Grasping for the Wind: Pile o' Shame

April 04, 2008

Pile o' Shame

Taking a cue from Aidan, I thought I might share with folks a few of my books from the Pile o' Shame, those books I just haven't gotten around to reading, but that everyone says I should.

When a woman wins a Nobel Prize (even if she acts poorly about receiving it) and has written some science fiction, I think that perhaps I ought to read some of her work. I picked up a cheap (but new!) copy of this at my local BJ's wholesale club.

Talked about as one of the best books of last year, Mark J. Ferrari's (such a cool last name!) The Book of Joby has been on everyone's recommended list. Even a Christian magazine I respect thought it was pretty good. However, it is very long and I have other books of more immediate interest.

My youngest brother picked me up a copy I had requested for Christmas, but for all the hubbub surrounding Steven Erikson, I just haven't wanted to pick it up quite yet. Part of it is that fact that it has been so talked up that I'm afraid that I won't like just becasue everyone else seems too. (ridiculous, isn't it?) And although it may not seem like it, I do like to read books not everyone is reading.

I love Neil Gaiman's writing. It's fresh, innovative and unusual. But I suffer from the conscientious reviewers problem. Since I ma fortunate enough to get some books for free from publishers, I feel an obligation to review books sent to me first, books I buy second. I in part deal with this by interposing a book I buy between those sent to me for review, but that leaves me with a pile of books I am glad I own and can't wait to read, but that will have to wait their turn.

You may have noticed that I predominantly read fantasy here. I like scifi a lot, but I prefer fantasy works. Yet a good buddy of mine has really, really encouraged me to read Vernor Vinge. He's the kind of guy who likes his books to provoke him and make him think, as well as be based in good science, rather than pure speculation. And his all-time favorite is Vernor Vinge. I got Rainbow's End on the cheap as a used library copy, and want to read it, but it suffers from the same problem as Gaiman's above.

That ought to do for now. I could probably list another ten to fifteen books on my pile including a few *GASP* Forgotten Realms books I haven't gotten to yet (I am really ashamed of that, I used to breeze through those highly enjoyable books in a weekend, now I haven't touched one in months). Maybe I'll give you another list in a few weeks.

Still, they say that confession is good for the soul, and I feel a little better for having told you about those books I know I should read, but haven't gotten to just yet.

Posted by John on April 4, 2008 01:23 PM | Posted to Literature and Language
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I've read both Gardens of the Moon and Rainbows End.

Actually, I've read Rainbows End, and later bought it as an Audible Book. It's strange how reading and listening to the same text cave provide such a different experience.

Of these two book, I enjoyed the Vinge book more. That said, Garden's of the Moon is probably something you'd end up enjoying. But Vinge will stretch you more, and be more relevant to the future, too, most likely.

Posted by: Bruce on April 4, 2008 07:25 PM

I saw Steven Erikson on a lot of list, mine included :)

Posted by: Dark Wolf on April 5, 2008 03:54 AM

tnx for dropping by John; everybody seems to be doing this piles o' shame lists...I'm not going near this topic since the list is way too long and way too shameful :). to comment on your books though; I haven't heard of Doris Lessing (which is shameful enough I guess); Erikson is one of my favourite authors (its 100%concentrated fantasy and 101% epic). The Book of Joby is patiently waiting on my shelf as well. I'm yet to read American Gods *ducks* as well as Rainbows End. Anyway, this is a quality pile o' shame - some don't even have that :)

cheers!

Posted by: thrinidir on April 6, 2008 10:14 AM

cool blog, lots of reading ideas... I also usually shun the "everybody's read it" books and try to find something that may have been lost in the shuffle...

Posted by: TeacherDad on April 8, 2008 05:15 PM

I'm just not going there :D

Posted by: gav (nextread) on May 5, 2008 11:29 AM