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Is John Marsden's 'Tomorrow series' any good? I recently saw the film on TV and I really liked the plot but I thought some parts seemed a bit flat, such as that religious girl breaking and shooting a bunch of people. I mean I knew it was going to happen eventually but it was very sudden and completely ignored for what was left of the film, among other things. Are the books any better? They're also YA novels which puts me off a bit but then again I love The Hobbit and that's a children's book so whatever. If they're junk are there any good books with this sort of invasion theme?
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Mar 5, 2012 15:43
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I recently finsihed 'The End of Mr. Y' and absolutely loved everything about it. What else might I enjoy next?
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Mar 5, 2012 22:32
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ArcticZombie posted:Is John Marsden's 'Tomorrow series' any good? I recently saw the film on TV and I really liked the plot but I thought some parts seemed a bit flat, such as that religious girl breaking and shooting a bunch of people. I mean I knew it was going to happen eventually but it was very sudden and completely ignored for what was left of the film, among other things. Are the books any better? They're also YA novels which puts me off a bit but then again I love The Hobbit and that's a children's book so whatever. If they're junk are there any good books with this sort of invasion theme? I think the books are much, much better than the movie. The events are explained a little more, and the characterisations aren't quite as 2D. There are some parts of the movie that I really liked, but I can read those books over and over again. Take that as you will. The scene you refer to didn't happen in the book, but there's a scene in the third one that's handled a lot better. For the most part, the movie seemed somewhat diluted. Patrovsky fucked around with this message at 03:18 on Mar 6, 2012 |
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Mar 6, 2012 03:15
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Conduit for Sale! posted:Anyway, I imagine with the recent vampire craze there's been a lot of lovely books written about vampires, but has there been anything actually worth reading? In other words, any books that do vampires and supernatural poo poo pretty much the opposite of Twilight. It's not new but you should try The Keep by F Paul Wilson. It's a very different take on vampires set in a Nazi occupied castle in Transylvania. If you're looking for something lighter and more fun along the lines of Buffy or Vampire Diaries I would try The Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger. I just am finishing up the last one and really enjoyed them. It's like an older Buffy set in a steampunk world. I like her take on the supernatural and vampires in general, it's different. The writing is lively and though there is romance it's not *too* teen angsty. I would say it would be like if Oscar Wilde decided to write a Buffy novel.
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Mar 6, 2012 08:01
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So, just wondering about whether any of you guys could recommend me a book involving the tunnel rats from the Vietnam War? Since my dad told me about a book he read a little while back that had the prologue set in that period, which naturally ultimately related to what the main character was going through in the main part of the novel itself. (if anyone can tell me what the title of it is, I'd also appreciate it, as my dad gave it away and regrets doing so. He also said that the prologue was also probably the most interesting part of the book, if that helps, heh) So yeah, basically both myself and my dad have been on the lookout for a book similar to that - although preferably taking place completely/mostly in that setting - for a little while, so I just thought I'd check with you guys as to whether or not you know of any like that. (This has been further kindled by the fact that we recently went to Vietnam and went to the Cu Chi tunnels, among other places, and got to see a whole heap of the traps and places there) Thanks guys!
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Mar 7, 2012 00:38
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Major Isoor posted:So, just wondering about whether any of you guys could recommend me a book involving the tunnel rats from the Vietnam War? Since my dad told me about a book he read a little while back that had the prologue set in that period, which naturally ultimately related to what the main character was going through in the main part of the novel itself. (if anyone can tell me what the title of it is, I'd also appreciate it, as my dad gave it away and regrets doing so. He also said that the prologue was also probably the most interesting part of the book, if that helps, heh) So yeah, basically both myself and my dad have been on the lookout for a book similar to that - although preferably taking place completely/mostly in that setting - for a little while, so I just thought I'd check with you guys as to whether or not you know of any like that. (This has been further kindled by the fact that we recently went to Vietnam and went to the Cu Chi tunnels, among other places, and got to see a whole heap of the traps and places there) That sounds an awful lot like Michael Connelly's The Black Echo, the first in the Harry Bosch series, a hardboiled procedural/thriller from 1992. The main character was a tunnel rat. In the acknowledgements, the author lists The Tunnels of Cu Chi by Tom Mangold & John Penycate as his source for background.
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Mar 7, 2012 01:55
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dokmo posted:That sounds an awful lot like Michael Connelly's The Black Echo, the first in the Harry Bosch series, a hardboiled procedural/thriller from 1992. The main character was a tunnel rat. In the acknowledgements, the author lists The Tunnels of Cu Chi by Tom Mangold & John Penycate as his source for background. Aah yeah, I reckon that must be it, thanks. My dad reckoned it was good, so I might have to see if I can get it cheap somewhere, seeing as he sadly gave it away. (which I believed I mentioned earlier, but oh well, two times are better than one, right?) But yeah, if anyone can think of/knows of other books like that (although I doubt it, seeing as it'd be difficult creating a plotline for something like being a tunnel rat, unless you just briefly touch on it, for instance) I would definitely appreciate it a lot, as my itch for reading more about it has grown in recent weeks
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Mar 7, 2012 03:09
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Can anyone recommend a translation of Juvenal's Satires? I'm leaning towards the Penguin Classics edition, but Oxford's looks good too.
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Mar 7, 2012 17:55
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What are some good works, fiction or non-fiction, that have to do with survival? Think Robinson Crusoe and Cast Away.
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Mar 8, 2012 06:12
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It wasn't exactly my cup of tea but you might enjoy J. G. Ballard's Concrete Island, about a guy who crashes his car and gets trapped in a grassy patch of waste space at the intersection of three highways. It was... different.
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Mar 8, 2012 06:23
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Urdnot Fire posted:What are some good works, fiction or non-fiction, that have to do with survival? Think Robinson Crusoe and Cast Away. Arctic Labyrinth: The Quest for the Northwest Passage (Glyn Williams) The Man Who Ate His Boots: The Tragic History of the Search for the Northwest Passage (Anthony Brandt) Both are essentially on the same topic, the English search for the northwest passage, but they approach it slightly differently. Both, especially the latter, have several tales of survival from several different attempts over the centuries. Both extensively cover the lost Franklin expedition. I don't know if you can really have spoilers with non-fiction, but that link is loaded with them.
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Mar 8, 2012 08:37
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Urdnot Fire posted:What are some good works, fiction or non-fiction, that have to do with survival? Think Robinson Crusoe and Cast Away. Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer is great.
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Mar 8, 2012 08:54
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I'm looking for a book/series that has either games(mainly gladiatorial)or trials that must be passed. Also putting a bunch of people in a death trap where they are systematically eliminated. ie Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire- The Triwizard tourney The Hunger Games -The actual games part Battle Royale - Basically if I could read this book over again for the first time this would be ideal The Lord of the Flies - Survival on an island I'd be willing to delve into young adult if I have to
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Mar 9, 2012 04:03
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Urdnot Fire posted:What are some good works, fiction or non-fiction, that have to do with survival? Think Robinson Crusoe and Cast Away. The Coral Island by RM Ballantyne is one of my favourites. 3 boys are shipwrecked on an island. This is real 19th century boys own adventure writing - with pirates and gruesome cannibal scenes, better than the cotton wool stuff you get these days.
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Mar 9, 2012 04:37
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Blitz7x posted:I'm looking for a book/series that has either games(mainly gladiatorial)or trials that must be passed. Also putting a bunch of people in a death trap where they are systematically eliminated. Stephen King really favored this subject matter in his earlier writing days as Richard Bachman. 2 in particular are The Long Walk and of course, The Running Man. I read a novel by a Japanese author that was very much like Battle Royale in theme of games put on for a viewing audience called The Crimson Labyrinth . It's a little more sci-fi than Battle Royale but I read it on a plane and it held my interest enough for the flight. There is also a young adult novel by James Dashner that came out after The Hunger Games became really popular called The Maze Runner. It's the first in a series, I believe the second one is out as well. I haven't read it though so your mileage may vary.
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Mar 9, 2012 04:59
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AARP LARPer fucked around with this message at 01:16 on Jan 22, 2016 |
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Mar 9, 2012 06:23
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Do Not Resuscitate posted:The Life of Pi by Yann Martel. Very good ship-wreck, castaway fiction. This book should be recommended every page just as a matter of principle. It's really loving good.
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Mar 9, 2012 07:14
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Urdnot Fire posted:cast-away fiction Le Clézio's The Prospector is a good one, though he's never shipwrecked per se - read a lot to me like a modern rework of Robinson Crusoe. There's a Coetzee riff on Crusoe as well but I can't remember the title. Friday or something? edit: It's Foe.
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Mar 9, 2012 09:10
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I was recently captivated by the chapter in Bob Mould's autobiography about the time he spent writing for WCW Wrestling in the late nineties. I've never even watched a single wrestling match, but it was interesting to get a peek into the behind-the-scenes world of planning the story arcs and fights, the business side, and the way that real life interacts with the kayfabe. What's a great book that captures this "behind the scenes" insider story of wrestling? It doesn't matter which company (WWF, WCW, etc.) it's about or anything like that, though I'd guess that the 1980's was really the height of the industry and it would be interesting to read about that era in particular.
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Mar 9, 2012 16:54
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Life of Pi is awesome, but if you're going to read that, there's no reason you can't read The Old Man and the Sea. That book is the poo poo.
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Mar 9, 2012 19:41
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Transistor Rhythm posted:I was recently captivated by the chapter in Bob Mould's autobiography about the time he spent writing for WCW Wrestling in the late nineties. I've never even watched a single wrestling match, but it was interesting to get a peek into the behind-the-scenes world of planning the story arcs and fights, the business side, and the way that real life interacts with the kayfabe. There isn't anything that really gets to what you want because wrestling's history is very deep, has gone through a ton of company changes (territorial to national), and all the autobiographies are filled with bullshit because that's what it was built on. It's been a long time since I've sought out any wrestling books (and even longer since I read this), but Sex, Lies and Headlocks (Shawn Assael/Mike Mooneyham) is possibly the best of the options for what you're looking for. The first edition is riddled with errors if I remember right, but I think most are corrected in the second. Since it's 10 years old, it of course doesn't hit any of the more recent craziness.
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Mar 9, 2012 21:30
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AARP LARPer fucked around with this message at 01:16 on Jan 22, 2016 |
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Mar 9, 2012 21:49
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Here is a list of things I have enjoyed reading: House of Leaves, Danielewski American Gods, Gaiman John Dies at the End, Wong Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, Adams Snow Crash, Stephenson World War Z, Brooks I've been reading through Discworld on and off as well, which I enjoy. I know this is all kind of common knowledge awesome stuff, but I don't know where to go from here. I've explored these author's other works, as one might, and now I feel at a dead end. I'm a sucker for unexplained horror and weird poo poo happening, but not in the "oh my god it's eating her entire digestive tract!" sort of way. I would prefer it be available on my Kindle, if at all possible. Please give me some awesome reads! Thanks. Vegastar fucked around with this message at 01:10 on Mar 10, 2012 |
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Mar 10, 2012 00:54
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Vegastar posted:Please give me some awesome reads! Thanks. I don't think it's available on the kindle, but The Watcher by Charles MacLean fits the unexplained horror bill, although it's more on the psychological side. It's a great mindfuck.
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Mar 10, 2012 01:29
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elbow posted:I don't think it's available on the kindle, but The Watcher by Charles MacLean fits the unexplained horror bill, although it's more on the psychological side. It's a great mindfuck. It is on kindle, actually. Even better. Just bought it on the blurb and your recommendation alone, sounds like its right up my alley, thanks!
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Mar 10, 2012 02:04
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Vegastar posted:Here is a list of things I have enjoyed reading: http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Works-H-P-Lovecraft-ebook/dp/B0057JQ8C8/
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Mar 10, 2012 02:29
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I've read some of these stories, and while I enjoy them, the language throws off my experience a good bit. I have a hard time with the stiff writing of older stories, it's easier to get in to a story that flows in the same way I think in. I'm sure I'm missing out on some great stuff with that kind of attitude.
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Mar 10, 2012 03:08
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Vegastar posted:Here is a list of things I have enjoyed reading: You totally need to read Ryan Boudinot's Blueprints of the Afterlife and probably also Charles Yu's How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe.
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Mar 10, 2012 04:17
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Do Not Resuscitate posted:I agree that The Old Man and the Sea is "the poo poo," but the only two things the books have in common with each other is a boat and an ocean. And the fact that they're both pretty drat allegorical.
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Mar 10, 2012 04:35
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I'm looking for something with really good world building, as well as something that has massive events taking place (Mazalan etc. Armies, legions, or rather large scale and epic sort of things. Read the Wheel of Time even though it was pretty long, the Malazan books, most of Sanderson's stuff, since he does it spectacularly. I'd ideally like to have a longer series, since it allows for more of a story. Any help, or have I covered most of that sort of thing already? Kinetica fucked around with this message at 19:49 on Mar 10, 2012 |
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Mar 10, 2012 19:43
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Kinetica posted:I'm looking for something with really good world building, as well as something that has massive events taking place (Mazalan etc. Armies, legions, or rather large scale and epic sort of things. Wheel of Time is the king of the doorstopper fantasies, but there are certainly other options. You could try Zelazny's Amber books, or Gene Wolfe's Book of the New Sun (though it's it's very high-concept littrachaw and more sci-fi than fantasy). There are about fifty of Terry Pratchett's Discworld books but they're more comic. I guess the obvious next go-to if you haven't read it is Song of Ice and Fire by GRRM, but be ready for a 5+ year wait between books.
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Mar 11, 2012 00:40
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Seconding Discworld and A Song of Ice and Fire. Both, especially the former, have a lot of world-building that I found enjoyable. Tolkien also did plenty of literally epic world-building for Middle-Earth spread across all his works. As for me, what are some good (psychological) horror/thriller novels? Perhaps with some mystery woven in?
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Mar 11, 2012 00:46
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Urdnot Fire posted:As for me, what are some good (psychological) horror/thriller novels? Perhaps with some mystery woven in? The Haunting of Hill House (Shirley Jackson) The House Next Door (Anne Rivers Siddons)
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Mar 11, 2012 04:06
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I'm trying to figure out which of these to grab with my SO Kindle deal. Narrowed it down to: The Aquariums of Pyongyang: Ten Years in the North Korean Gulag by Chol-hwan Kang Roots by Alex Haley Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing Dancing in the Glory of Monsters: The Collapse of the Congo and the Great War of Africa by Jason Stearns Help me out? I prefer a less dry writing style, if any of these tend towards that.
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Mar 11, 2012 04:51
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Kinetica posted:I'm looking for something with really good world building, as well as something that has massive events taking place (Mazalan etc. Armies, legions, or rather large scale and epic sort of things. I'll recommend the Death Gate Cycle. I'm only on the third book out of seven, but so far the settings have been extremely interesting and the whole series has an overall sense of exploration and mystery. The Death Gate books aren't so much epic in the military sense, but more in the sense of lost cultures and puzzling technology and environments. I'd at least read the first book Dragon Wing, and continue on if you enjoy it.
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Mar 12, 2012 03:11
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Any book recommendations concerning prison escapes/capture? Definitely enjoyed the Prison Break TV Series, and I'm digging the Breakout Kings series as well
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Mar 12, 2012 04:25
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Pauly Shore posted:Any book recommendations concerning prison escapes/capture? Definitely enjoyed the Prison Break TV Series, and I'm digging the Breakout Kings series as well Everything you read in this genre will be loosely based on the Count of Monte Cristo.
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Mar 12, 2012 04:33
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Hieronymous Alloy posted:Everything you read in this genre will be loosely based on the Count of Monte Cristo. It's a great book in its own right as well, so I'd definitely check it out.
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Mar 12, 2012 04:34
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Pauly Shore posted:Any book recommendations concerning prison escapes/capture? Definitely enjoyed the Prison Break TV Series, and I'm digging the Breakout Kings series as well Papillon.
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Mar 12, 2012 04:44
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spixxor posted:I'm trying to figure out which of these to grab with my SO Kindle deal. Narrowed it down to: I just ordered Dancing in the Glory, but haven't received it yet. I hear it's really good.
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Mar 12, 2012 05:28
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