Casual Reading
Posted by drpezz on November 8, 2009
When students ask me what I do outside of school, I tell them that “I read Shakespeare and study the dictionary.” Of course, they believe me until I tell them I’m just kidding.
However, I do throw the books I read up on the book shelves in my classroom for them to read. I go through reading phases, but science fiction dominates my stacks. Ben Bova, Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov, Peter F. Hamilton, and James F. David among others rest on the shelves waiting for a student to wake them up.
Recently, I’ve been drawn to mysteries and adventure stories. Here are a few of the writers I’ve sampled in the last few years:
- Matthew Reilly (straight action adventure)
- Raymond Khoury (mysteries delving into the mystical)
- James Rollins (adventure with some fantastic elements)
- Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child (mysteries with some mysticism and science fiction elements)
- AJ Hartley (historical mysteries)
- David Stone (harsh intelligence mysteries)
I wonder what my next series of authors will be. 
Ryan said
Based on what you’ve got, I recommend that you look at China Mieville’s Bas Lag texts, starting with Perdido Street Station, Jack Vance’s Tales of a Dying Earth books, or else Gene Wolfes Book of the New Sun.
Jim Van Pelt said
You might try James Van Pelt. I hear he’s pretty good. *g*
Jim Van Pelt said
Hi, Doc. Speaking of reading, my blog entry for our district’s web site talked about a related issue. Our department has been discussion Kelly Gallagher’s book, Readicide, which provoked the entry. I’ve posted a copy of it at http://jimvanpelt.livejournal.com/233742.html
drpezz said
Thanks for the book titles, and I will check out your posted copy, JVP. Thanks to you both!