Chapter 36 in which I rant about literature and ask a favor

[lezbianthezbian]

 I've noticed that the books I stumble into on my own tend to be ok but not spectacular while the books people recommend to me are awesome. For example: Infinite Jest, House of Leaves, The Poisonwood Bible, The Color Purple, Six of One, The Princess Bride, The passion of Michel Foucoult,  Vonnegut, The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, Ursula K.

Comments

[heart_of_man]

I don't read nearly enough as I should, which is actually playing into this fantastic crisis of self-worth/inferiority I'm having at the moment, but two books I read this spring and really enjoyed were "Everything Is Illuminated" and "At Swim, Two Boys." Please post more book recommendations!

[lezbianthezbian]

Everything is Illuminated was one of the few stories that I liked better as a film. I liked the grandfather's character and your understanding of him better in the novel, but as for the overall quality of it I think the film surpassed the book. Have you seen the film?

Thank you for the recommendations, I need to fine At Swim.

[heart_of_man]

I have seen the film, and liked it very much. They were so different, though, that I don't have a preference for book or film.

[bay_breeze]

no meat? what's wrong with him?

btw, I love you and you're ridiculous. Have you read all of Gregory Maguire's stuff?

[irish4life12]

Middlesex, The Things They Carried (if you're into Vietnam or the solider psyche), any short story by Ray Bradbury (his "Best Of" collections are a good start), The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, Parable of the Sower, The Sparrow, and The Pillars of the Earth (thank you Oprah).

I'm pretty sure you've already read them, but if you haven't, Dune and Ender's Game are critical to add to your science fiction repertoire.

[irish4life12]

And I definitely wrote down all the titles you recommended that I haven't already read and will shortly be scouring local used bookstores.

[sadisticorange]

If you haven't already read House of Leaves, I've got a copy. Also, Life of Pi and Hitchhikers guide.

Two of them are already loaned out, so you'd have to wait till at least winter break for anything other than Hitchhikers.

[lezbianthezbian]

Sweet. I hope you like them as much as I did. I will definitely look into some of the titles you mentioned.

[spookster_z]

I recommend Diana Wynne Jones for fiction, although I have no idea if you'll like her or not. She has a TON of books though, I've read a good handful of them and loved them all. They're mostly geared more towards young adults, which I like because they're relaxing and make me smile. She's British, clever, funny, and original. Her characters are awesome. About a gazillion times better than Harry Potter

[lezbianthezbian]

Palahnuik seems to pick mainly subjects I know about--gender identity and the trans community, anarchy--and then write about them as through he knows absolutely nothing about them and that gives off a huge false impression to his readers about those things. This is why I find him maddening.

Thank You! I will have to check these out.

[spookster_z]

That is indeed maddening. It's sad when someone or something gains recognition as being one thing and traps a bunch of followers into seeing it that way, when in fact the person or subject in question is totally bogus -- or at least delivered in a totally bogus way. (for example, "The Secret")

no prob, and thanks for the recommendations in your post, I'm definitely gonna check them out.

[sadisticorange]

Amazing fiction that I've read in the last couple of years, some of which you've probably already read:

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Wuthering Heights, Finn Family Moomintroll (it's a kids book, but it's amazing), My Sister's Keeper (the only Jodi Picoult really worth reading since the rest are fairly formulaic), Grapes of Wrath (you probably read this in High School), If you like Sci-Fi stuff, the Ukiah Oregon series is pretty good (Alien Taste, Tainted Trail, Bitter Waters, Dog Warrior), Secret Life of Bees.

These aren't fiction, but they're awesome and well written and of interest to psych majors: The Man who Mistook his Wife for a Hat, and Blink.

This isn't fiction but it's hilarious: Swish, My Quest to Become the Gayest Person Ever.

Not fiction but epic amazing: Three Cups of Tea.

[lezbianthezbian]

DudeI I know! I read My Sisters Keeper and was blown away and then really disappointed by everything else. There are some authors who I would be so much more impressed with if they'd stuck to their amazing work and left it at that.

Thanks for the recommendations!

[sadisticorange]

I've got some of them if you want to borrow, and know who has them if I don't.

[elzebrook]

OMG, the Moomintroll books!!! I love them like you would not believe.

[elzebrook]

Ehm. I really only read fantasy...But I Capture the Castle (Dodie Smith) and Cold Comfort Farm (Stella Gibbons) are fabulous and hysterical. And Our Lady of the Lost and Found is wonderful. And if I haven't yelled at you to read Deerskin by Robin McKinley enough, consider this me yelling at you more.

If you are in a fantasyish mood, Charles de Lint's later stuff is marvelous. I particularly liked Spirits in the Wires and Onion Girl, but you might like Trader more. Um. I liked Jane Eyre, but you prolly wouldn't.

Anything by Diana Wynne Jones is glorious, but her later stuff is the best.

I'd lend you some, but I've got loads out on loan at the moment...

[lezbianthezbian]

Eh, it's cool. The SF Public Library is huuuuge, and they send me e-mails to remind me to return the books. But I shall read these.