Subject: Reading
Author:
Posted on: 2010-07-24 16:33:00 UTC
I don't read quite as voraciously now as I did when I was younger, but I've always got something going on. Currently I've found myself out of my usual comfort zone of fantasy and sci-fi, but it's been nice here, too.
I've just started The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, which, as you may know, has recently been turned into a movie. I haven't gotten far enough to say much about it, but I can tell you the titular girl looks to be a really awesome character. She's got the whole fascinatingly rough and antisocial exterior covering something awful that happened to her, but she doesn't have the angst that so often goes with that. Nothing about her says "poor me;" mainly it says "bugger off, I'm working here." Total competence at what she does, though not always in ways her boss approves of (or wants to know about, in fact).
And then of course there's the mystery, which has only begun to be introduced. All the main players have yet to hook up, so I'm sure when that happens it'll really take off.
The last thing I read is The Source by James Michener. I recommend this if you want a really, really long, dense read that will keep you engaged every step of the way. The initial setting is an archaeological dig at the fictional Tell Makor in Israel, where we're introduced to the characters that provide a framing story to everything else that goes on. After the key finds of the dig are uncovered, the author takes us back in time to the protohumans that first lived on the Tell, and gradually brings us back up to the present (well, the `40s or `50s), visiting various points in history along the way. It's a lot about the development of Judaism and some about the other religions that sprang from the same area, Christianity and Islam, but with a historical focus. Very interesting if you're curious about religion or history at all, academically or otherwise.
Before that, I read the Death Gate Cycle by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. If you liked the Dragonlance series at all, you'll love this. I am not Dragonlance's biggest fan, but I had such a good time with this series that I almost started over from the beginning when I was done. I still plan on reading it again. Between four (well, five) separate worlds, where the usual fantasy races have each developed in a distinct manner, you've got enough intrigue, magic, action, and drama to power a large city. ... Or seven really good books, as it happens. And as your tour guide, you have Haplo and his dog with guest appearances by Alfred, the most hapless individual you will ever meet. And I'm going to stop talking now, because there's just so much I could go on about, and we'd be here all day. Long story short: great fantasy; not a Tolkien knock-off; you'll enjoy it. Go read!
~Neshomeh