Suggestions and advice on some novels?

B

Blade

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None of us are really only Cheap Ass Gamers, meaning that we hate paying full price for anything at all. With that said, I'm looking for some books (or a book club that doesn't contain "getting screwed" as part of the initiation) for really cheap.

So far, I've come up with a list of novels that I'd like to check out, and any opinions and cheap deals on these books would be really appreciated. Bear in mind that I have a case of the "laziness", so I don't really enjoy reading books that don't completely engage me (The Juror), or pretty much anything that manages to droll on for 1,400 pages (Monte Cristo). Just some good fantasy that makes sense, and makes for a fairly quick, yet engaging, read.

The Edge Chronicles
Artemis Fowl
Bartimaeus Trilogy
Spiderwick Chronicles
The Land of Elyon
Eragon/Eldest
Dragon Lance Chronicles
The Last Apprentice (this looked really cool)
Ranger's Apprentice
Magyk
City of Ember
Silverwing Trilogy
Pit Dragon Chronicles
Realms of the Gods
The Dreamtime
His Dark Materials Trilogy
Winds on Fire Trilogy

Anything else to do with fantasy is also cool. Also looking for cheap deals on these Cliff Notes...

Mythology
Greek Classics
Dante's Inferno

Things that are boring, or take too long to read, I won't read. I have a mild case of ADHD.

So, any deals, insight, or suggestions that are not obscene or sarcastic?
 
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[quote name='Blade']None of us are really only Cheap Ass Gamers, meaning that we hate paying full price for anything at all. [/QUOTE]

Actually a lot of us are.:lol:


But the usual applies here: use your library, it's part of the reason you pay taxes.


Also cliff notes on classic often tend to misinterpret words and jumble meanings, I'd suggest if anything you try to find a college intro to literature class or online essays on them instead.
 
Borders coupon and used will be your best bets. Might also try bookcloseouts.com, they have great prices and their stock changes regularly. I've read all of the Artemis Fowl series (except the newest) and the City of Ember, excellent books. I'd add these to your list if you haven't read them yet:

His Dark Materials Trilogy by Philip Pullman
- The Golden Compass
- The Subtle Knife
- The Golden Compass

Wind on Fire Trilogy by William Nicholson
- Windsinger
- Slaves of the Mastery
- Firesong
 
[quote name='b0bx13']F cliffnotes on The Inferno. It's not very long and it's a great read.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, if you like emo poetry by Dante. "OH NOES, HE SOLD ME A BAD CHICKEN TWENTY YEARS AGO SO HE'S GOING TO HAVE HIS SKIN PIERCED BY FEATHERS FOR ETERNITY!!!!111"

I'd also recommend getting these books from a library and if you really like the book and want to own a copy check out used book stores. They've usually got a pretty good sized selection of F/SF books and it shouldn't be terribly hard to find any book if it's pretty well known.

Also, if you haven't done it, try reading some recent classic American literature. I read a bunch a few summers ago just so I could sound smarter (for some reason people expect engineers to be well versed in both literature and science) and thoroughly enjoyed books by Steinbeck (wonderful author), Ken Kesey, Robert Heinlein, Tom Wolfe (If you like SF read The Right Stuff. It's the true story of the test pilots that originated the space program and their eventual development into astronauts.), and maybe even Anthony Burgess. Just because a book has the term 'classic' next to it really doesn't mean it'll be crap, and they're always more enjoyable when read outside of a class (hell, I even enjoyed Crime & Punishment).

Edit: Also, you can usually find 'classics' editions of really old books that sell for around $3-5 new. I know one discount book store near me sells those sorts of books 4 for $10.
 
[quote name='Blade']

Anything else to do with fantasy is also cool. Also looking for cheap deals on these Cliff Notes...

Mythology
Greek Classics
Dante's Inferno

Things that are boring, or take too long to read, I won't read. I have a mild case of ADHD.

So, any deals, insight, or suggestions that are not obscene or sarcastic?[/QUOTE]

Why buy Cliff's Notes? Spark Notes are better and they're free online: www.sparknotes.com
 
[quote name='monoxide101']

His Dark Materials Trilogy by Philip Pullman
- The Golden Compass
- The Subtle Knife
- The Golden Compass

[/QUOTE]

Yes, read these, they are very good.
 
[quote name='gregthomas77']Read Rainbow Six. Read it recently, its awesome.[/QUOTE]

I starting reading this a couple of years ago, never finished it because I had to study for finals and the thing was like 1000 pages. It was pretty good kinda of like Splinter Cell meets 24, I still have this sitting on a shelf maybe I'll start reading again.


Blade,

Like someone said before I would check out those at the Library first. Alot of those books are series and it would be a waste of time, space and money if you bought them all at once.

If you like fantasy I recommend Imajica by Clive Barker or the Dark Tower Series from Stephen King, or anything by Neil Gaiman. These aren't "hardcore" fantasy novels but hybrids of many genres.
 
Thanks for the advice, I'll check those books out. And yeah, Animorphs were awesome.

RacinReaver, I have almost all the classic novels ever, lol. I've read all of them from War of the Worlds to Pride and Prejudice, including Of Mice and Men and the like. That's why I'm looking for mostly sci-fi/fantasy books.

I never thought of the library, but I'm not sure if we have one. There are like 1,000 people where I live.

Jaso, thanks. Sparknotes is better, then? Since it's free, I might have to print everything out. At work.

Ofacto, yeah I read the Dark Tower series, and the first few books are sort of what I'm looking for in another fantasy novel. I think King sort of dropped the ball with the last two books.

Wow, that Doubelday Book Club looks alright. Is there any catch to that, or just the two books within two years at a discount price and no other obligations?

Hey, thanks guys. Any other recommendations that anyone else has would still be appreciated.
 
Try your local Good Will/Salvation Army stores, they have so many books there, because obviously 75% of the people who shop there dont know how to read.
 
Anything by David Gemmel. I am almost done reading his Drenai series books and they are great. Also, try R.A. Salvatore's Demonwars series as well as his Forgotten Realms books.
 
A Game of Thrones by George RR Martin

This book is excellent. It is long (and the following three are longer), but you won't regret it. Plus I think that you can get it in paperback for $3.99 new (of course, the others will be full price). There are still two more in the series coming.

This is not an easy read the first time. There are tons of characters (hundreds), but I find the story one of the most addicting I have ever read. My wife calls it a fantasy soap opera, which it could be.

You won't regret the time for this one.

TBW
 
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