Topic: Books, Anyone? (Blasphemy!)

[IceCold]

Some of you, I'm sure, will think I'm a raving lunatic, but I like books more than videogames.. Sure, you could argue that games are more interactive and stimulating because of the audiovisual aspect, but to me, I get engrossed with some books. Can't say the same for games. Maybe when I first played SMB (Lemieux & Siblings, not Primate & Sphere), but still..

So anyway, I'm in a bit of a predicament here. I don't have a suitable book to read.. That's where you come in. This thread is designed for recommendations and discussions of books worth reading.

Let me tell you my situation. For the past few months, I've been (bound and) covered as far as books go. Upon recommendation from my dad, I started reading books by Jeffrey Archer. I read five lengthy ones, but now I'm on a bit of a hiatus. If there's someone who has read his books in this forum, I'll be extremely surprised. But he's got some great ones. Two out of the five that I enjoyed were Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less and First Among Equals. The second one is boring to most people, but I'd recommend the first one to anyone; it's short, sweet and entertaining. During this time, I've also read The Penelopiad (Margaret Atwood). I'd tell you more about all of these books, but I don't want to write too much.

Now that I'm done these books, I'm looking for anything else. I'm in the mood for a more lighthearted book, but if one of you recommend something that isn't, I don't mind at all. At this point, I can't really be picky. So if there's any way you can help me, please do.

And admins, please don't shut down this thread. I'm not exactly asking for favourite books, but for recommendations and discussion of books. Thanks.

[KDR_11k]

Lighthearted? Go with Pratchett then. Or the Hitchhiker. But since those are pretty much the staple of fantastic literature you've probably read them already. Perhaps Adams's Dirk Gently books, those aren't read by as many as the Hitchhiker.

Moers's The 13 1/2 Lives Of Capteain Blue Bear has plenty of imagination but hurts the suspension of disbelief a bit if you actually understand the laws of physics he's abusing worse than trekkie technobabble.

I suppose literary classics like Brave New World, Fahrenheit 491 or the works of H.G. Wells needn't be mentioned.

[ShyGuy]

Check out anything by Gregory McDonald, great wit.

[nitsu niflheim]

Um, I never fail to be entertained by Dean Koontz, though he's not really lighthearted, but a few books are, like his two Odd Thomas books (Odd Thomas and Forever Odd), and Tick Tock, Life Expectancy and Velocity.

I recently started reading Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series and (okay I only read the first book so far) and it's very funny.  

You could also check out Carl Hiaasen, his books are like mystery-comedies.

Pratical Magic, The Probable Future, and The River King by Alice Hoffman are really great, if you are into magic, or magic-like.

I am fond of the Alex Cross novels by James Patterson, they are easy to read because he likes to use 1-2 page chapters.

Elmore Leonard is pretty good.

[PaLaDiN]

Yeah, I've read Archer. The 11th commandment is still my favorite from him.

If you don't mind science fiction, yeah, you're going to have to pick up hitchhiker, but also Ender's Game, and if you like Ender's Game, Ender's Shadow.

If you don't mind reading the opposite of light-hearted, give the Song of Ice and Fire books a try. Medieval fantasy with gratuitous sex and emphasis on politics, but it's actually a pretty fun read somehow.

[animecyberrat]

Well I wanna make a few recomendations


My favorite books ok all time are A wrinkle in time, its a junior high level I think but still good

to Kill A moking Bird, very good highly recommend,


and (dont flame this is serious suggestion)


THE BIBLE - thats my favorite book of all to read. Although I shamefully admit I dont read it as mcuh as I should and I haven't been a very good Christian lately how I been getting anrgy and what not but I apologize for that again and again.  

[vudu]

I highly recommend You Are Not a Stranger Here by Adam Haslett.  I know it sound like a self-help book, but it's not.  It's another collection of short stories, along the lines of Nine Stories by JD Salinger (which you should also read if you haven't already; same goes for anything else written by Salinger).

You might also want to try something by David Sedaris.  He wrights short stories based on his life (which is really interesting, to say the least.  It's not light light, but it's certainly not dark and depressing.  Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim & Me Talk Pretty One Day are probably his best known books.

As KDR mentioned, I'm steering clear of the classics, but if you want me to name a few (that he didn't) I recommend 1984, Fight Club and anything by Albert Camus (The Stranger, The Plague and The Fall being his best).

[Hostile Creation]

I'm currently reading the Mahabharata, Hindu epic poem translated to prose by William Buck (apparently an excellent rendition).  It's an incredible story, and I highly recommend it, especially if you're into Indian culture.  Only bad thing is the insanely confusing family tree complex, which isn't too bad thanks to the glossary in the back.

I just recently finished reading LAYER CAKE, which is an awesome book, British crime novel.  By J. J. Connolly.  It's highly entertaining, and it's narrated in British gangster lingo.  Very immersive and fun.  The movie (dir. Matthew Vaughn) is also incredible, which is where I learned about the book.

I highly recommend Terry Pratchett for any and all humor.  I think he easily surpasses Douglas Adams as a humor writer; I read Hitchhiker's Guide after reading   Pratchett, and though good, they felt lacklustre in comparison.

Neil Gaiman is the best fantasy writer I know.  I especially recommend the Sandman series and Coraline.  The first is a series of graphic novel, the latter a children's story but an excellent one.

Also, Donald Barthelme.  He's a short story writer, but god he's good.  Post-modern, so expect weirdness.  You can find his stuff online for free reading.

[kirby_killer_dedede]

Listen to HC...I'm Hindu and have heard the story since I was young...it is quite incredible...

[IceCold]

OK, let's see..

I've read most of the classics listed (Pratchett, Hitchhiker, TKAM, 1984 etc). I've also read Ender's Game/Shadow and most of Camus's works in French (haven't read the English versions but I don't think I need to)

However, I haven't come across many of the books listed. I'll be sure to check them out.

Thanks guys!

[wandering]

I'll second the Sedaris reccomendation.

And, if you don't have enough book reccommendations already... Miyazaki's latest recently enticed me to read Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones. It's fantastic.

[couchmonkey]

I just finished re-reading the entire Hitchhiker's Guide, it was fun.  The Life of Pi is pretty interesting, kind of a fantasy book, it has some very light-hearted moments, and some very serious moments.  

[KDR_11k]

Some people liked the Hitchhiker but have never read either of the Dirk Gently books (Dirk Gently's Hollistic Detective Agency, The Long Dark Teatime Of The Soul). That's something that must be fixed.

[nitsu niflheim]

I like the first 3 Hitchhiker books, but the 4th and 5th didn't do anything to really entertain me.

[wandering]

Oh yeah, the 4th and 5th Hitchhiker books are a complete waste of time.

Dirk Gently, on the other hand, is indeed very good. Well, the first one is, anyway. The second one tries to tell the story from the perspective of the brilliant detective, and it doesn't really work.