The Official Book Thread

[Yuri Yukuv]

What are the best book(s) you have read?

Sharing why would be great

[McAgger]

1984 by George Orwell.....One of the best I've ever had the privilege of reading. One of my favorites of all time.

[The Lizard King]

Off the top of my head..


The Stranger - Albert Camus. ( The book was a revelation to me. It just hit a spot..and I really can't explain why. I just identified with the protagonist on a whole new level. )

Brave New World - Aldus Huxley ( Awesome novel about the future, mind manipulation and conformity of the masses. And how one man stands out. )

Lord of the Flies - William Holding ( Pretty well known. Children marooned on an island, and the emergence of innate evil. But you need to read it at least twice to truly grasp the depth of this novel. In a word, Breathtaking. )

Tales of Ten Worlds ( Short Stories ) - Arthur C. Clarke ( The author was an absolute visionary. He predicted the moon landing, and specifics of the take-off ( using houston as a base ) around a decade before it actually happened. Read this, and it WILL transport you to ten different worlds )

Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert Heinlein. ( Just started reading it. Enthralling so far, well on its way to being one of my favorites )

The Jackal , Icon - Frederick Forsythe ( These books dictated my childhood. The author is a master of covert ops and espionage. The jackal is about the attempted assassination of Charles De Gaulle, who was more assassin-proof that Castro himself. It is based on a true story, as the Jackal exists. Icon is a brilliant novel about a powerful Russian politician, soon to be president, who mistakenly leaks a Hitler-like manifesto. Both books are gripping, and filled with intrigue. About the Arthur, he is constantly watched by US secret agencies whenever he's in Africa because he is a master of the coup d'etat. And rebels constantly approach him asking him to organize revolutions. )

His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman ( Most underrated, unrecognized fantasy series. Ever. Nothing compares to its level of epic. Do NOT watch the movie. The book makes Harry potter and LOTR seem petty and meaningless. It takes the age old battle of good vs evil to the highest possible level.)

The Dark Knight Returns - Frank Miller ( Comic..but as good a book as any. One of the best comics I've ever read. A 50 year old batman, past his prime. Lays the perfect premise for triumph over conflict, as he battles against new enemies and his own deteriorating, physical self. Batman is the epitome of cool. Hands down )

[CBarca]

1984 by George Orwell.....One of the best I've ever had the privilege of reading. One of my favorites of all time.

Agreed.

To add...

Brave New World
Catcher in the Rye
Catch 22
Farenheit 451

All really good, they're all classics!

[che]

the bourne trilogy... if you thought the movies were good, the books will blow you away

also fear and loathing in las vegas

[The Lizard King]

Rendezvous with Rama - Arthur C. Clarke

[RedOranje]

Off the top of my head..


The Stranger - Albert Camus. ( The book was a revelation to me. It just hit a spot..and I really can't explain why. I just identified with the protagonist on a whole new level. )

Brave New World - Aldus Huxley ( Awesome novel about the future, mind manipulation and conformity of the masses. And how one man stands out. )

Lord of the Flies - William Holding ( Pretty well known. Children marooned on an island, and the emergence of innate evil. But you need to read it at least twice to truly grasp the depth of this novel. In a word, Breathtaking. )

Tales of Ten Worlds ( Short Stories ) - Arthur C. Clarke ( The author was an absolute visionary. He predicted the moon landing, and specifics of the take-off ( using houston as a base ) around a decade before it actually happened. Read this, and it WILL transport you to ten different worlds )

Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert Heinlein. ( Just started reading it. Enthralling so far, well on its way to being one of my favorites )

The Jackal , Icon - Frederick Forsythe ( These books dictated my childhood. The author is a master of covert ops and espionage. The jackal is about the attempted assassination of Charles De Gaulle, who was more assassin-proof that Castro himself. It is based on a true story, as the Jackal exists. Icon is a brilliant novel about a powerful Russian politician, soon to be president, who mistakenly leaks a Hitler-like manifesto. Both books are gripping, and filled with intrigue. About the Arthur, he is constantly watched by US secret agencies whenever he's in Africa because he is a master of the coup d'etat. And rebels constantly approach him asking him to organize revolutions. )

His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman ( Most underrated, unrecognized fantasy series. Ever. Nothing compares to its level of epic. Do NOT watch the movie. The book makes Harry potter and LOTR seem petty and meaningless. It takes the age old battle of good vs evil to the highest possible level.)

The Dark Knight Returns - Frank Miller ( Comic..but as good a book as any. One of the best comics I've ever read. A 50 year old batman, past his prime. Lays the perfect premise for triumph over conflict, as he battles against new enemies and his own deteriorating, physical self. Batman is the epitome of cool. Hands down )

Everyone always talks about The Stranger, but both The Fall and The Plague are far, far better. Seriously, if you like The Stranger read those two. Better writing (IMO) and better explorations of Camus' own philosophies.



As for other books:

The River of Doubt by Candice Millard: The story of Theodore Roosevelt's journey down an uncharted river in the Amazon. The best part is, it's all true (the river is now also known as Rio Roosevelt).

American Lion by Jon Meacham: The story of Andrew Jackson's time in the White House.


I will update with more later.

[The Lizard King]

I liked The Stranger better than The Fall. As I said..I was just able to identify with the protagonist and Camus put to words, what I've been feeling and experiencing for a while. It was pretty eye-opening. I'm not saying its better, but just more significant to me on a personal level.

Definitely gna give The Plague a look over though

[BarcaKizz]

Rohinton Mistry- A Fine Balance

One of the most vivid and best written pieces of literature I've read. My favourite book for sure, no other book I've read leaves you with such emotion- very, very powerful. Its set in India during Indira Ghandi's years, about a group of simple people brought together through various events. Very authentic, very encapsulating, very powerful.

If you're more of a pulp fiction type...

The White Tiger is excellent.

...non fiction...

Between a Rock and a Hard Place ( The Book upon which 127 Hours is based).

[BarcaKizz]

I liked The Stranger better than The Fall. As I said..I was just able to identify with the protagonist and Camus put to words, what I've been feeling and experiencing for a while. It was pretty eye-opening. I'm not saying its better, but just more significant to me on a personal level.

Definitely gna give The Plague a look over though

Books are different for every reader, and on this one I agree with Lizard... The Stranger was my fav Camus.

[Brigate Rossonere]

1984 by George Orwell.....One of the best I've ever had the privilege of reading. One of my favorites of all time.

I liked Animal Farm a lot more. George Orwell is brilliant.

Sylvia - Bryce Courtenay
Flowers for Algernon
Sophie's World
My Story - Dave Pelzer
The Kite Runner
Angels and Demons - Dan Brown.

Many others...

[Twoism]

Crash - J.G. Ballard
Naked lunch - William S. Burroughs

Coincidentally, both were made to films by David Conenberg which are also my favorites.

[dostoevsky]

Buddenbrooks by Thomas Mann
Demons by Fyodor Dostoevsky
The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky

I'll write more about them as you asked later, however I should probably be studying still. If you're to read any of these I'd say that Buddenbrooks is the most likely to be universally beloved.

Also the Count of Monteo Cristo by Alexandre Dumas is a fantastic read for someone seeking adventure.

[Yuri Yukuv]

where are you from dosto? Congrats on becoming Milan Mod, You earned it.

The Stranger - Albert Camus. ( The book was a revelation to me. It just hit a spot..and I really can't explain why. I just identified with the protagonist on a whole new level. )

Brave New World - Aldus Huxley ( Awesome novel about the future, mind manipulation and conformity of the masses. And how one man stands out. )

Lord of the Flies - William Holding ( Pretty well known. Children marooned on an island, and the emergence of innate evil. But you need to read it at least twice to truly grasp the depth of this novel. In a word, Breathtaking. )

Tales of Ten Worlds ( Short Stories ) - Arthur C. Clarke ( The author was an absolute visionary. He predicted the moon landing, and specifics of the take-off ( using houston as a base ) around a decade before it actually happened. Read this, and it WILL transport you to ten different worlds )

Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert Heinlein. ( Just started reading it. Enthralling so far, well on its way to being one of my favorites )

The Jackal , Icon - Frederick Forsythe ( These books dictated my childhood. The author is a master of covert ops and espionage. The jackal is about the attempted assassination of Charles De Gaulle, who was more assassin-proof that Castro himself. It is based on a true story, as the Jackal exists. Icon is a brilliant novel about a powerful Russian politician, soon to be president, who mistakenly leaks a Hitler-like manifesto. Both books are gripping, and filled with intrigue. About the Arthur, he is constantly watched by US secret agencies whenever he's in Africa because he is a master of the coup d'etat. And rebels constantly approach him asking him to organize revolutions. )

His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman ( Most underrated, unrecognized fantasy series. Ever. Nothing compares to its level of epic. Do NOT watch the movie. The book makes Harry potter and LOTR seem petty and meaningless. It takes the age old battle of good vs evil to the highest possible level.)

The Dark Knight Returns - Frank Miller ( Comic..but as good a book as any. One of the best comics I've ever read. A 50 year old batman, past his prime. Lays the perfect premise for triumph over conflict, as he battles against new enemies and his own deteriorating, physical self. Batman is the epitome of cool. Hands down )

This is a very good list lizard + rep

[dostoevsky]

I'm born and bred in Melbourne, Australia, though my father's from Napoli. Also thanks.

[VivaStPauli]

1. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde.
Simply epic. Love Wilde. His view on morals is golden.

2. Professor Unrat by Heinrich Mann.
Hilarious book, great analysis of bourgeois morale.

3. The World According to Garp by John Irving
Somehow Irving just speaks to me. Great observational skills put to good use.

4. Faust by Goethe
Instant classic, rightfully so.

5. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley.
Better than 1984.

6. Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami
Weird, but great. Same goes for:
7. Hard Boiled Wonderland by Haruki Murakami

8. Drop City by T.C. Boyle
Great period piece, if it counts as one. Really cynical view of the Hippie movement, I liked it a lot.

9. Wallenstein by Schiller.
Simply epic. Incredibly epic.

10. Fool on the Hill by Matt Ruff
Interesting, fantasy'ish, acedemic, funny, intellectual - my kind of book.

[TheRedStag]

Classic literature: Where's Wally?

[The Lizard King]

Yuri, of all the books that I listed, I'd recommend "Rendezvous with Rama" and "His Dark Materials" the most.

Rama has everything a science fiction novel could ask for, and more. The pure amount of intrigue and curiosity that it generates, completely transports and immerses you in another dimension. If you're not really into sci-fi, this book will change that view.

His Dark Materials is underrated because it is deemed as a children series. Very wrongfully so. It is one of the pinnacles of story telling, with a conclusion of such unintentional romantic magnitude that it almost brought tears to my eyes. I sincerely wish they had made a tv show about it, rather than try to sum it up in an hour and a half of a miserable movie. And I wish more people, that I know, had read it. But I have like one friend who shares a similar passion for reading.

Would anyone care to recommend any comics/ graphic novels ?

[BarrileteCosmico]

6. Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami
Weird, but great. Same goes for:

I read What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by him and was thrilled the entire way. Wouldn't make any 'best' book list but I recommend it nevertheless. Nice read everyone can relate to, even non-runners like me.

Missing from the previously mentioned titles is my very favorite Catch 22 which is one of the most hilarious books out there. Seriously, read this if you haven't done so yet. You won't regret it.

[dostoevsky]

I've read the same two Murakami novels as Viva, as well as The Wind-up Bird Chronicle and After the Quake. Very trippy, but engrossing, I'd recommend them all, particularly Hard Boiled Wonderland.

Also pretty much anything written by Philip K. Dick is worth reading.

[VivaStPauli]

Ah, now that Dostoevsky mentioned Philip K. Dick - William f*cking Gibson! The Neuromancer Trilogy is amazing!

And also I feel totally dirty that I forgot my #2 favorite book, really embarassing stuff:

Master and Magarita by Bulgakow! I hope I got the english title right, I read it in German since I don't know Russian.

But Bulgakow is effing boss.

[KMD]

M&M by Bulgakov is a deep read, I can read it 5 more times and every time find something new....

now i'm reading the Game of Thrones, i liked the movie, don't want to wait for the 2nd season

best Authors for me though, are Edgar Allan Po and Chekhov
I like there short stories that are sarcastic in a way and have no deep meaning, Po even makes fun of critics!

of the recents I read, I also liked Irwin Shaw, and his 2 books, Poor Man & Rich Man... and Beggar man Thief ! It was an easy read about a family and the relationships of each, where one was poor and one was rich, reminded me of my family in a bit.

[FilipeFerreira]

The Children of Hurin is a really good book, i Recommend it to anyone.

The silmarillion

and obvious The lord of the rings trilogy.

[BarrileteCosmico]

The Unbearable Lightness of Being is another favorite one of mine due to Kundera's essayist-ish writing style.

[elm_baraja_shaman]

Lord of the Rings for me.

Tolkein is just a master of storytelling.

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