Poll: BOOKS!!!

[TheKruzdawg]

You read them?

BTW, by "books" I mean at least 100 pages without pictures...
Just wondering how many Escapists read...

Other Topic: What are some good books?

So by your definition, "Anthem" by Ayn Rand doesn't count as a book? It's only 93 pages, so is it a short story? That's quite a long short story.

I think Anthem is a novella.

I've heard it called that before but I don't know what exactly qualifies it for that name.

A book's classification as a novella depends on the word count.

Ah, so my first reaction against not calling Anthem a book was unfounded. I personally consider pretty much anything above 50 pages to be a book, but technically Anthem wouldn't be a book.

So, OT, I can't count Anthem in my favorite books. In that case, I would say that some of my favorite series are The Corean Chronicles by L. E. Modesitt Jr.; so far every fantasy series I've read by Mercedes Lackey; and that's all I've really put time into recently. I plan on getting around to restarting the Dune and Foundation series at some point.

 

[Outright Villainy]

My biggest problem is not having any recommendations. I love a good book, but I'm not really motivated to find them myself. I do have a recommendation to read some Iain Banks right now though, which I really should get around to soon. I'm looking forward to it!

 

[elbrandino]

I take books with me when I travel and sometimes I just sit down and read for a while.

I love Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and anything Douglas Adams actually. I also just recently finished All Quiet on the Western Front for school and it was easily one of the best books I've ever read.

 

[TheKruzdawg]

You read them?

BTW, by "books" I mean at least 100 pages without pictures...
Just wondering how many Escapists read...

Other Topic: What are some good books?

So by your definition, "Anthem" by Ayn Rand doesn't count as a book? It's only 93 pages, so is it a short story? That's quite a long short story.

If it's good than sure, it can count as a book...

I'm playing devil's advocate here, but how do you define "good"? That's a pretty subjective emotion and I'm pretty sure a lot of people don't think anything Ayn Rand has written is "good", while others adore her works.

If you thought the book was good... then it's good...
If you thought the book was bad... then it's not good...

What other people think are their opinions, and I'm here to look for people with good book suggestions. Besides, I'm pretty sure there's never been a book made that EVERYBODY loved...

I'm not trying to diss what you think is good or not, I guess I was just in that kind of mood where I was feeling, mischievous is a good word for it. The way you phrased that earlier, it made it sound like anything that was "bad" didn't count as a book.

 

[ThatLankyBastard]

You read them?

BTW, by "books" I mean at least 100 pages without pictures...
Just wondering how many Escapists read...

Other Topic: What are some good books?

So by your definition, "Anthem" by Ayn Rand doesn't count as a book? It's only 93 pages, so is it a short story? That's quite a long short story.

If it's good than sure, it can count as a book...

I'm playing devil's advocate here, but how do you define "good"? That's a pretty subjective emotion and I'm pretty sure a lot of people don't think anything Ayn Rand has written is "good", while others adore her works.

If you thought the book was good... then it's good...
If you thought the book was bad... then it's not good...

What other people think are their opinions, and I'm here to look for people with good book suggestions. Besides, I'm pretty sure there's never been a book made that EVERYBODY loved...

I'm not trying to diss what you think is good or not, I guess I was just in that kind of mood where I was feeling, mischievous is a good word for it. The way you phrased that earlier, it made it sound like anything that was "bad" didn't count as a book.

Damn these quotes are getting lengthy...

I was just saying that you should count it as a book only if it's good because it was under the criteria I set, (100 pages or more). I was just willing to make an exception if it was good...

 

[velcrokidneyz]

one of my favorites is the stranger by camus, but ill read most anyhting from harry potter due to the fact that i grew up with it, to classics such as leaves of grass, or some stephen king stuff, lately i read the david robicheax mystery novels, pretty sweet, im trying to get motivated to read some of the sherlock holmes books to.

anyone have suggestions for good mystery novels?

 

[dudycat1]

the godfarther's good though a bit boring at times

 

[Skuffyshootster]

Oh yes, tons.

I just finished Things Fall Apart, and am currently on Titus Groan. (Not that far into it, but I love it already.

 

[iwishiwased]

yea i enjoy extensive reading. I started early with roald dahl and eoin colfer. Now i just love books by neil gaiman and alan moore. I keep trying to branch out what i read, trying new styles and other genres etc. For example im currently reading shadow over innsmouth, to kill a mockingbird, royal assassin and the fry chronicles. Wierdly though i've never enjoyed any book by stephen king. Just not my kind of author i guess

 

[pubbing]

Some of my favorite books:

Term Limits by Vince Flynn

State of Fear by Michael Crichton

The Murder Book by I forget the authors name.

 

[KefkaCultist]

I read a lot and I'm a fan of H.P. Lovecraft and have a few of his books and I have:
-Clockwork Orange
-Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
-1984
-Interview With the Vampire
-Every Harry Potter book
-A Jack London collection
-Jurassic Park
-Dracula
-And a bunch of Magic the Gathering Novels I will probably never read

 

[Koroviev]

You read them?

BTW, by "books" I mean at least 100 pages without pictures...
Just wondering how many Escapists read...

Other Topic: What are some good books?

So by your definition, "Anthem" by Ayn Rand doesn't count as a book? It's only 93 pages, so is it a short story? That's quite a long short story.

I think Anthem is a novella.

I've heard it called that before but I don't know what exactly qualifies it for that name.

A book's classification as a novella depends on the word count.

Ah, so my first reaction against not calling Anthem a book was unfounded. I personally consider pretty much anything above 50 pages to be a book, but technically Anthem wouldn't be a book.

So, OT, I can't count Anthem in my favorite books. In that case, I would say that some of my favorite series are The Corean Chronicles by L. E. Modesitt Jr.; so far every fantasy series I've read by Mercedes Lackey; and that's all I've really put time into recently. I plan on getting around to restarting the Dune and Foundation series at some point.

Eh, it's still a book, it's just not a full-fledged novel.

 

[Koroviev]

I read a lot and I'm a fan of H.P. Lovecraft and have a few of his books and I have:
-Clockwork Orange
-Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
-1984
-Interview With the Vampire
-Every Harry Potter book
-A Jack London collection
-Jurassic Park
-Dracula
-And a bunch of Magic the Gathering Novels I will probably never read

I approve of your selection.

 

[GonzoGamer]

I always have a book on me.
It's the one thing I can find even more engrossing than a really compelling game.
Actually, I just got Mogworld.
Any good?

 

[Jabberwock xeno]

My normal reading speed is 754 wpm.

I have to many books I am forbidden from buying any more because I finish them too fast XD

 

[bpm195]

Nine times out of ten when you put some 200 page book in front of me and say it's the greatest thing in the world, I'll complain that it's unnecessarily long then read it and berate the friend that gave it to me. It's not to say that they're inherently bad as a medium, but people really dramatically overstate how good every book is. At least when somebody makes me watch a movie I can go to sleep if I don't give a crap, but I have to put the effort into these damn books when I could expend just as much effort doing something constructive.

Why not read a book about something that interests you instead of your friend?

Peer pressure

The general situation is that if I say that I haven't read some series I have no interest in reading, the only way to get people to shut up about how much I should read it is to read it. So I take the book, read it, and give it back, and they're offended if I don't ask for the second book. Surely if I don't want the second book I didn't read the first, then I have to pass whatever litmus test to prove that I read the book, and I just sincerely don't care about the next one. Then they have to assemble a team of nerds for an impromptu intervention, and they won't leave me alone until I agree to read the next book.

I just want to fit in with the nerd crowd, but bibliophiles are the pushiest hobbyists EVER!

 

[Koroviev]

Nine times out of ten when you put some 200 page book in front of me and say it's the greatest thing in the world, I'll complain that it's unnecessarily long then read it and berate the friend that gave it to me. It's not to say that they're inherently bad as a medium, but people really dramatically overstate how good every book is. At least when somebody makes me watch a movie I can go to sleep if I don't give a crap, but I have to put the effort into these damn books when I could expend just as much effort doing something constructive.

Why not read a book about something that interests you instead of your friend?

Peer pressure

The general situation is that if I say that I haven't read some series I have no interest in reading, the only way to get people to shut up about how much I should read it is to read it. So I take the book, read it, and give it back, and they're offended if I don't ask for the second book. Surely if I don't want the second book I didn't read the first, then I have to pass whatever litmus test to prove that I read the book, and I just sincerely don't care about the next one. Then they have to assemble a team of nerds for an impromptu intervention, and they won't leave me alone until I agree to read the next book.

I just want to fit in with the nerd crowd, but bibliophiles are the pushiest hobbyists EVER!

You should try reading something that interests you and recommending it to your friends.

 

[gl1koz3]

Holy shit. I am the only one who has never really read a book all the way through. O.O

But, come to think of it, I remember one book I forced myself into reading back in the 3rd/4th grade or something. Some 100 pages or so in bigger-than-small letters. I think my mark depended on it, and internet wasn't yet much available in our country. But that was such a long time ago. Almost feel like I swore to never read again, haha.

Well, that's an unfortunately dubious distinction. What have you tried to read?

Mostly programming and some science books. Interesting stuff catches my attention regarding a related subject and I buy the book. Usually it's a chapter or two; never read any of the books here entirely. Use them in case I need info on particular subject and off they go again.

Regarding books that contain a story... there was that 100 page book during childhood, and there was another in 10th grade again. Just with 150 pages. I read somewhere around half of the book and read a summary of the rest somewhere on the net. The stuff just wasn't interesting enough, to be honest. All of some local authors... not that they're bad, but the historical farmer settings are not particularly filled with secrets to unfold. Anyway, these were assignments in literature class. Since then I have substituted book reading with games containing (at least halfway) well done stories. The way of presentation does the trick - it is a lot more involving. Yet again, there's probably two or three games I enjoy story- and otherwise. I can name C&C (love the "serious humor" of originals) and Mass Effect 1 (for (arguably) probably the best sci-fi atmosphere so far). These are pretty much the only games I play for the feel of story.

People say books are interesting, but I don't see why. Especially, when some games successfully substituted them for me.

 

[Koroviev]

Holy shit. I am the only one who has never really read a book all the way through. O.O

But, come to think of it, I remember one book I forced myself into reading back in the 3rd/4th grade or something. Some 100 pages or so in bigger-than-small letters. I think my mark depended on it, and internet wasn't yet much available in our country. But that was such a long time ago. Almost feel like I swore to never read again, haha.

Well, that's an unfortunately dubious distinction. What have you tried to read?

Mostly programming and some science books. Interesting stuff catches my attention regarding a related subject and I buy the book. Usually it's a chapter or two; never read any of the books here entirely. Use them in case I need info on particular subject and off they go again.

Regarding books that contain a story... there was that 100 page book during childhood, and there was another in 10th grade again. Just with 150 pages. I read somewhere around half of the book and read a summary of the rest somewhere on the net. The stuff just wasn't interesting enough, to be honest. All of some local authors... not that they're bad, but the historical farmer settings are not particularly filled with secrets to unfold. Anyway, these were assignments in literature class. Since then I have substituted book reading with games containing (at least halfway) well done stories. The way of presentation does the trick - it is a lot more involving. Yet again, there's probably two or three games I enjoy story- and otherwise. I can name C&C (love the "serious humor" of originals) and Mass Effect 1 (for (arguably) probably the best sci-fi atmosphere so far). These are pretty much the only games I play for the feel of story.

People say books are interesting, but I don't see why. Especially, when some games successfully substituted them for me.

There's nothing wrong with not enjoying books as much as other mediums. It really depends on which experience you are looking for. Furthermore, whether you prefer fiction or non-fiction is a matter of interest. I like both. The only problem that can arise from not reading books all that often is composition issues. This has actually been documented when it comes to blind people, who often rely on audiobooks for "reading" material. When asked to compose for themselves, it has been found that such persons do not seem to have as firm an understanding of language structure as those who are fortunate enough to have sight. Nevertheless, I do not think that applies to you. Even if you don't finish books, that fact is that you still read them. I forget the subject of the article, but I read one not too long ago that questioned developed society's austere approach to books. For example, it challenged the notion that a book needs to be finished in order to fend of guilt. Why should the person feel guilty? If the book is not interesting, it is not interesting. So, read what you like and don't bother with the stuff that bores you. You have the right idea.

 

[Alexander Cron]

H.P. Lovecraft is a dark genius. Anything by him is amazing and very evil and scary.