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.
Margo says:
Happy B-day! Hope there’s lots of cake.
My recent reads include:
The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao – Diaz
The Swerve – Greenblatt (non-fiction but fascinating) which led to Consolations of Philosophy by de Bouton
Train Dreams – Johnson
The Aubrey and Maturin tales (Master and Commander) if you enjoy historical fiction this series is delightful. Maturin is especially interesting and kind of creepy. It is high adventure, informative, fascinating, and makes me wonder how we survived as a species sometimes. Don’t start them unless you have time – 20 volumes in the series. They are addictive.
April 22, 2013 — 10:02 AM
Bubba Brill says:
On your birthday, you deserve to kick back and just enjoy the ride. So I would say something like Tom Robbins’ Skinny Legs and All would be a good choice.
April 22, 2013 — 10:05 AM
Dan Thompson says:
I remember when I turned 40. “Where’s my sports car? Where’s my mistress?”
Instead, I started writing again.
April 22, 2013 — 10:19 AM
Adam C. says:
Soon I Will Be Invincible by Austin Grossman. Brilliant take on superhero tropes.
April 22, 2013 — 10:30 AM
Mark says:
“Hell on Church Street” by Jake Hinkson. Amazing book.
April 22, 2013 — 10:38 AM
Rhys Dion Cole says:
Thirteen Reasons Why is a great book.
April 22, 2013 — 10:44 AM
Karoline Kingley says:
“The Book Thief” by Markus Zusac…if you haven’t read it already.
April 22, 2013 — 10:46 AM
archergal says:
Last night I started reading Jagannath, by Karin Tidbeck. Short stories that are strange and wonderful in the best possible ways. They’re not quite like anything else I’ve read recently.
And happy birthday! Long life, good health, love, and much successful writing to ya!
April 22, 2013 — 10:49 AM
Reay Jespersen says:
Happy birthday, good sir!
I just finished Killer – A Jack Rhodes Mystery, by Stephen Carpenter. Had a hard time putting it down.
April 22, 2013 — 10:53 AM
Anne says:
“Happy Hour at Casa Dracula” is quite possibly my favorite vampire book. http://www.amazon.com/Happy-Hour-at-Casa-Dracula/dp/1416531602. The copy I own has a different cover – much more goofy in keeping with the tone of the book. I have to admit the new cover disappoints me, as it looks like book porn. There’s a time and a place for book porn (yay!), but that’s not what this is. It’s a hilarious, witty, and sometimes quite silly take on vampires and conversion. It’s a fast read – I went through it in a day, laughing my ass off.
April 22, 2013 — 11:00 AM
Flavia C.O. (@Coguara) says:
Happy birthday to both of us then!
My latest favourite is “Mr.Penumbra’s 24-hour bookstore”, by Robin Sloan. Mind-churning.
http://www.robinsloan.com/penumbra/
April 22, 2013 — 11:04 AM
Emilie P. Bush says:
I sent a copy of “Above His Station” by Darren Craske to Jeremy Foshee and he said it was REALLY good. I just checked and it is a bargain on kindle – FREE for Prime.
ANY time I get a good recommendation on and INDY PUB book, I try to spread the good word. And JF said he loved it.
April 22, 2013 — 11:09 AM
Donna B. says:
Well Happy B-day. I would recommend The Thin Executioner by Darren Shan. It’s my favorite book by him and it’s got a lot of depth. Darren Shan writes a lot of good horror based fiction, he mostly write YA novels but personally I think The Thin Executioner is a great book for YA readers and adult readers.
April 22, 2013 — 11:22 AM
Derek Vigil says:
An awesome book that I’ve read recently is ‘I am the messenger’ by Mark Zusak.
It’s really great and put me on edge a few times.
Oh and happy birthday!
April 22, 2013 — 11:26 AM
Louloubell says:
Tenth of December by George Saunders is one I enjoyed recently.
Also, The Water Rat of Wanchai by Ian Hamilton (It may go under another title in the US, I’m not sure because I’m in Canada)
April 22, 2013 — 11:45 AM
Mike Oliveri says:
I’m reading American Death Songs by Jordan Harper. It’s a collection of short stories, and I’m digging them quite a bit.
April 22, 2013 — 11:47 AM
Richard Thomas says:
Matt Bell’s CATACLYSM BABY was one of my favorites of 2012.
April 22, 2013 — 11:48 AM
Paul Grignon says:
‘The Road’, by Cormac McCarthy, a fine laugh-a-minute ride, I must say. Seriously, though, a compelling book. Not so seriously, have a few drams of 18 year old scotch with your decadent double chocolate cake. Happy Birthday, Mr. Wendig. Cheers!
April 22, 2013 — 12:01 PM
D says:
Happy Birthday!
‘The Amazing Adventure of Kavalier and Clay’ by Michael Chabon.
April 22, 2013 — 12:17 PM
chelsearthompson says:
You’ve probably read it, but if you haven’t, Old Man’s War and The Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi. He’s so talented he should be illegal.
April 22, 2013 — 12:22 PM
Laila says:
I’m in the middle of Old Man’s War, I’m loving it! I’m gonna have to think of a different recommendation :-P.
April 22, 2013 — 12:53 PM
Craig Soffer says:
Many great suggestions, but I hope you will hear my small voice raised in the wilderness and treat yourself to Charles Yu’s “How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe.” Not a self-help book or a work of non-fiction; it’s a novel, and an awesome one.
April 22, 2013 — 12:25 PM
churnage says:
Ripped: How the Wired Generation Revolutionized Music. By Greg Kot.
Looks at how the megalithic record companies were taken down by the cyberpunks.
Happy Birthday!
April 22, 2013 — 12:27 PM
louisesor says:
Rare Traits. On Amazon. The disadvantages of being very long lived. Author’s very knowledgeable about painting. Long. Enjoyed it.
April 22, 2013 — 12:29 PM
louisesor says:
PS. Happy Birthday!
April 22, 2013 — 12:30 PM
Ahimsa says:
Happy Barfday! If you like Perdido Street Station, or Bladerunner, or both, Nina D’Aleo’s “The Last City” might just blow you away.
Lighter but just as good is Garrett Calcaterra’s “Dreamweilder,” a fantasy romp of much stomp.
April 22, 2013 — 12:55 PM
Troy L says:
A Storm of Swords by GRRM now and Crown of Ash by Steven Montano before that.
April 22, 2013 — 12:57 PM
John Boy says:
Daemon + Freedom by Daniel Suarez = you Ctrl+t and looking them up. These books are so good that I gave up smoking, drinking, coffee & sex. When my wife kicked me out for reading them over and over, all I took were these books. These books are so good, they fucking ruined my life, but did make me a better person….
April 22, 2013 — 1:00 PM
Reggie Lutz says:
Re-reading the Philosopher’s Apprentice by James Morrow. I would recommend any and all of his works.
http://www.sff.net/people/jim.morrow/
April 22, 2013 — 1:01 PM
jfbrown123 says:
I picked up a great little “grammar-grappler” book for $1 a few days ago. Been going through it avidly since. It’s titled “Woe Is I” by Patricia T. O’Conner, ISBN 0399141960 (published by Putnam’s in 1996).
April 22, 2013 — 1:31 PM
ergeller57 says:
If you desire to occupy your next decade with the best historical fiction ever written, start with Master and Commander by Patrick O’Brian and just keep reading all 22 books. Best thing I’ve ever read (twice, actually). If you commute at all (why would you, you write for a living), the audio books are first rate, as well. Enjoy your birthday.
April 22, 2013 — 1:36 PM
Jennifer Brozek says:
Happy birthday!
I recommend Paul Cornell’s LONDON FALLING. Supernatural procedural with flawed cops, a mystery that is linked to a football team’s curse and a lost queen of England. Also, there’s a talking dead cat. And, it’s not farce. It’s a really fast-paced, tension filled story.
April 22, 2013 — 1:44 PM
Brad Stover says:
I am right in the middle of The Crow Road by Iain Banks. Not exactly new, but it’s a great read so far. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Crow_Road
April 22, 2013 — 2:36 PM
sfummerton says:
I recommend “The Outliers” by Malcolm Gladwell. It is non-fiction as are his other books. I’d recommend anything written by this man. His other titles are “The Tipping Point”, “Blink”. and “What The Dog Saw”. His books will shift the way you look at the world.
MANY HAPPY RETURNS!!
April 22, 2013 — 2:37 PM
Liralen Li (@liralenli) says:
Happy happy birthday! I just read and liked Killing Floor by Lee Child. Tightly written thrillers are just fun, sometimes, and there’s lots and lots of plot twists and cool characters, sometimes far too capable, but I like it when he finally loses his cool…
April 22, 2013 — 2:41 PM
maribayo says:
A very Happy Birthday indeed, and Earth day as well. What a marvelous coincidence. Lol at no self-recommendations. How about “The Girl in a Swing” by Richard Adams? Suspense, shocking end, psychic powers that grow from latency in the main character, love and seduction, and an added bonus (at least for me) in that it’s by the same man who wrote Watership Down which has been my favorite novel since I was eight years old.
April 22, 2013 — 2:48 PM
kmalexander says:
I’m going to recommend “God’s War: Bel Dame Apocrypha Volume 1” by Kameron Hurley – the setting alone is aaaammmmazing. Probably one of the freshest sci-fi worlds I have read in years.
April 22, 2013 — 2:56 PM
Cari Hislop says:
Happy Birthday! I recommend Medieval Ghost Stories by Andrew Joynes. This a collection of ghost stories translated/transcribed from Medieval manuscripts from around Europe. Creepy and entertaining (and most of them only a few pages long).
April 22, 2013 — 3:14 PM
Jess Haines says:
Happy Birthday, Chuck! If you haven’t read it yet, this wasn’t a recent read for me, but John Dies at the End was awesome. Just saw the movie and unfortunately didn’t care for it that much, but the book was great.
<3,
-J
April 22, 2013 — 3:22 PM
Rob Ryder says:
Forget the book. You’re getting old. Go work out. We have many minds but only one body (I think my man Kungfucius said that.)
April 22, 2013 — 3:31 PM
Nana Prah says:
Happy Birthday. I know you are not a romance fan, but I loved Absolute Surrender by Georgia Lyn Hunter.
April 22, 2013 — 3:45 PM
Marie A says:
Happy birthday! If you haven’t read David Quammen’s “Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Pandemic,” well, now’s the time before bird flu gets us all. Lots of good material for the old noggin plus it’s a big book, so your money’s worth. Plus, egad! Bird flu! Run away!
On the other hand, bird flu! Better eat some cake now.
April 22, 2013 — 3:52 PM
joannehuspek says:
Read In A Perfect World by Laura Kasischke. Okay, it starts out like a chick’s book, but it’s very disturbing by the end. Very future world Armageddon.
April 22, 2013 — 3:58 PM
Sara Davies says:
“Oryx and Crake” by Margaret Atwood.
April 22, 2013 — 4:04 PM
tigs (@syzara) says:
Happy birthday!
As for book recommendations, I’ll recommend “Musicophilia” by Oliver Sacks. Because I love his style and his books are interesting reads. And because music is awesome and important.
April 22, 2013 — 4:07 PM
Steve Buchheit says:
Happy happy, Chuck. If you haven’t read “Ready Player One” by Ernest Cline, for those of us at a certain age it’s really excellent. Also good for those who aren’t.
April 22, 2013 — 4:08 PM
Steve C says:
Seconded.
April 22, 2013 — 5:48 PM
Daniel R. Davis says:
First, have a happy one. Middle ager here too at two score and two years.
A couple books I’ve read recently that I enjoyed:
Theft of Swords – Michael J. Sullivan
Just a fun fantasy novel. Snarky characters.
Thieftaker – DB Jackson
good historical urban fantasy set in 1765 Boston.
April 22, 2013 — 4:30 PM
mousyman says:
Happiest of Womb Exit Days!
I suggest:
Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up To Me by Richard Fariña
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
April 22, 2013 — 4:44 PM
Andrew Jack says:
Happy Beard Day! I highly recommend the Rivers Of London series by Ben Aaronovitch. Fun, funny urban fantasy from the POV of a British copper/deadpan snarker named Peter.
April 22, 2013 — 4:45 PM
kmactheknife says:
Hi Chuck,
Gladiator Girl by RH Watson is a great read. He’s a local author from my neck of the woods (Appleton, WI). The book is set in an alternate reality about female blood sports. You have such interesting topics such as rebirth and regeneration, combined with exciting girl on girl action (in more ways than one). See, you can’t resist.
Also, the Bret “The Hitman” Hart autobiography is a winner. I grew up watching professional wrestling and had to read it. Definitely an entertaining and honest self-portrayal by the wrestling legend himself.
Kind of wondering how much flak I’m going take from the blog readers on these two recommendations. Ha!
Happy Birthday
April 22, 2013 — 5:21 PM
Ken Preston says:
Sunset and Sawdust, by Joe R Lansdale. I mean, you may already have read that one, as I know you like Lansdale, but I’ve just recently read it, and I loved it.
Happy Birthday, by the way.
April 22, 2013 — 5:27 PM