Looking to Get Back Into Reading - Opinions Welcome

[Stylin]

I used to be a heavy reader. I only owned around 400 paperbacks and maybe 30 hard covers but that was by the time I was 16 so I consider it a badge of honor. I had to sell most of them during different parts of my life mainly for a bit of money here and there. I am down too around 60-70 paper backs and a dozen hard covers now.

I landed a new job where I see myself reading while on break and lunch. If anyone is an avid reader I would love too talk, to try and get my interest back.

I would love too get some ideas on somewhat common titles. Stuff that can be found in used book stores more commonly would be nice. But I am open to a lot of different genres. I was very heavy into medieval/magic fantasy style but also had a large helping of SAS/special forces fiction and non fiction. I got into SciFi later but had a lot of fun with titles like snowclash and the Starship Troopers book was a fun read.

I would love for an open forum or even PM's about what to read and what everyone likes. Please just say what you like even!

[Frankenfurter]

I'm not an avid reader myself I'm afraid, but I do enjoy a good book every now and then; as such books are in my Stumble interests and I found this earlier today:
http://www.listchallenges.com/npr-to...-fantasy-books

I've only read 10 of them, and it sounds like you'll have read a lot more, but if you're looking for 'somewhat common titles' and like sci-fi and fantasy it should be a good place to look.


Oh, last book I read - The Explorer, by James Smythe.
I'm actually still not entirely sure what I think of it... It was an enjoyable and slightly trippy read but not what I was expecting from a sci-fi. That's all I can say without giving it away really, anyway, it has mixed reviews.

[Stylin]

http://www.listchallenges.com/npr-to...-fantasy-books

I like that list. I think I will make my own smaller list from it and go hunting for them at the local used book stores. Fill up the shelves a bit. I buy most of my books as I find I spend more in late fees or replacing books my kids damage at the library than buying used books.

[deejayburnout]

i am a big fan of autobiographys. started reading wrestlers one and have read some others too.

2 of the best have been Catch me if you Can - about Frank Abagnalie and David Jasons one.

[DanceswithUnix]

I got a Nook Touch for £29: http://www.nook.com/gb/tablets/nook-simple-touch

There is a sci-fi short stories book for a few quid that is something like 13000 pages and has kept me going for ages. Just the sample download kept me in reading material for over a month

Has also found me some new authors that I have bought further stories from.

[herulach]

2 points, get an ereader they're much easier for that kind if dip in/out reading. Secondly don't read every break in a new job. Unless you're the only person there talk to people, it'll make your job much more satisfying

[wasabi]

Most stuff by Carl Hiaasen is very very well written, funny, fast paced quirky offbeat crime stuff. Absolutely not the sort of thing I would normally read (usually historical fiction) but have been my fave author for years.

Or how about the Flashman series?

I use a Kobo Aura HD ebook reader which is a bit pricey but very very good. I'm in my 40s and a bit long sighted and the ability to make the fonts a bit bigger to read without glasses is nice.

Or if you want a large range for free hit the library!

[Frankenfurter]

I got a Nook Touch for £29: http://www.nook.com/gb/tablets/nook-simple-touch

...

Wow! I had no idea e-readers were so cheap now. I might pick one up myself!

[DanceswithUnix]

Wow! I had no idea e-readers were so cheap now. I might pick one up myself!

I expected to root/hack it so it was intended as a sort of geeky toy, but so far it has remained standard as it is just so damned useful as a reader. I have a Hudle tablet as well now, but the e-ink is much nicer to read.

[kalniel]

Just keep going north on the A33, off the M4, and you'll get there eventually

[Frankenfurter]

I expected to root/hack it so it was intended as a sort of geeky toy, but so far it has remained standard as it is just so damned useful as a reader. I have a Hudle tablet as well now, but the e-ink is much nicer to read.

Ah nice. I'll definitely have a look into it then. Should probably finish my build first though...

Back to OP - sounds like you're doing the same thing I am. Not sure when I'll be finding the time to get through everything I'm listing though.

Kalniel - I have no words. xD

[DanceswithUnix]

Ah nice. I'll definitely have a look into it then. Should probably finish my build first though...

The Nook isn't perfect by any means, like it seems to drop the first letter of a book presumably because it is supposed to be some oversized drop cap.

I believe underneath it is an Android 2.2 tablet, and I suspect the hardware is old enough that it will never see another firmware update. However the battery lasts me weeks on a charge and it was really cheap so I can't get too annoyed

[Stylin]

I am not too old, turning 29 at the end of this year but my eyes are not perfect either. That being said, holding onto a book and using a bookmark I have had for 14 years is part of what makes it enjoyable to me. It is so much more personal and I can get into it easier. Besides books tend to last a lot longer .

If I start working our of providence or start traveling where space is a factor then I may look into a basic liquid crystal e-reader as I love the crazy long battery life. I have also caught myself doing a fair bit of reading on my old first gen I-pad. Mainly news and Reddit. It was a demo model so one of the first ones ever touched by the general public and boy has it taken a lot of abuse, so much more durable than its successors.

But ya I love some of the ideas from this thread. Lets try and get more authors and titles in the mix!

[kalniel]

Have you gone through everything in the recommend a book thread yet?

http://forums.hexus.net/movies-tv-mu...mend-book.html

be careful not to turn this thread into a repeat of that one or it might be closed

[g8ina]

This thread too if you are into scifi/fantasy :

http://forums.hexus.net/movies-tv-mu...endations.html

[GeorgeStorm]

If you're into your historical fiction then I would highly recommend Bernard Cornwell (ofcourse you will hopefully have already read some of his stuff)

I also really enjoyed a couple of trilogies by Robin Hobb (The LiveShip Traders, maybe The Farseer Trilogy as well). Not really historical fiction since they involve supernatural stuff, but they are based in an 'older time' so you may enjoy them.