Any good books lately?

[Pete Mack]

In my 30 minute bus commute to and from work, I've taken to reading non-fiction books. The one I'm reading now is a best seller (deservedly) on evolutionary biology: Dr Tatiana's Sex Advice to All Creation by Olivia Judson. It's hilarious and thought-provoking by turns. Judson poses as an advice columnist for various strange creatures. Eg:

Dear Dr Tatiana
I've heard it's going to take three weeks to make just one sperm. Apparently this is because it's going to need a tail twenty times longer than my whole body. This seems awfully unfair: I'm just a little fruitfly, Drosophilia bifurca. Can't I get a prothesis?

I found out about the book via her online column at the NYT, which includes a link to the first few pages.

I also recently completed a reread of "The Hobbit." Judson is more fun

[HallucinationMushroom]

I'm currently reading Earth Abides, by George Stewart, written in 1949. I've been on a post-apocalyptic/dystopian jag for about a year now, and so far I'm able to identify with this one the most. In this post-apoc scenario, a super-disease wipes out nearly all (?99.99%) of the population of Earth incredibly quickly and without much fuss. Unlike say, the Stand, or No Blade of Grass, or a host of other novels like this, there isn't any sort of epic struggle, or even any sort of goal. I'm really grooving on Earth Abides because the protagonist, Ish, is a very inward, reclusive guy, who spends most of his time simply observing the changes the Earth undergoes without man around. If you'd like to pretend that everyone around you is dead, pop open a can of tuna fish with Ish and watch the grass grow.

[bio_hazard]

In my 30 minute bus commute to and from work, I've taken to reading non-fiction books. The one I'm reading now is a best seller (deservedly) on evolutionary biology: Dr Tatiana's Sex Advice to All Creation by Olivia Judson. It's hilarious and thought-provoking by turns. Judson poses as an advice columnist for various strange creatures. Eg:

I found out about the book via her online column at the NYT, which includes a link to the first few pages.

I also recently completed a reread of "The Hobbit." Judson is more fun

This is a great book. If I weren't already studying this stuff it would make me want to do so.

I'm reading a Tom Robbins short-story/essay collection now ("Ducks Flying Backwards" or something like that). I've just read the first few- they are travel related. Very reminiscent of Bill Bryson.

[Cauldron]

I recently re-read the Cryptonomicon and the entire Sword of Truth series. Also, The Dresden Files. These last are quite good.

[will_asher]

I'm reading the Spiderwick Cronicles. I like reading kids books. Last year I read Lemony Snicket's Series of Unforunate Events.
In between, I read the Father Brown mystery books and reread The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings.

[Flee]

Non fiction:
The loan Samurai : the life of Miyamoto Musashi by William scott Wilson
great book about the life of Musashi(the greatest samurai ever)
also still reading Musashi's book, A book of 5 rings.
both are great if you like japaness history or Samurai or Kendo or Zen

fiction:
Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa, a great historic novel about Musashi( any1 spotted a trend here?)
also just finished Faerie Tale by Raymond E. Feist again(3rd time) this is a must read(as are his riftwar saga books)

[Magnate]

Well, I just finished http://www.littlebrown.co.uk/Title/9780748107896, which is hilarious. (Title is rude so I won't repeat it here in case it triggers some spam trap.)

I'm now thoroughly enjoying Emperor - Gates Of Rome by Conn Iggulden. It's a long time since I discovered a new author I like, so plenty of stuff to look forward to.

[Rizwan]

Non fiction:
The loan Samurai : the life of Miyamoto Musashi by William scott Wilson
great book about the life of Musashi(the greatest samurai ever)
also still reading Musashi's book, A book of 5 rings.
both are great if you like japaness history or Samurai or Kendo or Zen

fiction:
Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa, a great historic novel about Musashi( any1 spotted a trend here?)
also just finished Faerie Tale by Raymond E. Feist again(3rd time) this is a must read(as are his riftwar saga books)

Ahh great choices. I have read Musashi the novel (i think its more like historical fiction) and Faerie Tale. The book of five rings is work in progress. Every time you read it you find something new. Same with the art of war.
I like to reread Raymond Feist every now and again starting from Magician. Same for David Eddings The Belgariad, The Mallorean

[Flee]

Eddings is great, Polgara is the man lol
im also a big fan of David Gemmell any of his books are worth a read (sadly he writes no longer due to perma death and a sad lack of a backup life savefile)
another good read is Julian Mays Saga of the Exiles, starting with the 1st book the many coloured land.

[Rizwan]

Eddings is great, Polgara is the man lol
im also a big fan of David Gemmell any of his books are worth a read (sadly he writes no longer due to perma death and a sad lack of a backup life savefile)
another good read is Julian Mays Saga of the Exiles, starting with the 1st book the many coloured land.

Love Gemmell. Have read all of his books. Swords of Day and Night and sequel was particularly good. I dont know/havent read Julian Mays. Will have to give him a try.
[Edit] Have you tried Robert Jordan Wheel of Time series? Its really huge but I think its great. Also CS Friedman Coldfire Trilogy is awsome.

[Therem Harth]

Iain M. Banks, Use of Weapons.

Any lousy species ever invents the telescope and the spectroscope and starts looking in between the stars, what do they find? Loads of stuff, but much of it is alcohol. Humanoids are the galaxy's way of trying to get rid of all that alcohol.

Yeah... Zakalwe is... interesting.

[Nick]

Iain M. Banks, Use of Weapons.

Yes. I recently reread Against a Dark Background.

[Donald Jonker]

I recently re-read the Cryptonomicon.

I loved that one. After that I read Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace. Similar style (essay married to fiction) but a tad inaccessible, and requires some stamina. Day-after-tomorrow dystopic type stuff. Probably my all time favorite piece of pop fiction. IMO we'll be reading it as literature in 20 years.

[Flee]

Have you tried Robert Jordan Wheel of Time series? Its really huge but I think its great. Also CS Friedman Coldfire Trilogy is awsome.

i have seen the wheel of time series in the shop but never got round to picking up a copy. you seem to like the same sort of stuff as me so i will go add them to my collection.

[Donald Jonker]

i have seen the wheel of time series in the shop but never got round to picking up a copy. you seem to like the same sort of stuff as me so i will go add them to my collection.

Despite what you may read online, Robert Jordan is consistently good so long as you know from the outset you're in for an endurance test. A lot of the reviews are stacked with people pissed off because it's a never ending story (well, I guess it's supposed to end "soon"). And it doesn't hurt to skip parts...

Now that I think of it, I'm pretty surprised there isn't a *band based on Wheel of Time.