I need recommendations for books

[timeformime]

Just so you know, the complete stories of HP Lovecraft actually are all in one big, relatively cheap $20 edition from Barnes & Noble, a leatherbound anthology that's really pretty great for the price. I went over there a while ago to look at the whole series, which includes some classic literature and some other big names in sci fi.

It's not exactly real leather, but I'm no book collector so it makes no difference. A great deal nonetheless. I'm really jonesing for a few of the classic literature collections with 3-5 major novels in them.

 

[VladG]

Discworld novels by Terry Pratchett (or pretty much anything else by Pratchett) - very amusing, well written and insightful. I'd recommend Small Gods (13th book I believe) as a first read.

I've just finished the first book in the Bartimaeus Sequence by Jonathan Stroud and very much liked it, so I'd recommend it.

LoTR is a ponderous read, especially if you're used to more modern fantasy, but very good nonetheless. Long too.

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card for a great Sci-Fi read.

Dune by Frank Herbert, another great Sci-Fi. Personally I only really liked the original novel.

 

[doomspore98]

"John Dies at the End" is one of the most funny/terrifying books I've ever read. It's hysterical comedy mixed with some pretty gross scenes.
Another would be the "Night Angel Trilogy," these books are more on the serious side, but they are masterfully crafted and I like them more than game of thrones or even the wheal of time.

 

[GoldenEyedScout]

The Discworld series does a wonderful job of mocking every fantasy cliche and trope, and you can read the books in any order. My personal favorites are Unseen Academicals, Going Postal, and Mort.
On the sci-fi front, Dan Abnett's Embedded is absolutely incredible. He's always done well with his 40k books, but because he's not constrained by the universe with this one, it rises head and shoulders above.
If you want memoir/autobiography, Black Coffee Blues by Henry Rollins is one of my favorite books. It's part memoir, but mostly poetry and short stories he wrote while on tour with Black Flag. Either of Chris Jericho's books (A Lion's Tale: Around the World in Spandex and Undisputed: How to Become The World Champion) are funny and enlightening.
Hope you feel better, and I hope these help.

 

[Ed130 The Vanguard]

Not to go on like a broken record but Terry Prachett's Discworld novels have hope and humour in abundance. The Edge Chronicles are a little darker in tone but are also worth reading.

 

[NoPants2win]

Ivanhoe by Walter Scott is a good read. It's like a more friendly, up beat version of Game of Thrones. It's been out for a while too, so if you don't want to buy a new copy your local library probably has one.

JPOD by Douglas Coupland is a pretty fun read.

Also, Fool by Christopher Moore is crippingling hilarious and would probably brighten your spirits.

 

[COMaestro]

I will skip few obvious ones and go straight for rarely heard ones
"Myth Adventures" series by Robert Asprin
(comedy+fantasy+sci-fi+anything else author wanted to put in)

When I went home last night I saw these books on my shelf and thought, "Why did I not recommend these!?" The Myth series is hysterical and well worth reading. Starts with "Another Fine Myth". The Phule series by Asprin is good as well, if you want a futuristic sci-fi military comedy. "Phule's Company" is the first in that series.

There are so many good books out there, it is impossible to get through all the things I would suggest. As others have stated, "Ender's Game" is definitely worth a read, though I think the sequel "Speaker for the Dead" is the best book of the series.

The "Death Gate Cycle" was also mentioned and is a very good seven book series.

I have only read the first book of the "Percy Jackson" series, and though I did enjoy it, it felt so much like it cloned Harry Potter, right down to the three lead characters. However, it does suggest that you would probably enjoy them if you like HP. Someday I'll read more of them.

So many more that could be mentioned, but I think you've got enough suggestions on your plate

 

[Flight]

I recommend Meredith Ann Pierce's The Darkangel Trilogy, if you can manage to get ahold of it. I found it quite lovely, and the mythology interesting. The Sandman series, by Neil Gaiman, is also very good. They're comics, though. I hope you feel better soon!

 

[Shocksplicer]

I recommend the "Tales of the Ketty Jay" series by Chris Wooding, starting with Retribution Falls.

It's basically a retro-future version of Firefly.