I am having this problem a lot lately. With such a large TBR pile, I don’t take nearly enough time to go back and re-read old favourites. I feel as if I have so many awesome books that I have yet to read.  Every now and then, it’s good to slow down and take a step back, because the re-reading experience is completely different from the first time around. Here are my top 10, in no particular order:

Robin Hobb – Everything

I was originally only going to say the Farseer Trilogy, but I love all her work.  Hobb is my favourite author, and I would love nothing less than to read about Fitz again. I’m actually surprised that I haven’t read this for quite a few years, everything is still so vivid.

George R.R. Martin – A Song of Ice and Fire

I remember being so confused on the first read, it would be very interesting to go back and read the published books again. I think this will probably happen when the 6th is released.

Orson Scott Card – The Ender Saga

Especially the Shadow Series.  I read them way back in high school, and they definitely merit another go.

Lynn Flewelling – The Nightrunner Series

Only the first two, since I want to roam around with Seregil and Alec again.

Steven Erikson – Malazan Book of the Fallen

Yes, I’m only on the 4th book, but I already know that I want to re-read these. When I get asked those desert island questions, I always answer that I would bring Erikson’s novels to keep me occupied for the rest of my life.

J.R.R. Tolkien – The Silmarillion

It’s been way too long, and I need to put my Tolkien shelf to good use again.

Patrick Rothfuss – The Kingkiller Chronicle

Kvothe’s story is remarkable, and I will read the first two again just before the final installment is published.

Eric Nylund – Halo: First Strike

This one is a blast from the past. A fun novel that’s sure to bring back memories of my Halo glory days and all the fun times I had with HWM.

J.K. Rowling – Harry Potter

With the last movie coming out this summer, I had the biggest urge to re-live my childhood through the Harry Potter books. This one is going to be happening soon. <3 Potter

Brian Jacques – Redwall

This one should be interesting. I read all the Redwall books as a kid, and loved them. Will it be the same pleasant experience reading children’s books when I’m no longer a kid?

This week’s topic reminds me of a quote by Mark Twain where he defined classics as: “something that everybody wants to have read and nobody wants to read.”  Now, not all of these books are classics, but I feel as if I know so much about them already that I might as well have read them.  A preface: I’m not much on reading books that everyone else has read; I’ve given up on that long ago.  I figure that my reading list is so long already, I’ll spend my time with books I enjoy, not those I struggle to read.

Without further ado, and in no particular order, my top ten books I feel as though everyone has read but me:

1. William Shakespeare – A Midsummer Night’s Dream

I was put into a creative writing class in grade 9, and read Much Adoe About Nothing while the rest of the school read this book. Even my friends from other schools studied this as the Shakespeare play that year.  I feel Bard-deprived

2. Mark Twain – The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

I’ll give this one credit, I at least began reading it as a child.  Never finished, and it has haunted me every since.

3. Christopher Paolini – Eragon

For such a big fantasy buff, you’d think I would have surely read this in my early years.  Nope.  I heard I’m not missing much though.

4. Robert Jordan – The Wheel of Time

The father of fantasy (aside from The Professor himself of course).  As soon as I’m done with Erikson’s Malazan novels, I am determined to read this classic series.  It helps that it’s already sitting on my bookshelf in its entirety right?

5. Khaled Hosseini – The Kite Runner

I have read A Thousand Splendid Suns, even though I encountered both books in a shop in Spain.

6. Stieg Larsson – The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

One of those books where for the longest time, it seemed that everyone had decided to start reading again, and they had all chosen this book.  I find judgemental bookseller ostrich meme about this hilarious.

7. Harper Lee – To Kill A Mockingbird

Another high school book, but I’m pretty sure that everyone in my generation and the previous has read this one.  Did I miss that class?

8. Jane Austen – Pride and Prejudice

This just might be my most grievous offence.  Honestly, I tried once.  But it was in grade 6, and advanced class or no, I couldn’t handle it.  For how short it is, I really need to get down one weekend and finally understand all of the freakin’ references.

9. Joseph Heller – Catch 22

Not much to say here.  Famous book, haven’t read it.

10. Charles Dickens – David Copperfield

One of the finest novels by one of the most outstanding writers in history.  I’ll let you in on a little secret: I’ve never read anything by Dickens.

Patrick Rothfuss – The Name of the Wind

Rothfuss knows how to tell a compelling story, simple as that.  Follow the extraordinary life of Kvothe, who explains it best in his own words:

My name is Kvothe.  I have stolen princesses back from sleeping barrow kings. I burned down the town of Trebon. I have spent the night with Felurian and left with both my sanity and my life. I was expelled from the University at a younger age than most people are allowed in. I tread paths by moonlight that others fear to speak of during day. I have talked to Gods, loved women, and written songs that make the minstrels weep.

You may have heard of me.

Read my full review here

Robin Hobb – Assassin’s Apprentice

Considered by many to be among the upper echolons of epic fantasy writers, the title is deserved as Robin Hobb’s characterisation will blow you out of the water with protagonists that jump out of the page in vivid realization.  This is my favourite trilogy from my favourite author.

Read my full review here

Brent Weeks – The Way of Shadows

For Durzo Blint, assassination is an art – and he is the city’s most accomplished artist.  For Azoth, survival is precarious. Something you never take for granted. As a guild rat, he’s grown up in the slums, and learned to judge people quickly – and to take risks. Risks like apprenticing himself to Durzo Blint. But to be accepted, Azoth must turn his back on his old life and embrace a new identity and name. As Kylar Stern, he must learn to navigate the assassins’ world of dangerous politics and strange magics – and cultivate a flair for death.

The fast-paced action, combined with humour and excellent prose makes Brent Weeks’s thrilling debut novel a must-read this summer!

Orson Scott Card – Ender’s Game

This timeless classic is short, but powerful. Follow Ender as he trains in Battle School to defend the galaxy from an invading species. Continue with the Shadow series or the Ender saga if you can’t get enough of this boy genius.

Dan Carlin – Hardcore History

Okay, so this isn’t really a book, but I had to include it here.  Dan Carlin’s episodes about the Eastern Front in WWII and the fall of the Roman Republic are both informative, and entertaining.  Listen to this while you’re taking the bus, going for a run, or just chilling in bed.  You won’t be disappointed.

Eric Nylund – Halo: The Fall of Reach

Of all the video-game-to-novel books out there, this one is my favourite.  Jump right in to how Master Chief was selected and trained to be a Spartan, and gain some depth on the immensly popular franchise.

Rolf Potts – Vagabonding

Summertime is when a lot of people enjoy travelling (myself included!), and Rolf Potts will convince and inspire you that long-term travel is both realistic and possible.

Thomas L. Friedman – Hot, Flat, and Crowded

Thomas Friedman brings big issues to light with an easy-to-read and engaging style born from his extensive journalism background.  Global warming is here to stay, and this book is a fantastic read for anyone living in the 21st century.  So basically everyone.

In a time crunch? A new feature to all my posts is a Twitter-sized review – summing it all up in 140 characters or less!

This book succinctly outlines globalization and how it affects individuals and companies beginning to compete in a global marketplace.

Goodreads link for synopsis

I will admit my bias towards this book upfront, as I’m reading it with an interest (and study) in Commerce.  However, I think Friedman’s book should – and can – be read by anyone who has begun to notice that the world is becoming more and more flat.  Starting with the sharp increase in communications towards the end of the Dot Com bubble, and continuing today with the compression of space and time by people able to collaborate on work from any corner of the world, the author argues that the world is effectively shrinking because companies (and more importantly, individuals) can interact on the global scale.

"One mark of a great book is that it makes you see things in a new way, and Mr. Friedman certainly succeeds in that goal."

The beginning sections of the book were a wonderful and informative lesson on the Internet, the World Wide Web, and the chaotic early days of the Information Age.  I grew up with a computer and the internet at my fingertips, and yet even I can see how the past 30 years have been some of the most influential in the development of society as a whole.  Friedman stresses the empowerment of the individual; as never before, we are able to upload whatever we wish in whichever medium we choose (this post is a great example), with the only requirements being a computer with internet access.  Gone are the days of middle-men, when someone would have to approve of your thoughts before they were transmitted on the stage, on the radio, on the television set, or in the newspaper.   I could go into detail at length here about how people the world over have been elevated due to globalization, but Friedman puts it much more eloquently in his book.

Last summer, I read a more recent work by Thomas L. Friedman: Hot, Flat and Crowded, and since then I have been hooked into the style of this internationally-acclaimed journalist from the New York Times.  He writes with very clear and powerful prose, showcasing his vast experience while never boring readers as some non-fiction titles can do.  Many of his insights are a direct result of his numerous travels and encounters with a wide variety of people and situations.  Friedman has seen globalization at work first-hand, and his personal accounts bring a joie de vivre to this interactive tale.  Quotes abound from lunches or teas he’s shared with CEOs, world leaders, activists, fellow journalists, entrepreneurs, and many more bring a real perspective on the issue at hand.  I would dare to call this perspective a 360 degree view, with Friedman’s journalistic background evident in his rational approach including many different outlooks.  The last chapter on imagination was truly inspiring and sent shivers down my spine, giving me hope for the future of our generation, but with an excellent caveat about the necessity of education and creativity.

Put simply, The World is Flat is an enjoyable read, and well worth it – you will have come out with more holistic view of the world we are currently living in, as well as the direction it is heading.  I recommend this to anyone who will be working in the 21st century, and if you’ve business-inclined my only question is to why this isn’t already on your bookshelf.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004VD3POU/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=rissrea-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B004VD3POU

Have you read this book? I want to hear from YOU! Leave a comment below, or reach me through numerous other ways in the panel on the right.

Below are the mottos of the various major Houses set in the realm of A Song of Ice and Fire:

House Arryn – As High as Honour

House Baratheon – Ours is the Fury

House Greyjoy – We Do Not Sow

House Lannister – Hear me Roar!

House Martell – Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken

House Stark – Winter is Coming

House Targaryen – Fire and Blood

House Tully – Family, Duty, Honour

House Tyrell – Growing Strong

Personally, I like the Lannister motto of “Hear me Roar!”  Throughout the series, I’ve admired their ambition and relentless pursuit of their goals.

Which of these resonates with you? Which words align with your attitude on life? Or conversely, which House do you wish you could be in? Let us know in the comments, or find me through numerous other ways in the right panel.

There are authors out there who write their characters so convincingly and with such passion that it’s hard not to think that they’re really alive and breathing out there in the world somewhere.  The only problem is that you have a limited amount of text to live alongside them.  That feeling you get when you finish a book and feel as if you’ve lost a really good friend? I get that all the time.

That’s why I would choose to spend my day with a fictional character – so that I could journey beyond the confines of the pages, and share an encounter with the people with whom I have laughed and cried, extending the adventure just a little bit longer.  A few I’d love to meet off the top of my head: Ender, Richard, Zedd, Seregil, Alec, Fitz, the Fool, Kvothe, Tyrion, Jon Snow, Gandalf, Bilbo, and Kylar.

If you could spend a day with anyone, who would YOU spend it with? Real? Fictional? Past? Present? Leave a comment below or find me through numerous other ways in the right panel.

Before I go into why this novel received such a low rating, let me give you a little background.  Greg Keyes has previously authored numerous Star Wars novels, and this is his first (of two) sojourns into the world of Bethesda Studio’s massively popular Elder Scrolls video game franchise.

The Infernal City

I’m a huge fan of Oblivion, the 4th game in the Elder Scrolls series – so I thought that this book would be an excellent off-screen companion.  Boy, was I wrong.  I’m not sure what my problem is with novels written after video games.  Maybe I’m expecting too much?  Considering Oblivion certainly has the largest world (in size and depth) of all the games I’ve played, it’s surprising and unnerving that Greg Keyes would decide to just throw all that out the window.  As I mentioned in my review of the Mass Effect series, the majority of readers will be the fans of the video game.  They fell in love with the game, please please please (I can’t stress this enough), don’t make up your own canon and try to please us.  We want to get more depth about what we already know; we don’t need to increase our breadth of knowledge.

I read this book to lose myself in the world of Oblivion (as if the games aren’t enough of a distraction).  Simply put, the escapism was not there for me.  Due to the author’s insistence on trying out new ideas, new places, and new races, the story failed to grab my attention and the connection to the Elder Scrolls was tenuous at best.  As a stand-alone book it might have done well with a bit more polish.  However, it was a major letdown that the expectation of a novel truly set in that world was not met.  I hate to repeat myself, but as with Mass Effect, the author used the affiliation to the Elder Scrolls as a crutch rather than as a springboard.

Even with this disappointment aside, the writing was terrible.  The dialogue felt fake and forced, the settings were not vivid, and the characters unappealing. Luckily the reader probably has some background with the games and can fill in the horrendous gaps left by the author.  I bet the only thing pushing sales was the Bethesda logo on the cover.

I don’t recommend this book to anyone.  Sad to say it, but even as a die-hard Oblivion fan, I found no positive enhancement to my enjoyment of the series after reading The Infernal City.  The worst part? A cliffhanger ending that will probably force me to read the second book due to be published in September.

Have you read The Infernal City? Are you an Elder Scrolls fan?  I want to hear YOUR thoughts.  Leave a comment below or find me through numerous other ways in the right panel.

Patrick Rothfuss did it again.  He matched the excellent prose and gripping story of his first novel, The Name of the Wind, and then went above and beyond.  The Wise Man’s Fear continues the story of Kvothe, mainly his education at the University and his adventures abroad.  As those of you who have been reading my reviews may have figure out, I don’t generally do synopses – you can easily find that elsewhere.  Onto my thoughts of the book!

This is definitely not a fantasy epic (like Tolkien, George R.R. Martin, Erikson, etc.).  I wouldn’t go so far as to say the plot moves slowly (though others have said this), rather it follows Kvothe’s day-to-day life as he recounts his story.  The majority is written from the first-person perspective of Kvothe, except for the interludes when he takes a “break” from telling his story.  Rothfuss’ idea of a story-within-a-story is highly appealing and original.  Well maybe not entirely original, but it’s the first time I’ve come across it.  For the first half of the book, we’re still at the University following Kvothe’s travails – there is no “quest” that he embarks upon.  Looking back, I can’t put a finger on any specific climactic moment; Rothfuss set the stage for a thrilling conclusion in the next and final installment of the Kingkiller Chronicle.

The setting of The Wise Man’s Fear is highly localized – a few concentrated settings are used for much of the novel.  The story flows at a natural pace within these settings, though I found the transitions a bit jarring.  The four or five settings are told in high detail, but Kvothe’s travels between them is recounted in sometimes as little as a page or less.  It was unnerving at first, but I would rather have the important parts told well, and not waste space and half-ass the rest.  Very much like Lynn Flewelling in her Nightrunner Series and Robin Hobb’s Farseer Trilogy, Rothfuss manages to make routine seem interesting.  As I mentioned before, there isn’t really a climax.  The reader settles into a routine in each setting, and it is a testament to the quality of the author’s writing that made this almost 1000-page book a real page-turner.

I have over 8 years of musical background playing the piano and I love stories.  Imagine my delight when the themes of music and story-telling are forefront in Rothfuss’ work!  Kvothe is a trouper by birth and upbringing, and his whole life centres around his music, specifically the lute.  It is a way for him to repel approaching madness, and a necessary and sufficient condition to his well-being.  I can’t accurately describe it succinctly – you’ll have to read this book to see how important these two themes are.  The best part is that you don’t need any experience to understand it because the author doesn’t go into technical jargon.  If you’ve ever had emotions, you can’t help but cry and applaud along with Kvothe’s performances.

After reading a lengthy discussion on the Westeros.org forums, I was shocked at how much depth and layers had passed right over my head on the first read-through.   I was tempted to start a re-read that night, and peel back some layers on this engrossing tale.  I’ve a much higher appreciation of this novel after seeing what some people had uncovered.  Especially because The Wise Man’s Fear can seem like an entertaining, quick read, it will be fabulous to read it again and grasp the deeper concepts.

Writing with an eloquence I’ve yet to seen matched, you won’t be able to put Patrick Rothfuss’ lengthy tome down.  Don’t let the size dissuade you, this is one of those books that you will breeze through, to the detriment of your social life, work, and any other commitments you have present.  I recommend this to any fantasy fan, but also to anyone who enjoys a truly captivating tale as the series is not magic-heavy nor filled with fantastical creatures.

The first novel of the Malazan Book of the Fallen has been sitting on my bookshelf ever since picking it up at Powell’s books in the summer, and I can’t believe it took me this long to read it!  Erikson weaves an absolutely spell-binding tale in a world of epic proportions, with a vast host of characters and intriguingly complex magic system.  The beauty of the author’s style is that you are dropped right in the middle of the action, and have to find your feet quick to keep up with the pace.  From the outset, it’s quite evident that the world and history has already been determined by Erikson (in fact, the basis of this series comes from his days of D&D).

Novel #1 in the Malazan Book of the Fallen

It has been said that it’s a struggle to make it past the first few hundred pages because of the complexity of the history, mythos and lore that place you right in the middle of a literary maelstrom.  However, for me this added to the whole experience, and I allowed myself to get lost in the depths of Gardens of the Moon, even if I didn’t understand all the references.  A simpler way of describing the author’s style is that of “glimpses” or “snapshots” of the action.  Life is going on as usual, and the reader is transported in for a quick view.  There are no info dumps, nor history lessons – you have to figure it out all on your own.  Imagine if someone were popping in for a view of your life.  Would you spend time explaining your history or how you became friends with people that you encounter?  No, you would act as you normally do and anyone watching would have to infer how events came to pass.

Erikson’s brilliant writing mitigates the jarring of  the jumps between settings.  With only a paragraph, the atmosphere and emotions of the new locale forms a picture in your mind, as vivid as if you were watching on the silver screen.  The last few chapters is where it all came together for me and I devoured the rest of the book (and not just because I wanted to start Wise Man’s Fear which had arrived in the mail).  The multifarious plot line and characters all converge, culminating in a showdown where (some) things are resolved, and I could at least wrap my head around a few of the themes that have been present in the book.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to become completely and irrevocably engrossed in a story.  If you’re new to fantasy, I would start with something lighter as Erikson is content-heavy and could scare you off if you’re not prepared.  But a book that manages to reveal new information on every re-read is one that I want on my bookshelf.  Here’s to the first step in my journey in the world of the Malazan Book of the Fallen!

1. Frodo & Sam – The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien

From my favourite series, how could you forget the adventure and travails of this couple and their journey into the Land of Shadow?

2. Alec & Seregil – The Nightrunner Series, Lynn Flewelling

My newest favourite characters – I loved how familiar we get with both of them sharing in their witticisms, nightrunning, and day-to-day life.  Probably the two on this list that I would like to meet most.

3. Don Quixote & Sancho Panza – Don Quixote, Miguel de Cervantes

One an illustrious knight-errant (or so he thinks), and the other the voice of reason.  These characters from centuries ago have lost none of their talent for amusement.

4. Fitz & Nighteyes – Farseer Trilogy, Robin Hobb

My favourite characters, hands down.  Hobb is truly a master of character development, and I feel as if Fitz and Nighteyes were friends I had in childhood rather than simply hiding in the tomes on my bookshelf.  The best part? I can go back and pick up their stories anytime I want.

5. Tyrion & Bronn – A Song of Ice and Fire, George R.R. Martin

Not the most obvious choice from this series, but Tyrion and Bronn were refreshing in their methods of getting what they want.  It’s nice to see characters not be completely (and unrealistically) altruistic all the time.  Have I mentioned that they’re also side-splittingly funny?

6. Fred & George – Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling

As a kid, I would relish the parts where Fred and George would appear, usually in the process of trying some new magic, prank, or general mischief.

7. Legolas & Gimli – The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien

Were there any greater friends in all of Middle-Earth? The unlikely bond between these two is fantastic, and I would enjoy exploring Mirkwood and the caves of Helm’s Deep with them, as per their promises.

8. Richard & Kahlan – Sword of Truth, Terry Goodkind

A simple woods guide and the Mother Confessor, out to save the world.  Adventures abound, Richard and Kahlan offer fast-paced action, comedic relief, and romance all bundled into one (or two?).

9. Nevare & Soldier’s Boy – Soldier Son Trilogy, Robin Hobb

Two conflicting, bellicose characters battling for control of one body; Hobb’s talent shines through again in conveying this psychological struggle.

10. Ford Prefect & Arthur Dent, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adam

Adventures all across the known galaxy and beyond, what more can I say?

Honourable Mentions:

Kvothe – The Kingkiller Chronicle, Patrick Rothfuss

Ender – Ender’s Game, Orson Scott Card

I just couldn’t find a counterpart for these characters, they’re simply awesome on their own.  Any thoughts on potential partners?

What do you think of my Top Ten?  Any that I missed?  I want to hear about the dynamic duos that have really hit hoem with YOU.  Leave a comment below or find me through numerous other ways in the right panel.