The One Book a Month Project: What Do I Start With?
Given that my job requires I write a ton, I've always felt like I should be reading more. In my spare time (when not playing video games, which is pretty much always), I've been working on a few ideas for books. This has only compounded by desire to be reading more. So, I've decided to do something about it: The One Book a Month Project. One book, one month, that's it.
The only thing is I need a suggestion where to start. Every book I own, I've already read (used to thrift store it up a lot when I lived in FL, which is where most of my collection hails from). So, give me a good idea for a book. It can be almost anything -- no romance novels, please. I get enough of that being friends with countless attractive individuals with love lives far more interesting than mine.
So, yeah. Thanks! I'll start the 1st of February.
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Quick bio:Hi! I'm David Hinkle, Contributing Editor for Joystiq, former Lead of DS Fanboy and Wii Fanboy (now known as Joystiq [Nintendo]) and co-host on the Xbox 360 Fancast. Basically, I write about games, talk about games and play games -- all of the time.
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January 12th, 2010 - 17:42
I reccomend any of Raymond Benson’s work that’s in print. The Union Trilogy is a great read overall, chronicling some of his best work. I’ve still got my nose in the end of his novelization of Metal Gear Solid 2, which is equally great, but amazingly confusing. But, it’s Metal Gear Solid 2, so that’s why. Haven’t read much else recently though.
January 12th, 2010 - 17:42
Stephen King’s new book, ‘Under the Dome’ is pretty good. About halfway through it now. There’s no romance to it (that I know of) either. :P
It’s a pretty big book though… Little over a thousand pages.
January 12th, 2010 - 17:51
“The Straw men” by Michael Marshall, look up the reviews, its a really excellent book if you like crime thrillers
The halo novels are good too
January 12th, 2010 - 17:52
I can give you an endless list, and I’m not sure what you’ve read, but I’ll quickly glance around my office here and suggest some titles that I see on my shelves:
The entire James Bond series by Ian Fleming
Flannery O’Connor’s Short Stories
Gravity’s Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon
Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy
The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara
Once An Eagle by Anton Myrer
Crazy Good by Charles Leerhsen
Into Thin Air or Under The Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer
Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson (I assume you’ve read Snow Crash, otherwise stop reading this post and read that book)
The Walking Dead comic series by Kirkman and Moore
A World at Arms by Gerhard Weinberg
The Best and The Brightest by David Halberstam
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Courtoom 302 by Steve Bogira
Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain
The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
Generation X by Douglas Coupland (Microserfs too)
etc.
Hope you find at least one of those enjoyable. I found every one of them fantastic, which is why they’re part of my permanent collection.
January 12th, 2010 - 17:59
I’m all for anything by Malcolm Gladwell or (starting with The Omnivore’s Dilemma) Michael Pollan. I’d also suggest the “Preacher” series of graphic novels, as well as “The Walking Dead.” “Cash” by Johnny Cash is a great book whether or not you like his music and “The Naked and the Dead” by Norman Mailer is an excellent WWII book regardless of your feelings on war books! I’m partial to Gabriel Garcia Marquez fiction, but I’m a softy. :)
January 13th, 2010 - 08:44
catch 22 by joseph heller is my all time favorite, homey.
January 13th, 2010 - 10:40
One of the best books I ever read was “Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers.” Interesting and funny.
Classic: “Of Mice and Men” by Steinbeck
Modern: “The Pleasure of My Company” by Steve Martin
January 13th, 2010 - 10:41
If you like fantasy I suggest the Sword of Truth series. If you like science fiction you might enjoy the Ender’s Game series.
January 13th, 2010 - 10:53
I can highly recommend “A Short History of Nearly Everything” by Bill Bryson. It is educating and hilarious to read at the same time. Had I read that book as a kid I might have developed some interest in the world outside my tv-screen.
And from what i`ve glimpsed in the fancast I think that “trainspotting” and “fear an loathing in las vegas” might hit your morbid sense of humour.
And everything from William Gibson (Neuromancer)
January 13th, 2010 - 11:59
Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
January 13th, 2010 - 14:46
Have you read World War Z? Hyperion? Snow Crash?
January 14th, 2010 - 18:24
Hey Dave,
Hope you’re well, mate. Try “Post Office” by Charles Bukowski. Funny, brutal, sad, really, really readable. You’ll love it or I’ll reimburse you for your copy. ;-)
Best,
Chris
January 14th, 2010 - 22:23
I see that you’ve already got years worth of suggestions but two of my favorites include Neil Gaiman’s “Anansi Boys” and “American Gods”.
January 19th, 2010 - 11:08
I just finished reading my 7th Harlan Ellison collection. I’ll let you borrow one of them if you want. I’ve started reading sci-fi all of the sudden.
February 22nd, 2010 - 07:01
Help yourself, go to the library.
I mean, by picking up several books randomly, you will have most of the time a very good surprise and it will lead you to a genre or an author you would have missed otherwise.
Furthermore, you will save money and will able to afford a new pet for Xbox live Avatar ;)