Books you have read/Want to read : suggestions and recommendations

[Sumant]

Here is my review for Foundation

[Sumant]

Here is my review for The Darkness That Comes Before.

Definitely not an easy book to get through.

[Sumant]

Here is my review for Lord of Chaos

[James]

I need a book recommendation. I loved 100 years of Solitude and Love in the Time of Cholera. However, I picked up The General in his Labyrinth and was unimpressed. I also loved Zafon's The Shadow of the Wind but didn't think much of The Angel's Game. I loved Calvino's The Barron in the Trees, but didn't think much of anything else he's written other than it was very inventive but appealed to the mind and not the viscera. I loved Dinesen's Seven Gothic Tales but not her Winter's Tales. I couldn't finish Oyeyemi's Gingerbread. While I love the concept of blending fairy tales with reality, the book lost me.

I love the work of Joseph Campbell, fairy tales and myth. I also love the blending of genres.

Can anyone suggest some books for me?

[Traveller]

Hi James, it looks like you like Magical Realism and might like adult retelling of fairy tales. Briar Rose by Jane Yolen is a very dark interpretation of a retelling. I really enjoyed one of her other books: Cards of Grief.

I wonder if you'd like surrealism? Have you tried Franz Kafka yet?

There's a writer whom we discussed on this group that you might enjoy: Catherynne M. Valente.

There are fairy-tale retellings that you might enjoy, I'll look out for some.

Have you tried Jorge Luis Borges yet?

And I personally LOVED Gabriel García Márquez's short stories in The Autumn of the Patriarch and Leaf Storm and Other Stories.

[Magdelanye]

Traveller wrote: "Hi James, it looks like you like Magical Realism and might like adult retelling of fairy tales. Briar Rose by Jane Yolen is a very dark interpretation of a retelling. I r..."
Since this was at the top of my inbox I thought I might drop in to say HI, Of course I always love hearing from you,

Add to your list of masters of magic realism Ben Okri . The last book I read by him The Freedom Artist is actually more of a a fable a la our dear CM?
Let me know what you think.

Astonishing the Gods is another favourite. plus I will find two more because its easy to get lost in his catalogue (although do try that too especially if you have other languages you can read)

The Famished Road and Songs of Enchantment

Also if you haven't read The Enchanted by Rene Denfeld it will amaze you

James please feel to consider these suggestions as well. I havent read the whole thread, planning on writing a couple of reviews as my reading list has gotten out of hand as seems to be the pattern for this time of the year.

can't resist on more recommendation
Tyll by Daniel Kehlmann
This one is more historical fiction, but you will quickly see why I am including it.

Cheers

BTW I love Jane Yolen and of course FK and JLB,

[Traveller]

Magdelanye! How lovely to see you pop up so unexpectedly! Your reading list sounds crazy full, but what better than short stories to slip in here, there and everywhere, so why don't you come and join us in doing some Japanese short stories towards the end of October?

...and it would be so nice if you dropped a few suggestions of your own where we're hatching plans, here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Nilanjana]

Hi there, Traveller!

I never checked this page before but I am so glad I did.

I really enjoyed this collection of short stories, titled, "Minotaur's Son and other Wild Tales" by author, Kevin Ansbro.

https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/sho...

The stories in this collection are fables but they are unique in design and boast a literary brilliance that is comparable to the intricacy of a Japanese tattoo. But the stories are so uniquely designed (whilst very efficient in eliciting laughter, tears, and shivers of applause) that one might go, "Wait! Wow! What was that!" at the end of each read. Myself and many friends of mine have read and re-read this author's book several times and we enjoy it in a whole new way every other time.

The author's style of writing is one of kind and one finds himself taking a dip into a plethora of premises the further he reads. The stories are short, and each can be covered over a 20-minute read. I will emphasize on one thing: The stories are extremely extremely eclectic, and one feels transported in each!

If I had to use one word to describe this anthology: Unique!

I have read Edith Wharton's stories and other short stories and I have noticed that their stories bear a certain commonality, but here each is another kind!

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share about the book here! I don't doubt that anyone will love it! The author is a high-quality author, in my opinion!

[Traveller]

Hi, Nilanjana, good to see you around, and thanks for the feedback!

[Carlton]

Gregsamsa wrote: "Oh hell how did I not first think of The Blind Owl? I mean it's The Blind Owl! Why is it called The Blind Owl? NOBODY KNOWS why it is called theblindowl but DON'T READ IT because it ha..."

ooooh I'm in on this one.

[Carlton]

I just finished The Wasp Factory by Ian Banks (before he went SciFi). Psychopath or Sociopath? Level over level of disturbing. I enjoyed it very much.

[Traveller]

Carlton David Kaller wrote: "I just finished The Wasp Factory by Ian Banks (before he went SciFi). Psychopath or Sociopath? Level over level of disturbing. I enjoyed it very much."

I've been wanting to read that one for a long time, now. I wonder if it would be too disturbing for a group discussion? I will make a plan to read it soon, in any case. :)

[Saski]

I was going to say I read quite some time ago and don't remember it being disturbing, but when I looked it up in 'my books' I don't seem to have listed it. I thought I had read all the Ian (and Ian M.) Banks in my collection. Suffice it to say, I'm up for a discussion either way :D

[Carlton]

Being a deranged teenager, I found myself relating to Frank more than I think is healthy. I’m not sure that’s exactly what I mean, but I found him compelling and his rituals seemed a bit too familiar.

[Traveller]

Saski wrote: "I was going to say I read quite some time ago and don't remember it being disturbing, but when I looked it up in 'my books' I don't seem to have listed it. I thought I had read all the Ian (and Ian..."

Hey, I'm up for making a thread, shall I? I feel loathe to try and rekindle the group proper, since I'm not currently able to give it my full attention, but I can always put it in the "next up" thread, and simply make a thread for it where those who have read it can comment without us risking putting spoilers in threads like this one.

[Saski]

Sounds good to me ... where did I see that book...?

[Traveller]

Ok, my list is a bit full at the moment, so how about we make it for the end of the month? Will think about it and post something in a day or two.

[Saski]

Phew! :D