Can anyone recommend a good book for me to read?

Celia Cyanide · Feb 9, 2007

I am giving up on Ghormenghast. I just can't get into it. I'm looking for something else to try.

I like JT Leroy, William S Burroughs, and Jean-Paul Sartre to name a few.

Adagio · Feb 9, 2007

Celia Cyanide said:
I am giving up on Ghormenghast. I just can't get into it. I'm looking for something else to try.

I like JT Leroy, William S Burroughs, and Jean-Paul Sartre to name a few.

Celia, I do have a list with "good books" but you know how it goes: what I loved reading might not click with you. I found well-written books in various genres. If you are into literary, I'd recommend Shirley Hazzard: Transit of Venus and The Great Fire. Again, it's a matter of personal taste. I love books written by the French contemporary author Sylvie Germain (many translated in English).

I loved Thomas Perry's pshychological thriller Nightlife -- very good review in The New York Times. Actually, first I read the review, it stirred my curiosity and I bought the book. I don't regret it. I like John Katzenbach's The Analyst, another psychological thriller I enjoyed ...

Hope it helps.

Inkdaub · Feb 10, 2007

The People of Paper by Salvador Plascencia is brilliant.

truelyana · Feb 10, 2007

At the moment, I'm reading Jenna's "Make a Real Living as a Freelance Writer: How to Win Top Writing Assignments". I'm enjoying myself. It is definetly, worth a read.

aadams73 · Feb 10, 2007

Celia Cyanide said:
I am giving up on Ghormenghast. I just can't get into it. I'm looking for something else to try.

I like JT Leroy, William S Burroughs, and Jean-Paul Sartre to name a few.

WICKED, by Gregory Maguire. I keep recommending that one to anyone who will listen.

pamelajo · Feb 10, 2007

Lucky By Ann Sebold. She also wrote the Lovely Bones, but I think Lucky is way better.

wyntermoon · Feb 10, 2007

The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter by Sharyn McCrumb. Excellent author and sweet as honey pie in person!

BottomlessCup · Feb 10, 2007

The Dogfighter, by Mark Bojanowski.

WriterInChains · Feb 10, 2007

The best books I've read in the past few weeks (that I think you'll like too) are Clearcut by Nina Shengold, and Dope by Sara Gran.

Akuma · Feb 14, 2007

pamelajo said:
Lucky By Ann Sebold. She also wrote the Lovely Bones, but I think Lucky is way better.

I hated Lucky--not because it wasn't well-written, but that is was such a horrible situation for the author to have been in. I shuddered when I read it, but I suppose that's the point.

My recommendation?

The War of the Flowers by Tad Williams.

Inkdaub · Feb 16, 2007

The Boy Detective Fails by Joe Meno is great.

PattiTheWicked · Feb 16, 2007

Neuromancer by William Gibson.

Meerkat · Feb 16, 2007

The Singularity is Near, by Ray Kurzweil.

WriterInChains · Feb 16, 2007

So, Celia, what're you reading now?

Celia Cyanide · Mar 14, 2007

Thanks for asking! I am currently reading Hunter S. Thompson's Fear & Loathing In Las Vegas.

I'm having a great time reading it, but it's hard not to compare something like this to William Burroughs, which is probably why I don't read many authors like this. He's just so damn brilliant, and I wish everyone could be as good as he is. I have read a lot by Irvine Welsh, though, and I particularly enjoyed Maribou Stork Nightmares. I have Porn, the sequel to Trainspotting, but I'm nervous to read it! I'm afraid I might not like it! Anybody read it? Trainspotting is one of my favorite books.

I also have Harold's End, which I haven't read. I am very saddened over the "demise" of JT Leroy, and once I read the last book, there will be no more. I'm still looking forward to it, though.

Thank you all for your suggestions. I will keep them in mind.

robeiae · Mar 14, 2007

Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes.

What?

Unique · Mar 19, 2007

I just came in to see what robeiae would recommend to Celia.

You didn't disappoint, Rob. Just sayin'.

robeiae · Mar 20, 2007

Unique said:
You didn't disappoint, Rob. Just sayin'.

*le sigh*

Good read that's seems like fiction, but is not:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0393315568/?tag=absolutewritedm-20

Penguin Queen · Mar 20, 2007

Originally Posted by pamelajo
Lucky By Ann Sebold. She also wrote the Lovely Bones, but I think Lucky is way better.

Akuma said:
I hated Lucky--not because it wasn't well-written, but that is was such a horrible situation for the author to have been in. I shuddered when I read it, but I suppose that's the point.

I thought Lucky was extraordinary. Very very good. Very well-written, very direct and angry.
Best read in small doses. As they say, a testament to the human spirit.

engmajor2005 · Mar 21, 2007

*ignoring fact that OP is currently reading something*

The Shining by Stephen King
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Beloved by Toni Morrison
House of Sleep by Jonahtan Coe (I think I might start re-reading that myself)
Tithe or Valiant by Holly Black
or anything in any section of your local book store.

Inkdaub · Mar 21, 2007

Hyperion by Dan Simmons

WriterInChains · Mar 24, 2007

Celia Cyanide said:
I have Porn, the sequel to Trainspotting, but I'm nervous to read it! I'm afraid I might not like it! Anybody read it? Trainspotting is one of my favorite books.

I haven't read Porn yet, but when I went to Irvine Welsh's reading for The Bedroom Secrets of the Master Chefs he said it was his favorite of all of his books. Just so you know.

That was one of the coolest readings I've ever been to, btw -- the man's a riot. Even if I hadn't ended up (sort of) sitting next to one of my favorite authors, it'd still be one of my favorite readings ever.

popmuze · Mar 25, 2007

Sick and tired of waiting for emails, I've read five books in the last few weeks that I really loved:
Motherless Brooklyn Jonathan Lethem
Chrysanthemum (sp?) Palace Bruce Wagner
Set This House in Order Matt Ruff
Social Blunders Tim Sandlin
Coyote Blue Christopher Moore

Of course, I bought the new Pynchon the minute it came out. But I haven't gotten past page 10.

CBeasy · Apr 9, 2007

I was going to suggest Fear and Loathing, but you're way ahead of me on that one. If you haven't already read it, you should check out Salinger's Catcher in the Rye. Also, I am reading Gaimen's American Gods and it's awesome, though I think my knowledge of pantheons of various deities has already ruined some of the book's surprises.

licity-lieu · Apr 19, 2007

Minddlesex by jeffery Eugenides. I had a love/hate thing going on here. I know that's not a good endorsement but I do think if you can persist with a book,despite some misgivings, then it has something special. I laughed...I cried.

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