Do You Read Bestsellers

[kaboom]

Even though I'm reading A LOT less than I used to ever since my SO moved in with me, i still read some and i must confess I will read a bestseller every now and then. I might even be accused of glancing over bestseller lists to see if something piques my interests. I do read older lit, both fiction and non-fiction.
I do make a conscious effort to read as much english as possible to keep my language skills sharp and my vocab current since I barely ever get a chance converse with native speakers anymore. As of lately i'm pretty hellbent on reading Wikipedia articles on all kinds of irrelevant crap. Quantum Chromodynamics and Internet Advertising were on last night, so at least i'm not only reading poorly-written, hopelessly sensationalist stuff on the most prominent bookstore shelves.

 

[freakiefrog]

My signature is my favorite quote. My books are, Poe, Dickens, Sinclair, Hawthorne, Hemingway. I like authors that I have to use my mind because the area's or time frame is so foreign to me that I have no reference to compare it too.

 

[blueeyedogre]

I have been slowly reading my way through Lee Child's "Jack Reacher" series, trying hard not to let Tom Cruise's adaptation of the book ruin it. I have also been rereading the David Eddings's fantasy series "The Tamuli" for the umpteenth time. David Eddings is one of my favorite authors but I also have a deep love of Shakespeare.

 

[griffonwing]

This may not be on the bestseller lists, but if you want a good read, check out The Stainless Steel Rat series by Harry Harrison.

 

[vfefrenzy]

@pipebaum81 Mistborn is on my to-read list.

 

[lochinvar]

With the exception of Robert B. Parker's (and now Ace Atkin's) Spenser books, no. I read anything Jim Harrison or Umberto Eco put out, but most of the guys that wrote what I read are dead.

 

[blueeyedogre]

The Stainless Steel Rat series by Harry Harrison.

God, I remember that series. Great pick!!

With the exception of Robert B. Parker's (and now Ace Atkin's) Spenser books

Mr. Parker's passing was a sad day. I enjoyed the Spencer series as well as the Jessie Stone and Sunny Randall books. The made for TV versions of Jessie Stone staring Tom Selleck and the Spencer A&E movies staring Joe Mantegna were quite good as well.

 

[newbroom]

I meant Parker when I wrote Patterson...how 'bout Vonnegut? Kesey? Wolfe?

 

[darthcider]

Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman, Lee Child are among my likes, plus numerous procedural work related stuff.

 

[crusher47]

Everything from Vince Flynn, most Stephen King up until about 1999

 

[indianafrank]

I'm not knocking best sellers, or the authors. The problem is that the publishers make them best sellers even before a book is sold. They use a print run number to promote a book as a best seller.
If the first run printing is 200,000 books, it may be touted as a best seller. However, if the books do not sell, and 175,000 become marked down remainders, in my opinion, it's not a best seller.
True best sellers are books that have many printings because of demand. Best sellers need to be dictated by the public s demand, and not what the publishers wish for.

 

[kcghost]

I could care what the publishers say. And I can guarantee you that no publisher currently in business is going to print 200,000 copies of a book without some idea it is going to sell. Printing the word "Best Seller" on the side of a book is meaningless. That is why what you invariably see on the book is "By the Best Selling Author".
I really enjoy many of the authors listed above. Currently I really like Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden series and am working on Ian Rankin's John Rebus books.

 

[dj11]

I am a huge History fan. I love David McCullough and have read all of his books. I tend to gravitate toward non-fiction "best sellers."

 

[cfreud]

Give me historical fiction sagas! Pipe plus kindle equals happy Freud.

 

[teufelhund]

Depends on the book... I might give it a try if it's sci-fi or fantasy. They're usually pretty good to beat out the suspense, mystery and dramas that usually dominate. This is generally true, but the crap that has been coming out the past 10 years or so has been largely disappointing. I blame Harry Potter. While they are great books and interesting; they opened the door to all this "tween" literature... Twilight, Hunger Games, Divergent, etc. it's all recycled drivel. I you're looking for a good sci-fi read I recommend Old Man's War by John Scalzi. There are a couple of books in the series now so plenty to read. He reminds me of Joe Haldeman; I really wish there was more 70's sci-fi out there.

 

[frank13]

I read some modern authors. I'm a great reader... I've literally donated truckloads of books to Goodwill, over the years, but I've been on a real classic kick, for the past few years.

 

[agnosticpipe]

The last "best seller" books I read were the Millennium Trilogy books by Stieg Larsson. Great plot, and interesting characters, and I'm just a sucker for women that kick ass!

 

[jarit]

Give me historical fiction sagas! Pipe plus kindle equals happy Freud.

(I'll link to GoodReads for the sake of convenience, I have no financial incentive for doing so)
I, Claudius and Claudius the God by Robert Graves are classics in historical fiction. Written in '30s I think. Really great books.
Another one of ancient Rome is Robert Harris' Cicero series. His Pompeii is a good read, too. And so are his war time detective books.
A like historical police procedure/detective/spy novels. Alan Furst has a great series of spy novels that take place in Europe during the WWII. Another good one is Bernie Gunther series that takes place in '30s Berlin by Philip Kerr. Same era, same region; David Downing's Station series is good read, as well.
Some other books of historical fiction I've enjoyed The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell, Mason and Dixon by Thomas Pynchon. Everything by Umberto Eco! How could I forget him.

 

[terrygoldman123]

Anyone ever read "Boy's Life" by Robt. McCammon?

 

[vfefrenzy]

@terrygoldman123 No, but I read "Boy's Life" the Cub Scout magazine.