You skipped 1492 DS. Thats the one where Columbus sails the ocean blue.

I'm reading 1Q84 now. Pretty good, but I've been a fan of Murakami since I read the Wind-up Bird Chronicles 5 years ago. Have since read Kafka on the Shore and Norwegian Wood, both of which were excellent.

I already read that ages ago, so I picked up the prequel and sequel.

As I near the end of the second book in my current series I wonder if I should move to the third book next or to a prequel I was unaware existed. Hmm

Finished Changes. *Spoiler*, things change. Knew it was coming, at the very least because of book titles, but damn.

On to Ghost Story. I'm interested to see where this goes, even if it is downhill, since the series just keeps going.

I have finished Red Seas Under Red Skies and now move on to Republic Of Thieves.

Yes, that's exactly the feeling. It's because of that that is very hard to keep the story interesting after that book.

If you like the Dresden Files (I know you like), try Monster Hunter by Larry Correia. It is almost as good. I tried the one with guy that escaped from hell (I don't remember the name now) too, but I didn't find it good enough to continue reading.

1Q84 is good for people who have time and are specific in how they spend it.

Still working on 'Republic of Thieves' but so far I've loved every book in the series.

Finished Ghost Story. Sort of called the ending. He's in too deep, of course it keeps going.

I need a Dresden break. On to Laundry Files 5 - The Rhesus Chart, followed by a couple of the LF short stories.

I may read Cloud Atlas after this.

Just read Earth (the book). Not really bad, but it doesn't hold a candle (or even a match) to America (the book).
I guess the Daily Show writers are just more accustomed to political satire? Maybe the lack of something to rail against undermined their writing? Maybe it's because this book is 80% pictures? In any case I'd recommend America (the book) but not it's sequel.

America (The Book) was actually pretty decent. I read it during my last deployment and found it way more enjoyable that I was expecting.

That is extremely vague. Care to explain?

Now I need a recommendation for a cerebral and introspective book after reading 2 action ones in a row. I definitively need a break from all that action.

I dropped my book in water the other day and I'm sad about it.

If you want a short, cerebral book, may I recommend Flatland: A romance of many dimensions? It's pretty much the planeswalker's guide to life in a 2-dimensional universe.

Been reading Sparrow Hill Road, and I highly do not recommend it. It's poorly done, despite being from an author I really enjoy.

~SE++

1Q84 is set in 1984. Its two protagonists are a man who is an aspiring writer that joins a scheme to win a major writing award by rewriting a young woman's surreal novel; the other protagonist is a stoic woman who is also an assassin that specifically targets men who abuse their spouses. The pacing is very, very slow, and I would not recommend it if you haven't read Murakami.

The book to check out, if you want to read Murakami, is Kafka on the Shore: it's not as slow, is still surreal, and remains very introspective. It has two protagonist: a young runaway that ends up hiding out in the country, and a man that for reasons unknown during WW2 ended up becoming a simpleton. It's considered his "best" book, I believe, though my personal favorite is The Wind-Up Bird Chronicles.

I don't know Muramaki. I only read 2 japanese authors: Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa, and Battle Royale by Takami Konshou. I liked both, but Muashi is a must read for everyone I believe. One of the best books I read, if not the best one.

Maybe I will try Kafka on the shore.

Wind-up Bird Chronicles, never heard about them, I read Wind-up Girl, a Nebula Award Winner, but it is not related.

Yeah I'm familiar with Paolo's work too. I liked Shipbreaker.