(no subject)

[lithera]

I've almost caught up on my massive glut of books for me too read. Or atleast I've read enough of them that I feel I can give that pile a rest.

What I am looking for are recommmendations of books that I should read. Specifically Iw as trying to think of those more classic books that I feel I should read, for some reason, but never have. Of course, this can apply as much to 18th century British Literature as modern SciFi.

Any suggestions? (Note: They don't have to be fiction.)

Comments

Books. :)

[nym.livejournal.com]

The Name of the Rose -- Umberto Eco.

Amazingly great book about ancient libraries, ancient monks, and a nice mystery to boot. (I sound so british).

The Inferno -- Dante Aligheri

Dante's imagery will forever haunt me. His poetry is gorgeous, even when translated.

The Terrorists of Irustan -- Louise Marley

Excellent book about a pseudo-Afganistan society and one woman who overcomes it. Not deep reading, but it made me /sob/ at the end.

Snow Queen/Summer Queen -- Joan Vinge

An amazing world, great stories, love and romance and death and politics.

The entire Skolian books by Catherine Asaro (first is Primary Inversion)

I adore Catherine Asaro, her books are sci-fi romances based on actual true physics. She tells some damn fine stories.

Archangel, Jovah's Angel, the Alleluia Files -- Sharon Shinn.

Jaran -- Kate Elliott.

All four of the above are really adventure romances, certainly not deep and meaty reading, but enjoyable despite that.


The Sparrow -- Mary Doria Russell

This is a book about religion and miscommunication and aliens and God. It's still good. :)

Snow Crash -- Neil Stephenson

One of the original cyberpunk books, and still the best in my opinion.

Someplace to be Flying -- Charles de Lint

You just have to read this. Corvae and Canid and the mysteries of the world. It also made me cry. :)

Brightness Falls from the Air -- James Tiptree Jr.

Honestly, I remember liking this, but I cannot remember the plot.

Raising the Stones, Grass, Sideshow -- Sheri S. Tepper
Venus Plus X -- Theodore Sturgeon
The True Game -- Sheri S. Tepper

All three sets of the above are deeply important reading. The first trilogy speaks of the nature of religion and man, the second book gender, and the third justice and fairness. All excellently told stories.

A Tale of Two Cities -- Charles Dickens

Dickens just rocks.

Fountainhead -- Ayn Rand

I don't agree with her philosophies, but it gives you something interesting to think about.

The Moon and the Sun -- Vonda N. McIntyre

A historical romance set in the period of Sun King, in Paris.

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Friday -- Heinlein

These were the only two books of Heinlein I ever liked. :)

Stay -- Nicola Griffith

Sad, good love story/mystery.

Labyrinths -- Borges

Excellent, well written short stories.

The Mists of Avalon -- Marion Zimmer Bradley.

Everyone should read this.

I'm currently in the middle of reading:

Kushiel's Dart, Swann's Way (Proust), The Silver Stallion (James Branch Cabell), and Titus Groan (Peake).

Re: Books. :)

[skidspoppe.livejournal.com]

With the exception of the "juveniles" I agree completely on the Heinlein picks.