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Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Carol which is actually very good for what it is
Metamorphosis by Kafka (!)
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark fucking Twain
Count of Monte Cristo but you should probably see if it's abridged because fuuucckkk
not a book but A Doll's House by Ibsen is a shithot play and definitely worth reading
so that's a start I guess
hmm i've read all those except for a doll's house and the count of monte cristo, which i started en francais but stopped because it is so fucking long and i already knew the story so fuck that
i will have to check out a doll's house
and i'll start tarzan and earnest, see if i like them
Lovecraft, but keep Moby Dick on standby. Some people have a low tolerance for Lovecraft.
I liked the first volume in that Lovecraft collection, even if The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath and some of the related stories got a bit annoying. I guess I'll bring both home for the holidays.
My friend wrote a song about Catcher in the Rye. It's good
Is his name Thomas Kalnoky?
not exactly. Lindsey Mills. she told me the other day that she's doing an album with all the songs based around a bunch of different books. i'm excited for it
edit: whoops 3 pages late. kept the window open from last night. ummmmm, so books, right guys?
I like social dystopia. A lot of it sucks, though. Here's a list of it that doesn't:
1984, Orwell- quintessential Brave New World, Huxley- probably just as defining, at least as good, but woefully under-read Anthem, Rand- not as bad as you'd think, given the author Fahrenheit 451, Bradbury- a little lighter, some of the science fiction elements come across a little cheesy, but still quite good, heavy focus on education as a means of control The Giver, Lowry- this is what started it for me. young adult fiction, I haven't read the sequels A Clockwork Orange, Burgess- the focus is much more on the individual than is typical, real horrorshow if you don't mind a bit of the ultra-violent. I like invented languages. V for Vendetta, Moore/Loyd- you should all be familiar with this already The Time Machine, Wells- screw industrialism, fear the lower class
"The Lottery", Jackson- I think pretty much everyone read this in Middle School. I haven't read it since. I should find it again, I remember it being very good. herd mentality stuff
Honorable Mention That Hideous Strength, Lewis- great book, but dystopic themes are tertiary, focus is on space angels, wizards, and a creepy old guy Equilibrium- It's not a book, but it's a better movie adaptation of Fahrenheit 451 than the adaptation of Fahrenheit 451 was Napoleon of Notting Hill, Chesterton- I'm told it's an early example of the genre, some suggest that it inspired a lot of 1984, and anything Chesterton has to be at least decent, but I haven't read it myself so I'm sticking it down here Utopia, More- It's the exact opposite of dystopic fiction, but it was vital to the development of the genre.
Please add to this. There are lists, but they all seem to include everything, regardless of quality, as well as a lot of stuff that doesn't really fit the genre.
It seems to be becoming more popular. There's lots of new writers writing new things, but a lot of it is very poor.
In all of these threads I never quite get the venomous hatred for World War Z.
So it's not an incredible book. Who gives a fuck? I had some fun reading it, and it's not something you have to devote a lot of time/energy to.
Also, I've seen a lot of people mention Catch-22 here, but no actual recommendation of it. So, if you haven't read Catch-22, do it. You will be better off for it.
In all of these threads I never quite get the venomous hatred for World War Z.
So it's not an incredible book. Who gives a fuck? I had some fun reading it, and it's not something you have to devote a lot of time/energy to.
Also, I've seen a lot of people mention Catch-22 here, but no actual recommendation of it. So, if you haven't read Catch-22, do it. You will be better off for it.
Catch-22 was so frequently and enthusiastically reccomended for so long that I think everyone is just taking it as assumed.
i've been on a david sedaris kick lately. rereading naked after rereading three of his other books in the past couple weeks. i wanna get his books on tape, but man, i don't wanna rebuy everything again, at a higher price. someone get me the david sedaris box set, plz
Are we talking about the Faulkner who writes the most hilariously awkward sex scenes thus ruining books that are supposed to give a grim, serious message about war or whatever?
wait what
also re: good dystopian fiction, Never Let Me Go kinda qualifies. maybe not really, though.
i just got Farewell, My Lovely and The Lady in the Lake from Amazon
reading them, and they're great so far, but why are they pink and purple? i know that marlowe isn't exactly the most butch PI ever (that's sam spade) but these are some seriously whack cover designs
The audiobook for When You Are Engulfed in Flames is pretty awesome and definitely purchase-worthy.
On a similar note, I have a credit for Audible.com that I need to spend--someone recommend me something good or I will get that one book about MIT students playing blackjack.
The audiobook for When You Are Engulfed in Flames is pretty awesome and definitely purchase-worthy.
On a similar note, I have a credit for Audible.com that I need to spend--someone recommend me something good or I will get that one book about MIT students playing blackjack.
I don't read fantasy. But I've begun reading George R.R. Martin's A Game of Thrones at the 3-year insistence of my girlfriend.
His writing style is pretty good thus far, and it seems the fellow has a knack for creating an incredibly detailed world. A lot of room for intrigue, which I imagine is the point.
Is he another of those fantasy writers that's blown out of proportion, though? Am I in for crap? Should I bring my other waiting-list books home instead of the other two in the series?
I don't read fantasy. But I've begun reading George R.R. Martin's A Game of Thrones at the 3-year insistence of my girlfriend.
His writing style is pretty good thus far, and it seems the fellow has a knack for creating an incredibly detailed world. A lot of room for intrigue, which I imagine is the point.
Is he another of those fantasy writers that's blown out of proportion, though? Am I in for crap? Should I bring my other waiting-list books home instead of the other two in the series?
If you dig the first one, you'll dig the second and third.
He kinda starts to lose focus in book four, though.
I've got my fingers crossed that he'll get his shit together by the time he releases the fifth one.
I can see what you're saying as far as pacing. I think that comes from the nonstop rush that is the first three books, then suddenly the brakes are on.
It does have one of my favorite passages ever from a novel in it though, so I could be biased.
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hmm i've read all those except for a doll's house and the count of monte cristo, which i started en francais but stopped because it is so fucking long and i already knew the story so fuck that
i will have to check out a doll's house
and i'll start tarzan and earnest, see if i like them
thanks dude
I liked the first volume in that Lovecraft collection, even if The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath and some of the related stories got a bit annoying. I guess I'll bring both home for the holidays.
not exactly. Lindsey Mills. she told me the other day that she's doing an album with all the songs based around a bunch of different books. i'm excited for it
edit: whoops 3 pages late. kept the window open from last night. ummmmm, so books, right guys?
I liked This Perfect Day, by Ira Levin
lucky bastard
i am going to try to get an independent study class for that
otherwise i will likely take greek tragedy
So it's not an incredible book. Who gives a fuck? I had some fun reading it, and it's not something you have to devote a lot of time/energy to.
Also, I've seen a lot of people mention Catch-22 here, but no actual recommendation of it. So, if you haven't read Catch-22, do it. You will be better off for it.
GoFund The Portland Trans Pride March, or Show It To People, or Else!
Catch-22 was so frequently and enthusiastically reccomended for so long that I think everyone is just taking it as assumed.
I hear he knocked up the queen.
Haha, what the hell?
When You Are Engulfed in Flames is on my christmas list
Not sure what to make of Chabon. I like it so far, though
And I'm waiting for the Oxford History of Ancient Greece to be delivered, and pacing up and down impatiently waiting for the next Dresden Files book
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/registry/wishlist/1A4GKH199FBMU/ - My wishlist
wait what
also re: good dystopian fiction, Never Let Me Go kinda qualifies. maybe not really, though.
some fuckers are making a game version of Dante's Inferno
excuse me while i scream TOO SOON and pull out my hair
reading them, and they're great so far, but why are they pink and purple? i know that marlowe isn't exactly the most butch PI ever (that's sam spade) but these are some seriously whack cover designs
On a similar note, I have a credit for Audible.com that I need to spend--someone recommend me something good or I will get that one book about MIT students playing blackjack.
get Gentlemen of the Road by michael chabon
I fucking love the Dresden Files on so many levels
they're like modern pulp
who here can agree or disagree with this decision
Yes indeedy. I was quite surprised that they combine action, comedy and every now and then a bit of emotion so well.
strongly agree
His writing style is pretty good thus far, and it seems the fellow has a knack for creating an incredibly detailed world. A lot of room for intrigue, which I imagine is the point.
Is he another of those fantasy writers that's blown out of proportion, though? Am I in for crap? Should I bring my other waiting-list books home instead of the other two in the series?
If you dig the first one, you'll dig the second and third.
He kinda starts to lose focus in book four, though.
I've got my fingers crossed that he'll get his shit together by the time he releases the fifth one.
I dunno. The pacing seemed off from his earlier stuff, and the prose was definitely flatter.
I didn't have any problem with the characters he chose to follow, though, which seemed to be one of the main complaints about it.
It does have one of my favorite passages ever from a novel in it though, so I could be biased.
Sidenote. Pooro, have you picked up Brad Paisleys Play? You were the dude that enjoyed his guitaring or am I thinking of someone else?
I have indeed picked it up!
Kentucky Jelly is a jam, if you'll forgive the pun.
And Clusterpluck more than lives up to its name.
And really, the whole album is pretty good, minus a couple of duds.