Fictional Favorites

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This forum seems to have something for everyone, almost. I get the feeling there are some intellectuals and some deep thinkers here, and probably some others who just enjoy simple pastimes without electronic devices, so here’s a thread for all of us who enjoy reading.

Post your favorite book here, your most recent read, thought provoking, entertaining, scary, whatever. Only catch is, it has to be fictional, at least somewhat. Historic fiction counts, anything goes. So get to posting!

 

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I’ll throw out a first post on my current read. The Whistler, by John Grisham. John is one of my favorite writers, because his books have strong plot, excellent development, and usually a few good twists that will throw you for a loop. I consider myself to be a good predictor of endings, due to the probably hundreds of thousands of pages I’ve read over the years, and John Grisham can still throw me for an occasional loop.

 

[evo]

Not very intellectual but fond of Ed Abby, and I feel comfortable with saying the golden spruce is fiction

 

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Not very intellectual but fond of Ed Abby, and I feel comfortable with saying the golden spruce is fiction

I have never heard of that book, nor it’s author, but it looks rather interesting. I may have to purchase a copy at some point in the future.

 

[evo]

I have never heard of that book, nor it’s author, but it looks rather interesting. I may have to purchase a copy at some point in the future.

I mentioned two... Edward Abby wrote quite a few books, The Monkey Wrench gang being a cult classic

The Golden Spruce is required reading material so you better get on it! It is technically Non - fiction in a strict sense, but the author took a few (if not many) liberties in retelling the story. I come home frequently and grumble about people and 'their pet trees', which stuck with me from the book.

 

[Chris Schultz]

Not very intellectual but fond of Ed Abby, and I feel comfortable with saying the golden spruce is fiction

I wish I could read Ed Abby….. his style of writing is hard for me to absorb.

 

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I mentioned two... Edward Abby wrote quite a few books, The Monkey Wrench gang being a cult classic

The Golden Spruce is required reading material so you better get on it! It is technically Non - fiction in a strict sense, but the author took a few (if not many) liberties in retelling the story. I come home frequently and grumble about people and 'their pet trees', which stuck with me from the book.

I see that now, my mistake. I will definitely have to put those on the list to read, although my list of reading is usually much longer than my available hours.

 

[Jonny]

Just finished another re-reading of A Song of Ice and Fire series by George RR Martin.
I wonder if we’ll ever see him finish it.
My guess is no. He’s gonna die and someone else will finish it. He’s probably assigned someone already, just in case.
He doesn’t care anymore.

 

[DSW]

My favorite book from last year was Crime and Punishment. It's not for everybody and it does start off real slow but it's an absolute trip once you get into it.

My buddy nudged me into modern fantasy and I read The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss which was really good and pretty easy to get into.

I'll be reading again once winter sets in.

 

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My favorite book from last year was Crime and Punishment. It's not for everybody and it does start off real slow but it's an absolute trip once you get into it.

My buddy nudged me into modern fantasy and I read The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss which was really good and pretty easy to get into.

I'll be reading again once winter sets in.

I have never read Crime and Punishment, but some day I must get around to it. It’s been long lauded as one of the great literary masterpieces, which makes it a highly recommended book in my mind. Problem is, there are far too many excellent tomes out there, and I can’t read them all.

 

[Neill]

I like historical fiction, naval fictions, westerns, and adventure. Authors whose series I enjoyed enough to remember- Bernard Cornwell, jean auel, C. S. Forester, and Morgan llywelyn. Louis lamour is another favorite. He is usually so repititive and predictable. I barely read for comprehension and I can always follow along. My favorite of his was “the walking drum” where he departs from his North American western identity and writes a fast paced book set in the Middle East. I think… maybe I should reread that one. COVID closed our library until recently. Between that and a baby I’ve not read as much as I should. @Muggs im reading fundamentals at the moment. Thank you!

 

[DBH]

The last two books that really rocked my socks were The Magicians by Lev Grossman (don't watch the horrible TV show adaptation) and Barkskins by Annie Proulx

If you're looking for some really fun, spooky and fast halloween reads I recommend anything by the great John Bellairs - young adult fiction that stands the tests of age and time.

I mentioned two... Edward Abby wrote quite a few books, The Monkey Wrench gang being a cult classic

I think there's probably a piece of Hayduke lurking in the soul of most tree folk.

 

[Reach]

The last two books that really rocked my socks were The Magicians by Lev Grossman (don't watch the horrible TV show adaptation) and Barkskins by Annie Proulx

If you're looking for some really fun, spooky and fast halloween reads I recommend anything by the great John Bellairs - young adult fiction that stands the tests of age and time.


I think there's probably a piece of Hayduke lurking in the soul of most tree folk.

Have never read those, but I was really impressed by The Demon Cycle series by Peter V. Brett. Sci Fi/Fantasy at its finest, and a top shelf read. It’s rare I find a book, let alone a series, in that genre that I cannot out down.

 

[Reach]

I like historical fiction, naval fictions, westerns, and adventure. Authors whose series I enjoyed enough to remember- Bernard Cornwell, jean auel, C. S. Forester, and Morgan llywelyn. Louis lamour is another favorite. He is usually so repititive and predictable. I barely read for comprehension and I can always follow along. My favorite of his was “the walking drum” where he departs from his North American western identity and writes a fast paced book set in the Middle East. I think… maybe I should reread that one. COVID closed our library until recently. Between that and a baby I’ve not read as much as I should. @Muggs im reading fundamentals at the moment. Thank you!

C. S. Forester is excellent. I was amazed by The Good Shepherd, probably better known now that it was made into a movie starting Tom Hanks. Movie was great too, and followed the book pretty well.

Louis L’amour is ok but not a favorite of mine, he is too repetitive and predictable for my liking, but he is my father’s favorite author, to the point that my father has every book Louis ever wrote in both hard bound and soft cover, and a third copy of about half of them. There must be a reason he’s considered “America’s favorite storyteller.”

 

[Serf Life]

Most books by Frank Herbert, John La Carrè, and Terry Pratchet.

 

[Njdelaney]

The Overstory by Richard Powers. This is an especially good book for tree people.

 

[DBH]

Most books by Frank Herbert, John La Carrè, and Terry Pratchet.

Love Dune. Hahaha I love saying "it is clearly a time for water decision" dragging brush in the full heat of summer.

 

[DSW]

I have never read Crime and Punishment, but some day I must get around to it. It’s been long lauded as one of the great literary masterpieces, which makes it a highly recommended book in my mind. Problem is, there are far too many excellent tomes out there, and I can’t read them all.

Its not an easy start , it's really not. I tried reading it in between 'life' and couldn't get anywhere. Restarted a month later, reading only when I could focus and it went better. It felt like it was flying by the end.
I've heard others agree.

Only try it if you can really commit to it otherwise you probably won't get much out of it.

 

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Love Dune. Hahaha I love saying "it is clearly a time for water decision" dragging brush in the full heat of summer.

Dune is an excellent read. I was introduced to that one back in college by a kooky guy who thought he was a bird, liked perching on balcony railings as high up as he could get, and was generally a bit odd, but had good taste in books.

 

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Its not an easy start , it's really not. I tried reading it in between 'life' and couldn't get anywhere. Restarted a month later, reading only when I could focus and it went better. It felt like it was flying by the end.
I've heard others agree.

Only try it if you can really commit to it otherwise you probably won't get much out of it.

I shall keep that in mind. These days, I don’t have a lot of time to commit to any real serious or long reads, but hopefully some day we will find some more staff and my life will become a bit more normal.