Attention smart people: Must-Reads - Page 13

zapatafan · #61 04-12-2008, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dig For Fire

I have to admit when i read The Old Man and the Sea i didn't see what all the fuss about Hemingway was about. When i read For Whom The Bell Tolls i found him one of the best writers i've ever read.

I read the Old Man and the Sea when i was 17 living in Thailand (no joke)- i found it in some hostel's bookshelf and I read it in a day. It's short, it's direct, and the man vs. nature theme.. can't go wrong. It has stuck with me more than a lot of the books i have read, which is impressive because i read it 10 years ago.

CuntCake · #62 04-12-2008, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zapatafan

I read the Old Man and the Sea when i was 17 living in Thailand (no joke)- i found it in some hostel's bookshelf and I read it in a day. It's short, it's direct, and the man vs. nature theme.. can't go wrong. It has stuck with me more than a lot of the books i have read, which is impressive because i read it 10 years ago.

It's not just The Old Man and The Sea. I just am not a fan of Hemingway.
I understand why it's so famous, but I myself just disliked his style of writing, the theme, everything.

ella luciana · #63 04-13-2008, 05:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mannequin

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - Hunter S. Thompson
The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test - Tom Wolfe
Let's Spend the Night Together - Pamela Des Barres (okay, not a classic, but amazing

)

Anything by Tom Wolfe, I would recommend. The Right Stuff, maybe.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kyokobaby

That was such a distessing book!

American Psycho is the only I've ever read which has provoked physical sickness from me. I loved it and hated it all at once. I think it's very good, with hindsight.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amity

Oh and Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons. Fucking HILARIOUS and I had to put Rizla in all the pages to remind myself where the funny funny quotes were (see sig).

Quote:

Originally Posted by saturdays=youth

Anthony Burgess - A Clockwork Orange

This is seconded. Heartily. Probably my favourite book.

Quote:

Originally Posted by no_ones_song

Rebecca - Du maurer. doesn't pick up till after the first few chapters

But it's fucking ace. I was so resistant to reading it, and I loved it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CuntCake

and your selection is extremely random.

It has Blonde in it, which is the reason I hate Joyce Carol Oates...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dig For Fire

I have to admit when i read The Old Man and the Sea i didn't see what all the fuss about Hemingway was about. When i read For Whom The Bell Tolls i found him one of the best writers i've ever read.

I'm glad other people find that. I studied a lot of his work and at first, I just didn't get it. I never think of him as hit or miss, but I guess he just told so many stories that it'd be hard to like them all...

Quote:

Originally Posted by zapatafan

I read the Old Man and the Sea when i was 17 living in Thailand (no joke)- i found it in some hostel's bookshelf and I read it in a day. It's short, it's direct, and the man vs. nature theme.. can't go wrong. It has stuck with me more than a lot of the books i have read, which is impressive because i read it 10 years ago.

I've been reading The Blue Fox recently, which reminds me of The Old Man and the Sea so far. I think it's about to head off in a bizarre direction, though.

lacklustre · #64 04-14-2008, 06:43 PM

I'm going to suggest The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers - I just finished it. I'm not sure if I liked it or understood it, but I'm still thinking about it so that must count for something...

ella luciana · #65 04-15-2008, 11:41 AM

Oh, some Angela Carter.
Wise Children, I guess, of her novels, but The Bloody Chamber (if you're up for short stories) is what I think is her best work.