I need to read more books.

Edrof · 30 Jul 2013 at 13:03

I need to read more. I've spent years devouring non-fiction, but now I want to move into fiction. The last novels I read were Tom Clancy, Hitchhiker's Guide and Dragonlance stuff about a decade ago. Terrible, I know. So, please fill in your recommendations in the following categories. I aim to get through five before the end of the year. Thanks!

A 'classic' of any genre:
A fantasy novel:
A thriller:
An historical novel:
A horror:
A wild card of your choice:

Vonhelmet · 30 Jul 2013 at 13:13

Fantasy: A Song of Ice and Fire - A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin
Classic: 1984 by George Orwell
Horror: Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham.

Nursie · 30 Jul 2013 at 14:38

An historical novel: Conn Iggulden's Wolf of the plains. The first in the Conqueror series telling the story of Genghis Khan and his heirs

The Dread Pirate · 30 Jul 2013 at 14:51

Historical Novel/WildCard(depending on weahter you were after fact or fiction): Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe Series of Books are a thoroughly good read.

Richard Sharpe said:
Take my advice, Harris. When you get home, write a bloody good book with loads of shooting in it. You'll die a rich man.

Tibbz2 · 30 Jul 2013 at 17:03

Thanks for making this thread Edrof, I could so with a change from non-fiction, and need some good ones to get me started

Lartyconshayo · 30 Jul 2013 at 17:14

Classic: 1984 - George Orwell
Fantasy - Feersum Endjinn - Iain M Banks
Thriller - A Secret History - Donna Tartt
An historical novel - pass sorry don't read anything in this genre. Maybe an Umberto Eco book ?
A horror - House of Leaves - Mark Z Danielewski
Wildcard - Futuretrack 5 - Robert Westall

alexjr · 30 Jul 2013 at 20:32

I need to read more too. If only I could find the time; if I did what would I read?

Judgeneo · 30 Jul 2013 at 20:38

Edrof said:
A 'classic' of any genre: 2001: A Space Odyssey
A fantasy novel: The Blade Itself - Fantasy with an excellent dark twist
A thriller: Not too hot on this genre
An historical novel: Emperor: The Gates of Rome - First in a Series of 4 telling the life of Ceasar, occasionally drifts from accuracy, but a great read.
A horror: Stephen Kings A Dark Tower series - Very good read, but the series is rather long. Get yourself the first book "The gunslinger", and you'll probably get hooked like I was
A wild card of your choice: "Debt: The first 5000 years" - Not a novel, but an excellent read

If memory recalls, you're a published author, why do you need our help?

eddiemcgarrigle · 30 Jul 2013 at 21:13

Wildcard - John E. Douglas - Mindhunter - One of the FBI's first profilers.

Historical - Douglas Nash - Hells Gate - The account of the Battle Of Cherkassy Pocket in WWII.

FARGO · 31 Jul 2013 at 13:59

Historical: James Clavell's Shogun.

No1newts · 31 Jul 2013 at 14:36

Edrof said:
I need to read more. I've spent years devouring non-fiction, but now I want to move into fiction. The last novels I read were Tom Clancy, Hitchhiker's Guide and Dragonlance stuff about a decade ago. Terrible, I know. So, please fill in your recommendations in the following categories. I aim to get through five before the end of the year. Thanks!

A 'classic' of any genre: 1984
A fantasy novel: joe Abercrombie series (forget the name of the first)
A thriller: Bone Collector
An historical novel: Flashman series
A horror: not really my scene, Bram Stokers Dracula perhaps?
A wild card of your choice:boris Akunin series (starts with Winter Queen)

No1newts · 31 Jul 2013 at 14:38

Judgeneo said:
If memory recalls, you're a published author, why do you need our help?

Good shout, didn't realise it was Edorfs thread.

Edrof · 31 Jul 2013 at 16:41

Thank you to every poster so far, I'll be delving into all of them.

Judgeneo said:
If memory recalls, you're a published author, why do you need our help?

No1newts said:
Good shout, didn't realise it was Edorfs thread.

I'm published as a non-fiction writer. Fiction is a different animal, and, although I've written short pieces before (up to about 20,000 words), I don't feel confident writing anything more substantial. I'm not particularly well-read when it comes to fiction, either - hence the thread. Hopefully, it might turn into quite a useful resource for other people too.

Kosmiche · 31 Jul 2013 at 19:44

I mainly read historical fantasy and I can reccomend The Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb, The Troy Trilogy by David Gemmell, anything by Bernard Cornwell and a good author I've recently become a fan of is Simon Scarrow who has a series of books called The Eagle Series which are good reads and quite undemanding.

manic111 · 31 Jul 2013 at 23:02

Edrof said:
A 'classic' of any genre: The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald - one of the most beautifully written books I've ever read
A fantasy novel: Legend, Gemmell. Or start the Wheel of Time series. Just be prepared for reading it to take you the best part of your life.
A thriller: Runaway Jury, Grisham
An historical novel: Either of the Conn Iggulden series mentioned above - Emperor or the Conqueror series
A horror: The Prestige, Priest - not quite a horror in the classic sense, but it is absolutely horrifying and one of the most disturbing books I've read
A wild card of your choice: Brave New World, Huxley

Surfer · 31 Jul 2013 at 23:15

Hitchhiker's Guide and Dragonlance stuff about a decade ago. Terrible, I know

Stopped listening right about there!

jubei · 31 Jul 2013 at 23:32

Fantasy: first chronicles of druss the legend - David gemmell

manic111 · 1 Aug 2013 at 12:33

jubei said:
Fantasy: first chronicles of druss the legend - David gemmell

Well if you're going to do that, you might as well start at the beginning of the series and read Legend...

Or read them chronologically and read Waylander.

semi-pro waster · 1 Aug 2013 at 13:01

A 'classic' of any genre: - I'd normally suggest 1984 but since so many have already done so perhaps The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas and slightly rewritten by Stephen Fry in Liar as a rather obvious homage.
A fantasy novel: - Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
A thriller: - Laidlaw by William McIlvanney
An historical novel: - Master & Commander by Patrick O'Brian
A horror: - Dreamcatcher by Stephen King
A wild card of your choice: - Lanark by Alisdair Gray. Quite simply a book you should read at least once in your life, there's a good chance it'll leave you confused but for sheer breadth of imagination, scope and vision it's astonishing.

These are all just off the top of my head, I'd quite happily name another half dozen in most of the categories but Imajica by Clive Barker is well worth it as an alternative in the fantasy category.

Tibbz2 · 1 Aug 2013 at 13:08

semi-pro waster said:
A 'classic' of any genre: - I'd normally suggest 1984 but since so many have already done so perhaps The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas and slightly rewritten by Stephen Fry in Liar as a rather obvious homage.
A fantasy novel: - Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
A thriller: - Laidlaw by William McIlvanney
An historical novel: - Master & Commander by Patrick O'Brian
A horror: - Dreamcatcher by Stephen King
A wild card of your choice: - Lanark by Alisdair Gray. Quite simply a book you should read at least once in your life, there's a good chance it'll leave you confused but for sheer breadth of imagination, scope and vision it's astonishing.

These are all just off the top of my head, I'd quite happily name another half dozen in most of the categories but Imajica by Clive Barker is well worth it as an alternative in the fantasy category.

Care to name a few more thrillers/horrors?

Trying to make a list of them that I need to read!