Tangent from something another topic made me think of. This board seems to frequently have good taste and good suggestions, so:
What are some of people's favorite books and authors?
My favorite book of all time: Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchet. It's hilarious satirical version of the end times. In a similar vein to Douglas Adams.
Next favorite books are The Hobbit, and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
Favorite authors: Neil Gaiman and R.A. Heinlein.
best book ever written,
The Unfair Advantage, Mark Donohue
Neal Stephenson. Every time I want a great read, I go back to Crytonomicon. I'm working my way through Anathem right now.
William Gibson. I started reading him for the ideas, then discovered just how polished his prose is. It's wonderful.
I enjoy Pratchet's work and I've read everything Adams has published, but I don't keep going back to them like I do with Gibson and Stephenson.
Last Open Road-BS Levy
Crime and Punishment Dostoevsky
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance Pirsig
The Dancing Wu Li Masters Zukav
Trout Fishing in America Brautigan
I know this might sound cliche, but I'm a big fan of Dan Brown's big two. I read them in the PROPER order before the History Channel started trying to prove fiction and before reilgious fanatics started calling people who read the books satan worshippers.
They were: Angels and Demons and The Da Vinci Code.
Both were action-packed thrillers and had some pretty cool tech stuff in them. Oddly enough, when the Da Vici Code movie came out, all of the actors they picked looked exactly what I thought of when I pictured the characters in the book. Even the French police chief.
I also like Tom Clancey story lines, although I have yet to actually read one of his books. He and I had the same English professor at Loyola (although, I had her last year and he had her when he was my age). Because of this fact, I feel that he MUST be a good writer. She didn't fail him.
Oh, best book I've read recently, that I will have to revisit:
The Watchmen!
That was one of the greatest endings I've ever read. I'm not sure I've read an ending with a more perfect balance of "happy"/"sad" and resolved/open.
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. Actually, most of his books in the series are pretty good; Gus McCrae is my favorite character period.
Keeper of the Moon by Tim McLauren
Grapes of Wrath by Steinbeck
To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee
Claptons Guitar, I forgot who wrote it... Allen St. John, maybe?
As much as I hated it, I would like to read Wuthering Heights again, without having to take a test on it. Heathcliff seemed like a really interesting character, and the book seemed good... I just couldn't get over how much I hated my teacher and the class in general
confuZion3 wrote: Both were action-packed thrillers and had some pretty cool tech stuff in them. Oddly enough, when the Da Vici Code movie came out, all of the actors they picked looked exactly what I thought of when I pictured the characters in the book. Even the French police chief.
I enjoyed the DaVinci code - not for the conspiracy, but because it's a good action-packed story. Tough to put down. Angels really turned me off, though. I knew too much about the tech, and I realized just how little research there was behind it. I think Brown is a writer for the Google generation, just a light dusting of misunderstood info covering a deeper ignorance.
Clancy is a dirty secret of mine. His stuff is fun to read especially when he's not preaching, but he needs an editor. Not so much for the length of his books, but the same phrases and statements will pop up several times in the same book.
Keith wrote: I enjoyed the DaVinci code - not for the conspiracy, but because it's a good action-packed story.
I think he was stretching a bit with the archives scene, trying to come up with a device to keep the tension up.
"Hmm... reading old books with delicate instruments is really really boring. But hurrying to read old books with delicate instruments because every moment uses up a limited supply of oxygen is exciting!"
...or was that in Angels and Demons? I can't remember.
Orson Scott Card's books are excellent. Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried is as well
I love books. It's a damn shame college doesn't let me!
Osterkraut wrote: I love books. It's a damn shame college doesn't let me!
Doesn't let you what? Love books?
Big fan of Neal Stephenson as well. Snow Crash and Cryptonomicon are two of my all time favorites.
For Brain Candy, I like most of Stephen King's stuff. It may not be particularly deep, but the man's a good storyteller. The Stand, The Dark Tower series, Salem's Lot-all phenomenal.
Favorite author of all time? Probably Steinbeck. It boggles my mind that the Steinbeck everybody has to read in high school is the worst stuff he wrote.
Favorite book: Robert Penn Warren, All the King's Men. It's just that good.
D'oh!
should have been "I love to read books."
Salanis wrote:Osterkraut wrote: I love books. It's a damn shame college doesn't let me!Doesn't let you what? Love books?
yeah, that would get you kicked out of the library for sure. Eww.
Just finished "The art of racing in the rain". really enjoyed it.
Osterkraut wrote: Orson Scott Card's books are excellent.
+1. I thoroughly enjoyed 'Ender's Game'.
'1984' is also a favorite.
A book I read recently that didn't really sound intersting but ended up being amazing was Copote's In Cold Blood. Having seen the movie about him recently which also made the read a little more interesting.
Reading The Poison Wood Bible right now. Really good but a total downer.
Jitter Bug Perfume by Tom Robbins one of my favorites.
Luke wrote:Osterkraut wrote: Orson Scott Card's books are excellent.+1. I thoroughly enjoyed 'Ender's Game'. '1984' is also a favorite.
Pick up the rest of the Saga. Warning: they're nothing like Ender's Game in plot, though.
Salanis wrote: My favorite book of all time: Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchet. It's hilarious satirical version of the end times. Favorite authors: Neil Gaiman and R.A. Heinlein.
No wonder I like you.
The Pleasure of My Company by Steve Martin
and for motivation, Ultra-Marathon Man by Dean Karnasis
I think I've read too much to be able to name favorites...
Authors:
Herman Hesse
Thomas Mann
...two among many.
I like Gabriel Garcia Marquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude
And Borges has some good stuff.
I have trouble reading newer stuff. I'd like to find something, and try on occassion, but generally I go back.
I did read the DaVinci Code (Kinda fluffy and written to be a movie, IMO. Not that there's anything wrong with that.)
-James
I've been reading David Weber and Steve White's series of "Starfire" based books. (In Death Ground, The Shiva Option, Insurrection)
I'm a bit of a masochist sometimes. They're interesting but can be a bit dry, full of pretty much useless tactical information. It all made sense when I found out that the books' "stage" is a roleplaying game. Taken as reading a narrated D&D campaign, it makes a lot more sense.
Best book evar: Hard Wired, by Walter Jon Williams. Sadly, I've read it enough times that it's ruined for me.
I read all of Dan Brown's books. they are all the same.
main charachter: irrational fear (ie, small spaces, water etc), single, character flaw, too trusting.
Crazy religious/governmental organization that nobody knew existed is trying to kill/refute the main character.
Based in an exotic locale (Italy, North Pole)
(I know, #3 is a bit of a stretch)
either way, I don't much like them anymore, but they were decent to pass a few hours the first time I read them.
(one thing I noticed is that the main character in the main two books stole a random car in Rome in Angels and Demons, and yet in DaVinci Code, he could not drive Sophie's "manual" Smart ForTwo. First inconsistency, Roman's drive manuals, Second inconsistency, Smart ForTwo "manuals" are flappy paddle equipped.)
Duke wrote:Salanis wrote: My favorite book of all time: Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchet. It's hilarious satirical version of the end times. Favorite authors: Neil Gaiman and R.A. Heinlein.No wonder I like you.
I second that. I just finished "Guards, Guards" by Pratchett With all the political stuff assaulting me I may dust off "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress"
Bruce
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