TBB Book Recommendation Superstation !!

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chernobyl kinsman: Mar 18, 2007; a friend of the friendly atom; Soiled Meat

Bilirubin posted:

Wonderful Life is no joke one of the best science-for-the-general-public books ever written.

its unbelievably good yeah. bits of it are outdated (e.g. hallucigenia doesnt actually walk the way gould thought it walked) but its overall solid and essential reading imo

# ? Oct 25, 2017 03:28

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# ? Jun 5, 2024 04:14

queef anxiety: Mar 4, 2009; yeah

Alastair Reynolds went off the deep end with his latest novel and I'm running out of 'hard' sci fi to read.

Also just finished 'Borne' by Jeff Vandemeer which I liked immensely more than the Reach trilogy. Recommended!

# ? Oct 25, 2017 04:53

Humbug Scoolbus: Apr 25, 2008; The scarlet letter was her passport into regions where other women dared not tread. Shame, Despair, Solitude! These had been her teachers, stern and wild ones, and they had made her strong, but taught her much amiss.; Clapping Larry

Brinner posted:

Alastair Reynolds went off the deep end with his latest novel and I'm running out of 'hard' sci fi to read.

Also just finished 'Borne' by Jeff Vandemeer which I liked immensely more than the Reach trilogy. Recommended!

Have you read Stephen Baxter's NASA Trilogy? Voyage, Titan, and Moonseed? Or his XeeLee series?

# ? Oct 25, 2017 21:18

queef anxiety: Mar 4, 2009; yeah

Humbug Scoolbus posted:

Have you read Stephen Baxter's NASA Trilogy? Voyage, Titan, and Moonseed? Or his XeeLee series?

I've read the NASA trilogy and some of his Xeelee sequence. Maybe I'll go back and finish that if I can remember most of it..

# ? Oct 25, 2017 23:13

Hieronymous Alloy: Jan 30, 2009; Why! Why!! Why must you refuse to accept that Dr. Hieronymous Alloy's Genetically Enhanced Cream Corn Is Superior to the Leading Brand on the Market!?!; Morbid Hound

I need a couple more Book of the Month suggestions so I can throw up a poll.

# ? Oct 26, 2017 14:35

StrixNebulosa: Feb 14, 2012; You cheated not only the game, but yourself.
But most of all, you cheated BABA

Hieronymous Alloy posted:

I need a couple more Book of the Month suggestions so I can throw up a poll.

Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
Solaris by Stanislaw Lem
Abolition of Species by Dietmar Dath

# ? Oct 26, 2017 14:39

Subjunctive: Sep 12, 2006; ✨sparkle and shine✨

Brinner posted:

Alastair Reynolds went off the deep end with his latest novel and I'm running out of 'hard' sci fi to read.

Also just finished 'Borne' by Jeff Vandemeer which I liked immensely more than the Reach trilogy. Recommended!

Trajectory series by Rob Campbell (disclosure: author is a friend, but I really liked them).

# ? Oct 26, 2017 14:40

Franchescanado: Feb 23, 2013; If it wasn't for disappointment
I wouldn't have any appointment; Grimey Drawer

Hieronymous Alloy posted:

I need a couple more Book of the Month suggestions so I can throw up a poll.

StrixNebulosa posted:

Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

# ? Oct 26, 2017 14:45

Hieronymous Alloy: Jan 30, 2009; Why! Why!! Why must you refuse to accept that Dr. Hieronymous Alloy's Genetically Enhanced Cream Corn Is Superior to the Leading Brand on the Market!?!; Morbid Hound

thanks folks that's enough

I could have sworn we'd already done Solaris maybe I just put it in prior polls

# ? Oct 26, 2017 14:52

StrixNebulosa: Feb 14, 2012; You cheated not only the game, but yourself.
But most of all, you cheated BABA

Hieronymous Alloy posted:

thanks folks that's enough

I could have sworn we'd already done Solaris maybe I just put it in prior polls

I checked the past threads and it's not in there, so maybe it was done pre 2014? :shrug:

Either way I need an excuse to read it, it's sitting right next to me taunting me, but I'm reading Groundties and Man's Search for Meaning instead.

# ? Oct 26, 2017 14:54

Mel Mudkiper: Jan 19, 2012; At this point, Mudman abruptly ends the conversation. He usually insists on the last word.

Franchescanado posted:

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

Solid

Did I recommend that to you?

# ? Oct 26, 2017 15:59

Franchescanado: Feb 23, 2013; If it wasn't for disappointment
I wouldn't have any appointment; Grimey Drawer

Mel Mudkiper posted:

Solid

Did I recommend that to you?

Yep

# ? Oct 26, 2017 16:04

ihop: Jul 23, 2001; King of the Mexicans

Human Tornada posted:

What is Don Winslow's stuff like? The local place has The Cartel for for 3.99 used.

I liked The Cartel and it's sequel, but I have a particular interest in drug trafficking and the War on Drugs. I know many (most?) parts of both novels are based on things that actually happened, just wish I knew better which parts are fact-based and which are pure fiction.

# ? Oct 26, 2017 17:47

Safety Biscuits: Oct 21, 2010

I have a book recommendation for everyone: join the Book Barn Secret Santa. You'll get a surprise book present and the joy of sharing a book you love with someone else. Last year was a big success so I'm sure this year will be too. If you're interested, please pop over to the thread: https://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3838647

# ? Oct 27, 2017 07:19

A human heart: Oct 10, 2012

Safety Biscuits posted:

I have a book recommendation for everyone: join the Book Barn Secret Santa. You'll get a surprise book present and the joy of sharing a book you love with someone else. Last year was a big success so I'm sure this year will be too. If you're interested, please pop over to the thread: https://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3838647

I would, except that I don't want to receive books from random people on this forum.

# ? Oct 27, 2017 10:20

Radio Spiricom: Aug 17, 2009

can i get recommendations for fiction by catalan authors?

# ? Oct 27, 2017 14:47

Burning Rain: Jul 17, 2006; What's happening?!?!

practically anything by Quim Monz� is fun if not super substantial, Merc� Rodoreda is good if a bit old fashioned. Albert S�nchez Pi�ol's The Cool Skin is supposed to be good, but I haven't read it yet. Juan Mars� is writing in Spanish, but he's often piled together with Catalans (and he considers himself as such), and definitely worth reading.

# ? Oct 27, 2017 19:42

Radio Spiricom: Aug 17, 2009

thank you

# ? Oct 27, 2017 20:29

Upsidads: Jan 11, 2007; Now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates

Is Blackwater by McDowell super good?

# ? Oct 31, 2017 03:23

A human heart: Oct 10, 2012

Burning Rain posted:

practically anything by Quim Monz� is fun if not super substantial, Merc� Rodoreda is good if a bit old fashioned. Albert S�nchez Pi�ol's The Cool Skin is supposed to be good, but I haven't read it yet. Juan Mars� is writing in Spanish, but he's often piled together with Catalans (and he considers himself as such), and definitely worth reading.

Quim is a bad rear end name to have

# ? Oct 31, 2017 04:45

Safety Biscuits: Oct 21, 2010

It's actually a pussy name.

# ? Oct 31, 2017 04:57

Dirty Frank: Jul 8, 2004

Junkie Disease posted:

Is Blackwater by McDowell super good?

I picked it up due to some strong recommendations and Ive stopped reading 13% in, as I'm not enjoying it.

Early book spoilers:

So some ancient river spirit/monster comes to town with a flood then instead of doing anything interesting she get married and settles down. I mean she's killed one kid but come on, give me blood.
The reveal that the newcomer is a monster was immediate and really anticlimactic, loads of suspense could have been built with that. Instead we have a sort of little women esq portail of small town life, except of of the women is some kind of elemental monster, its un-fun nonsense for the moment.

# ? Oct 31, 2017 11:30

A human heart: Oct 10, 2012

Dirty Frank posted:

I picked it up due to some strong recommendations and Ive stopped reading 13% in, as I'm not enjoying it.

Early book spoilers:

So some ancient river spirit/monster comes to town with a flood then instead of doing anything interesting she get married and settles down. I mean she's killed one kid but come on, give me blood.
The reveal that the newcomer is a monster was immediate and really anticlimactic, loads of suspense could have been built with that. Instead we have a sort of little women esq portail of small town life, except of of the women is some kind of elemental monster, its un-fun nonsense for the moment.

Maybe you should consider what the book is doing, rather than what you wanted it to do in your imagination space.

# ? Oct 31, 2017 12:28

anilEhilated: Feb 17, 2014; But I say fuck the rain.; Grimey Drawer

Dirty Frank posted:

I picked it up due to some strong recommendations and Ive stopped reading 13% in, as I'm not enjoying it.

I liked it a lot, but it is not a horror novel so if you expect that you will be disappointed.

# ? Oct 31, 2017 14:56

Dirty Frank: Jul 8, 2004

A human heart posted:

Maybe you should consider what the book is doing, rather than what you wanted it to do in your imagination space.

Lol, theres no way you think Blackwater is a good book.

# ? Oct 31, 2017 15:36

Dirty Frank: Jul 8, 2004

anilEhilated posted:

I liked it a lot, but it is not a horror novel so if you expect that you will be disappointed.

It could be an expectations thing, I did think it was going to be a bit of fun horror going in. Not sure if that was fair based on the recommendations or more my imagination.

# ? Oct 31, 2017 15:40

Mel Mudkiper: Jan 19, 2012; At this point, Mudman abruptly ends the conversation. He usually insists on the last word.

Junkie Disease posted:

Is Blackwater by McDowell super good?

Its a masterpiece and one of the great forgotten gems of American Literature imho

Just go in knowing its not a horror novel, its a terrific Southern Gothic novel where one character just so happens to be an immortal river monster who eats children

Dirty Frank posted:

So some ancient river spirit/monster comes to town with a flood then instead of doing anything interesting she get married and settles down. I mean she's killed one kid but come on, give me blood.
The reveal that the newcomer is a monster was immediate and really anticlimactic, loads of suspense could have been built with that. Instead we have a sort of little women esq portail of small town life, except of of the women is some kind of elemental monster, its un-fun nonsense for the moment.

So basically you went in hoping it would be bad and generic and are pissed off its good and interesting

# ? Oct 31, 2017 15:56

Dirty Frank: Jul 8, 2004

Mel Mudkiper posted:

Its a masterpiece and one of the great forgotten gems of American Literature imho

Just go in knowing its not a horror novel, its a terrific Southern Gothic novel where one character just so happens to be an immortal river monster who eats children

So basically you went in hoping it would be bad and generic and are pissed off its good and interesting

basically yes (although it doesn't seem very interesting so far). It amazes me its being described as a "gems of American Literature" though, haha. Either a total expectation mismatch, or mental goons either way I guess I'll give it another go.

# ? Oct 31, 2017 16:17

Hieronymous Alloy: Jan 30, 2009; Why! Why!! Why must you refuse to accept that Dr. Hieronymous Alloy's Genetically Enhanced Cream Corn Is Superior to the Leading Brand on the Market!?!; Morbid Hound

Dirty Frank posted:

basically yes (although it doesn't seem very interesting so far). It amazes me its being described as a "gems of American Literature" though, haha. Either a total expectation mismatch, or mental goons either way I guess I'll give it another go.

It's no Faulkner or Flannery but it's waaay better than it has any right to be, to the point that it can create cognitive dissonance in the reader. Pretty much whatever expectation you have going in, it's going to be something different.

# ? Oct 31, 2017 16:28

chernobyl kinsman: Mar 18, 2007; a friend of the friendly atom; Soiled Meat

Dirty Frank posted:

basically yes (although it doesn't seem very interesting so far). It amazes me its being described as a "gems of American Literature" though, haha. Either a total expectation mismatch, or mental goons either way I guess I'll give it another go.

i cannot comprehend books that do not adhere slavishly to genre conventions, which i have internalized so deeply that they have become my substitute for aesthetic standards

i also have necrotic brain lesions

chernobyl kinsman fucked around with this message at 16:42 on Oct 31, 2017

# ? Oct 31, 2017 16:38

Dirty Frank: Jul 8, 2004

Hieronymous Alloy posted:

It's no Faulkner or Flannery but it's waaay better than it has any right to be, to the point that it can create cognitive dissonance in the reader. Pretty much whatever expectation you have going in, it's going to be something different.

Thanks for the reasonable posts like this, you've (and the others) convinced me to give it another go. I'll try and remember to come back when I get around to reading it.

chernobyl kinsman posted:

i cannot comprehend books that do not adhere slavishly to genre conventions, which i have internalized so deeply that they have become my substitute for aesthetic standards

i also have necrotic brain lesions

You're reading things in my posts which aren't there.

# ? Oct 31, 2017 16:46

Crankit: Feb 7, 2011; HE WATCHES

Could someone recommend a couple of crimey books? Like a true crime book that's interesting and also a fiction crime book?

I tried an agatha christie but pretty quickly i found the writing to be slightly old fashioned, talking about a factotum and how children "are, they just are"

# ? Oct 31, 2017 23:34

A human heart: Oct 10, 2012

Dirty Frank posted:

Lol, theres no way you think Blackwater is a good book.

I've never read it, I just think you're approaching a book in a stupid way.

# ? Oct 31, 2017 23:35

Mel Mudkiper: Jan 19, 2012; At this point, Mudman abruptly ends the conversation. He usually insists on the last word.

Crankit posted:

Could someone recommend a couple of crimey books? Like a true crime book that's interesting and also a fiction crime book?

I tried an agatha christie but pretty quickly i found the writing to be slightly old fashioned, talking about a factotum and how children "are, they just are"

Non-Fiction

In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
The Executioner's Song by Norman Mailer

As for fiction, are you looking for a book about solving a murder, or a book about a murder that isn't a mystery?

A human heart posted:

I've never read it, I just think you're approaching a book in a stupid way.

u should

# ? Oct 31, 2017 23:37

Crankit: Feb 7, 2011; HE WATCHES

Mel Mudkiper posted:

Non-Fiction

In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
The Executioner's Song by Norman Mailer

As for fiction, are you looking for a book about solving a murder, or a book about a murder that isn't a mystery?

Thanks, I didn't consider that there might be non-mystery, I don't mind which for the fiction book.

# ? Oct 31, 2017 23:51

Take the plunge! Okay!: Feb 24, 2007

Crankit posted:

Thanks, I didn't consider that there might be non-mystery, I don't mind which for the fiction book.

James Ellroy�s LA Quartet books

# ? Nov 1, 2017 00:03

Tiggum: Oct 24, 2007; Your life and your quest end here.

Crankit posted:

Could someone recommend a couple of crimey books? Like a true crime book that's interesting and also a fiction crime book?

For fiction, Farewell, My Lovely by Raymond Chandler.

# ? Nov 1, 2017 02:06

RC and Moon Pie: May 5, 2011

Crankit posted:

Could someone recommend a couple of crimey books? Like a true crime book that's interesting and also a fiction crime book?

I tried an agatha christie but pretty quickly i found the writing to be slightly old fashioned, talking about a factotum and how children "are, they just are"

I didn't like Murder on the Orient Express years ago, but And Then There Were None is fantastic.

Non-Fiction

Devil in the White City (Erik Larson) - HH Holmes and the Columbian Exposition
Satan's Circus (Mike Dash) - police corruption and the dying days of Tammany Hall's influence
And the Dead Shall Rise (Steve Oney) - Leo Frank. Racial and geographical/class issues in the 1910s south.
For the Thrill of It (Simon Baatz) - Leopold and Loeb

Not recommended for you because it has some very annoying character speech tics, takes way too long to get started and drags on too long at the end, but someone out there might enjoy Theodore Dreiser's An American Tragedy. The middle section, about 300 pages worth, is extremely good. Several works have been based on it, including A Place in the Sun. Very heavily based on a true story.

# ? Nov 1, 2017 02:42

mbt: Aug 13, 2012

Hi thread

I'm looking for a good non-fiction book of the French Revolution that isn't as dry as a textbook

# ? Nov 2, 2017 16:18

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# ? Jun 5, 2024 04:14

Take the plunge! Okay!: Feb 24, 2007

Meyers-Briggs Testicle posted:

Hi thread

I'm looking for a good non-fiction book of the French Revolution that isn't as dry as a textbook

Hi Testicle

I remember this one as being a fun read:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/527523.Citizens

# ? Nov 2, 2017 16:56

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