Greetings from Jakarta

[lalouche]

Tired of one-off (and often one line) discussions that my reading list on Facebook provokes, it finally occurred to me that there may actually be a solution online...and so here I am. Looking forward to discovering other avid readers, book recommendations, etc.

Writing to you all from Jakarta, Indonesia.

[illumination]

Welcome! Who are some of your favorite authors?

[That Book Nerd]

Welcome to the site.

I understand your feelings about trying to post literature-related stuff on Facebook. I was actually surprised by the low number of reading/book related message boards on the internet.

[lalouche]

I don't even know where to start with favorite authors! No one is perfect- I find that even with the authors I consistently enjoy there is inevitably at least one of their books that doesn't do it for me. I really will read almost anything. Over the past few years I have been reading a lot of science fiction. My favorites in that genre: Robert Heinlein (but again, not consistently. I didn't like Starship troopers, for instance), Iain Banks, and of course Douglas Adams. Comedy: Florence of Arabia, Confederacy of Dunces. Most Neil Gaiman. All Murakami so far. The one genre of literature that does nothing for me is anything written in the Austen/Bronte period (I'm actually not sure if the time frames correspond, but its the same thing to me!). Anything set on a moor with distressed women is probably not my cup of tea. I've been told to read the Flashman books as an alternative from the epoch - on my list now.

I think the problem with sites like Facebook is that unless you are very careful, its easy to get sucked into one-off remarks on people's posts (especially if you have an amusing set of friends) and never pursue deeper conversations.

[Peta31]

Hi i see you like Neil Gaiman have you ever read Terry Pratchett? He co wrote a book with Neil called Good Omens, great book! Terry is my all time favourite author (who i will be meeting in April at our Australian "Discworld" convention.

[Chris OConnor]

Welcome to BookTalk.org.

I agree completely about Facebook. The conversations are shallow. Please look around our forums and make yourself at home. I have a feeling you have found the perfect discussion community. Now it's up to you to explore and take full advantage of all we have to offer.

[gdale]

Hi Lalouche. Welcome to the forum. Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere was an enjoyable read and I found The Graveyard Book to be entertaining. A number of years ago, I read Heinlein's Friday and Stranger in a Strange Land is on my to be read list. As far as science fiction, I have read most Isaac Asimov novels.

[gdale]

Noticed you like comedies. Have you read any Christopher Moore? Last year I read the Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove, which I thought was hilarious. The story revolves around somewhat ordinary people meeting the supernatural, sort of like the Everyman. Another of his novels, Practical Demonkeeping, is on my TBR list.

[lalouche]

I've read lots of Chris Moore, and in fact just finished the Lust Lizard about a month ago. I've read Neverwhere and lots of other Gaiman books. Heinlein - the best I have read so far is the Moon is a Harsh Mistress. Much, much better than Starship troopers in my opinion...