Recommend me some books

[Jiggz]

Being that my current literary interests are quite challenging reads, I'm looking for something easy, enjoyable and that will be a form of escape from the academic reading I'm currently immersed in.

I've been reading up lately on H.P. Lovecraft, and think I might find his work quite enjoyable. But I'm struggling to figure out where to start. I'm not a huge non-fiction fan, but I think I need to get into it.

I enjoy true crime, horror, science fiction and maybe fantasy.

So, what are you reading, and what can you recommend?

[Tempest]

I haven't been reading as much as I'd like now that I'm out of school, but during one of my classes we had to read one novel every month for the duration of the class (9 months). Over those nine months I ACTUALLY read probably 7 of the 9 books, because two of them were so fucking bad I couldn't get through the first couple chapters (Tuesdays With Morrie and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night, avoid them).

However, a few were outstanding. We read 1984, a book by George Orwell which was surprisingly good (Though I'd already read it before); Lord of the Flies by William Golding, which is probably my favorite book of all time; The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, which is an incredibly powerful book; And Battle Royale by Koushun Takami is actually rather good for reasons other than the inherent blood and gore involved in a class full of students killing each other.

[Chocoholic]

I am the Messenger by Markus Zusack. Amazing book. It's a story about this sarcastic nobody who gets a card in the mail with addresses on it. He then has to figure out what to do at each of the addresses which leads him on this sweet quest.
Since you like crime stories I recommend Martin Pyg by Kevin Brooks. This kid accidentally kills his alcoholic dad and doesn't want to go live with his aunt so he has to figure out what to with the body without alerting the police.
Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo is a good read so far. I'm about halfway through it. Very powerful anti-war story about a quadruple parapalegic. Metallica included footage from the movie in their video for One so it might sound familiar to you.

[Oofie]

because two of them were so fucking bad I couldn't get through the first couple chapters (Tuesdays With Morrie and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night, avoid them).

What is wrong with you?! That book is fantastic, it's amazingly written, and so emotional (which is interesting considering the narrator is supposed to find it difficult to express emotion due to the extreme Autism).

But I suggest:
- Lunar Park by Bret Easton Ellis, which is kind of a mock autobiography/thriller/horror.
- Atomised by Michel Houellebecq, which is 'a dismantling of contemporary society and it's assumptions' according to the sleeve. I don't really know how else to describe it, apart from slightly disturbing.
- Vernon God Little by DBC Pierre, humourous crime. Fantastic, and won the Booker in '03
- The Secret History by Donna Tartt, thriller/crime. One of my personal favourites.

To be honest Jiggzy, I'd imagine you liking Atomised the most out of all of those ^. It's short, but now that I've thought about it, it seems to be the exact sort of book you'd be into. (Coz I know you so well and all :fmita: )

[MSB]

If you like funny/amusing books, I suggest:

Napalm & Silly Putty by George Carlin
When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops by George Carlin
I Am America (And So Can You!) by Stephen Colbert (I have yet to read this one, but my ex won't shut up about it. I skimmed it, and it made me laugh out loud. I'm waiting to borrow it!)

If you haven't read any of Chuck Palahniuk's books, then you probably should. I suggest Survivor as a first read, because it's quick and easy. If you like his writing style, then go for Invisible Monsters and Choke. Save Haunted for a day when you don't intend to eat. It takes a lot to gross me out, but I cringed a few times during that book.

[I eat shit for a living]

I don't have nearly enough time as I'd like to read, and so haven't read all that many books. But I'll put in my two-cents.
I'm not into non-fiction either, but I have read Anthony Keidis' autobiography, Scar Tissue. It's an awesome read, covering his childhood, the forming of the Chilis, his inspiration and passion for music and his then out-of-control drug use.
Other non-fiction books that I haven't read but are on my to-read list are
A Short History Of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson (title says it all) Evolving the Alien by Ian Stewart and Jack Cohen (the science of extraterrestrial life)
History's Greatest Hits by Joseph Cummings (summaries of a wide variety of famous events, from Custer's Last Stand to D-Day).
I mainly read Terry Pratchett's Discworld series (there are alot of them). A great mix of fantasy, comedy and satire.
I also remember there being suggestions of getting a book sub-forum. If that never happens, I suggest making a thread when you come across a particularly good book, and giving it a review.
Also I loved The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night. I picked it up randomly at a mate's place and couldn't put it down.

[Jiggz]

I'm not into non-fiction either, but I have read Anthony Keidis' autobiography, Scar Tissue. It's an awesome read, covering his childhood, the forming of the Chilis, his inspiration and passion for music and his then out-of-control drug use.
I mainly read Terry Pratchett's Discworld series (there are alot of them). A great mix of fantasy, comedy and satire..

I've read Scar Tissue. Awesome read. It's amazing he's still alive!

When I was younger I was a huge Terry Pratchett fan. But my interest waned for some reason.

All the other suggestions are awesome. Still hoping someone can enlighten me as to the works of HP Lovecraft...

[Tempest]

I've read Scar Tissue. Awesome read. It's amazing he's still alive!

When I was younger I was a huge Terry Pratchett fan. But my interest waned for some reason.

All the other suggestions are awesome. Still hoping someone can enlighten me as to the works of HP Lovecraft...

Lovecraft is awesome, but it's really some psychological trippy shit. As for where to start, I would suggest just picking up one of the many compilation books of his, and start from the beginning. It's tough to get into them at first because they're rather unconventional, but they're very interesting. Obviously you're going to hear about the Call of Cthulhu, but The Thing On The Doorstep, The Tree, He, The White Ship.. All of his stuff is good, so if you like one story by him, you'll probably like them all.

[MSB]

One of the most fascinating books I ever read is The Serial Killer Files by Harold Schechter. It's pretty lengthy, but it documents the most well-known serial killers of all time (and some you haven't heard of). Really interesting read, and if you're wary about crime scene photos, no worries -this book has little to none. The pictures that it does have aren't disgusting, and are mostly pictures the killer took of their victims before death, or of the actual killer.

[Tweek]

Have you read Alice's Adventures in Wonderland or Through The Looking Glass and What Alice Found There?

[Jiggz]

One of the most fascinating books I ever read is The Serial Killer Files by Harold Schechter. It's pretty lengthy, but it documents the most well-known serial killers of all time (and some you haven't heard of). Really interesting read, and if you're wary about crime scene photos, no worries -this book has little to none. The pictures that it does have aren't disgusting, and are mostly pictures the killer took of their victims before death, or of the actual killer.

Ah, I'll definitely have a look for it. I'm quite a serial killer fundi though, so I doubt there are any I haven't heard of.

[gtrst7711]

I would certainly recommend The Dark Tower series by Stephen King. It consists of 7 books (The Gunslinger, The Drawing of the Three, The Wastelands, The Wizard and Glass, Wolves of the Calla, Song For Susannah, The Dark Tower) and is not what you would normally expect from King. Its kind of like a western and sci-fi novel mixed into one. A really great read, though pretty lengthy when you add all of the books together, but still very enjoyable.

One thing that is cool about this series is that King ties characters and themes from his other novels into this series. Another novel by him that I would recommend is Hearts in Atlantis. This one is mostly about the Vietnam war and fears that college students and others faced during this time. Another really great read.

Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk is a great one as well. If you liked the movie you'd like the book, or vice versa.

[Demoir]

I highly recommend The Ender's Game series, and also Ender's Shadow. I recommend you read Ender's Game and Ender's Shadow first, then start reading the other ones.

[rolando357]

Neil Gaiman has some great books, like American Gods, and Anasai boys. they are great fantasy books, with a real world twist. Another one i would recommend is Lamb, the gospel according to biff, christ's childhood friend by christopher moore. this book is just hailarious. check it out :boogie:

[yertse]

You said you were into sci-fi? Well ive been reading Frank Herberts Dune for awhile now and its quite captivating. Once u get through the first 100 pages and the story is starting to establish itself it gets intense. He manages throughout the book to immerse you in a society full of religious cults, tyrannical leaders, and fanatic soldiers.

[fabz]

"My Boring-Ass-Life"-By Kevin Smith. If you like his movies, then read that. Although his life is boring, he writes really well and it's a page turner.

"Born Standing Up" By Steve Martin. Another really good book. I find that his not like any of his characters and some of the things he has written about are extremely funny and thought provoking. He talks about honing his craft and formulating his legendary act.


Also, I've been reading up on my favorite fraud, L. Rob Hubbard. His books are hysterically inaccurate.

[this is not a post]

I really liked 'The Righteous Men' by Sam Bourne.

Oh, and 'The Da Vinci Code', but for some reason my English teacher hit me after I told him I was reading it, so maybe keep that one to yourself.

[Mirrorman]

I would certainly recommend The Dark Tower series by Stephen King. It consists of 7 books (The Gunslinger, The Drawing of the Three, The Wastelands, The Wizard and Glass, Wolves of the Calla, Song For Susannah, The Dark Tower) and is not what you would normally expect from King. Its kind of like a western and sci-fi novel mixed into one. A really great read, though pretty lengthy when you add all of the books together, but still very enjoyable.


Oh my god, you have to read these. I just finished the 2nd book like an hour ago and loved it. Moving to the third tomorrow and then waiting until they translate the other ones, shouldn't take long. Those are a must read!

[HappyPalooza]

The Time Machine Did It
How I Conquered Your Planet
The Exploding Detective

All by John Swartzwelder, writer of 59 episodes of "The Simpsons". I've read them all. They're about an slow-witted detective who gets into far out situations, mainly Sci-Fi. Hilarity ensues.

Quoted from the "Funny Books" thread. They're easy reads and very funny if you have that kind of humor. Expensive for such short reads, though, since I'm pretty sure you can only get them on Amazon.com, so there's shipping on top of it.

[Ziggy St. Valentine]

If you liked Scar Tissue, read The Heroin Diaries by Nikki Sixx. Easily the best non-fiction book I have ever read. It's mostly made up of his actual diaries from when he was a full blown heroin and cocaine junkie with inserts from him and other people who were around at the time. It doesn't sound like much, but it's done really well and is well worth the read. Very different to any other book I've read.

[badumpbumpbump]

Hexwood, A fantasy book I still can't understand after reading it a couple times.
The Alice in Wonderland series has some symbolism (according to my brother)
The Alphabet of Manliness is hilarious, as long as you're a guy/not easily offended (Just don't take it seriously.)

[Tweek]

I really liked 'The Righteous Men' by Sam Bourne.

Oh, and 'The Da Vinci Code', but for some reason my English teacher hit me after I told him I was reading it, so maybe keep that one to yourself.
I don't blame him.
While it is based on a good plot, the dialogue is horribly bland and he writes like a kid with downs.

[Jiggz]

"My Boring-Ass-Life"-By Kevin Smith. If you like his movies, then read that. Although his life is boring, he writes really well and it's a page turner.

Also, I've been reading up on my favorite fraud, L. Rob Hubbard. His books are hysterically inaccurate.

Dude, who doesn't love Kevin Smith. I frequent his blog, so I'll probably enjoy the book. I just hope his spelling in the book is better than on his blog.

L. Rob Hubbard? Is that L Ron Hubbard, or someone else?

[Jallen]

A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess: It is worth every single bit of the read. It's an amazing story about a world overrun by teenage gangs and invented a new language called Nadsat, a mix between Russian and English. It's really fun to figure out the meaning of each word.

I also reccommend I am America! (And so Can You!) by Stephen Colbert. It's a perfect satire of the extremely conservative American. It's absolutely hilarious.

[fabz]

Dude, who doesn't love Kevin Smith. I frequent his blog, so I'll probably enjoy the book. I just hope his spelling in the book is better than on his blog.

L. Rob Hubbard? Is that L Ron Hubbard, or someone else?

If you read his blog, you've already read the book, so some money.

L. Rob Hubbard is a prolific comedy writer. He's got 50 books and all of them are hysterical.

L. Ron Hubbard is a douche and a fraud.

[Quadros]

Read Mien Kampf. It'll really make you think.

[Jiggz]

So which one are you reading?

[fabz]

So which one are you reading?

I'm actually reading up on L. Ron Hubbard. It's interesting to see a man that was so delusional get so many followers so fast.

[Antisaint]

As someone mentioned earlier, both Ender's Game and Ender's Shadow (along with their subsequent books) by Orson Scott Card are excellent Sci-Fi reads. The series following Ender is more philosophy/relationship oriented, and the series following Bean is more focused on war.

Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchet is a hilarious take on the apocalypse, but I don't recommend it if you take religion too seriously.

The Wheel of Time series, by Robert Jordan, is a fantastic fantasy series. If you liked Lord of the Rings, you'll beat off to this series. It's just too bad he died before completing the final book (another author is writing it, using his notes).

And finally, The General by Robert Lecke is great if you enjoy military fiction.

[ToastmasterAlpha]

I know it's a bit cliché by now, but I still recommend Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide series. It's silly and funny as hell. For some satire that's a bit more intelligent, try Jospeh Heller's Catch-22. A classic.

[Chriz]

If you wish to read one of the most excellant tales of the modern human mind, read the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind, its a 9 book epic that stands strongly out from the sterotypical fantasy genre.

Or to do your imagination justice, read His Dark Materials. It seems wrong for me to say that, because Hollywood once again took a fantastic piece of work, and took a steamy dump all over it.

[John Travolta]

Chuck Palahniuk is a shitty writer, in all honesty.

Vonnegut books are always great, but the only one that I would really recommend would be Slaughterhouse-5.

A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn will ruin you if you believe everything your history teachers have told you.

Catch-22 is pretty good, but I've only read about 100 pages, so I couldn't give you a great recommendation.

And Tempest, how the fuck were you reading all of those great books in school while we had to read Gatsby and Grapes of Wrath?

[Desert]

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (and Huckleberry Finn, that book too). Great book.

A Separate Peace.

[Chocoholic]

For a book that's more Science Fiction try the Ring series by Koji Suzuki. It's what the Ring movies were based off of. In all actually, the movies and books have very little in common besides a tape that kills people. The books are great but I definitely recommend you know some stuff about biology and cellular reproduction (a highschool class is good enough). The trilogy is amazing though. The last book will blow your mind.

[BKS]

I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell by Tucker Max is ALWAYS a good read, no matter what genre you like.


The Dark Tower Series is my favorite of all time and if you like sci-fi/horror/western/action/humor/whatever, you'll like the series.

[Dresden]

The Complete Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams is an EXCELLENT book. It's a perfect mix of science fiction and the best frickin' comedy you'll ever read. He's a genius.

Or if you're in the mood for a fantasy series that will occupy LOTS of your time, the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan is a good pick too. Very long series (11 books so far, the 12th hasnt come out yet, and each book is at least 600 pages) and very original. It isn't the elves/orcs/magic type of fantasy. It's got its own thing. You'll have to read it to 100% understand what I mean by that. Trust me, it's good. The Sword of Truth by Terry Goodkind is in the same boat as Wheel of Time.

Anything by Robert Heinlein is excellent. My personal favorite of his is A Stranger in a Strange Land. Very deep, makes you think a lot, lots of really interesting ideas presented. The Moon is a Harsh Mistress is another good one of his.

[barnesy111]

One series I particularly enjoyed was Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials Trilogy. I suppose it's technically fantasy, but some of it is science fiction too, it's definitely worth a read.

[1Purpleshirtedeyestabber1]

Hunting Humans, by Elliot Leyton
Deviant, by Harold Schecter (i think thats how to spell it)
To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee
Black Like Me, John Howard Griffen
Kiss the Girls, James Patterson (Good for an entertaining Crime/Thriller)

Hope you enjoy any of these. Read Black Like Me, its amazing.

[CheesePlease]

I'm not sure what genre it would fit into but The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks is an excellent and fun read, the title pretty much says what it's all about. Also another book by him named World War Z is equally as awesome to read. World War Z is an oral retelling of the zombie apocalypse. I like zombies.

I also recommend Night Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko. It's of the horror/fantasy genre, but leaning more into horror. It's about two supernatural groups who are at war with each other. The Day Watch and the Night Watch. Here's the Wiki for more information on the basic plot. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_Watch_(Russian_novel)) If you enjoy that then I suggest you pick up the rest of series; Day Watch, Twilight Watch and Final Watch. The first novel has also been adapted into two movies (Night Watch and sequel Day Watch) in case you're interested.

[Hats of!]

2001
Animal Farm
1984
I, Robot
Dirk Gently series

[Krabby]

What is wrong with you?! That book is fantastic, it's amazingly written, and so emotional (which is interesting considering the narrator is supposed to find it difficult to express emotion due to the extreme Autism).

We had to read this for school last year (for english, I'm belgian). I actually quite liked it.

Other than that, I'd suggest the novels by Clive Cussler. Most of them feature Dirk Pitt, director special operations in the NUMA, some marine research thing. He does all kinds of stuff.. they're good reads.

And.. Well, probably obvious but I like the Dan Brown and Harry Potter books.

[Hats of!]

I don't like block-buster books. Atleast many of them.
I love the stories, but I tend to disalike the way they're written.

[Wild5Chef]

I really enjoyed reading Firestorm by David Klass. His style of writing is a little unorthadox, but after a little while you get used to it. Its the first part of a trilogy and I have been waiting for the second.

[xkittenxsocksx]

kahlil gibran's the prophet

It's a spiritual read but it's a cheery one at that.

[Jiggz]

kahlil gibran's the prophet

It's a spiritual read but it's a cheery one at that.

My mom and girlfriend have this book. I tried giving it a read but found my cynicism made it difficult to absorb.

Maybe I'll give it another go.

[cosmosforest]

Someone mentioned 'A Short History of Nearly Everything', and I would like to second that recommendation.
Personally, I would recommend Stephen King's 'The Stand', a post-apocalyptic battle between good and evil - always fun!!

Another good book would be Yann Martel's 'The Life of Pi' - that was just so weird I couldn't put it down til I reached the end.

[xkittenxsocksx]

My mom and girlfriend have this book. I tried giving it a read but found my cynicism made it difficult to absorb.

Maybe I'll give it another go.

Yeah I just use it as confirmation that life doesn't exist, plus it's funny as hell when he talks about religion and it's purity.

umm try:

dostoevsky - the brothers karamazov
bukowski - ham on rye

[this is not a post]

Another good book would be Yann Martel's 'The Life of Pi' - that was just so weird I couldn't put it down til I reached the end.
Oh my God yes. I loved that book, but none of my friends believed it was a true story.
I enjoyed every second of it, so damn good.

[Pieman]

As said a few times before, The Wheel of Time series. Its awesome incarnate and long as hell. 11 books with one incoming and 3(?) prequels.

The Shannara Series. Well, technically it has 4 series' but they're all the same storyline (The Word and The Void series turns out to be part of it)

I'm a fantasy nerd :)

[Triple J]

King Dork The only really truthful book about The Catcher in the Rye, Sex, High School, and coming up with band names.

[Jiggz]

So I go to the local book franchise with my list of authors, the big ones mentioned here. And they had not one fucking book by any of the prolific authors you guys mentioned!

They didn't even have 1984!

Anyway, a friend recommended I should read the Hitchhikers Guide series. I remember the movie, I really enjoyed the narrative where he went off on rambling tangents, which I assume is an element from the books.

Any thoughts? Worth a try?

[Xambesi]

If you're into fantasy definitely check out Jack Vance. I'm not usually a huge fan of the genre, but he is insanely excellent.

And the hitchhiker's guide is great- it's hilarious, cult classic. Number four is mad depressing though.

[Oofie]

Anyway, a friend recommended I should read the Hitchhikers Guide series. I remember the movie, I really enjoyed the narrative where he went off on rambling tangents, which I assume is an element from the books.

Any thoughts? Worth a try?

They're a lot of fun and very well written. They are easy-reads though, so don't expect too much intellectual stimulation or anything :fmita:

[cosmosforest]

They didn't even have 1984!

Anyway, a friend recommended I should read the Hitchhikers Guide series. I remember the movie, I really enjoyed the narrative where he went off on rambling tangents, which I assume is an element from the books.

Any thoughts? Worth a try?

Are you serious about the lack of 1984? Pardon the pun, but it's 2008 now - they've gotta get themselves in gear and with the times!!

And the HitchHiker's Guide is a lifesaver - or so I thought after it got me through a very rough work placement for college! The film, while endorsed by Douglas Adams, didn't live up to the quality of the books,and the humour was not as good!

[Jiggz]

That's the point of this little excursion, I'm looking for easy-to-read stuff to take my mind of intellectual concerns.

I've been trying to figure it out, but can't seem to; how many books are there? Apparently I can get a version that has all of them in one?

[cosmosforest]

That's the point of this little excursion, I'm looking for easy-to-read stuff to take my mind of intellectual concerns.

I've been trying to figure it out, but can't seem to; how many books are there? Apparently I can get a version that has all of them in one?

Of the Hitchikers guide? You can get all of them in one book - called 'A Trilogy in Four Parts'. That has the 4 books of the Guide.
I would also recommend 'The Salmon of Doubt'. It was published after Adams died, and it has some of the last book he was working on, and also has a lot of articles and letters he wrote. It's kind of like a biography, but it's funny as the HitchHikers Guide!

[CharlieH]

Digital Fortress by Dan Brown

[TheOtherWhiteMeat]

If you might delve into the Fantasy region of the literature spectrum, I'd suggest the Inheritance Series. They are easy to read, but long. They've got a lot of adventure, action, and an interesting take on magic and how it can be used. The first two books are currently out, and another two are due soon. Eragon and Eldest are the names of the first, I believe.

[Zephyrus]

I agree with Theotherwhitemeat about the Inheritance series. It's listed and young adult literature, but are well written and very good reads. Just don't watch the movie after you read the book because it will leave you shaking your going what the hell was the writer/director thinking.

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas- Very good book. Gets very slow at times, but the end is well worth it

Tom Clancy is one of favorite authors. His books are a mix of military, spy, and political action

But, for a book that won't tax your brain and is a very good read, I recommend Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt series. When I start reading one of his books, I find it very hard to put down before I finish it. His non-fiction books, Sea Hunters and Sea Hunters 2, are also worth reading as they cover the escapades and discoveries of the real NUMA crew.

[cunninglynguist]

2001
Animal Farm
1984
I, Robot
Dirk Gently series

yeah those books are pretty good too. here are some more I am legend, Napalm and Silly Putty, Brain Droppings, Slaughterhouse 5, The Alchemist, My Bloody Life, Once a King Always a King, Catcher in a Rye and The Giver. Thats all i have for now.

[jewishjosh]

That's the point of this little excursion, I'm looking for easy-to-read stuff to take my mind of intellectual concerns.
They didn't have 1984???? Now that I've finally picked it up off my floor (I'm 2/3 of the way through) I can officially recommend it as a must-read. I can put it down, but it's still really pulling me in. It's not as intellectual as it seems, it's pretty easy to absorb and almost satirical in a sense. Slaughterhouse-Five is similar to 1984 in that it's easy to grasp while not being too basic. If you don't want something too intellectual, pick Vonnegut over Orwell.

Speaking of easy to absorb satire, you can't go wrong with I Am America if you're looking for a light read. It wasn't as good as I expected but it's a bit refreshing.

Tom Clancy's okay for a light, fast-paced, not too heady adventure, but I found his books unbearably long. Any other adventure books would be fine.

[Raxo]

yeah those books are pretty good too. here are some more I am legend, Napalm and Silly Putty, Brain Droppings, Slaughterhouse 5, The Alchemist, My Bloody Life, Once a King Always a King, Catcher in a Rye and The Giver. Thats all i have for now.

The Giver is a very easy read. It's like 1984 Lite but still amusing.

[coldfreak]

i liked "cell" by stephen king (it could be "the cell" i kind of forget)
and then "it" by stephen king
im just kinda a fan of his what with all the suspense and such, "cell" starts off really quick, theres no immediatte background, its just like BAM! then stuff is slowly revealed, and ther is a twist in it near the end

[cosmosforest]

Tom Clancy's okay for a light, fast-paced, not too heady adventure, but I found his books unbearably long. Any other adventure books would be fine.

I like Tom Clancy, but his books do go into a lot of detail. Take 'The Sum of All Fears', for example. I loved 'Debt of Honour' though. It kept in the Jack Ryan franchise, but it was building up John Clark's character and history, which was needed if the latter Jack Ryan books were going to include him.

As for Stephen King, I think The Stand is his best work, although the Richard Bachman books (The Running Man would probably be the most popular of those) are refreshing if you've been on a King binge. The Long Walk is my favourite Bachman book.

[John Travolta]

The Giver was surprisingly well written.

It's funny how books that are very easy to read are so great. The Hatchet is another example.

[Trevorp1594]

Fahrenheit 451 is a pretty good book, one of my favorites.

[Demoir]

I forgot about I, Robot, it's a fantastic collection of stories. If you've seen the movie and you are thinking about reading the book, the movie has absolutely fuck all to do with the book (besides the title, and the 3 laws of robotics).

[Jiggz]

Tom Clancy's okay for a light, fast-paced, not too heady adventure, but I found his books unbearably long. Any other adventure books would be fine.

I had a dream about a month ago in which I was fighting in what seemed to be Vietnam. I shot a few intruders, when someone from a shot up apartment building threw down a CD, which I was told to play, the artists name was Tom Clancy.

I woke up the next morning and remembered all of this. Except, at that stage, I had no idea who Tom Clancy was. Until I did some research and found he's a writer of military fiction. Weird.

Anyway, not really my scene. the others seem good suggestions though, thanks.

[Wowbagger]

Matthew Pearl's The Dante Club, and The Poe Shadow. Great books.

[RebelWithoutASauce]

I recomend:

The Puppet Masters By Robert Heinlein. This is the book that the classic film "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" was very loosely based upon. It's straightforward and very entertaining. The writing style is excellent to just read and not even feel like you're reading. It really carries you along and you don't need to be a science fiction buff to enjoy it.

I, Robot and the rest of the Robot series by Issac Asimov is also pretty excellent. I loved "The Caves of Steel".

[M3G4N]

I recomend:

The Puppet Masters By Robert Heinlein. This is the book that the classic film "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" was very loosely based upon. It's straightforward and very entertaining. The writing style is excellent to just read and not even feel like you're reading. It really carries you along and you don't need to be a science fiction buff to enjoy it.

I, Robot and the rest of the Robot series by Issac Asimov is also pretty excellent. I loved "The Caves of Steel".

did you ever read the book "stranger in a strange land" by rober heinlein?
good fucking book.

[timbot]

Being that my current literary interests are quite challenging reads, I'm looking for something easy, enjoyable and that will be a form of escape from the academic reading I'm currently immersed in.


And people are recommending things like The Brothers Karamazov, or The Count of Monte Cristo, or even The Stand? I haven't read The Brothers Karamzov, but I've read Crime and Punishment and, though I enjoyed it, wouldn't list Dostoyevsky as a writer of easy, enjoyable, form-of-escape books.
I haven't read anything by Dumas, but The Count of Monte Cristo is looong.
The Stand is pretty long too, and though I used to be a King fan, I never could get through it.

I don't have any original suggestions, mainly because I don't read much in the way of true crime, fantasy, sci-fi...
I would just second suggestions like Fahrenheit 451, and Animal Farm. Both are pretty easy reads that are smart, but not too taxing on the intellect. Have you read The Exorcist? That's the only other book I can think of right now that's really entertaining...and also really creepy.

[RebelWithoutASauce]

did you ever read the book "stranger in a strange land" by rober heinlein?
good fucking book.



I read that not too long ago, it's really enjoyable. Robert Heinlein really did write some sci-fi classics. I'm amazed I didn't read any of his work until I was 18!

I'm still impressed at how a writer can create so many extremely foreign concepts in a book.

[BlackHawK]

if you like peotry books you'll find this site great
http://www.poemhunter.com/


id adive you to read any book by Carlos Drummond de Andrade, but i dont know if you'll find it in your language :/

USER WAS PUT IN TIMEOUT FOR THIS POST. (http://forums.explosm.net/bankamp/)
Reason: Capitalize and punctuate!

[diableri]

Being that my current literary interests are quite challenging reads, I'm looking for something easy, enjoyable and that will be a form of escape from the academic reading I'm currently immersed in.

I've been reading up lately on H.P. Lovecraft, and think I might find his work quite enjoyable. But I'm struggling to figure out where to start. I'm not a huge non-fiction fan, but I think I need to get into it.

I enjoy true crime, horror, science fiction and maybe fantasy.

So, what are you reading, and what can you recommend?

If you want a taste of Lovecraft without a huge investment, I can't think of anything better than "The Tomb". Try that, if you like it, you'll probably enjoy most of the rest of his stuff.

I'll toss a few suggestions out there that I didn't see mentioned already in the thread. Specifically I got the impression you were looking for EASY reads. Some of the suggestions are fantastic but not what I count as easy reading.

Stupidly fast and easy category:
Christopher Moore Everything besides "Lamb" and "Fluke" would be incredibly easy and worthwhile reads. The mentioned two are both fantastic with "Lamb" rating up there in my top 15 books ever; they just deserve a bit of more attention (than an "easy" read) since they have some really heavy themes even if they are hysterically funny. "Bloodsucking Fiends" and "You Suck!" are both hilarious and great intros into his universe. These two books are a pair as well. Same characters/setting. They would be considered mostly modern day "reality-fantasy". Whatever the hell that means.

Little slower but must reads in my never so humble opinion:
Steven Brust Start with Jhereg. If you find you like his style and his main character, Vlad; have at the entire series. Also very funny in places. This is high fantasy in a nearly noir style.

Roger Zelazny The Chronicles of Amber. You can get 10 of them in one paperback called something like "The Great Book of Amber" or something along those lines. I've seen it a few times at the big stores for like $15. That is a steal. They are funny, pretty fast and have some great old fashion story telling in them. This is WAY high fantasy. Don't fret the first 40 pages or so, just go with it.

Not fast, but so damn good it shouldn't matter category:
Heinlein Just about anything. I would save already mentioned "Stranger in a Strange Land" for a time when you have some and are willing to be mind blown. I personally think it's that good. "Moon is a Harsh Mistress" is also great, but not a fast read imo although it is short. It's heavy and may be one of the greatest rebellion tales every told. If I had to intro someone to Heinlein, I guess I'd pick "The Number of the Beast" or "Puppet Masters" as good intros. Really though, you can't go wrong with this author imo and Stranger should be read by anyone that considers themselves "well read". Most of his stuff is Sci Fi but it all has underlying heavy themes which he masterfully weaves into the stories.

Larry Niven Begin with "Ringworld" and by the time you hit "Protector" you'll wonder why you never heard of these books before now. High Sci Fi. Funny, poignant and great lasting characters. These have the bonus that if you the Ringworld books are not enough, The Known Universe as his universe has come to be known (haha, that's a great use of a phrase right? RIGHT?! ok, I'm sorry) has spawned tons of work by himself and by other heavy duty authors. Most of it is worth reading amazingly. Just excellent Sci Fi. Niven has a gift for the technical stuff, that's the only thing I can think of that MIGHT turn some people off. He talks a bit about how the nutty stuff he writes about works but he doesn't belabor it.

Frederik Pohl The Heechee Saga. This series begins with "Gateway". Wow. Fantastic classic Sci Fi. This series has a bit of a seafaring feel to it but it's all out space travel stuff.

Honorable mention:
Frank Herbert As already mentioned in this thread, the Dune books are fantastic but they are definitely an acquired taste. Not everyone is going to like them. If you do though, god help you because they're great and huge. The book that I have to mention though that is an absolute MUST READ for anyone in Econ, Poli Sci, Anthro, Sociology, Law or any humanities really is called: "The Dosadi Experiment". Get this book, read it. If you enjoy reading, this one will work. Period. It's fairly simple and fast which is a rarity for this author. It has a fantastic storyline, a great lead character and the kind of twist that M. Knight gets a hard on over but is actually cool. One more time, get "The Dosadi Experiment". In fact, just thinking about how great this damn book is spawned me ordering it again to reread.

There are tons more, I'm a bit of a book nut since I'm lucky with being able to read em pretty quick. I tried to keep it to books that are easy to read in that they won't require any effort for you to keep going. A few of them peter out towards the end of the series as it becomes obvious the authors must have "lost" something along the way, but they're all damned good.

Have fun! Thanks for starting a topic that got me thinking about truly great easy reads. I'm running really low on stuff and wouldn't mind revisiting some of these. Make sure to let us know what you picked and what you think of them.

[landofsandman]

Honorable mention:
Frank Herbert As already mentioned in this thread, the Dune books are fantastic but they are definitely an acquired taste. Not everyone is going to like them. If you do though, god help you because they're great and huge. The book that I have to mention though that is an absolute MUST READ for anyone in Econ, Poli Sci, Anthro, Sociology, Law or any humanities really is called: "The Dosadi Experiment". Get this book, read it. If you enjoy reading, this one will work. Period. It's fairly simple and fast which is a rarity for this author. It has a fantastic storyline, a great lead character and the kind of twist that M. Knight gets a hard on over but is actually cool. One more time, get "The Dosadi Experiment". In fact, just thinking about how great this damn book is spawned me ordering it again to reread.



I agree 'the Chronicles of Dune' were a great series, they are a little long, and by long I mean like 500 pages. Its really collage level reading but I started when I was in 6th grade, their pretty cool, but I lost steam around the 4th book which is currently sitting in my desk with a book mark half way through. I also recommend ‘Dogsong’ and ‘The Hatchet’, and if you have maybe an afternoon to kill I suggest you read the book 'The Little Prince' its a children’s book but it’s a damn good children’s book.
Oh and I almost forgot about the Flashman series they're very funny and sometimes erotic:heya:.

[MaxAlcolo]

Jiggz, I don't know where you're from, but would you be able to read french books ?
If so, I might have some suggestions. Otherwise I don't think I can suggest anything, seeing as I haven't read many english books in my life.

[TheFirstFormat]

A book that I really enjoyed (to the point of re-reading it several times) was The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. It's a science-fiction/borderline-drama book. If you're into a more contemporary fiction book, you may want to check out Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer. Both of these I have read more than once, and thoroughly enjoyed.

[timbot]

A book that I really enjoyed (to the point of re-reading it several times) was The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. It's a science-fiction/borderline-drama book. If you're into a more contemporary fiction book, you may want to check out Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer. Both of these I have read more than once, and thoroughly enjoyed.

Oh, have you read Everything is Illuminated by Foer? I just finished it and really liked it. It made me want to read Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, but I haven't, yet. Glad to finally hear someone mention it.

[Oodge]

Echoes of the Great Song by David Gemmell is a good book to take you away

[GCBC]

A book that I really enjoyed (to the point of re-reading it several times) was The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. It's a science-fiction/borderline-drama book. .

^Yes. That is one of my favorite books EVER.

I really hate these book threads, because it's always Vonnegut or the Fight Club guy that people recommend, with little other variation.

I'm going to say Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder, if you haven't read it yet. I recommend this because I know you are interested in philosophy and it touches on all the basic theories and such.

Also, I am going to recommend The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester. It's a biography about the writing of the Oxford English Dictionary. It sounds like it would be a boring book due to the subject matter, but it's really quite fascinating. I've heard it referred to as "an extraordinary tale of madness and genius".

Hope that helps.

[Ventric]

I would have to say something like Lamb by Christopher Moore. It's basically about the supposed "bffl" of Christ himself and, seeing as how the bible has nothing about G-Zus from the time he was born to when he was 30, the angel Raziel ressurects Biff (the bffl's name) in order to fill out all the blank spots.

There's a lot of satirical wit and religious puns and it's very well researched, you might even learn a thing or two!

[timbot]

What the fuck's a bffl? I always steer clear of Christopher Moore's books...they're too bright. Can't judge a book by it's cover they say, but I do.

[purifiedinfire]

HP Lovecraft is my favourite author. the best short stories he wrote (in my opinion) are: the case of charles dextar ward, the call of cthulhu, the dunwich horror, mountains of madness, behind the wall of sleep, and the shadow over insmouth.

another one of my favorite writers is F Paul Wilson, and i just finished reading The Keep, which was outstanding.

[Jonesy1]

Matthew Reily's books, Really good reads there.

[Ambutt]

Double Identity. It definitly makes you want to keep reading. If you like suspense, read it. It took me 3 hours to read.
author=Margaret Haddix

[Ying-Yang-Yong]

Well, anything by Terry Pratchett is always good. His books make you see things in a different way than before- which isn't to say it's heavy reading or anything.

[Halz]

Well, anything by Terry Pratchett is always good. His books make you see things in a different way than before- which isn't to say it's heavy reading or anything.

I agree completely. Reaper Man is a hilarious novel, quite light on the mind too.

[Mr.Tea]

Try Ubik, a great existentialist book that is really just brilliant overall.

[Nexus]

Well, anything by Terry Pratchett is always good. His books make you see things in a different way than before- which isn't to say it's heavy reading or anything.

I too agree, Pratchett is brilliant. If you have read any of the Discworld series, I suggest The Science of Discworld I and II. If you have not read any Reaper Man is good, agreed, but Thief of Time is one of my personal favourites.

Anything by Tom Robbins is also fantastic.

[Redelle]

One author.

Kinky Friedman

Hilarious. (my favourite is Steppin' on a Rainbow)

[Vin]

I too agree, Pratchett is brilliant. If you have read any of the Discworld series, I suggest The Science of Discworld I and II. If you have not read any Reaper Man is good, agreed, but Thief of Time is one of my personal favourites.

Terry Pratchett is fun. You probably won't appreciate all the suggestions for different Pratchett books, but The Guards! Guards! Trilogy is a good read.

Ever hear of the Numa files either by Clive Cussler? A nice cheesy James Bond stylee series of action/adventure novels. Another set of good books.

[drdilly911]

I like the Piers Anthony books
-Cruel lie
-On a pale horse
-Ogre Ogre
-vale of the vole

[abbey]

Alright this thread has gone on long enough.