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RE: Books you'd recommend and why - 7/24/2007 3:58:23 AM   
Level


Posts: 25145
Joined: 3/3/2006
Status: offline 		Hey Darcy. I'm a huge Ellison fan, I've got all sorts of very cool bits and pieces of things he's done, like the comic Chocolate Alphabet, a magazine called RocketsBlast which has a huge section on Ellison's home (fine, fine place, with books, art, and collectables crammed into every nook), and several signed items.
 
My Ellison story: I had a copy of the I, Robot book, and a buddy from New York told me he thought Ellison was looking for the edition I had. I sent Harlan a letter, supplying him with my phone number, but I figured I'd never hear from him.
 
A week or two later, on a saturday afternoon, the phone rang.
 
I picked up the phone. "Hello?"
 
"D____? This is Harlan."
 
I almost dropped the reciever.
 
We spent about 5 minutes chatting (he even made a funny remark about my accent ), and even though the book I had wasn't the right edition, it was profitable for me, just getting the delight of speaking to one of my literary heroes.

_____________________________

Fake the heat and scratch the itch
Skinned up knees and salty lips
Let go it's harder holding on
One more trip and I'll be gone

~~ Stone Temple Pilots

(in reply to RCdc)
Profile   Post #: 101
RE: Books you'd recommend and why - 7/24/2007 5:00:00 AM   
seeksfemslave


Posts: 4011
Joined: 6/16/2006
Status: offline 		Has anybody ever read a Charles Dickens novel and enjoyed it. Sentences 5 miles long and paragraphs 50 miles long. Metaphorically speaking.
He gave you Americans a pasting in a book called American Notes he he he he he

Considering you all claim to be such a literate lot I would have to say that  your reading  doesn't seem to help many to write  briefly and cogently. Thats only applies to those who are not posting in this thread I guess.

(in reply to Level)
Profile   Post #: 102
RE: Books you'd recommend and why - 7/24/2007 5:37:02 AM   
RCdc


Posts: 8674
Status: offline 		Dickens, for me, is up there with Shakespeare as one of those authors who had great ideas and have been successfully adapted for the stage and screen, but whose source material is actually very poorly written. I have tried, but never succeeded (apart from when forced to at school) in reading either author with any pleasure.

Darcy

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RC&dc


love isnt gazing into each others eyes - it's looking forward in the same direction

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Profile   Post #: 103
RE: Books you'd recommend and why - 7/24/2007 7:41:41 AM   
sublimelysensual


Posts: 298
Joined: 7/25/2005
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Darcyandthedark

Dickens, for me, is up there with Shakespeare as one of those authors who had great ideas and have been successfully adapted for the stage and screen, but whose source material is actually very poorly written. I have tried, but never succeeded (apart from when forced to at school) in reading either author with any pleasure.

Darcy


  Exactly, I read for pleasure probably 90% of the time, and while there are stories from Dickens and Shakespeare that I like, in general I find they make me think too much to just sit down and read one for escape. When I am in a mood for thoughtful reading, I usually choose something non-fiction..so..kind of leaves them out in the cold, lol...
 
-a

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"To make oneself an object, to make oneself passive, is a very different thing from being a passive object." -Simone De Beauvoir -'The Second Sex'

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Profile   Post #: 104
RE: Books you'd recommend and why - 7/24/2007 7:42:24 AM   
kittinSol


Posts: 16926
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: seeksfemslave

Has anybody ever read a Charles Dickens novel and enjoyed it. Sentences 5 miles long and paragraphs 50 miles long. Metaphorically speaking.
He gave you Americans a pasting in a book called American Notes he he he he he

Considering you all claim to be such a literate lot I would have to say that  your reading  doesn't seem to help many to write  briefly and cogently. Thats only applies to those who are not posting in this thread I guess.


Why don't you check out 'A la Recherche du Temps Perdu' by Marcel Proust for long sentences? Some of them last for pages. Which I suspect's more than your attention span .

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Profile   Post #: 105
RE: Books you'd recommend and why - 7/24/2007 7:45:20 AM   
JohnSteed1967


Posts: 304
Joined: 5/29/2005
From: Columbia SC
Status: offline
  • The Darwin Awards, Oh just funny as hell!
  • Dune, Its Dune what else do you want?
  • Rule By Secrecy, When you want to know just how far its really gone!
  • Anything written by Robert E. Howard, Howard Rules!!!

(in reply to kittinSol)
Profile   Post #: 106
RE: Books you'd recommend and why - 7/24/2007 7:47:49 AM   
JohnSteed1967


Posts: 304
Joined: 5/29/2005
From: Columbia SC
Status: offline 		How very very very true. Dickens was a product of his times and was self absorbed. I tried to read Christmas Carol and some of his other stories and I was like "OH My God" and I thought Russian Lit was a snore fest!
quote:

ORIGINAL: seeksfemslave

Has anybody ever read a Charles Dickens novel and enjoyed it. Sentences 5 miles long and paragraphs 50 miles long. Metaphorically speaking.
He gave you Americans a pasting in a book called American Notes he he he he he

Considering you all claim to be such a literate lot I would have to say that  your reading  doesn't seem to help many to write  briefly and cogently. Thats only applies to those who are not posting in this thread I guess.

(in reply to seeksfemslave)
Profile   Post #: 107
RE: Books you'd recommend and why - 7/24/2007 3:35:57 PM   
Level


Posts: 25145
Joined: 3/3/2006
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: JohnSteed1967

  • Anything written by Robert E. Howard, Howard Rules!!!




Howard was an excellent writer. Red Nails, and The Hour of the Dragon, and his poetry was quite good. Tragic life story, though.

_____________________________

Fake the heat and scratch the itch
Skinned up knees and salty lips
Let go it's harder holding on
One more trip and I'll be gone

~~ Stone Temple Pilots

(in reply to JohnSteed1967)
Profile   Post #: 108
RE: Books you'd recommend and why - 7/24/2007 6:30:23 PM   
nearnyccouple


Posts: 70
Joined: 3/22/2007
Status: offline 		this thread is wonderful  ill be spending my next day off searching the shelves in the library

Fiction: A Stone for Danny Fisher by Harold Robbins..one of his early works..great characterization
           The Ritual Bath by Faye Kellerman ....the first in a series of about 7 or 8 books about an Irish detective and his orthodox Jewish wife
           Richard Marcinko..hes an ex Navy seal who writes fictionalized accounts of his and his teams exploits as  Navy Seals
           Catcher In the Rye..one of myall time favorites..I read it at leaat once a year
           Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes....Having had 2 retarded brothers I found this both horrifying and poignant

Non-Fiction: The Greatest Generation, by Tom Brokaw...gave me a better understanding of my parents generation.. a great read
                    Big Russ and Me, by Tim Russert..great book about familial relationships and how we can learn from others experiences and wisdom
                    Abigail Adams, A Biography, by Phyllis Lee Levin...veryyyyyyy long but wonderful book about a woman ahead of her time
 Any poetry book by Robert Frost, The writings of Gibran, and toss in Bill Cosby and Al Roker for a little humor

cassie

                   

(in reply to Level)
Profile   Post #: 109
RE: Books you'd recommend and why - 7/24/2007 8:49:36 PM   
slaveluci


Posts: 4294
Joined: 3/2/2007
From: Little Rock, AR
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: RosaB
The Glass Castle - by, Jeannette Walls
This book if read should quiet anyone that is a consant whiner about how bad their life is.  Brother if you thought you had it ruff growing up

So true, RosaB.  Since 2003 and until recently, I was a librarian.  At a conference last fall, Jeannette spoke.  She is the most humble, down-to-earth person you'd hope to meet.  She loves her crazy-ass parents so much in spite of the bad times.  She talked about how people who have read the book have related to her how it changed them.  The best story was about a high school boy who usually didn't like to read at all.  He loved her book and said it really helped change his attitude toward kids who come from "the wrong side of the tracks." 

She also said that, after the book hit big, she got a call from a girl she went to high school with.  A girl who used to tease and make fun of Jeannette.  She was so sorry for how she'd treated her and they reconnected and became friendly.  The girl said she had been haunted all these years over how she'd treated her and other poor kids like her.  All in all, she was a wonderful speaker and her book instantly became one of my all-time favorites.  Glad you enjoyed it as well...........luci

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To choose a good book, look in an inquisitor’s prohibited list. ~John Aikin

(in reply to RosaB)
Profile   Post #: 110
RE: Books you'd recommend and why - 7/24/2007 8:53:53 PM   
slaveluci


Posts: 4294
Joined: 3/2/2007
From: Little Rock, AR
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: charlotte12

quote:

ORIGINAL: slaveluci

*"Grapes of Wrath" - John Steinbeck.  The ending scene of this book is perhaps the most hopeful of any novel I've ever read. 


I completely agree. I'm so glad my teacher made me read this in highschool because i never would have read it on my own

It's absolutely one of my all-time favorites.  I get goosebumps every time I finish it.
quote:

A Prayer for Owen Meany. The characters in this book are written so well and the way the story unfolds left me with the same kind of hope i got from reading The Grapes of Wrath

Wow....it just went on my list.  I've heard of it but never read it so I'll make a point to.  Thanks for the suggestion.
quote:

i think i will use this very list to get back into reading. Oh how  i miss it :P

Great!  Thanks to Level for the great thread..........luci

< Message edited by slaveluci -- 7/24/2007 8:54:55 PM >

_____________________________

To choose a good book, look in an inquisitor’s prohibited list. ~John Aikin

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Profile   Post #: 111
RE: Books you'd recommend and why - 7/24/2007 9:03:25 PM   
slaveluci


Posts: 4294
Joined: 3/2/2007
From: Little Rock, AR
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Level
I sent Harlan a letter, supplying him with my phone number, but I figured I'd never hear from him.
 A week or two later, on a saturday afternoon, the phone rang.
 I picked up the phone. "Hello?"
 "D____? This is Harlan."
 I almost dropped the reciever.
 We spent about 5 minutes chatting (he even made a funny remark about my accent ), and even though the book I had wasn't the right edition, it was profitable for me, just getting the delight of speaking to one of my literary heroes.

Wow....lucky you.  What a wonderful surprise that must have been.  If James Lee Burke ever calls me, I'll know how you felt...........luci

_____________________________

To choose a good book, look in an inquisitor’s prohibited list. ~John Aikin

(in reply to Level)
Profile   Post #: 112
RE: Books you'd recommend and why - 7/24/2007 10:05:55 PM   
DeviantDaddyAZ


Posts: 7
Joined: 2/13/2007
Status: offline 		All great books so far.  Now...to add My list.

Job: A comedy of Justice - TRobert A. Heinlein

Watership Down - Robert Adams

American Gods - Neil Gaimen, actually anything by Mr. Gaimen would be good.  especially the children's book, 'The day I swapped my dad for 2 goldfish'.

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Trilogy [All 5 books]- Douglas Adams

Dragonlance Chronicles - Margret Weis and Tracy Hickman

Anything by H.P. Lovecraft

Meredith Gentry series by Laurell K. Hamilton

Graphic Novels

Watchmen - Alan Moore/Dave Gibbons

300 - Frank Miller/ Dave Varely

Kingdom Come - Mark Waid/Alex Ross

Stardust - Neil Gaimen/Charles Vess

Sandman - Neil Gaimen/Various artists

I could name so many more books, but these are the only ones I can think about right now.  These are some of My personnal liberary. 

(in reply to Level)
Profile   Post #: 113
RE: Books you'd recommend and why - 7/24/2007 10:59:50 PM   
NefertariReborn


Posts: 381
Status: offline 		It's late and My list is way long so I thought I'd narrow it down to 2 or 3. 

Pedagogy of the Oppressed ...Friere  (sighs....Gosh I love this book)
Anything by Dr. Wayne Dyer....I think Power of Intention was My favourite
A Grief Observed....C.S. Lewis......I'm an orphan now and this made Me both weep and feel better
In fact Any C.S. Lewis...I started with the Narnia Series in primary school and I have loved his writing ever since. 
In the Meantime...Iyanla Vanzant
Woman Spirit Rising....It's an anthology of women writers dealing with Faith and Doubt.
Roots ...Hailey (sp) ....it's late I'm not going to check the spelling lol
Autobiography of a Slave...Douglas

Okay I said 2 or 3 but I had to stop Myself ....the list is just rushing around in My brain. 


(in reply to DeviantDaddyAZ)
Profile   Post #: 114
RE: Books you'd recommend and why - 7/25/2007 12:38:12 AM   
Satyr6406


Posts: 820
Joined: 3/27/2006
From: New Brunswick, N.J.
Status: offline 		The Bible (Douhay Rheames version)
 
Alcoholics Anonymous (The twelve steps are a GREAT guidepost to ANY life)
 
Memnoch The Devil (Changed my whole thought process on religion)
 
Behold A Pale Horse By M. William Cooper (Read it. You'll know why, after you do)
 
 
 
 
 
Peace and comfort,
 
 
 
 
 
Michael

_____________________________

Peace and comfort,


Michael

Former Vice-President Gore didn't invent the internet but, he DID make up global warming!

(in reply to NefertariReborn)
Profile   Post #: 115
RE: Books you'd recommend and why - 7/25/2007 2:18:16 AM   
Alumbrado


Posts: 5560
Status: offline 		http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milton_William_Cooper


You and Real One, hmmmm?

< Message edited by Alumbrado -- 7/25/2007 2:19:49 AM >

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Profile   Post #: 116
RE: Books you'd recommend and why - 7/25/2007 3:46:19 AM   
Level


Posts: 25145
Joined: 3/3/2006
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: slaveluci

quote:

ORIGINAL: Level
I sent Harlan a letter, supplying him with my phone number, but I figured I'd never hear from him.
 A week or two later, on a saturday afternoon, the phone rang.
 I picked up the phone. "Hello?"
 "D____? This is Harlan."
 I almost dropped the reciever.
 We spent about 5 minutes chatting (he even made a funny remark about my accent ), and even though the book I had wasn't the right edition, it was profitable for me, just getting the delight of speaking to one of my literary heroes.

Wow....lucky you.  What a wonderful surprise that must have been.  If James Lee Burke ever calls me, I'll know how you felt...........luci


Tell him to call me, too
 
Hey, thank all of you, ya'll are the ones making the thread what it is

_____________________________

Fake the heat and scratch the itch
Skinned up knees and salty lips
Let go it's harder holding on
One more trip and I'll be gone

~~ Stone Temple Pilots

(in reply to slaveluci)
Profile   Post #: 117
RE: Books you'd recommend and why - 7/25/2007 9:17:14 AM   
feastie


Posts: 1793
Joined: 6/4/2004
Status: offline 		Level, honey...yew ain't gawt naw axcint baybee...


_____________________________

Snarky and loving it.

Disclaimer: Any views expressed in any post are my opinions only. They may or may not be yours.

(in reply to Level)
Profile   Post #: 118
RE: Books you'd recommend and why - 7/25/2007 10:14:06 AM   
philosophy


Posts: 5284
Joined: 2/15/2004
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Darcyandthedark

Dickens, for me, is up there with Shakespeare as one of those authors who had great ideas and have been successfully adapted for the stage and screen, but whose source material is actually very poorly written. I have tried, but never succeeded (apart from when forced to at school) in reading either author with any pleasure.

Darcy


...the thing about Shakespeare is that it wasn't written to be read like a book.....they are play scripts, footprints only.......the play's the thing

(in reply to RCdc)
Profile   Post #: 119
RE: Books you'd recommend and why - 7/25/2007 10:32:21 AM   
KimochiTenshi


Posts: 2
Joined: 9/13/2006
Status: offline 		I love Amy Tan. =] She's a more contemporary author, but she really writes from a very personal perspective about how cultures clash and try and mesh together... her mother is Chinese, and they moved here when Amy was a little girl, so the great culture wars are something that hits home for her. She's also a very eloquent writer, but not so high and mighty (Like T.S. Eliot) that it turns you off.

The Joy Luck Club is her most famous book, but my favorite one is The Bonesetter's Daughter. I started reading it and couldn't stop. ^^; She's my favorite, y'all should check her out.

(in reply to philosophy)
Profile   Post #: 120
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