I've had a little trouble setting my mind on specific books lately. I'm open to pretty much anything, fiction and nonfiction. I'm not big on sci-fi though. I've had a few recommendations here and there, but I'm wondering if there's anything I shouldn't miss and maybe give these priority. Any suggestions?
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I just recently started reading. Books. Any must-reads?
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Find your niche. Recommendations are great, but sometimes it's great to walk in to a bookstore and just walk out with something random that seemed interesting to you.
At the moment, I'm reading:
The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky (classic-fiction)
Power Up by Chris Kohler (gaming-nonfic)
Genius: The Life and Science of Richard Feynman by James Gleick (bio-nonfic)
At the moment, I'm reading:
The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky (classic-fiction)
Power Up by Chris Kohler (gaming-nonfic)
Genius: The Life and Science of Richard Feynman by James Gleick (bio-nonfic)
Particle Physicist
between a quark and a baryon
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...97/sr=2-2/ref=pd_ka_b_2_2/104-3235390-4393529
this is one of the best books i have ever read.
this is one of the best books i have ever read.
IAmtheFMan
Member
If you swing a little to the left (politically that is 
) check out Dan Savage's books. He's a writer for Salon.com, and he has a really good style without ever coming off as preachy or condescending.
My favorite of his is "Skipping towards Gommorah;" a play off of a title of a book written by conservative wunderman, Robert Bork. in that book, "Slouching Towards Gomorrah" Bork describes how our society is going to hell thanks in large part to liberal influence, and how we are coming closer to the seven deadly sins in our every day life.
What Savage did was embrace this ideology, and attempted to perform every single deadly sin, first individually and then in a culmination of a 48 hour weekend binge of every single one. It's pretty damn funny.
) check out Dan Savage's books. He's a writer for Salon.com, and he has a really good style without ever coming off as preachy or condescending. My favorite of his is "Skipping towards Gommorah;" a play off of a title of a book written by conservative wunderman, Robert Bork. in that book, "Slouching Towards Gomorrah" Bork describes how our society is going to hell thanks in large part to liberal influence, and how we are coming closer to the seven deadly sins in our every day life.
What Savage did was embrace this ideology, and attempted to perform every single deadly sin, first individually and then in a culmination of a 48 hour weekend binge of every single one. It's pretty damn funny.
If you are politically minded I would suggest Economic Democracy. It is a vastly comprehensive detailing of the intertwining of 20th century politics and economics and traces the roots of neo-liberalism (i.e. globalisation) back to the mercantilist trade policies of the 15th-17th centuries and the middle-ages before it. The book outlines the costly practices of modern neo-liberalism for the third world as well as the measures taken by the imperialist powers to enforce and maintain the status quo while offering viable alternatives to the current neo-liberal agenda. Highly suggested reading for anyone even remotely interested in history, politics and economics.
APerfectCircle
Member
I've been reading the Magicial ^^^ lastely n it' ok, if your looking for fantasy i'd say go for Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time. that along with harry potter would be the two best fantasy series i've read... HP is a much lighter read
2nd this. Awesome Book.lockii said:
If you're going to be reading Fantasy (which the above book is) I would Definetely recommend
the best fantasy series to come out in a long time. This is the first book of the series (which is called A Song of Ice and Fire). You should definetely try to read this book, it is superb.
If I could recommend only one book to anyone, it would be Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrel. It involves magic, but uses a historically accurate setting (around Napoleon's time), and the author pulls it off very well.
The Flashman series by George MacDonald Fraser is a bunch of fun. It's the adventures of an English soldier during the heyday of the empire. He lies, cheats, flees, and rogers his way to glory. If you're looking for an entertaining and easy read, it's a good place to start.
The Easy Rawlins mysteries by Walter Mosley (Bill Clinton's favorite thriller writer) are good. The first in the series is Devil in a Blue Dress, which was turned into a Denzel Washington vehicle.
Finally, The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists is very short and very silly. If you don't mind getting a book that will take a couple hours to breeze through, it's worth it.
rareside: You ever read "Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!"? My dad has an old copy which I keep meaning to borrow.
The Flashman series by George MacDonald Fraser is a bunch of fun. It's the adventures of an English soldier during the heyday of the empire. He lies, cheats, flees, and rogers his way to glory. If you're looking for an entertaining and easy read, it's a good place to start.
The Easy Rawlins mysteries by Walter Mosley (Bill Clinton's favorite thriller writer) are good. The first in the series is Devil in a Blue Dress, which was turned into a Denzel Washington vehicle.
Finally, The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists is very short and very silly. If you don't mind getting a book that will take a couple hours to breeze through, it's worth it.
rareside: You ever read "Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!"? My dad has an old copy which I keep meaning to borrow.
Kuro Madoushi
Unconfirmed Member
lockii said:
Hell yeah! Another Raymond E. Feist fan! I recommend all the books written by him and none of his collaborations!
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is one of the most important books written in the past 50 years. The Sun Also Rises is probably the equal of that for the 50 years previous.
Whenever I get done with it, the most important book of the next 50 years will be The Sun Also Sets on Las Vegas, and I'm O.K. With That But You're Not. If I don't drink myself to death before I get done with it.
Whenever I get done with it, the most important book of the next 50 years will be The Sun Also Sets on Las Vegas, and I'm O.K. With That But You're Not. If I don't drink myself to death before I get done with it.
The Little Prince by François de St-Exupéry. It's a book a child, a man and an old dude can like, it's timeless. And it's the most popular, best-selling french book ever, let me tell you, it's not for nothing.
If you like phylosophy, well most tend to be negative. I found french philosophers to be better to that point, so I'd recommand Descartes, Pascal, but most of all Montaigne. Recently I read some Montaigne essays (really heart-warming), and then it rang a bell. I looked at my first grade of elementary school book, and it was the same essay about friendship, from Montaigne!
There's also Albert Camus, go read The Stranger, and The Plague. I read the original french novels and then the english translations, they are good, but a little too much poetic IMHO.
If you like phylosophy, well most tend to be negative. I found french philosophers to be better to that point, so I'd recommand Descartes, Pascal, but most of all Montaigne. Recently I read some Montaigne essays (really heart-warming), and then it rang a bell. I looked at my first grade of elementary school book, and it was the same essay about friendship, from Montaigne!
There's also Albert Camus, go read The Stranger, and The Plague. I read the original french novels and then the english translations, they are good, but a little too much poetic IMHO.
F
Folder
Unconfirmed Member
Less than Zero - Bret Easton Ellis
Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
Maribou Stalk Nightmares - Irvine Welsh
Three books that reaal rocked me.
Catch 22 changed my life in the best way possible.
Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
Maribou Stalk Nightmares - Irvine Welsh
Three books that reaal rocked me.
Catch 22 changed my life in the best way possible.
Do The Mario
Unconfirmed Member
Wheres Wally is a good book, and its squeals.
Especially for those that just started reading.
Especially for those that just started reading.
Tommie Hu$tle
Member
I would start with Dick and Jane if you just started reading then move up to the Invisible Man.
BooM235689
Member
all of tom claney's books are great (they also have nice quotes)
Manabanana
Member
Chuck Palahniuk, but not Diary.
fantastic story. here's a link to the translated / illustrated version:Jotaro said:The Little Prince by François de St-Exupéry. It's a book a child, a man and an old dude can like, it's timeless. And it's the most popular, best-selling french book ever, let me tell you, it's not for nothing.
http://www.angelfire.com/hi/littleprince/frames.html
Musashi Wins!
FLAWLESS VICTOLY!
Raoul Duke said:
That sounds good. Hurry up.
Mama Smurf
My penis is still intact.
I wouldn't really feel qualified to tell you the best books in all genres, so i'll just stick to fantasy as I have a decently large knowledge of it.
As for the books mentioned in this thread:
Harry Potter - Great books, highly recommended. Probably not a bad place to start reading. They're easy to read, but still have good stories, and the size of the books increases with each entry, so you don't feel liek you're jumping in the deep end.
The Magician - I've yet to read it.
The Wheel of Time series - I still think the first 4 books (maybe the first 6) are great, if a bit unoriginal (not that that would be a problem for you, as you haven't read other books like it to see that), but after that...well it still has its moments, and I can't not buy the books when they come out as I need to know how this story ends, but it wouldn't be my first choice. The last book was awful. Wait until the series is finished, take out from a library.
A Game of Thrones - This is a wonderful book and is right up there at the height of the genre. It's probably not an ideal starting place for you like Harry Potter is, but it's not going to be that hard to read. Only problem is, it's the start of a series (A Song of Ice and Fire) which we're 3 books into (the fourth will probably turn up this year) with 3 or maybe 4 to go. I can't see it being lessthan 5 years until the series is done, it could well be even more. You have to decide if you're ok with that, or if you'd prefer to read complete stories.
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrel - Don't start with this. There are a lot of small details here and I don't think you'd enjoy it as you're getting into reading. Maybe in a few years pick it up. I think it's a decent book, and occassionaly there are some great ideas, but I feel it's overrated. It's just missing something throughout that turns it into the great book it's touted as. Though I did recently find out there will be a sequel (not a strict sequel, but set in the same world with some of the same characters popping up), which actually improves the book in my eyes. If it was a complete story, it wouldn't be great, but as a set up to other stories, I think it's pretty damn good.
As for my own choices, I'd say maybe look at the Discworld novels by Terry Pratchett. there are lots of them, but most can be read stand alone even if they often share characters. They're funny books, I guess in the fantasy genre though it's not really the same, and great reads.
If you see them, definitely read: Mort, Small Gods (my favourite), Lords and Ladies, Feet of Clay, Hogfather, The Last Continent and Thief of Time.
I wouldn't recommend: Monstrous Regiment or The Wee Free Men.
Any others you see are fine, I'd just choose those ones I've lisetd over them if you have a choice.
There's also a series called The Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson. There are five books so far in a ten book series (hey guys, the new one has been delayed until next February! Yey! *cries*), but even though he (generally) gets them out quickly, I wouldn't read them yet if I was you. I just don't think you could get into them yet. Hell, I know people who've been reading fantasy for years and got completely lost during the first half of Gardens of the Moon (the first book). Eventually though, if you find you like the genre, definitely check the series out, it's right up there with A Song of Ice and Fire (mentioned above). Same goes for Scott Bakker's Prince of Nothing series.
Almost forgot The Dark Tower series by Stephen King. It's not horror, despite the author. It's pretty good, but the guy just drives me insane. He'll write something wonderful, something truly original, and then he'll follow it up with the stupidest crap. Also, like all King books, the ending is weaker than the build up. Your choice this one, you could read it straight off I'm sure and it's a completed series so you won't be waiting for the books.
EDIT: I'll add my recommendations from other genres anyway.
The Stand by Stephen King. God I love this book (yes, despite the weak ending). It's not really horror though it has some elements of it. This is a HUGE book though, I'd start with something lighter.
Life of Pi by Yann Martel. Ridiculously well written, a story of someone's youth that'll leave you guessing. Not nearly as long as most of the books here.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon. Great title. I wouldn't buy this book, wait until it's in libraries (if it isn't already) as it's short and I'm not sure you'd want to keep reading it.
If White Man wanders into this thread, could you tell me the name of that book you read once a year? I remmeber looking it up when you mentioned it and it sounded great, but now that I want to pick it up, I can't remember what it's called.
As for the books mentioned in this thread:
Harry Potter - Great books, highly recommended. Probably not a bad place to start reading. They're easy to read, but still have good stories, and the size of the books increases with each entry, so you don't feel liek you're jumping in the deep end.
The Magician - I've yet to read it.
The Wheel of Time series - I still think the first 4 books (maybe the first 6) are great, if a bit unoriginal (not that that would be a problem for you, as you haven't read other books like it to see that), but after that...well it still has its moments, and I can't not buy the books when they come out as I need to know how this story ends, but it wouldn't be my first choice. The last book was awful. Wait until the series is finished, take out from a library.
A Game of Thrones - This is a wonderful book and is right up there at the height of the genre. It's probably not an ideal starting place for you like Harry Potter is, but it's not going to be that hard to read. Only problem is, it's the start of a series (A Song of Ice and Fire) which we're 3 books into (the fourth will probably turn up this year) with 3 or maybe 4 to go. I can't see it being lessthan 5 years until the series is done, it could well be even more. You have to decide if you're ok with that, or if you'd prefer to read complete stories.
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrel - Don't start with this. There are a lot of small details here and I don't think you'd enjoy it as you're getting into reading. Maybe in a few years pick it up. I think it's a decent book, and occassionaly there are some great ideas, but I feel it's overrated. It's just missing something throughout that turns it into the great book it's touted as. Though I did recently find out there will be a sequel (not a strict sequel, but set in the same world with some of the same characters popping up), which actually improves the book in my eyes. If it was a complete story, it wouldn't be great, but as a set up to other stories, I think it's pretty damn good.
As for my own choices, I'd say maybe look at the Discworld novels by Terry Pratchett. there are lots of them, but most can be read stand alone even if they often share characters. They're funny books, I guess in the fantasy genre though it's not really the same, and great reads.
If you see them, definitely read: Mort, Small Gods (my favourite), Lords and Ladies, Feet of Clay, Hogfather, The Last Continent and Thief of Time.
I wouldn't recommend: Monstrous Regiment or The Wee Free Men.
Any others you see are fine, I'd just choose those ones I've lisetd over them if you have a choice.
There's also a series called The Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson. There are five books so far in a ten book series (hey guys, the new one has been delayed until next February! Yey! *cries*), but even though he (generally) gets them out quickly, I wouldn't read them yet if I was you. I just don't think you could get into them yet. Hell, I know people who've been reading fantasy for years and got completely lost during the first half of Gardens of the Moon (the first book). Eventually though, if you find you like the genre, definitely check the series out, it's right up there with A Song of Ice and Fire (mentioned above). Same goes for Scott Bakker's Prince of Nothing series.
Almost forgot The Dark Tower series by Stephen King. It's not horror, despite the author. It's pretty good, but the guy just drives me insane. He'll write something wonderful, something truly original, and then he'll follow it up with the stupidest crap. Also, like all King books, the ending is weaker than the build up. Your choice this one, you could read it straight off I'm sure and it's a completed series so you won't be waiting for the books.
EDIT: I'll add my recommendations from other genres anyway.
The Stand by Stephen King. God I love this book (yes, despite the weak ending). It's not really horror though it has some elements of it. This is a HUGE book though, I'd start with something lighter.
Life of Pi by Yann Martel. Ridiculously well written, a story of someone's youth that'll leave you guessing. Not nearly as long as most of the books here.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon. Great title. I wouldn't buy this book, wait until it's in libraries (if it isn't already) as it's short and I'm not sure you'd want to keep reading it.
If White Man wanders into this thread, could you tell me the name of that book you read once a year? I remmeber looking it up when you mentioned it and it sounded great, but now that I want to pick it up, I can't remember what it's called.
I second Empire of the Ants and Catcher in the Rye, and add my own:
Rule of the Bone - starts out great, really great. The second half kind of has it's "suspend your disbelief" moments, but an engaging read none the less.
I almost forgot about Bridge on the River Drina It's a work of fiction but based around actual historical event in Bosnia, it was initialy published in 1945 but wasn't publish abroad until 1959, the author won a Nobel Prize in 1961 largely due to this book.
Rule of the Bone - starts out great, really great. The second half kind of has it's "suspend your disbelief" moments, but an engaging read none the less.
I almost forgot about Bridge on the River Drina It's a work of fiction but based around actual historical event in Bosnia, it was initialy published in 1945 but wasn't publish abroad until 1959, the author won a Nobel Prize in 1961 largely due to this book.
Catch 22 is a must for everyone.
Enders Game from Orson Scott Card is a good book to start out on as well. The younger you are, the more you will relate to Ender. If you like it, get the Worthing Saga from Card. That is pretty much all he has done that is worth paying for, but I loved both books.
Enders Game from Orson Scott Card is a good book to start out on as well. The younger you are, the more you will relate to Ender. If you like it, get the Worthing Saga from Card. That is pretty much all he has done that is worth paying for, but I loved both books.
Foreign Jackass
Member
Gonaria said:
I read that, and I was rather bored. Why is it supposed to be so great? I've read lots of classics lately, and this is the only one that bored me to death.
Foreign Jackass said:
I just thought that the main character was really interesting. Now, dont make me try to explain Camus's philosophy, because i cant, but the book really brought up some interesting themes. Im guessing that the main character was the embodiment of Camus' aburdist philosophy? like i said i dont really understand it, but i still thought it was interesting. The Stranger was my first Camus book, and i plan to read others.
Also, after reading the book, it had a unique emotional impact on me. Even though i loved the book, the book put me in a really bad mood. :lol
Jack Whyte's a Dream of Eagle series. Follow the founding of Camelot by Roman soliders and their defense of england from the Saxons. Very long read, encompasing about eight books starting with this one.
The Godfather by Mario Puzo. The Corleone families epic saga.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Yes it's Scifi, but you'll enjoy it. Very funny. Not hard Scifi in anyway.
Good Omens by Terry Prachett and Neil Gaiman. The anti christ is missing on the eve of Armageddon. Also very funny. Prachett writes the Discworld novels.
The Godfather by Mario Puzo. The Corleone families epic saga.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Yes it's Scifi, but you'll enjoy it. Very funny. Not hard Scifi in anyway.
Good Omens by Terry Prachett and Neil Gaiman. The anti christ is missing on the eve of Armageddon. Also very funny. Prachett writes the Discworld novels.
existentialism.Foreign Jackass said:
as for recommendations, i agree that you should definitely read up some of the classics.
ivanhoe - sir walter scott
the talisman - sir walter scott (i have wonderful memories of this novel from my childhood, this is what the upcoming ridley scott movie "kingdom of heaven" is based on)
treasure island/kidnapped/the black arrow/the strange case of dr. jekyll and mr. hyde - robert louis stevenson
the prisoner of zenda - anthony hope
oliver twist - charles dickens
Mama Smurf
My penis is still intact.
I thought Animal Farm was shit. I'm not sure how it got so famous, it just loosely veils the simplest of political commentaries.
I'll second Good Omens.
I'll second Good Omens.
Timeless classics IMO:
The Chronicles of Narnia - C.S. Lewis
Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Notes from Underground - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
The Englishman's Boy - Guy Vanderhaeghe
Gentle Sinners - WD Valgardson
The Hobbit and LotR - JRR Tolkien
The Lord of the Flies - William Golding
Entertaining, fun reads:
Artemis Fowl - Eoin Colfer
Abarat - Clive Barker
The Thief of Always - Clive Barker
Lightning - Dean Koontz
Sole Survivor - Dean Koontz
Midnight - Dean Koontz
Winter Moon - Dean Koontz
The Chronicles of Narnia - C.S. Lewis
Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Notes from Underground - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
The Englishman's Boy - Guy Vanderhaeghe
Gentle Sinners - WD Valgardson
The Hobbit and LotR - JRR Tolkien
The Lord of the Flies - William Golding
Entertaining, fun reads:
Artemis Fowl - Eoin Colfer
Abarat - Clive Barker
The Thief of Always - Clive Barker
Lightning - Dean Koontz
Sole Survivor - Dean Koontz
Midnight - Dean Koontz
Winter Moon - Dean Koontz
quadriplegicjon said:http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...97/sr=2-2/ref=pd_ka_b_2_2/104-3235390-4393529
this is one of the best books i have ever read.
This sounds very interesting. Another one for the backlog.
enjoy bell woods
Banned
Yes, it is one of the best books I have ever read as well.quadriplegicjon said:http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...97/sr=2-2/ref=pd_ka_b_2_2/104-3235390-4393529
this is one of the best books i have ever read.
Christoff Yurievich
Member
the first book in a great series. They're written by an actual historian so attention to detail is quite good. It's kinda like Jedi meets King Arthur, but in a good way.
Litigation Manuel
Member
A third to Catch 22.
A second to Slaughterhouse 5 and Catcher in the Rye.
Also look into One Flew Over the Cukoo's Nest. Finally, although kinda sci-fi and fantasy, I think everyone who has read this will agree: His Dark Materials Trilogy (golden compass, subtle knife, amber spyglass). Great series of books, well written, great ideas, insanely inventive.
A second to Slaughterhouse 5 and Catcher in the Rye.
Also look into One Flew Over the Cukoo's Nest. Finally, although kinda sci-fi and fantasy, I think everyone who has read this will agree: His Dark Materials Trilogy (golden compass, subtle knife, amber spyglass). Great series of books, well written, great ideas, insanely inventive.
Gonaria said:
It was more like pragmatical humanism, or something like that. In the Stranger, basically, the hero doesn't wants to follow the rules of society and gets fucked up in the end, according to Camus.
And I don't understand why everyone drools over the last sentence. Camus translated in english is so much more poetic, much like many other french novelists. The last sentence is way overrated IMHO.
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