[JackintheGreen]

Blothulfur said:

Reading Njals saga by nobody knows (might be Snorri Sturlusson) on my dinner break today, the bickering and violent politicking of the Icelandic commonwealth reminds me of the northern kingdoms bloody background. Especially Henselt. ›››

I remember reading "The Erik the Red Saga" many years ago...
Quite interesting tale of the failed Viking settlements in America. Almost all lead characters dropped dead at the end.

[Bloth]

Yep most of the Sagas are pretty bleak, even the larger than life Egil Skallagrimsson finds no happy ever after. That grim magnificence, to persevere in the face of futility and failure, appeals to me for some reason.

[Pangaea]

It was a mighty tough life though, so it's not too surprising most of them wind up dying very young.

I've ordered the first four "A Song of Ice and Fire" books after falling in love with the TV series, but they have yet to arrive, and probably won't for maybe two more weeks. Damn!

In the meantime I've started reading an eyewitness book from the two Norwegian doctors who were in Gaza during the war there roughly three years ago, "Eyes in Gaza". Shocking reading to say the least.

[Veleda]

I have been reading Tony Clunn's The Lost Roman Legions, about the author's discovery of the Teutoburger Wald battlefield as an amateur archaeologist while stationed in Germany with the British military. A pretty amazing story.

[Pangaea]

Having received the books, I can finally say I am officially reading the first book in the "A song of ice and fire" series.

[secondchildren]

I'm trying to read the Chronicles of Ice and Fire. Appealing=0

Need to go back to my classics

[kyogen]

@Tyrranikos
This is the "Now Reading" thread others mentioned...if you happen to notice it.

Have you ever read anything by Haruki Murakami? I've got "Kafka on the Shore" going right now. Shades of fantasy and sci-fi with a little detective work thrown in too, but it's mostly about two characters from contemporary Tokyo with some, uh, interesting identity issues. Might be something to check out if you're looking for a change of pace. I've heard his new release 1Q84 is good, too, but I haven't read it yet.

[secondchildren]

kyogen said:

@Tyrranikos
This is the "Now Reading" thread others mentioned...if you happen to notice it.

Have you ever read anything by Haruki Murakami? I've got "Kafka on the Shore" going right now. Shades of fantasy and sci-fi with a little detective work thrown in too, but it's mostly about two characters from contemporary Tokyo with some, uh, interesting identity issues. Might be something to check out if you're looking for a change of pace. I've heard his new release 1Q84 is good, too, but I haven't read it yet. ›››

Oh sounds interesting! Thanks for sharing, I'll definitely take a look at it. I miss some sci-fi reading.

[kyogen]

secondchildren said:

Oh sounds interesting! Thanks for sharing, I'll definitely take a look at it. I miss some sci-fi reading. ›››

It's not heavy on the sci-fi, but there are suggestions here and there that something weird is up--possibly related to the two atomic bombs the US dropped during the war. It's mostly a shifty/unstable/blurred together character study. I really like it, but I would hate to mislead anyone into thinking it's Philip K. Dick or Stanislaw Lem or something.

[Raz Casket]

Just finishing Blood of Elves, but also getting through The Last Continent (Pratchett, Discworld) and Return of the King (again! I't my second time through LotR, and it's much better this time too!)

[Pham]

My friend bought The Hunger Games trilogy compilation in one book so I borrowed it from her.

First thing, the cover is absolutely beautiful. The whole book is jet black, even the sides of the pages and the front has flames with that holographic effect that changes/moves as you move the book in front of you.

So far I am only on page 50 but its quite good. Nothing spectacular yet, but I like the universe.

[Chewin3]

Currently The Sword of Destiny, but was thinking of picking up the Game of Thrones series.

[yuikami]

Steve Jobs, surprisingly good book, even though I don't like apple. ovo/

[Aaden]

Chewin3 said:

Currently The Sword of Destiny, but was thinking of picking up the Game of Thrones series. ›››

Stop thinking - do it. It definitely has the potential to become one of the best works of Fantasy of all time. The only things that might scare you off are really lengthy descriptions (I personally like them, there's just sooo many details in it) and/or the slow plot (the first books are fine, but while reading books 4 and 5 I sometimes wished he would just get on with it and make some really decisive stuff happen).
But expect to wait eagerly for MMOOOOAAAARRR for years upon years once you finish the 5 books currently available. GRR Martin is really taking his time.

[Pangaea]

Currently only have 200 pages left of book 2 of the Game of Thrones series (Song of Ice and Fire, really), and I'm loving it. The worry I have is that, given the speed of which he has written books lately and his age, he won't be able to finish the last two books. Really, really hope he does, cause it would be a crying shame if this wonderful series isn't completed.

One of the things I find great, personally, without going into spoilerish details, is that I can identify with several of the characters from the situation in my own life, perhaps particularly Arya in being a bit of a black sheep or odd one out.

Fantastic books so far and it's hard to put them down. I often read to 3AM

[Aaden]

Pangaea said:

Currently only have 200 pages left of book 2 of the Game of Thrones series (Song of Ice and Fire, really), and I'm loving it. The worry I have is that, given the speed of which he has written books lately and his age, he won't be able to finish the last two books. Really, really hope he does, cause it would be a crying shame if this wonderful series isn't completed.

One of the things I find great, personally, without going into spoilerish details, is that I can identify with several of the characters from the situation in my own life, perhaps particularly Arya in being a bit of a black sheep or odd one out.

Fantastic books so far and it's hard to put them down. I often read to 3AM ›››

While, of course, no one can replace George R.R. Martin and it would be different from what he would do, his work would most likely not be left unfinished. He has entrusted a small number of people close to him with his ideas for the rest of the series - he has a detailed plan on what is to follow, he 'only' needs to write it - so if the worst should happen, there is someone to finish A Song Of Ice And Fire. Similar to Brandon Sanderson who will finish the Wheel of Time series, because the original author, Robert Jordan, died.

[Pangaea]

That's good to know, if the worst were to happen. Hopefully it won't, he's 'only' 63, so even if there is 5 years between books for the last 2 as well, he won't be more then in his mid-70s.

[Luc0s]

Reading now:




Next book on my list:

[seekerpat]

I'm kinda all over the place with my reading at the moment:

That Old Cape Magic by Richard Russo: only a chapter to go. Very enjoyable short novel. He paints quite the emotional canvas there's love, loss, humor, cruelty, redemption but told in a very real and convincing way.

Empire of the Summer Moon by S.C. Gwynne: Fascinating history of the Comanches. Real eye opener, I had no idea how badass they were-the Comanches actually drove the Apaches off their traditional lands, forcing the whole tribe to relocate in Arizona. Hard to read in places though. The author pulls no punches in regards to the brutal violence of the time(by everyone, not just the Comanches)

The Shadow of the Torturer by Gene Wolf: read this years ago and had forgotten how great it is. Gene Wolf is one of the best fantasy writers going. His writing tends to be a bit dense and convoluted but ultimately worth the effort. I find I enjoy his work best when I can set aside several hours for reading and become fully immersed in the worlds he creates.

[yayodeanno]

So far an interesting read