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Post by doom3x on Apr 25, 2007 13:14:38 GMT -8
Can't think of the best place for this, but it will be seen by the most eyes here, which is what I'm after. Comp tells me this has been tried before somewhere, but I'm going to give it a go anyway.
This is a thread for the great books out there that you've all read and think others should be made aware of. I got the inspiration from talking to Ror about a book I just finished, which he seemed interested in obtaining.
What I'm looking for here is the book, the author, and your general overall impression of the work and/or why you think it merits mention. I'm hoping to avoid lightweight sci-fi/fantasty/romance stuff, but if you think it's worth mentioning, feel free.
I'll go first. The book I mentioned to Ror is called "Postwar" and it's written by Tony Judt (831 pages, counting the epilogue) and it's a fantastic general history of post-World War II Europe. Even majoring in history...I couldn't tell you what some of the major figures in post-war history were known for. I knew who the biggies were...Adenauer, Brandt, Mitterrand...but wouldn't have been able to tell you about Brandt's Ostpolitik, or Mitterrand's privatization schemes. It's informative, broad, and at times rather amusing. He notes that in the late '40s/early '50s, before all Europeans owned cars, just buying a car was a big step, which is why the English firm Austin-Morris drew big business in that period. However, when Europeans could finally afford to buy cars that didn't actually fall apart every other day...they stopped buying British and went...guess where? Germany...Benz and BMW were the result of European consumers deciding that they could finally afford quality over quantity.
If you're looking for a solid source of modern European history...on the EEC, the EU, and the policies of leaders 9 out of 10 Americans can't name, I recommend "Postwar." Who's next?
PS-I feel a lot like Levar Burton on Reading Rainbow...if only I were black...
[Agent:1]
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Post by tranceeagle on Apr 25, 2007 13:36:58 GMT -8
For my first suggestion I'll talk about the Neanderthal Parallax
Neanderthal Parallax (3 books: Homonids, Humans, Hybrids)
Robert J. Sawyer
Type Sci-fi, but not lightweight.
The books are about a parallel dimension existing alongside our own. In the other dimension the dominant species is the Neanderthal and humans are extinct.
A portal to both worlds is temporarily created in the first book and a Neanderthal Scientist comes into "our" dimension.
The books are quite intellectually stimulating and deal with many complex themes that other authors tend to side step around.
Themes such as: Racism, Rape, tensions/differences between America and Canada, Sexual orientation etc...
And while it deals with these topics and more it does it in a manner that actually makes you think about the topics instead of glancing at them.
The other benefit is that unlike so many trilogies, each book has it's own beginning, middle and end. So there are no cheap cliffhanger scenarios or other tricks that belittle your intelligence. The books are all connected, just in a greater scheme of things instead "stay tuned next week" cliches.
You don't have to be a scientist to understand the science aspects of the books as it is clearly explained in a manner most people can understand.
And above all, the story is quite interesting and is hard to stop reading once you get going.
I'd definitely suggest this for anyone, even those who don't usually read sci-fi. But it does have mature themes and some of your beliefs will likely be challenged. To me that was an added bonus.
[Agent:2]
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Post by doom3x on Apr 25, 2007 13:58:56 GMT -8
Out of curiosity Techno...do they suggest that the Neanderthals have somehow developed an equivalent level of intelligence to normal modern humans? I ask because you mentioned a "neanderthal scientist" and I'm curious as to where they make the jump from pre-technological to technological. Otherwise, excellent first post.
Sidenote: Feel free to discuss the works mentioned by other people in your posts...I'd just like to see a different work or so mentioned in each post, until you run out of options (which will hopefully be a long list for many people). Keep it up =)
[Agent:1]
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Post by tranceeagle on Apr 25, 2007 14:36:41 GMT -8
Yes the book has the neanderthals at a similar level of technology and intelligence as humans and in some cases they are portrayed as more advanced.
And if memory serves they take the first steps from being "cavemen" to showing signs of self awareness and intellect at the same time that the people in the human dimension did (in the book it states 40 000 years ago)
[Agent:2]
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Post by greeny on Apr 25, 2007 17:43:36 GMT -8
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
by: Susanna Clarke
(1000+ pages for paperback)
Fantastic, it's one of the best books I've ever read and my favorite of the last few years. Funny, tongue in cheek, and completely interesting. Brilliantly written, and well presented. Fantastic book. WRITTEN IN A VERY BRITISH STYLE. About magicians, but not in the same hocus-pocus way as Harry Potter. It's smart and clever, and a completely different approach to the "magic" novel. It took her over a decade to write, and it took me a couple months to read. Once I was finished I felt terrible because it had been everywhere with me for a long time but it was an absolutely fantastic with many satisfying plot twists and turns and character development.
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Post by doom3x on Apr 25, 2007 18:27:16 GMT -8
I've seen that one around my store Greeny. Is that part of a set at all? Can't help thinking I saw it next to another book or two she'd written, but I might be thinking of Wicked and whatever book it's got as some kind of sequel or something. What's different about her approach to the magical world from say, Rowling's in Harry Potter? Less overtly magical? Less lame spells?
[Agent:1]
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Post by tranceeagle on Apr 25, 2007 20:48:51 GMT -8
Sweet greeny I got that book at a book sale for $3 a month ago but haven't started to read it yet. Guess I will now.
[Agent:2]
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Post by greeny on Apr 25, 2007 21:01:17 GMT -8
Sweet greeny I got that book at a book sale for $3 a month ago but haven't started to read it yet. Guess I will now. Yeah. You definitely have to. It also lasts a while so that's a really big bonus. I've seen that one around my store Greeny. Is that part of a set at all? Can't help thinking I saw it next to another book or two she'd written, but I might be thinking of Wicked and whatever book it's got as some kind of sequel or something. What's different about her approach to the magical world from say, Rowling's in Harry Potter? Less overtly magical? Less lame spells? It's not part of a set, but there are three "books" within the novel. One part is Mr Norrell, the second is Jonathan Strange, and the third is John Uskglass. She's only written one or two other pieces, aside from that. The difference in approach is that it's firmly based in the real world, set in Napoleonic Era England. As such, the spells are more practical and there isn't a spell for everything and magic is approached in a different way and learned differently. It's a completely different kind of magical world, and makes for a lot more realism, even with the more fantastic aspects. It's fantastic. Fantastic. [Agent:2] |
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Post by doom3x on Apr 28, 2007 12:15:22 GMT -8
Well I'd hoped for a bit more of a response...not from people like Lost since we know he can't read...but in general. Anyway, I'll go again.
Pick up a copy of Ulysses Grant's memoirs whenever you find the time. It's maybe the greatest set of recollections by a major figure in military history ever written. Aside from the circumstances of its writing (he wrote them in just under a year, while dying of terminal throat cancer, and finished with something like a week before he died), the writing is generally top-notch for information and brevity. The only exceptions come toward the end when, in certain places, because he was doped up on anti-pain medication, the narrative gets a little detail-heavy for non-military historians. Nonetheless, he puts down great insights into Vicksburg, the Wilderness, you name it. And he does so with a humor you don't often see in military men writing about their exploits. One of my favorite passages is his relating the difficulties the Confederates had in a harmonized command structure at the Battle of Chattanooga. The Confederate commander in the battle, Bragg, lacked the confidence of his subordinates, yet was not removed by Davis...about which Grant states "The Union cause owes a great deal to the 'military genius' of Jeff Davis." Go get a copy, now...yes, even you Lost.
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Post by ga on May 8, 2007 8:32:49 GMT -8
skimmed over what doom had to say..
the books i would highly recommend reading are Tales Of The Otori
originally a trilogy, it has recently had a 4th installment.
1) Across The Nightingale Floor
2) Grass For His Pillow
3) Brilliance Of The Moon
4) Harsh Cry Of The Heron
the series is set in Medieval Japan, and revolves around a country boy who gets adopted by a daimyo and his resulting romance with a princess gets him into a one-man war against 2/3 of Japan.
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