I'll admit it, I had fun on the last weekend assignment. I don't know anything about poetry, so I was a little anxious about it. Thanks for all the kind words; they made me less nervous. Anyway, on to the new assignment. Karen wants us to talk about our favorite books:
While it may be difficult to choose your favorite book of all time, there's probably a certain genre or category of books you prefer over other kinds. Do you love a mystery, or would you rather read about dragons? Are you thirsty for a good vampire tale, or is science fiction more your style? Do you mostly stick with the classics, or look for the latest spy novel? Are you a biography buff? Do a lot of your books have the word "Dummies" in the title? Do you like to read about real-world politics, science, history or sports, or would you rather escape the real world with a good romance? Tell us! And while you're at it, tell us your second favorite category of books.
Picking out a favorite book would be difficult. I've read too many that I really like to pick just one. Genre is a little easier, but I have to narrow it down to two, does that still count? I generally read Science Fiction and Horror-ish books. The horror books I read are either Stephen King or Dean Koontz. Dean Koontz doesn't consider his books horror, that's why I said "horror-ish".
Science fiction were the first "real" books I read by my own choice when I was growing up. I found an Isaac Asimov book in the library that looked cool, and I enjoyed it so much that my mission was to read all of his books. Only his fiction books though, he has way too many non-fiction books. From there I went on many journeys through time and space that really made me think and enjoy the universe around me.
Then, one day in college, someone handed me It, by Stephen King. All through college I read about things that lurk in the shadows of our subconscious. I've read just about every book by Stephen King and Dean Koontz, but I haven't tried many others in the genre. If anyone has any suggestions, let me know.
I've read a few science books here and there, but not a lot. I seem to pick the books that are way too advanced for me, I get confused, then I give up on them. My wife bought an autobiography we thought we'd like, but I can't read it. I won't name it here, but I don't like the writing at all.
Extra Credit: Do you ever loan out books to friends or family?
I've loaned out a book or two once in a while, but not many of my friends or family read the same things I do. So I keep them, and drive my wife crazy with the books that are stacked up that I don't throw away, or give away.
So, read any good books lately?
10 comments:
Hello Mike :)
Gee it's fun to share about books with a new friend. :) I like both Dean Koontz and Stephen King, but between the two I enjoy Stephen King the most. I find Koontz a little too formulated. I had to smile when you mentioned "IT." That just happens to be my favorite book by King. I throughly enjoyed to story, and had some profound realizations about my own life and fears as the story unfolded. Great stuff.
There is a book that I am quite fond of, that I will be talking about in my own entry for this assignment. I am planning on doing that for my entry tomorrow. It is blend of mystery and history I guess that would be "mishistory" lol. Anyway, it is an excellent read, so if you can, drop by Ellipsis later tomorrow and have a read, or drop me an email if you can't make it out for a blog jog, and I will send you the info. :) Great entry for the assignment!
Always, Carly
It's posts like this that make me think perhaps I should give Stephen King and chance. Great entry, Mike!
Carly: Thanks for the tip. I'll stop by tomorrow to check it out. You are right about Koontz, but I still like his books so far. Lately, for me at least, King is rambling too much. His books have always been longer, but they didn't seem long. You know?
Karen: If you do check him out I recommend IT as a good starring point. Since you like fantasy, you may like The Dark Tower series, too.
The only Stephen King book I've read in full was his memoir/instructional book On Writing - and I really enjoyed it. I like his occasional columns in Entertainment Weekly too. :-) I thought they made his stories into good movies with Stand By Me and The Shawshank Redemption...I guess I go for "non-typical" King.
And I give away or lend out most of my books after I'm done with them, since I have too many unread ones around the house to plan on re-reading.
Florinda: I read that book too. It was good. I think you'd like those stories, and maybe the novel Bag of Bones. It was different but very good.
2 thumbs up for your choices!
IT scared the living daylights out of me. I'm not fond of clowns in the first place :0} I have read and reread On Writing . His short stories are amazing. He is an incredible writer and should be recognized more often as such, not just as "the master of horror."
Dean Koontz is a familiar face here behind the Orange Curtain. I had never read one of his books until Odd Thomas. Now I'm hooked on that series.
Live: Thanks! I didn't think I'd like the Odd books, but the are some of my favorites. There is another coming out soon. I like On Writing as well. I only read it once so far, but I haven't had it that long.
Mike, I fixed the roundup entry. Sorry for the mistake!
On the subject of horror writers similar to King and Koontz, I would recommend F. Paul Wilson and Robert McCammon. Both have several books that aren't so good (and Wilson has strayed into several other genres, including science fiction and medical thrillers), but both have written some real horror gems.
http://www.repairmanjack.com/
http://www.robertmccammon.com/
fdtate: Thanks for the book tips. I'll check out the links.
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