Excellent books you have read are fun to post about [Yay]

[Usernamehere]

So uhh HERE I GO GUYS.

The Giver: The story is that the people in The Giver live in a perfect place where they are stripped of things such as choice and feelings. The Giver is one person who has to burden alll these feelings. The main character becomes the Giver's Apprentice and learns that his home isn't so perfect, and of all the injustice in his home. The book doesn't actually blurt out "OH HEY THERE IS NO COLOUR HERE" either, you have to read twice to figure it all out.
OH YEAH THE ENDING IS VERY AMBIGUOS


The Lord of the Flies: An airplane crashes on a deserted island during a war. The only survivors, a group of young boys, aged from 4 to around 14. The book shows how the boys attempt to make a community, only to fail. Not related to that crappy
Kid Nation show on Channel Ten sadly.
Also contains themes and stuff. You'll totally learn stuff if you think about what happens in the book.

Bridge To Terabithia.
I'm getting tired so super short review time.
Guy is closeminded, Girl comes, opens mind, gains imagination, goes to imaginary Terabithia.

Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure:
Ha ha just kidding a book would be awesome though.

[Dan]

Now this is a neat idea for a thread. :)

I've been reading Phillip K Dick's collected short stories, which comes in five (?) volumes, and is totally neato. It's especially interesting to compare his earlier work with the stuff he did after he began using LSD and developed what was probably a mild form of paranoid schizophrenia. The stuff he wrote during the 70s is ... strange. Still good, but ... strange.

I've also just started The Sirens of Titan, by Vonnegut. It hasn't hooked me yet, but I have high expectations all the same.

[bobalotrock]

Well, I got sick of my english teacher nagging me, so I finally picked up eragon. It's rather over-hyped, I think. But it's the holidays, so I've got nothing better to do.

[Manicx]

I believe that The Christ Clone Trilogy from James BeauSeigneur is a pretty spiffy series. It's about the end of the world based on some biblical prophecies, and is pretty exciting!
It also has two nuclear holocausts in it, so it's all good fun.

[bobalotrock]

^Sounds good. Interesting.

[aubergine]

"THEM: Adventures with Extremists" by Jon Ronson is the bestest, funniest book I think I've ever read. You must read it. You must read it now.

This Brit journalist decides to go and hang around with people who have been labeled as "extremists" by popular press. He literally has adventures with them. He discovers one running theme among all these extremists: they all believe the world is run by a secret cabal from a secret room. Some say they are Jews, some say they are 12 foot alien lizards, but the generalities stay the same. He becomes determined to find this room, if it exists.

The results are stunning. I'm not joking, it may be the best non-fiction book I've read. Although I don't read much non-fiction, but I pissed myself laughing throughout. Pure brilliance.

[SuperSteve16]

Harry Potter!!!!!!!!!! :D

[Usernamehere]

Harry Potter!!!!!!!!!! :D

The topic is Excellent Books you have read are fun to POST about. POST about Harry Potter and the Something Or Other, please and why you like the series too

Speaking of Harry Potter, they always begin boring, them books by J.K Rowling. I just skip to the middle. Try that if you want to read a book, but not wait for the good stuff to happen.

[Manicx]

I just skip to the middle. Try that if you want to read a book, but not wait for the good stuff to happen.
That wouldn't work to well for a Sherlock Holmes book. You'd miss a bunch of neat-o stories! D:

[Usernamehere]

I just skip to the middle. Try that if you want to read a book, but not wait for the good stuff to happen.
That wouldn't work to well for a Sherlock Holmes book. You'd miss a bunch of neat-o stories! D:

I could totally imagine someone reading and going, "Wait, when did that happen?" and they wpuld be frantically flipping through the book, until they spoil the book forthemselves.

Ahahahaha!

[DrAwesome]

I am currently reading Saving Private Ryan, Spielberg did well in expressing what was written. But of course, the book cannot be beaten by the film.

I would also recommend Battle Royale, the film may seem like pointless violence and an escape from reality (I'm not the only one who'd like to put a bullet through every one of their peers heads... Am I?). The book focus' a bit more on the politics and relationships between characters. The manga on the other hand, tells the stories of each character. Which was good too, and ever so graphical.

Kazuya is my hero <3

[aubergine]

Currently reading Fatal Revenant, which is the eighth book in the Thomas Covenant series from Stephen Donaldson. I've struggled through every one of these books, horribly boring most of the time, then very interesting for about ten pages near the end. For some reason whenever a new one appears I drop everything and read it, and it takes ages because it is so boring. mad, hey.

[Saq]

Im not really into books too much, but i love the Deltora Quest series, its been really interesting to read through, sadly though im not too good at finding similar kind of books, so i usually just read what i can find in the local library.

[Gina]

I don't know exactly when I got hooked on Crime/Thriller books, but I remember reading them way back when I was eleven, even. Which may not be as far back as it would be for many of you old chaps, but still. It was probably my mother's influence.

Anyway! I'd recommend Jeffery Deaver as an excellent Crime/Thriller author in general. Though, if you just check the blurb, make sure you read either his short story collections (the Twisted ones are excellent) or the novels where Lincoln Rhyme is the main character. He has others, with some man named Jeremy Penner as the main character, and I just found him on the whole not as great as Lincoln Rhyme, except maybe in Hell's Kitchen.
Then again, Lincoln Rhyme is a genius quadaplegic. Awesome, huh? Some of you must remember that movie, The Bone Collector. Deaver wrote the book that movie was based upon. And we all know the books of things are far better than movies.

My most favourite Deaver book so far would have to be the The Vanished Man, if only for the cool stuff about escape-artist magic tricks and the like that is explained in the plot. The killer in the plot, you see, he uses them to escape the scene of the crime. It's wicked-interesting, and it still has all that forensic science jazz which is rather good too, and very detailed.

Yay Jeffery!

[Patrick Alexander]

with some man named Jeremy Penner as the main character

You're kidding! I have a pal called Jeremy Penner. He sometimes writes for The Gamer's Quarter (http://www.gamersquarter.com/).

[Gina]

You're kidding! I have a pal called Jeremy Penner. He sometimes writes for The Gamer's Quarter (http://www.gamersquarter.com/).

But.. guh?

Oh god, How odd. The character isn't named Jeremy Penner at all, he just has the initials J.P!
It would appear in some sort of mindset I typed Jeremy's name instead of John Pelham. Then again, Jeremy would leave a much longer lasting impression than that book character ever would.
L.o.l, Don't I feel silly now.

[mothercrow]

mm how about non fiction books? has anyone read any daniel reid books?

[Gina]

Heck, who's Daniel Reid? What does he write about?

It sounds like the name of a man with the combined powers of Patrick and Dan.
Possibly an adopted son from some sort of questionable union.

[Sir Bean]

Mr Bean's Diary (1993) Is the best book ever in the comedic genre... Although i'm currently reading The Alex rider series.

[mothercrow]

Heck, who's Daniel Reid? What does he write about?

It sounds like the name of a man with the combined powers of Patrick and Dan.
Possibly an adopted son from some sort of questionable union.

It sure does!! Daniel Reid writes about Eastern philosophy and such like :)

[rhystuck]

I'm currently reading the "Series of Unfortunate Events," I'm up to book 9, the "Carnivorous Carnival" and Osamu Tezuka's series of the life of Buddha graphic novels, I'm up to book 4, the "Forest of Uruvela." Today I will also be picking up "Wise Blood" by Flannery O'Connor from the library.

[EJ]

I'm about halfway through The Confusion, the second of three books in Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle. It has lots of swordfights and I'm enjoying it very much.

[Twyatt]

I just finished reading '5 Weeks in a Baloon' by Jules Verne. Very moderately satisfying adventure story, plus it has hot air baloons! Can't go wrong with hot air baloons!

[DrAwesome]

I just finished reading '5 Weeks in a Baloon' by Jules Verne. Very moderately satisfying adventure story, plus it has hot air baloons! Can't go wrong with hot air baloons!

Hot air balloons can go very wrong, so very very wrong.

I actually decided to start reading the Hobit yesterday, I don't know why I avoided it before. It's great!

[rhystuck]

I just finished reading '5 Weeks in a Baloon' by Jules Verne. Very moderately satisfying adventure story, plus it has hot air baloons! Can't go wrong with hot air baloons!

I saw the Disney movie version of that! It was one of those constantly rewatched videos I had as a kid!

[Farvana]

My book selection makes me sound smarter than I am.

Currently reading Joseph Campbell's "Hero With A Thousand Faces," which is EXCELLENT. It took a little bit of effort to start, but all in all, a very revealing book. Any storyteller would do well to read it; I never really understood what made myth so powerful until I read Joseph Campbell.

Simultaneously trying to read Hofstadter's "Godel, Escher, Bach", which is not nearly as excellent. What interest I had in number systems is kind of being quashed, because the author seems to be making up rules as he goes along. I'm only a fifth of the way in, so I'm guessing there's a point to all of it soon, but right now, number systems seem to consist of "No system works perfectly, so let's just make up rules and see which ones stick!"

I think I'm just gonna finish of Hero and start up the Illuminatus! Trilogy.

[Dan]

Currently reading Joseph Campbell's "Hero With A Thousand Faces," which is EXCELLENT. It took a little bit of effort to start, but all in all, a very revealing book. Any storyteller would do well to read it; I never really understood what made myth so powerful until I read Joseph Campbell.

That does sound interesting - and relevant to my research interests. Can you gimme an overview of the book's central thesis? Also, when was it published, do you know?

(I'm well aware I could look these things up on Amazon, but that's not as fun.)

[Farvana]

Thesis: mythology across the world has a common core, which is largely drawn from common psychological imagery. The journey of the hero is a metaphor for our own life journey, confronting our own mortality and the unknown.

Originally published in the twenties, I think? But updated in the forties. There's a lot of references to Freud, unfortunately, as well as to the Golden Bough.

Also good, as well as more current and more approachable, is The Power of Myth (http://www.amazon.com/Power-Myth-Joseph-Campbell/dp/0385418868/ref=pd_bbs_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1200115384&sr=8-3), which is based off of a PBS special on Joseph Campbell's work.

[Avenger]

"THEM: Adventures with Extremists" by Jon Ronson is the bestest, funniest book I think I've ever read. You must read it. You must read it now.


Where can I buy this book?

[Dan]

Excellence.

Radcakes! Your prize for being awesome and helpful is in the mail!

No it isn't.

[Usernamehere]

Radcakes! Your prize for being awesome and helpful is in the mail!

No it isn't.

Your sig fits so well with your post.

YOU WIN A PRIZE!

NO YOU DON'T

YES YOU DO

Golly I'm confused where's the place where you throw up

[aubergine]

Where can I buy this book?

I went to a bookshop who offered to order it in for me, though I have not checked to see how cheap it may be to buy books online.

[Farvana]

Your sig fits so well with your post.

YOU WIN A PRIZE!

NO YOU DON'T

YES YOU DO

Golly I'm confused where's the place where you throw up

THANKS FOR SPOILING IT, JERK.

[Usernamehere]

THANKS FOR SPOILING IT, JERK.

I'm sorry, I didn't know it was the fridge at the time!

[Dan]

This is how wars start, you know.

[DrAwesome]

My texts for literature this year are: "Hunting the Wild Pineapple" and "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall".
I was meant to read them before the holidays were through (which is in about a week :cry: :( ) but I have not. I was too busy reading interesting books like "Do androids dream of electric sheep".

Has anyone read these? I started reading Hunting the Wild Pineapple, but the text either got too metaphoric or just changed subjects too quickly and I got lost. Maybe I'm just an idiot?

[aubergine]

Sounds awful, the pair of them. We had to read Heart of Darkness. It was awful. Good title though.

[Faust]

i'm reading On The Road, by Jack Kerouac.

he did it very well.

[Dan]

Huh! I saw that (On The Road) in the bookshop yesterday, and was this close to buying it. Instead I bought a collection of Dostoyevsky's short stories.

Dostoyevsky's pretty okay. He's from Russia, you know.

[Quatters]

1984 is a brilliant book.
The Idiot by Dostoyevsky, good, but an incredibley hard read.

They're the most recent I've read.

Ooh, also read God Delusion, not bad, but Dawkins is sometimes a bit wanky.

[Dan]

Yeah, I dunno about The God Delusion. Although I tend to agree with his views, Dawkins is such an obnoxious, pompous, self-congratulatory prick that I find myself wanting to disagree with him just on principle.
Of course, his delivery wouldn't matter so much if he had something original to say, but he doesn't. Almost every argument of substance in TGD has been made elsewhere by people like Russell, Hume etc.

As a general introduction to (modern) scepticism, it's not awful. But it certainly isn't groundbreaking.

[sreeja]

These are some books i really enjoyed, maybe it would help...
All the Harry Potters
Eragon/Eldest
The Sea of Trolls-BY Nancy Farmer
Pendragon (series)
Charlie Bone ( i think thats what its called)
Emperor: The Gates of Rome

[Smilie]

I recently read The Princess Bride, and boy howdy! It's a shame that everyone who describes calls it a fantasy parody, but it's not - it's a great fantasy world of it's own that has a sense of humor creep into it to the point where you laugh out loud and find someone to show it to. Don't be disenheartened by the title - it's probably the manliest book you could read apart from The Alphabet of Manliness. (Read that too - whole chapter on Chuck Norris.)

The best thing I can show you for the Princess Bride is a clip from the movie, but the book is a lucid, hillarious, unique expierience. Much better.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUee1WvtQZU

Also! Everything Tastes Better Crumbed is simultaneously hillarious and sad. Some jokes are flatter than tacks and others are so hillarious that you will subconciously steal the joke on for the heck of it. And if someone recognises the joke you can go - hey, you read it too - friends for LIFE.

And finally! Read Everything I Know About Writing is a great book - even if you don't want to be a writer it's an entertaining read by itself. Just for characters, plot, grammar, everything really - it'll make you a much cooler person.

COOL

[matte_k]

If you can find it, Michael Marshall Smith's "Spares". It's a sci-fi film noir thing about a crappy detective who used to work in what's called a "spares farm", which is basically a sanatorium for clones of rich people. The theory being, if said rich person loses an arm in an accident they can just lop the matching arm off the spare and graft it on, with no organ/limb rejection. (The spares are just mindless zombies, but physically perfect copies).

I won't give away the plot, but it starts with him leading a bunch of these spares on the run. Why? Read it and find out. The humour is fantastic.

[matte_k]

And please excuse my spelling cock ups, my keyboard is knackered.

[Dan]

You ... you know you can edit your posts, right?

[matte_k]

Nuts.

No, I didn't. Consider me told :oops:

[Dan]

Oh, it's no thing or nuthin'. I'm just sayin' is all. :)

[Twyatt]

I've begun reading Life, the Universe and Everything by Douglas Adams again. It's a sort of habit of mine that I read this book every 8 months or so and it never stops being entertaining to read.

[Farvana]

Back in high school I could quote half of the first three books from memory.

Sadly, not so much anymore. When I'm itching for that kind of satire, I usually pick up another Discworld book.

[matte_k]

Also, haven't read it for a while, but Heaven's Mirror is a good non fiction book. Can't remember the author, Graham somebody, but it's basically explaining that all creation myths have common roots that can be traced back to 10,500 BC, just before the ice age, because it was all one civilisation that was split by the ice age, and that all major ancient sites in the world are mapping out the constellations, including Angkor Wat (Draco), the Pyramids (Orion), the Sphinx (Leo), and others including the Nazca Lines, Easter Island, etc. The original sites were subsequently built on by other civilisations. It's all linked by specific numbers and a mathematical system that calculates which constellation houses the rising sun. Currently, its Aquarius, hence "This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius" in that song...

Also, bloody good photographs too.

[Usernamehere]

Burger Wuss is about this guy who finds his girl with a butthole on a couch, doing it. He decides to get revenge.

I like it.

[Smilie]

You would.

[Gina]

I recently finished reading Out by Natsuo Kirino. Some of it was just a bit depressing, but it's wonderfully gritty and gives a pretty good impression of the lives of women in Japan, and a few other stereotypes like hostesses and a half-cast Brazillian-Japanese man. I mightn't recommend to a man per se, unless you're into reading about a mature form of girl-power. There does happen to be murder and the terribly gruesome business of hacking up bodies, though, which is what attracted me to it in the first place. It's all a big scandal, but I loved it.

While only some people might like Out, way more people would love Tokyo by Mo Handler, which was friggin' excellent. Again with the violence and murder in Japan, but this is way more involved and interesting because not only does it have yakuza (gasp, yakuza!) but also a whole bunch of history bits about the wartime relationships between Japan and China, and centres around that terrible massacre and also the gritty and almost ludicrously sex-related life of an English woman living in Japan who's desperate to uncover a secret old film. The main character is a bit far-fetched, but it's still one of my favourite books.

So those are the books I own, with Japan and gore in them.

[Usernamehere]

MY SEXY READING LIFE SO FAR


I usually just pick up whatever is lying around and read it. All of my magezeenz are lying around, on the floor or under a couch.

Recently read a bit of Harry Potter: The Last One and Total Gamer 9 (it's the best one imho).
It's late now, and I won't read any books.

[Farvana]

Why isn't the Illuminati trilogy more popular? Why?

I haven't enjoyed a book this much in a long time.

[Fenwurz]

I'm really digging a series called The First Law, or something like that, first book is called 'The Blade Itself', they are very good, everything you could ask for in a fantasy book. I loved Jurassic Park, although it has made me slightly pissed at Spielberg for raping the book horribly, as whoever directed 'I am Legend' did aswell. You wouldn't know that there is a hell of a lot of moral shit going on in both those books if you simply watched the film. Terry Pratchett is possibly THE shit when it comes to books, I love all the Discworld books, but only the Sam Vimes ones. Just started Don Quixote, it's quite good.

[Farvana]

I love all the Discworld books, but only the Sam Vimes ones.

Please.

PLEASE.

Reread what you wrote before you hit the post button.

Besides, the Rincewind novels are better by far.

[Avenger]

Of all things, I am reading Andy McNab, or was, when it got boring. Most of the plots are the same.

[Fenwurz]

Please.

PLEASE.

Reread what you wrote before you hit the post button.

Besides, the Rincewind novels are better by far.

I did that on purpose. I do enjoy the Rincewind ones, but I just love Sam Vimes, best character ever.

[Farvana]

I did that on purpose.

Just so you know, you singlehandedly validated my decision to keep a bottle of Bushmill's on hand during any and all websurfing I do.

[DrAwesome]

While only some people might like Out, way more people would love Tokyo by Mo Handler, which was friggin' excellent. Again with the violence and murder in Japan, but this is way more involved and interesting because not only does it have yakuza (gasp, yakuza!) but also a whole bunch of history bits about the wartime relationships between Japan and China, and centres around that terrible massacre and also the gritty and almost ludicrously sex-related life of an English woman living in Japan who's desperate to uncover a secret old film. The main character is a bit far-fetched, but it's still one of my favourite books.

I enjoyed Tokyo-shi. I read it whilst I was staying in Japan actually, it made me wonder how much the students learnt about what really happened in Nanking. More than the "higher ups" would like apparently. But yes -- very good book.

[larissa]

Classics that i have read & liked

The Tenant of wildfell Hall
Clarissa - its the size of a phone book but much more interesting
The Major of Casterbridge
Wuthering Heights

I am currently reading Battle Axe by Sara Douglas, i liked it at first but now it is kinda annoying me with its Crystal Dragon Jesus & ' get back to nature' theme.

Last book i read was The Whole Woman by Germaine Greer - it's pretty good - better than most of her stuff. However she doesn't seem to be able to write about men or normal heterosexual relationships. She also isn't against FGM anymore.

i also got a copy of Women who love too much at bookfest but i haven't bothered reading it yet.

[matte_k]

@ larissa:

My god! Someone else has actually seen "The IT Crowd"!!!

:)

[Chapstick]

After recently reading three books by Philip K Dick im glad to get back to the classics with Burgess A clock work orange. I can't believe I put off reading this for so long!

[Usernamehere]

The Wind in the Willows. The way they talk is awesome.

"You silly ass, we will miss luncheon! I do say."

[Kaatridge]

I just finsihed reading the novelasation of Baldurs gate, I hardly know anything of the Forgotten world books, nor have I played Baldurs gate, but I thought the book was pretty good, minus the ending.

[chuanoplast]

If you get the Dover thrift edition of "The Devil's Dictionary", you can read it in public places and people will think you're evil when actually you are just reading funny definitions of words.

[Gatas Brilhantes]

If you get the Dover thrift edition of "The Devil's Dictionary", you can read it in public places and people will think you're evil when actually you are just reading funny definitions of words.Unfortunately Bierce's wit tends to reduce me to a giggling buffoon, so I don't read it in public places anymore.

[LimeStu]

I just recently finished reading the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy trilogy of five the other day -- they never get old.

Seriously, everyone should read these books.
Or not, but, you know, you'll miss out. :(

[Joob]

Why didn't I find this thread earlier?

Anyhow,
I am currently enjoying a series of childrens books, The Moomin books, by a Finnish author Tove Jannson, published and translated in the 50's.
It was hugely popular in Finland and japan, A Moominland similar to disneyland, anime movies, TV series newspaper comics.

Its written like the Winnie the Pooh books (The originals by A.A.Milne), and its about the adventures of Moomintroll (a hippopotamus looking creature) and his friends and its hilarious.

Here is a link about them on Wikipedia,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moomin

I also am enjoying Pratchett's Discworld series, and all the other ones he wrote.

Oh and I watched the IT crowd too :)

[chuanoplast]

Two of the things mentioned above are great and hilarious. One of the things mentioned is terrifying and gives me nightmares and it is neither Maurice Moss nor Sam Vimes.

[DrAwesome]

I just recently finished reading the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy trilogy of five the other day -- they never get old.

Seriously, everyone should read these books.
Or not, but, you know, you'll miss out. :(

Quoted for truth -- brilliant books. BRILLIANT.

The IT Crowd is also brilliant.

[LimeStu]

I forgot to mention I'm in the middle of reading Bone for the umpteenth time. Read this, also. Read it repeatedly, and look at the funny pictures. Read the good writing. Do it. Now.

I'm also reading The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka. Who knew that a story about a travelling salesman who turns into a giant, horrible bug overnight would be a good read?

And The IT Crowd... have you ever heard of The Mighty Boosh or Dark Place? If you like The IT Crowd, then you will love them. Same kinda humour, and they all have Richard Ayoade in them! Yay!

[Farvana]

I'll second that positive opinion for Bone. One of three graphic novels that I'm willing to put more of an emphasis on the 'novel' bit. (The other two being Maus and Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind.)

[Soyvoyage]

Right now i'm reading Northern Lights (GoldenCompass to those of you who are not cool) and frankly it's starting to drag on a bit, I'll finish it soon though, and move onto my massive reading project, H.G Wells. I've read the Time Machine and First Men In The Moon. Getting quite excited about the Island of Doctor Moreu.

[Joob]

I found that the Northern Lights book was almost like a prequel to the other two, Just to introduce the setting and characters.
Did anyone else find it like that?

Also I find it pretty stupid how the christians are all offended by the movie, wait till they see/read the other two, specifically The Amber Spyglass.

[Demaar]

A lot of books in this thread that have caught my eye in the past. Will have to pursue them more actively. But anywho, my sister put me onto the Sword of Truth series (Wizard's First Rule, etc).
Starts off pretty damn cheesy but it was written well enough to keep me reading, and I'm glad I did. The second and third (which I'm up to) books are far more interesting. The characters have been developed and the cheese is almost gone completely. Gets a bit disturbing though. Actually, half way through the first book it becomes a fair bit more disturbing. At the same time though, that's when it starts getting really interesting too. You definitely need to have a high tolerance for violence, anyway.

Once I'm done with the series (11 books, gonna take a while) I'm thinking of hitting up A Game of Thrones, though I know very little about it, and then the His Dark Materials series which everyone here is talking about :)

[Farvana]

OK, advice:

Drop Sword of Truth. Like, now. It will bruise your sense of disbelief after a couple more books and that is painful.

Game of Thrones, on the other hand? Absolutely great. I've outgrown every other fantasy title, and that's the only one that's stuck with me.

[Twyatt]

Finished Life, Universe and Everything a week ago, now I've started reading Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency again, also by Douglas Adams. I actually picked this book a year or so ago up after hearing Patrick Alexander speak about it on his site.

It's not as good as Life, The Universe and Everything, but still pretty awesome. An excellent highlight so far (again) is the Electric Monk and its various malfunctions and adventures.

[Soyvoyage]

Once I had a bit in a school performance where I acted out part of HitchHikers Guide. Then someone got me Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, which is nice because it is apparently the best ever, I still haven't got round to reading it yet, but I will have to soon.

[Farvana]

Dirk Gently is good! It is.

More of the same, but not in space so Adams had to WORK for his random satirical interludes.

[Joob]

Once I had a bit in a school performance where I acted out part of HitchHikers Guide.

Ha!
I remember that.
Good times, good times.

(I've always wanted to say that)

[DaphnesNohansen]

Mark Gatiss, the guy from The League Of Gentlemen (NOT The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen!) wrote a couple of books featuring a fantastic character called Lucius Box in The Vesuvius Club and The Devil In Amber.

The tales of a wit and dandy working for the government as a spy and the lovely shenanigans he gets into. Usually globetrotting to find out clues to an assassination or breaking and entering a rich debutant's mansion to steal blueprints, but getting sidetracked by her feminine ways and making sure she gets to bed ok.

The Vesuvius Club and The Devil In Amber follow on from each other but, move on in terms of time massively, consider James Bond from Goldfinger to Tomorrow Never Dies.

Lots of fun, not to be taken too seriously and the illustrations are beautiful, Aubrey Beardsley with an acidic twist. Enjoy

[Chumsbury]

Once I had a bit in a school performance where I acted out part of HitchHikers Guide. Then someone got me Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, which is nice because it is apparently the best ever, I still haven't got round to reading it yet, but I will have to soon.

Read Dirk Gently now, it's fantastic!

My reccomendations to you pleasant folk would extend to Dune, by Frank Herbert, and Tricks of the Mind, by none other than cheeky showman Derren Brown.

The former, I'm sure many of you have read before. It's an epic tale of galactic politics, giant sand-worms, boxes filled to the brim with pure, undiluted pain, and a bloke who's so fat he has little anti-gravity devices to lift his extensive gut. Really a great experience from beginning to end, anyone who hasn't checked it out must do so immediately!

The latter is very interesting indeed. Firstly, it has contained within some great insights into his routines, and into the nature of illusion as a whole, and teaches you some nifty little tricks, especially concerning memory (if you've seen or read The Silence of the Lambs, you'll recognise 'memory palaces'). Towards the end, he considers opinions on God, Life after Death, and many similar subjects with a refreshing degree of trepidation, and a non-inflamitory atheist response, if that's possible.

Anyhoo, I have some more to reccomend that I shall write up presently.

[Manicx]

I'm currently reading "Mere Christianity" from C. S. Lewis. It's pretty good so far, I do so reckon.

I just finished the chapter on Christian sexual morality. It was pretty interesting, and I learned some things. Sexual things.

[Soyvoyage]

I just finished Strata by Terry Pratchett, definatley read if your into his books.
So now, I will be beginning *drum roll* Dirk Gently. Hopefully my life will not becoming a series of underwhelming events that can not start to be compared to the assumed awsomeness of this book.

[Manicx]

I am now reading a most excellent book entitled "Dr. Suess Goes To War: The World War Two Editorial Cartoons of Theodor Suess Geisel" or something of that nature.

It contains a whole bunch of things that Dr. Suess drew during the second World War, and it's pretty funny. It also has a whole bunch of history stuff in it too, so that people who don't know all that much about the war can understand the cartoons too.

It's a pretty darn spiffy book.

[Farvana]

Soy: it is not life-changing.

I do not want you to get your hopes impossibly high. After Mostly Harmless, perhaps you won't, but JUST IN CASE.


MX: Sounds interesting! I flipped through a book of his gallery art, and all of it was bizarre and funny; poking fun at the art institution.

[Kaatridge]

Well, I thought I might post here again. Great Expectations = Good.

Also, game manuals. Truly is a wonderful read.

[Patrick Alexander]

Soy: it is not life-changing.

Is so! Dirk Gently had, and continues to have, a profound influence on me. This is probably because it is the greatest book ever written in the Language.

Currently, I'm reading the last Harry Potter book, because, God help me, I want to know what happens. As always, Rowling knows how to structure a story, but her prose is awful, just awful. So I'm enjoying and hating the book at the same time.

[Farvana]

Worst camping trip ever

Followed by the worst climactic fight ever

I read it just to get it done and felt completely apathetic about the whole thing.

[Soyvoyage]

All who have not read any Harry Potter books, please raise their hands in the air. (This gesture may or may not signify that you just don't care) Because you are just like me. Creepy, eh?

[EJ]

I lost interest about halfway through the first one. Does that count?

[Soyvoyage]

Yeah, thats what they all say. Now drop and do twenty pushups. Thank you.

[Kaatridge]

I am currently reading: Don't Stand Too Close To A Naked Man by Tim Allen. I now have so much more respect for the man.

[Soyvoyage]

Well, I finished Dirk Gently last night, and it was fabulous. Not a word in that book is wasted,every sentace is full of witty essence. If someone else wrote it, it would of been 600 pages or something, thus making it less enjoyable. Great story aswell. After finishing it I saw the bit at the start that says "For my mother, who liked the bit about the horse" and it made me laugh.

[Patrick Alexander]

Not a word in that book is wasted,every sentace is full of witty essence. If someone else wrote it, it would of been 600 pages or something

This is one of the many reasons it's the best book ever!

[Kaatridge]

I am interested in this 'Dirk Gently'. In fact, I might Google it right now!

[Farvana]

I think maybe I am remembering The Long Dark Tea-time of the Soul more than the Holistic Detective Agency. The first was better, I recall, most probably due to the fact that Adams hadn't had much of any place to stick non-H2G2 ideas into.

[Dr. Vox]

Catch-22, 1984, and A Clockwork Orange have probably influenced me the most. I really like a good dystopia/satire/dark sense of humor/etc., so those are perfect for me.

just finished The Secret Agent by Joseph Conrad...sort of hard to read (page-long paragraphs, argh), but I liked the story once I understood it.

[chuanoplast]

Hey, Dr. Vox, have you ever heard of Thomas Pynchon? You might like The Crying of Lot 49.

[XWonka]

I will honestly say that the one book i have ever read from beginning to end without stoping, because it was simply too good to put down and short enough for one night, was Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men. It is, in my opinion, the best book ever written.

Of course, Chuck Palaniuk is always good. At least he has the courtesy to be alive. Am i right?

[MooseGuy]

The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay?

Yeah, it's kind of an obvious choice. But still, an awesomely ultra-awesome book.

[DrAwesome]

Just For Fun: The Story of an Accidental Revolutionary (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just_for_Fun)

For any of you Linux fans!

[pixie]

While I was reading this thread, there were SO MANY things I wanted to comment on. I almost wrote them down but then I realised that was lame. Plus I don't have a pen :(

'1984' is an obvious but valid choice. People always compare it to Aldous Huxley's 'A Brave New World', because of dystopia kind of thing, but they are written completely differently. I've never got to the end of 'A Brave New World' despite reading it three times. Personally I don't think it's all it's cracked up to be... The premise is good but the writing is not very good, in my opinion.
'His Dark Materials' someone mentioned - AMAZING. I love this trilogy; it is possibly my favourite book of all time. 'Northern Lights' takes a little while to get into, and I do think it is the least great of the books. Whoever mentioned it (sorry, I don't remember who!) said they thought it was like an introduction to the characters before the real story got going, and I had never thought about it like that but now realise how much I agree with that statement. 'The Subtle Knife' is my favourite.
I was gutted when they made a film! I ignored it as much as possible, and will do so for the next one. Apparently it was terrible anyway...

'One Day In The Life Of Ivan Denisovich' by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, is great. I hardly remember anything about it 'cause I read it years ago (and haven't repeatedly read it like I have with '1984'), but it is awesome and does exactly what it says on the tin. It's about one day in the life of Ivan Denisovich, a prisoner at a Soviet labour camp! READ IT.

There is a musical out at the moment, on Broadway (still I think?) and at the West End and I personally love it because I am totally female, but there's a book which it is 'based on' called 'Wicked' (the name of the musical, surprise surprise) by Gregory Maguire.
It is awesome, and barely anything like the musical other than it too is about 'the lost story of the witches of Oz'. I know I introduced the book referring to the musical, but don't let that put you off. It is very NOT that sort of book...
It obviously relates to the kids story 'The Wizard of Oz', but you would not give this book to your kid... The main character is born inside a clock made by the Munchkins that is surrounded by controversy (hated by the classicly religious and hailed as religious relic by those who worship the 'pleasure faith' [witchcraft]) while her dad (a minister, and not the biological father as the mother has had lots and lots of extramarital affairs which he knows nothing about) is attacked by a lynch-mob. So yeah.
Basically it just follows her, Elphaba, aka the wicked witch of the west, and her life growing up as a weird green-skinned person, in a world filled battling with the growing persecution of Animals (not animals, although they do appear in the book; Animals are basically just another race along with Munchkins and Quadlings) by the state.

There's a lot to it and I don't think I've written about it very well at all (just look at all those brackets!), but read it. It's weird. And good.


Um. The end.

[Patrick Alexander]

Wicked is a very good book.

[pixie]

Apparently they're making a film! It will be based on the musical though, so it won't spoil the book. H'ray!

I forgot to mention 'American Psycho' - it is brilliant! Read read read it. There will be many parts that will just repulse you. The film is great (and hilarious), but it doesn't capture his character or the depth of his insanity very well. Plus its message is conveyed with greater clarity and support in novel form.
If you don't know, it's basically about a business man in 1980s NY. It's written from his POV and you see his gradual descent into madness. He's obsessed with image, has a coke addiction, and fantasizes (?) about murdering people in terrible ways. There's a rodent involved in one of the deaths; I won't say any more...
It has lots of themes. I like books that have good themes :)

...Like 'The Great Gatsby' which is also brilliant, and 'The Lord of the Flies' which someone mentioned and is great, although we did it to death at GCSE.

[Soyvoyage]

There's a lot to it and I don't think I've written about it very well at all (just look at all those brackets!), but read it. It's weird. And good.

Whoa, brackets mean you haven't written things well? (I'm in shit then.)

[pixie]

Yeah! Sort it out! I'm sick of your curves!!

[Farvana]

{(Whoa-oh!}({)

3/4 of the way through Focault's Pendulum. Fun book, but it's a bit longer than I was prepared for (I generally only read during lunch, which gives me 30-45 minutes a day).

[Kaatridge]

(()())())(}{{}

My friend is trying to get me into this 'Wheel of Time' franchise. He lent me book 1, I've yet to read it yet. Anyone have any thoughts/opinions/telling me if its good or bad?

[DrAwesome]

((_)====D
Oh come now DrAwesome, that's just immature.

A friend of mine is actually quite into the 'Wheel of Time' books. Perhaps it is good?

[Patrick Alexander]

My friend is trying to get me into this 'Wheel of Time' franchise. He lent me book 1, I've yet to read it yet. Anyone have any thoughts/opinions/telling me if its good or bad?

How 'bout you read it and find out!

HOW 'BOUT THAT.

[Farvana]

Hahah, I laughed when Robert Jordan died.

[Poisonedv]

I like the Discworld series.... mmm. Hilarious and AWESOME books that are a FARCE, SATIRIZING the common fantasy elements that you KNOW AND LOVE.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discworld

[chuanoplast]

3/4 of the way through Focault's Pendulum. Fun book, but it's a bit longer than I was prepared for (I generally only read during lunch, which gives me 30-45 minutes a day).

Baudolino is fun too.

[Farvana]

I like the Discworld series.... mmm. Hilarious and AWESOME books that are a FARCE, SATIRIZING the common fantasy elements that you KNOW AND LOVE.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discworld

Oh man

I fucking love Terry Pratchett

He's like if Douglas Adams did fantasy except he's still alive.

EDIT: The only thing I can really hate my mom for is throwing away my copy of The Last Hero.

[tablet]

murakami's norwegian woods

[Poisonedv]

Has there been any posts about Flatland yet?

[DrAwesome]

murakami's norwegian woods

WHY!? I got stuck into Norwegian Woods, but when I finished I realised it wasn't actually THAT interesting. Damn dramas.

[chuanoplast]

Hey Poisson'd-v, have you read Flatterland too?

[Poisonedv]

Hey Poisson'd-v, have you read Flatterland too?

No, actually, but I was thinking of getting it. Is it worth it? Will it ruin it?

[Gina]

If you are or were in highschool and ever remember some scrawny, nerdy little shorty-pants who was never good at making friends and when down like a leaf being hit by a freight train in sports class, then I recommend you read 19 Minutes by Jodi Picoult, because the book is about that nerd going Columbine on his school.

Otherwise it's not her best one and it's more suited for girls or lovers of angst.
Actually, everything by Picoult ever is more suited to girls or lover's angst.
Anyway, my other point is The Tenth Circle is her best novel. Not only is it way more interesting than the others in terms of content, it also has parts that are a graphic novel!

It's like not even reading a real novel, guys! It's a literary hybrid.

[Poisonedv]

If you are or were in highschool and ever remember some scrawny, nerdy little shorty-pants who was never good at making friends and when down like a leaf being hit by a freight train in sports class, then I recommend you read 19 Minutes by Jodi Picoult, because the book is about that nerd going Columbine on his school.

I am a better man than that! Hmph.

[Gina]

I am a better man than that! Hmph.

Sorry if you are above shits-n-giggles.

[Poisonedv]

I guess I didn't make it clear enough, half of my quips fall flatter than (sexual object here) but what I meant was, you know, nevermind.

[va5el1ne]

I am reading
Chuck Palahniuk - Lullaby
Miranda July - No One Belongs Here More Than You (short stories) and
Y: The Last Man volume 3

All of which I am enjoying

[Patrick Alexander]

'Lullaby' is all right but it needed a few more drafts I reckon.

[Poisonedv]

I'm reading the graphic novels 100 Bullets and nearly finished with preacher. Preacher got boring but 100 bullets is great. sexy.

[rhystuck]

'Lullaby' is all right but it needed a few more drafts I reckon.

I liked Lullaby. I haven't got around to reading the most recent ones.

[va5el1ne]

I intend on reading all of his books. So far I have only read Invisible Monsters and Fight Club. I liked both a lot

[Patrick Alexander]

'Survivor' is fantastic.

[XWonka]

I just, just got done reading Palahniuk's newest one Snuff. It's ok. I still think Haunted and Invisible Monsters are my favs. I've read all of his books so far except for Fight Club, since i accidentally saw the movie first. For awhile there, i never read a book unless it was a comic... i mean graphic novel... or a Chuck Palahniuk book.

But after Snuff i also just got done reading David Sedaris' Me Talk Pretty One Day. After reading the VERY VERY FUNNY "Santaland Diaries" in his book Barrel Fever (a true story about him working as an elf in Macy's department store in NYC), i made a commitment to myself to read more of his stuff. Still waiting for the copy of When You Are Engulfed In Flames to get back to the library.

RIght now? I'm reading Grand Theft Childhood a study of the effects and misconseptions of violent games. I was hoping it would be propaganda so i could have something to laugh at, but it's really quite fair and unbiased. So i guess i'll have ammunition when someone inevitably brings up the topic.

[Poisonedv]

The Complete Theodore Sturgeon volume 2: the microcosmic god. You know that Futurama episode where bender has the people living on him? Yeah, thats based off this.

[Kaatridge]

The Complete Theodore Sturgeon volume 2: the microcosmic god. You know that Futurama episode where bender has the people living on him? Yeah, thats based off this.

Oh, awesome. I liked that episode.

[va5el1ne]

When you do something right people won't be sure you've done anything at all

[Poisonedv]

I'm reading penthouse.

[Patrick Alexander]

I'm reading penthouse.

I thought you got off on Disney movies.

[Poisonedv]

Minnie mouse is the spread

[Dan]

So to speak.

[Aahmyface2]

I am in the middle of Frankenstein right now. Very big and hard to understand words in it, but its growing on me. Very detailed writing in it.

[va5el1ne]

Frankenstein is pretty good. It was different to what I expected

I am almost done with Lullaby. The bit about how he had sex with his wife when she was dead was weird. How would he not notice she was dead? Unless she normally just laid there...

[Poisonedv]

I am reading the comic series "Grimm Fairy Tales". And I thought MANGA was all about fanservice. I mean jesus christ. There has been no female character who wasn't wearing a corset and forgot her bra and panties.

[va5el1ne]

Lullaby was OK. I didn't enjoy it as much as Invisible Monsters. I got to the end of it and was kinda disappointed

Reading Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell now. I expect it will be amazing

[Twyatt]

Reading Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell now. I expect it will be amazing

If Animal Farm is anything to go by, it should be excellent.

Have you read animal farm?

[va5el1ne]

No I have not. If I enjoy this (which so far I am) then I will read it

I finished No One Belongs Here More Than You by Miranda July yesterday. It was really enjoyable. Hilarious and crazy short stories

[Farvana]

Finished off Equus recently. That's one to chew on for a while... Especially as I've had a few violent impulses around horses anyways (although that was more in regards to them being stupid enough to chew the heated hose that would keep their water barrel unfrozen during winter).

Now I'm seeing what this Don Juan fellow has to say, with his Yaqui Way of Knowledge.

[matte_k]

Don Juan is a cracking book, especially amusing how terrified of his experiences he becomes as the book progresses. not going to spoil the end for you though.

Just finished Iain M Banks' "Feersum Endjinn". Absolutely Mental- 4 interlinked stories, one of which is written phonetically like a journal- "O Fuk, I sez, neer 2 kakin meself as I opin my I's"

[Poisonedv]

http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/6113/grimmfairytales20001as5.th.jpg (http://img167.imageshack.us/my.php?image=grimmfairytales20001as5.jpg)
That's just a small sampling of the gratuitous amounts of cleavage in the comic series I mentioned earlier. Is this what the average comic reader really wants? Every page is like they are trying to shove boobs in your face. I've had that happen, and it's less comfortable than it sounds.

[matte_k]

Every page is like they are trying to shove boobs in your face. I've had that happen, and it's less comfortable than it sounds.


That depends on the boobs in question. I've been pushed into some quite cushiony ones in my time (and a few 1970's style swingers too, unfortunately) :?

[Reasonableman]

On another, less breast-filled note, I not too long ago finished reading a little, well, essay, to be frank, entitled "The Death of Common Sense." Rather keen examination of the over-complexity inherent to the United States' legal system.

The only other thing I've read recently was this rather obscure novel, "Atlas Shrugged." Those of you familiar with Bioshock may be interested in seeing the basis for the plotline, however lacking in mutants and underwater supercities it may be.

[Poisonedv]

Ayn rand is a moron

[Reasonableman]

Ayn rand is a moron

I daresay you should back up such slanderous claims with evidence!

[Dan]

No, he's right - Objectivism is pretty stupid. The problem with Rand's version of egoism is that she prescribes it for everyone, thereby undermining the structures that make society possible. At least Nietzsche (who Rand 'borrowed' from quite a bit) realised that egoism only works if you prescribe it for certain people - i.e. 'higher men'.

Edit: It's like that Bob the Angry Flower comic: in Rand's society, nobody would make sandwiches. And I like sandwiches.

[justverydifferent]

I'm currently reading the ye olde Origin of Species, or at least having a crack at it. It's pretty interesting if you can get past the period gap. And it's really useful if you share my favourite passtime of designing monsters/creatures/things-that-eat-people.

Can anyone recommend some exciting escapist reading for afterwards though?

[Dan]

Snowcrash? That's pretty much the definition of 'exciting escapism'.

[Poisonedv]

Snowcrash is awesome. Also conan the barbarian.

[justverydifferent]

I have wiki'd and amazon'd Snowcrash, and it sounds awesome. I knew I could count on this forum! *happyface*

[matte_k]

Riddley Walker by Russell Hoban. Set in Kent, UK, 3000 years in the future after WWIII fucked everything up. Humans are back in the Iron Age, and have forgotten all the use of modern technology which sits around rusting. There's a crazy plot, but why don't you just go read it. It is also written in phonetics but in a kind of weird variant of English.

It's actually quite funny in places, even though it doesn't sound it

[XWonka]

has anyone read anything by Cormac McCarthy? I got a library copy of The Road sitting here, but i'm finishing up When You Are Engulfed before i get too deep into it.

wanted to know if it was anything like No Country for Old Men

[Twyatt]

I've just finished Gullivers Travels, which is an excellent, if very odd book.
I don't really understand any of the "dark and obscene" undertones in the book, but that's probably because I'm an ignorant slob who spends too much time playing videogames.

I'm also still trying to figure out how to pronounce "Houyhnhnms."

[chuanoplast]

I'm also still trying to figure out how to pronounce "Houyhnhnms."

It's pronounced how its spelled.

Jonathan Swift is a hilarious man, and you should read "A Modest Proposal" if you liked Gulliver. It's even funnier.

Here, have a link to the e-text. It's public domain. (http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/1080)

[Twyatt]

It's pronounced how its spelled.

Jonathan Swift is a hilarious man, and you should read "A Modest Proposal" if you liked Gulliver. It's even funnier.

Here, have a link to the e-text. It's public domain. (http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/1080)

Oh hey, neato! Thanks.

SUPER EDIT:
Holy crap, that essay is deranged! Not to say I didn't laugh my head off, but... crap!

[Captain Awful]

Has Robert Anton Wilson been mentioned yet? He's a genius. the Illuminatus! trilogy (http://www.amazon.com/Illuminatus-Trilogy-Pyramid-Golden-Leviathan/dp/0440539811/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1217822256&sr=8-1) is full of great conspiracy theories, intertwined into an insane drug story about a journalist and a bunch of crazy people. Prometheus Rising (http://www.amazon.com/Prometheus-Rising-Robert-Anton-Wilson/dp/1561840564/ref=pd_bbs_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1217822256&sr=8-3) is one of his serious works, and it's excellent if you want to read a "thinker".

Freakonomics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freakonomics) is a pretty interesting read, even for someone who doesn't care about economics.

If you like Escape from LA, or Escape from New York, you should read Damnation Alley (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damnation_Alley). It's absoloutely nothing like the movie, and the main character is theorized as some, including me, to be the foundation for Snake Plissken's character.

I just read Starcraft: Ghost. I'll let that sink in.

It was based off that video game that never came out, and it was pretty mediocre, entertaining, but mediocre. Some people read really bad romance novels as a hobby, I read really bad sci-fi.

[Poisonedv]

You know the people who are going to grow up to be fat losers are the ones who read Halo novels in your 6th period class

[Farvana]

:(

I read the Doom novels in fourth grade. I managed to blow through each one of them in about four days apiece.

I think I was so into them for two reasons: I'd barely ever had the chance to play Doom, and I loved the idea of the Mormons (which I was raised as) busting out tanks from under the Salt Lake City temple after the world ends.

[Poisonedv]

Essential Dr Strange vol. 1-4
i dont normally read superhero books but this is awesome

[Dan]

It was based off that video game that never came out, and it was pretty mediocre, entertaining, but mediocre. Some people read really bad romance novels as a hobby, I read really bad sci-fi.

You might enjoy the Mass Effect novels, then. I read the first one, and kind of enjoyed it. Much like the game, it's pure pulp space-opera: clichéd and proud of it. Plus, it only takes, like, a day to read.

[Captain Awful]

You know the people who are going to grow up to be fat losers are the ones who read Halo novels in your 6th period class

I think the worst novels in existance are the Magic the Gathering novels. They come free with the purchase of a large box containing cards and crap you don't need. My theory is that it's all fanfic.

You might enjoy the Mass Effect novels, then. I read the first one, and kind of enjoyed it. Much like the game, it's pure pulp space-opera: clichéd and proud of it. Plus, it only takes, like, a day to read.

That sounds pretty interesting. I had no idea there was Mass Effect novels, but it makes sense. I mean, money right?

L. Ron Hubbard was insane. That said, I really liked reading Battlefield Earth.

[Kaatridge]

HEY GUYS HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF THOSE MARIO NOVELS


THEY'RE AWESOME

[Blue Milk]

Lol ew. Let's read about slightly chubby plumbers saving the world :/

I haven't read the whole thread... Maybe I should but whatever.

Had anyone read the Wheel of Time series?

Well it's great anyway.

[Kaatridge]

Lol ew. Let's read about slightly chubby plumbers saving the world :/

WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?!

They save the Mushroom Kingdom. Stupid.

[Blue Milk]

WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?!

They save the Mushroom Kingdom. Stupid.

Hmm but they are still chubby :/

Well I haven't read the novels but does he ike jump on people's heads?

[Farvana]

Had anyone read the Wheel of Time series?

Well it's great anyway.

I refuse to.

When I first heard about the series it was up to 6 or so and everyone told me how much they hated waiting for the next novel.

Then I heard how entire 1000+ page books were dedicated solely to tying up loose ends.

Then Robert Jordan died while writing the last book. I laughed at the timing.

[rhystuck]

Has Robert Anton Wilson been mentioned yet? He's a genius. the Illuminatus! trilogy (http://www.amazon.com/Illuminatus-Trilogy-Pyramid-Golden-Leviathan/dp/0440539811/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1217822256&sr=8-1) is full of great conspiracy theories, intertwined into an insane drug story about a journalist and a bunch of crazy people. Prometheus Rising (http://www.amazon.com/Prometheus-Rising-Robert-Anton-Wilson/dp/1561840564/ref=pd_bbs_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1217822256&sr=8-3) is one of his serious works, and it's excellent if you want to read a "thinker".

Freakonomics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freakonomics) is a pretty interesting read, even for someone who doesn't care about economics.

If you like Escape from LA, or Escape from New York, you should read Damnation Alley (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damnation_Alley). It's absoloutely nothing like the movie, and the main character is theorized as some, including me, to be the foundation for Snake Plissken's character.

I just read Starcraft: Ghost. I'll let that sink in.

It was based off that video game that never came out, and it was pretty mediocre, entertaining, but mediocre. Some people read really bad romance novels as a hobby, I read really bad sci-fi.

Hey, I'm reading the Illuminatus! trilogy at the moment. Also "Poor Story" which is about why there is still all those poor people in Africa even though we send them all that aid and stuff.

[chuanoplast]

Freakonomics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freakonomics) is a pretty interesting read, even for someone who doesn't care about economics.



But economics is SO INTERESTING! Who doesn't love looking at charts and graphs and using somewhat bizarre abbreviations for everything? And interest rates are simply the cat's meow.

[Captain Awful]

But economics is SO INTERESTING! Who doesn't love looking at charts and graphs and using somewhat bizarre abbreviations for everything? And interest rates are simply the cat's meow.

Freakonomics is more along the lines of the "bizarre" part of economics. In fact, most economic books are trying to be more like Freakonomics due to its success. Most of the book is about why abortion keeps crime rate low, and why sumo wrestlers cheat. On the more economical side of things there's The Tipping Point which is pretty good, and the latest I'm reading The Undercover Economist.


Had anyone read the Wheel of Time series?


Too fucking long. I got up to book nine and decided I'd wasted most of my life. It's like Dragon Ball Z, they just keep getting more and more powerful. I had no idea Robert Jordan died, and as unfortunate as it is, it's hilarious. I suggest The Magicians Apprentice (http://www.amazon.com/Magician-Apprentice-Riftwar-Saga-1/dp/0553267604/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1217965574&sr=8-4) to anyone that likes reading a story about an ordinary farm boy becoming god. It's much shorter, has a really good plot, and involves aliens and multiple dimensions.

[Poisonedv]

I suggest reading Ringworld. And Discworld. Or System of the World, or even Flatworld. Or flatland. Or perhaps just The Land

(former working title for "Lord Foul's Bane")

[chuanoplast]

Behavioral economics (what freakonomics is about) is the new hot stuff in the world of economics, and it's pretty interesting and a good intro point into the WORLD OF ECONOMICS.

[Farvana]

Ahahaha, Peeve, I remember Lord Foul's Bane.

I'll sum up my impression:

Thomas Covenant: I'm a leper and it REALLY sucks.

Car runs down TC, TC is magicked to different world

Strangers: We have rock magic. Your wedding ring will save us from our predictable doom.

Stranger Girl: Here is leprosy-curing mud.

TC: RAPE RAPE RAPE

And then I stopped reading.


Discworld, on the other hand, is fantastic. I just started rereading some of my collection last night.

[Poisonedv]

This is pretty predictable, but I found that book pretty predictable.


edit: farvana you damn before-poster

[Farvana]

Blame the Baron von Simulpost, villainous second cousin to our dear orange mascot (what is his name anyhow?).

[Reasonableman]

Orson, you mean? He is a rad octopus. A radtopus, if you get my meaning.

WINK WINK


HINT
The meaning is sex.

And, to be more on-topic, the only thing I have read recently is the Okam-wii manual. Which somehow reminds me: would you call Hotel Dusk Room 215 a book? I mean, that's basically all it is. A book with puzzles before you can turn the page.

[chuanoplast]

No, that's called interactive fiction.

[Soyvoyage]

I am reading myself some Discworld at the moment, it makes a refreshing change from the punctuation free pretend diaries of Ned Kelly, which I had to read for English. Also, Ankh-Morpork is Massive (http://kefka.purplesunset.co.uk/Ankh-Morpork.gif). That map is from this Discworld MUD (http://discworld.atuin.net/lpc/index.html) it seems I am not really in the right mindset to play it now, but a few more books and a rainy day should immerse me.

[Poisonedv]

By making MUDs so complicated they sap all the fun out of them
LORD4LIFE

[Farvana]

I never could get into MUDs.

Sure, you could do damn near anything. There wasn't anything to do that was any fun, though.

[Captain Awful]

I played a lot of MUDs in computer class, which kind of surprises me. In retrospect, I guess no one bothered to block the telnet port. It was so easy to get lost in those games.

[Soyvoyage]

It was so easy to get lost in those games.

Don't know where the hell I am lost, or immersed in story lost, because I would like to get involved in the latter. I am fine with most text adventures, but these MUDs just end up being confusing and user unfriendly.

[Captain Awful]

Don't know where the hell I am lost, or immersed in story lost.

'Don't know where the hell I am' lost. There was one I played that had an ascii map, it was pretty awesome. Unfortunately the map was 5 characters by 5 characters, so if you're in... a desert, or something, you're still lost as fuck. It doesn't help that a lot of MUDs incorporate user generated content, which is EVEN more confusing. It's a huge mistake to give a monkey the ability to create his own text paradise.

[Reasonableman]

My father was going through the basement with me recently, and he happened across his two compendiums (one paperback, one leather-bound hardcover) of "Watchmen." I spent the next hour or so polishing off (not literally, of course) the paperback one as we watched "The X-Files" together. It was really quite good, and I am now looking forward to the moviefilm that is to be released in some months.

[Soyvoyage]

It's a huge mistake to give a monkey the ability to create his own text paradise.

I had to find that out the hard way.

[Twyatt]

I'm working my way through 'In a Glass Darkly,' which is a collection of gothic psychological stories from the 1800s (It's a lot better than I made it sound).

I'm going through a classic book phase at the moment; next comes Dracula, then Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Whee!

[Poisonedv]

I got "Survivor" by chuck paluhniuk and The Illiad. by homer. i dont know which ones better

[Dan]

The one that isn't Chuck Paluhniuk.

[Poisonedv]

The one that isn't Chuck Paluhniuk.

garr garr garr i hate anything that has pop culture value

[Dan]

Not at all. It's just that Chuck keeps writing the same book over and over again, and it's not even a particularly good book. I think Fight Club might be the only case in which a movie was significantly better than the novel it was based on.

[Poisonedv]

Actually I agree- and also, that was self-parody

[Patrick Alexander]

It's just that Chuck keeps writing the same book over and over again,

Yes, but, Survivor is the best version.

[Poisonedv]

I have to look in the glossary in The Illiad 20 times per page

[Captain Awful]

Not at all. It's just that Chuck keeps writing the same book over and over again, and it's not even a particularly good book. I think Fight Club might be the only case in which a movie was significantly better than the novel it was based on.

Survivor was great. I hate you and spit on your ideals.

Was Lullaby any good? I've actually ONLY read Survivor.

I read some Gojiro book, maybe I'm not hip, or intelligent enough, or whatever, but god damn that book was over my head.

[Patrick Alexander]

'Lullaby' had some great ideas but reads like an early draft, unfortunately. Worth a read, though.

[Kaatridge]

I am reading the Baldurs Gate novel again, because I have nothing better to read. It is still good.



YEAH I READ BOOKS BASED ON GAMES SHUTUP

[Poisonedv]

So, guys, I have a small book collection (physically that is, my ebooks are in the dozen thousands) of around 100 or so, and 1 bookshelf that barely fits them all, what is the best method of organizing them?

[Reasonableman]

Stack them in haphazard mounds that spill over the sides of the shelves. That's what I do.

[Poisonedv]

Stack them in haphazard mounds that spill over the sides of the shelves. That's what I do.

im simultaneously the most messy, disorganized person you will ever meet, and a clean-obsessed neatfreak with a compulsive need for organization

[Reasonableman]

Strangely, so am I.




That was a short post.

[The flying banana]

As am I. This board summons all those who can get obsessive about organisation.

My bookshelves have their own, private organisation method which only I know. And woe betide he who rearranges them.

[chuanoplast]

Stack them horizontally, not vertically, or just put books horizontally on top of vertical ones. That way you can pile books by category, author, size, and title. (I have the same problem.)

Lately I've been re-reading a ton of Russian literature. Gogol short stories, to be specific. Suggestions: "Taras Bulba" for the adventurous and "The Nose" for everyone.

[The flying banana]

I order them by author, and in order they were written, mostly. It's more limited by size of book, since some of the shelves are slightly low.

As some may have caught me ranting, I love anything written by Terry Pratchett, Robert Rankin, or James Bibby. 'Hollow chocolate bunnies of the apocalypse' or 'Good omens' are well worth reading, as are the Ronan books.

[Demaar]

I wouldn't say it's an excellent book, but I'm currently reading The Naked Empire by Terry Goodkind, from the Sword of Truth series.

Series started off pretty good, you know, standard fantasy stuff (no matter how much Goodkind professes otherwise). After about the 6th or so book though, the main character starts essentially becoming a political/philosophical mouth piece for the author. This wouldn't be a problem, but it goes completely against the character's personality. By Naked Empire even the narration is starting do much the same thing, and it's completely without subtlety which makes it worse.

[Captain Awful]

What'd you guys think of House of Leaves? I enjoyed it.

[va5el1ne]

I am reading Dune by Frank Herbert

[Soyvoyage]

I was reading a translation of 'Beowulf' not so long ago. For the most part the language is pretty simple, but then you will come to a part where he says something like "They had killed giants" and you'll just be thinking "Damn, that's awsome!"
Also, everyone in the story is really nice to each other, they're giving each other golden tabbards and ancient swords all the time, even though one of their thanes will be getting killed about everyday.

Now, re-reading Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, at the same time as Kaatridge. Wonderful stuff as usual.

[Usernamehere]

I typed out a good deal and I pressed something and it went to a new page. Fuck. >=(

Anyhoo, finished Jack Vance's Houses of Iszm, pretty good, haven't read the book on the back of it "Tree of Life" yet.

Started Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?. The two protagonists are both interesting enough to root for both of them, despite the fact that they probably won't get along, what with one keeping the other's bounties in his apartment and all.

[Dan]

Speaking of PKD, I just finished Ubik, and it was excellent. It's ostensibly sci-fi, but really, it reads more like a mystery novel where the whole world is the mystery. Also, unlike a lot of his later novels, it doesn't drift off into overwrought metaphysical acid-babble: it's tight and meticulously structured from beginning to end.

So yes: if you like PKD, and haven't read Ubik, then do it! It's his best novel, I reckon.

[The flying banana]

I'm not a nig fan of sci fi, but ringworld by Larry Niven is worh a look. It follows the standard: 'Mismatching characters shoved into alien environment' routine and carries it off rather well. It's easier to see how the aliens consider humans alien. It's just a shame all the sequels suck so very much.

[va5el1ne]

I am finally reading Watchmen. It's been on my list for ages and I finally had money to buy it. It's really good

[TheDarkPrince]

I'm just wading through John Dies at the End (http://www.johndiesattheend.com), which I think most people here would really enjoy reading.

It starts losing pace as it goes on, but by that point I was hooked anyway and just wanted to see what happens.

The easiest way to describe it would be if Douglas Adams wrote the Script to Millenium.

[Trace]

I just finished Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson and it was excellent. I especially liked the wave speech (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear_and_Loathing_in_Las_Vegas#The_.22wave_speech. 22). With the amount of drugs Thompson consumed, I'm surprised he didn't die earlier.

[aubergine]

I'm currently reading the novel "Jonothan Strange & Mr Norrell" which is slow moving but intriguing alternate history of English Magicians.

[Usernamehere]

I just finished Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson and it was excellent. I especially liked the wave speech (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear_and_Loathing_in_Las_Vegas#The_.22wave_speech. 22). With the amount of drugs Thompson consumed, I'm surprised he didn't die earlier.

I've got the DVD of that, coincidentally.

I haven't been reading anything, but I'm interested in Sci-fi now. This must be the destiny of all teenaged boys.

[The flying banana]

I haven't been reading anything, but I'm interested in Sci-fi now. This must be the destiny of all teenaged boys.

Eh, I never really got into sci-fi that much. Watched star wars but they're just good movies anyway. (The original trilogy, obviously.)

Still reading my big pile of Rankin novels, but I'm nearly through. I can thorolololy recommend Snuff fiction.

[Dan]

I haven't been reading anything, but I'm interested in Sci-fi now. This must be the destiny of all teenaged boys.
There's nothing wrong with sci-fi so long as it's good sci-fi. My advice? Read lots and lots of Dick. In particular, his short (http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Lies-Collected-Stories-Philip/dp/0586207643/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1224451100&sr=8-3) story (http://www.amazon.com/Second-Variety-Collected-Stories-Philip/dp/0806512261/ref=pd_sim_b_2) collections (http://www.amazon.com/Remember-Wholesale-Collected-Stories-Philip/dp/0806512091/ref=pd_sim_b_1). They are excellent and good and excellent.

[EJ]

lots and lots of Dick

*snigger*





I'm sorry.

[The flying banana]

Just got Paddington here and now. I loved the books as a child, so I have big hopes for it. Unfortunately my dad got to it first, so I'm going to have to wait until he finishes it.

[Twyatt]

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is nothing like I expected it to be. I expected that it would be a Frankenstein - esque monster book, but it is more like the good detective novels of old.

My copy also had a vampire story and one about snatching corpses for science (The Body snatcher, I think?) which are also pretty good, but more direct and concise than Dr Jekyll.

All in all, an awesome book. I have a better understanding of Robert Loius Stevenson now.

[annie]

A book by China Mieville that won't crush your brain (as I've heard others could be liable to do) on account of it's a kids' fantasy book: Un Lun Dun. (The story includes trash cans serving as armoured guards, or, as they prefer to be called, 'binjas'.)

[Kaatridge]

I just got two game books, 'Collins Game Art' and 'The Art of Producing Games'. I am finding them both interesting.

[The flying banana]

Nation, by Terry Pratchett. It's a wonderful look at the devolution and evolution of a religion.

[Reasonableman]

"The Death of Common Sense: How Law is Suffocating America."

Sounds like anarchist propaganda, but it isn't!

[Ham Denture]

You do know there's more to the HHGTTG series besides that one right? Or did you just start and finish in the middle?

[Farvana]

You do know there's more to the HHGTTG series besides that one right? Or did you just start and finish in the middle?

Yeah, you know that big button on the bottom right of every post? The one that says "QUOTE"?

Use it.

[Scribe]

Has anyone finished The Saga of Seven Suns by Kevin J. Anderson? I got midway through book 3 and just.. stopped. I'm not sure why, I was really enjoying them. Are they worth picking back up and going with?

My other options are World War Z and Brisingr.

[The flying banana]

After hearing so much goodness about Hitchikers, I've started readin gthem. I'm currently reading Life, the universe and everything, and you may be able to guess since I'm up to the third one I'm enjoying them.

I should really listen to recommendations. Musicwise, I've heard Patrick, Terry Pratchett and the Chapman brothers talk about like TMBG, so I should probably have a listen.

[chuanoplast]

Umberto Eco is fun to read. I recommend The Name of the Rose and Baudolino, especially if you like medieval times and mystery.

[Farvana]

I read Focault's Pendulum and felt a bit let down. A lot of the same themes as the Illuminatus! trilogy, but less interesting.

[va5el1ne]

I just read I Am America (And So Can You!) by Stephen Colbert

He is such a wise man

[Daisy Chubb]

He is a wise man (:

I'm a huge Stephen King fan, so I'm biased when I say: read The Stand, it's a classic. I'm on Lisey's Story right now.. it's not too bad.

And the Wheel of Time series is pretty kickin.

[chuanoplast]

The above-mentioned Eco books are easier to read and not as full of trivia.

[esilence]

jPod by Douglas Coupland is a pretty funny book about a group of video game programmers who work in a cubicle style office.

[Farvana]

And the Wheel of Time series is pretty kickin.

Robert Jordan dying while writing the last book was more enjoyable than the hundred or so pages I read in the first.

EDIT: Oh god, I just noticed that you're using colors. I'd ask you to stop if it wasn't a fairly reasonable color.

[va5el1ne]

He is a wise man (:

I'm a huge Stephen King fan, so I'm biased when I say: read The Stand, it's a classic. I'm on Lisey's Story right now.. it's not too bad.

And the Wheel of Time series is pretty kickin.

The Stand is my favourite Stephen King novel. It's fantastic


I started Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami today.
I really like Wind-Up Bird Chronicle.

[rhystuck]

Just changed my facebook & MSN status to piss off/gross out the Twilight fans: "Edward could feed off Bella's blood once a month couldn't he?"

[munroe]

I'm poking through a Bill Hicks collection of interviews and show transcripts, and it's a great read on the can, let me tell you.

[Seaborgium]

Just changed my facebook & MSN status to piss off/gross out the Twilight fans: "Edward could feed off Bella's blood once a month couldn't he?"

I'm pretty sure they get off to stuff like that
i know i do

[va5el1ne]

Just changed my facebook & MSN status to piss off/gross out the Twilight fans: "Edward could feed off Bella's blood once a month couldn't he?"

Haha

I am ashamed to admit this, but I read the series. My friend was going on and on about it so I read Twilight. Then I had to finish it to know how it ended.

It is absolute trash. I watched the film online and skipped through it. It was so boring

[munroe]

This is sorta unrelated, but I see your Twilight and raise you a Let The Right One In.

...but seriously it's an amazing film about a vampire(who is 12) that murders humans and doesn't feel bad about it. The kid next door sucks at life, and he becomes friends with the vampire after it gives him good bully advice. Also, the cinematographer should be given the blowjob of his choice from any lady (or fella) that he wants, because he rules at contrasting the stark snowy white of a Swedish winter against the crimson red of human blood. Highly recommended.

[filth]

Stephen King's Dark Tower series is a master piece, I dare you to defy it.