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Books You Almost Didn't Read, But Are Glad You Did
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter - the name is just too stupid! 5 STARSMiss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children - looked really, really bizarre! 5 STARS
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - The first time I tried reading this, I had just finished reading several Joseph Conrad books and couldn't take a mental step back to a kids' book. Picked it back up years later! 5 STARS
I wish I hadn't read Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children! (It's the XMen with cool photos). I had passed on Lonesome Dove. TOTALLY not my thing.
Tressa expressed so much love for it that I gave it a try. LOVED IT!
Mod
Totally not my thing, either.
Awesome book! :)
It was. I'm going to reread it at some point.
I tried to get into Perdido Street Station at least three times before I finally got far enough into it for it to really grab me. I'm glad I did. China Miéville is easily one of my all-time favorite authors, and I've gone on to read everything else he's written.
I must not have read enough of Peridido Street bec it didn't grab me. It was highly recommended. Perhaps I'll try again.
K4tie wrote: "I must not have read enough of Peridido Street bec it didn't grab me. It was highly recommended. Perhaps I'll try again."Yeah, it took some doing. You might want to give The Scar a try first. It's a bit more user-friendly to start with. Same universe, not a sequel.
Awesome, thanks for the tip! I'll go look for it now. :)
A long time ago I started the book 24 Hours by Greg Iles at least four times. The beginning was so hard to get through I stopped reading, put it down, and picked it up again months later and tried to reread it from the beginning. I finally powered through and a past the point I stopped and ended up really loving it.
Ditto on Greg Iles; I kept passing on any of his books simply because they all looked so fat/long/big...you get the picture and he had that swastika thing going on some of his covers...so. That all ended when a couple of years back I picked up
. Well, as they say; the rest is history. A great author of in-depth storylines.
Jim Butcher's "Dresden Files" books.I had originally dismissed them as juvenile, meant for teenage boys. But on one of those eponymous rainy days with nothing to do, I borrowed the first book from my friend after his glowing recommendation, and the rest as they say, is history.
True, they're no Pulitzer prize winners, the literary equivalent of a good popcorn movie, but that's the charm of it. They're just fun books, a nice relaxation from more dense fare. Surprisingly the novels can really pack an emotional punch at times too. If you're ever in the mood for some good lighthearted urban fantasy, I recommend these novels highly.
I have also tried to read Perdido Street Station but Mr. Mieville's writing just didn't take hold. Did read The City and The City, but didn't really get drawn into the story.One book I almost didn't read (because at the time the 1st person perspective was strange to me) was The Host. After the fact I am most definitely glad I did. The story may not be the greatest but the concept is pretty good.
K4tie wrote: "Awesome, thanks for the tip! I'll go look for it now. :)"Cool. I hope you enjoy it.
The Summer Tree by Guy Gavriel Kay (Book 1 in the Fionavar Tapestry) i first read it one summer when i was 16 or 17 and it was very hot. I was working part time in my uncles fish and chip shop. I tried to rush through the book and was not gripped at all. So i stopped and for a while kept trying to get rid of the 3 books (i had the whole set) Then just before i started university, i flicked The Summer Tree again & was intrigued as they were university students. So i reread and loved the series so much. Since then i read all the authors books. But i never forget how i almost came to getting rid of the books.
John Grisham's A Time to Kill. About 20 years ago I needed some fairly intensive ear surgery and knew I'd need to take it easy for a couple of weeks so as not to have excessive dizziness or vertigo. At the time I didn't really have any new books in my collection and was burned-out on rereading my various Stephen King, Terry Brooks, David Eddings & H.P. Lovecraft books.A friend of mine had Grisham's first 3 or 4 novels at the time, and offered them to me to read while recovering. I thought "Why in the Hell do I want to read books about lawyers?" Well, I started A Time to Kill and was immediately hooked. Up until about 5 years ago I kept up with all of his lawyerin' books, but I still haven't gotten around to reading his more recent works.
If the book the Host was anywhere near as good as the movie, then it was probably awesome! I assumed I might not like it when I started watching, but the concept is really cool. It got me thinking... Are we like parasites? I mean we die without our "souls" ... Does that not seem like our bodies are no more than a Host for our parasitic, albeit symbiotic, soul?It's a thought. :)
just finished the hours by Michael cunningham. I brought this book on a whim last year but never expected to read it. I am glad that I have read this book and it literally made me cry.
House Of LeavesI didn't know anything about the book but then a friend recommended it to me and at the time I didn't have many books to read so I took a chance and ended up really enjoying the book.
K4tie wrote: "If the book the Host was anywhere near as good as the movie, then it was probably awesome! I assumed I might not like it when I started watching, but the concept is really cool. It got me thinking...."It is better. More of what the characters Melanie and Wanda/Wanderer are thinking is depicted. The Hunger Games movies also suffers from this. Also, Melanie has more of a presence than she did in the movie.
But let us not derail the thread.
Michael wrote: "A Painted House I dont like his usual books but this one just got me really hooked"I enjoyed this too, although it's never a great one I'd revisit. But it's good.
Ha! about Lonesome Dove. I am not a fan of westerns in general, and read this on the recommendation of my boss back in the early nineties. Boy, am I glad I took a chance. Books I almost didn't read but am so glad I did:
Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster - Come on, does this look like a book a couch potato would understand, much less enjoy? Awesome book.
11/22/63 - Have grown annoyed over the years with King's political insults, but am glad I read this because it's just a good, solid read.
The Red Tent - Not much into biblical fiction, but the main character Dina here is strong and interesting and the end had me blubbering.
A Thousand Splendid Suns - Didn't have much interest in reading about a story set in Afghanistan, but the book blew me away and gave me my now all-time favorite female character to cherish.
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter - This came on the heels of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, which made me roll my eyes when I saw it come through at the library. Didn't read that one, but took a chance on ALVH and have never regretted it. Fanfreakingtastic story that perfectly blends vampire lore with American history.
Ender's Game - Not much into teen sci-fi. Beautiful, philosophical story, great kid, and one of my all-time favorite books.
The Summer I Died - Really, there's not enough slaughter books in the genre? The two main characters and the non-stereotypical way they handle their predicament make this book what it is: fantastic.
Blankets - A graphic novel as big as heavy as a concrete block? Get out of here. Could not put it down.
Columbine - Thought it would be a run-of-the-mill serial killer book, plus, the subject is just so depressing and I've got a kid of my own now. But I was hooked on the tight way this book was written, and how it explained all the details we never knew about the shooting and the boys who did it.
The Pilo Family Circus - Clowns? Uh, OK. No way I'm going to like this book. Wrong. Scary and funny and unforgettable.
Out - Hmm, an Asian murder mystery that tells you who the killer is in the first few chapters. How is that going to keep my interest? Trust me, it did. Very underrated book from what I can tell that everyone should read.
The Beach - What the hell? This doesn't look interesting at all. No, Maciek, I will not read this book. Hooked on EVERY page. Thanks, Maciek!
The Haunted Vagina - What appears to be too stupid for words is a beautiful, touching, bizarro love story.
Harry Potter Books - Too old for this shit that has mobs of kids screaming for the author in mobs on release day. The urchins are even dressing up like the characters! Discovered that I am just one big kid.
Thanks. Can you tell I love to share my great reading experiences? :-)
I have been dreading reading 11/22/63...Its King. Its Kennedy...blech, blech.....but, I guess I might have to give it a run.I keep seeing recommendations on The Haunted Vagina as well. Maybe I should try that one too.
A lot of 11/22/63 takes place in Texas, Ken. That's on the plus side for you, right? :)
I think there was a memorable event or two for the Kennedys that happened in Texas.
Ken wrote: "I have been dreading reading 11/22/63...Its King. Its Kennedy...blech, blech.....but, I guess I might have to give it a run.I thought the same. I had zero interest in reading it but I ended up mostly loving it.
Love your post Tresse. I agree on so many of those and now I have to read Lonesome Dove which does not appeal to me at all.And, Out? Yes, everyone here should read it.
*edited to remove my crazy use of exclamation marks. I think I've had too much caffeine this morning.
Charlene wrote: "*sigh* Added Out to my TBR. :)"I think you'll really enjoy it.
Just cruising Amazon for The Haunted Vagina. I think Mellick may win the award for most interesting (intriguing?) book titles.The Haunted Vagina
The Menstruating Mall
Zombies and Shit
Ass Goblins of Auschwitz
Apeshit
The Morbidly Obese Ninja
Tressa what political insults has Stephen King made ?
Mehmet wrote: "Tressa what political insults has Stephen King made ?"Oh they'll stick up for Dean Koontz and all his attacks on atheists and liberals, but King takes a few jabs at the conservative right and everyone here gets up in arms. Its quite amusing
I don't see anyone up in arms. Tressa made a brief comment about what she sees as King's political stance. It's not exactly a revolution or anything. Try not to blow things out of proportion.
Mod
Thanks, Charlene.
I was not trying to start argument, was just asking what political statement Stephen King has made. I not really read much of his books or followed him as a person. Sorry Tressa was not trying to start a fight :-(
Mod
King has been very vocal on a number of subjects.
Jon Recluse wrote: "No worries, Mehmet.King has been very vocal on a number of subjects."
I heard he was trying to get vans banned from Maine roads.
Thanks Jon, never released that stephen king was so outspoken.
Ken wrote: "I think there was a memorable event or two for the Kennedys that happened in Texas."LOL.
Ken wrote: "Just cruising Amazon for The Haunted Vagina. I think Mellick may win the award for most interesting (intriguing?) book titles.The Haunted Vagina
The Menstruating Mall
Zombies and Shit
Ass Gobl..."
Hey, Menstruating Mall is good too.
Lloyd the Bartender wrote: "Mehmet wrote: "Tressa what political insults has Stephen King made ?"Oh they'll stick up for Dean Koontz and all his attacks on atheists and liberals, but King takes a few jabs at the conservativ..."
Who is "they"? I don't even know Koontz's political or religious views.
Ken wrote: "I have been dreading reading 11/22/63...Its King. Its Kennedy...blech, blech.....but, I guess I might have to give it a run.I keep seeing recommendations on The Haunted Vagina as well. Maybe I sh..."
I enjoy time travel books and that's why I enjoyed the King Kennedy book.
Barks & Bites wrote: "Love your post Tresse. I agree on so many of those and now I have to read Lonesome Dove which does not appeal to me at all.And, Out? Yes, everyone here should read it.
*edited to remove my crazy..."
I had to force myself to start Lonesome Dove. And ended up loving it.
Mehmet wrote: "I was not trying to start argument, was just asking what political statement Stephen King has made. I not really read much of his books or followed him as a person. Sorry Tressa was not trying to s..."Mehmet wrote: "Tressa what political insults has Stephen King made ?"
Not going to turn this thread into a political argument. I've been an avid King fan since 1981 and think he's one of the greatest storytellers ever; I have also read countless interviews of him and essays by him and now he's on Twitter. You can research his political views and see for yourself what he thinks about conservatives.
Mehmet wrote: "I was not trying to start argument, was just asking what political statement Stephen King has made. I not really read much of his books or followed him as a person. Sorry Tressa was not trying to s..."Mehmet, that wasn't addressed to you. It was meant for Lloyd the bartender. :)
I don't know why but I never wanted to read pet semetary or cujo but I read both last year and I would put them both in my king top5 (so far)
I liked Cujo too, but a lot of King fans don't care for it. I think some readers are put off by the depressing subject matter of PS, but it's one of his best.
Horror Aficionados
Books mentioned in this topic
Boy's Life (other topics)Harvest Home (other topics)
The Stand (other topics)
Maia (other topics)
I Remember You (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Richard Adams (other topics)H. Russell Wakefield (other topics)
China Miéville (other topics)
For me, one was Boy's Life. I am a huge Robert McCammon fan, and I grabbed this when it first came out, only to discover it isn't a horror novel when I got home. So it went into the TBR pile and sat until I grabbed it because I had nothing else to read.
Now it is one of my favorite books. I've reread it over 15 times.