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What do I read?

steven10521

It is always with a sense of adventure when I ask someone what they are reading as they sit quietly in a corner with a precious book in their hands.


It invariably leads to me wanting to buy that book. My collection of over 4,500 books increases each week with a new addition or two of the books being read by the people I have spoken to. Add to this list the books I hear about on TV or find in bookshops, and you will see how quickly my collection grows.


Do I read them? Well, yes and no, I am a voracious reader of a myriad of books and selected genres. However, it is hard to read every moment, so the collection grows faster than I can read, but that does not stop me from shopping.


My Favorite Authors

I am a huge fan of Russian authors, including Solzhenitsyn, Tolstoy, Gorky, and my absolute favorite, Fyodor Dostoyevsky. We lost the artistry these authors exhibit in the writing of books in the modern world. We look for fast-paced excitement in modern writing. The Russian greats show the artistry of the pen and the beauty of a story's slow development to a finale.


Other 19th-century writers I have enjoyed are Jane Austen, Oscar Wilde, and Mary Shelley. The gentleness of the story, mixed with the amusing, memorable quotes, makes reading these writers a delight.


Modern authors range across a world of genres. I am a huge fan of Terry Pratchett. His works bring humor, thought-provoking wit, and charm. His words are lyrical and the world he has built is fascinating to follow. I also enjoyed immensely the first book I read by Neal Shusterman. I found this to be well-developed and a unique storyline. I have never been able to read any of his other books, though. Strangely, I do not see his other works in the same class as the first book I read (see below.)


Other writers I enjoy include the complete range of writers in the "Short Introduction to" series. Short, sharp, informative essays on various topics. They range from philosophy, mathematics, psychology, cosmology, and many other subjects. They are quick reads and contain some memorable quotes.


Favorite books I have read


It is challenging to list of favorite books. If you are a reader, like me, then choosing a favorite book is like choosing your favorite child, impossible. However, I will give it my best try.


Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky - A story of pain and heartache. Revolving around a murder that occurs in the first chapter it is the story of the pain of redemption and regret. Beautifully written and enriched by the writer's pain and hurts.


Pyramids - Terry Pratchett - The turtle world written by Terry Pratchett built his books into a magical world of fun and excitement. The story radiates from the first words on the page. His complete works total 50+ books in his turtle world and each story is unique but tied gently to other stories. I cannot explain why I have this fascination with his works, but 100 million sales cannot deny that he attracted many people to his writings. Pyramids is a story about Teppic, new to his job and trained as an assassin. He is tasked with building his father's tomb. He battles with Clerics, guards, and his father to make the task come true.


Scythe - Neal Shusterman - I read this book in one day, and I could not put it down. It is rare for me to read at this pace, but this story held my attention throughout. An apocalyptic story of overpopulation and the tools used to control the population. I cannot express how much this book affected my own writing.


The Importance of being Ernest - Oscar Wilde - A stage play about two young men who fall in love and wish to change their name to Ernest for the wrong reason. A delightful short book for that time you want a quick, humorous read.


1984 - George Orwell - another classic, a book that reflects our society today, in so many ways, A man, who challenges society with the result that his punishment becomes personal and challenging. A wonderful indictment of the nationalization of society.


One day in the life of Ivan Denisovich - Alexander Alexander Solzhenitsyn - When a man wakes up each morning in a Stalag in the outer reaches of the Steppes in Russia he either gives up and dies or he goes to work and gives one hundred percent to the tasks of the day. Starving, fighting for food, and fixing others' work the protagonist fights to survive. A tour de force of a book.


Space Colony One - J.J. Green - As they moved to the new world, they expected a life of freedom and safety, little was said of the dangers or challenges they would face to make this world livable.


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