Now that I'm done with school, I have too much time on my hands (for now) and I want to catch up on reading some good books of my choosing. I was an English Lit major, and although I did read a lot of good books, they were mostly assigned to me. Let's list some recommendations here, for me and for others who have the urge to pick up a good book.



Right now, I'm reading Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress, by Dai Sijie, and it's quite wonderful...it's about two Chinese boys sent to a peasant town to get "re-educated" in the 60's. They read banned books and a new world is opened to them.



I'd also recommend The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love by Oscar Hijuelos, On the Road by Jack Kerouac, Dreaming in Cuban by Christina Garcia, and The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath.

Go on, list!

I think you might like Atonement by Ian McEwan whichI enjoyed last year. If you're feeling adventurous try Dickens' Bleak House. It's long and sometimes laborious but well worth the read. Here's a hug by the way. I like readers.

Great choices! I'll be catching up on my reading during the holidays.

My threads never get any replies. I'm seriously going to stop even posting, it's embarrassing.


Thank you for the suggestions, JD. A hug for you, too.

littlemissG, let me know if you read anything great!

I just finished the Balzac book and I was very touched by the whole story. It's a great, quick read that truly takes you to a tiny town in China.

I'm reading this right now


[Edited 12/6/05 22:57pm]

in preparation for more studies during december and early januari
i started "The Brothers Karamazov" again yesterday, as a means to
teach myself discipline in reading again.

and more importantly, in taking my time out to study. i plan to
read it in 4 days, so that should give me a kick start for study.

Jack Kerouac's "On the road" is a classic. Good choice.

I'd say "My dark places", "A killer on the road", "Black Dahlia" all by James Ellroy.

To continue with American authors, you can try James Frey with "My friend leonard" and "A million litlle pieces". The second one is a real masterpiece.

I just finished the last effort by Bret Easton Ellis, "Lunar Park" and if you're in this kind of litterature - ironical, sarcastic's style - you should give a chance to this one.

And like IstenSzek - but not necessary in four days - i recommend "The brothers Karamazov" by Dostoievsky. But if you really like to go inside this brilliant author, try "Crime and punishment". This book is probably one of the most terrific, outstanding, book of all times.

And you can try also this english author, David Lodge, critic and novelist well known in Europe and his book "Therapy". Very funny to read.
[Edited 12/7/05 2:31am]

thescandalouslife said:

Sounds mighty gay to me...


"The World According To Garp" is wonderful (by John Irving)

jizzinparis said:

i've read it twice, the last time about 3 years ago i think. and at least 3
or 4 times a week when i get up and prepare breakfast i distinctly notice a
difference in my thoughts before and after having had something to eat. the
thought came from Crime&Punishment, and fcuz i already knew, but it's been
tied in so much with Rodion now that even breakfast reminds me of the novel
almost every morning.

now that's what i call strong imagery. and the novel is filled with such
prime examples of every day life that are being magnified for you until,
in a way, it seems like you yourself experience them for the first time
and it feels incredibly powerful, eventho you've been through it millions
of times before.

and even the things you have not experienced yourself are being relayed
in such a way that you feel them just as powerful as the ones that you
do know. therefore it becomes quite easy to actually "live" in this book
and feel sympathy for every single angle from all the characters.

the book is absolutely incredible.

MartyMcFly said:

Come to think of it... just about ANYTHING by Irving is great!

jizzinparis said:

Oh, Scandy should definitely read Lodge's Small World as well as Lucky Jim by Kingsley Amis if she is going to continue in the profession.

Shadow of the wind. by Carlos Ruiz Zafon


Best book I've read this year

I'm waiting for Wicked by Gregory Maguire

jizzinparis said:

Thank you!

I've heard great things about A Million Little Pieces. I will definitely pick that one up. I do like Brett Easton Ellis, but in small doses. I've read Less Than Zero.

Thank you for your recommendations; I will add them to my list.

MartyMcFly said:

Actually, not homoerotic at all! They pine for a "Little Chinese Seamstress" in a neighboring village.

Thespian said:

Really? What is it about?

IstenSzek said:

Wow! That is the kind of book I'm looking for. It's always kind of scared me off, though, because of the reputation for being difficult to read (or maybe just long?) Did you find it so?

You should read Memoirs of a Midget by Walter de La Mare. Someone recently gave me a copy of this and I want to read it next.

thescandalouslife said:

well, i'm dutch and i read the english version and still didn't think it
was too difficult. it's not a magazine, no, lol, but it's not something
you won't be able to read without going insane. and it's not that long i
think. it's a mid-size book.

but just try reading the first few pages in the bookstore, that will be
a bit of an indication as to wether or not you like it.

and don't be put off by personell shouting "oy, this isn't a library"

i always read a bit of a book i intend to buy. and heck if i'm going to
buy a book at their store anyway, they might as well calm down and let
me do some reading to chose which one i like best.

2the9s said:

and she should read it at the same time?

this vaguely smells like bookclubism

IstenSzek said:

Awww HELL yeah!

just get a bill bryson book....down under is probably his funniest/best, depends on where you have travelled/want to travel i suppose

daf1999 said:

'Down Under' was good but 'Notes From A Small Island' and 'Notes From A Big Country' were hilarious. His new book about the English language is inspired - check it out, it's called: 'Mother Tongue'.

My recommendations (the following is an old Org post from about 2 years ago, to save my fingers!)

The Top three books Ive read are:
3: Lord Valentine's Castle by Robert Silverberg
(Just an amazing piece of work u can totally lose yourself in.
One of those rare books u can pick up again and again, and it will still work its magic)

There are a number of other books in the series, all very good, but the 1st is a richly detailed world - with at times, a distinct Indian sub-continetal flavour. Quite different 4 a 'fantasy' novel. I think people would be pleasantly surprised by it.

2: 'The Dark Tower' series by Stephen King
Not a big fan of His stuff, but my cousin introduced me 2 the 1st novel of the series - 'The Gunslinger' many years ago:

...and it was amazing. REALLY different 4 King.
If I HAD 2 pick one of the books as a favourite, I think I'd go with 'Wizard & Glass'... AndyKeen - I think you would really enjoy this series!

For more info on this amazing story, CLICK HERE



1: The Night Listener by Armistead Maupin
THE best book Ive ever read (and I've read a lot!)
I got SO wrapped up in this book, that I couldnt WAIT 4 my working day 2 end so I could go home and go 2 bed early 2 read it! In fact, it was THAT good that I when I neared the end, I didnt wanna read the last chapter, cuz I knew that would be IT. When I finished it, I cried. No book has ever affected me so much - but it isnt without hope. There is much 2 find within its pages. What is amazing about the whole book is the way it is constructed, u start out reading what u THINK is the story, then it begins 2 twist and turn. BY three quarters of the way through, u will suddenly realise that there are a number of different ways 2 read the book (or rather read IN2 the book) and this throws the story's dynamic off in2 wild territories 4 your mind 2 ponder on.

It's truly great stuff from a writer at His prime. Im glad I found this little gem, and I'd recommend this book 2 anyone who appreciates a good story.

It's AWESOME and I defy u not 2 engage with it.



Here's a brief synopsis:
The narrator of The Night Listener is Gabriel Noone, a late-night radio storyteller who has risen to national fame in San Francisco. Having just separated from his husband of ten years, Noone is adrift in pain and confusion when he receives unexpected comfort from a thirteen-year-old fan - Pete Lomax - in Wisconsin. He learns of Pete's existence when a publisher sends him a book the child has written about the unimaginable sexual abuse he has suffered, his consequent struggle with HIV infection and his new life with a psychologist named Donna, who has become his foster mother. Deserted by his lover and companion of ten years, Noone is now at a strangely vulnerable point in his life. Pete, wise beyond his thriteen years, becomes a sort of surrogate son to the storyteller through a series of long distance phone calls. But, just as the clouds begin to part for Gabriel, a question arises that casts doubt upon the very existence this miracle child. Desperate for the truth, Gabriel begins an odyssey that will throw his own stormy relationships - familial, romantic and erotic - into sharp perspective. A personal saga that turns into a mystery that turns back into a personal saga again, The Night Listener keeps us guessing as it as it keeps us reading. Along the way Maupin brilliantly explores the question of how we tell stories, and to whom, and why...

...ANYONE ELSE READ THIS?

'If on a winter's night a traveller' by Italo Calvino

"the complete hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy" by douglas adams.

very funny. i just finished the resteraunt at the end of the universe and started the third book... i forget the title of it.

Ocean said:

Everybody should read Jim Dodge's Fup once in their lives.

Hell, read it twice.

2the9s said:

Nope!

althom said:

You read it!!

2the9s said:

Mmmmmm


Nope!