User Panel
Posted: 5/2/2004 9:02:24 PM EDT
I posted a thread awhile back about Vietnam books...I'm already planning on picking a couple of those up. But, while I'm at the bookstore, I figured I may as well stock up for the summer.
I want something that's fiction...No war books please. I'll already have enough of that with the Vietnam books. I'm trying to find some more books that are in the same genre as my favorite authors, as I've already read everything by them. Chuck Palahniuk (author of Fight Club) is at the top of my list, and I'd love to find more authors that write with his same sort of twisted sense of humor. Or, really anything that will bring me to tears from laughing so hard. Any suggestions? |
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I think the "Bill the Galactic Hero" series of books from Harry Harrison are fantastic.
What I really like is that Harrison is a relaly accomplished sci-fi writer, who has won many awards and sold tons of books - and just decided to write these hilaroius and ridiculous books. It's not for everyone, but it sure makes me laugh out loud every time I read them. I think there are 6 books altogether, but each is an independent story (if you can call it that). The hero, Bill, pretty much only has three goals in life - to get drunk, to get laid, and to get out of the army (that he was involtarily drafted into). |
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Allthough it's not humor, Dale Brown's Flight of the Old Dog kept me reading from cover to cover.
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Read Lonesome Dove. It won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction, and even a voracious reader will take a week or so to get through it. Amazingly well written, you get to know the characters like family. The mini series is very good as well.
I also am a big James Clavell fan, with Shogun being my favorite of his Asian saga. Stephen Pressfield, author of Gates of Fire and Tides of War. MOLON LABE!! |
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Howling and tears running down the face? "Bloodsucking Fiends - A Love Story" and "Coyote Blue" by Christopher Moore.
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Hunting Down Saddam : The Inside Story of the Search and Capture
by Robin Moore (Author) I just finished it, not bad. Same author as "The Hunt for Bin Laden" |
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I really like "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance".
My friends have recommended Lullaby and Choke, also by Chuck Palahniuk. I'm about 9 chapters into Lullaby, and it seems mediocre so far, but I'm hoping it'll pick up soon. |
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If you like history, a good read is the "Rise and Fall of the Third Reich". It is a large book dealing mostly with the political problems of Eurpoe after WWI till the end of WWII. It is not a book that deals in depth with the battles, but mostly with the decisions that were made and the results. It does have some dry spots, but it will help give an understanding why many European countries are the way they are today.
Shootist. |
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Ooo, I forgot about Bloodsucking Fiends. A lot of Chuck Palahniuk fanatics have recommended that to me (at times when I didn't have money to buy it). That will definatly be added to the list. I love arfcom. These are all sounding so good. You guys are going to empty my pockets with all these great book recommendations! Keep em comin'. |
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I've read all three of them. Amazing stuff! |
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That's odd. I've never seen or read anything by Palahniuk |
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Wow! How old are you again? On a more serious note - some things that Palahniuk says in Fight Club lean towards communism, so take it with a grain of salt. Excellent book, though. |
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If you like weird horror, pick up a book of short stories by H. P . Lovecraft.
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I think Palahniuk is an acquired taste. He's very anti-media. You get that theme throughout all of his books. I met him in NYC a couple years ago...The guy is just plain weird. But, incredibly sick/disturbed/hilarious in real life. |
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If you like vampire books try the Necroscope series.... best damned books I have ever read. I wish they would make them into movies.
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I read this, its a complete pile of crap. It should be labeled as Fiction. Its been a long time since I read a book with so many false statements and half truths. |
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Lucifers Hammer
The Monkeywrench Gang [or anything else by Edward Abbey] Anything by Hunter S Thompson The Bias Against Guns [John R Lott Jr.] I'll post more later when I think of 'em. |
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T.R. Pearson "The Last of How it Was" or "Off for the Sweet Hereafter".
If you like Faulkner you should check Pearson out. Hysterically funny. |
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Angels & Demons and The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown. And if you haven't read it yet, Unintended Consequences by John Ross is a must read.
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Harry Harrison's Stainless steel rat is a better series. About a criminal in the future where the criminals are "fixed" at birth. Very funny.
Hitch hikers guide to the galaxy by dougless adams, or his dirk gently holyistic detective agency is very funny as well, although a bit wierd. Robert heinlien, star beast, have space suit will travel, are funny, though more young adult than grownup. Christopher Stasheff if you like fantasy books, wizard in rhyme series, or her majesty's warlock. A boy and his tank, frank leowski, also his engineer in time books. mute by piers anthony |
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Très passé That's soooo last year ;) |
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Care to elaborate?? I thought it was written as an expose' of CLinton's bad behavior?? |
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I've never been too into sci-fi books...But, I looked this one up and it sounds like something I would enjoy. I love end-of-the-world movies, but have never read a book with that theme. I'll definitely have to check this out. Thanks. |
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At some point in your life you’ll have to read Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand).
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I tried reading it about 8 years ago...But I got bored and have been scared to pick it back up. Now that I'm older, I'm sure I'll probably be able to get into it more. |
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You have to. A mod told you to |
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Suprised the ARFCOM evangelists haven't chimed in about the good book yet.
Oh well...they must be at church. In their absence... Since we're playing Reading Rainbow here....I'd recommend popping some mescaline and read "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" or pie the corner of your living room and read "Rumor of War" or light a candle, throw in your favorite Motley Crue cassette and check out "Maxim Magazine 2004 Hot 100" gpn.unl.edu/rainbow/ |
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Nawww. The most boring book I ever tried to read. Filled with pompous drivel, a 200 pages monologue and no vampires whatsoever. Kar"John who? Who the fuck cares!"98 |
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Ender's Game - Orsen Scott Card An excelent and capturing read!
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You should see my wardrobe! As for Rand...quite possibly the most repetative shit I've ever read. She makes the same point over and over and over. You want to know what she's saying? Save yourself some time and read The Fountainhead. The rest is all the same. |
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Just finished Black Hawk Down. I highly recommend it.
Currently reading the final book in the "Left Behind" series, seems like a worthy finish. will be bringing "The hunt for Bin Laden" and "Quicksilver" with me on vacation. btw, the Stossel book is good, a quick read, and if you don't think to yourself that a 2008 Presidential ticket of Stossel and Thomas Sowell is a good idea after you read it, I will e-punch you jim |
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Try Andrew Vachss! He writes novels about an ex-con detective that hunts child molesters. He also has some pretty good short story collections.
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The wife has some recommendations:
Anything by Leon Uris (sp?). A book called "Watership Down", about a society of rabbits. "Catch-22" |
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For science fiction, I recommend anything by Philip K. Dick. One of my favorites is 'Through a Scanner Darkly'. For a good classic, I recommend 'Moby Dick', which is an easy and excellent read. Nonfiction goes to 'Bringing Down the House', by Ben Mezrich. It's an excellent book about a bunch of snotty MIT brats who took Vegas for a fortune.
My favorite tale of young male angst (not applicable in your case) is 'For Whom the Bell Tolls' by Hemmingway. I also liked Kesey's 'One Flew Over the Kookoo's Nest'. For escapist fiction, Elmore Leonard and Carl Hiiassen are hard to beat. Since you live in my state, should you decide to read any of the books I mentioned, I would be glad to mail them to you, provided you mailed them back. |
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I've read all of those except 'Through a Scanner Darkly" and "Bringing Down the House." I've actually been looking for BDTH for a couple years now. I saw a little hour-long special about it on TV, but I could never remember the name of the book that they mentioned. Thanks. |
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If Atlas is too boring for you...Rand did write some shorter/simpler stuff...you could always start with 'Anthem' and then go from there. 'We the Living'...and try Atlas again later. |
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read "Ender's Shadow" (Card) to see the same story from someone elses point of view. It is awesome. |
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The Ender books were good, but you should read "Pastwatch: The Redemption of Christopher Columbus" if you really want a perfect story.
/OSC reader |
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