Book List

Book List

1. A Dance with Dragons by George R. R. Martin. A Dance with Dragons is the 5^th book in one of my favorite series, it has 1008 pages, it came out July 13^th of this year. I was thoroughly impressed with the other four. Martin's writing has a gritty realism that seems like taboo for most authors. He doesn't try and kid anyone, main characters die, adultery is common place ( as it is in the real world) and the use of political intrigue is superb. All of that rolled up makes one great series, I can't wait to read this one.
2. The Iliad and The Odyssey by Homer. Two undisputed classics and one I think would better my overall reading experience. The Iliad being 704 pages and the Odyssey being 506 both are hefty reads, but that has never stopped me before. I'm sorry I'm not sure when the original publishing date was, sometime around the 8^th century B.C. These epic poems are a prime example of the hero-esque archetype which is a very common theme that I enjoy.
3. The Art of War by Sun Tzu. A mere 176 pages wisdom beyond time. “The art of war is of vital importance to the State. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected” A quote from The Art of War, it says it all. It is one book that cannot be neglected, one must further his, or her, reading by branching out on all angles and this is a book that I need to read. It was originally written in the 6^th century B.C. The book itself is about how to wage war, and it's texts can be applied to various different fields, such as business.
4. The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri. A book about one's journey through Hell to Heaven and everything in between. 928 pages long, it is said to be a masterpiece of the human psyche, bringing us through the Inferno in the mind of Dante. Written around 1308 A.D.
5. Inheritance by Christopher Paolini. Paolini wrote his first book at the age of 15, and what a book it was. Eragon was an epic tale of a young man and his dragon. Inheritance is the 4^th and final installment of the story, and it come out November 8^th of this year, 2011. It was one of the few books my older brother read, and I just recently added it to the collection of books I've read. All three were wonderful books, and the fourth will be 704 pages of the same brilliance, I have no doubt.
6. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. Most think of the Lord of the Rings and they think of the modern archetype for fiction. It is one of the most influential series of literature on the 20^th century. I'm surprised at myself that I haven't read them yet. However, I plan on reading The Hobbit, published in 1937 at 310 pages, this year, as well as the rest of the ground breaking fantasy series.
7. Dust of Dreams by Steven Erikson. A novel of the Malazan Books of the Fallen, a series of quite epic proportions. Dust of Dreams is book number 9 out of 10 with a page count of 1280. You know what the best part is? All the books are that long. It was published January 10^th of 2010, it's rather new, but after reading the other 8 I have no doubts about its quality. Erickson built a world of huge proportions, where gods pull the strings of fate for dominance over the mortals of the world. It follows the story of more than 30 different people from their own perspectives and eyes. A book I look forward too.
8. The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher. An odd series to be sure, it's about a detective in Chicago, only the detective is a magician. The first book, Storm Front, was published in April of 2000 and is 384 pages long. I've read other books by Jim Butcher, Codex Alera, and I was not disappointed. There are twelve books in the series and they all have a cool twist on the basic Sherlock Holmes-esque mystery novel.
9. The Holy Bible. A book that, even as a non-Christian, I think everyone should read. There is so much I miss in texts because I haven't read this book. One of the most read books in the world, it has so many stories that touch every aspect of life. Truly a book that would broaden ones perception about everything. It has been around for so long, and has been read by so many people, I feel as though I need to read it, as though it's stories will bring me closer to anything else I am reading, adding an entirely new perspective.
10. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. Rated on par with stories like A Song of Ice and Fire, or The Lord of the Rings. Published April 7, 2009, at 672 pages, it isn't that old, but already Rothfuss has had amazing success with his debut. The Name of the Wind is a fast paced, first person viewed story with the cliché of modern fantasy. I enjoy the cliché; young boy, magic powers, leaves the comfort of his old life for a shiny new life or quest.