I Need Something To Read

[Specterbane]

SWB didn't really mention that Dresden files are written to have a kind of "film noir" feel to them with Dresden's cynical and sarcastic narration telling the story. It works really well, and it's wizards in modern day Chicago so I'd back up that recommendation whole heartedly.

That being said, if you're into classics and haven't tried Three Musketeers (the whole series) or The Count of Monte Cristo you should give those a shot.

Also if you're into the general 'High Fantasy' type books you might check out Jim Butcher's other series Codex of Alera. It's a fantasy world where everyone can use magic via Furies (elemental Spirits) except the main character. Being the odd one out, the kids got to get by with as many of his wits as he can use at any given point to avoid being pushed around and stepped all over by those who are more 'normal'.

I'm not sure if any of those are quite up your ally from what you've put up, but generally I recommend all of those to anyone. Try them out, page through a few chapters before you buy maybe. Good luck.

[The Wandering God]

Check out "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky.

It's a modern day tale of a young lad who is a bit of a social awkward duck trying to figure himself out. Pretty good read and the dialogue and setting seem natural.

[Magus]

If you dislike Hemingway, read John Steinbeck. He's a little better with the actual writing quality, and the stories are just as compelling.

You should try to narrow what you want a bit, do you want to read classics? Or modern stuff? Realistic stuff or fantastical stuff?

[Sky Warrior Bob]

Is Watership Down considered a classic? Published in the 70's, I think.

Its a story about rabbits, doing rabbit things, but from the rabbit point of view, that makes it a far more interesting. Might be something a bit more in line with what you're looking for.

SWB

[Magus]

Oh, dude, if you are going to read Richard Adams? Shardik is where it's at. Shardik is like the best fantasy novel ever that nobody ever recommends people read.

Watership Down is pretty great, too, but it's a young adult book (uh, to the extent that it had rabbits...obviously the violence and so on was pretty realistic and it was actually about as realistic a look at the life of a rabbit you could get while still having them talk). Shardik on the other hand is an adult novel. It is one of the best novels deconstructing the creation of myth and role of religion and politics in people's lives. Also it's a pretty cool story too.

[The Sevenshot Kid]

If you're into comic books, you have to read Preacher. It's blasphemous, irreverent, and the most fun you'll have reading something that isn't John Dies at the End. I also have to suggest all of The Ultimates written by Mark Millar. It's a really good idea that's well executed. Just don't touch anything written by Loeb in the Ultimate Universe.

And if you're in for a real long read, I have to suggest Grant Morrison's run on Batman. All of it. I spent a good 47 hours reading it and it was a blast. Grant Morrison is a completely different writer than Geoff Johns but it feels like he's channeling him to an extent when it comes to how he weaves back and forth through old continuity. The guy made all the Silver Age batman stories canon again. All of it.

Avoid anything written by Frank Miller that isn't Batman: Year One. Everything else is garbage.

[Magus]

Didn't Frank Miller write the Sin City comic books?

[The Sevenshot Kid]

Originally Posted by Magus

Didn't Frank Miller write the Sin City comic books?

Yes.

[Magus]

Aren't those okay or was it just that the movie wasn't as terrible as it could have been?

[The Sevenshot Kid]

It's definitely the latter. The material is just gritty too the point that it swings back around to camp but without the intended irony.