So lately I've been noticing that my writing style and speaking style (especially with vocabulary) has been following my thoughts too closely. This isn't such a bad thing of course, I'm fairly happy with how I write and talk. Problem is, I haven't really read a book in a long time and I haven't been absorbing enough intellectual/sophisticated/intriguing/engaging text for my mind to be at a high enough writing and language capacity. I'd very much like to improve upon my writing and language by consuming some new writing and language. I plan on reading at least one book a month. My question for you guys is, are there any books you would suggest to me? I don't have too much of a preference at all; I want to broaden my horizons as much as possible. So if there's any book you like, feel free to post about it here so I can check it out. Also, if you've seen any good documentaries or interesting educational videos, I'd be interested in that too.
Metro 2033
Metro 2034
Just finished them and it's one of my favorites now. The author has really captured the apocalyptic feel.
The Dark Tower series, I am on book 4 of 7 right now, and I love it.
Anything by Neil Gaiman, anything by Terry Pratchett, I also like the Gemma Doyle Trilogy. Also, you can always check out jukepopserials.com [sp]shameless plug[/sp]
[QUOTE=John Egbert;39071245]So lately I've been noticing that my writing style and speaking style (especially with vocabulary) has been following my thoughts too closely. This isn't such a bad thing of course, I'm fairly happy with how I write and talk. Problem is, I haven't really read a book in a long time and I haven't been absorbing enough intellectual/sophisticated/intriguing/engaging text for my mind to be at a high enough writing and language capacity. I'd very much like to improve upon my writing and language by consuming some new writing and language. I plan on reading at least one book a month. My question for you guys is, are there any books you would suggest to me? I don't have too much of a preference at all; I want to broaden my horizons as much as possible. So if there's any book you liked, feel free to post about it here so I can check it out. Also, if you've seen any good documentaries or interesting educational videos, I'd be interested in that too.[/QUOTE]
Your English is still much better than most other people's. At your level I'd easily suggest 'The Lord of The Rings', or anything else by Tolkien (although 'The Silmarillian' is a very hard read).
Watership Down is also really good. It's like LotR but with bunnies instead of hobbits.
The Pendragon series. One of the best series i've ever read. Also The Septimus Heap series. Another one of my favorites.
The Night Circus
[editline]3rd January 2013[/editline]
Or if you're going for pompous, The Elegance of the Hedgehog.
the ice and fire series and the ender series (starts with ender's game)
Essentially anything by J.R.R Tolkien.
Also, if you're into Warhammer, the Gotrek and Felix series is really good (starting with Trollslayer) and "Greyseer" is another really good one what just so happens to be linked to Gotrek and Felix.
For Vidya game lore, Bioshock: The Rise and Fall of Ryan's Empire (Original title, in store as "Bioshock: Rapture") is really a great read.
As already mentioned, Metro: 2033 and Metro: 2034 are really, really good.
One of my favorite classics has to be "To Kill a Mockingbird." It's an excellent read.
[QUOTE=Kalibos;39073259]the ice and fire series and the ender series (starts with ender's game)[/QUOTE]
The ender series gets really bad after Speaker.
The Zombie survival guide is a fun book, It's written like these outbreaks have happened, and in a serious manner but some how it pretty funny.
Dune is always a good read but my favourite is the prequel trilogy Legends of Dune. Space combat and politics, it's good.
A less complex book is Ranger's Apprentice. The whole series can be completed in a week if you read fast and the book puts lots of focus on witty dialogue and the actions of the characters. The setting is described loosely so you're always creating a mental landscape that suits you best personally.
The Diviners is another great book.
[URL]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Search_of_Lost_Time[/URL]
read this
all ~4,211 pages
Can we get an example of your writing? It may help with any advice.
[QUOTE=Mr Shadyface;39073491]Can we get an example of your writing? It may help with any advice.[/QUOTE]
[URL]https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1nF5fCg-IsDHxQW95nE4C6sirCg0iAtSI3XZ7kybTbkY[/URL]
That's my writing at my best (I think so anyway), I wrote it last year in 8th grade. Not for class, just for fun. A good story, in my opinion.
[URL]https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1WQmTm81ovzFnmWQRqrlemxRg5YhVwAsVCTQBkaj8CT4[/URL]
Two short personal narratives I wrote last month for English class. You be the judge I guess.
Also thanks everyone for giving me your recommendations! I'm noting every one, so keep them coming. Hey, you may even help other people in this thread out who are looking for a good book.
From what I've read recently I really liked Ride the Bullet by Stephen King. Pretty interesting short story.
I'd suggest John Dies at the End but the entire book is written in the style that it seems like you're trying to avoid; as in, it's written as some guy just telling a story. Even still, I suggest reading it, I picked it up and couldn't put it down, read the whole thing in 2 days, new favorite book. It's comedy-horror.
Shadow of the Wind.
Hands down. The most gripping book I have ever read. After you've read a few pages, a need starts to grow...almost like a thirst, and you can only quench it by delving into this perfect story. It's everything you want in a book and more. This book satisfies every question you'll be asking throughout.
I'm serious, you HAVE to read this book.
The House of the Scorpion.
- Everything by Terry Pratchett. Absolutely goddamn [i]everything[/i].
- Everything by Douglas Adams. He's to sci-fi what Pratchett up there is to fantasy.
- The Last Unicorn, by Peter S. Beagle. No, [i]shut up[/i]. I can hear you already from here. If you want to experience language used artfully to craft a story you pick up this book, you sit down, and you [i]enjoy your goddamn unicorns[/i].
- The Books of Blood/Mister B. Gone, both by Clive Barker. Ol' Clive has always been a rather experimental sort, and these two projects in particular are worth checking out. The Books of Blood are a rather consistent intertwining of both vulgar and poetic forms; in content as well as language, and often interchangeably within the very same passage. The kicker is that it often [i]works[/i], and thus it is worth examining to find out how he got two styles that most writers keep as far apart as possible at all times to instead support each other. Mister B. Gone, however, is simply a trip. Have you ever had a book talk to you? And I mean [i]talk[/i] to you, as in carried out a conversation you were actively a part of? Did you reply to it? Did it [i]offer a rebuttal for what you said?[/i] Barker made that. This is that book.
- The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. All of the Sherlock stories are worth a read, but this one in particular has a special kind of charm to it. There is one moment, near the end, which can take you by quite a surprise. It's not a plot twist or anything of the like; but the use of a trope more likely associated with forms of media rather more recent, and widely considered rather low on the intellectual scale. With all that taken in mind, it's something only considered odd given our hindsight and a good proof of how anything can be taken by skilled hands and sculpted into something worthy of respect.
[QUOTE=mrx5001;39073199]The Pendragon series. One of the best series i've ever read.[/QUOTE]
Only reason why I came in here was to recommend this.
[QUOTE=Cypher_09;39071427]Your English is still much better than most other people's. At your level I'd easily suggest 'The Lord of The Rings', or anything else by Tolkien (although 'The Silmarillian' is a very hard read).[/QUOTE]
If you're going to do this, start with "The Hobbit", as it's the most accessible of Tolkien's work.
Other than that, you can't go wrong with the classes. "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald is sophisticated, interesting, and a quick read.
Blood Meridian, finished it not too long ago, now one of my favourites.
Most of Cormac Mccarthy's work for that matter since you're looking to [QUOTE]consuming some new writing and language[/QUOTE]Except Child of God, I really would not want to read that one again, not a fun read.
James Ellroy's LA Quartet too.
The Hunger Games is great.
Catching Fire is okay.
Mockingjay is shit and you should stay very far away from it.
Fantasy books:
Robin Hobb's Farseer and Tawny Man series (2 trilogies that follow the story of one man) without a doubt have easily some of the best character development and you get to really know the main character and what drives him. One hell of a story too.
Patrick Rothfuss's name of the wind and a wise man's fear are superb books - the setting is super fleshed-out and really it's one hell of a page-turner, the words just grab you and take you in. It's not as "original", but it is a great example of a fantasy book done well.
And my absolute favorite fantasy novel of all time: Brandon Sanderson's [b]The Way of Kings[/b]. A true epic fantasy.
Fucking hell I cannot describe how complete and well done of a package this book is. (first in an upcoming series of 10 books - will take decades to finish)
Something that's commonly badly executed is creating a sense of otherworldliness, depth, and mysticism in fantasy books. Often times, legends can seem contrived or simply too vague and seemingly unimportant to generate any interest, but The Way of Kings nails it right on with an awesome prelude. It does everything I think an epic fantasy should do (and most don't even come close). Solid characters, a beautiful synthesis of both personal and small-scale interactions with the grand and epic scale of the world, and a magic system done amazingly well. The plot has twists and turns everywhere, especially in the end (this is the first out of ten books so that's understandable). Hell, there are even illustrations (pencil sketches) scattered throughout the book drawn by one of the main characters. Lord of the Rings may have pioneered the huge scale epic fantasy idea, but this takes it to a new level, and trumps everything.
maybe i'm just biased to that book though since I love it so much
Lolita. It's an amazing book, just don't tell people what it's about or you'll be instantly labeled as a pedophile.
The Dark Tower series
Cloud Atlas
HP Lovecraft: The Complete Fiction
The Devil in the White City
In the Garden of Beasts
11/22/63
[URL="http://house"]House[/URL] of Leaves
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