The Book Thread (Official Thread)

[EnderDove]

High Fidelity (I wish I would've read it years ago before I watched the movie 30 times)
Perks Of Being A Wallflower (2nd time)

[patpratt]

i'm currently reading "brief interviews with hideous men" by david foster wallace. I'm finding it hard to get into.

[LinzN*]

Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

i like the quirky language differences of British writers.

[dodge_3001]

Im reading House of Leaves, and it's just starting to get good

[Mitch]

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. I like it so far, but I'm not too far into it yet. I'll probably read a lot of it tonight.

[notoaststereo]

i just finished boomsday by chris buckley

now im reading sideways by rex pickett

[lilRIPsta]

Currently reading Hannibal Rising

next on my list is Odd Thomas

and then The End of Faith: Religion, Terror and the Future of Reason
(the latter book discusses all the negative things religion has brought upon the world and why we need to live in a world controlled by reason and logic and not religion)

my mom just read Odd Thomas and absolutely loved it

[JIMMYateEARTH]

INVINSIBLE vol. 4 Head of the Class

great comic series so far, best superhero idea in ages

[eraserhead]

ACT prep book

:-(

[2wo_2one]

"The Complete Idiot's Guide To College Life".

Hell,i'm a high school senior and i'm clueless.

[CorporateFish]

"The Perfect Thing: How the iPod Shuffles Commerce, Cultrue, and Coolness" by Steven Levy.
Very interesting read about the ipod's effect on society.

[CorporateFish]

Is Invisible Monsters By Chuck Palaniuk worth the read?
Sorry, I've never read it..but what other books by him would you suggest reading? I've read Lullaby and Fight Club, both of which were incredible.

[my9ridesshotgun]

im reading 11 books right now, switching between them so i can read them before they are due....which shouldnt be hard....

-massive
-more than you can chew
-the catcher in the rye
-bluethroat morning
-the lovely bones
-crystal lies-not great
-pitch black(color me lost)-not really that great.....

i forget the others....i would need them in front of me and im too lazy to get up....

[SteveLikesMusic]

The Hitchiker's Guide To The Galaxy

so fucking funny, and really makes you think....loving it to death.

[capnhook54]

I'm re-reading all the Harry Potter books before Deathly Hallows. So, right now I'm on Order of the Phoenix, but I'm almost finished. So, I'll probably be starting Half-Blood Prince on Monday or Tuesday.

[needles & pins]

I just finished Cell by Stephen King. It was a pretty good read, the sort of thing you'd expect from King. The only thing that bothered me was that there wasn't a "real" ending, if you know what I mean. Someone mentioned that he'd been doing that a lot with his more recent books, but I haven't read any of his stuff for a while, so I can't really say. But it was so frustrating.

[peacelovemusic]

I've been reading so much this year my school library is starting to run out of books I haven't read. The librarians knew my name by the end of the first week I arrived at the school I read so much. now that I'm on spring break, I've read all the Kurt Vonnegut books I have, all the manga and comic books I have, all six Harry Potter books, and half the Christopher Pike books I have. Now, I'm reading The Listeners by Christopher Pike, and am enjoying it very much. I highly recommend it.

[Kikskrumme]

chuck palahnuik-haunted
i loved invisible monsters and survivor, but i'm a little eh about this one *shrug*
also, a book with quotes from nietzsche and some psychology book by paul watzlawick
nothing to do during the break orly?

[Kikskrumme]

The Hitchiker's Guide To The Galaxy

so fucking funny, and really makes you think....loving it to death.

42!!!!!

[funkel]

I'm currently reading:

Inkheart
A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning
The Amber Spyglass by Phillip Pullman (for the 4th time)
Prey by Michael Crichton (for at least the 6th time)


The Amber Spyglass is such a spectacular book. The whole His Dark Materials trilogy is fantastic.
I'm worried about the movie incorporations that are being made. They could really screw it up. Bad.

[SteveLikesMusic]

chuck palahnuik-haunted
i loved invisible monsters and survivor, but i'm a little eh about this one *shrug*
also, a book with quotes from nietzsche and some psychology book by paul watzlawick
nothing to do during the break orly?

I HATED this book. By far Chuck's worst. I couldn't even finish it.

[redsand62]

I have read 222 pages of the 412 pages of Chuck Palahniuk's "Haunted", and have to say I really don't get why people seem to dislike it so much.

Some of these short stories are more inventive and thought provoking than entire books I have read (namely 'The Nightmare Box', 'Swan Song' and 'Foot Work').

"Guts" is the most famous story of them all, although I think it is weak when compared to some of the others. It relies too much on shock than story, and although it creeped me out and made me feel physically uncomfortable, there are many other stories at this point that are much better.



I am also about halfway through! Although I stopped reading it about a month ago because of school. I really ought to get back into it. I seemed to prefer the short stories to the actual story itself. Whenever it goes back to the people who are locked in that place, I lose a bit of interest.

[LostSymphonies]

my mom just read Odd Thomas and absolutely loved it

yeah i got the first 150 pages done in Odd Thomas today at work and i'm very enthralled

[-Aaron-]

House of Leaves

[Kikskrumme]

I HATED this book. By far Chuck's worst. I couldn't even finish it.

haha yeah i still haven't finished reading it


*copiesbookrecommendations*

[BrandNothing]

I finished Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky like last week and i thought it was cool as hell. Now im almost done with It can't happen here by Sinclair Lewis. Fascism coming to america during the great depression = awesome book.

[Bob Payne]

What is the What by Dave Eggars
Post Office by Charles Bukowski

[notoaststereo]

What is the What by Dave Eggars
Post Office by Charles Bukowski
post office is excellent

post office>factotum

[senatorlamb]

I finished Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky like last week and i thought it was cool as hell. Now im almost done with It can't happen here by Sinclair Lewis. Fascism coming to america during the great depression = awesome book.

you know "It Can't Happen Here" is online for free.

[ohthethrill]

Chuck Klosterman IV

[BrandNothing]

you know "It Can't Happen Here" is online for free.

Yeah, but who wants to read 400 pages in front of the computer? I dont know not me anyways.

[Jmorgan07]

Im reading Cell by Stephen King, its alright so far, not one of his best though.

[Mitch]

Great Expectations is very good so far.

[nonamesleft]

Totally Frank by Frank Lampard

[hailthewarrior]

Im reading Cell by Stephen King, its alright so far, not one of his best though.

definitely not his best, but i enjoyed it.

"on the beach" by nevil shute

[matt_rawlings]

I just ordered 'Catcher in the rye'. I have never read it before.

I am 103 pages into Chuck Palahniuk's "Survivor" and I am very much enjoying it

[S84newt2000]

I just ordered 'Catcher in the rye'. I have never read it before.

I am 103 pages into Chuck Palahniuk's "Survivor" and I am very much enjoying it


Survivor is awesome. I love the "religious" aspect of it a lot. I'm getting ready to start "Choke".

[eraserhead]

Great Expectations is very good so far.
I really enjoyed that book.

I'm about 3/4 of the way through Lullaby, it's very good.

[best_mistake392]

I am 103 pages into Chuck Palahniuk's "Survivor" and I am very much enjoying it


I just finished reading that book
I thought that it was pretty good.

But im kinda sad, im out of Palahniuk books to read now
:(

I think im ging to stat reading Salem's lot by stephen king
my friend told me that it was okay

[monty2007]

I started A Clockwork Orange last night, its pretty good, I found it really hard to concentrate on what was going on because I kept trying to figure out what the made-up words meant.

Anyone read this? Is it any good?

[notpaidxtoxpose]

"Dracula" -Bram Stoker.
Again.

[a morning view]

the things they carried by tim o'brien
after that, probably invisible monsters by chuck palahniuk

[come on eileen]

The Sun Also Rises - Ernest Hemingway

[FeynmanWannabe]

I started A Clockwork Orange last night, its pretty good, I found it really hard to concentrate on what was going on because I kept trying to figure out what the made-up words meant.

Anyone read this? Is it any good?
A personal favorite. Don't get discouraged.

[TJ Wells]

as i lay dying - william faulkner

his style is definitely hard to get used to.

[thatwasamoment]

I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell - Tucker Max
the greatest storyteller alive

[Robb]

I'm currently re-reading my favorite book ever, The Great Train Robbery by Michael Crichton.

[Ailite]

J.R.R. Tolkien- The Children of Hurin

[TheByrus]

the people's history of the united states

[lindZ629]

Pompeii by Robert Harris

[CountMeOut923]

Company by Max Barry. It's essentially "Office Space" in book form.

[icyeyes26]

I just ordered 'Catcher in the rye'. I have never read it before.

I am 103 pages into Chuck Palahniuk's "Survivor" and I am very much enjoying it
cather in the rye is my favorite book!:-)

[icyeyes26]

The Hitchiker's Guide To The Galaxy

so fucking funny, and really makes you think....loving it to death.
never read it

[icyeyes26]

Haha, patience young one.

I'm going to read the last 100 pages of Solar Storms (Linda Hogan) tonight.
guess what book i just got today?

[3milesdown]

im in the middle of less than zero. love it.

btw what palahniuk book should i reach next? i read lullaby, fight club, and just finished diary. not too much a fan of diary, but i loved fight club and lullaby.

[Adrian Villagomez]

guess what book i just got today?Solar Storms? :shrug:

[lilRIPsta]

I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell - Tucker Max
the greatest storyteller alive


haha so true

[icyeyes26]

NO! fight club! read the posts before

[Palmtrees]

The Age of Innocence - Edith Wharton.

[icyeyes26]

we're starting to read Night

[Adrian Villagomez]

NO! fight club! read the posts beforeMy bad. Good book.

we're starting to read NightAnother good book.

[icyeyes26]

My bad. Good book.

Another good book.
im actually excited to read:book:

[Adrian Villagomez]

Im reading Cell by Stephen King, its alright so far, not one of his best though.Oh, you couldn't possibly expect a book called "Cell" to be on the level of his best.

im actually excited to read:book:I love it. Spread the word to your fellow young people.

[icyeyes26]

Oh, you couldn't possibly expect a book called "Cell" to be on the level of his best.

I love it. Spread the word to your fellow young people.
will do

[AnF1500]

Glue - Irvine Welsh.

[Chancetobe]

I don't really have a chance to read for Leuisure, since I have so much school reading to do. But, my summer job let's me go through about two books a week, so I can make up for it then. I'm planning on reading a few historical novels, but other than that, i'm not really sure.

[speakhandsforme]

i recently finished Poor People by Fyodor Dostoevsky
and Burning in Water Drowning in Flame poems by Bukowski
and am about to start on Bukowski's Hollywood

[slickwataris]

the children of hurin

[eraserhead]

Just finished Lullaby. What a fucked up book.

[Bob Payne]

Just finished Post Office. hilarious book.

I have to read Real American Ethics by Albert Borgmann for my Sociology class, then I'll start reading The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe.

[Spewk]

one flew over the cuccos nest

[Spanning_Time]

I am reading One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest too, and hopefully The Stranger next.

[Blake Solomon]

Flight by Sherman Alexie


It's about a irish/native american boy named zits who is semi brainwashed by a white kid to rob a bank. When Zits gets shot at the bank, he wakes up in a different time period, as a different person. So far, he has been an FBI Agent in Red River, Idaho and a small, "old-time" Indian that can't speak.

Good, quick read so far.

[xshesatiger]

I'm currently reading:

Inkheart
A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning
The Amber Spyglass by Phillip Pullman (for the 4th time)
Prey by Michael Crichton (for at least the 6th time)


The Amber Spyglass is such a spectacular book. The whole His Dark Materials trilogy is fantastic.
I'm worried about the movie incorporations that are being made. They could really screw it up. Bad.

i was planning on reading through this whole thread before posting.
but i saw this post & got too excited.
i looooove love love the His Dark Materials trilogy. holy fuck.
i realllllly wish i owned them all / didnt owe the library a million dollars.
i havent read the books in a looong time.
The Amber Spyglass made me bawl like a baby. first book that made me cry.


& THEY'RE MAKING MOVIES FOR IT!? i'm terrified.



as for me, i just finished Running With Scissors.
& i realllly wish i wasnt flat broke / didnt owe my library a million dollars.
because my friends are running out of books to loan me.
& i'm the kind of person that always needs to have a book to read.
its been that way since i first learned to read.

[Adrian Villagomez]

Flight by Sherman Alexie


It's about a irish/native american boy named zits who is semi brainwashed by a white kid to rob a bank. When Zits gets shot at the bank, he wakes up in a different time period, as a different person. So far, he has been an FBI Agent in Red River, Idaho and a small, "old-time" Indian that can't speak.

Good, quick read so far.I read one of Alexie's poems last semester, "Captivity" I think it was called. It's all about the white man's oppression.

[Mitch]

...Still reading Great Expectations.

Very good book so far, just taking me forever to read seeing as I tend to only read about fifteen-twenty minutes per day.

[infecTed]

the vampire lestat-anne rice

[Adrian Villagomez]

Her Way: Young Women Remake the Sexual Revolution.

[eraserhead]

...Still reading Great Expectations.

Very good book so far, just taking me forever to read seeing as I tend to only read about fifteen-twenty minutes per day.
Read that last year for English, really great book. Everyone hated it.

[Adrian Villagomez]

Read that last year for English, really great book. Everyone hated it.That's because children are stupid.

[eraserhead]

That's because children are stupid.
yeah basically. Haha everyone hated The Great Gatsby and The Grapes of Wrath too.

[CountMeOut923]

I just finished reading Everybody Hurts by Leslie Simon and Trevor Kelly.

I got the book on Monday afternoon and finished it in about 4 days. I was completely addicted and it made me crack up the entire time. Definitely a 10/10.

[matt_rawlings]

I am just past the half way point through "The Catcher In The Rye", and whilst I like it and I think Holden is a brilliant character simply because he is a complete tool...nothing actually seems to happen in the book.

Seriously, when I get halfway through a book, I would expect to have learned a huge ammount about character and setting as well as relishing in some nice set pieces.

So far, he has left school and gone to a hotel and done a few things...

[EndlessMike]

I just started reading Dry by Augusten Burroughs. I'm only two chapters in, but it's great so far. He's got a really easy to read writing style, I read Running With Scissors in barely 2 days.

Yesterday I finished reading Catch Me If You Can by Frank Abagale. It's the basis for the movie with Leonardo DiCaprio. I was actually surprised by how good the book was. It's a quick read with some really funny/exciting parts to it. I would definitely recommend it.

[PadraicPrincess]

Just finished the Great Gatsby for school, now reading one hundred years of solitude by gabriel garcia marquez and the progress of love by alice munro

[ThexQuietxCull]

yeah basically. Haha everyone hated The Great Gatsby and The Grapes of Wrath too.

must go to school with a bunch of inbred turd nuggets

[notoaststereo]

i finished The Average American Male by Chad kultgen in one day. it was pretty vulgar... almost like porno in novel form.

now im reading You Shall Know Our Velocity by Dave Eggars

[battles]

Wow i just read that book. It was really good, pretty much a porno. But, good.

[mijakai]

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

I'd like to sound important and say I'm really enjoying it, but it's become a real mission...

[Adrian Villagomez]

Wow i just read that book. It was really good, pretty much a porno. But, good.Are you sure it wasn't a porno?

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

I'd like to sound important and say I'm really enjoying it, but it's become a real mission...Fair enough - what's bothering you about it?

[Chris_FirstTime]

world according to Garp - John Irving , it's pretty damn good

[NickBender]

Less than Zero - Bret Easton Ellis. I hate it.

[Adrian Villagomez]

Less than Zero - Bret Easton Ellis. I hate it.Sounds like a lame pop-punk band name.

[XxIronistxX]

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

I'd like to sound important and say I'm really enjoying it, but it's become a real mission...


its a really good book, and not that hard to read for me..i enjoyed it.

[XxIronistxX]

The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd

[Adrian Villagomez]

its a really good book, and not that hard to read for me..i enjoyed it.Writing from a child's perspective is an excellent method of conveying deep meaning through a simple voice. I've used it before.

The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk KiddRead The Secret Life of Bees in case you haven't.

[XxIronistxX]

Writing from a child's perspective is an excellent method of conveying deep meaning through a simple voice. I've used it before.

Read The Secret Life of Bees in case you haven't.

Thanks, but i have. Its a really good book.

[Adrian Villagomez]

Thanks, but i have. Its a really good book.I see that you're one step ahead of me. Let me know how your Mermaid book turns out. I'm a big fan of The Secret Life, and I'd like to know if your current book stacks up in comparisson.

[XxIronistxX]

I see that you're one step ahead of me. Let me know how your Mermaid book turns out. I'm a big fan of The Secret Life, and I'd like to know if your current book stacks up in comparisson.


Well all i can tell you now is that from what i've read so far it is okay, i have yet to get the main point of it, so i'm not sure if it will measure up or not.

[Shatter590]

Sagas of the Icelanders

1000 pages of vikings and violence

[a speedo model]

"It's Kind of a Funny Story" by Ned Vizzini

It's pretty good so far, nothing amazing but a very enjoyable read.

Also, I've started reading "You Shall Know Our Velocity" and "The Picture of Dorian Gray"

[CellarGhosts]

Reading in my own free time:
"the Stand" by Stephen King

Reding in school:
"Bless the Beasts and Children" by Glendon Swarthout

Plan to read soon:
"the Master and Margarita" by Mikhail Bulgakov

[livethesounds]

I'm currently reading:

Inkheart
A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning
The Amber Spyglass by Phillip Pullman (for the 4th time)
Prey by Michael Crichton (for at least the 6th time)


His best work IMO. I've only read it once, but now that i think about it i might start reading it again. I love love loved that book. I'm hoping for a sequel, because he kind of leaves you guessing at the end and Crichton never does that.

[Whalejaw]

Tomorrow I'll be reading Rant by Chuck Palahniuk

[cautioners]

i just finished hey nostradamus! by douglas coupland for like the 4th time.
i think i'm going to try to finish saturday by ian mcewan now. it's really good, just difficult to get into when you don't have long periods to sit and focus on reading.

[Throwback]

I just finished reading The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, which I loved.

I'm almost done with The Zombie Survival Guide and then its onto Great Gatsby followed by Fountainhead. I'm in a very 'literary' mood.

[Chris_FirstTime]

i just finished hey nostradamus! by douglas coupland for like the 4th time.
i think i'm going to try to finish saturday by ian mcewan now. it's really good, just difficult to get into when you don't have long periods to sit and focus on reading.


hey nostradamus is one of my favourite Coupland books, the characters in it are really interesting

saturday is pretty fun, the only Mcewan book I enjoyed,

[NickBender]

Sounds like a lame pop-punk band name.

That it does. It's as lame as the title. It's uneventful, boring, and has poor character development. Should have finished Mein Kampf.

[TJ Wells]

Less than zero is one of the greatest books of the last 25 years.

I'm reading Kate: The Woman Who Was Hepburn.

[CellarGhosts]

His best work IMO. I've only read it once, but now that i think about it i might start reading it again. I love love loved that book. I'm hoping for a sequel, because he kind of leaves you guessing at the end and Crichton never does that.
I read, and loved Prey as well. Of course, Jurassic Park is always going to be my favorite of his, as it was the first Crichton book I'd ever read, and loved it, but Prey is a very close second.

I am in fact hoping for a sequel of some kind, as he does leave you hanging at the end, but really, I'm thinking the reason he did that is to leave us to guess what happens, as a future run by such technology is really uncertain...if that reasoning makes any sense haha...but anyway, yes, good book. I'm planning on reading Next in the near future as well.

[2wo_2one]

I'm reading college preparation books.Alright,but not awesone.

[Adrian Villagomez]

I read, and loved Prey as well. Of course, Jurassic Park is always going to be my favorite of his, as it was the first Crichton book I'd ever read, and loved it, but Prey is a very close second.

I am in fact hoping for a sequel of some kind, as he does leave you hanging at the end, but really, I'm thinking the reason he did that is to leave us to guess what happens, as a future run by such technology is really uncertain...if that reasoning makes any sense haha...but anyway, yes, good book. I'm planning on reading Next in the near future as well.My biggest gripe with Crichton books (especially Timeline) is the characters' uncanny ability to survive. Three raptors are surrounding the main character? He launches a sleeping powder and escapes (barely).

[CellarGhosts]

My biggest gripe with Crichton books (especially Timeline) is the characters' uncanny ability to survive. Three raptors are surrounding the main character? He launches a sleeping powder and escapes (barely).
Good point, I see what you mean. I haven't yet read Timeline, but I have noticed that in other books of his. I was sure that Levine was dead in "the Lost World" when I was first reading it, but then I got to the part where they revealed he had survived and...it just didnt make sense to me. But I do still enjoy Circhton's books.

[Adrian Villagomez]

Good point, I see what you mean. I haven't yet read Timeline, but I have noticed that in other books of his. I was sure that Levine was dead in "the Lost World" when I was first reading it, but then I got to the part where they revealed he had survived and...it just didnt make sense to me. But I do still enjoy Circhton's books.My other biggest gripe - the resurection of Ian Malcom.

It clearly states at the end of Jurassic Park that Malcom is dead and buried, but he is magically alive in the sequel with no explanation. Damn you, Crichton.

Have you ever read his autobiography Travels?

[CellarGhosts]

My other biggest gripe - the resurection of Ian Malcom.

It clearly states at the end of Jurassic Park that Malcom is dead and buried, but he is magically alive in the sequel with no explanation. Damn you, Crichton.

Have you ever read his autobiography Travels?
Yeah, that is true. Malcolm was my favorite character throughout "Jurassic Park" (in both the film and book) and even though I was a bit disappointed to see him go at the end of the book, I still didn't understand how he magically came back in the second one. All he said was "it turned out I was only slightly dead."

I read that and was like "what?" It reminded me of Annie Wilkes rant in "Misery" about Paul magically bringing Misery back to life without any logical explaination. And no, I haven't read "Travels" yet, but it is on the shelf, I might read it some day soon.

[sofriggencool]

Maybe by Brent Runyon (i think thats his name. )

[black rose]

On my own time I'm reading Diary by Chuck Palahniuk and for school we just finished Romeo and Juliet and are starting The Adventures of Huck Finn tomorrow.

[NormaJoel]

Im reading Cell by Stephen King.

Pretty good actually

[CellarGhosts]

Im reading Cell by Stephen King.

Pretty good actually
I read that one over the summer, and I really did enjoy it. Maybe it's just me, but people around here seem to not like Stephen King, since he's not all "deep" or whatever, or "poetic" but he actually is my favorite writer. I just love his stories, and his characters.

Cell is currently being made into a movie by Eli Roth, last I heard. It'd be interesting to see how it turns out. Let's hope he doesn't fuck it up haha.

[emerypearl]

im reading everyone worth knowing by i forget because its not very good

& the fuck up byarthur nersesian

[livethesounds]

I read, and loved Prey as well. Of course, Jurassic Park is always going to be my favorite of his, as it was the first Crichton book I'd ever read, and loved it, but Prey is a very close second.

I am in fact hoping for a sequel of some kind, as he does leave you hanging at the end, but really, I'm thinking the reason he did that is to leave us to guess what happens, as a future run by such technology is really uncertain...if that reasoning makes any sense haha...but anyway, yes, good book. I'm planning on reading Next in the near future as well.

Same here, Jurassic Park was my first Crichton book, but after that I was hooked.
Prey is easily close to #1 on my list.
Next is very good. There are some gaps in the plot, but all around its a very good read.

My biggest gripe with Crichton books (especially Timeline) is the characters' uncanny ability to survive. Three raptors are surrounding the main character? He launches a sleeping powder and escapes (barely).

Not all the time.

Good point, I see what you mean. I haven't yet read Timeline, but I have noticed that in other books of his. I was sure that Levine was dead in "the Lost World" when I was first reading it, but then I got to the part where they revealed he had survived and...it just didnt make sense to me. But I do still enjoy Circhton's books.

Was that when he fell out of the high hide to the raptors? yea that surprised me as well.

Yeah, that is true. Malcolm was my favorite character throughout "Jurassic Park" (in both the film and book) and even though I was a bit disappointed to see him go at the end of the book, I still didn't understand how he magically came back in the second one. All he said was "it turned out I was only slightly dead."

I read that and was like "what?" It reminded me of Annie Wilkes rant in "Misery" about Paul magically bringing Misery back to life without any logical explaination. And no, I haven't read "Travels" yet, but it is on the shelf, I might read it some day soon.

Yea, i read the lost world before the movie came out and i was shocked. But Malcom was my favirote charachter, and in turn Jeff Goldblum is one of my favirote actors.

a few other books i highly reccomend from MC
- State of fear
- Congo
- Sphere

[CellarGhosts]

Same here, Jurassic Park was my first Crichton book, but after that I was hooked.
Prey is easily close to #1 on my list.
Next is very good. There are some gaps in the plot, but all around its a very good read.



Not all the time.



Was that when he fell out of the high hide to the raptors? yea that surprised me as well.



Yea, i read the lost world before the movie came out and i was shocked. But Malcom was my favirote charachter, and in turn Jeff Goldblum is one of my favirote actors.

a few other books i highly reccomend from MC
- State of fear
- Congo
- Sphere
Yep, Jurassic Park has always, and probably always will, be a favorite of mine. It's so different from the movie though, which I first saw as a kid, and have loved ever since, so I do prefer the film to the book, but only by a little bit. And yes, Prey was a very gripping read.

And yeah, I think that was it. But earlier in the book when he first arrives at the island, him and his guide, Diego, encounter some raptors (I think they were raptors anyway, I'm further into the book now, so I forget for sure) but anyway Diego dies, Levine escapes. Weird...but still a good read.

Oh, and like the first Jurassic Park, I had seen "the Lost World" long before I ever read the book (I saw the Lost World when it first came out on VHS, and am just now reading it haha) but I was surprised that there wasn't a better, or more in-depth excuse in the book for Ian Malcolm's return. But I do agree, Malcolm was/is my favorite character, and Jeff Goldblum is a great actor. I've been meaning to watch that new show he's in, Raines, but always forget to.

And I have all those MC books you listed, but haven't read them yet. I've read just a little bit by MC, but I really do enjoy his stuff. Definatley planning to read more.

[notoaststereo]

you shall know our velocity - dave eggars

[eraserhead]

I just got a shit ton of books from my library.

Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk
Choke by Chuck Palhniuk
A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers
The Stranger by Albert Camus
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Steven Chbosky
Brief Interviews with Hideous Men by David Foster Wallace
Hey Nostradamus! by Douglas Coupland

I'm reading Haunted and Perks right now, they are both excellent, especially Perks.

[Adrian Villagomez]

I just got a shit ton of books from my library.

Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk
Choke by Chuck Palhniuk
A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers
The Stranger by Albert Camus
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Steven Chbosky
Brief Interviews with Hideous Men by David Foster Wallace
Hey Nostradamus! by Douglas Coupland

I'm reading Haunted and Perks right now, they are both excellent, especially Perks.Nice job raiding the library. :thumbup:

[eraserhead]

haha they all weren't even from my library, they're from libraries across the state. It's this system where you put holds on books and they send them to your library and you go and pick them up. It's effing awesome.

[notoaststereo]

i was half way through You Shall Know Our Velocity and then i lost the book :-(
im reading Bringing Down The House by Ben Mezrich now, cause hes coming to speak at my school.

[Adrian Villagomez]

haha they all weren't even from my library, they're from libraries across the state. It's this system where you put holds on books and they send them to your library and you go and pick them up. It's effing awesome.Hm, never heard of that system. Then again, I don't visit libraries a lot. I prefer to buy books online, since I like to keep them on my bookshelves after reading. Plus, used books are dirt cheap on eBay.

i was half way through You Shall Know Our Velocity and then i lost the book :-(
im reading Bringing Down The House by Ben Mezrich now, cause hes coming to speak at my school.Bringing Down the Horse (http://www.amazon.com/Bringing-Down-Horse-Wallflowers/dp/B000001Y1N/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-1626306-7525631?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1178463834&sr=8-1)?

[notoaststereo]

Hm, never heard of that system. Then again, I don't visit libraries a lot. I prefer to buy books online, since I like to keep them on my bookshelves after reading. Plus, used books are dirt cheap on eBay.

Bringing Down the Horse (http://www.amazon.com/Bringing-Down-Horse-Wallflowers/dp/B000001Y1N/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-1626306-7525631?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1178463834&sr=8-1)?


Bringing Down the House (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9780743249997&itm=1)

although Bringing Down The Horse is pretty awesome.

[2wo_2one]

Nada.

[Adrian Villagomez]

Bringing Down the House (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9780743249997&itm=1)

although Bringing Down The Horse is pretty awesome.Just messin' with ya. ;-)

And yes, yes it is.

[eraserhead]

Is that whole album good? I like One Headlight.

[notoaststereo]

i just finished Shopgirl. it was decent. i wouldnt call it my a favorite.

tomorrow i'm going to start
Housekeeping vs. The Dirt by Nick Hornby

[notoaststereo]

Is that whole album good? I like One Headlight.

hell yes its good.

[Adrian Villagomez]

Is that whole album good? I like One Headlight.I haven't heard the whole thing, but I'm looking forward to buying it.

i just finished Shopgirl. it was decent. i wouldnt call it my a favorite.

tomorrow i'm going to start
Housekeeping vs. The Dirt by Nick HornbyShopgirl the book? Is that what the movie was based on?

[WarpSpeedChewy]

I'm reading Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut. I wanna get his "A Man Without A Country" book soon. Anyone read it ?

[notoaststereo]

I haven't heard the whole thing, but I'm looking forward to buying it.

Shopgirl the book? Is that what the movie was based on?

yeah, its a novella by steve martin. i havent seen the movie though.

[cautioners]

hey nostradamus is one of my favourite Coupland books, the characters in it are really interesting

saturday is pretty fun, the only Mcewan book I enjoyed,
i love coupland. favorite author for sure. soooo good.
i've only read a couple other mcewan books, atonement sticks out in my memory the most though. i liked it.

and i am reading american psycho by bret easton ellis now.

[Adrian Villagomez]

yeah, its a novella by steve martin. i havent seen the movie though.The movie is pretty good, so I'd recommend giving it a watch. I'm glad to see Martin break out of the comedic mold he was in for so long.

[FreshyFresh23]

reading the Mass Effect novel - its fun

[notoaststereo]

The movie is pretty good, so I'd recommend giving it a watch. I'm glad to see Martin break out of the comedic mold he was in for so long.

yeah, i really wasnt expecting the story i got, but it still was pretty good.

[jeremyfromva]

What are some books that you know could never be made into a good movie.

I don't think a good (1984) will ever be made. There have been a few attempts at it, but they have all miserably failed. I bring this up because evidently Tim Robbins is going to be directing a new version of 1984 slated for release in 2009.

[Robb]

Sideways Stories From Wayside School.

[Smithers]

Sideways Stories From Wayside School.

niiiice choice. i remember reading that a long time ago.

i was thinking maniac mcgee and the phantom tollbooth. they've tried both and apparently failed miserably.

[preppyak]

Sideways Stories From Wayside School.
great call...though, I would love to see an attempt.

[PJ1336]

niiiice choice. i remember reading that a long time ago.

i was thinking maniac mcgee and the phantom tollbooth. they've tried both and apparently failed miserably.

i remember loving the phantom tollbooth movie as a kid.

he goes thru the tollbooth and into a cartoon world.

it was kinda cool.

[PJ1336]

i have often wondered how none of Kurt Vonnegut's work has seen a big screen treatment.

would they be too difficult?

[preppyak]

i have often wondered how none of Kurt Vonnegut's work has seen a big screen treatment.

would they be too difficult?

Cat's Cradle would be doable...but, it would either turn out really good like Dr. Strangelove or really like The Day After Tomorrow...not sure which

[FondestMemory]

watchmen.

but i'm still fucking stoked for the movie regardless.

[Bob Payne]

i have often wondered how none of Kurt Vonnegut's work has seen a big screen treatment.

would they be too difficult?

Slaughterhouse Five and Breakfast Of Champions have both been made into films, bro.

[Bob Payne]

and as for my addition, I'm going to say Geek Love. I dare say its nearly impossible to film.

[soundofthebrown]

1984 the 2009 version will be interesting to see. There are a lot of movies that don't do any books justice, because some books are just better on paper.

[AP_Punk]

What are some books that you know could never be made into a good movie.

I don't think a good (1984) will ever be made. There have been a few attempts at it, but they have all miserably failed. I bring this up because evidently Tim Robbins is going to be directing a new version of 1984 slated for release in 2009.

Hmm...I'm a little curious to see how this will turn out.

[matt_rawlings]

A Heartbreaking Work Of Staggering Genius (He turned down alot of money for the film rights to it. I'm glad, as it is my favourite book and their is no way that a film could capture the subtle brilliance and emotion held within the book, not to mention how random it is)

[matt_rawlings]

Animal Farm (every attempt so far has made it into a comedy kids film, when it is a deadly serious, morose and horrific alagory for communism)

[jeremyfromva]

Animal Farm (every attempt so far has made it into a comedy kids film, when it is a deadly serious, morose and horrific alagory for communism)


agreed...i forgot about this book....we read it in government class

[Robb]

Slaughterhouse Five and Breakfast Of Champions have both been made into films, bro.

Ha ha, the Breakfast of Champions movie was AWFUL.

[gilatron5000]

Slaughterhouse Five and Breakfast Of Champions have both been made into films, bro.
and Slaughterhouse Five is one of the worst films I've ever seen. Totally ruined it.

[Me & My Arrow]

The Sandman series by Neil Gaiman. Works so perfectly as a graphic novel, I'm not sure it would survive.

[aminorthreat55]

I'm going to be that guy and say A Clockwork Orange. It's a great movie but it lacks some of the qualities that the book has.

[StandMyBrothers]

Animal Farm (every attempt so far has made it into a comedy kids film, when it is a deadly serious, morose and horrific alagory for communism)
ya the movie we watched of it was horrible. The voice of squealer made me go insane though.

[chris!]

What are some books that you know could never be made into a good movie.

I don't think a good (1984) will ever be made. There have been a few attempts at it, but they have all miserably failed. I bring this up because evidently Tim Robbins is going to be directing a new version of 1984 slated for release in 2009.that could easily be well made. the book is quite cinematic, and that easily translates onto film.

i can't see V being a good film tho

[reductiondesign]

House Of Leaves, though I'd be interested to see how they'd try to make it work.

American Psycho, because the amount of gore and violence would never be matched.

[matt_rawlings]

"Choke" or "Survivor" by Chuck Palahniuk.

Choke - They would censor the hell out of the sex (being that the books main characters are sex addicts, it would be stupid to do so), the flashbacks wouldnt work very well in the film, and the whole incident with 'Anal beeds' would surely be cut out, although it is one of the funniest plot points of the whole book, and how they resolve it is hilarious.


Survivor - The film right were bought to this book straight after Fight Club started doing well on DVD, but after 9/11 it was blacklisted by pretty much ever studio and producer in Hollywood. If they made it now, they would once again cut so much out of it, that it would be completely pointless

[jeremyfromva]

Fuck

My favorite James Lee Burke novel is being turned into a movie....shit it's not gonna be good


http://imdb.com/title/tt0910905/

[williek311]

"Choke" or "Survivor" by Chuck Palahniuk.

Choke - They would censor the hell out of the sex (being that the books main characters are sex addicts, it would be stupid to do so), the flashbacks wouldnt work very well in the film, and the whole incident with 'Anal beeds' would surely be cut out, although it is one of the funniest plot points of the whole book, and how they resolve it is hilarious.


Survivor - The film right were bought to this book straight after Fight Club started doing well on DVD, but after 9/11 it was blacklisted by pretty much ever studio and producer in Hollywood. If they made it now, they would once again cut so much out of it, that it would be completely pointless

Choke is supposed to be going into production this year. Sam Rockwell with be playing Vic(? I think thats the main characters name). And if my memory serves me correctly Chuck sent me a letter and said that Survivor was going to be made into a film this year as well.

Even though it was made into a fim and it wasn't that bad, the film American Psycho did not do the book justice.

[selftitled85]

the portrait of an artist as a young man.

seriously i dare anyone to try and make that into a movie.

[matt_rawlings]

The Catcher in The Rye

Not that much actually happens in the book, so I can't imagine a film of it.

The absolutly wonderful film "Igby Goes Down" is a very, very loose adaption of the themes and general idea of the book

[Robb]

American Psycho, because the amount of gore and violence would never be matched.

I thought the movie did a great job. If the book was actually made into a movie that very closely followed the book, the movie would make no sense and/or be too disjointed. The amount of narration necessary alone would make the movie a mess.

And while it is one of my favorite books, some of those scenes I really don't want to see. I have enough difficulty reading about using a Habitrail to direct a rat inside a woman's vagina; I really have no desire to witness it.

[williek311]

I thought the movie did a great job. If the book was actually made into a movie that very closely followed the book, the movie would make no sense and/or be too disjointed. The amount of narration necessary alone would make the movie a mess.

And while it is one of my favorite books, some of those scenes I really don't want to see. I have enough difficulty reading about using a Habitrail to direct a rat inside a woman's vagina; I really have no desire to witness it.


They should have shown Resse Witherspoon eat a urinal cake though. That would have been hilarious.

[reductiondesign]

I wanted the "Part Of A Thursday Afternoon" or whatever chapter. That was the best part of the book--gone in the film. :-( Christian Bale's performance was the only good part of the film.

[PJ1336]

Slaughterhouse Five and Breakfast Of Champions have both been made into films, bro.

you're right.

i totally dropped the ball on that one.

welp... i'm off to rent some movies.

[ThexQuietxCull]

I wanted the "Part Of A Thursday Afternoon" or whatever chapter. That was the best part of the book--gone in the film. :-( Christian Bale's performance was the only good part of the film.

totally in agreeance with you; that part should have been in there.


I'm going to expand some and say no film that has been made or will be made will match what Bret Ellis puts into his novels. Less than Zero, Rules of Attraction, and American Psycho have all been made into films, and for the overwhelming part, they all stink badly. The Informers is the next book of Ellis's to be put through the silver screen grinder

[Robb]

They should have shown Resse Witherspoon eat a urinal cake though. That would have been hilarious.

I always laugh out loud at that part. Although nitpicking, he says he used Hershey's syrup, which wouldn't actually freeze solid over the cake. But no big deal.

[alexxxisonfire]

In retrospect, Running with Scissors was a bad book to movie idea.

[YearsGoneBy]

one flew over the cuckoo's nest was far and away better than the movie and i feel it didnt do it justice at all

[hardluck]

i am worried about the His Dark Materials trilogy.. "The Golden Compass" is coming out this year, those bitches better do it justice.

[chris!]

American Psycho, because the amount of gore and violence would never be matched.a female directed the film, and i think chose to leave certain bits out. from what i've realised, mostly bits about the women. if you notice she just shows their bodies at the end, not how they died

but then, the film wasn't that gory really

[MADSTA]

Odd Thomas. If anyone ever tried to make it in to a movie, they would probably fail miserably.

[crit]

A Heartbreaking Work Of Staggering Genius (He turned down alot of money for the film rights to it. I'm glad, as it is my favourite book and their is no way that a film could capture the subtle brilliance and emotion held within the book, not to mention how random it is)
amen.

[notoaststereo]

"Choke" or "Survivor" by Chuck Palahniuk.

Choke - They would censor the hell out of the sex (being that the books main characters are sex addicts, it would be stupid to do so), the flashbacks wouldnt work very well in the film, and the whole incident with 'Anal beeds' would surely be cut out, although it is one of the funniest plot points of the whole book, and how they resolve it is hilarious.


Survivor - The film right were bought to this book straight after Fight Club started doing well on DVD, but after 9/11 it was blacklisted by pretty much ever studio and producer in Hollywood. If they made it now, they would once again cut so much out of it, that it would be completely pointless
id love to see a lullaby movie.

[whitelines]

Could some of you guys/girls recommend with some good books to read? I'm trying to stop wasting my time on the computer so picking up a good book would help! I'm open to pretty much anything except science fiction. Thanks

[TJ Wells]

I Love You, Beth Cooper by Larry Doyle.
Rant by Chuck Palahniuk.
Brief Interviews With Hideous Men by David Foster Wallace.
The Road by Cormac McCarthy.

[whitelines]

Thanks, I was checking the NY Times bestsellers' list and Rant is on it

[williek311]

American Psycho - Brett Easton Ellis

[notoaststereo]

slaughter house five - kurt vonnegut
the shinning - stephen king
extremely loud and incredibley close - jonathon safron foer
thank you for smoking - chris buckley
boomsday - chris buckley
sideways - rex pickett
post office - charles bukowski
high fidelity - nick hornby

[yestrdys child]

grapes of wrath-john steinbeck. very very good book

[Smash Adams]

Michael Chabon-The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay

[The Database]

any palahniuk would be a good choice

[dretti]

any palahniuk would be a good choice

And Vonnegut, and Bukowski

[EndlessMike]

youth in revolt by c.d. payne

[Shatter590]

anything by Haruki Murakami, but definitely Wind Up Bird Chronicle, Wild Sheep Chase and Kafka on the Shore

[Shatter590]

Can't go wrong with George Orwell.

1984 and Animal Farm

[fghtffyrpls]

I'm currently reading As I Lay Dying Faulkner and it is a good read so far.

[unwritten]

What is the What - Dave Eggers
World War Z - Max Brooks
The Historian - Elizabeth Kostova

[summer skin]

The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Dying to Live by David Klosterman
and I just started A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by David Eggers and it's been really good so far...

[unwritten]

The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Dying to Live by David Klosterman
and I just started A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by David Eggers and it's been really good so far...

Good overall. But ends ubruptly.

[summer skin]

Good overall. But ends ubruptly.
We'll see... I liked how the acknowledgments were like 30 pages long.

[lew_1987]

if you're into history and non-fiction, 'china 1421' by gavin menzies

[notpaidxtoxpose]

everyone mentioned good stuff, but also the bonesetter's daughter by amy tan.

[whitelines]

Thanks for all of your input, one more question though. Would it be cheaper to order like 3 or 4 books off of a website (i.e. amazon) or pick it up at a bookstore like Barnes and Noble? Or is there really no difference in price?

[summer skin]

Thanks for all of your input, one more question though. Would it be cheaper to order like 3 or 4 books off of a website (i.e. amazon) or pick it up at a bookstore like Barnes and Noble? Or is there really no difference in price?
Amazon would most likely be cheaper...but the Library's free.

[EnderDove]

This one for sure.

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/517T8Q30KGL._SS500_.jpg

http://www.amazon.com/Grab-Me-Tightly-Knew-Way/dp/0060882980

[CstSnow]

Michael Chabon-The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay

Fucking high five for the Kavalier and Clay recomendation, anything by Chabon is really good.
East of Eden is a necessity as well, and a really underrated book is the shipping news by Annie Proulx

[AShannon04]

Anything by Dave Eggers
I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell by Tucker Max
Anything by Chuck P (I had no idea he had a new book)

[Smash Adams]

Fucking high five for the Kavalier and Clay recomendation, anything by Chabon is really good.
East of Eden is a necessity as well, and a really underrated book is the shipping news by Annie Proulx

thanks- I'll probably check out some more of his stuff
I only saw the movie east of eden, James Dean was pretty good in it

[fghtffyrpls]

][/B]World War Z - Max Brooks


That book is excellent.

[Shatter590]

That book is excellent.

have the zombie survival guide on hand when you read it as well.

[fghtffyrpls]

have the zombie survival guide on hand when you read it as well.

Oh, that was glorious too. Both are simply a must own.

[senatorlamb]

Michael Chabon-The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay

Fucking high five for the Kavalier and Clay recomendation, anything by Chabon is really good.
East of Eden is a necessity as well, and a really underrated book is the shipping news by Annie Proulx

yeah, I have this but never finished it. It was great from the portions I read. I think school started up before I could finish it, if memory serves me correct. Maybe this summer I'll finally read it.

[williek311]

Anything by Dave Eggers
I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell by Tucker Max
Anything by Chuck P (I had no idea he had a new book)

That book was hilarious. He is writing a new one.

[doomcrs04]

Nothing Feels Good: Punk Rock, Teenagers, And Emo by Andy Greenwald.

Its such a great read. It tracks the music scene from the 80's to 2003(when it was written).

[eraserhead]

Second rec for Brief Interviews With Hideous Men. Great read.

[chokeychicken]

hot water music - charles bukowski

[whitelines]

There seems to be a lot of Bukowski fans here, he sounds interesting, I'll be sure to pick up some of his stuff. I just need some money first (i don't like my local library)

[hailthewarrior]

twisted - laurie halse anderson ('speak' & 'catalyst' also come highly recommended by her)
1984 - george orwell
i am the messenger - markus zusak ('the book thief' as well)

[concernedparent]

I'm looking for a really good book, it can be of any persuasion. Preferably recent. This is just for personal reading, not for school or anything.


p.s-please give me a description of the book, not just a name

[gilatron5000]

I can never stop recommending Simon R. Green's Nightside series or Jim Butcher's Dresden Files.

The Nightside Series is a supernatural mystery/thriller collection about a guy named John Taylor. He lives in an unknown district of London where it is always 3AM, and its inhabited by demons, old gods, witches...and a transsexual superhero. John Taylor is a PI with a very special gift, he can find anything. Sounds innocuous enough, but it's actually a really powerful ability.

The Dresden Files are a little similar, only Harry Dresden lives in Chicago, and he's a wizard. I'll assume you've heard of the TV series, so I'll just say, IT'S NOTHING LIKE IT. His sometimes partner is a Police Officer named Karrin Murphy, who's the head of a dead end department. This department was set up to investigate crimes that would normally be unsolvable. They use "the only wizard in the phone book" to help them out sometimes, even though everyone thinks he's a charlatan and a crackpot.

[love_american_style]

"Why Do Men Have Nipples?"

a book of awnsers to questions you'd only ask your doctor after your third martini.

just a book of weird, random facts.

[IAPAI]

JPod by Douglas Coupland (very recent)

Ethan Jarlewski and five co-workers whose surnames begin in 'J' are bureaucratically marooned in jPod. jPod is a no-escape architectural limbo on the fringes of a massive Vancouver game design company.
The six workers daily confront the forces that define our era: global piracy, boneheaded marketing staff, people smuggling, the rise of China, marijuana grow-ops, Jeff Probst, and the ashes of the 1990s financial tech dream.

JPod's universe is amoral and shameless. The characters are products of their era even as they're creating it. Everybody in Ethan's life inhabits a moral grey zone. Nobody is exempt, not even his seemingly straitlaced parents or Coupland himself.

Full of word games, visual jokes and sideways jabs, JPod throws a sharp, pointed lawn dart into the heart of contemporary life.

[Broken Parachute]

I can guarantee 10 people tell you to read "The Perks of Being a Wallflower", "Choke", "Slaughterhouse-Five", or "You Shall Know Our Velocity." They always do.

[iaminsane20]

December Stillness by I forgot(i really cant). Its about this chick, Kelly, who has to do a term paper school on any current event. As she's at the library, she sees a homeless man, a vietnam veteran, and that sparks an idea in Kelly's head to do homelessness. She tries to interview him but everytime he just tells her to go away. a very good book. i would deffenetly recommend it.

[Mitch]

Great Expectations.

I'm not writing an explanation for you though.

[Bob Payne]

Motherless Brooklyn by Jonathan Lethem.

An existential detective story featuring a narrator with tourette's syndrome. wonderful prose and a solid story.

[FondestMemory]

watchmen. seriously.

who care's if it's a comic book. and i know it's not recent, but the story holds up incredibally well.

this is one of the best books ever written as far as i'm concerned. everything about it is essentially flawless.

[stop snitchin]

everybody poops

[CstSnow]

Fortress of Solitude-jonathan lethem

damn good book about a white kid growing up in a black neighborhood in 70's new york, influenced alot by music and comic books.

[Stupendous_Man]

American Gods

The intriguing premise of Gaiman's tale is that the gods of European yore, who came to North America with their immigrant believers, are squaring off for a rumble with new indigenous deities: "gods of credit card and freeway, of Internet and telephone, of radio and hospital and television, gods of plastic and of beeper and of neon."

[slickwataris]

http://andrewreadscomics.wordpress.com/2007/06/01/train-man-novel/

[Spewk]

everybody poops
a classic

[hailthewarrior]

Twisted - Laurie Halse Anderson

"They always told me to be a man. They never told me how." <--- Inside book cover sums it up. It's about life, and it's real, and it's excellent.

[feigningapology]

Winterkill by Craig Lesley. I had to read it my junior year of high school. The book's setting is somewhat close to where I grew up. I really enjoyed it.

"A highly acclaimed novel from a Pacific Northwest literary lion, this book is a tale of fathers and sons, of modern Native American life, of the salmon and the spirit world. The protagonist is a down-on-his-luck rodeo rider of native descent, who suddenly becomes sole provider for his son -- and finds himself and his heritage as a result. "

[chokeychicken]

hot water music by charles bukowski

its a fantastic novel about drinking, fucking, and figuring out who you are as a person. love this book so much.

[ilovejamesblunt]

His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
fast before they make movies out of them
you want to read this if you haven't yet
I swears

and anything by Carl Hiaasan, he writes funny books about wack shit in Florida.

[dashboard1190]

Don't read A Heartbreaking Work Of Staggering Genius. Boring book with no plot.

[Broken Parachute]

Don't read A Heartbreaking Work Of Staggering Genius. Boring book with no plot.Isn't that like based on Dave Eggers' real life?

[open mind]

ishmael and the story of b by daniel quinn


Winner of the 1992 Turner Tomorrow Fellowship, Ishmael is a unique and captivating novel that has earned a large and passionate following among readers and critics worldwide. One of the most beloved and bestselling novels of spiritual adventure ever published, it is the story of a man who embarks on a highly provocative intellectual adventure with a gorilla--a journey of the mind and spirit that changes forever the way he sees the world and humankind's place in it. For this special fifth anniversary edition, the author has written a frank and informative introduction in which he discusses the worldwide Ishmael phenomenon. Timed to coincide with the eagerly anticipated publication of My Ishmael and the release of the movie Ishmael, this special edition is sure to attract new readers and reinforce Daniel Quinn's reputation as one of the most compelling and visionary writers of our age.


The Story of B combines Daniel Quinn's provocative and visionary ideas with a masterfully plotted story of adventure and suspense in this stunning, resonant novel that is sure to stay with readers long after they have finished the last page. Father Jared Osborne--bound by a centuries-old mandate held by his order to know before all others that the Antichrist is among us--is sent to Europe on a mission to find a peripatetic preacher whose radical message is attracting a growing circle of followers. The target of Osborne's investigation is an American known only as B. He isn't teaching New Age platitudes or building a fanatical following; instead, he is quietly uncovering the hidden history of our planet, redefining the fall of man, and retracing a path of human spirituality that extends millions of years into the past. From the beginning, Fr. Osborne is stunned, outraged, and awed by the simplicity and profundity of B's teachings. Is B merely a heretic--or is he the Antichrist sent to seduce humanity not with wickedness, but with ideas more alluring than those of traditional religion? With surprising twists and fascinating characters, The Story of B answers this question as it sends readers on an intellectual journey that will forever change the way they view spirituality, human history, and, indeed, the state of our present world.

[BrokenVow]

His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
fast before they make movies out of them
you want to read this if you haven't yet
I swears

and anything by Carl Hiaasan, he writes funny books about wack shit in Florida.

sorry :-(

http://imdb.com/title/tt0385752/

Edit: Forgot the mention The Stand, I know it's old but it's still good as hell

Synopsis:One man escapes from a biological weapon facility after an accident, carrying with him the deadly virus known as Captain Tripps, a rapidly mutating flu that - in the ensuing weeks - wipes out most of the world's population. In the aftermath, survivors choose between following an elderly black woman to Boulder or the dark man, Randall Flagg, who has set up his command post in Las Vegas. The two factions prepare for a confrontation between the forces of good and evil.
taken from http://www.stephenking.com/pages/works/stand/

Also Michael Crichton's Jurrassic Park and The Lost World are also very good, and I would hope you know what they are about......

[CityOfLust]

Chuck Palahniuk's books:

Fight Club: The book that started it all. Fight club the book, well, i don't think i need to write an introduction to it. just picture a better more complex novelized version of the movie.

Survivor: A suicidal cult's last remaining survivor learns to deal with mainstream society. he goes from a suicidal cult lackey to a butler, to an ultra-buffed spokesperson/mainstream messiah.

Choke: The story of the life of a sex addicted med school dropout. He lives as a confidence man (con man) in order to pay for his mother's nursing home bills.

HAUNTED: by far my favorite of palahniuk's books thus far. short compilation of many short stories that are told by characters in the main storyline. very disturbing. very good read.

[CityOfLust]

hot water music by charles bukowski

its a fantastic novel about drinking, fucking, and figuring out who you are as a person. love this book so much.
many MANY artists/bands have taken bukowski's books/poems and used them for inspiration. Like...
Thursday - War all the time
Senses Fail - Let it Enfold You
Hot Water Music - band name from one of his titles.

etc. i just looked all this up on the wiki.

[concernedparent]

Don't read A Heartbreaking Work Of Staggering Genius. Boring book with no plot.
Already read it, liked it a lot.

[Broken Parachute]

I just bought Siddhartha by Herman Hesse and The Fountain Head by Ayne Rand tonight. I'm going to read Siddhartha first since it's a short read.

[alexxxisonfire]

Showbread's lead singer Joshua Porter wrote a book called The Spinal Cord Perception. It's about a substitute teacher named David Rivers who has lots of hallucinations where he sees a giant lizard-like monster eat people, rip babies from their wombs, choke school children, etc. It's a murder mystery type thing, which relates to his hallucinations. It's pretty gory, a good read overall.

[XxIronistxX]

in all seriousness though....The Perks of Being a Wallflower was really good in my opinion

[Daveyhavok832]

A Thousand Splendid Suns or The Kite Runner .... both tales of life and growing up in Afghanistan. Great reads. Any novel by Dean Koontz, Judith Tarr, or Star Wars books.

[Broken Parachute]

The Bible by Jesus is a pretty good book.

[concernedparent]

The Bible by Jesus is a pretty good book.
Jesus sure does write a hell of a story.

[Broken Parachute]

Jesus sure does write a hell of a story.Irony!

[concernedparent]

I started reading Slaughterhouse Five. I'm like 25 pages in, and I don't like it much. But I rarely like books when I'm only 25 pages in.

[Broken Parachute]

I started reading Slaughterhouse Five. I'm like 25 pages in, and I don't like it much. But I rarely like books when I'm only 25 pages in.Yeah, I've read a lot of books where I've been bored/uninterested early on, but it takes time to get yourself into a book.