What to books to read? A Journey Begins...

Swiper the fox · 17-12-2015 07:54PM

Can I interrupt this thread where most of us are grown adults I assume?
For the Harry Potter recommenders (nice word), can I assume you read them first as children/young teenagers and you go back to them as some sort of comfort blanket? Last summer I read the Philosophers stone with my 8 year old and it was clearly a children's book, I have zero interest in ever reading another. I know I'm asking for trouble but what harm?

ScienceNerd, the Bryson Short History is a bloody hard read and has no real laughs (maybe for a science nerd though:P)

Good luck OP, Try the Sisters Brothers by Patrick De Witt, a perfect book to get you started.

GeneralC · 17-12-2015 09:20PM

Swiper the fox wrote: »

Can I interrupt this thread where most of us are grown adults I assume?
For the Harry Potter recommenders (nice word), can I assume you read them first as children/young teenagers and you go back to them as some sort of comfort blanket? Last summer I read the Philosophers stone with my 8 year old and it was clearly a children's book, I have zero interest in ever reading another. I know I'm asking for trouble but what harm?

ScienceNerd, the Bryson Short History is a bloody hard read and has no real laughs (maybe for a science nerd though:P)

Good luck OP, Try the Sisters Brothers by Patrick De Witt, a perfect book to get you started.

Would "The Hunger Games" be a more suitable read for adults but similar to Harry Potter?

17-12-2015 09:29PM

Swiper the fox wrote: »

Can I interrupt this thread where most of us are grown adults I assume?
For the Harry Potter recommenders (nice word), can I assume you read them first as children/young teenagers and you go back to them as some sort of comfort blanket? Last summer I read the Philosophers stone with my 8 year old and it was clearly a children's book, I have zero interest in ever reading another. I know I'm asking for trouble but what harm?

ScienceNerd, the Bryson Short History is a bloody hard read and has no real laughs (maybe for a science nerd though:P)

Good luck OP, Try the Sisters Brothers by Patrick De Witt, a perfect book to get you started.

“A children's story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children's story in the slightest.” C.S. Lewis

I was about 10 or 11 when the first HP book was published, and about 20 when the last was. I enjoyed the last just as much as the first, because they're great stories.

GeneralC · 17-12-2015 09:32PM

Maybe I am bit old to be buying Harry Potter books? I am in mid 20's after all!

17-12-2015 09:36PM

I would highly recommend Stephen Frys audio books of the HP series, if you're at all interested in going that route. I wouldn't let age stop me trying them out at least. I'm sure you'd know someone with a copy of the first to at least give it a go. The plus would be that it'd be an easy read and a fun one, and you'd be unlikely not to finish it.

Otherwise I'd start with a short story collection so that you don't have a chance to lose interest!

Swiper the fox · 17-12-2015 09:55PM

Candie wrote: »

I was about 10 or 11 when the first HP book was published, and about 20 when the last was. I enjoyed the last just as much as the first, because they're great stories.

That is my theory exactly, you grew up with the books and you loved them then and consequently still love them now, maybe even reread them as I know lots of people on this forum do. I've only read the first one and it was as an adult, I couldn't get my head around other adults reading them for pleasure, when I was a kid I loved cartoons and comics, I would still say I love the Flintstones and Whizzer and Chips but I'm certainly not going to be watching or reading them.

Sorry guys but the OP is in his mid 20s, why are ye recommending books that are for children/young teenagers???

Kovu · 17-12-2015 10:00PM

Swiper the fox wrote: »

Sorry guys but the OP is in his mid 20s, why are ye recommending books that are for children/young teenagers???

Because of the OP's....op.

GeneralC wrote: »

I was never much of a reader, always starting a book but never finishing it. I am hoping now that will change.

I am hoping you guy's can suggest some nice and easy books for me to begin my journey.

What do you guy's think about starting with the Harry Potter books? I know they're aimed at teenagers but this is a series of books I always wanted to read! Would they be suitable for an adult?
,

It's far easier to get an interest in books if you start out at a level where most people started reading more for pleasure.

Swiper the fox · 17-12-2015 10:44PM

So nice and easy means children's books?? I'm not that into popular fiction but surely that is more suitable than Harry Potter for somebody in their mid 20s.
I already recommended The Sisters Brothers, I will now add The first two Khaled Hosseini books, The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns. Roddy Doyles A Star Called Henry,

The Sun King · 18-12-2015 12:07PM

Swiper the fox wrote: »

So nice and easy means children's books?? I'm not that into popular fiction but surely that is more suitable than Harry Potter for somebody in their mid 20s.
I already recommended The Sisters Brothers, I will now add The first two Khaled Hosseini books, The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns. Roddy Doyles A Star Called Henry,

You seem very against the OP reading books that they themselves mentioned in the OP.

Roddy, is that you??

GeneralC · 18-12-2015 12:09PM

Any non-fiction recommendations? The Bill Bryson seems to be on top of everyone's list?

Swiper the fox · 18-12-2015 05:22PM

The Sun King wrote: »

You seem very against the OP reading books that they themselves mentioned in the OP.

Roddy, is that you??

Hold on a second, I'm Roddy Doyle because I said one of his books would be a good place to begin reading rather than Harry Potter?:rolleyes:
In the opening post GeneralC asked for advice, I have been forthcoming, I have read a Harry Potter book and thought it suitable only for children but I understand that some people have such fond memories of those books that they still enjoy them now as adults. I honestly don't think that someone in their mid 20s would get much from it if reading it for the first time.

GeneralC, Bill Bryson is a really good travel writer and has published lots of really good books, but that Short History of Nearly Everything is a chore, I would go for something else of his.
Are you interested in sports/music/movies, we could probably give good recommendations if we knew your interests.

GeneralC · 18-12-2015 07:19PM

Swiper the fox wrote: »

Hold on a second, I'm Roddy Doyle because I said one of his books would be a good place to begin reading rather than Harry Potter?:rolleyes:
In the opening post GeneralC asked for advice, I have been forthcoming, I have read a Harry Potter book and thought it suitable only for children but I understand that some people have such fond memories of those books that they still enjoy them now as adults. I honestly don't think that someone in their mid 20s would get much from it if reading it for the first time.

GeneralC, Bill Bryson is a really good travel writer and has published lots of really good books, but that Short History of Nearly Everything is a chore, I would go for something else of his.
Are you interested in sports/music/movies, we could probably give good recommendations if we knew your interests.

Interests include health, science, learning about the past, anything factual based. I was only starting with the HP books because I heard so many good things about them but I am open to suggestions.

Wyldwood · 18-12-2015 07:36PM

GeneralC, as has been previously advised, I would first and foremost join the local library. It only costs a few euro and there are limitless books at your disposal and the best part is if you don't like the book you can take it back and get another. Buying books can be quite an expensive business and if you've spent money on a book you feel obliged to read it.

Once you've got into the habit of reading then I think a kindle is the best way to go. I was very much against getting a kindle then I got a present of a paperwhite and wouldn't be without it now.

Martin567 · 19-12-2015 01:10AM

Swiper the fox wrote: »

Hold on a second, I'm Roddy Doyle because I said one of his books would be a good place to begin reading rather than Harry Potter?:rolleyes:
In the opening post GeneralC asked for advice, I have been forthcoming, I have read a Harry Potter book and thought it suitable only for children but I understand that some people have such fond memories of those books that they still enjoy them now as adults. I honestly don't think that someone in their mid 20s would get much from it if reading it for the first time.

I was over 30 when I first read Harry Potter. I have since read all seven books (about 3,000 pages long) twice. Get your head around that one!

They are superb stories, written by a phenomenal storyteller. The first two books could definitely be seen as children's books but there is a huge change from book 3 onwards. The tone is much darker and I would recommend them to anyone of any age. All that's necessary is a good imagination and the love of a great story, brilliantly told.

For those who may have seen the films, conversely I think the first one is by far the best. That's probably because it's the shortest book. The later films completely fail to capture the atmosphere and complexities of the stories.

OP, make your own mind up about what you want to read and don't worry in the slightest about what anyone else might think. The opinion of anyone who looks down on you because of what you read really isn't worth bothering about. I'm now 40 and will happily proclaim to anyone interested how great those books are. If you're interested in great stories, you will struggle to find much better. They were enormously successful for a very good reason.

The Sun King · 19-12-2015 01:17AM

Martin567 wrote: »

I was over 30 when I first read Harry Potter. I have since read all seven books (about 3,000 pages long) twice. Get your head around that one!

They are superb stories, written by a phenomenal storyteller. The first two books could definitely be seen as children's books but there is a huge change from book 3 onwards. The tone is much darker and I would recommend them to anyone of any age. All that's necessary is a good imagination and the love of a great story, brilliantly told.

For those who may have seen the films, conversely I think the first one is by far the best. That's probably because it's the shortest book. The later films completely fail to capture the atmosphere and complexities of the stories.

OP, make your own mind up about what you want to read and don't worry in the slightest about what anyone else might think. The opinion of anyone who looks down on you because of what you read really isn't worth bothering about. I'm now 40 and will happily proclaim to anyone interested how great those books are. If you're interested in great stories, you will struggle to find much better. They were enormously successful for a very good reason.

Agree with this. Anyone who chooses their books based on other people's opinion of them as a reader is foolish. But if it's a concern then order online. No one knows who the books are for then

Do yourself a favour OP. Read the muck Roddy Doyle posts to Facebook and see if it tickles your fancy.

Swiper the fox · 19-12-2015 08:34AM

I never claimed anybody would judge anybody else based on the books they reading, reading is a fantastic habit and I would encourage everybody to read whatever they like. It seemed a little strange to think that the only books that the OP was being recommended were childrens books when they stated they were mid 20s, this is a literature forum and I would have expected a bit more variance, popular adult fiction tends to be very easy to read and it is my OPINION that adults will generally prefer books that are aimed at adults.
I have no idea what one poster here has against Roddy Doyle and I don't particularly care, the old 'is that you Roddy' sort of post is the most unimaginative and annoying type of post, if that is the limit of your wit then God help us. I only recommended one Roddy Doyle book and with the anniversary of 1916 upon us it is an absolutely brilliant book for a new reader to start on (A Star Called Henry)
GeneralC, for factual books with a bit of humour etc I will add Jon Ronson to Bill Bryson for your shortlist, sorry for derailing your thread with the other nonsense:o

Martin567 · 19-12-2015 10:26AM

Swiper the fox wrote: »

It seemed a little strange to think that the only books that the OP was being recommended were childrens books when they stated they were mid 20s, this is a literature forum and I would have expected a bit more variance, popular adult fiction tends to be very easy to read and it is my OPINION that adults will generally prefer books that are aimed at adults.

The OP said they always wanted to read the Harry Potter books. Most others here just confirmed that they are great stories and very difficult to put down.

I've always found it annoying when people try to categorise something into particular, narrow boxes. I would consider it a little ridiculous to call the Harry Potter books from 3 onwards children's books. That's a very lazy generalisation and in my OPINION tends to come from people worried about other people's perceptions of them based on what they are reading.

The Sun King · 19-12-2015 10:31AM

There was plenty of variety in the first few pages of this thread.

Your opinion on what constitutes high wit is questionable if you read the begorra bejaysis stuff to be fair.

Have a look at stuff "The God Delusion" OP, if that kind of stuff is your thing. Quite easy to read, funny too, if I remember right.

Avoid anything too academic as it can get to be a bit of a job after a while. If you are interested in quite broad ranges of stuff, you could read a general history book. Stuff that deals with Europe from 1600-2000 or something like that. You will get politics, religion, technology, war, society etc all in that and you can flick through the book of you have periods that are of particular interest.

1984 and Animal Farm are both very short, famous (for good reason) and thought provoking. Cultural references too, if that's your thing.

Rubberchikken · 19-12-2015 10:34AM

i agree with the audio books. i'm a lazy reader nowadays, so always have an audiobook on my ipod and listen when walking our pup.
also, try your local library.

they'll order in books for you from other libraries if they haven't ones you want. also you could book new books that are due out. it's a great way to try out a book without purchasing.

secondhand book shops are great. also charity shops should have a selection.

harry potter series are great. you might like the lord of the rings books or the hobbit either.
sorry that your ill.

Swiper the fox · 19-12-2015 11:08AM

The Sun King wrote: »

There was plenty of variety in the first few pages of this thread.

Your opinion on what constitutes high wit is questionable if you read the begorra bejaysis stuff to be fair.

Have a look at stuff "The God Delusion" OP, if that kind of stuff is your thing. Quite easy to read, funny too, if I remember right.

Avoid anything too academic as it can get to be a bit of a job after a while. If you are interested in quite broad ranges of stuff, you could read a general history book. Stuff that deals with Europe from 1600-2000 or something like that. You will get politics, religion, technology, war, society etc all in that and you can flick through the book of you have periods that are of particular interest.

1984 and Animal Farm are both very short, famous (for good reason) and thought provoking. Cultural references too, if that's your thing.

What is your problem exactly? These pot shots you are having at me are absolutely ridiculous. I may have annoyed you with my opinion on Harry Potter books but I have insulted nobody.

Dirty Dingus McGee · 21-12-2015 12:04AM

Stephen King is very easy to read so if you are starting off reading again I'd recommend him.

Michael Connelly and Dennis Lehane (Kenzie and Gennaro series) are great crime writers who again are very easy to read and the books rattle along at a good pace and are always enjoyable.

I went years without reading and the Da Vinci Code was the book that got me back into reading.Really short chapters always ending with some small aspect of the plot unresolved meant I couldn't stop reading it.

Earthhorse · 21-12-2015 02:54PM

Like Swiper I tried to read the first Harry Potter book in my 20s but unlike him I couldn't get through it. I felt it was squarely aimed at kids. Having said that, my sister says from the second book on they become more adult. Either way they are quite big and if it takes one or two books to get to the more adult-oriented ones and you are out of the habit of reading I think they might be a bad fit.

Bill Bryson is a great recommendation as he's easy to read and funny. The Lost Continent was my favourite but Notes From a Small Island was good too.

I'm not sure if your interest in science extends to science fiction but if so you might give The Hitchhiker's Guide series a go. They are short, easy to read and full of humour. Might cheer you up if you're feeling sick.

A more serious but still easy to read sci-fi is Ender's Game.

If you're looking to try fantasy I highly recommend The Fionavar Tapestry trilogy by Guy Gavriel Kay. The Summer Tree is the first book. Tigana by the same author is also excellent but a lot longer.

For horror, Stephen King's short stories are very easy to read. Clive Barker's Books of Blood are also good but perhaps a little darker.

Philip K Dick writes great short stories but that's more sci fi. George Saunders has a great collection of short stories called Tenth of December if you just want straight fiction stories.

For fact, Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers is quite readable. Steve Martins' memoir, Born Standing Up, is another good read.

You might be feeling overwhelmed by suggestions. Here's the thing; I don't think it matters whether you read on a Kindle or a hard copy. I don't think it's going to pay to pick the right book. Instead, you should read around 10 books, from different genres, different authors and begin to establish your taste a bit more definitely.

Personally, I read around one book every three weeks, but that's mostly because I'm in a book club and have to! If you're sick then you may have more time to kill; 50 pages in a reading session is a nice number to aim for and I find helps me enjoy books. With a longer reading session you tend to lose yourself more, whereas if you're only dipping in and out and you don't feel submerged in the text and it becomes hard to finish.

Good luck and I hope you find some books you enjoy!

GeneralC · 21-12-2015 05:02PM

Earthhorse wrote: »

Like Swiper I tried to read the first Harry Potter book in my 20s but unlike him I couldn't get through it. I felt it was squarely aimed at kids. Having said that, my sister says from the second book on they become more adult. Either way they are quite big and if it takes one or two books to get to the more adult-oriented ones and you are out of the habit of reading I think they might be a bad fit.

Bill Bryson is a great recommendation as he's easy to read and funny. The Lost Continent was my favourite but Notes From a Small Island was good too.

I'm not sure if your interest in science extends to science fiction but if so you might give The Hitchhiker's Guide series a go. They are short, easy to read and full of humour. Might cheer you up if you're feeling sick.

A more serious but still easy to read sci-fi is Ender's Game.

If you're looking to try fantasy I highly recommend The Fionavar Tapestry trilogy by Guy Gavriel Kay. The Summer Tree is the first book. Tigana by the same author is also excellent but a lot longer.

For horror, Stephen King's short stories are very easy to read. Clive Barker's Books of Blood are also good but perhaps a little darker.

Philip K Dick writes great short stories but that's more sci fi. George Saunders has a great collection of short stories called Tenth of December if you just want straight fiction stories.

For fact, Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers is quite readable. Steve Martins' memoir, Born Standing Up, is another good read.

You might be feeling overwhelmed by suggestions. Here's the thing; I don't think it matters whether you read on a Kindle or a hard copy. I don't think it's going to pay to pick the right book. Instead, you should read around 10 books, from different genres, different authors and begin to establish your taste a bit more definitely.

Personally, I read around one book every three weeks, but that's mostly because I'm in a book club and have to! If you're sick then you may have more time to kill; 50 pages in a reading session is a nice number to aim for and I find helps me enjoy books. With a longer reading session you tend to lose yourself more, whereas if you're only dipping in and out and you don't feel submerged in the text and it becomes hard to finish.

Good luck and I hope you find some books you enjoy!

Thank you so much for the suggestions! On average it takes me around 1 hr 30 mins to read approx. 26-28 pages - not sure if that's slow or not! The book I am currently reading is the "The Power of Now". I am finding it ok to read, but I now know it's not my 'type' of book.

With all these suggestions I am thinking the Kindle is the way to go for saving some money and for pure convenience!

Has anyone read 'Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End?

echo beach · 21-12-2015 09:07PM

GeneralC wrote: »

Has anyone read 'Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End?

I read it and would say it is the most important and thought-provoking book I read this year, and possibly any other year.
You might be a bit young to be thinking about getting old and frail and what is means to be mortal. If you have been ill you might prefer not to dwell on sickness and death but it is a book well worth reading.
The subject matter is heavy, (mortality, life and death) but not depressing and it has a lot of personal stories so it isn't an academic treatment of the subject.

You can his articles for free on the New Yorker website http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/05/11/overkill-atul-gawande and get an idea if you an interested in his work.

GeneralC · 21-12-2015 09:22PM

echo beach wrote: »

I read it and would say it is the most important and thought-provoking book I read this year, and possibly any other year.
You might be a bit young to be thinking about getting old and frail and what is means to be mortal. If you have been ill you might prefer not to dwell on sickness and death but it is a book well worth reading.
The subject matter is heavy, (mortality, life and death) but not depressing and it has a lot of personal stories so it isn't an academic treatment of the subject.

You can his articles for free on the New Yorker website http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/05/11/overkill-atul-gawande and get an idea if you an interested in his work.

I'll be having a third open-heart surgery so I am pretty use to "heavy"

quickbeam · 21-12-2015 09:24PM

I started the Harry Potter series in my late 20s. Honestly, the first two in the series, I thought were dire, but from three onwards, they got really good, and I very much enjoyed them, and was glad I stuck with them. I think they're a good start for somebody not used to reading.

I'd also agree with the Bill Bryson recommendations.

Pity OP hasn't liked Lee Child books - I like reading his series, especially if I've just come off reading a bit of a long, clunky book and am looking for an easy-read page-turner. Dan Brown, Robert Harris, Bernard Cornwell, Michael Crichton, etc, I'd also put in the same category and might be worth the OP checking out.

GeneralC · 21-12-2015 09:29PM

I purchased the Bill Bryson book today that you guy's recommended. I want to finish the The Power of Now first then move onto it!

Thank you all.

The Sun King · 21-12-2015 09:50PM

Picked up a book today too, OP. Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson. I've heard only good things, apart from the need to carry a notebook detailing characters with me whenever I read a few pages.

Sure, I'll see how I get on.

GeneralC · 21-12-2015 10:22PM

The Sun King wrote: »

Picked up a book today too, OP. Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson. I've heard only good things, apart from the need to carry a notebook detailing characters with me whenever I read a few pages.

Sure, I'll see how I get on.

What's it about? I must put it on my list!

Carawaystick · 22-12-2015 01:27PM

The OP might like Isaac Asimov's short stories, the Robot series are great stories.

I also like Iain Banks and Iain M Banks books ( the M are science fiction)

All Quiet on the Western Front is a great short book

I read the Harry Potter stories in my 30's
They grow in complexity as the series goes on, I read JK wrote them for a person starting in 6th class and ageing a year to read the next book.
Book 3 is where the jump from Childhood happens

What to books to read? A Journey Begins...

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