dylan Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 Im one of those readers that started out with Harry Potter and have been reading only really fantasy ever since. I've read a lot of fantasy and thats still my genre of choice but would like to venture out and try other non fantasy novels. For example I just kind of want to read a non fantasy book in between some Malazan Book of the Fallen books which is a series I'm reading currently. Anyone have suggestions? I was thinking of checking out Animal Farm, but thats fantasy too really lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jo498 Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 If you are young at heart check out Ransome's "Swallows and Amazons" for a wonderful evocative story of summer holidays. (If adults read Harry Potter, I do not see why they shouldn't be reading Ransome's books. They are a dozen or so altogether, not all are equally good, but almost all worthwhile) Or some adventure classics. My favorite is probably still Stevenson's "Treasure Island" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myshkin Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 What are you looking for in your reading? Plot driven page turners? Theme oriented literature? Or something in between? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dylan Posted July 22, 2014 Author Share Posted July 22, 2014 Definitely a plot driven page turner. All I've really ever read was fantasy and I just want to branch out a little. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sj4iy Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 Hmm, well, do you like period pieces? Most of my favorites lie within that realm. 1. Aubrey-Maturin series by Patrick O'Brian - historical naval fiction: two men sail together in the British navy spanning the Napoleonlic wars and beyond. Long series, but great writing and fun to read. Has a lot of action, but the best part of the story is the interaction between the two main characters. 2. Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas - both are amazing action novels that have great characters and a brisk pace. Both have revenge as a motivating force. 3. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain - I guess it depends on your tastes, but Mark Twain is an amazing writer, and this is an amazing book. It is hilarious and was one book I just absolutely could not put down from start to finish. 4. Les Misérables by Victor Hugo (abridged version) - fugitive on the run, cop who mercilessly hunts him...I just love this book. I never recommend the abridged version of anything, but Hugo goes on tangents that have absolutely nothing to do with the story itself, so the abridged version is the better bet. I could probably go on all day naming books I love, but for me, genre isn't a barrier. I simply prefer well-written, well-told stories. I do love action, humor and emotion in books, and all of the above have them. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DemiNymph Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 Dune? It's considered sci-fi but you can consider it fantasy too. Classic. Horror themed, how about Interview with a Vampire? GRRM's Fevre Dream is also a great vampire book with a lot of realism. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Richard II Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 Game of Thrones totally isn't fantasy because its popular, bro. Naw, I kid. Pick up any Bernard Cornwell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzer32 Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 Pick up any Bernard Cornwell. +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sci-2 Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 Camus' The First Man. Iain Banks for Sci-Fi. God of Small Things by Roy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Richard II Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 I was going to say, if we're doing scifi, Banks for the win. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veltigar Posted July 22, 2014 Share Posted July 22, 2014 Perhaps you should check out some work of Gabriel García Márquez. Try 'Love in the time of Cholera'. It's definitely great literature, but because it's magical realism, the jump from fantasy isn't as jarring. Márquez prose is riveting and I didn't put the book down until I finished it. Another great writer you might find appealing (especially if you love the darker scenes in ASOIAF) is Cormac McCarthy. Start with 'The Road'. It's short, fast paced and a total punch in the gut. If you're just looking for adventure and a few laughs, then try the Flashman papers (starting with the first book Flashman) by George MacDonald Fraser. I actually discovered him thanks to this forum and his adventures have been a favorite of mine ever since. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Richard II Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 Are those Flashman books available in the US and my B&N just really suck that much, or are they a british thing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterbound Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 Shogun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veltigar Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 Are those Flashman books available in the US and my B&N just really suck that much, or are they a british thing? You can probably find them on Amazon or something like that. I live in mainland Europe and I was able to get them through a local online store, so they should definitely be available in the US. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lowri Posted July 27, 2014 Share Posted July 27, 2014 I would definitely agree with the people suggesting Iain Banks, maybe start with The Wasp Factory or The Player of Games. I also recommend Paul Auster's The New York Trilogy if you're looking for a page turner :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inigima Posted July 27, 2014 Share Posted July 27, 2014 This is an extraordinarily broad question. We can throw out suggestions, but without a better handle on your taste, they're going to be all over the map. As you can probably see, since you're getting recommendations for sci-fi, historical fiction, and classic lit. As a general recommendation for non-SF/F genre fiction, you might consider The Shadow of the Wind by Zafón. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howdyphillip Posted July 27, 2014 Share Posted July 27, 2014 Shogun :agree: for a completely different direction, I have always enjoyed Pat Conroy. The Great Santini is an amazing character driven book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sologdin Posted July 27, 2014 Share Posted July 27, 2014 everyone go read asimov's foundation books so we can discuss it freely without spoil0ring slackers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Richard II Posted July 27, 2014 Share Posted July 27, 2014 everyone go read asimov's foundation books so we can discuss it freely without spoil0ring slackers. Ew, no. Good lord. I'd rather re-read Goodkind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veltigar Posted July 27, 2014 Share Posted July 27, 2014 You know, I have never read Goodkind (I have the first book from somewhere, can't remember). This forum has discouraged me from starting his series, but I'm really curious... Why does everyone on here hate him? Are his books that awful? And if so, in what way are they awful? Are they awful in a Transformers style or are his books the literary equivalent to something like Birdemic? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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