If I have studied the entrails of this pelican correctly, and if scholars are correct in that the Seal of Baal-Ashtoreth has finally split in twain, that means it is my birthday. I am, by all reports, “no longer young,” but also, “not quite old,” which means I’m “middle-aged.”
I’ll buy my sports car next year.
For this year, I’ll buy myself a book.
Because books and birthdays go together like chocolate and more chocolate.
So: recommend to me a book you liked that you read recently.
Please do not recommend your own books because this is not that time.
authorlady22 says:
In The Bones by Renee Miller. Really good book. Murder, mayhem and a moose. How can you say no?
April 22, 2013 — 12:05 AM
DisastrousCreations says:
Happy Birthday!
-The Grapes of Wrath-
April 22, 2013 — 12:05 AM
MonaKarel says:
No doubt our tastes diverge wildly. If I wanted to start you on a new series of fantasy, I’d recommend Jim Butcher, either Harry Dresden or Codex Alera. To point you toward a new author with a wild imagination, I’d say Greta van der Rol, who writes space opera…what we wish we’d seen on Star Trek. And I just recently discovered a long published author whose female characters don’t sit around waiting to be rescued, in fantasy, urban fantasy, or chick kicking intrigue: that would be Doranna Durgin.
April 22, 2013 — 12:09 AM
narrelle says:
I highly recommend both Bloody Waters by Jason Franks (http://narrellemharris.wordpress.com/2013/01/28/review-bloody-waters-by-jason-franks/) and The Devil’s Mixtape by Mary Borsellino (http://narrellemharris.wordpress.com/2011/12/19/review-the-devils-mixtape-by-mary-borsellino/), both horror books combined wth rock’n’roll by Australian writers.
April 22, 2013 — 12:24 AM
rebeccadouglass says:
As someone who is also soon celebrating a birthday of non-youthful significance, I can’t resist recommending one I just finished, The End of Your Life Book Club, by Will Schwalbe
April 22, 2013 — 12:25 AM
Delfina Hallett says:
Breathers by S.G. Browne
April 22, 2013 — 12:27 AM
Betsy says:
Bad Monkeys by Matt Ruff
April 22, 2013 — 12:32 AM
pamelacreese says:
Happy Birthday! Welcome to mddle-age… its a big pool… ENJOY!
Hmmm… read so many but what might YOU enjoy?
Just finished Joe Abercrombies “The Heroes”. That was fun.
April 22, 2013 — 12:33 AM
Georgie Tyler says:
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein or I know you were looking at reading some romance/erotica a few weeks back and recommend Sami Lee’s Erica’s Choice (m/m/f) or for a laugh Dawn French’s A Little Bit Marvellous. Happy Birthday!
April 22, 2013 — 12:33 AM
swordsoftheancients says:
My two latest favorites are The Night Circus and Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore. Happy birthday, Chuck, and happy reading.
April 22, 2013 — 12:36 AM
Casz Brewster says:
Alles Gute zum Geburtstag Herr Wendig!
I know I recommended it before, but really, I love this book: THIS IS WHAT WE DO By Tom Hansen.
I just also finished Patrick Rothfuss’ THE WISE MAN’S FEAR, but something tells me you may have read that already.
April 22, 2013 — 12:37 AM
bhunting9999 says:
Happy Birthday!
April 22, 2013 — 12:58 AM
Allen Morgan says:
City of Thieves, by David Benioff. Seriously.
April 22, 2013 — 12:59 AM
tedra says:
I just finished Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson; it was quirky, it was love, it was awesome. I also really like Night Huntress by Jeaniene Frost. It was bloody, funny and original. Think Stephanie Plum with vampires. But what I most recommend is the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. I love my Mercy.
April 22, 2013 — 1:02 AM
Aubyanne Meletio Poulter says:
Happy Birthday, Chuck!
I’ve been writing too much to be reading. (I know, I know. Bad writer, bad.) But you’ve got plenty of awesome recommendations already, so, it’s all good.
April 22, 2013 — 1:26 AM
J.R. Murdock says:
Happy Birthday you pen monkey!
Horns by Joe Hill. He got what his father lost when hit by a truck. Joe is a little rough in parts, but a damned fine storyteller. Plus, it’s only $1.99 as of this writing.
April 22, 2013 — 1:52 AM
charlypriest says:
“Genious” Richard Feynman. Won´t understand half of the book, but the other half is fascinating.
April 22, 2013 — 1:58 AM
Erik Smith says:
I’m going to recommend a few. Different genres for different moods. (All books that I have read recently.)
Deadly Beloved by Max Allan Collins. (Hard Case Crime)
Ack-Ack Macaque by Gareth L. Powell. (Cyberpulp)
The Faceless by Simon Bestwick. (Horror)
Sherlock Holmes: The Breath of God by Guy Adams.
Happy birthday
April 22, 2013 — 2:02 AM
Erik Smith says:
Crap. Forgot to click on the notifications. Just ignore this. nothing to see here.
April 22, 2013 — 2:04 AM
Kay Camden says:
The Dinner by Herman Koch. Very good yet very dissatisfying. I haven’t been reading your site long but at this point in knowing you it seems right up your alley.
April 22, 2013 — 2:05 AM
Harlequin Felis says:
I can recommend Prepare To Die by Paul Tobin. Superhero novel about one of the last superheroes being given a few weeks to set his affairs in order before a supervillain team execute him. There’re a few jarring moments where you’re thrust into flashback without warning, but once you get into the rhythm, it’s a damned good read. A little bit of action, and more than enough real character development and creative superpowers and a view of what it’s like to be one of the last defenders for ‘good’ when you consider yourself an utter bastard who’s seen the best die horribly.
And I can push the first two novelisations of the Girl Genius webcomic – Agatha H and the Airship City, and Agatha H and the Clockwork Princess by Phil and Kaja Foglio. First is a pretty straightforward retelling of the first few volumes in prose form – mad science, an interesting story world and characters who’re just bursting with troperiffic fun. The sequel gives everything one better and retells the next few volumes, while taking the opportunity to expand the world and characters more than they dared in the first book.
Maybe those catch your interest, maybe not. Regardless; many happy returns, Mr. Wendig!
April 22, 2013 — 2:16 AM
Mr Urban Spaceman says:
Not a book that I’ve read recently per se, but one that I read constantly; Watership Down.
It’s bunnies, but they’re like *people*
And they’re often violent!
What more could you want?
(presuming, of course, you haven’t read it 15 times already, like me)
April 22, 2013 — 2:16 AM
Cat York says:
One of my favs, too.
April 22, 2013 — 9:27 AM
RavenBlackburn says:
Happy Birthday there, Chuck!
I have no book to recommend, because, well, I haven’t read anything lately you would like, I guess (I am taking a wild guess here, that you don’t read about hot blooded vampires, right? Right!).
Nevertheless, wish you loads of chocolate, booze and many many more years.
April 22, 2013 — 2:29 AM
karenprince0 says:
Happy Birthday Chuck!!!
If you haven’t read it yet: ‘The Painted Bird’ by Jerzy Kosiński
April 22, 2013 — 2:36 AM
karenprince0 says:
Oh, No! I already sent you a recommendation and then I remembered the best book I ever read about a guy getting er. . .um. . .old. Brilliant! ‘My Name Escapes Me: The Diary of a Retiring Actor.’ by Sir Alec Guinness.
April 22, 2013 — 2:40 AM
joeturner87 says:
Many happy returns Chuck!
If it’s something special you’d like, something that symbolises the “treat” of birthday. Then I recommend splashing out on (despite the fact you’ve probably read them, and possibly even own them) “Absolute Sandman” vol 1-4. They’re works of art in so many ways, and of course they’re written by the great deity Gaiman. Anyway, whatever you go with; enjoy!
April 22, 2013 — 2:54 AM
Jules says:
Happy Birthday! I’m sure you’ve read it, but it’s my favorite book ever (well, behind several Vonnegut volumes, but still), and I essentially beg every reader I meet to give it a whirl: Geek Love by Katherine Dunn.
April 22, 2013 — 3:07 AM
angel011 says:
Among Others by Jo Walton — fairies, ghosts, dead twin, magic, mother-the evil queen, boarding school and lots of books.
Galapagos by Kurt Vonnegut — all I’ve got to say about that one is “arf”. Or whatever it is that seals are saying.
Happy birthday!
April 22, 2013 — 3:08 AM
Lion says:
Motivation and Personality by Abraham Garold Maslow Motivation and Personality
Happy Birthday!
April 22, 2013 — 3:24 AM
Rautenbach says:
Dark and surprising, Audrey Niffenegger’s “Her Fearful Symmetry”. It goes where you don’t want it to go, and quite brilliantly too. Happy Birthday 🙂
April 22, 2013 — 3:29 AM
Kim Hutson says:
I’m reading ‘From the Dust Remembered’ by Ray Bradbury – not disappointed by one of my favourite authors ever!
April 22, 2013 — 3:31 AM
Kim Hutson says:
Oh and, of course, Happy Birthday!
April 22, 2013 — 3:37 AM
Tedra says:
Really great book. I love Mr. Bradbury.
April 22, 2013 — 7:52 AM
Patrick O'Duffy says:
Michael Chabon’s TELEGRAPH AVENUE is goddamn terrific.
Also, hah hah, you’re old now.
April 22, 2013 — 3:39 AM
cajetane says:
Ignore the childish taunting – it’s all good on the dark side. You were talking about YA and lurve a while back, in that category I’d put Before I Fall, by Lauren Oliver.
April 22, 2013 — 3:48 AM
Eva T says:
That’s funny, my birthday was yesterday. Anyway, I’m going to go with the classics: I’m currently reading Lovecraft’s Necronomicon, the big black edition. It should be read for the ideas and the atmosphere, not for the plots, but I really enjoy it.
April 22, 2013 — 4:35 AM
jjtonerJJ Toner says:
Happy birthday, old man.
Try Lucille Redmond’s amazing short stories: LOVE http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007P5MECA/
JJ
April 22, 2013 — 4:35 AM
feralbulb says:
‘Hope: a Tragedy’ by Shalom Auslander. The funniest tragedy you’ll come across, no shit.
Happy Birthday!
Feralbulb & Rosie
April 22, 2013 — 4:45 AM
Stefan says:
Happy Birthday!
As for my book recommendation…
The Lies of Locke Lamora! 🙂
April 22, 2013 — 5:05 AM
Cassandra Page says:
I reckon you’d like “Blackbirds”… :p
April 22, 2013 — 5:10 AM
A. says:
Happy Birthday!
The Pilo Family Circus by Will Elliott.
Fantasy/horror – After a random incident of nearly hitting a clown with his car Jamie finds himself being stalked by three sadistic clowns in a whole crazy circus clown world.
I have to agree with Cassandra too – I found your blog kind of randomly, liked it and then read this great book called Blackbirds… you should read it sometime.
April 22, 2013 — 5:30 AM
Robin says:
For romance/erotica, try Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead. For fantasy (and a spoof of crime novels), try Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett. Happy Birthday!
April 22, 2013 — 5:33 AM
Jo says:
Mira Grant’s Newsflesh series is currently keeping me up reading ling past when I should be asleep. For a choice with no zombies, Anne Tyler’s The Beginner’s Goodbye is a lovely, gentle, humorous book about losing someone.
April 22, 2013 — 5:44 AM
Adam Christopher says:
VERONICA by Nicholas Christopher.
I’d also say the LOCAL HEROES collected volume of ASTRO CITY, but I suspect you already have that.
And happy birthday 🙂
April 22, 2013 — 6:14 AM
vegan farm girl in the city says:
The Sex Lives of Cannibals by J. Maarten Troost is hilarious. But I loved Confessions of a Celtic Nun which is much more serious.
April 22, 2013 — 6:32 AM
Robert Forrester says:
The Flashman Papers. Any of them. Just brilliant.
April 22, 2013 — 6:42 AM
Kelly says:
The Summer Tree by Guy Gavriel Kay. It’s the first book of The Fionavar Tapestry Trilogy and will suck you in to reading all three. So damn good.
April 22, 2013 — 6:43 AM
Taylor Emblen (@Taylor_Emblen) says:
Happy Birthday to you!
I would say have a look at ‘Altered Carbon’ by Richard K Morgan (may be Richard Morgan in the US)
Hard-boiled detective, cyberpunk, expletive filled awesomeness. What more could you need?
April 22, 2013 — 7:02 AM
S.W. Sondheimer says:
Hey, Happy Birthday, Chuck!
The Devil in Silver by Victor LaValle.
April 22, 2013 — 7:06 AM
Bob Everson says:
Happy Birthday Chuck! I’m going to recommend Hide Me Among The Graves by Tim Powers.
April 22, 2013 — 7:25 AM
sprogblogger says:
Happy Birthday! Try ‘Raising Stony Mayhall’ by Daryl Gregory. Zombies. Adolescent yearning to be ‘normal’ (whatever that is). Awesome writing.
April 22, 2013 — 7:25 AM
hippylostintime says:
Happy Birthday! I’d recommend anything by Tom Robbins … Skinny Legs and All, or Fierce Invalids Home from Hot Climates are my two favorites!
April 22, 2013 — 7:27 AM