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January, 2025

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I think harry potter ruined reading for me (books you're hooked on)

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appa
Posts: 2249 - Karma: 1,739
i can't get into books like i used to with this series. i've read the hobbit, lord of the rings, (currently reading) a game of thrones. i have enjoyed most books i've read since the hp series ended, but not with the same intensity. only other book i've ever been nearly as engrossed in is a clockwork orange.

what books have had you glued to the pages? with characters that you fell in love with, an intriguing storyline, or crazy deeper meaning unparalleled by another.

i want something that i can't easily take breaks from reading.

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Sep 13 2013 8:19PM
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SnowMiser
Posts: 801 - Karma: 3,150
Sweet thread. Call me a faggot but tue hunger games were a really addicting series \_(" ,)_/
Sep 13 2013 8:24PM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,403
harry potter isn't even a good book, it's a children's novel that lacks a LOT of the depth of more mature fantasy/scifi books

R.A. Salvatore is my favorite author, i highly suggest reading his forgotten relms series about Drizzt Do'urdan, the first one (in story order) being the dark elf trilogy

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There are 7 or 8 sub series total that are 3 - 5 books each making up the greater story. Characters/plot lines/past events stay constant through out, it's a very deep series to get into.

Sep 13 2013 8:28PM
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gotti
Posts: 4269 - Karma: 4,550
I loved a clockwork orange. Also ender's game and one flew over the cuckoo's nest were very gripping for me. I never read the harry potter series so I wouldn't know how they compare.
Sep 13 2013 8:30PM
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987321654hgfd
Posts: 5133 - Karma: 5,447
I tried reading Lord of the Rings and literally had to force myself to finish the first book. Agreed though I haven't been into any books like I was with the HP series.
Sep 13 2013 8:36PM
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Lick
Posts: 1927 - Karma: 518
faggot

lol jk, but i haven't seriously been into a series since like 7th grade... the Alex Rider series was unbelievable. like breaking bad in a book (as addicting, not the story)
Sep 13 2013 8:37PM
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GayWolf420
Posts: 37817 - Karma: 125,775
Books are for squares.
Sep 13 2013 8:38PM
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.MASSHOLE.
Posts: 7503 - Karma: 11,645
Game of Thrones. Easily.
Sep 13 2013 8:48PM
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mode2n
Posts: 2856 - Karma: 256
Yeah you got it. Harry Potter has zero depth, and don't even get me started about the Hunger Games. Literally the worse second and third books I have ever even attempted to read.

All of the D&D's series keeps me highly entertained, and I'm just starting about the 12th novel right now. There's lots of great books out there, not one day goes by when I don't pick up my book and just start reading to relax and what not.
Sep 13 2013 8:54PM
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spliff.Life
Posts: 7847 - Karma: 1,544
I really liked LOTR, i read both the first 4? HP and lotr in elementary school but i definitely like lotr a lot more especially now that im older and have rethought about it also, hp is a cool story but also just doesnt pull me in quite the same way frodo's journey does

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The Electric Kool Aid Acid Test pulled me immensely, something about a story about these freaks doing nothing but parading around searching for some sort of truth that they all know cant be found is very intriguing to me

[IMG]http://therebewords.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/on_the_road_book_cover.jpg[IMG]
On the Road of coarse, who could not want to know about the original hipsters adventures  


Sep 13 2013 9:21PM
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RimJobber
Posts: 3313 - Karma: 10,058
Anyone remember those books from like elementary and middle school of the animals? The Redwall series. Those were my shit. They were like medieval, lord of the rings type books meets animals. And there were like 20 of them. I spent so much time reading those and after I finished those I was so disappoint because it took me a while to start liking books again because they weren't as good.
Sep 13 2013 9:22PM
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appa
Posts: 2249 - Karma: 1,739
fellowship is boring until they get to rivendell pretty much except for the first ringwraith encounter, meeting strider, and also tom bombadill. definitely going to reread lotr.
Sep 13 2013 9:22PM
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CaptainObvious.
Posts: 5712 - Karma: 20,639
I knew when I clicked I would encounter dipshit hipsters. "Harry Potter isn't even good. Grow up and read the books I read."
Sep 13 2013 9:30PM
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DGski
Posts: 3491 - Karma: 2,328
Pendragon and Series of unfortunate events were my favorite series back in elementary (and obviously HP)
I liked Hunger games but it was just so poorly written and cheesy, but that might be because i read them in high school
Sep 13 2013 9:43PM
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Petey.
Posts: 5736 - Karma: 4,890
Anything from Dan Brown is fantastic writing
Sep 13 2013 10:09PM
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j-bo
Posts: 347 - Karma: 329
The Sisters Brothers- Patrick DeWitt.
Sep 13 2013 11:07PM
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chickenonabun
Posts: 461 - Karma: 285
The Pendragon Series is really good, good shit right there sonny.
Sep 13 2013 11:07PM
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.Rybak.
Posts: 9017 - Karma: 9,864
What dreams may come was actually a really good book. I also like the maze runner series.
Sep 13 2013 11:15PM
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wasatch_rat
Posts: 1772 - Karma: 2,952
a song of ice and fire is amazing. if that fat bastard george rr martin dies before he finishes the series i'll be so mad it'd be the most fitting fuck you to all his fans since the red wedding.

enders game was addicting. dune is weird but if you suspend your disbelief its pretty good. life of pi is a fun fast read. 1984 is scary and really good. also, its been said, but the hobbit and lotr are fantastic, especially the last two. i still liked the fellowship though.
Sep 13 2013 11:38PM
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Mr.LemonPie
Posts: 4100 - Karma: 1,625
Harry Potter is special because it is an incredible book at a young adult reading level. There aren't many other books that are so engrossing that can be comprehended and read so quickly.

I'm not saying you're a bad reader or anything, but I used to be the same way. Now, I go back through my high school reading lists to get the most relevant classics and look on book forums to find new books and learn about new authors.

I started by reading one hard book while I read an easy series. I like Artemis Fowl, The Hunger Games, The Inheritance Trilogy, and all sorts of other YA series because they are generally entertaining and easy to read. Then I'd pick something that would be a little harder to comprehend or a bit tougher to get through, either a non fiction or a book like Jane Eyre. Seriously just pick a book you hated in high school and force yourself to read it again. Everything is better the second time you read it and if you want to like more books, you have to learn to read books you don't like.
Sep 13 2013 11:42PM
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Bogs
Posts: 4296 - Karma: 1,361
hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

good one
Sep 13 2013 11:44PM
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Bogs
Posts: 4296 - Karma: 1,361
There are enough great books out there that you really shouldn't waste time reading something you don't enjoy. There's no way you'll read enough in your life to get through every book you like.

Unless by "don't like" you meant that book you didn't really try reading in high school because at the time you preferred to think about the pretty girl who sat in front of you in class who smiled at you that one time. In which case, I agree.
Sep 13 2013 11:47PM
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Caleb.E
Posts: 3556 - Karma: 1,015
Im right with you, as a young child i literly read the time by until the next harry potter book came out, now adays.. im just depressed when i look at them collectng dust on my shelf I QUIT READING
Sep 13 2013 11:48PM
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appa
Posts: 2249 - Karma: 1,739
i'll be damned if i pick up grapes of wrath for a round 2.... but maybe.
Sep 13 2013 11:49PM
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spliff.Life
Posts: 7847 - Karma: 1,544
hahah i was pretty damn uninterested in that in high school when we had to read it, and catcher in the rye but less so, which i read again and liked a lot, and looking back i appreciate the grapes of wrath more now that ive mentally matured a lil bit
Sep 14 2013 12:51AM
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JAHpow
Posts: 7282 - Karma: 17,183
Lately I've been engrossed in Tolkien and his works. I read The Lord of the Rings series first and the amount of detail and his description of places and people is incredible. I read next The Silmarilion which is the beginning of everything for Middle Earth and it's simply brilliant and beautiful. Right now I'm finishing up The Hobbit and love it though it seems to be centered towards a younger reader.
Sep 14 2013 1:00AM
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Bagina
Posts: 849 - Karma: 2,888
Enders Game.
Sep 14 2013 1:05AM
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chicken
Posts: 6843 - Karma: 2,121
waht the gull. moron
Sep 14 2013 1:12AM
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chicken
Posts: 6843 - Karma: 2,121
what the fuck,
Sep 14 2013 1:12AM
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Obi-Wan-Jenobi
Posts: 951 - Karma: 119
Harry potter for sure, but i really liked artemis fowl when i was younger, i also love the inheritance cycle.
Sep 14 2013 1:27AM
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MothaHucker
Posts: 4678 - Karma: 2,591
touching spirit bear, read it as a kid and still my favorite book lol
Sep 14 2013 1:30AM
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prometheusprime
Posts: 735 - Karma: 677
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and Borderliners are the past two books I've read. I'd highly recommend both.
Sep 14 2013 1:45AM
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Schlutz
Posts: 858 - Karma: 425
I can't say it enough, the Ender's Game Series was fantastic. This was one of the first books that I really kept thinking about even when I was't reading. I really feel like reading it again now, actually.
Sep 14 2013 1:55AM
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Barefootin_Fiend
Posts: 7618 - Karma: 4,727
SERIOUSLY!! That fat fucking bastard needs to get the fuck on with books six and seven. I shouldn't have to wait a fucking decade in between books!! WTF?!?

I haven't had a series captivate me like ASOIF...damn near ever....
Sep 14 2013 1:57AM
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Jeebus.
Posts: 4904 - Karma: 5,823
Coincidentally, i ordered this book online less than two hours ago, cant wait to get it. I hate reading but ive been told time and time again to read this book, so im pretty stoked. Glad you posted this!
Sep 14 2013 2:09AM
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Cleapster
Posts: 622 - Karma: 1,402
Those books were aewsome. i read them so much.
Sep 14 2013 2:48AM
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appa
Posts: 2249 - Karma: 1,739
i tried reading the silmarillion. it got way too much like a history book and there were just way too many elves to keep track of with names i had a hard time trying to pronounce. i've got it bookmarked though and will probably pick it back up at some point.
Sep 14 2013 3:34AM
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Bart.Man
Posts: 1742 - Karma: 1,952
Two words: The Enderverse.

If you read Ender's game and stopped there, I pity your soul. A total of about 46 works, and I'm on my fifth novel. So gripping, and the more you get into the story the more you want to know. Read it, children.
Sep 14 2013 3:50AM
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Mr.LemonPie
Posts: 4100 - Karma: 1,625
Shit man Grapes of Wrath is one of my favorites. Try Of Mice and Men, still Steinbeck but a bit shorter, faster and more entertaining read than Grapes of Wrath. There is one specific chapter in Of Mice and Men that is just so heavy and you get such a crazy connection to the characters its unreal. Such a great book.
Sep 14 2013 5:49AM
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BLADEE
Posts: 1017 - Karma: 778
I read the hobbit and liked it quite a bit. I then tried reading lord of the rings and wasn't able to get into like I was the hobbit.
Sep 14 2013 9:45AM
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ThundaKilla
Posts: 2859 - Karma: 3,781
I loved those books and the guardians of gahole (sp?) with the owls. Think they made it into a movie recently.
Sep 14 2013 9:50AM
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Willgum
Posts: 3254 - Karma: 3,066
OP I recommend you read the Pendragon series. It's easy to get into (Like HP), is science fiction(like HP), and I think it has around 7 books(Like HP), and it keeps you very engaged. Character development decent too.

Its a young adult series, and I read it as a 14-16 year old but I still think older teens/ 20s will dig it



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Sep 14 2013 10:58AM
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JAHpow
Posts: 7282 - Karma: 17,183
You do have a point with the names. There are a ton to keep track of and many people in the book have several different names.
Sep 14 2013 11:28AM
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RudyGarmisch
Posts: 25443 - Karma: 13,844
This! Read it before the movie potentially spoils it.
Sep 14 2013 11:29AM
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jfxphoto
Posts: 2038 - Karma: 2,346
Dude Game of Thrones is so engrossing.
Sep 14 2013 11:40AM
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Black-Bandanna
Posts: 6680 - Karma: 1,603
The Redwall series was what got me into reading. I still love picking them up from time to time. My favorite by far is the Legend of Luke.
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A couple others that really pulled me in and I couldn't put down were the Hound of the Baskerville's, the Lair of the White Worm, the Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, anything by Lovecraft or Poe, and the Hobbit.

Sep 14 2013 12:00PM
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Black-Bandanna
Posts: 6680 - Karma: 1,603
I also love Jack London's stories.
Sep 14 2013 12:02PM
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appa
Posts: 2249 - Karma: 1,739
i read pendragon in elementary school but lost interest after the 5th book or so.
Sep 14 2013 12:46PM
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NE.
Posts: 234 - Karma: 428
I really liked these books for a while, but after a few I caught up to the publishing rate, and completely lost interest. Not sure why.
Sep 14 2013 12:47PM
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BikeMlatt69
Posts: 1947 - Karma: 60
threads. Currently making my way through Walden by Thoreau, and Khaled Hosseini's new book. Kite Runner is good same with a Thousand Splendid Suns.
Sep 14 2013 2:17PM
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Petey.
Posts: 5736 - Karma: 4,890
Grasping at straws, are we?
Sep 14 2013 5:26PM
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