What are you reading?

[tag]

I read veraciously. Mostly technical stuff for work and I also write some work related instructions and manuals. In my free time I like to read novels. Escapism I suppose as I like fiction over non-fiction. Books that take some liberties with reality but don't get too far out there.

Recently I finished reading, "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" by Stieg Larsson.  "The Girl" should win the most misleading title of the year award as Lizbeth plays just a secondary, although important, role in the story. I thought the book was a great suspenseful read that kept me interested until the end.

I also read the other "The Girl" books in the loosely called trilogy. I say loosely called trilogy as they are really independent from the first book. The two books are really just one story. I felt they were poorly edited. A good editor could have made one outstanding book out of the two. As the books were published, I'd just rate them as good.

I'm currently reading "The Bourne Identity" by Robert Ludlum. I enjoyed the Bourne movies so I thought I'd give the book a go. I'm just 100 pages in but so far the book is good. Different from the movie but good none the less.

I'm also currently reading a Science Fiction book called "Ender's Game" by Orson Scott Card. (I know, two books at a time is a habit I picked up years ago) Ender's game is set in the future and is about the world government taking genius children from their parents and then training them in the arts of war. Slightly interesting so far. I hope it picks up soon.

What are you reading? I could use some suggestions for new reading material.

[mjb8743]

I'm reading Game of Thrones, Song of Ice and Fire, book 1 of 5. I'm addicted to the HBO series, which is co-produced (?) by the author, George R.R. Martin. So far, the series is following the book almost exactly, and I find the book wonderfully detailed in ways that can't be reproduced on film. Each HBO season has corresponded to a book.

Book 1 is 800+ pages, and I'm only halfway through... I need to finish and get through book 2 (Clash of Kings) before HBO season 3 starts in March. Anyway, I'm totally captivated by the story, on TV and in print.

http://www.hbo.com/game-of-thrones/index.html#/game-of-thrones/about/index.html

Mickie

[tag]

I don't have HBO so I haven't seen any of the series. I have heard some of my employees talking about the show and the books. All positive so far.

[morganmac]

I teach during the year, so I'm pretty swamped by books most of the time. As a result, I like to read Westerns and swashbucklers when I'm on vacation.

This summer my favorites have been The Emerald Storm, the most recent book in a series by William Dietrich. Set Napoleonic-era, lots of political intrigue and unwitting heroes. There are also the occasional pirates and cults...very Indiana Jones.

I've also enjoyed Elmore Leonard's Valdez is Coming. I started reading more of his books after Justified came on FX (based on one of his short stories), and I really like his style. It's a little more descriptive and upbeat than Cormac McCarthy, but he doesn't take as long to get to the point as Larry McMurtry. 

[tag]

William Dietrich's Ethan Gage books look interesting. Reading the reviews for "Napoleon's Pyramids" looks promising as I've been to the Pyramids at Giza, the Nile, visited Cairo and the port of Alexandria. As a matter of fact I've sailed the same route and visited the same ports shown in the charts in the beginning of the book.

It's on my list.

[Deejo]

I love my mysteries and "who dun its".  My favorite authors are Peter Robinson, Steve Berry, Ruth Rendell (rediscovered her after 100 years LOL), David Baldacci ...... oh, so many more.

Since I retired I can spend more time reading, which I enjoy even more than Earthboxing!
Dee

[cushman350]

I don't have HBO so I haven't seen any of the series. I have heard some of my employees talking about the show and the books. All positive so far.

I stopped my HBO, Showtime, etc. after finding this site, http://tvunderground.org.ru/ and use this program, http://www.bitcomet.com/. It has just about every series ever out and usually within 24 hours of their premier. You must use the "Torrents For This Season" groups. Download and watch or burn to DVD.

Game of Thrones page. http://tvunderground.org.ru/index.php?show=season&sid=8403
Season 2 http://tvunderground.org.ru/index.php?show=episodes&sid=51880

[morganmac]

I recommend them, Tag. They're smart without being pretentious, and there's plenty of action without it being a Schwarzenegger movie. And I'm a history buff, so I enjoy them.

[Kareneh]

Mickie,

I also enjoy the Game of Thrones series on HBO. I'm reading each book after the corresponding series airs. Even though the series seems to stay fairly true to the books, I'm not sure if it will continue through to the end of the series. Sometimes differences irk me so I am avoiding the books that have not aired yet. This is a bummer since I am a fast reader and so much time passes between each season.

[Deb]

I read 'The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and couldn't put it down.  I thought 'the girl' was pretty important to the story - not much importance of the tattoo though.  I'll get to the others pretty soon.

I just finished Michael Crichton's 'Prey'.  As with most Crichton, this was another 'when science gets out of control' scary story.  The only thing I don't like about Crichton is I can't put the books down, so I read them too fast and then the story is over.  ;<

Hubby doesn't read much, when he looks at all the books I have around waiting to be read (his fault because he drug me to all the 2nd hand stores) he wonders why.  I tell him I never know what I'll be in the mood for until one jumps out of the box.  I've promised to get rid of them after I read them - I suppose I should start doing that as the shelves are full.  I've also promised myself to finish the 4 boxes before I die.  That's why hubby drags me to the 2nd hand stores - there used to be only 3.  ;>

Deb

[tag]

I read 'The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and couldn't put it down.  I thought 'the girl' was pretty important to the story - not much importance of the tattoo though.  I'll get to the others pretty soon.

Yes, Lisbeth is very important to the story. My point being the story wasn't about her. She didn't even make an appearance until the middle of the story. Her contributions make the story better but the story really is about Mikael Blomkvist and his attempt to explain Harriet's disappearance.

Did you know the original title in Swedish literally means , men who hate women?

[dkaufmann]

If you want real suspense, read Lincoln Preston and Douglas Child's books. They write together. The first one is Relic. You can't stand the suspense but you can't put them down either!

[mjb8743]

Okay, don't laugh... If you like 'can't put it down' suspense stories, try reading Bram Stoker's Dracula. I know we've all seen one movie version or another... and I was poking fun when, at her party, I picked up a friend's copy of the book. But a few pages in, I forgot about the party and had to borrow the book. I didn't sleep until I finished it. Great read in spite of Hollywood.

Mickie

[ErnieHodge]

I'm reading The EARTH BOX FORUM. 

But I did read a book back in 1977 called 'Jaws' and thought if they ever made a movie it would be great.

My mom sent me the Mike Shane mystery novels when I was 'across the pond' and they were good to read.

If you like modern western mysteries there's Tony Hillerman's 'The Wailing Wind'

[Deejo]

I have read all of Tony Hillerman's books - fantastic!  Am so sorry that he has passed away and there will be no more of those great reads   I may start going through them all again though.
Dee