Calling all Bookworms!

[ShawnFuzz]

Hi! This is about books and reading, so bear with me and read on!

I love reading, and I was thinking that, personally, I would enjoy finding readers out there who enjoy similar genres as me, and possibly connect by suggesting books to one another as we discover them. I have found that some of the best books and series I have read are suggested to me by others. I also stumble upon a great series from time to time that may not be well known, but are very worth reading! There are so many great authors out there that just need word of mouth to get recognized.

My idea for this thread is to be an open discussion about book recommendations for specific genres, and also making friends that can relate to your particular tastes and possibly take the conversations to private group discussions about entertaining books of similar interests.

I am probably dreaming here but I hope people can connect on a literary level and form their own discussions.

As far as the poll, there are 100 or so genres/sub genres to choose from, so I did my best to include the basic categories.

I will give some book suggestions based on my favorite genres (hint, fantasy and sci-fi, a bit of mystery, and historical) but I want to see if this gets any response, or belly flops into thread obscurity.

 

[Neb]

I read sci-fi, biographies, comics, and now fantasy! I’ll give one recommendation for each except comics since I’d just be recommending a manga instead.

For sci-fi I recommend The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K. Le Guin. It’s short, sweet, surreal, and well written. If long series scare you off from this genre often I recommend it.

For fantasy I suggest The Unbalancing by R.B. Lemberg. It has poetic writing and well thought out queer and neurodivergent characters. The book was a pleasant surprise when I tried it with no knowledge from a local bookstore.

For biographies I recommend The Color of Water by James McBride. It feels insightful on life in the 1950s and 1960s and what it was like to grow up during that time.

 

[LadyDestani]

I love to read and will read just about any type of fiction plus the occasional biography or non-fiction if the subject interests me enough.

My favorite genres are:

- Classic Literature
- Historical Fiction
- Drama
- Fantasy
- Poetry
- Comics
- Mystery

I'll give a few recommendations.

For fantasy, one of my favorite series beyond Lord of the Rings is Forgotten Realms: The Legend of Drizzt by R.A. Salvatore. The world and lore are deep, the characters are well-developed with lasting growth and change, and the story balances action and character development.

My favorite comic series is Kabuki by David Mack. It's essentially a character study of the title character, an assassin trained since childhood to keep the balance between government and organized crime. The early issues focus more on action and missions, but it becomes progressively more and more about what is going on inside Kabuki's mind and who she is or could be if she left this life behind and became her own person. The artwork changes with the story as well. The early action-focused issues are stark black and white while the later issues delving into her thoughts and emotions are done in stylized watercolor and collages. Symbolism is very prevalent throughout the series.

 

[ShawnFuzz]

For fantasy, one of my favorite series beyond Lord of the Rings is Forgotten Realms: The Legend of Drizzt by R.A. Salvatore. The world and lore are deep, the characters are well-developed with lasting growth and change, and the story balances action and character development.

Yes! I can confirm this series is great! I have since wanted a panther I can summon at anytime

The character names are hard to pronounce though. I heard he let's his cat walk on the keyboard for new character names, but that may not be true! It would certainly make sense though!

Great series, for sure

Post automatically merged: Jul 2, 2024

For sci-fi I recommend The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K. Le Guin. It’s short, sweet, surreal, and well written. If long series scare you off from this genre often I recommend it.

Adding this to my list to read, thank you for the recommendation!

 

[LadyDestani]

Yes! I can confirm this series is great! I have since wanted a panther I can summon at anytime

The character names are hard to pronounce though. I heard he let's his cat walk on the keyboard for new character names, but that may not be true! It would certainly make sense though!

Great series, for sure

I hope the cat's name is Guenhwyvar!

 

[ZeldaCrossing64]

I don't have a preference when it comes to genre, as I'm open to pretty much any kind of book. I've also been reading novels intended for teenagers and adults in elementary school, so I'm not necessarily phased much by certain topics. However, I'd say that my favorites are mystery, thriller, and comics/graphic novels. (I enjoy my fair share of DogMan and Calvin & Hobbes. )

I don't have a favorite book either, but here's a few that I really enjoyed and/or stuck with me:

- The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
- Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow
- A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
- One Of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus
- Call of the Wild by Jack London
- Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris
- Fifteen Dogs by André Alexis

However, I can't say that any of these novels are easy reads; I had to take occasional breaks from some of them (especially Girl in Pieces) because they're really heavy. Despite that, I loved all the books I mentioned and would still recommend them.

 

[ShadowLelouch97]

Reading is my jam. I love sci-fi/fantasy, manga, mysteries, YA, some non-fiction, and graphic novels. I will read pretty much anything though, if it sounds interesting to me.

I'm currently reading A Conjuring of Light by VE Schawb and Maus II: A Survivor's Tale: And Here My Troubles Began by Art Spiegelman.

 

[ConfusedDad]

i love reading romance books, and as i strongly believe in writing something you would want to read, most of my stories/books are romance. however, i really also love thriller genres and crime. completely opposite genres (basically) but both SO AMAZING

 

[-Blue-]

The heavy kind

If the subject interests me is what it comes down to. I will read anything. I've read biographies of soldiers who chronicled their time during the Civil War because it's kind of interesting to see the hardships they had to endure. Normally in school you will read about the battles, what happened, and a little bit about the generals/politicians, but nothing about the actual soldier who were the backbone of the army.

I need to pick it back up, but there's this interesting biography '10 Years in the Rank' by Augustus Myers and followed his service before and after the war. He joined the military as a fifer and when he was a kid because his family needed the money. It is a bloody war where outdated military met modern warfare. The Wheatfield, The Cornfield, Little Round Top, Devil's Den, Peach Orchard are just a few of the bloodiest fights. I can't imagine marching shoulder to shoulder in wide open plains and getting mowed down by the second while having your superiors just scream at you to keep going as you watch your comrades being torn to pieces.

Most people don't really know about the history because school waters it down. And it's often glorified as this romantic time. It was not. If it wasn't for me reading book after book about this I would still be ignorant on how hellish of a time it was. Gettysburg was a hard fought 3-4 day long battle and then the Union won. Most people probably know that, but what they don't know is that Gettysburg became a ghost town after that. The civilians fell like flies after because all of that death contaminated their drinking water and a lot of children became orphans. Sometimes actual history can just be as fascinating as any fantasy piece, even if it can be a brutal and unforgiving time. I actually do reenacting so it was a neat way to learn more about the subject that I am acting.


Comics and graphic novels can be fun to see how the artist envisioned their world. I also enjoy writing and am in the process of writing one story. I find it a really fun and creative outlet. It just depends on the subject. I will read any type of book/material if it piques my curiosity enough.

 

[a potato]

I really only like nonfiction books, especially science. I love to learn about all sorts of things—invisibility, dinosaur evolution, the physics of cats, how the mind works. Not that long ago, I got a Kindle and I’ve been getting through sooooo many books it’s crazy. I also managed to get it for a pretty good deal, so even better!

 

[ShawnFuzz]

If the subject interests me is what it comes down to. I will read anything. I've read biographies of soldiers who chronicled their time during the Civil War because it's kind of interesting to see the hardships they had to endure. Normally in school you will read about the battles, what happened, and a little bit about the generals/politicians, but nothing about the actual soldier who were the backbone of the army.

I need to pick it back up, but there's this interesting biography '10 Years in the Rank' by Augustus Myers and followed his service before and after the war. He joined the military as a fifer and when he was a kid because his family needed the money. It is a bloody war where outdated military met modern warfare. The Wheatfield, The Cornfield, Little Round Top, Devil's Den, Peach Orchard are just a few of the bloodiest fights. I can't imagine marching shoulder to shoulder in wide open plains and getting mowed down by the second while having your superiors just scream at you to keep going as you watch your comrades being torn to pieces.

Most people don't really know about the history because school waters it down. And it's often glorified as this romantic time. It was not. If it wasn't for me reading book after book about this I would still be ignorant on how hellish of a time it was. Gettysburg was a hard fought 3-4 day long battle and then the Union won. Most people probably know that, but what they don't know is that Gettysburg became a ghost town after that. The civilians fell like flies after because all of that death contaminated their drinking water and a lot of children became orphans. Sometimes actual history can just be as fascinating as any fantasy piece, even if it can be a brutal and unforgiving time.

I usually choose bits to quote, but I don't know where to start. Well said. I agree with you. I love learning about war in a historical sense, from the common soldier or citizen who has to live with the aftermath.

This may not be what you are looking for, but I am a fan of historical fiction. For those who may not already know what that is, it is basically about actual historical events, and as always there are holes in the storytelling from the historians. That is where great fiction writers insert their fictional heroes.

I suggest the Richard Sharpe series. It follows a British soldier during the Napoleonic Wars. The fictional character is a very down to earth British soldier who is also a brutal and efficient soldier that fights his way up the ranks.

For history buffs, the author Bernard Cornwell usually adds a chapter at the end of each book describing what was historically accurate in each battle or story, while also explaining where he took creative license. He also sometimes gives physical directions to where the battles took place if you want to visit in real life because he takes the time to visit each and every place he writes about.

What hit me most about the series was the brutality of the soldiers after "winning" a battle. The animal instinct that takes over the soldiers is often brutal. Cornwell gives his main characters everything you could love about good soldiers in an awful war. He portrays them as heroes, bit also regular dudes. But he doesn't hesitate to point out the horrible stuff that truly happens around them. He also is wonderful at showing the camaraderie and loyalty to the men beside them, rather than to the country they are fighting for.

Again, not sure if historical fiction is your thing, but if you want an entertaining series that is based on real events (ending at the battle of Waterloo) check it out! The author really does his research to create a read that's very accessible.

The first book is called Sharpe's Eagle. My Dad introduced me to this series, and based on what you said, I think you might enjoy it.

Sorry if that was way too long of a reply!

 

[-Blue-]

-Post-

Thanks! I'll have to check those out! There's so many people who were part of the war in some way that never had the opportunity to retell their own experience, so even if those books are fiction I am sure the writers made it believable and feeling like it is consistent with that period. As long as I can be immersed in a story, that's all the matters to me!

The book by Augustus Myers (that I mentioned) really interested me also because he was part of the unit that I'm supposed to portray when I do reenactments. When I first started reenacting, it was so hard to find any information on them. It was a bit crazy since you would expect the actual existing United States military to have documented their feats during the war, but for those 5ish years there's not a lot of information. Mostly because the war was full of volunteers and so the existing military during that time was overshadowed. They don't get enough credit since even if they were vastly outnumbered by the volunteers they trained and prepared them in the ways of war and held the Union together during the early years when the volunteers were still too green and inexperienced.

Another book by Timothy Reese, Sykes Regulars is pretty much a detailed documentary of their entire service in the war. It is out of print and had been when I got into reenacting. It runs easily for $500, but one day I got lucky and found it for $40. Still pricey, but I couldn't pass up on the chance.

One of the biggest reenactments I did was 1st Manassas/1st Bull Run. It's one of the first major battles and where the Union volunteers were routed in a disorganized mess. The US Infantry protected their retreat and formed numerous battalion squares when the Confederates tried to route them with cavalry. Seeing 500 something horses charge at me as I was in the square was something else lol.

Overall I don't think I would be as into reading books related to this documentary/novel if it weren't for my hobby. But being able to get as close to the actual setting as possible really piqued my interest and I wanted to learn and read more stories about it. Thanks for the recommendations!

Spoiler

A 'dead' person took this picture. The square is in the middle, I'm not sure if you can see it lol

 

[ShawnFuzz]

Thanks! I'll have to check those out! There's so many people who were part of the war in some way that never had the opportunity to retell their own experience, so even if those books are fiction I am sure the writers made it believable and feeling like it is consistent with that period. As long as I can be immersed in a story, that's all the matters to me!

The book by Augustus Myers (that I mentioned) really interested me also because he was part of the unit that I'm supposed to portray when I do reenactments. When I first started reenacting, it was so hard to find any information on them. It was a bit crazy since you would expect the actual existing United States military to have documented their feats during the war, but for those 5ish years there's not a lot of information. Mostly because the war was full of volunteers and so the existing military during that time was overshadowed. They don't get enough credit since even if they were vastly outnumbered by the volunteers they trained and prepared them in the ways of war and held the Union together during the early years when the volunteers were still too green and inexperienced.

Another book by Timothy Reese, Sykes Regulars is pretty much a detailed documentary of their entire service in the war. It is out of print and had been when I got into reenacting. It runs easily for $500, but one day I got lucky and found it for $40. Still pricey, but I couldn't pass up on the chance.

One of the biggest reenactments I did was 1st Manassas/1st Bull Run. It's one of the first major battles and where the Union volunteers were routed in a disorganized mess. The US Infantry protected their retreat and formed numerous battalion squares when the Confederates tried to route them with cavalry. Seeing 500 something horses charge at me as I was in the square was something else lol.

Overall I don't think I would be as into reading books related to this documentary/novel if it weren't for my hobby. But being able to get as close to the actual setting as possible really piqued my interest and I wanted to learn and read more stories about it. Thanks for the recommendations!

Spoiler

A 'dead' person took this picture. The square is in the middle, I'm not sure if you can see it lol
View attachment 571604

You might really like the Sharpe series... the square formation is a major reason the British beat Napoleon. It's impressive how a simple formation can stop hundreds of riders!

 

[nightglow]

Realistically non fiction stuff that I could learn from and books that fall under the religion section (from various religions because I find the thoughts interesting personally). Even that isn't too common for me.
I don't read fiction books anymore, I did read some as a teen but most of the fiction books I've read was from when I was a kid as many of the books available at the library didn't interest me as a teen. Granted the library always spent all their grant money on books 3rd grade and under all the time.
I feel like streaming services and the internet also greatly effected me drifting from reading an actual book. And I usually head to the internet to read topics and conversations I'm in interested in. But if I was to pick a fiction book to read today, it would certainly be science fiction.

 

[-Blue-]

You might really like the Sharpe series... the square formation is a major reason the British beat Napoleon. It's impressive how a simple formation can stop hundreds of riders!

I remember reading up about that and how Napoleon was whipped by the squares. It's why I mentioned that reenactment since you brought that bit of history up. It's crazy, but also a very simple solution. They covered all angles and even if they're fast, they got to outrun every bullet all the while running into a rigid formation. I honestly wouldn't have the courage to do that.

I'm definitely going to write that series down! I got so many books I want to read and the backlog keeps piling up. I just wish I had some more time! Thank you for the suggestions!

 

[ShawnFuzz]

@-Blue- I am going to PM you if that's okay? I have more to say and ask and I want to keep this thread about books people want to recommend, rather than war strategies