Keith

[Keith]

Hey guys,

Ok so my name is Keith and I'm one of the moderators on Irish Readers.

I'm 27 and I live with my wife Lorna in Ballyforan, Co. Roscommon (although I'm a born and bred Dub!) We're expecting our first baby (a boy...we couldn't wait to find out!) in June.

I play clarinet with the Army Band and yes...that is a full time Job. I also play saxophone which I find much more fun! I play with a band called Sax and the City (awful name I know...but it gets us loads of gigs :). www.saxandthecity.ie

I read really slowly, mainly because I feel guilty every time that I sit down to read. I always feel like I should be practicing, clean or exercising...in that order. I listen to a lot of audiobooks though. I love to listen to them when I'm driving or going for a run.

I'm mainly into Historical Fiction and Fantasy, but I've enjoyed reading a lot of the monthly picks with this group. Star of the Sea has been my favourite book we've read so far.

Anyone can add me as a friend...I'm not choosy!!

[s e n t i m e n t a l i t i e s]

Your last line makes you sound like a cheap floozy. ;p bahahaha.

[Keith]

olittlebear wrote: "Your last line makes you sound like a cheap floozy. ;p bahahaha."

Mission accomplished so! lol

[Annie]

He'll stay friends with you, too! Poor thing has been putting up with me for 7-8 years now! He may be a cheap floozy, but he's a loyal one! Lol. ;)

[Joanna]

So Keith, apart from A Song of Ice and Fire, what would your favorite fantasy books be? Any recommendations?

I'm looking into reading some more in this genre but some of the things I've started have not really encouraged me to keep trying. Didn't really like Robert Jordan (read 3 first books in The Wheel of Time and gave up), Kate Eliott's Crown of Stars put me in such a violent state of mind that I had to stop after the second book (i.e. I HATED every single character in her books and kept coming up with more and more elaborate ways for them to die, till I've noticed it was all I ever thought about ;P plus the books were just plain dull). I liked Gene Wolfe's stuff, Robin Hobb's The Farseer Trilogy and Liveship Traders, Paul Kearney's Monarchies of God etc.. Oh yeah, and I LOOOOOVED The Name of the Wind and The Wise Man's Fear! So?? What do you like??? Titles, examples, links please :D

[Joanna]

Actually, if you haven't read him yet, I have a feeling you might like Paul Kearney and his Monarchies of God series. I haven't read anymore of his but I intend to, at some stage, when I diminish a bit The Pile of TBR books in my house ;P

[Keith]

I have to admit Joanna, that I haven't read much fantasy...but I do love it, and I'm aiming to read a lot more of the next year.

Obviously I've read Lord of the Rings and Song of Ice and Fire, but I really need to expand my reading.

What did you think of The Wise Man's Fear? I was disappointed....i though Name of the Wind was a far better book.

All recommendations are welcome Joanna!