Pixie

I finished Kafka on the Shore and loved it! I'm going to read Choke by Chuck Palahniuk next.

Welcome to the forum. I am a fantasy fan myself. Who are some of your favorite fantasy authors?

Wow! I wish I could help you with your choice, but you have such an excellent list I can't decide which one would be best. I would want to read all of them next.

Ray Bradbury: Something Not So Nice is Coming This Way (Something Wicked This Way Comes) Some Stories About Some People That Come From Mars (The Martian Chronicles) Charles Dickens: Mediocre Prospects (Great Expectations) That's all I can think of for the moment.

I know the basic story, having seen the Broadway play (twice). Plus, I own the soundtrack which I used to know by heart (I haven't listened to it a lot lately). I want to save the book for when I really have the time and peace of mind to really read it. My anxiety sometimes gets in the way of reading long, deep novels with my full attention. Once I do read it, I know it will be one that I cherish.

I know this feeling, Bookjumper. I am half way done with Kafka on the Shore and I can't express how much I love this book so far. If the author's other books are similar, I am going to be in new-author-to-adore-but-can't-afford-it-heaven(or hell, depending on your perspective).

Welcome to the forum.

Some good suggestions were already given. Another good one is A Soldier of the Great War by Mark Helprin, which I have read. It is one of my favorite books of all time.

Hello and welcome.

Orange crush

Ken Follett - The Poles of the Dirt

Heaven Taste - No Man

Welcome to the forum.

Title: This Alien Shore Author: C.S. Friedman Synopsis from Amazon: My thoughts: It is most difficult for me to review a book when I didn't love it, but also didn't hate it. This is one of those books. It started off well, hooking me in with two very interesting plot lines. However, it seemed to stretch out too long and would have been better in short story format. I did enjoy the ending, which was thought-provoking in terms of identity and consciousness. Unfortunately, the characters never came alive for me. There was potential there, and if it had been reached, this could have been a far superior novel. It was disappointing, because I got a feeling from the author's writing that she can develop characters realistically, but sacrificed their development for a long-winded plot. I would like to check out more by C.S. Friedman. My rating: 6/10 stars

I am about 50 pages in to Kafka on the Shore and so far I am LOVING it! Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood arrived today in the mail. I am a bit miffed. The seller described it as "like new" and the spine has tons of creases and is beginning to curve. I guess it's not too bad. I only paid a penny for it plus shipping.

I have this one on my bookshelf, but I keep putting it off because it is so long.

I have nothing to add except I agree with both of these.

I just finished This Alien Shore. Thoughts to come later. I will now be reading Kafka on the Shore.

I felt that same. While I was reading, I thought there was a potential for a great book, and that kept me going, but I felt disappointed when I finished it. I don't know quite how to explain. It was like the book wanted to be more then it was. That may be because I was expecting more than what was actually there because of all the positive reviews I had heard. I didn't hate the book. I just wasn't overcome with any emotion about it.

Getting near the end of This Alien Shore. I had the same kind of reaction to The Book Thief, kezlehan.

I have been reading over this thread and I am pleased to see a lot of mixed reactions to this writer. The next book I will be reading is Kafka on the Shore. It will be my first by Haruki Murakami. He seems to be an author you either love or hate. I have a feeling I am going to love his work, so I am rather excited about delving in and sharing my thoughts.

In a world where data is coin of the realm, and transmissions are guarded by no better sentinels than man-made codes and corruptible devices, there is no such thing as a secret. This Alien Shore by C.S. Friedman