RE: Books you'd recommend and why (Full Version)

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Level -> RE: Books you'd recommend and why (7/21/2007 6:27:09 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: ripples

I love books.... too many to choose from!


Me too, and there's never enough time for them all. [:D]




Level -> RE: Books you'd recommend and why (7/21/2007 6:30:07 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Aileen68

I tend to like strange books.
Haunted by Palahniuk
Perfume by Patrick Suskind


Nothing wrong with strange [X(]
 
Is Haunted as good or better than Fight Club?




stig1963 -> RE: Books you'd recommend and why (7/21/2007 6:34:33 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: sublimelysensual

This is a hard one for me, because I read constantly. Some all time favorites would have to be "Watership Down" - makes me think and I discover new elements every time I read it; "The Shining"..I've read it at least 15 times, and it still scares me out of my wits every time, the same goes for "It". Actually pretty much anything from King or Koontz, I love description as well, and both are very good for painting a mental picture. I have a lot of authors that I keep up with, wait from new books from, maybe should save them for another thread.
    The book I just finished was "Challenger Park" by Stephen Harrigan, it's new and one I would highly recommend, fiction based around the space program. Don't want to give away too much, but it was one I read in two days because I kept coming back to it when I should have been doing other things, lol.
   Non-fiction, I read mostly humor..Dave Barry is great, as is Tim Allen, believe it or not. Andy Rooney..all of them have a sarcastic bent, which I love and never fails to make me laugh. All right, enough out of me, I guess...
 
-a
i agre any thing by king he fills your head with terror!




Manawyddan -> RE: Books you'd recommend and why (7/21/2007 6:45:35 AM)

That's an impossible question to answer, because not all people are the same. In general, I'd likely suggest one of the big books written or edited by Douglas R Hofstedter ... they taend towards the aimless and disorganised but are all well written and full of ideas.




Level -> RE: Books you'd recommend and why (7/21/2007 6:45:38 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: TheHeretic

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig (?)

The Great Shark Hunt by Hunter Thompson

Rivethead by Ben Hamper

The True Believer by Eric Hoffer 


One of my all-time favorite books is The Proud Highway, a collection of Thompson's letters from the 1950s and 60s. Great talent, that fella.




submittous -> RE: Books you'd recommend and why (7/21/2007 6:53:32 AM)

Fiction:

As was well said above, anything by John Irving, I think he is the best novelist of our time.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee 

Most anything by Robert Heinlein... just because

Non-fiction:

I reread "slavecraft" by Guy Baldwin every 6 months or so because I think it is the best book I have ever seen on M/s and relationships based on M/s

Multimind by Orenstein, for insights into how our minds work.

Guns Germs and Steel by Gerad Diamond for insight into why the human world is the way it is now.

I am reading American Fascists by Chris Hedges right now and it is eye opening and scary.

that's a start...


Bill 




Level -> RE: Books you'd recommend and why (7/21/2007 6:57:34 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: KatyLied

Anything by John Irving, I enjoy the dysfunction of his characters.


I love A Widow for One Year.




mistoferin -> RE: Books you'd recommend and why (7/21/2007 6:59:12 AM)

Great motivational books that can be read in an hour or so....

"Johnathan Livingston Seagull" by Richard Bach
"The Greatest Miracle in the World" by Og Mandino
"The Greatest Salesman in the World" by Og Mandino

Also....
"I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou
"Angela's Ashes" by Frank McCourt
"Memoirs of a Geisha" by Arthur Golden




Level -> RE: Books you'd recommend and why (7/21/2007 7:02:37 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: windchymes

I found myself totally in love with all the characters and drove right to the bookstore after reading the first one and bought all the others in the series.



Don't you love that? Finding a book that hits home for you, then discovering the author has written several more?




Level -> RE: Books you'd recommend and why (7/21/2007 7:11:45 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Darcyandthedark

Where the wild things are - Maurice Sendak (reminds me of my childhood)
 
Same here [;)]

 
The Stinky Cheesman and other fairly stupid tales by Jon Scieszka (Makes me smile and laugh outloud and is great for putting off the grandpartents when the children relate it)
 
Lady Cottingtons Pressed Fairy Book -  Terry Jones & Brian Froud (Beautiful art, great concept)
 
Anything by Tagore and Rumi. (Stunning thoughtful writings)

 
I'm not familiar with Tagore, but Rumi was a wonderful writer.

 
Harry Potter (of course... [;)]) (Coz I am a HP tart)
 
[sm=hair.gif]

 
And anything by My Boy! [sm=wave.gif](Say no more - it rocks, he is a bloody impressive writer and his photography puts you in the place it is taken)
 
Peace
the.dark.




Level -> RE: Books you'd recommend and why (7/21/2007 7:18:00 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Alumbrado

Any of Harlan Ellison's bitter, sarcastic stuff.

Any of H.L. Mencken's bitter, sarcastic stuff.

Dick Gregory's bitter, sarcastic stuff.

Sam Clemen's bitter, sarcastic stuff.


Alumbrado, I think I'm seeing a trend here. [X(]
 
I'm a huge Ellison fan. I just wish he could have found it in him to get the Last Dangerous Visions anthology out.




aSlavesLife -> RE: Books you'd recommend and why (7/21/2007 7:18:42 AM)

The Demon Haunted World by Carl Sagan. An entertaining and coherent guide to skepticism and critical thinking.

Gateway, Beyond the Blue Event Horizon, Heechee Rendezvous, and The Annals of the Heechee, by Fredrick Pohl. These capture the light and the dark of human nature while portraying in a positive way the triumph of human spirit in the face of despair and seeming hopelessness.

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress By Robert Heinlein. Neo Libertarian philosophy, and decades ahead of its time concerning sexuality, this is possibly the best ever pieces of fiction concerning personal responsibility, liberty, and resistance to oppression from a man once quoted as saying "Ayn Rand is a bloody socialist compared to me,".

Great Mambo Chicken and the Transhuman Condition by Ed Regis. Witty, funny, sometimes disturbing examination of weird science.

Carrion Comfort by Dan Simmons. Sadistic Mind vampires toying with humans.

Island in the Sea of Time, Against the Tide of Years, and On the Oceans of Eternity by S. M. Stirling. The island of Nantucket is mysteriously transported back in time to 1250 bce.  Kinky evil villainess and  katana wielding lesbian heroine. How can you go wrong with that combination?

Owner of slave L





Level -> RE: Books you'd recommend and why (7/21/2007 7:21:44 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: DominicsJoy

Harlan Ellison is a good and funny read, but a very abrasive individual in person. I beleive his best work (if you can find it) was Superman, Man of Steel- woman of kleenex. Done as a short story and part of an anthology about alien sex... this is a great piece of work for the average deviant mind. Part of it describes how lonely our hero must be because if he is truly the superhuman being he is touted to be than any contact with Lois and he would blow her brains out...  (and his sperm would continue to encircle the globe making holes in everything they encounter). Bless him. He makes me smile.


Alumbrado's right, here's a link to the Niven story (but where are the Curt Swan illos?)
 
http://www.rawbw.com/~svw/superman.html

And yes, Unca Harlan can be....... difficult.




slaveluci -> RE: Books you'd recommend and why (7/21/2007 7:24:40 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: submittous
I am reading American Fascists by Chris Hedges right now and it is eye opening and scary.

I read that as soon as it was released and you are so right......scary!  It's not the usual, run of the mill attack on Christianity you so often see.  Instead, it is written from the perspective of an author who respects Christian beliefs but finds himself appalled at what's being done "in the name of......"  I'd highly recommend it too - just forgot about it[:)]..........luci




Level -> RE: Books you'd recommend and why (7/21/2007 8:39:56 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: SDFemDom4cuck

Depends on whether the reader wants to think or is just interested in a good story.
 
The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams. A childhood book but one that still make me think about perception, belief and reality.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee also deals with perceptions and beliefs.

Anything by David Sedaris or Geirge Carlin for funny and intellectual.

Both are wonderful; Carlin was just here, and I didn't go [>:]

Anything by Mitch Albom to remind me to appreciate those in my life.

The Secret by Rhonda Byrne all about positive thought and creating your own reality.

Exit to Eden by Anne Rice. Just because I love the book. Love and BDSM coexist. Favorite quote within it would have to be...
"Each of us has within him a dark chamber where real desires flower; and the horror of it is that they never see the light of another's understanding, those strange blooms. It is as lonely as it is dark, that chamber of the heart."
 
What a terrific piece. Good enough to spark a new thread.....





Level -> RE: Books you'd recommend and why (7/21/2007 8:50:14 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: BitaTruble

Totally dependant upon genre, but some of my favorites are:

Stranger in a Strange Land: Heinlein

Split Infinity and Blue Adept:  Anthony

I'll second To Kill a Mockingbird
 
The Stand: King

Crime and Punishment: Dostoevsky

A Tale of Two Cities: Dickens

The Topping Book and The Bottoming Book: Easton and Liszt

The Catcher in the Rye: Salinger

To many more to list, but those are off the top of my head. Of course, I could also list all the great graphic novels, but it would make my head hurt. [:D]

Celeste


Come on, make that noggin ache, I'm interested in that list, Celeste [;)]




Level -> RE: Books you'd recommend and why (7/21/2007 8:56:00 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: slaveluci


*"Gentleman Junkie" by Harlan Ellison.  A collection of short stories that never gets old.  I've read them over and over and they grab me each time.

*"Shot In The Heart" - Mikal Gilmore.  Written by Gary Gilmore's youngest brother (who also wrote for "Rolling Stone" magazine), this bio of their life growing up is unforgettable. 

Just a few of a million wonderful books..............luci


Which Ellison short story is your favorite?
 
I didn't know the two Gilmores were brothers! That just went on my list, luci [;)]




Level -> RE: Books you'd recommend and why (7/21/2007 8:58:37 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: TallDarkAndWitty

Let see...the books that changed my life, or at least how I looked at it.

Gotta agree with Stranger in a Strange Land and throw in Moon is a Harsh Mistress for fun.  Then The Fountainhead and/or Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand.  Fight Club and Lullaby by Chuck Palahniuk.  These books actually mark turning points in my life...

Taggard



How did they change you, Taggard? And we had a Rand thread a week or two ago, here's a link, if you want to add to it there, or here, it'd be interesting to hear your thoughts.

http://www.collarchat.com/m_1141049/mpage_1/key_ayn%252Crand/tm.htm




Level -> RE: Books you'd recommend and why (7/21/2007 9:00:12 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: happypervert

The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut, because it reveals the meaning of life



I think everything Vonnegut wrote revealed at least a bit of that, happy, he was a brilliant writer.




Level -> RE: Books you'd recommend and why (7/21/2007 9:07:22 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Arpig

Through a Distant Mirror, by Barbara Tuchman...because it is simply a wonderful read


I hadn't heard of it, Arpig, so I looked it up on amazon.com, and it does sound wonderful. A book about a "tortured century", and all the trials and tribulations Europe went through. It's now on my list!




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