i was just wondering - i love reading and am always looking for books.
a lot of people on this board seem to be eloquent, intelligent people. i thought you guys could be a good source of book recommendations all different genres, lengths, authors. i dont care if its a helen fielding or dickens or eliot - any suggestions. ideas or warnings will be much appreciated
AK x
[ April 16, 2009, 09:49 PM: Message edited by: Athena K ]
Posted by Athena K (Member # 33809) on :
and andrew i know youre going to call me a nerd but i dont care Posted by sofatater (Member # 4209) on :
my recent reading material has been -
Mr.Murder by Dean Koontz DUH! The Stupid History of The Human Race By Bob Fenster
And a big stack of Luis L'mour paperbacks
Required reading back in high school(early '70's) was a book called "Alas Babylon" I don't remember the author but, I thought it was a good read. It's about a town that survives a nuclear holocaust.
Posted by Salvy_Mic (Member # 13384) on :
If you're into speculative scientific-based action/adventure, I'd suggest anything by James Rollins, especially his Sigma Force series. Subterrenean, Excavation, Deep Fathom, Amazonia, and Ice Hunt are his stand-alones, while Sandstorm, Map of Bones, Black Order, The Judas Strain, and The Last Oracle are all Sigma Force, in that order. He's coming out with a new Sigma Force, The Doomsday Key, this summer, and sometime in the fall, he's coming out with another stand-alone, Alter of Eden.
All of his books have a historical bent too, not too dissimilar from Angels & Demons or The DaVinci Code (both good reads, if flawed in their research) that works hand in hand with the scientific. They're damn good books, and Rollins is pretty good at making you care about his characters, especially the mains in the Sigma Force books.
Posted by Five For Feet (Member # 33596) on :
Good topic Athena. I enjoyed The DaVinci Code and Angels and Demons so much (especially A&D), that I decided to go back and read Dan Brown's other books; Deception Point, and Digital Fortress. I enjoyed both of them. I am now reading "Columbine" by Dave Cullen. It's an interesting read on the tragedy in Littleton, CO in '99.
Posted by You (Member # 2107) on :
what are your favorite books Athena? just to have a hint on what to recommend Posted by Andy-Laa (Member # 31511) on :
quote:Originally posted by Athena K: and andrew i know youre going to call me a nerd but i dont care
You NER...hardly seems worth it now =/ *tries to think of books with a foot fetish theme... *
Posted by LeDaemon (Member # 198) on :
Book with foot fetish theme: "Footsucker" -Geoff Nicholson.
I haven't read it, but remember the big deal it made on usenet on alt.sex.fetish.feet when it came out back in '95.
My wife is the reader of the family and typically reads a lot of history novels. Try anything by Stephen Ambrose for good WW2 stuff. "Band of Brothers" or "Citizen Soldier" are good.
I read the Audie Murphy autobiography "To Hell and Back." Good story of the most decorated US soldier of WW2.
Posted by Athena K (Member # 33809) on :
thanks for all the suggestions guys! keep em coming
the alchemist and alas babylon have both been recommended to me by a friend of mine actually, so they are on the list
ive never read much sci-fi (it confuses me lol, same with fantasy) but i really should make more of an effort to read some more before i judge the whole genre lol.
i STILL havent got around to reading any dan brown hahaha eeeeeeeeveryone tells me how amazing it is! but you knnow how sometimes things just slip away...
and You... my favourite books are pretty damn varied and soooo many. ill give you the top ten?
1. to kill a mockingbird - harper lee 2. peter pan - jm barrie 3. the book thief - markus zusak 4. lolita - Vladamir Nabokov (probably spelt wrong. apologies) 5. hamlet - shakespeare 6. hitch-hikers guide to the galaxy - douglas adams 7. tomorrow when the war began - john marsden 8. cards on the table - agatha christie 9. bridget jones - helen fielding 10. the odyssey - homer (the fagles translation is my favourite)
book with a foot fetish leaning... history of the high heel? or history of shoes im sure youd get some cute tootsies
AK
Posted by Athena K (Member # 33809) on :
and ledaemon i LOVE historical fiction! partic in the age of catastrophes (first part of 20th century basically hhaha) ive actually read band of brothers (and adored it)
the book thief in my list is actually set in nazi germany, if your wife is interested in hirstorical fiction she should give it a look. its apparently 'young adult fiction' but it is one of the most amazing books i have ever read.
Posted by You (Member # 2107) on :
oh nice, then i should recommend you some classics
the catcher in the rye by JD Salinger the grapes of wrath by john steinbeck of mouse and men by john steinbeck the lord of the flies by william golding on the road by jack kerouac
some historical books of interest might be
mila 18 and exodus by leon uris
and yeah, angels and demons by dan brown is a great read
for something a little more dense, try No Logo by Naomi Klein
heh Posted by Athena K (Member # 33809) on :
no logo, thats about advertising and politics right?
and i love on the road!! the only people for me are the mad ones... i love the beat era. allen ginsberg is one of my idols.
im really keen to read catcher in the rye, and i studied the play of mice and men in high school, but i havent ever read it. i cried Posted by Shelley (Member # 20107) on :
I have read some of these books Athena but everytime I even look at a book anymore, I think of The Diary of Anne Frank. It was mostly written by her and it is recomended reading...Shelley Posted by You (Member # 2107) on :
quote:Originally posted by Athena K: no logo, thats about advertising and politics right?
and i love on the road!! the only people for me are the mad ones... i love the beat era. allen ginsberg is one of my idols.
im really keen to read catcher in the rye, and i studied the play of mice and men in high school, but i havent ever read it. i cried
yes you are right about No Logo..
hehe then i recommend the catcher in the rye first. and yes, of mice and men is terribly sad hehe
let us know what you decide to read first Posted by diamond johny (Member # 27586) on :
Well, I guess I fall in the dork category but here it goes: 1. 2001: A Space Odyssey, Arthur C. Clarke 2. The Forge of God, Greg Bear 3. The God Delusion, Richard Dawkins 4. The Demon Haunted World, Carl Sagan 5. The Origin of Species, Charles Darwin 6. Ringworld, Larry Niven
Just a few of my favorites.
Posted by Maverick Matrix (Member # 2989) on :
A good book I'd recommend is "The Power of NOW," by Eckhart Tolle.
Posted by Andy-Laa (Member # 31511) on :
quote:Originally posted by Athena K: im really keen to read catcher in the rye,
THE BOOK THAT KILLED A BEATLE!? =o !!! Monster!! and...apparently it's absolute shit, babe...like really, really dull. (I've been well-informed)
I like: Of Mice and Men Lord Of The Flies The Shining (as you know ) Oh - and random fact books ^_^
Posted by You (Member # 2107) on :
quote:Originally posted by Andy-Laa:
quote:Originally posted by Athena K: im really keen to read catcher in the rye,
THE BOOK THAT KILLED A BEATLE!? =o !!! Monster!! and...apparently it's absolute shit, babe...like really, really dull. (I've been well-informed)
lol blasphemy, check your sources Posted by Andy-Laa (Member # 31511) on :
quote:Originally posted by You:
quote:Originally posted by Andy-Laa:
quote:Originally posted by Athena K: im really keen to read catcher in the rye,
THE BOOK THAT KILLED A BEATLE!? =o !!! Monster!! and...apparently it's absolute shit, babe...like really, really dull. (I've been well-informed)
lol blasphemy, check your sources
Didn't a few people just...jump out of a window after reading it?
Posted by You (Member # 2107) on :
lol i dont know about that, what people do is obvioulsy not the authorīs fault
Posted by Athena K (Member # 33809) on :
quote:Originally posted by You: lol i dont know about that, what people do is obvioulsy not the authorīs fault
different horses for different courses Posted by You (Member # 2107) on :
true.
clearly the book is not to be enjoyed and praised by everyone but it sure is one iīd recommend to you Posted by Panic (Member # 21074) on :
Just a short list of some of my Favorite books. Not in any particular order. Thanks for starting this thread. I have been looking for more ideas. I am currently reading:
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
1. Life of Pi by Yanni Martel 2. Colditz by Henry Chancellor 3. 1984 by George Orwell 4. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho 5. Man's Search For Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl 6. Dry by Augusten Burroughs 7. Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom 8. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alezandre Dumas 9. Timeline by Michael Crichton 10. The Pleasure of my Company by Steve Martin 11. Anything written by CHuck Palahniuk ie...Choke, Haunted, Rant, and Diary to name a few.
Posted by You (Member # 2107) on :
nice titles Panic!
Posted by Andy-Laa (Member # 31511) on :
quote:Originally posted by Panic: 3. 1984 by George Orwell
hahahaha - not my kinda book, concept is surprisingly accurate though considering it was written in '48...
Posted by Athena K (Member # 33809) on :
quote:Originally posted by Panic: Just a short list of some of my Favorite books. Not in any particular order. Thanks for starting this thread. I have been looking for more ideas. I am currently reading:
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
1. Life of Pi by Yanni Martel 2. Colditz by Henry Chancellor 3. 1984 by George Orwell 4. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho 5. Man's Search For Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl 6. Dry by Augusten Burroughs 7. Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom 8. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alezandre Dumas 9. Timeline by Michael Crichton 10. The Pleasure of my Company by Steve Martin 11. Anything written by CHuck Palahniuk ie...Choke, Haunted, Rant, and Diary to name a few.
i looooooooooooove george orwell. i picked up a book of his essays the other day and the man is amazing. i realy want to read down and outt in paris and london, but its so hard to track down, most shops only stock 1984 and animal farm (yet they have all the twilight series! *shakes fist*)
Posted by FootLover36 (Member # 22908) on :
I wish I could get into reading but I have a real problem with my attention span when it comes to books.
I actually have a couple of recommendations, but they're to do with Maths and Physics.
1. Music Of The Primes - Marcus du Sautoy
2. A Brief History Of Time - Stephen Hawking
I found both books to be an interesting read, although some knowledge of Maths and Physics may be helpful when it comes to reading them.
Posted by Hal (Member # 3484) on :
quote:Originally posted by Athena K:
quote:Originally posted by Panic: Just a short list of some of my Favorite books. Not in any particular order. Thanks for starting this thread. I have been looking for more ideas. I am currently reading:
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
1. Life of Pi by Yanni Martel 2. Colditz by Henry Chancellor 3. 1984 by George Orwell 4. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho 5. Man's Search For Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl 6. Dry by Augusten Burroughs 7. Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom 8. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alezandre Dumas 9. Timeline by Michael Crichton 10. The Pleasure of my Company by Steve Martin 11. Anything written by CHuck Palahniuk ie...Choke, Haunted, Rant, and Diary to name a few.
i looooooooooooove george orwell. i picked up a book of his essays the other day and the man is amazing. i realy want to read down and outt in paris and london, but its so hard to track down, most shops only stock 1984 and animal farm (yet they have all the twilight series! *shakes fist*)
I totally agree...George Orwell was a genius! Make sure to also read his amazing book "Homage to Catalonia" about the Spanish Civil War and then watch the great movie "Land and Freedom" by British director Ken Loach (most of his political movies are pretty good!), which is loosely based on Orwell`s book.
-Hal-
Posted by You (Member # 2107) on :
orwell is probably my favorite author...animal farm my favorite book Posted by Hal (Member # 3484) on :
Another collection of amazing books are the works of Hermann Hesse. He was a German author (1877-1962) but I heard he`s even quite popular over there in the USA and apparently the English translations are actually pretty good.
His best known novels are "Steppenwolf" and "Siddhartha", which I can highly recommend, along with his other novels (he wrote about a dozen books).
siddharta was an amazing read, add that one to the list heh
Posted by nusuth (Member # 7372) on :
something with a more emotional slant than what most have been recommending is anything by jody picoult. i just finished handle with care and it was good, but didnt come close to my sister's keeper or 19 minutes. if you liked bridget jone's you'll love the shopoholic series as well as sophie kinsella. and yes, i have read all those. i am consumate reader and read everything.
ok for some that i would typically lean towards when i am not reading the books on my wife's side of the bed... - ANYTHING by china meiville. the scar is just phenomenal. - fear and odd thomas series by koontz - dune series by frank herbert. VERY dense writing, but if you can get through it, mind blowing. - the lucifer principle by howard bloom. a fantastic explanation of how 'evil' has benefited specific society segments and their advancement. - oliver sacks.. except one of his latest ones about music. total snoozefest, but his others are fascinating. - alice sebold - lovely bones was cool.. lucky was heartwrenching and the almost moon was.. odd.
that should keep you busy just on researching the titles lol
Posted by Athena K (Member # 33809) on :
hahaha wow what a great response!! thank you everyone! im probably going to track down catcher in the rye first, and then look back on all the good old historical fiction titles that have been suggested.
i hope this thread keeps going so other people can benefit from it too
AK x
Posted by You (Member # 2107) on :
:hug:
Posted by bluetoelover (Member # 14736) on :
Any book by Tom Clancy I recommend. Also I am reading "Mountie Makers: Putting the Canadian in the RCMP" by Robert Gordon Teather. Tells about life at the Training Depot(where I hope to be by summer time ).
Posted by FootLongSub Zero (Member # 19380) on :
I don't read Posted by Andy-Laa (Member # 31511) on :
Hmm...The Bible?
Posted by vanderfeet (Member # 8733) on :
Nice thread. I love reading.
I grew up reading a lot of Michael Crichton and Stephen King. I read Jurassic Park when I was 11, and it owned my life. The film is still one of my favourites. I was also heavy into King's "Dark Tower" series many years ago. I followed it through the fourth installment, Wizard and Glass, which remains one of the most interesting things I've ever read. King took a major hiatus with those books after that, and I never picked them back up. By the time he resumed them, I had moved on to other authors and interests. I understand he's finished the series by now.
I really enjoyed "Solaris" by Stanislaw Lem as a teenager. Must have read it 4 or 5 times by now. Lem was a brilliant Polish sci-fi author who utilized a great deal of philosophy and satire in his work.
Solaris is about "the ultimately futile attempt to communicate with an alien life-form on a distant planet. The planet, called Solaris, is covered with a so-called 'ocean' that seems to really be a single organism covering the entire surface. The ocean shows signs of a vast but strange intelligence, which can create physical phenomena in a way that science has difficulty explaining. The alien mind of Solaris is so inconceivably different from human consciousness that all attempts at communication are doomed (the 'alienness' of aliens was one of Lem's favourite themes; he was scornful about portrayals of aliens as humanoid)." (Wikipedia) A really haunting and tragic story. It was adapted for film by Andrei Tarkovsky in the 70s...touted as Russia's answer to "2001: A Space Odyssey". Great film, very trippy. Stay away from the 2002 George Clooney adaptation. It is poison!
Post-high school I've been a real Thomas Pynchon fiend. Started with Mason & Dixon, then Against the Day, and currently reading Gravity's Rainbow. Very post-modern historical fiction. I'd recommend them all. I find that man's words so curiously satisfying to read. He could run a sentence on for pages and I wouldn't begrudge him, he's so damn good at it.
Posted by A&F_FootDude_05 (Member # 2999) on :
I wanna get Fahreed Zakaria's The Post-American World
Posted by yeah_i_suck_toes (Member # 21104) on :
Here's a list of some of my favorite books: (in no particular order)
Anything by Chuck Palahniuk V. by Thomas Pynchon Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig C.S. Lewis's Space Trilogy (Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hideous Strength) Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay The Stranger by Albert Camus The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien
Posted by Hal (Member # 3484) on :
Just finished "Everything is illuminated" by Jonathan Safran Foer. Very good read.
-Hal-
Posted by LeDaemon (Member # 198) on :
Currently perched on the tank of my toilet is a large hard bound collection of the works of Mark Twain.
Posted by Cain (Member # 8492) on :
Here is a list of good authors all who are fiction:
1. Harlen Coben (one of the best in my opinion) 2. James Patterson 3. Jeffrey Deaver 4. Michael Donnelley 5. Steven White 6. Lee Child (The Jack Reacher Novels are awesome)
I have read almost everything by these guys and like them all.
Posted by 18th Floor (Member # 35007) on :
Freakanomics by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner.
Posted by the_foot_fetishist (Member # 30029) on :
The World Series. It was put together by Josh Leventhal. It's a comprehensive look back of what happened at each World Series. If you're a baseball fanatic, this book can really help you get a good understanding of how the history of the game changed throughout the decades.
Posted by Beautifulfeetonline.com (Member # 13717) on :
Footsucker rocked my socks, got it, it's a good read.
![[Tongue]](tongue.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
all different genres, lengths, authors. i dont care if its a helen fielding or dickens or eliot - any suggestions. ideas or warnings will be much appreciated ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Thumbs Up]](graemlins/thumbsup.gif)
![[Blush]](blush.gif)
![[Cry]](cry.gif)