Favorite Book

[AssMaster]

Seems like everyone here only talks of movies. Does anyone read?
I prefer a good book to a movie anyday. Call me gay, but honestly the best and most enjoyable book I have ever read are the Harry Potter Series. I started reading one to my nephew several years back, he quickly lost interest, but I could not put it down. I have read all of them at least 3 times apiece. I am also a big fan of the Lord of the Rings. R.A. Salvatore has a series of books about a Dark Elf named Drizzt. These books are very well written. They may not be an epic like the Lord of the Rings, but I find them more enjoyable for everyday reading. I used to read a lot of westerns, but can not seem to get into the anymore. I enjoy John Saul and Dean Koonz. I occasionally read a Stephen King, but more often than not his books just piss me off. Anyone else have any favorites that I need to check out? I like long books or series, due to the fact that I can knock out a book in just a day or two. I like something that will give me a weeks reading at least.

Thnx,

AssMaster

[NatrlBornThrllr]

Cliched as it may sound, I've enjoyed everything I've seen out of Chuck Palahniuk. Being a sports fan, I also really enjoyed "Bump and Run." It's a Mike Lupica novel about an owner of a semi-fictional professional football team (a fictional team, with rather specific references to the NFL and it's various franchises). When I read, I tend to enjoy contemporary books...but A Confederacy of Dunces was great (even it's not old by a long shot, but it's older than the few books I typically migrate to). Another older book that I liked is Siddhartha.

I don't think any of these will work as recommendations, though, since I tend to like rather short reads (though Bump and Run was kinda wordy, so you might get into that if you're a sports fan). My attention span is equal to that of a 2nd grader, which is why I'm more of a movie or short-book guy.

-JP

[eddwarddwooddwardd]

Originally posted by AssMaster
[snip] I like long books or series, due to the fact that I can knock out a book in just a day or two. I like something that will give me a weeks reading at least.

Thnx,

AssMaster

You might like Terry Pratchett's 'Discworld' series. Very funny, interestingly moral & a bit LOTR in a catoonish way. He is British tho' so maybe, ... .

Raymond Chandlers writing is very skilled but perhaps its more the stories your after in which case, as I assume you've seen the movies, then perhaps not for you.

You might like the 'cyber-punk' works of William Gibson & Neal Stephenson, lots of story, most books form an arc. Stephenson's later books are quite long

Greatest sep author? Truman Capote, a bit fey for most tastes perhaps & quite short, so probably not for you. Except, perhaps, 'In Cold Blood'. A exceedingly well-written 'true crime' account of senseless vilence in the 1950's mid-west. Seminal.

If you've not read moden sep clasic 'Catch 22' then, IMO, its a must. So funny its painfull, so sad its painfull. Possibly too 'liberal' for many here, but thats their loss, etc.

If its 'sick' you want I'd recommend the works of William Burroughs, tho' again the books arent long & several of them are the same book with the sentances in a different order.

Right, flame away at me for having the gaul to talk about anything being 'well written' & lastly
{insert lengthy diatribe against LOTR, referencing the 'punk wars' & Tolkiens lisp & hippies & endless lists & fantasy languages & & & & & &, here}

cheers
markp

p.s. IMO, if you really are totally unfamilar with the works of George Orwell, then, you are under-educated & should correct the situation immediately.

[sleepybloom]

I love reading the Harry Potter series as well, but for me, I'm more into the Sci-fi/ Fictional/ Horror/ Suspence/ Fantasy kind of books.
My favs right now that I'm reading are the Anne Rice series, all of them. Those, and the Lord of the Rings books, plus Harry Potter, and a new book called Eragon, but I don't know if that book is any good.
The Stephen King books are really good to read, if you like his kind of books.

[Nyeh]

i love the books about drizzt

my favorite books are inferno, grendel, beowulf, the dark elf trilogy, dune, and the lotr trilogy

[Kevin]

animal farm

[nickbahh]

catcher in the rye

[P a t r i c k]

Ismael is a good book.
Right now Im reading Barrel Fever by David Sidaris.

[MandeepKlas]

from the corner of his eye -- dean koontz
a walk to remember -- nicholas sparks
both are pretty good... of course.. you could go out and rent the movie a walk to remember, however, the movie doesn't do the book justice. (as if a movie ever does a book justice, you would never be able to see on a tv screen what your imagination can produce)

[NatrlBornThrllr]

It depends on whether or not you're a visual person. I am, I'd much rather see something than hear it or even read it. I think we're naturally inclined to appreciate books more because we've invested more time into them.

-JP

[AssMaster²]

Wastership Down

[Michael Fornal]

I can't read any fiction, really. If I'm reading, I'm wanting to learn something. Lately I've just been reading randomly through the oxford dictionary of philosphy for some reason.

And I've started reading the Salam Pax Iraqi dude blog book that Mark sent over hurra while I'm on break/lunch at work. It's pretty interesting so far.