Book Recommendations

**MissyO** · 11-03-2007, 11:36 AM

Well, this forum has been re-booted, time for a books thread!

My most recent read and loved was War & Peace. I can highly recommend it, bloody brilliant work. Has a bit of war, a bit of love and some philosophy into the mix.

Captain Beefheart · 11-03-2007, 01:16 PM

Everything is Illuminated(Jonathan Safran Foer). One of my favorite books and movie adaptations. Makes you wish you lived in the river of recurrent dreams and float around with all of the trinkets.

**Plastic Flute** · 11-03-2007, 01:37 PM

I just finished reading the Graphic Novel. 30Days of Night. Its awsome . You should give it a read.

**Ophelia** · 11-03-2007, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain Beefheart

Everything is Illuminated(Jonathan Safran Foer). One of my favorite books and movie adaptations. Makes you wish you lived in the river of recurrent dreams and float around with all of the trinkets.

I have had this in my possession a few times but I have never read it. Maybe I should check it out again.

**Ophelia** · 11-03-2007, 03:48 PM

The last really good book I read was Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman. I'm really not much into fantasy or science fiction but this was a great book.

darko. · 11-03-2007, 05:30 PM

haruki murakami

**Cat** · 11-03-2007, 05:43 PM

Well, I'm still trying to keep up with my American Literature class. I just finished reading "A Streetcar named Desire" by Tennessee Williams and I loved it. I guess that's a recommendation. Also, anything by William Blake.

**Ophelia** · 11-03-2007, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darko.

haruki murakami

I've only read on of his books, Kafka on the Shore - and I really liked it, very surreal. I need to read more of his stuff, anything specific you would suggest?

Captain Beefheart · 11-03-2007, 06:53 PM

I read roughly two-thirds through Norwegian Wood. It's good, but he continues to not overly impress me (I've also read Kafka on the Shore and his short stories). I think this might be the last that I read by him for a while, got too much brilliance gathering dusts in my shelves.

And if you haven't you need to freshen up on some Kafka for a little sense of truth. A copy of Borges "Collected Fictions" makes a nice bus companion. His stuff, much like Kafka's short stories (and many others, it just happens that Kafka and Borges are my two favorite short story writers, along with Gogol and the other usual suspects), are very short, often 10 pages or less, thus you can finish them on a long bus ride or tell Missy to write them out on an email(Hi5!).

Plus, you'll be in a phuked up Borges head space when you get off the bus. All that much better.

**Ophelia** · 11-03-2007, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain Beefheart

got too much brilliance gathering dusts in my shelves.

^Thats what I love about reading - its an endless well that won't ever run out.

AHa - The Borges trance. Been there.

Captain Beefheart · 11-03-2007, 07:05 PM

You should not necessarily bother reading Murakami if you are a chick. I have never met a woman who thought he was all that great. Women are always unknowable, exotic creatures in his books. I think maybe I read one short story by him with internal dialogue for a woman. It appeals to dudes, but it's very limiting in writing about... anything, when you don't really work with, y'know, 52% of the world's population.

Just kidding. From what I read he regards women with fascination and awe. He knows what's up and is able to blend blend surrealism, awe, sex, and humor in a very pleasing way.

darko. · 11-03-2007, 09:08 PM

who gives a **** what women like? they like crap

i am a man. what i say goes

i say read murakami, you ****ing read murakami

i didnt read kafka on the shore. i read "norwegian wood", "south of the border, west of the sun" and "sputnik sweetheart".

all 3 gave me wood. it wasnt norwegian, oddly enough

**MissyO** · 11-04-2007, 12:08 AM

^ Which would you recommend the most? I wouldn't mind giving him a crack. Never even heard of him before, but he seems to be decent.

Captain Beefheart · 11-04-2007, 01:12 AM

All the books suggested are alright(Norweigan Wood, South of the Border) but I think his short stories are better. He goes a little crazy with the western pop-culture references so that kind of affected my opinion when I had to read a long ass novel of it. But I do like the isolated atmosphere he creates and I also love stories about extraordinary scenarios getting in ordinary peoples' faces. Some of the stuff is creepy but it's like the broad daylight kind of creepy as opposed to the dark basement style.

**MissyO** · 11-04-2007, 01:15 AM

^ I prefer short stories as an intro to an author. Give me a name, man! What do I need to ask for? Does he have a collection of shorts?

Captain Beefheart · 11-04-2007, 01:22 AM

http://community.livejournal.com/murakami/51240.html

As for the book recommendations I suggest starting out with Kafka on the Shore. A little tough to get started on, because you are waiting for a few different stories to meet up, but once it gets going, it's a full addiction.

**MissyO** · 11-04-2007, 01:26 AM

^ Thank you, babydoll. Will make a start on them soon.

EDIT: This Kafka on the Shore looks great, but only one thing worries me. I'm seeing a "cat killer" listed. No phucking around, I had the step-father from hell and cruelty to cats disturbs me big time (no, I'm not going to go into sobbing detail). Without going into detail, will this be ok for me to read?

11-04-2007, 06:51 AM

I'm going to prematurely recommend:

Between the Bridge and the River by Craig Ferguson

I've heard great things about it, the guy's obviously funny as hell, and I'll be lurking the Barnes & Noble premises to read a chapter or two and see if it's really worth buying.

**Ophelia** · 11-13-2007, 06:12 PM

Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro. Quietly Brilliant.

**Plastic Flute** · 11-13-2007, 09:54 PM

The Brotherhood of the Rose David Morrell
I love the way it ties in paganism into Modern Day religion.

11-03-2007, 11:36 AM	#1 (permalink)
MissyO Perennially Disgruntled Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Sydney Posts: 4,084 My Profile	Book Recommendations Well, this forum has been re-booted, time for a books thread! My most recent read and loved was War & Peace. I can highly recommend it, bloody brilliant work. Has a bit of war, a bit of love and some philosophy into the mix.

11-03-2007, 05:43 PM	#7 (permalink)
Cat Bloomin' crazy Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Norway Posts: 1,963 My Profile	Well, I'm still trying to keep up with my American Literature class. I just finished reading "A Streetcar named Desire" by Tennessee Williams and I loved it. I guess that's a recommendation. Also, anything by William Blake. Last edited by Cat : 11-03-2007 at 05:45 PM.

11-03-2007, 06:53 PM	#9 (permalink)
Captain Beefheart Mu nótahu Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: In a West End town, a dead end world Posts: 3,651 My Profile	I read roughly two-thirds through Norwegian Wood. It's good, but he continues to not overly impress me (I've also read Kafka on the Shore and his short stories). I think this might be the last that I read by him for a while, got too much brilliance gathering dusts in my shelves. And if you haven't you need to freshen up on some Kafka for a little sense of truth. A copy of Borges "Collected Fictions" makes a nice bus companion. His stuff, much like Kafka's short stories (and many others, it just happens that Kafka and Borges are my two favorite short story writers, along with Gogol and the other usual suspects), are very short, often 10 pages or less, thus you can finish them on a long bus ride or tell Missy to write them out on an email(Hi5!). Plus, you'll be in a phuked up Borges head space when you get off the bus. All that much better. Last edited by Captain Beefheart : 11-03-2007 at 06:59 PM.

11-04-2007, 01:26 AM	#17 (permalink)
MissyO Perennially Disgruntled Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Sydney Posts: 4,084 My Profile	^ Thank you, babydoll. Will make a start on them soon. EDIT: This Kafka on the Shore looks great, but only one thing worries me. I'm seeing a "cat killer" listed. No phucking around, I had the step-father from hell and cruelty to cats disturbs me big time (no, I'm not going to go into sobbing detail). Without going into detail, will this be ok for me to read? Last edited by MissyO : 11-04-2007 at 03:30 AM.

11-03-2007, 01:16 PM	#2 (permalink)
Captain Beefheart Mu nótahu Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: In a West End town, a dead end world Posts: 3,651 My Profile	Everything is Illuminated(Jonathan Safran Foer). One of my favorite books and movie adaptations. Makes you wish you lived in the river of recurrent dreams and float around with all of the trinkets.

11-03-2007, 01:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
Plastic Flute ICHiBAN HoOT Join Date: May 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 12,668 My Profile	I just finished reading the Graphic Novel. 30Days of Night. Its awsome . You should give it a read.

11-03-2007, 03:48 PM	#5 (permalink)
Ophelia JOHO Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Joshtopia Posts: 6,939 My Profile	The last really good book I read was Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman. I'm really not much into fantasy or science fiction but this was a great book.

11-03-2007, 05:30 PM	#6 (permalink)
darko. Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: shlums 'o shaolin Posts: 2,082	haruki murakami

11-03-2007, 07:05 PM	#11 (permalink)
Captain Beefheart Mu nótahu Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: In a West End town, a dead end world Posts: 3,651 My Profile	You should not necessarily bother reading Murakami if you are a chick. I have never met a woman who thought he was all that great. Women are always unknowable, exotic creatures in his books. I think maybe I read one short story by him with internal dialogue for a woman. It appeals to dudes, but it's very limiting in writing about... anything, when you don't really work with, y'know, 52% of the world's population. Just kidding. From what I read he regards women with fascination and awe. He knows what's up and is able to blend blend surrealism, awe, sex, and humor in a very pleasing way.

11-03-2007, 09:08 PM	#12 (permalink)
darko. Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: shlums 'o shaolin Posts: 2,082	who gives a ** what women like? they like crap i am a man. what i say goes i say read murakami, you **ing read murakami i didnt read kafka on the shore. i read "norwegian wood", "south of the border, west of the sun" and "sputnik sweetheart". all 3 gave me wood. it wasnt norwegian, oddly enough

11-04-2007, 12:08 AM	#13 (permalink)
MissyO Perennially Disgruntled Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Sydney Posts: 4,084 My Profile	^ Which would you recommend the most? I wouldn't mind giving him a crack. Never even heard of him before, but he seems to be decent.

11-04-2007, 01:12 AM	#14 (permalink)
Captain Beefheart Mu nótahu Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: In a West End town, a dead end world Posts: 3,651 My Profile	All the books suggested are alright(Norweigan Wood, South of the Border) but I think his short stories are better. He goes a little crazy with the western pop-culture references so that kind of affected my opinion when I had to read a long ass novel of it. But I do like the isolated atmosphere he creates and I also love stories about extraordinary scenarios getting in ordinary peoples' faces. Some of the stuff is creepy but it's like the broad daylight kind of creepy as opposed to the dark basement style.

11-04-2007, 01:15 AM	#15 (permalink)
MissyO Perennially Disgruntled Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Sydney Posts: 4,084 My Profile	^ I prefer short stories as an intro to an author. Give me a name, man! What do I need to ask for? Does he have a collection of shorts?

11-04-2007, 01:22 AM	#16 (permalink)
Captain Beefheart Mu nótahu Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: In a West End town, a dead end world Posts: 3,651 My Profile	http://community.livejournal.com/murakami/51240.html As for the book recommendations I suggest starting out with Kafka on the Shore. A little tough to get started on, because you are waiting for a few different stories to meet up, but once it gets going, it's a full addiction.

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11-04-2007, 06:51 AM	#18 (permalink)
Avis Phlox Posts: n/a	I'm going to prematurely recommend: Between the Bridge and the River by Craig Ferguson I've heard great things about it, the guy's obviously funny as hell, and I'll be lurking the Barnes & Noble premises to read a chapter or two and see if it's really worth buying.

11-13-2007, 06:12 PM	#19 (permalink)
Ophelia JOHO Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Joshtopia Posts: 6,939 My Profile	Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro. Quietly Brilliant.

11-13-2007, 09:54 PM	#20 (permalink)
Plastic Flute ICHiBAN HoOT Join Date: May 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 12,668 My Profile	The Brotherhood of the Rose David Morrell I love the way it ties in paganism into Modern Day religion.