"I think we ought to read only the kind of books that wound and stab us." Franz Kafka
For any author who would like his/her book to be reviewed, contact me. Poetry books too are solicited for reviewing. However, there are some genres I tend to avoid. Feel free to ask me.
gautami.tripathy[at]gmail.com
I must mention here that I read at my own pace and depending on my mood. Don't ask me to hurry.
Interesting Weekly Geeks! Asking us to look for books out of our comfort level and also recommend books from the genres we like.
I read pretty much everything. That includes pure sciences, which I don't review here for obvious reasons! However, I am not very comfortable reading sci-fi books. I can't fathom why. Maybe if someone recommended some good authors as well as specific books, I think I will give it another try. So go ahead, pour out your choices. Mind you, the prose should be engrossing. It shouldn't be technical.
And what do I recommend? I find that most bloggers don't like Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Do give him a chance. Start from his short story collections. Let him grow into you. Once he does, you will not regret it.
Then there is Franz Kafka. Metamorphosis and The Trial are two of his famous works. Try reading something other than those.
Also I recommend that you read poetry. Classic or contemporary, it doesn't matter. In a way, poetry attunes us to the moods and nuances of any emotions as nothing else does. Explore it. The world is your oyster.
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20 comments:
I'm not much of a sci-fi reader either, but you might try THE SPARROW by Mary Doria Russell. Not your usual sci-fi.
Poetry is something that I have a hard time reading. I should try harder. :-)
Have you read The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly? I'm not a big sci-fi reader either, but I really enjoyed this one.
A couple of science fiction suggestions:
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card (and if you like that, then you'll have a ton of other OSC books to keep you going)
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
I do read sci-fi and I am the first to admit it is not an easy genre to like...
T read the more romance end of the genre -I read Grimspace by Ann Aquirre recently and it wasn't bad..
"In a way, poetry attunes us to the moods and nuances of any emotions as nothing else does"
I second that phrase - very apt..
E.H>
I agree with Kay - The Sparrow is an AWESOME book and it is technically sci-fi but it's truly so much more.
Also, I suppose Never Let Me Go by Ishiguro would be considered sci-fi. Another atypical science fiction book.
Thanks for the recommendations! I haven't read anything by Marquez but I do plan to. Perhaps starting with a short story collection is a good idea because his books are rather long and scary-looking. :)
Gautamai, I saw somebody recommending Ray Bradbury's FAHRENHEIT 451 the other day and that reminded me of how good a novel it was.
John Wyndham is enjoyble sci-fi, (The Chrysalids for eg) and HG Wells has a lot to offer, (note that I don't mention enjoyment!) I'm better with old sci-fi, obviously.
I keep seeing Gabriel Garcia Marquez' name about the blogosphere. I know nothing about him, but intend to try. Will bear in mind your advice vis a vis short stories.
Haven't read Kafka either, but it will have to be Metamorphosis first, sorry!
For scifi... How about To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis?
I've read a lot of Kafka and I do read poetry.
here is my post.
I have to second Kay's recommendation of The Sparrow. NOT your usual sci-fi; but a lovely story.
Otherwise I tend to read space opera, which can get technical. If you venture that way, Peter F Hamilton is good.
And Stone, by Adam Roberts, is amazing - very, very well-written.
Happy Weekly Geeks!
I've only just started reading science fiction, but I highly recommend John Scalzi. His books are a lot of fun, and I know so many people who say he changed their mind about sci fi.
For scifi I recommend Ian M. Banks (start with Consider Phlebas - but can be read alone) and Stephen Donaldson's The Gap series (start with The Real Story - there are five in the series).
One of my friends almost passed out when she found out I hadn't read any Gabriel Garcia Marquez. She recommended 'Love in the Time of Cholera'.
Its difficult to believe that anyone could not be blown away by Gabriel Garcia Marquez!
As for Sci Fi - you could try Elizabeth Moons "Vatta's War" series for a adventurous type of Sci Fi, William Gibson - anything by him, Stanislav Lem is funny in a wry philosophical way, C J Cherry also more on the adventure side(not her fantasy books), Orson Scott Card for some very interesting ideas, and at the moment I'm enjoying Kim Stanley Robisnon's mammoth Red Mars epic.
Oh. And Vernor Vinge's "A Deepness in the Sky"
Much of the best of Sci Fi are short stories - look out for collections editied by Gardner Dozois.
I really enjoyed Michael Crichton's book, Sphere. Dune by Frank Herbert is another one of my favorite books.
Thank you for the non-fiction recommendation!
Tara
www.25hourbooks
Hey, I chose SFF as my recommendation genre, so here you go: http://melydia.zoiks.org/2009/10/weekly-geeks-2/
--melydia
fellow Weekly Geek
http://melydia.zoiks.org
I've been reading more and more poetry lately. Right now I'm reading Rita Dove's Sonata Mulattica, which is just amazing.
I have fallen into reading heaven. I recall having found your reading blog months before now, but I didn't realize you also love to read science, but not sci-fi.
I Joined as a google follower so I can add books to my library list besides reading your fine reviews.
Fellow reading geek (who also writes poetry, as you know :)
Oh my! I just read the comment before me about Amy reading Rita Dove's poetry. This month, there will be a surprise on blog regarding her work... stay tuned!
Gabriel Garcia Marquez is already on my TBr, thanks. I'm not much of Scifi reader as well but here's a list from Goodreads
http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3.Best_science_fiction_books
I will put another vote in for The Sparrow-I recently read it and it blew me away. I suppose, technically, The Time Traveler's Wife could qualify as sci-fi. Time's Arrow by Martin Amis was a short read and while not necessarily something I enjoyed it took a horrific event and made it beautiful simply by taking away the constraints of linear time. Thinking What if things exist outside our perception of time? almost made my head explode after I read that.
Try The Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov. It's a murder mystery that takes place on a future earth. there are 2 more after that if you enjoy it!
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