Remember what we did before fanfic?
Jul. 24th, 2008 11:40 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
next_to_normalWe read books. Real, actual book things. I mention this because, in response to my request, dragonflylady77 asked me, "What kind of books do you read?"
"Books?" I said. "I know not of what you speak." Seriously, reading fanfic has been an enormous detriment to my books-on-paper reading in the past year or so. I've also been reading a lot less now that I walk to work. When I lived in NJ and worked in Center City, I had a 45 minute train commute, which gave me plenty of reading time.
So, I think that's enough rambliness for now. Feel free to leave your own book recommendations in the comments.
dragonflylady77 asked me, "What kind of books do you read?""Books?" I said. "I know not of what you speak." Seriously, reading fanfic has been an enormous detriment to my books-on-paper reading in the past year or so. I've also been reading a lot less now that I walk to work. When I lived in NJ and worked in Center City, I had a 45 minute train commute, which gave me plenty of reading time.
During that stretch, I read through the entire Dresden Files series. If you've never heard of them, I highly recommend them. They're in the supernatural genre, which I'm assuming you probably like if you're on my f-list (um, unless you're like me and liked Buffy in spite of the vampires rather than because of them, in which case, you'll like this series for the same reason). The main character is a wizard named Harry Dresden, and the series chronicles his adventures with warlocks, vampires, werewolves, demons, faeries, and all kinds of other crazy mystical things. The author, Jim Butcher, is also a big Buffy fan, so you can expect some references (my favorite - a vampire who wears a Buffy t-shirt) and some similarities in style. Also, if you're into audio books, James Marsters reads them.
The last book I read turns out to be the most recent in the series, "Small Favor." There's also a TV series based on the books, which lasted one season on the SciFi Channel.
Let's see, recently my mother has gotten me into Bill Bryson, who is a travel writer with a wicked sense of humor. The last time I was home, I borrowed "Neither Here Nor There: Travels in Europe." It was especially fun to read the chapter on France, because I'd been there and could go, "OMG, they're just like that!" For the same reason, I also enjoyed "Notes from a Small Island," which recounted his travels in Britain. Go to Amazon.com and read the excerpt, and I'll give you a dollar if you're not laughing by the end of it.
I haven't read much other than that lately, but I have pretty broad interests when it comes to books. I enjoy political memoirs - favorites on my bookshelf include Richard Clarke's "Against All Enemies" and George Stephanopoulos' "All Too Human." A really great nonfiction book is "Prayer for the City" by Buzz Bissinger (the "Friday Night Lights" guy). That book made me want to a.) work for Ed Rendell (check) and b.) work in city government (not so much).
I like fiction as well, but I'm terrible with titles and authors, so recommendations are spotty. Oh, one good one that I remember is "Olivia Joules and the Overactive Imagination." It's by Helen Fielding, the "Bridget Jones' Diary" author, but it's slightly more serious than BJD. Olivia, the main character, is a reporter and gets involved with the CIA and possible terrorists. It's cute. I admit, I went through a chick lit phase when I lived in London (my flatmate, who was also American, had a serious addiction, and I borrowed a lot from her). When I lived at home, I read a lot of my mother's book club books. I can't remember any of them.
My "favorite books of all time" list includes "The Hobbit" and the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy (duh), as well as "The Princess Bride" (if possible, better than the movie!). I went through a huge Stephen King phase in middle/high school, and "The Stand" remains one of my favorites from that era. "Les Miserables" is also good, but unless you're looking for a cure for insomnia, definitely get an abridged version... no one needs to read 6 chapters on the Paris sewers or a digression on Parisian street slang from the early 1800s. It's really a shame that such a brilliant story is buried under so much pointless social commentary, lol.
The last book I read turns out to be the most recent in the series, "Small Favor." There's also a TV series based on the books, which lasted one season on the SciFi Channel.
Let's see, recently my mother has gotten me into Bill Bryson, who is a travel writer with a wicked sense of humor. The last time I was home, I borrowed "Neither Here Nor There: Travels in Europe." It was especially fun to read the chapter on France, because I'd been there and could go, "OMG, they're just like that!" For the same reason, I also enjoyed "Notes from a Small Island," which recounted his travels in Britain. Go to Amazon.com and read the excerpt, and I'll give you a dollar if you're not laughing by the end of it.
I haven't read much other than that lately, but I have pretty broad interests when it comes to books. I enjoy political memoirs - favorites on my bookshelf include Richard Clarke's "Against All Enemies" and George Stephanopoulos' "All Too Human." A really great nonfiction book is "Prayer for the City" by Buzz Bissinger (the "Friday Night Lights" guy). That book made me want to a.) work for Ed Rendell (check) and b.) work in city government (not so much).
I like fiction as well, but I'm terrible with titles and authors, so recommendations are spotty. Oh, one good one that I remember is "Olivia Joules and the Overactive Imagination." It's by Helen Fielding, the "Bridget Jones' Diary" author, but it's slightly more serious than BJD. Olivia, the main character, is a reporter and gets involved with the CIA and possible terrorists. It's cute. I admit, I went through a chick lit phase when I lived in London (my flatmate, who was also American, had a serious addiction, and I borrowed a lot from her). When I lived at home, I read a lot of my mother's book club books. I can't remember any of them.
My "favorite books of all time" list includes "The Hobbit" and the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy (duh), as well as "The Princess Bride" (if possible, better than the movie!). I went through a huge Stephen King phase in middle/high school, and "The Stand" remains one of my favorites from that era. "Les Miserables" is also good, but unless you're looking for a cure for insomnia, definitely get an abridged version... no one needs to read 6 chapters on the Paris sewers or a digression on Parisian street slang from the early 1800s. It's really a shame that such a brilliant story is buried under so much pointless social commentary, lol.
So, I think that's enough rambliness for now. Feel free to leave your own book recommendations in the comments.
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Date: Jul. 24th, 2008 04:32 pm (UTC)I don't really read fiction any more... um. Dirk Gently is good.
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Date: Jul. 25th, 2008 03:05 pm (UTC)Although, after that tree nymph travesty, I'm not sure I should trust your judgment at all! lol
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Date: Jul. 25th, 2008 10:21 pm (UTC)The nipple frond was a fluke! ZOMg.
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Date: Jul. 24th, 2008 09:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: Jul. 25th, 2008 03:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: Jul. 25th, 2008 12:07 am (UTC)I still read books, won't say where I am when I read, cos TMI but you can probably guess. It's a place where people (ie my kids) won't come annoy me too much or climb on me.
I love Jennifer Rardin, vampire novels, so much UST, and kick ass action. I have a problem with non fiction, I just can't get into it. Back in Feb/March and the marital problems, a friend made be buy Dr Phil's book on relationships. It's still at the bottom of my bag. I'm a fiction reader through and through and lately a fanfic reader mostly.. Where else can I get smut!!??!
I want the Dresden Files audio books!! *pouts*
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Date: Jul. 25th, 2008 03:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: Jul. 25th, 2008 08:57 pm (UTC)