Although there is no shortage of books to be read, I was wondering what random people-perfect strangers- would recommend I read. What do you think are some of the best books ever written, what books have made you think, or have changed your life, and what books do you think I should read?
I think you need to read some philosophy, something that explores the complicated edge cases, where there is no obvious 'right' answer.
But while you're looking for it you might enjoy
cyteenI really enjoyed Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, it made me cry which has never happened, it was befuddled it was so shocking
I think I have The Grapes of Wrath....somewhere. (Haha) I had already planned to read it sometime in my life, but I will definately push it higher on the list...If I can find it, that is. I haven't even heard of East of Eden. What is it about? Ditto for cyteen. I definately really want to read more philosophy. I prefer fiction, fantasy, historical, and philosophy, as well as anything on mental illness, homelessness, and suicide.
I've actually read all the Vampire Academy books! I love the series. But I swear that every time I speak the author's name I say "Michelle Read", haha. I just finished Blood Promise about a week ago.
I've read the first few chapters of 13 Reasons Why, and I want that book SO BAD!!!! But I can't find it in paperback, and otherwise it's a bit expensive.
Any other suggestions?
A couple of short fiction rec's, given what you have posted on your profile page and here...
"
Sonny's Blues" ~ James Baldwin
Quite possibly my favorite short story ever. In the short story anthology
You've Got to Read This, Kenneth McClane introduces this one by saying that it literally saved his life. I can believe that. It's that kind of story.
"
The Depressed Person" ~ David Foster Wallace
Which probably isn't the DFW piece that I'd offer most immediately, but as far as I can tell, "Good Old Neon" still isn't available online. DFW's pretty brilliant. And I'm never sure if I like "Good Old Neon" as I read it. And then there's that one sentence that you get to (it's fairly obvious which one it is upon reading) that blows the whole thing wide open. "The Depressed Person" can stand for now. (On further looking around, there's a bit of GON on Google. Check
here. If there were any way I could force you to read that story, I probably would. It's worth working through. Once you get to that sentence. (Unfortunately, you only get the first few pages from Google.))
"
Silver Water" ~ Amy Bloom
Not quite sure what to say about this one... Hell, it's collected in the
The Online Journal of the American Association for Psychoanalysis in Clinical Social Work. Read it and see, I guess.
I could throw novels and non-fiction works at you by the dozens, but I'll start with that.
Mensagem editada pelo seu autor, Nov 3, 2009, 12:09am.
Check your local library for books by George Stewart and Nevil Shute.
You know another series I am reading right now is The Hollows Series by
Kim Harrison the first book is
Dead Witch Walking if you havent read these you may really like them. I love that all the titles are based on Clint Eastwood movies lol... but the stories are pretty fun.
#9
Great suggestions. 'Fire' and 'Storm' both by Stewart have no villains, it is humanity v. nature. Then you have
Earth Abides again by Stewart and
On the Beach by Shute both post-apocalyptic stories, one about survival and the other is about facing death. All are great books. I have a few other by them waiting in my TBR list.
These reminded me of Herbert Leiberman, another neglected name from the past.
Nightbloom,
City of the Dead, and
The Green Train. The first two dark stories about how crime affects crime fighters and the third, well, an equally offbeat crime story set in the Soviet Union. I recommend all if you want spine tingling chills without non-human monsters.
touchstone can not locate Stewart's Fire or Storm
Mensagem editada pelo seu autor, Nov 4, 2009, 10:55am.
I'd recommend
The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner, and its sequels
Queen of Attolia and
King of Attolia (and, coming out next spring,
A Conspiracy of Kings -- I'm so excited about that!). I do recommend them to a lot of people in general, and I also glanced at your library and profile (is that cheating?) and from the books we share, I'd say you would probably enjoy them.
Of course it isn't cheating. It's being smart.
Agreed! Totally not cheating, just being clever. :)
I will definately check out all of the recommended books and authors. Thanks you guys (& gals)!!
Hi, HannaRose,
Having sneaked a look at your profile page as well, I think you might get a lot out of Hermann Hesse -
Steppenwolf in particular. That's one of the books it's almost impossible to enjoy if you're over 25 the first time you read it. I see you're involved with a Gay-Straight Alliance - have you read
Oranges are not the only fruit? It might be fun to see how East Lancashire reads onto Alaska!
Boy Meets Boy and
Wide Awake by David Levithan are also very good books. I'd also suggest
Briar Rose by Jane Yolen.
Mensagem editada pelo seu autor, Nov 9, 2009, 7:28am.
I've heard of Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit, as well as Boy Meets Boy. Since it's by David Levithan, of course I will read Wide Awake as well. Has anyone ever read
Luna? I've forgotten the author, unfortunately. But it is one of the best books I've read in my life, which is saying something.
I've read Briar Rose! My sister owns it. It is unequivically one of the best fictional Holocaust stories, and retold fairy tales, that I have ever read. I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.
Would that be
Luna by Julie Anne Peters?
I don't remember the author's name, but it was a book about a girl whose elder brother (who is also a teenager) comes out as a transgender woman, and who chooses the name 'Luna'. Does anybody know the author's name?
I don't remember the author's name, but it was a book about a girl whose elder brother (who is also a teenager) comes out as a transgender woman, and who chooses the name 'Luna'. Does anybody know the author's name?
Sounds like the Julie Ann Peters one that Mr Andrew mentioned - it's in most of the big LGBT libraries on LT, and the tags match your description.
You're both right! It is indeed Luna by Julie Ann Peters!
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