I read No Country for Old Men a couple of weeks ago (I wanted to read the book before seeing the movie). It was the first time I've actually read a book of McCarthy's, and I enjoyed it quite a bit.
My wife just finished reading another of Cormac McCarthy's books, The Road, in record time and loved it. I've read the first chapter and had to put it down because I want to finish American Gods (which I'm about half way through) but I'll tell you it pained me to do so.
I'm determined to read the Song of Ice and Fire series this year, but for some reason I'm just having so much trouble getting in to the first book, it's almost like a chore at this point it feels like. Which I don't understand because I've liked what I read so far it's just not gripping me in the slightest.
The series is extremely well-written, but that's no guarantee you'll like it. The heart of the series is really political intrigue bookended by some fairly fresh low fantasy type stuff. The deciding factor may be whether you can deal with main characters dying. George R.R. Martin has quite a dedication to "realistic" storytelling in that respect.
I just finished Tom Holt's "Flying Dutch" and "Faust Among Equals." Both excellent if you like puns and dry humor. I'm currently reading "The Golden Compass," and so far it's pretty decent. Darker than I expected though, given that the movie is being marketed at children.
One series that may be worth reading if you like G.R.R. Martin's "Song of Fire and Ice" is Greg Keyes' "Kingdoms of Thorn & Bone" series. The books are a pretty fast read, but still a refreshing departure from the typical fantasy fare.
In the end I couldn't concentrate on American Gods because I really wanted to read The Road, plus my wife was so desperate to talk to someone about the book that it was only a matter of time before she gave the whole thing away. I managed to rip through the book fairly quick, starting it on Wednesday and finishing it today. It's a fast read not only because it's riveting story but also because of McCarthy's sparse prose.
The Road takes place approximately a decade after a devastating nuclear war manages to completely wipe out civilization leaving the land barren and infertile. The story focuses on a man and his son who are traveling along the road heading for the coast where they hope to find, well, anything really but who are mostly moving to stay ahead of the small bands of thieves and worse that still prowl the countryside.
Fans of post-apocalyptic stories will probably find this to be a much grimmer and depressing story since there are no plucky villagers, scientists or other trappings that are usually found in the genre. McCarthy's is a joyless world that is on the brink of death and the inhabitants are as desperate as they come.
For all that the book is nearly impossible to put down. It's as gripping as any thriller and stays with you long after you're done.
Darn you people talking about The Road! You guys just made me up and order it. Not that I expect to have any time to read it, now that I'm back in school. =P
I actually just got done reading Ishiguro's An Artist of the Floating World. Sounds like similar themes, but an interesting view of Japan just after WW2.
While I was in the local hobbystore picking up a set of Halo Actionclix, I saw that the new R.A. Salvatore Drizzt book had come out. Definetly picking that one up after I finish Mother Night.
For something current that is as close to the same vein as Invisible Man as I've read yet still manages to have a very unique voice, try The Intuitionist by Colson Whitehead. Really impressive stuff.
I read this as part of a Politics & Literature course. It was one of the books that really stuck with me, along with A Gesture Life. If you haven't read either, I'd suggest them both.
I recently completed Conan the Cimmerian, by Robert Howard, which is a collection of the earliest Conan short stories. It was very enjoyable, if perhaps a touch formulaic towards the end.
I just finished The Chronicle of Conan, and really loved it. Yeah, some of its formulaic (the way women find themselves helpless his feral presence is ridiculous), but if you keep in mind the context in which it was written, you can gloss over most of the more ridiculous bits. The plot hooks and descriptions make it a worthwhile read.
I'm currently in To Rule the Waves, which is an easily-read overview of Britain's naval history, but necessarily generalized.
I picked up The Road a few weeks ago and plan on starting it tomorrow. I love a good post-apocalyptic road story.
I recently finished William Gibson's Spook Country (which reminded me I need to read more Gibson) and Warren Ellis's Crooked Little Vein (which was delightfully sick and twisted).
Eric
Has anyone else read The Metamorphasis of Prime Intellect? Good book. I recommend it to anyone looking for a quick read. Be warned, though. It contains many acts that are very, very, VERY grotesque.
http://www.kuro5hin.org/prime-intellect/mopiidx.html
As for me, I'm grinding away at War of the Spider Queen.
I'm also looking to read Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh, if I can get past the unintelligible dialog....anyone ever read this? Does it ever get easier to understand?
It's been years, but I do believe the amount of dialect varies with the POV character. It didn't take me that long to get used to it though.
Alien Love Gardener wrote:Also just read Use of Weapons by Iain M. Banks. Nasty little story, and probably my favourite Banks novel so far.
Is this one of The Culture novels? I just finished The Algebraist and liked it quite a bit.
Yeah, it's a Culture novel. The Algebraist is just about up there, mind you, but the smaller scope of Use of Weapons and focus on one horribly damaged main character just scratches my particular itches a bit better.
Sign me up for The Road as well. It's been sitting near by bed for a couple months.
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