Getting Started

Hello! Recently I decided that I wanted to get back into reading (I didn't care about it much before but was recently inspired to once more) and slowly fill my empty bookshelves. Do any of y'all have recommendations for a returning reader?

It would help to know what do you like to read? What have you already read? Is there a particular type of story that resonates with you more than others?
Specific Genre? (Romance, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Non fiction?)

>2 gilroy: Sorry about that! I'm a big fan of sci-fi, fantasy, and sometimes horror. I've recently finished "The Hobbit" by Tolkien and "Dagon" by Lovecraft. I recently got a copy of "Dune" from a good friend of mine which I hope to read soon.

>3 MrAppendixN: Welcome aboard, Gabriel!

Dune is one of the best science-fantasy novels written. That said, be sure to stick with it through the relatively slow start.

Lovecraft's short story has nothing to do with Dagon the movie, as the film is actually based on his novelette, The Shadow Over Innsmouth. Man, that movie creeped me out when I stumbled upon it on late-night cable one dark and stormy night!

Check out the lists over at Worlds Without End. It's a great resource for finding genre books to read. Discussing them is better done here on LT though. Besides the Green Dragon, there are also groups specific to Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror, but the Green Dragon encompasses all of those and much more. It really is a nice, welcoming little community.

>4 ScoLgo:

So I've heard! It is a pretty thick book to get through it seems, but I've only been told about how amazing the Dune series is (I can't wait to hear about how they put a man in an immortal sandworm!).

My brother has been begging for me to get into Lovecraft for ages and forced me to watch the Dagon movie! I was so creeped out lol.

Thank you for the recommendation! I'll make sure to scour the lists provided and look deeper into the communities section.

I still have a beloved copy of Dune given to me by a high school sweetheart in 1975. Read it, for sure. I'd also recommend works by Ursula K. LeGuin. In particular, The Earthsea Trilogy is rich, brooding high fantasy. Her works are not as lengthy as Tolkien's so that could be a bonus as you attempt to catch up w all that's out there.

Btw, I'm having a hard time trying to figure out how to use this forum. I'm posting this message in part to see if it does actually post. There's a book title I'm really hoping to find, but I don't think my query posted correctly yesterday. Any advice beyond the Help page? Please be kind enough to steer me along.

>3 MrAppendixN: Ah, the Hobbit... Excellent book. Continuing through the Lord of the Rings would be good.
Also other suggestions - Foundation by Isaac Azimov
Princess Bride by William Goldman
Earthsea Cycle that starts with Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K Le Guin
Murderbot Diaries that starts with All Systems Red by Martha Wells.

I took a couple of these suggestions from the work page. You can go to each work page and find two modules on there - Automated Recommendations and Member Recommendations. These can also give you hints on what you might want to read.

And once you've catalogued at least 1000 books in your own library, you'll get more personalized recommendations.

>7 gilroy:

I'm excited to get started on the LOTR trilogy in the coming weeks!
I've heard a few times that Azimov is a bit dry... Is that true?
Earthsea sounds pretty interesting! I'll make sure to pick it up as well.

I'm counting the days until I'll get a thousand books to read, but for now, a hundred would do :)

>6 booksmith_turnip: I see your post in the Name That Book group. That's the best place for it, seems like you've got the hang of it!

>3 MrAppendixN: Welcome! If you like scifi, you might want to try something like Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan series, starting with Shards of Honor.

>7 gilroy: Those are all good suggestions. >8 MrAppendixN: There's not a lot of action in the Foundation books, unlike the TV series, but they are good, thoughtful scifi and they don't drag on.

>6 booksmith_turnip:, >9 reconditereader: Confirming the same! Welcome!

>3 MrAppendixN: Welcome!

If you enjoy Lovecraft, then try Lovecraft Country. I've only read the book but the TV show is meant to be great too.

Seconding the recommendations for Ursula le Guin, Bujold, and Murderbot. Bujold's fantasy books set in the World of the Five Gods, (first title The curse of Chalion are excellent too.

The 111 Science Fictions Books to Read Before a Supernova Kills Us All list in the groups description should keep you going for a while.

>14 AHS-Wolfy: Oh yes, that is a great list, as is the fantasy one!

>1 MrAppendixN:
Welcome I hope you enjoy your time with us.

I see some great recommendations in the posts above. Ones I think that have not been mentioned but are well worth reading are the books by Ian McDonald, Ken MacLeod and Iain M. Banks.

Happy reading!

Hello again,

Thank you all for the help and for making me feel welcome! I'm happy to be around such a helpful community and I'm just happy to be a part of it. In other news, I bought my own book today called, Scythe by Neal Shusterman. After I finish it I'll be grabbing a majority of the recommendations provided by all of y'all! Next up will probably be the Foundation series by Asimov.

>17 MrAppendixN: I hope all the books work out for you! If not, we have many more suggestions. :)