Grew up reading comics, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Louis L'amour, and various other western or adventure series. Not a fan of sword and sorcery books, so haven't read any of the GOT books. Odd considering I was a huge Conan and Savage Sword of Conan fan as a kid. I tend to stick to cops, spies, mysteries, and intrigue type books. I work as an IT architect and consultant. I travel a good bit, so buy books to read on planes or when working remotely. I've read just about everything by James Lee Burke and Vince Flynn. Read some of Greg Iles, David Balducci, Daniel Silva, and Nelson DeMille's stuff of late. Really enjoy DeMille's John Corey character. Hard to find stuff as compelling as the Dave Robicheaux series though. About to give Larry Block's Matthew Scudder series a go as it was recommended to me. So what series or type of books do you read? Favorite literary characters?
The only thing I can find myself reading nowadays is Christopher Moore. It's the novel equivalent of an Edgar Wright movie. This is one I'm more predisposed towards, though a lot of his other books get more praise:
Check out Carl Hiaasen. His books are generally really funny with fun intriguing cops and/or mystery plots.
Michael Crichton's Prey. Its a thriller featuring nanotechnology. A great read IMO Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk
Used to read more fiction, now mostly non-fiction. Lots and lots of old faves from things written 1900-1990. Then I discovered girls and partying. Resumed reading in 2005 with non-fiction stuff.
Film never allows you access to a character's thoughts, only his view or actions. It also doesn't allow you to take a description and paint your own image of it and make it exclusively your own. You're always subjected to the director's depiction and often the visual's move on more quickly than the one painted in your mind and it lacks the same impact. You can make an argument for opposite as well to where certain director's have created outstanding visually impacting movies, but they aren't the same. You also have instances where the director, or in the case of movies like "Jack Reacher" or "Interview with the Vampire" to where Cruise just completely ruined the character and was overshadowed by other actors or bastardized the story on which the movie was based. Obviously, a director can try and recreate those visuals above, but you've already seen them now, and there is no way they can convey the thoughts of a lifelong alcoholic as he writes the later part of that last quote. They can show pain or angst, but not something like that... With film, you're a voyeur, with a book, you're a part of it. They've been trying to make a series out of the character for some time after several movies though. http://www.deadline.com/2012/08/hut...-dave-robicheaux-mysteries-with-cable-series/ There were 2 movies based on the Robicheaux character, played by Alec Baldwin and Tommy Lee Jones. Heaven's Prisoner's and The Electric Mist. While they were gritty and colorful, they fell far short of the mark, even with Eric Roberts, John Goodman, Peter Sarsgaard, Kelly Macdonald, and Mary Steenburgen as supporting cast in the 2 movies. John Goodman as usual, was outstanding his role in the second movie.
Less sorcery, more epic fantasy. I'm not knocking it, it's just not my thing. I read much of the first book before losing interest. With all the constant intrigue, betrayal and death, it seemed like something I would have enjoyed more, but didn't. My wife and several friends enjoyed it though. Same with the show. I watched several seasons on and off before losing interest in it. My 2 favorite characters were the Hound and Bronn...
Extinction: How Life On Earth Nearly Ended 250 Million Years Ago Douglas H. Erwin I'm a nerd in many ways.
I read quite a lot, usually average a book a week or so. I love Michael Connolly and John Connelly (might have got the Conno(e)lly's mixed up, often happens!) books, and also an author that's been compared to Hiaasen, Christopher Brookmyre - Scottish author though, so don't know how well his humour will travel. Iain Rankin's another Scottish author that I like too, his Rebus detective novels are pretty well known around the globe. I used to read a lot of sci-fi and fantasy novels when I was younger, but I don't read them as much anymore, although I still dip into the genres now and again.
El Torro PooPoo! Spent most of my youth on Asimov, Clarke, Heinlein (a lot of Heinlein) and History. Just re-read the complete Foundation Trilogy for fun. Of course, what I read for my profession is far away from normal publication, but.. Stephen Ambrose "Band of Brothers" or any good History book will grab my attention. I have been actually spending quite a bit of time reading some Sci/Fi fanfiction recently! Some of it is interestingly good - some abysmally written and boring! If you wish to get deeply philosophical and experiential at the same time - Try The Cost of Discipleship: Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Asimov, Clarke, Heinlein (and you almost have to throw Bradbury in there as well )are the first generation modern Sci/Fi writers who were given the chance to develop under Campbell.. Herbert came along with Dick, Niven, Pohl, Ellison, etc. What passes for Science Fiction today is mostly sword/sorcery/ROB books, which makes most sci/fi purists roll their eyes back and fall on the ground twitching in disgust.
Totally agree on that point. The line between sci-fi and fantasy has been blurred to a degree that they are now almost the same genre.
My friend Jennifer just published this. I think it would meet with your approval of its Scifi chops, RevRick. http://www.amazon.com/Fluency-Jenni...QHU_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1404014869&sr=1-1
I grew up reading Heinlein and Asimov and I still love reading science fiction. I actually write science fiction as well---I have four full length novels and a short story collection out: http://www.amazon.com/Rick-Partlow/...=283155&ie=UTF8&qid=1374682161&rnid=618072011 I spend a lot more time writing than reading lately, but I tend to re-read SM Stirling's Island in the Sea of Time trilogy once a year or so. My favorite SF book by a currently active writer is Voice of the Whirlwind by Walter Jon Williams.
#1 in the Space Opera genre on Amazon; on sale for just $1.99 now. It's getting rave reviews, and she's been approached by a small publishing house for a paperback run to bookstores.
I just started reading some books lately. Use to only read sports books (Money Ball, Next Man Up, War Room etc.) but I just recently started reading some of John Grisham's books and I like them. He might fit into your genre. I just read "The Firm" which was really good and just started his new book "The Sycamore".
Grisham is a compelling writer and also a good world-builder; he carefully constructs the setting so that nothing takes you out of the story, you can focus on the characters and plot. Tom Clancy writes in very much the same way; Also Robert Ludlum.
If you're trying to find Summer reading for a teen, my friend Candice has written a YA novel with a unique premise: history's first female Grim Reaper has until her eighteenth birthday to prove she’s worthy of the role. The writing is solid, and it's 99¢ on Kindle now. http://www.amazon.com/Death-Daughte...6059301&sr=1-1&keywords=Candice+Marie+Burnett
It's ****ing ninety-nine cents, is what it is. If it gets one kid reading, it's worth a hundred TV shows.
Why the ire? I agree on the kids reading and wasn't being negative at all. You stated it had a "unique premise: history's first female Grim Reaper"... I was merely pointing you to the show in the event you were interested in comparing the characters or watching it. It was pretty entertaining. Sucks it got cancelled after season 2.
A review of 'Fluency.' http://jimsscifi.blogspot.com/2014/...al&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Picked up Unbreakable, biography of Louis Zamperini, truly extraordinary example of human perseverance.
Another literary friend. YA fare, but a lot of adults are buying and reviewing the trilogy. http://www.amazon.com/Wings-Divided...06242766&sr=8-1&keywords=wings+of+the+divided