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Post by egregious on Feb 23, 2006 1:43:18 GMT -5
I realised last night that I'm not currently reading anything, which is probably the first time that has happened since I learned to read. I finished my last book probably a month ago and just haven't been able to get into anything since. I have plenty of unread books lying around, but none of them are taking my fancy right now.
So, because I am intrinsically lazy, I want you to recommend some good books for me to read. Okay, not just me...recommend them to everyone. I know this is probably quite similar to the favourite books thread, but just because you recommend a book to someone, doesn't mean it's one of your faves - just means that you enjoyed it.
So, what should I be reading?
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Post by Sailor Earth on Feb 23, 2006 2:52:44 GMT -5
Have you finished reading all the current Harry Potters yet?  |
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Post by tbird on Feb 23, 2006 4:33:13 GMT -5
Hmmm. it depends on what kind of stuff you like to read!!
One of my best reads in recent years was The Stand by Stephen King. It is his true masterpiece, every sentance in it blew me away.
if you like epic struggles between good and real evil, mixed in with a bit of the supernatural I'd go for it!
It's long but it's worth it!! ;D
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Post by egregious on Feb 23, 2006 4:45:00 GMT -5
Have you finished reading all the current Harry Potters yet? I haven't read the most recent one...I'm waiting for it to come out in paperback Hmmm. it depends on what kind of stuff you like to read!! Well, that's a good question. Mostly I read horror...mostly about Vampires  It's research! But, having said that, most of my fave books are not in that genre. I like stories that are a bit thought provoking or different. Tragic too...not light and fluffy, but darker...like real life. One of my best reads in recent years was The Stand by Stephen King. It is his true masterpiece, every sentance in it blew me away. if you like epic struggles between good and real evil, mixed in with a bit of the supernatural I'd go for it! It's long but it's worth it!! ;D Ooh, thanks - I'm going to keep my eye out for this one...I've only read a few Stephen King books, but I've never been disappointed by them. |
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Post by Sailor Earth on Feb 23, 2006 4:47:10 GMT -5
Have you finished reading all the current Harry Potters yet? I haven't read the most recent one...I'm waiting for it to come out in paperback I thought it already had...? Or was that OotP I'm thinking of, heh... |
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Post by tbird on Feb 23, 2006 4:47:59 GMT -5
A lot fo people find King hard to read, but The Stand is his best by far. I read all 900 pages of it in about 2 weeks when I was in Italy!!
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Post by egregious on Feb 23, 2006 4:55:20 GMT -5
I thought it already had...? Or was that OotP I'm thinking of, heh... Well, let me put it this way...I haven't seen it in paperback yet. I bought all the others in paperback with the 'adult' covers  and I want to get it to match. Talia - The last SK book I read was Hearts in Atlantis, and I quite liked it...but that was a good few years ago. They made 'The Stand' into a mini-series didn't they? |
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Post by Sailor Earth on Feb 23, 2006 4:58:22 GMT -5
I thought it already had...? Or was that OotP I'm thinking of, heh... Well, let me put it this way...I haven't seen it in paperback yet. I bought all the others in paperback with the 'adult' covers and I want to get it to match. Oooh fair enough then |
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Post by tbird on Feb 23, 2006 5:02:41 GMT -5
Talia - The last SK book I read was Hearts in Atlantis, and I quite liked it...but that was a good few years ago. I've got that but have't got round to reading it yet. They did and it wasn't that great. The book is much much better! |
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Post by tweed on Feb 23, 2006 5:19:29 GMT -5
I must read The Stand myself one day, because I adored the mini - series (developed a bit of a crush on Gary Sinise in the process..). Some of my faves - and I'll put in amazon links in case you want to read reviews. I've had a rave in the Wonder Boys thread about Michael Chabon's fantastic novel 'The Adventures of Kavalier and Clay', but I'll mention it again here because it really is a great read. It covers so many themes, and it's both full of emotional investment in the characters, and epic ripping yarn. Truly amazing. www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312282990/102-2526397-5648169?v=glance&n=283155Stephen Fry writes novels that appeal to me v. much because they are infused with his gorgeous wit and charm. I highly, highly recommend The Liar, and Making History. www.amazon.com/gp/product/156947012X/qid=1140688942/sr=2-2/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_2/102-2526397-5648169?s=books&v=glance&n=283155Making History would make a sensational movie - it's a time-travel romp without being all science fictiony (I find sci fi very difficult to read, I lack the imagination for it.) www.amazon.com/gp/product/1569471509/qid=1140688942/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/102-2526397-5648169?s=books&v=glance&n=283155My fave autobiography of all time is Stephen Fry's Moab Is My Washpot. He is 100% open about his troubled teenage years, his time in prison, and the impact depression has had on his life. I wept when I read about his suicide attempt. How poorer the world would be without this lovely, funny, compassionate man! www.amazon.com/gp/product/1569472025/ref=pd_sim_b_2/102-2526397-5648169?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=283155I have a great book of short stories about love by Barbara Gowdy called "We So Seldom Look On Love" - they are all love stories with a twist. One is about a female necrophile, it was made into a sensitive film called "Kissed". (no amazon link) A book I read in one sitting, because I couldn't put it down (and I was on a long flight at the time) is Augusten Burrough's "Running With Scissors". It's the ultimate memoir of a dysfunctional family, and despite this it's one of the most hilarious things I've read! How this guy got through what he did, and came out of it with such a brilliant sense of humour is a triumph! www.amazon.com/gp/product/031242227X/qid=1140689677/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/102-2526397-5648169?s=books&v=glance&n=283155My fave book of all time is "Maurice", by E.M Forster, but I think I've said that elsewhere.  |
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Post by egregious on Feb 23, 2006 5:38:09 GMT -5
Ooh - thanks Tweed! That will keep me going for a while! ...just for the record, my favourite book is 'The Unbearable Lightness of Being'...actually, maybe I should read that again. |
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Post by tweed on Feb 23, 2006 6:13:22 GMT -5
I should read that...one day. I hate that I'm not reading at the moment. I have all these books with book marks in them, half, quarter read. poop. BTW, feel free to raid my shelves when you come down here. And an open offer to everyone - I'm a rabid second hand bookshop explorer, so if there's any book you just can't find anywhere, let me know and I'll see if I can find it for you. |
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Post by egregious on Feb 23, 2006 6:23:29 GMT -5
You should! I'm the same iwth books...there used to be a shop that sold ex-library books about 100m from work...I have loads of books still waiting for me! Luckily, it has moved further away now... ...and I never throw books away. That's why I hate moving house!  But I've always dreamed of having a house that is part library, part natural history museum, part art gallery, part opium den. |
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Post by tbird on Feb 23, 2006 6:27:13 GMT -5
I can never throw books away either. It seems sacriligeous or something.
Another book I'd recommend if you are a fan of meandering life stories told in a slightly bizarre fashion is The Cider House Rules by John Irving.
It took me ages to get into it but it is an amazing book. So detailed and hormonal and shocking.
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Post by tweed on Feb 23, 2006 6:35:41 GMT -5
Ooh yes, I'll second the John Irving rec!! I haven't read anything of his since A Prayer For Owen Meany, but I keep meaning to catch up. I loved his "The World According To Garp", and "The Hotel New Hampshire":.  All the books I want to read! I started on the Patrick O'Brien Maturin/Aubrey series when I was into the whole Age of Sail thing, thanks to Hornblower, but got stuck on the third novel. And there's another 17 in the series...  |
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It's research! But, having said that, most of my fave books are not in that genre. I like stories that are a bit thought provoking or different. Tragic too...not light and fluffy, but darker...like real life. 
and I want to get it to match.
