others (it just helps to have an understanding of the Culture universe as a whole).