So I didn't get the book suggestions in time for my most recent visit to the bookstore, but I'll check out all suggestions next time. anyway, i ended up getting three books:
Pattern Recognition by William Gibson
War for the Oaks by Emma Bull
Nymphomation by Jeff Noon

War for the Oaks was really good, reminscent of Neil Gaiman. Fairies and good versus evil and rock and roll. A lot of books fail to deliver when describing an amazing fictional band, but not in this case. Also, when I read a really good book, I try to think of how I would turn it into a movie, and who I would cast. I think it'd be a good movie but you'd have to make some pretty awesome songs for the band to play. Also, it would be difficult to make the transition from page to screen when doing the effects in the final battle.

Nymphomation was also pretty good. I read Noon's Vurt back in ninth grade (almost a decade ago!) and it was probably the best book I read that year. It fucked with my head and made me feel like I was taking mind-altering drugs just by reading it. I don't know if that had anything to do with my chemically imbalanced adolescent mind or what, but nevertheless, it became one of my favorite books. Since then, all of Noon's books have been somewhat of a disappointment because they don't have the same effect. Anyway, this was still a good book, kind of a prequel to Vurt, explaining the origins of vaz and the vurt feathers.

Haven't started Pattern Recognition yet. I'm eager to read it because in the past year I've really gotten back into Gibson, re-reading Burning Chrome and Neuromancer. Also, it's his first present day novel. Have you ever known you were going to love something before you even saw or heard it? For example, a movie or album? That's how I feel about Camera Obscura.

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