What's your favorite reading material?

I thought I would ask some ATSers what they like to read. It seems that reading is a dying breed in the world these days. Kids now-a-days do not like to read books, newspapers, or anything that is not on a screen. So I am asking the people of ATS what is it that you enjoy reading? Books? Newspapers? News articles? Maybe favorite authors, genres? Anything that peaks your interest in reading.

For me. I am a huge fan of J.R.R Tolkien, great author. Read 'The Hobbit" and am in the process of reading "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy again. I also enjoy reading my local newpaper and science news from WIRED and a couple other good publications. Also National Geographic is a great publication as well.

Just curious.

-SAP-

Well besides the obvious ATS....

I would dare say Terry Pratchett and his Discworld series is by far my favorite of reads. It's kind of Tolkien but with a TON more humor.

Hey Sloan, Have you read the Silmarillion yet? If so what do you think?

reply to post by SloAnPainful


All time favorite- dark tower series.
Stephen king, dean koontz, George Orwell, tami hoag(for some reason), Edgar Poe, Tolkien, even the star wars new republic series.

I could go on for days, those are just my favorites. I miss the days when people didn't just read because they had to. We are a dying breed indeed

I used to read lots of books when I was younger.
The last "real" book I read...not including a couple trashy sci-fi books I came across one day, was tolkien's works. haven't yet read the hobbit because I knew a movie was in development for it, so will watch the movie first before reading the book (if you read the books before the movie, your always disappointed in the movie...if you watch the movie then read the book, you enjoy them both)

The last series I read was the gorean novels. they were alright. Interesting psychology and passable storyline, but the writing style was at times difficult to read (do I really need 3 pages on what the peasants bow looks like?)

I don't read much anymore though...too much of a internet mind. Forums, ATS stuff, news, etc...so, I am doing more reading, but less book reading.

I don't begrudge todays society not reading enough novels. The net, I believe, has brought up the literacy rate far more than books has (due to text becoming not a storytelling and knowledge tool but an act of daily communication)..so, take the good with the bad. Yes, reading a book for entertainment is a dying form, but it is being replaced with something equally as stimulating.

reply to post by BlastedCaddy


I do own the Silm but I haven't got through more then the first 3 chapters. I enjoy what I have read so far. I do intend to do a full read through on it eventually. I also intend to read through "the Children of Hurin" fully as well. Silm is a bit of a heavy read though and concnern many stories so I am kind of excited to start when I finish LotR lol. Which won't be for a little while yet.

-SAP-

Originally posted by BlastedCaddy
Have you read the Silmarillion yet? If so what do you think?

edit on 26-1-2012 by BlastedCaddy because: ?

Its crap!

I'm addicted to my Kindle! I go through a book a week on average, anything from horror to crime to classics and thrillers.

King
Herbert
Huston
Koontz
Deaver
De Mille
Cole
etc etc etc

Not a big fan of fantasy, I can't seem to get into for some reason - I've read the LOTR but preferred Potter hands down :-D

Originally posted by IFeelForty
dean koontz,

My favorite author! I read Watchers over and over! Love it! And Strangers! OMG!

I read cookbooks, dog behavior books, self-help books and courtroom dramas. The books I read are actual books. the old fashioned kind with paper.

Originally posted by SloAnPainful
reply to post by BlastedCaddy

 

I do own the Silm but I haven't got through more then the first 3 chapters. I enjoy what I have read so far. I do intend to do a full read through on it eventually. I also intend to read through "the Children of Hurin" fully as well. Silm is a bit of a heavy read though and concnern many stories so I am kind of excited to start when I finish LotR lol. Which won't be for a little while yet.

-SAP-

If I do decide to pick up a series, it will be A song of ice and fire. (aka, game of thrones). I heard it was a brilliant series..however, that also I have to wait for the series to finish before I start reading.

I should pick up the underdark series I sort of stopped. (drizz't du'urden). I used to love the books, but basically stopped buying em like 20 years ago. Since then, there are a half dozen new books on it...one day I may complete it...but I honestly thought they were done with the series. I even lost a bet when a new book came out many years back (it was a good loss though, I bet a girl in erm..service verses money)

Kindle is a great idea wish I would have came up with that lol. I should pick one up one of these pay days.

-SAP-

Originally posted by SloAnPainful
I thought I would ask some ATSers what they like to read. It seems that reading is a dying breed in the world these days. Kids now-a-days do not like to read books, newspapers, or anything that is not on a screen. So I am asking the people of ATS what is it that you enjoy reading? Books? Newspapers? News articles? Maybe favorite authors, genres? Anything that peaks your interest in reading.

For me. I am a huge fan of J.R.R Tolkien, great author. Read 'The Hobbit" and am in the process of reading "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy again. I also enjoy reading my local newpaper and science news from WIRED and a couple other good publications. Also National Geographic is a great publication as well.

Just curious.

-SAP-

edit on 26-1-2012 by SloAnPainful because: (no reason given)

I love reading occult books. Like Kenneth Grant, the secretary student of Aleister Crowley who could supposedly voluntarily have out of body experiences. His writings are rare and expensive but you can download torrents of them. I have all his books on my Kindle. A few of them are on Amazon, but they range from $80-$900 for used ones. Danny Carey from Tool expounds a little bit on Grants literature on his website dannycarey.org if you go to his library section. Also Robert Monroe wrote three books on out of body experiences that are amazing.

Also H.P. Lovecraft's Dream Cycle specifically, possibly the most vivid and creative horror writing ever, without a mention of blood murder or violence really. He's like Edgar Allan Poe but more spacey...like cosmic spacey.

Here is my new favorite book....



It's a childrens book so it's easy for me to understand.

Originally posted by Benevolent Heretic
The books I read are actual books. the old fashioned kind with paper.

edit on 1/26/2012 by Benevolent Heretic because: (no reason given)

Odd
sounds like a fire hazard

Anyone ever read any of the contact books like from Billy Meier or Alex Collier and the others? I am still not sure what to make about contatctees but I am always curious about what thier books are about. Anyone have any insight?

-SAP-

reply to post by SloAnPainful


I seriously cannot recommend the Kindle enough!!

I was a skeptic at 1st (preferred the 'feel' and 'smell' of a book) and I got one last March for my Birthday. I didn't really want it, and didn't even pick it up until May. After that? 100% hooked and kicking myself for not owning one sooner!

Trust me you will LOVE it

reply to post by Ozvaldo


Well I'm sold my Mother has one and she loves it. My wife also like reading so I might as well buy one so she and I can use it when were away from home.

-SAP-

I used to read a great deal of fiction when I was younger, but in the past 10 years I have only read non-fiction books. Truth is always so much stranger, and more fascinating, than fiction. I buy actual books because, if TSHTF and we have no electricity, I can at least light a candle and read....as long as I don't break my glasses like Burgess Meredith did in that Twilight Zone episode "Time Enough At Last".

I have the standard conspiracy theory library, along with a bunch of other stuff (probably around 500 books, drives my husband crazy due to all the space they take up). I especially enjoy Jim Marrs, because he can take a lot of dry facts and put them in a very readable, understandable way. I also have quite a few books on secret government biological experimentation, and books on silent film stars. I tend to take a subject and run with it, ordering everything on the subject I can get my hands on. I also never get rid of books, even my old college textbooks. I'm pretty sure when I croak, my kids will be shipping off all my strange books to the Salvation Army...Except for one, an old piece of fiction I bought in the late 80s which my younger daughter now has and has read at least 3 times: "Swan Song" by Robert McCammon, which has been a favorite of mine for a long time. I'm still trying to get her to read "A Canticle For Leibowitz" by Walter Miller Jr., but it may be too esoteric and "cold warish" for her tastes.

reply to post by SloAnPainful


Books about scientific or educational topics. I'm really not a fan of fiction novels, I like to read about facts, so I can actually increase my knowledge while reading, you know?

But I was planning on picking up a copy of George Orwell's 1984, because that applies to modern society more than ever, and I loved the movie.

Right now I am reading H.P. Lovecraft. I read most of his work already, but there is still some left for me to read. I am also fond of Stephen King.
I loved Tolkien, and George Orwell wrote the book that is my bible, 1984.
I also used to be really addicted to the Millenium series (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo), by Steig Larson. I wish he wrote all 10 books before he died.
I also liked the inheritance cycle by Christopher Paolini, I actually just finished the last book.
I guess I should also say that every book I read is on paper, with ink words. I've tried a kindle, and own an iPad, but I cannot read on them. Keep it real!

I am prolly gonna pick up "Fire & Ice" and "Game of Thrones". I watched a cpl episodes on HBO but I heard the books were better.

-SAP-