The Drunken Lizard Pub

I need some ideas on some new books to read- any genre. Has anyone read anything lately that really "knocked their socks off"?
If you were stranded on a deserted island what book would you most like to have with you?

Well.
Here are some classics:

J.R.R. Tolkien - The Lord of the Rings
Lovecraft - All novels
Edgard Allan Poe - Alla novels
David Eddings - First books (Belgariath serie)
Tsunetomo - Agakure
Sun Tzu - The Art of War

Just to take a look at different narrative genres.

Thanks - the first 3 I've got covered, but I'll check out the rest!

Have you ever read any of China Mieville's books? They are unlike anything I have ever read - fantastic! Start with "Perdido Street Station" if you are ever looking for something new.

Thanks!
I'll check those in my city bookstore.

Glad to help you.

Try "To Your Scattered Bodies Go" (Riverworld Saga, Book 1)by Philip Jose Farmer - read the whole series it's awsome

all Robin Hobb books
all Tad Williams books
the Thomas Covenant series from Stephen Donaldson
the Hyberion saga from Dan Simmons
Jonathan Strange & Mr.Norrell by Susanna Clarke
all China Mieville books
most of Richard Morgans books
well that are my absolute favorite fantasy reads
of course there are many more like George RR Martin,Gene Wolfe...

I'd add David Gerrold's "War Against the Chtorr" series to the recommended list with one caveat: He's only finished 4 of the 7 books planned, and has been stalling on the 5th book for a decade or so. Still a great read though.

Tom Holt's "The Portable Door" -- worth reading just for the description of the job interview. Less well known in the US than Terry Pratchett, but at least as funny. Speaking of Terry Pratchett, I recommend his collaboration with Neil Gaiman, "Good Omens". And speaking of Neil Gaiman, "Neverwhere" -- about a world beneath London that you can see if you fall between the cracks of reality. I was surprised to see the book was an adaptation of what he originally wrote as a TV series. I bought the DVD and thought it made a better book.

I read Neil Gaiman's "American Gods" that was pretty good. I had a friend recommend "Stalking Tender Prey" by Storm Constantine but I could not get into it. Has anyone read it? Is it worth trying again?

IF you really want something completely different, how about a mystery set in a medieval whorehouse? "A Mortal Bane" by Roberta Gellis

or Lindsey Davis' "The Silver Pigs", a mystery set in Roman Britain, featuring Marcus Didius Falco, a sort of ancient Roman Sam Spade.

Or a good YA Fantasy: "The Oracle Betrayed" by Catherine Fisher
or anything by Garth Nix (The Abhorsen Trilogy) or Diana Wynne Jones (The Dalemark Quartet)

"The Innocents Abroad" by Mark Twain

Joss Whedon's Buffy Season 8 comic

Sir Banister Fletcher's History of Architecture

I almost forgot House of Leaves by Mark Danielewski which was
published in Germany a few months ago.So it was new for me and
very interesing almost disturbing.The english original was published
in 2000 though.
Ha ,another one just came to mind:City of Saints and Madmen by
Jeff VanderMeer

Hello,
After several moments of inspired stupidity, I decided to do this. It is a log of a lot of the books I have read during the past year. Hope this doesn't bother you too much.
http://www.bookcalendar.blogspot.com


Regards,

Mytgroo

By the way thanks for looking, so far you're second after RPGCodex looking at the site with 11 people checking it. I appreciate it.

Some good books/novels I've read:

"Snow Crash" by Neal Stephenson
"The Three Kingdoms" by Luo Guanzhong

Also, if you're into swords and sorcery (the gritty fantasy that predates Tolkien), I highly recommend Fritz Leiber's Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser stories. White Wolf published all of his works in four new prints some years back; they're probably the best to get.

They've also started reprinting Clark Ashton Smith in collections as well.

I read the whole Fafhrd & Grey Mouser Saga. I can recommend it too.