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[AlteredBeast]

I don`t know if you will like something sci-fi without a pscyh undertheme, but read Ender`s Game. After, read the rest of the books.

I read some books when I was a kid called
THe White Mountains
City of Gold and Lead
Pool of Fire

and the prequel When the Tripods Came.

I don`t know, maybe they are juvenile (I haven`t read them since I was like 10), but they rocked when I was younger.


Eric

EDIT- and anything from Kurt Vonnegut will put a smile on your face.

Breakfast of Champions was a great one for me.

 

[Matlock]

The Rum Diary

 

[Ecrofirt]

I don`t know if you will like something sci-fi without a pscyh undertheme, but read Ender`s Game. After, read the rest of the books.

I've been meaning to make a thread about looknig for more books like the Ender series.

I have a very hard time getting "into" books, but the Ender series has always held my interest very well. Unfortunately, I just finished the last book in the series and I've now got nothing to read. I'm looking for something with a similiar style that I'll be able to get into.

 

[Kung Fu Jedi]

I highly recommend Hyperion and The Fall of Hyperion by Dan Simmons.

 

[AlteredBeast]

they`re good ones, now read them and don`t ask alot of questions!

 

[Prospero]

I also have interest in Dante's Inferno, Paradise Lost, religion related books...GAH, I'm all over the place. If you like a book and you think I'll be interested in it, please suggest anything.

Ever read any James Morrow? He's a sci-fi satirist who has a strong religious bent (and who's really smart and really funny, without going over the top and being irreverent for the sake of shocking the reader). Look at Towing Jehovah, This is the Way the World Ends, or Only Begotten Daughter.

 

[Cosmic Bus]

I'd say I'll go for anything, but particularly pyschological/philosophy type of books. Currently these are some books in my list that I have been suggested I read:

Animal Farm
Fahrenheit 451
Lord of the Flies
Catch 22
Slaughterhouse-Five

I also have interest in Dante's Inferno, Paradise Lost, religion related books...

Some of José Saramago's work is right up your alley. Blindness (utterly brilliant) and The Gospel According to Jesus Christ would be excellent starters, and if you like those, his other novels are every bit as good: All the Names, The Stone Raft, The Year of the Death of Ricardo Reis... He's just incredible. I don't know that I've ever come across such perfectly written stories on the human condition, morality, religion, history, gah! There's no end to the praise I could heap upon this stuff.

Also:

Albert Camus' The Stranger and The Plague
Aldous Huxley's Brave New World

And just because I'm curious, you might look into Daniel Quinn's Ishmael. More than a few people insisted that it was the most amazing, life-altering book they'd ever read, but I didn't really get much from it. Give it a whirl; a pretty easy read, too, so you aren't invested for long.

 

[Duck of Death]

I really want some book suggestions. I wanted to check out 1984 and Animal Farm but they're checked out (probably for a class).

You should check out The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. It is similar to Brave New World and 1984, but arguably more entertaining. It's a quick read, and it is so good you'll probably finish it in a day or two.

 

[jetpacks was yes]

Woman in the Dunes, by Kobo Abe.

 

[ronito]

I'm amazed that with the philosophy and religion bent you have no ones brought up Dune by Frank Herbert. Read the first one (not the prequels). It's sci-fi but it's really very good. Since you brought up philosophy you have to try out something by Ayn Rand, just so you can say you've done it. Read Anthem by Ayn Rand and then be done with her. Dante's Divine Comdey (the whole thing, not just the Inferno) is really very good IF you have a taste for the classics. Oh and for pete's sake if you're into philosophy and phsycology read The Lord of the Flies (just re-read this a few months ago, it's still brilliant) and Conrad's "Heart of Darkness"

 

[White Man]

 

[way more]

I suggest the author Oliver Sacks whose books include accounts of those with neurological disorders; which suffer from Tourette's Syndrome except when operating, who can only see in black and white due to a car crash yet continue painting, and have lost the ability to create new memories since 1969.

Many more weirdos expertly studied with clear, lucid explanations of thier disorders as well as explorations into their personal lives.

 

[Cosmic Bus]

I suggest the author Oliver Sacks whose books include accounts of those with neurological disorders; which suffer from Tourette's Syndrome except when operating, who can only see in black and white due to a car crash yet continue painting, and have lost the ability to create new memories since 1969.

That sounds interesting. Does he have a collection available, or is each book devoted to a particular case?

 

[teh_pwn]

I'm taking advantage of my free time right now to study investing. I'm reading "The Millionaire Next Door." So far it's pretty obvious. The real rich people drive old reliable cars, live in modest homes and shop at walmart. The poor people that are up to their necks in debt drive new cars, live in large homes, and shop at expensive places.

After that I'll probably get another book specifically about smart investing. I plan on starting a Roth IRA this Fall or something.

In July I'm going to read Harry Potter 6. Damn good books.

I've read Animal Farm, Lord of the Flies, and Slaughterhouse-Five on your suggested list. Way back in early highschool or middle school. I honestly suck at remembering what they are about in detail, but I do remember liking Lord of the Flies.

 

[Escape Goat]

American Gods

 

[aparisi2274]

I would suggest all the Dan Brown Books. I read them all they are all exceptional reads. I would suggest reading them in this order:

 

[sans_pants]

the things they carried


really good vietnam read

 

[FnordChan]

Ever read any James Morrow? He's a sci-fi satirist who has a strong religious bent (and who's really smart and really funny, without going over the top and being irreverent for the sake of shocking the reader). Look at Towing Jehovah, This is the Way the World Ends, or Only Begotten Daughter.

Seconded, seconded, seconded. James Morrow is awesome. Hopefully The Last Witchfinder will be released before too much longer.

I also wholeheartedly support the notion of limiting your Ayn Rand to Anthem. If you've ever wanted to see someone debate Objectivism with the talking holographic head of Ayn Rand in a hurricaine lamp, read Sewer, Gas, Electric by Matt Ruff, which is a terribly amusing bit of SF satire. I should also pimp Ayn's wanton hijinx in the latest issue of Action Philosopher, available at fine comic book shops everywhere.

As for Oliver Sacks, I recommend Michael Nyman's chamber opera adaptation of The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat.

Finally, I'm currently reading The Count of Monte Christo (unabridged, of course; after all, I may find myself needing to kill a man with the book I'm reading at any given time) and the first Culture novel by Iain Banks, Consider Phlebas.

FnordChan

 

[Coin Return]

I found Battle Royale particularly interesting.

 

[Piecake]

Here are some excellent and extremely entertaining novels that should get you back into reading.


The Master and Margarita by Bulgakov. You can find more information here, and make sure you get this translation.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...102-7765967-6683325?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

A Hero of Our Time

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...6/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/102-7765967-6683325

Love in the Time of Cholera

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...6/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/102-7765967-6683325

The Wind-up Bird Chronicle

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...102-7765967-6683325?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

Oh, if you want a philosophical/psychological novels i suggest anything by Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Kafka, Mann and Camus. The mentioned authors are among my favorites, Dostoevsky being far and away my favorite author, so they are all highly recommended. Just dont start out with The Brothers Karamaov(favorite book), War and Peace, or The Magic Mountain because it is a good idea to get used to the author's style and ideas before tackeling his hardest works.

Also, for Russian lit, make sure you avoid Constance Garnett's translations, they suck, and get Pevear and Volokonsky's translations if you can

 

[White Man]

That sounds interesting. Does he have a collection available, or is each book devoted to a particular case?

An Anthropologist on Mars is a collection of 7 (I think) cases. That's the only book I've read by him. Pretty awesome stuff. If any of his other books are like this, I'll pick 'em up.

 

[100Bullets]

Scaner Darkly is awesome. As for none Dick stuff try American Psycho by Brett Easton Ellis.

 

[thomaser]

I'm halfway through Catch 22 now, and I'd really like to recommend it based on what I've read so far. It's confusing and insane and hilarious, much due to its screwed-up language, and its characters are simply outrageous. Actually, the fact that you're enjoying The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy makes me want to recommend Catch 22 even more, since I'm convinced that the latter book had to be a huge inspiration for Douglas Adams' love for irritating quarrels and silly, illogical wordplaying.

If you're interested in Dante's Divine Comedy, you need some kind of foundation first if you want to get something out of it. A knowledge of the Bible and classical literature (Homer, Vergil) is pretty much essential if you don't have a very thorough annotated version of the DC. Actually, I'd say it's essential anyway. You'd do well with reading up on medieval Florence too before diving into that book This probably sounds overly dramatic, since I'm sure tons of people have read and enjoyed the Divine Comedy without having all this other knowledge beforehand, but one thing is to enjoy it on the surface (in which case I'd just read the Inferno alone and forget about Purgatorio and Paradiso), another, and much more satisfying, is to get a meaningful reading-experience out of the incredible tangled web that lies below.

 

[way more]

Finally, I'm currently reading The Count of Monte Christo (unabridged, of course; after all, I may find myself needing to kill a man with the book I'm reading at any given time) and the first Culture novel by Iain Banks, Consider Phlebas.

Oh, and I read half of Count of Monte Cristo and just stopped. =/ I need get back to it.

Exact same thing here. Of all the classical literature I've read that is the most confusing: broken timelines, disguised chacters, and an ample cast.

The Man Who Mistook his Wife for a Hat and An Antropologist on Mars are each a collection of accounts/studies of various people and their disorders. Awakenings is Sacks personal story of what is was like treating people for a strange disease which put them into 50 year comas. It was made into a movie staring Robin Williams and he was renamed Dr. Sawyer. Also, Bill Murray's character in Royal Tenembaums is based on Oliver Sacks.

King Solomon's Ring by Konrad Lorenz is similar to Sacks but with animals. Instead of disorders he examines their behavior and theorizes what led to thier development. One chapter he concludes that wolves don't actually bite eachother when they fight because they know it would be detrimental to the pack, and that animals with claws will not use them against their own but creatures that create weapons (humans) do not have time to evolve a method of conflict resolution. Not all of the book is as deep but it is entirely interesting.

 

[Jdw40223]

I would suggest all the Dan Brown Books. I read them all they are all exceptional reads. I would suggest reading them in this order:

I second that!
or you can start on the the "Left Behind Series", that'll keep ya busy!

 

[Mama Smurf]

Please don't read Dan Brown. Stop the spread.

 

[tyguy20204]

Dan Brown is a hack.

 

[nitewulf]

you seem to be looking for deep sci-fi novels. this will serve you well. i actually havent finished it yet, just got up in some other novels, but there is no reason NOT to like it.

and a recent favorite, just beautiful aesthetics and a charming story. a must have.

 

[themadcowtipper]

 

[Dragona Akehi]

Romance of the Rose - interesting medieval text (bestseller of its day) that begins as a typical "par amour" allegory and then gets down and dirty with the clergy, politics and issues of the day.

 

[Arwen]

Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger and The Thief of Always by Clive Barker

 

[Gibbles]

Crime and Punishment by Dostojevskij, woohoo.

 

[White Man]

Somebody recommend something as compulsively fun and readable as Shadow of the Wind and The Club Dumas. I want a light but original occult thriller or mystery.

 

[nitewulf]

just go for altered carbon, i thought it was really good. sci-fi/noir.

 

[Alyssa Hu$tle]

I read the BEST book I have ever read recently, and what made it the best was the effect it had on me… it really touched my soul. If you are into philosophical/religious books, this one will be right up your alley (although it is not “religious” despite the title, in fact it takes a pretty harsh look at religion).

It’s called “Conversations with God” by Neale Donald Walsch.

It is about this dude who’s life wasn’t going very well. During times when he was angry with someone, he often used to write letters to them, usually to only disgard them in the bin without sending them.

This one day, he decided to write an angry letter to God about the state his life was in. Only when he finished and went to put down the pen, he felt his hand keep going not of his own choice, and God wrote back to him. And a conversation between them began.

Now maybe the dude was on drugs, maybe he was having a phychotic episode, maybe he just made the whole thing up. No less what is written is beautiful. He asks everything you could want to ask God, about love, money, relationships, why we are here etc. In parts it can be rather repetitive, and I found I had to re-read certain chapters to get a real grasp of what was being said. It is not a light read, but it is so fulfilling and inspiring.

Highly recommended. I would honestly have to say that with the effect this book had on my outlook on life, it would have to stand as the BEST book I have ever read.

 

[Manders]

please read catch 22. i love that book. i need to reread it actually.

 

[Saurus]

The Field: The Quest for the Secret Force of the Universe by Lynne McTaggart

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...104-3326785-8575165?v=glance&s=books&n=507846


Parallel Worlds: A Journey Through Creation, Higher Dimensions, and the Future of the Cosmos by Michio Kaku

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...104-3326785-8575165?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

 

[CrystalGemini]

Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger and The Thief of Always by Clive Barker

I second Catcher in the Rye and would like to add Bread Givers by Anzia Yezierska. It's (Bread Givers) is about a first generation girl born from an immigrant family that fights the culture of her parents (because it sucks O_O ). If you can relate to that kind of environment, you'll really like it.

(Don't judge this --^ book by it's cover :/ .....)

 

[woodchuck]

Dan Brown is a hack.

Reading his sentences can be quite confusing. With that said, his books are very entertaining and keep the reader hooked.

 

[FnordChan]

Somebody recommend something as compulsively fun and readable as Shadow of the Wind and The Club Dumas. I want a light but original occult thriller or mystery.

It's not quite what you're looking for, but I recently read and enjoyed Laurie King's A Darker Place, a stand alone mystery novel about a religion professor who is occasionally dragged in by the FBI to be a deep cover operative investigating religious sects. This is far more cult than occult, but it's a good read, and while the tone of the book is somewhat less than lighthearted it's not exactly a heavy read or anything. Recommended, even though it isn't the best of Laurie King's mysteries; cult aspect aside, I'd recommend the first novels in her two respective series, The Beekeeper's Apprentice (Holmes pastiche where everyone's favorite consulting detective takes a teenage girl, Mary Russell, under his wing; tremendous fun) and A Grave Talent (harsh proceedurals starring San Francisco police detective Kate Martinelli).

FnordChan

 

[Boogie]

Please don't read Dan Brown. Stop the spread.

Repeated for emphasis.

I'm halfway through Catch 22 now, and I'd really like to recommend it based on what I've read so far. It's confusing and insane and hilarious, much due to its screwed-up language, and its characters are simply outrageous. Actually, the fact that you're enjoying The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy makes me want to recommend Catch 22 even more, since I'm convinced that the latter book had to be a huge inspiration for Douglas Adams' love for irritating quarrels and silly, illogical wordplaying.

+1 Catch 22 love.

I read it last year. Struggled at first to get into it, but then I couldn't put it down. It's definitely on my top 10 favourite books list. I think I need to pick up my own copy of it, actually.