When You Just HAVE to Read

We all know the feeling...you just need to find something to read. Maybe you need something to do on that eight hour flight, or six hour drive. Maybe you're just bored and looking for a good read and most dreadfully of all maybe you're being forced to read for an English class. Below are listed some books I suggest for you to read when you need something to. Mostly my selections are from classics and then sci-fi or horror fiction. These are my preferred genres, I also enjoy reading many non-fiction books as well but I have very eclectic tastes in non-fiction, I have an extensive library but my interest lie in subjects most find boring. If I get any requests I will post up a non-fiction list as well. For now here are some good reads that I recommend.

Crime and Punishment: When the young student Raskolnikov decides to test his philosophical theory, he doesn't do it by haves. Putting his theory up to the test of murder, he then embarks on a tragic journey of suffering and redemption played out on the scene of slummy St. Petersburg in a czarist, prerevolutionary and ultimately quite exciting environment written by Fyodor Dostoevsky. This classic is definitely worth the read.

Lord of the Flies: You most likely have already read this book, however if you haven't I suggest it. It's a chilling analysis of humanity; it asks quite a few questions that we don't like to ask ourselves...we're afraid of the answer. Set on an island where a plane crashes, the only survivors are a group of English schoolboys. They must survive alone and they form their own gruesome and primitive tribal society. Not for the faint of heart, this book contains many chilling points about human nature and is written by William Golding.

Heart of Darkness: Describing a journey along the African Congo taken by the author himself. Heart of darkness, written by Joseph Conrad talks about white/European colonialism, African tribalism and the corruption of power as he discovers a very dark tale of bloody tyranny at the end point of his journey. Again, very dark, very compelling...and well worth the read.

Pride and Prejudice: By Jane Austen...I have mixed reactions to this. I almost have to suggest it however as many cultural references stem from the book and all in all it is a meaningful read. I don't have much to say on the book; only that it is something everyone should read during the course of their lifetime.

The Crucible: By Arthur Miller. The Salem Witch Trials, a play and also an allegory for the McCarthy era. Vicious, painful and fast paced. A pretty quick read though the beginning is unnecessarily dense. I enjoyed the suns pens and the drama between characters as everything spins wildly out of control.

Snow Crash and Diamond Age: Both novels by Neal Stephenson Snow Crash takes place in a decidedly cyber-punk universe. Snow Crash centers on the character Hiro Protagonist last freelance hacker and greatest swordsman in the world. Snow Crash is set In L.A however Los Angeles is no longer part of the United States it is now divided up into a number of sovereign independent enclaves. The main character discovers a narcotic transferrable through variable media including the metaverse (online vr). The story is entertaining; the writing is incredible and very conversational. It is a very easy read that is incredibly entertaining and rewarding. Diamond Age is a lot deeper it focuses around the story of a little girl's primer and a girl named Nell...who is raised by this nano-tech book. The world in diamond age is also divided into enclaves, not nations any longer. In essence you follow a young girl in a cyber-punk, somewhat dystopian society. The book has many twists and turns, looks really deeply at the possibility of technology, it has wonderful characterization and though less friendly and open to the reader it is incredibly engaging and draws you in deeply. Both are wonderful books and I highly recommend it to any of you.

Gardens of the Moon: The first in the Malazan Books of the Fallen by Steven Erikson. Let me say one thing first off...it is my opinion that Steven Erikson, a somewhat understated and much undervalued author, is the best modern fantasy writer by far. His books are masterpieces overturning conventional fantasy...his epics span ages and entire eras all the while focusing on the present. It is filled with unpredictable twists and turns as well as incredibly deep characterization of people, cultures and races. This first book is incredible...and they truly get better from there. I'd like you to read this, take a look at this. They are dense, they are very dense and complicated but believe me these are worth it...I can't suggest them enough. The Malazan Books of the Fallen is probably my favorite series of all time.

Ender's Game: Written by Orson Scott Card, pretty much a classic by now. A young boy is taken by the planetary defense force for officer training at a very young age, along with many others like him. He is placed in Battle School; a school rotating in Earth's Orbit where children are placed in Battle's and while attending classes they compete and fight against each other in a zero g competition known as the Game. The point of all of this is to focus on defeating the Buggers, an alien race that humanity has fought with over the years. The boy's name is Ender, and he may be the last hope of humanity.

Storm Front: By Jim Butcher this is the first in a series called the Dresden Files, lightly written and very easy to read. The stories focus on Harry Dresden a wizard working in Chicago as a private detective...meanwhile he gets caught up in the great forces of various supernatural powers. He is witty and responds to fear through sarcasm...the books are filled with it. Written from a first person perspective as Harry Dresden, these books are worthwhile and entertaining. Though by no means are they high literature, they are incredibly fun to read especially for those that don't enjoy or don't feel up to the denser reads.

The Gunslinger: Written by Stephen King the first in the Dark Tower series centering on Roland Deschain last in a knightly order of noble Gunslingers descended from the line of Arthur Eld. He is on a quest to find the dark tower, the center of the universe. He is aging as the story begins and travels through on his journey picking up new companions as he goes. Wonderful read, extremely talented writer filled with scary concepts, disturbing scenes and profound heroic battle.