Book talk.

Koba · Post by **Koba** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 7:05 am

My personal fave is 'Perfume' by Patrick Suskind. That book is brilliant!
Believe it is about to be massacred in a film...

got tonkaed · Post by **got tonkaed** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 9:06 am

For comedic value i think douglas adams has done some pretty good stuff in his hitchikers trilogy...

static_ice · Post by **static_ice** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 9:26 am

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Micheal Moorcock, especially in CC, where the users seem to be very multi-aged.

Moorcock has written a ton of books that combine fantasy and science fiction and turned them into several miniseries. The awesome part is that all of the series connect (at first it seems very loose but as you get farther you see all the real connections).

My personal favorite among the series is Elric (because its the only one I read, and it seems to be everyone else's favorite). That's one badass albino with strengths and problems. The sixth book (last in the series) was incredible, as the author focused more on plot and symbolism rather than fantasy-action (<--which is what makes the first 5 books so awesome

).

CrazyAnglican · Post by **CrazyAnglican** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 9:39 am

static_ice wrote:My personal favorite among the series is Elric (because its the only one I read, and it seems to be everyone else's favorite). That's one badass albino with strengths and problems. The sixth book (last in the series) was incredible, as the author focused more on plot and symbolism rather than fantasy-action (<--which is what makes the first 5 books so awesome ).

I liked Elric as well. The books themselves are quick, you can read one in an afternoon. I was intrigued by Elric's slip into becoming an anti-hero. Stormbringer is cool as well. It's the thing that gives him strength, but it is also having a negative effect on him psychologically. There are some surprisingly deep themes in this series of short fantasy novels. Some great gratutitous violence too! :-)

static_ice · Post by **static_ice** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 9:42 am

CrazyAnglican wrote:
static_ice wrote:My personal favorite among the series is Elric (because its the only one I read, and it seems to be everyone else's favorite). That's one badass albino with strengths and problems. The sixth book (last in the series) was incredible, as the author focused more on plot and symbolism rather than fantasy-action (<--which is what makes the first 5 books so awesome ).

I liked Elric as well. The books themselves are quick, you can read one in an afternoon. I was intrigued by Elric's slip into becoming an anti-hero. Stormbringer is cool as well. It's the thing that gives him strength, but it is also having a negative effect on him psychologically. There are some surprisingly deep themes in this series of short fantasy novels. Some great gratutitous violence too!

oh yes Elric's conflict between himself and stormbringer, and between himself and himself, is awesome. And the violence is top notch for a fantasy book :twisted:

btownmeggy · Post by **btownmeggy** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 2:11 pm

heavycola wrote:
qeee1 wrote:
btownmeggy wrote:
qeee1 wrote:I think Catcher speaks a certain truth, that has not found such beautiful or genuine expression anywhere else in literature, and to dismiss it because the main character is too angsty is a great tragedy. It's like dismissing Don Quixote for being too detatched from reality. Salinger's other works are also great, but Catcher is truly his master piece.

The angstyness is not my main gripe with Catcher in the Rye. I DON'T find Holden relateable, likeable, or even compelling. He's not written as a character whose distance from the reader improves the story. It seems to me that he's meant to resonate within you, withstanding his foibles and goofs, but he certainly does not resonate within me.

if you can't relate to holden in any sense, then I guess you're not going to like the book, but if you can't relate to Holden, I dunno, that reflects badly upon you in my opinion. Em yeah, hate me or dismiss me for saying that if you like, but it's what I think.

.

LOL i thought the anti-CITR sentiment would be controversial

*shrug* If disliking a sexist, classist, egotistical brat of a fictional character means I'm a bad person, I guess that's just something I'll have to learn live with.

qeee1 · Post by **qeee1** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 5:18 pm

btownmeggy wrote:*shrug* If disliking a sexist, classist, egotistical brat of a fictional character means I'm a bad person, I guess that's just something I'll have to learn live with.

You've rather missed the point in your description there, but so be it.

Besides I didn't call you a bad person, I just said that failing to relate to Holden at all reflects badly on you.

derfderf34 · Post by **derfderf34** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 5:24 pm

the best books are the ink..... trilogy by Cornelai Funke

Hitman079 · Post by **Hitman079** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 11:48 pm

i'm still a teen, but great books by far:
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
Tex by S.E. Hinton
Taming the Star Runner by S.E. Hinton
Hawkes Harbor by S.E. Hinton
White Fang by Jack London
Call of the Wild by Jack London
Hairstyles of the Damned by Joe Meno
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

Minkish · Post by **Minkish** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 11:54 pm

I'm reading One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest now, and it's pretty damn trippy

Favorite book of all time is 1984

hawkeye · Post by **hawkeye** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 12:07 am

Some good series.
Stravaganza , by Mary Hoffman
Harry Potter, by J.K. Rowling
Magic Kingdom of Landover, by Terry Brooks
Keys to the Kingdom, by Garth Nix
Pendragon, by D.J. MacHale
His Dark Materials, by Phillip Pullman

Note these are just books that I've found good.

Guiscard · Post by **Guiscard** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 9:10 am

The best thing you can do in a literary is to not buy into Dan Brown. In my opinion he doesn't even right particularly good thrillers!

heavycola · Post by **heavycola** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 9:20 am

qeee1 wrote:
btownmeggy wrote:*shrug* If disliking a sexist, classist, egotistical brat of a fictional character means I'm a bad person, I guess that's just something I'll have to learn live with.

You've rather missed the point in your description there, but so be it.

Besides I didn't call you a bad person, I just said that failing to relate to Holden at all reflects badly on you.

Come on man, I loved the book too, and i don't share btwonmeggy's opinions, but it's refreshing to hear from someone who doesn't "identify with holden soooo much", which is how most conversations about CITR seem to go (not that I have had one in over a decade, well except this post). I met someone at a party the other day who doesn't like Fawlty Towers. I nearly kissed him.

The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen and The Line of Beauty by Alan Hollinghurst are the two best novels I have read recently.
Favourites of all time are probably London Fields by Martin Amis, Moby Dick, The Grapes of Wrath and Lucky Jim.

qeee1 · Post by **qeee1** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 1:31 pm

heavycola wrote:
qeee1 wrote:
btownmeggy wrote:*shrug* If disliking a sexist, classist, egotistical brat of a fictional character means I'm a bad person, I guess that's just something I'll have to learn live with.

You've rather missed the point in your description there, but so be it.

Besides I didn't call you a bad person, I just said that failing to relate to Holden at all reflects badly on you.

Come on man, I loved the book too, and i don't share btwonmeggy's opinions, but it's refreshing to hear from someone who doesn't "identify with holden soooo much", which is how most conversations about CITR seem to go (not that I have had one in over a decade, well except this post). I met someone at a party the other day who doesn't like Fawlty Towers. I nearly kissed him.

The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen and The Line of Beauty by Alan Hollinghurst are the two best novels I have read recently.
Favourites of all time are probably London Fields by Martin Amis, Moby Dick, The Grapes of Wrath and Lucky Jim.

Hey, people can think what they like, I just think what I think, not like I have any influence whatsoever.

Though yeah you're probably right, it's better than having some phoney talk about how much they identify with the book.

I read Franzen's series of essays, How to be Alone, keep meaning to read the corrections, almost bought it once but the blurb put me off.

PS. Faulty towers is overrated.

flashleg8 · Post by **flashleg8** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 1:36 pm

qeee1 wrote:
PS. Faulty towers is overrated.

Watch out! Heavycola’s coming to kiss you!

heavycola · Post by **heavycola** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 1:51 pm

flashleg8 wrote:
qeee1 wrote:
PS. Faulty towers is overrated.

Watch out! Heavycola’s coming to kiss you!

C'mere and pucker up qeee you crazy, wonderful fool, you

Kayla · Post by **Kayla** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 2:50 pm

Diana Gabaldon Series

VERY GOOD

Mirak · Post by **Mirak** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 4:04 pm

Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts
I cannot recommend this book highly enough

True story about an Australian convict who escapes to Bombay and gets involved in Bombay underworld...excellent read...about to be made into a movie with Johnny Depp[/b]

Mylittlepuddykat · Post by **Mylittlepuddykat** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 4:35 pm

My favourite books /series .... I am 14 tho an like some light reads! (childrens books) so I put a * by them lol I do think they are refeshing tho and Charlotte Sometimes is a good read if a little simple.

Bartimeus Trilogy
Harry Potter
Wind on Fire
Apocalypse
Thief Lord by Cornelia Fudge
Warrior Series* by Erin Hunter
Chalet School*
Charlotte Sometimes*
The Magical Maze by Ian Stewart
The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth Speare

Aries · Post by **Aries** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 4:42 pm

Right now I'm reading the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Trilogy (of 5 books lol). I'ts freakin' hilarious :lol:

I don't know if you've seen the movie but the book is about 20 times funnier. :lol:

hecter · Post by **hecter** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 4:54 pm

Aries wrote:Right now I'm reading the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Trilogy (of 5 books lol). I'ts freakin' hilarious I don't know if you've seen the movie but the book is about 20 times funnier.

I think there's a sixth book actually. I believe that he was writing it but died before he could finish it, so someone finished it for him, but don't hold me on it cause im not 100%.

P.S. Only stupid people don't like Fawlty Towers :lol:

got tonkaed · Post by **got tonkaed** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 4:55 pm

i dont think theres a last book for hitchiker from adams. After he died there was sort of a compliation of a lot of less known work that he had done, and the only real uncompleted work was something for the Dirk Gently series.

Genghis Khant · Post by **Genghis Khant** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 5:13 pm

I've been a fan of the Hitchhikers series since I was a kid and was fairly disappointed by the film, although I suppose it could have been a lot worse. As regards the books, the original trilogy is brilliant, but the last two aren't so great. In fact I'd go so far as to say don't bother with Mostly Harmless.

p.s. Only stupid people can't spell Fawlty Towers :lol:

Genghis Khant · Post by **Genghis Khant** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 5:17 pm

Mylittlepuddykat wrote:My favourite books /series .... I am 14 tho an like some light reads! (childrens books) so I put a * by them lol I do think they are refeshing tho and Charlotte Sometimes is a good read if a little simple.

Bartimeus Trilogy
Harry Potter
Wind on Fire
Apocalypse
Thief Lord by Cornelia Fudge
Warrior Series* by Erin Hunter
Chalet School*
Charlotte Sometimes*
The Magical Maze by Ian Stewart
The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth Speare

Some books I really liked when I was your age were The Wierdstone Of Brisengamen and The Owl Service, both by Alan Garner. The Owl Service is a take on the story of Blodeuwedd from the Mabinogion.

hecter · Post by **hecter** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 6:35 pm

Thank you every body for your input, I now have a lot of reading to do