ER Eddie
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2013
- Messages
- 1,788
I know we must have some fiction readers in here. I searched for a thread on book suggestions, but all I found was non-fiction topics.
So, I thought I'd ask: What are your recommendations for fiction?
Here's my story, if you're interested (but you don't have to read this for purposes of the thread).
After being a lifelong non-fiction reader, I've tried to return to reading fiction in the past year. I used to read fiction a long time ago -- science fiction, mostly, and then some serious Literature when I was in college -- but it's been so long, I'm out of the loop. So I thought I'd ask for recommendations.
Here is some of what I've tried:
I tried serious Leet-erature, but it didn't take. It felt like it was written to please English majors and literary critics. (I'm not insulting English majors. I used to be one. But that was 25 years ago.)
I am looking for middle brow" stuff -- well-written but entertaining. I like good characters (those with some depth and uniqueness to them). I like books that move me emotionally.
I tried poetry, but that didn't go anywhere. I don't have a head for poetry. I get annoyed that I have to spend so much energy trying to figure out what they are trying to say. I'm a prosaic sort of fellow.
I tried science fiction, because I liked that when I was a kid. But I found it too scientific (not surprising, eh?). I guess when I was a kid, that stuff produced a "gosh wow" feeling, but now it just bores me.
I tried fantasy, and for a while, I was on a Terry Brooks kick. Really liked Sword of Shannara and the first set of books. My enthusiasm is petering out, because the books are starting to feel pretty familiar now. I have LotR on my shelf but don't feel up to it right now.
Since I like good characterization, I looked up "psychological fiction," but apparently that is mostly detective/crime fiction. That's okay, I've read some good ones. But it's also rather grim, and I don't want to spend too much of my free time reading about detectives and killers. I don't do that sort of work, but it reminds me of my work.
Anyway, just fishing around for good books/authors.
So, I thought I'd ask: What are your recommendations for fiction?
Here's my story, if you're interested (but you don't have to read this for purposes of the thread).
After being a lifelong non-fiction reader, I've tried to return to reading fiction in the past year. I used to read fiction a long time ago -- science fiction, mostly, and then some serious Literature when I was in college -- but it's been so long, I'm out of the loop. So I thought I'd ask for recommendations.
Here is some of what I've tried:
I tried serious Leet-erature, but it didn't take. It felt like it was written to please English majors and literary critics. (I'm not insulting English majors. I used to be one. But that was 25 years ago.)
I am looking for middle brow" stuff -- well-written but entertaining. I like good characters (those with some depth and uniqueness to them). I like books that move me emotionally.
I tried poetry, but that didn't go anywhere. I don't have a head for poetry. I get annoyed that I have to spend so much energy trying to figure out what they are trying to say. I'm a prosaic sort of fellow.
I tried science fiction, because I liked that when I was a kid. But I found it too scientific (not surprising, eh?). I guess when I was a kid, that stuff produced a "gosh wow" feeling, but now it just bores me.
I tried fantasy, and for a while, I was on a Terry Brooks kick. Really liked Sword of Shannara and the first set of books. My enthusiasm is petering out, because the books are starting to feel pretty familiar now. I have LotR on my shelf but don't feel up to it right now.
Since I like good characterization, I looked up "psychological fiction," but apparently that is mostly detective/crime fiction. That's okay, I've read some good ones. But it's also rather grim, and I don't want to spend too much of my free time reading about detectives and killers. I don't do that sort of work, but it reminds me of my work.
Anyway, just fishing around for good books/authors.
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, Nebula Award winners etc will give you a few options. For the current batch of mid brow stuff keep an eye on a major newspaper book reviews section (NYT or WP) or follow Goodreads. Then order the ones that catch your eye from the library.
