Between Sisyphean by Dempow Torishima and The Crooked God Machine by Autumn Christian.
All time favorite book is rather hard as there's different genres and every author is different depending, I don't really have favorites but if I had to choose it's probably between those two.
The Crooked God Machine is fiction and more of a dark religious surrealist background. It is more 1984ish if the story was based in an authoritarian world ruled by a god on the TV in a mask instead of the original story for 1984. It's very bleak and good.
Sisyphean is very hard sci fi and deals with body horror and genetic engineering. There's also a weird overall theme of reincarnation. It's reminiscent of Franz Kafka and HR Giger if I had to describe it.
It was a trilogy that turned into about 10 books. (I think its more now).
Xanth series by Piers Anthony.
I was young, and my friend had the whole lot. I chewed thru those books like an addict on crack. They were awesome🤗
Magical, funny, thoughtful, clever and taught me to look on life differently.
Kind of like Terry Prachett and Robert Asprin: mythical, funny, but lots of clever writing underneath it all.
I dont think a book series has engaged me as much as those since. I didn't want to put them down. I vaguely remember a certain week of school where i came home, grabbed a bite to eat and then hibernated in my room and just read.... all night.... every night. Id get up each morning, change my underwear, have a coffee and go to school.
@OogieBoogie Been recommended Lord of the Rings so many times, perhaps I need to succumb! Films nowadays are usually based on special effects and sensationalism, Covid seemed to kill the art of film making.
@RodneyTrotter1 Someone, (on here), who claimed to be in the industry, said it had a lot to do with the 'in houseness' of the industry.
They said the problem was, children of current flim people got preference for jobs .....and the thing was - they never really had any real life "Life". And they were industry kids - so they didnt read books.... they lived the hollywood lifestyle.
So the upshot of it all was: these kids only knew hollywood and hollywood clichés - and that's what they put in movies.
And its why so many movies are so weak these days....and so boring. (Its not new original stuff). Its not 'creative-ism.... it's reguigitated second hand clichés patched togther.
And you know.....im a bit partial to believing that.
People arent getting into the Industry based on merit of talent or creativity.... they are getting in coz daddy works there.
@OogieBoogie What a bloody shame! The last decent one I saw at a cinema was One Love, the Bob Marley story. I was bored rigid by the trailers that were showed before it started and a bit pissed off when i saw the upcoming choices on the way out, all sensationalist or special effect themed bollocks that cater for shallow types who talk and munch snacks for the whole two hours or so. Don't get me started on the sweet packet rustlers...grrrrrr!😆
Nonfiction: The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes Runner up: The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe
Fiction: The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger Runner up: Rendezvous With Rama by Arthur C Clarke
I was 16 when I read The Catcher in the Rye, same age as the main character. It introduced me to life outside my somewhat sheltered upbringing in rural Tennessee and introduced me to real literature.
I’ve been such a passionate reader for so long it’s impossible to pick one book. There are so many different kinds I love. But for a long, complex novel, it’s hard to beat Middlemarch, by George Eliot.
That's a moveable feast, but offhand one that has stuck with me for many years is Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter by Mario Vargas Llosa. And recommending it has me thinking I should read it again.
@zonavar68 A friend of mine from EP recommended this book way back when - 2009? 2010? Anyway, I couldn't find it at the time and had forgot about it. Thanks for reminding me - I'll look for it on Amazon.
The Bible had the greatest impact on my life. For pure enjoyment, it's hard to choose. Here are a few. "The River Why" by David James Duncan; "Beach Music" by Pay Conroy; "Lonesome Dove" by Larry McMurtry; and "Peace in the Heart" by Archibald Rutledge.
@SatanBurger it’s narrated by James Marsters who played spike on buffy. Three first three audiobooks he was okay but by the fourth he truly learns the characters voice.
@Harmonium1923 I just went through my Goodreads list for the books I’ve read over the past 12 months. I’ve come up with these three books which I enjoyed equally and they are all completely different:
The Bible. For fun reading I absolutely love the Ashes Series by William W Johnstone. There are 32 books in the series and I have read them a few times. Some of my more favorite books 10 plus times. My favorite western is Flint by Louis Lamore.
