Your Top 3 Books

[Charlie]

So what are your top 3 books of all time? I would've put favourite book of all time, but I can't decide between my top two so it has to be 3. :heh:

1) River God - Wilbur Smith
Set in Ancient Egypt, 4000 years ago, it's the story of a eunuch slave, Taita, written in 3rd person by Taita (you don't actually know this whilst reading but you find out in "The Seventh Scroll" which is a present day sequel). Taita is owned by Pharaoh Mamose's best friend, Lord Naja, and has been set the lifelong task of looking after his daughter, Lostriss. Taita is also one of the cleverest people ever, a brilliant mathematician, physist, chemist amongst other things. "River God" follows the life of Taita with Lostriss, war, love, corruption are in all this novel.

I highly recommend you all read this book, it is probably the (joint) best book I've ever read.

Sequels:
"The Seventh Scroll" - Present day, people trying to find out where Taita buried the Pharaoh whilst being attacked by the local Ethiopeans who also want the funerary treasure.

"Warlock" - back with Taita. Mamose's (Nefer) grandson is heir to the phrone but there is a plot to murder him by the Regent who has married both Nefer's sisters. Nefer flees and builds up an army....

1) "The Pillars of the Earth" - Ken Follet
Set 800 years ago, it follows the lives of a family of mason's, whose dream it is to build a cathedral. The Bishop, a power-hungry bastard, doesn't want this new cathedral to be built because the Prior will become too powerful tries to stop it by getting the local Baron to attack it.

3) "To Kill A Mockingbird" - Harper Lee
"Scout... you never really understand a person... until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."

In Alabama in the 1930s, a lawyer is called to defend the case of a black man wrongly accused of rape. The local community is stretched to acknowledge the deep racism that exists within it and the lawyer is aware that he losing an important battle. But it is one he knows he has to fight.

This is Atticus, the father of two mischevious and intelligent children. It is a motherless family and Atticus strives hard to pass on his values to Jem and Scout and to bring them up as a gentleman and lady -- in his vision of what this means. As a father he is constant, warm, firm, fair and understanding.

Here is where the story lies -- in the exploits of these two children and their maturing minds. They play games, fight, lie, take care of each other, and most of all, are mystified by the ways of a secret neighbour Boo Radley. Their childlike world runs parallel but separate to the world of death, crime and racism and at the point that the two touch there are explosions. Jem grows wiser, Dill cries for the convicted innocent man, Scout survives an attack on her life...

Most of all, I found this book a beautiful tale of wise fatherly love. It described some brilliant parenting of two young children against a world that can be dark and ignorant. I loved the family; I loved Atticus, I loved Jem, I loved Scout. They were all similar in so many ways they were one - the Finches. And both Jem and Scout were growing into the mould their father had cast.

I can understand the hit this made in the 1960s and the desire to put in on the school curriculum in Britain in the 1980s and 1990s by those who were touched by it a generation earlier. On the negative side, the political viewpoint that is presented through the eyes of a child is a quaint vision that is too simple -- it is not so true that children are innocent until misguided by the world and that they cry more easily for wrongs committed than adults. And although the idea that a child can teach us something, sometimes it was a little too overdone in this book.
(amazon review, the first 2 reviews were made up by me just now)

[Letty]

Im not going to go into detail - but these are mine

2. Bloody Jack(ie) (I think I cried when I finished this one)
3. Sickened

[McPhee]

The Eye Of The World (http://www.tor.com/jordan/eyeoftheworld.html) - Robert Jordan

The Restaurant At The End Of The Universe (http://www.douglasadams.com/creations/0345391810.html) - Douglas Adams

Cant decide on a third at the moment

[The3rdChildren]

Anything by Roald Dahl in any order will do me nicely.

[knightendo]

i have river god and read the first few chapters but for some reason stopped, i can't remember why, coz i was really enjoying it. to know there's sequels has gotten me picking it outta my book shelf again, must get back to it!

my favourite books of all time:

1) The War Of The Worlds by HG Wells
An absolute classic, written in the first person when England is attacked by giant cylinders from space containing the martians and their deadly tripod fighting machines. The first really of its kind, written in 1898 this book has never been bettered in my opinion. Incredibly realistic, detailed and terrifying, a true classic piece of literature which never gets old no matter how many times you read it. If you thought the scene with Tim Robbins at the end of the recent remake was nerve-wracking, you've experienced nothing until you've read this book!

2) White Shark by Peter Benchley
My fave movie of all time is Jaws, but in truth I think the original novel wasn't up to much, probably because the movie is so different and I love it so much. But White Shark is superb, from the same author. It was made into a tv mini-series called "Creature" but they changed too much of the plot as per usual. A Nazi experiment resurfaces decades after the war, a genetic experiment that causes terror for Simon Chase, a marine biologist running his own institute for marine conservation. It truly deserved to be made into a proper mini-series or movie that could've been a Jaws-beater!! Intricate characters, deep story, and suspence galore. Un-put-down-able, as reviewers might say lol.

3) Ok, I have a choice of two, but did you mention it had to be fiction...? I'll be brief and just mention titles coz its after midnight and im up for work early :S
For fiction it'd probably be Dracula by Bram Stoker...
For non-fiction it'd be Michael Moore's Dude Where's My Country?
So fiction or non-fiction be ok? I'l write a proper summary on either one sure tomorrow. nightie-night lol.

[Supergrunch]

In no particular order (I'm not choosing an absolute favourite; these are just three very good books.

Ghostwritten by David Mitchell- Too complex to describe acurately in this space. Also too brilliant. Gets better every time you read it.

Actually I can't think of anything more now, and I'm not changing the rest of my post. :heh:

[Eenuh]

The Neverending Story.

[DiemetriX]

What is this "book" thing you are talking about?
It sounds familiar. I might have seen one once.

[Fierce_LiNk]

This is tough, as there are so many good children's books that i've read when i was a young 'un and so many books i haven't read.

I think this is probably the best order for me:

1. Northern Lights- Philip Pullman
I love this book. I would even go as far to say that this book re-kindled my love for reading. It's been a long time since a book grasped my attention, which is an even better reason why i think this book means a lot to me. Great story, fantastic characters, and it has a nice hidden charm that is waiting to be unearthed. :)

2. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory- Roald Dahl

I've got so many fond memories of this book. As a child, i think i read this many times. Seeing both film adaptions also re-enforced my love for this book. I think you have to be a child in order to fully appreciate this, as nothing is perhaps more greater than a child's imagination. I had great fun reading this.

3. 1984- George Orwell

I've only read this book once, but it is one of those books where you are constantly thinking about it after you read it. There's so many issues and themes within it that ask questions of us all. The ending, especially the last sentence, sends shivers down my spine everytime i think about it.

[Supergrunch]

The Neverending Story.
That is a good book. Did you read it in German? (being English, I read a translation)

[Eenuh]

That is a good book. Did you read it in German? (being English, I read a translation)

No, I read it in Dutch. Got it for my birthday from my mom when I was a kid, and I have read it multiple times since then. Awesome book with nice illustrations.

[Babooo]

In no particular order:

1.) To kill a Mockingbird
2.) The Alchemist
3.) The Shadow of the Wind

[Minihobbsch]

Mine are:-

1. "Yes Man" - Danny Wallace
2. "Angels & Demons" - Dan Brown
3. "Digital Fortress" - Dan Brown

[mcj metroid]

harry potter:chamber of secrets
harry potter:prisiner of azkaban
harry potter:goblet of fire

[Mr_Odwin]

The Book of Mormon Bit of a religious one, but it's one that means a lot to me. Most, if not all, of my life choices are based around my experience with this one.

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy I first read this when I was in secondary school and couldn't believe that a book could be so funny. I immediately read the rest of the series, but this one remains my favourite as it got me into books that are funny.

His Dark Materials Not really a book, but I consider it one. Some great moments that stir genuine emotion and that's unusual for a bunch of text. When the bear does the thing to the bear and then eats the thing, at the end of the first book I was like "YEAH!!!".

(Good thread, by the way.)

[martinist]

1. Catcher in the Rye
2. To Kill a Mokingbird
3. Of Mice and Men

[EEVILMURRAY]

So what are your top 3 books of all time? I would've put favourite book of all time, but I can't decide between my top two so it has to be 3. :heh:

1) River God - Wilbur Smith
Set in Ancient Egypt, 4000 years ago, it's the story of a eunuch slave, Taita, written in 3rd person by Taita (you don't actually know this whilst reading but you find out in "The Seventh Scroll" which is a present day sequel). Taita is owned by Pharaoh Mamose's best friend, Lord Naja, and has been set the lifelong task of looking after his daughter, Lostriss. Taita is also one of the cleverest people ever, a brilliant mathematician, physist, chemist amongst other things. "River God" follows the life of Taita with Lostriss, war, love, corruption are in all this novel.

I highly recommend you all read this book, it is probably the (joint) best book I've ever read.

Sequels:
"The Seventh Scroll" - Present day, people trying to find out where Taita buried the Pharaoh whilst being attacked by the local Ethiopeans who also want the funerary treasure.

"Warlock" - back with Taita. Mamose's (Nefer) grandson is heir to the phrone but there is a plot to murder him by the Regent who has married both Nefer's sisters. Nefer flees and builds up an army....

I'm going to claim that I told you about those books.:kiss:

[Dan Dare]

I always find this difficult, but here goes:


One Flew Over The Cookoos Nest

This tells the story of a group of patients in a psychiatric ward ruled over in tyranny by a brutal head nurse. The plot is concerned with the arrival of a new patient on the ward who may or may not be insane and his valiant, tragic battle against the opressive regime on the ward. totally brilliant novel.

1984

Owells classic, darkly futuristic attack on opression and the death of civil liberty. Everyone should read this book- it's easily one of the most powerful, utterly terrifying novels ever written, yet also odly beutiful.

Of Mice and Men

This is, in my oppinion,the greatest novels ever on the subject of friendship. Set in depression era California, George is a landless labourer moving from ranch to ranch with his mentally retarded companion. Together they chase the almost impossible American Dream of buying a small farm together and escaping the hard and abusive lives they lead. A true classic. Beutiful, tragic, melancholy and utterly, utterly brilliant.

[Ginger_Chris]

Christine by Stephen King

Rainbow Six by Tom Clancy

[Caris]

One book that rules all other books.

Good Night Mr Tom.

[Monopolyman]

1. Catcher in the Rye- Definitely a book all teenagers should read. Probably my favourite of all time because I'm more or less Holden Caufield.

2. The Twits- Why? because it was so much fun for me to read when I was a kid. No one who ever read The Twits will ever forget the constant pranking part of the book.

3. The Godfather- I haven't actually finished reading this yet, so I'm not sure if I can put it in, but so far I'm totally compelled. Hell, it's even better than the movie. At least it's so much more detailed.

[Supergrunch]

No, I read it in Dutch. Got it for my birthday from my mom when I was a kid, and I have read it multiple times since then. Awesome book with nice illustrations.
Bah! Mine had no illustrastions... I got very into it though- I remember my English teacher couldn't believe that I'd read it in 2 days. (I must have been about 10)

[Shorty]

These are just 3 great books that I picked from the top of my head (with a short glance at my shelf). I wouldn't say they're my 3 favourites, just 3 that need mentioning.

3. Rainbow Six (Tom Clancy)
This book is just cool. Someone else put it forward already. Something about the pure elitism of the unit, the way every terrorist organisation completely underestimates their skill. This book is the reason I can't stand the idiots in ITV's "Ultimate Force". If you're not Rainbow Six, you're not an ultimate force.

2. A Secret History (Donna Tartt)
I don't really know what it was I loved about this story. It's a basic concept with some twists and doesn't seem to have a complete idea of where it's going or what it's point is, but the writing is brilliant and all the characters are very intriguing.

1. Fight Club (Chuck Palahniuk)
No matter how much you love the movie, the original dwarfs it. Being able to represent those minds slowly falling out of the loop without giving anything away, a twisted mix of narratives, the style of writing changes about seven times and is always arguing against consumerism between the lines, genius. A total pageturner, even if you already know what happens next.

[Ninty 182]

The Shining
The most terrifying thing ever. Before this I didn't know a book could actually scare you.

Of Mice and Men
Gripping is all I can say about it. I studied it this year for GCSE and one guy in my class cried at the end (OK so he was a wimp but still). Just brilliant and with so many layers that you'll notice more and more details the more myou read through it.

Hannibal
Brilliantly written, in a truly chilling way that surpasses the movie in every way. Somehow reading through this makes Dr. Hannibal Lecter seem more scary and more sinister. Also the plot twists (which will surprise people who have seen the movie) just make it better than other pshcological thrillers of this kind.


Runner up have to be the Dark Tower series, Lord of the Rings series, Dreamcatcher and a few more which I'm unable to recall at the moment.

Books I'm about to read which may make the list are Silence of the Lambs (I know, read hannibal but not this :heh:), War of the Worlds and grapes of Wrath

[Dan Dare]

"Of Mice and Men
Gripping is all I can say about it. I studied it this year for GCSE and one guy in my class cried at the end (OK so he was a wimp but still). Just brilliant and with so many layers that you'll notice more and more details the more myou read through it."

I was reading it on the train again this year and had to stop on account of starting to get choked up. Everything in that book is so raw and powerful it's amazing.

[Haver]

OK: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0330258648/202-7408281-0639045?v=glance&n=266239&s=books&v=glance), by Douglas Adams, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0007204493/202-7408281-0639045?v=glance&n=266239&s=gateway&v=glance), by Hunter S. Thompson and My Uncle Oswald (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0140055770/202-7408281-0639045?v=glance&n=266239&s=books&v=glance), by Roald Dahl.

My Top 3 Adult Books, at least. When I was younger I read a lot of Malorie Blackman and Roald Dahl, especially The Twits and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (which I typed out on an old typewriter when I was seven, for kicks). There was also a book called Fallout, which I used to rent from the library every week, much to the frustration of the librarian, who often asked why I didn't buy myself a copy, to which I often replied that it was free, here, at the library.

That said, I read much more non-fiction than I did fiction, books about dinosaurs and freak weather and the Ancient Egyptians, probably because they were nearer the toilet.

[Bogbas]

Hmm I think I stressed my head too much trying to figure out if I have read 3 books.

But here:
1. The Unknown soldier (Väinö Linna) It's about Finnish continuation war. Which took place at the same time as WW2. The author served as a machinegunner and some of his experiences are in the book.

2. The hitchikers guide to the galaxy (Douglas Adams) The author's books always makes me laugh.

3. Brothers Grimm (book of fairy-tales) I grew up reading these stories. Somehow I don't think that limbs falling off and such would make a good kid's book nowadays.

[Athriller]

Right right. These are my favourite 3 at the moment, with snippets gleefully stolen from Amazon. I'm sure most people will overlook this, but oh well.

3.) The Social Contract Theory - Jean-Jacques Rosseau.

Rousseau made the following statement: "Man is born free; and everywhere he is in chains. One thinks himself the master of others, and still remains a greater slave than they."

Censored in its own time, the Social Contract (1762) remains a key source of democratic belief and is one of the classics of political theory. It argues concisely but eloquently, that the basis of any legitimate society must be the agreement of its members. As humans we were `born free' and our subjection to government must be freely accepted.

It's controversial, and I don't agree with everything he has to say, but it's a nice thought provoking read.

2.)The Plague - Albert Camus.

The Plague is about love, exile, and suffering as illuminated by living around death.

What is the meaning of life? For many, that question is an abstraction except in the context of being aware of losing some of the joys of life, or life itself. In The Plague, Camus creates a timeless tale of humans caught in the jaws of implacable death, in this case a huge outbreak of bubonic plague in Oran, Algeria on the north African coast. With the possibility of dying so close, each character comes to see his or her life differently. In a sense, we each get a glimpse of what we, too, may think about life in the last hours and days before our own deaths. The Plague will leave you with a sense of death as real rather than as an abstraction. Then by reflecting in the mirror of that death, you can see life more clearly.

For example, what role would you take if bubonic plague were to be unleashed in your community? Would you flee? Would you help relieve the suffering? Would you become a profiteer? Would you help maintain order? Would you withdraw or seek out others? These are all important questions for helping you understand yourself that this powerful novel will raise for you.

1.)The Immoralist - Andre Gide.

The Immoralist is straightforward in language and easy to read, but more complicated, more complex are its themes: Man's sense of morality towards society, family, himself. What happens when man's values conflict with those of society's? Whose interests should be served? Gide explores these themes through one man's odyssey of self-discovery. The protagonist is the learned and conflicted Michel who yearns for something more than the stable, predictable, familiar life he has always known, but no longer finds tolerable. It is after a life-threatening bout of tuberculosis that these feelings rise to the surface, intensify, and are more keenly felt.

This hunger, still unidentified, takes him on a journey, both literal and figurative, where his search for self-awareness, or self-truth, carries him to distant and exotic locales. New experiences and mysterious encounters give way to a new aestheticism in which weakness, constraint, and life's banalities play no role. Heightened senses, unsuppressed impulses erode age-old human values that were once accepted blindly.

A life less checked, though, can have consequences, as is the case for Michel, and for so many others like him. As Michel becomes stronger, his wife becomes weaker. Indeed, society becomes weaker. How can the newly strong fail to quash the weak in their path? The question one must ask, then, and Gide does, is whether a life without restraint has value. Is there something admirable in the old adage, "To thine own self be true"?

One of the novel's most inspired moments is found in its ending. Without giving anything away, it is the last passage, after the reader has come full-circle, where Michel's journey seemingly ends. Will Michel embrace his new truth? The reader is left to wonder. The Immoralist is told in narrative, in Michel's own voice. It is self-confessional literature at its highest, and should be read by anyone who reads to think and be moved.

[Delhijo]

the best books i've ever read are from "Caballo de troya" series . There are 7 in total.
The story is about two american soldiers who travel in time to JesusChrist Era. is so fucking exciting! And everything is explained in such a real way that sometimes i feel like is real.
I've been trying to find those books here, but i can't find them :(

[Pit-Jr]

in no particular order

The Crucible about the Salem Witch hunts

Geralds Game scariest piece of literature ever

and this one here
http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/1928/2810646688qb0.jpg

[Noodleman]

3. The Godfather- I haven't actually finished reading this yet, so I'm not sure if I can put it in, but so far I'm totally compelled. Hell, it's even better than the movie. At least it's so much more detailed.

Funnily enough ive just finished reading the Godfather and I was utterly gripped I finished it in about 4 days. Probably my favourite book at the moment. Gonna re watch the film at some point over the weekend because I think it will make the film even more uber

[Zoot]

1) Northern lights
Even though the beginning was extremely boring and I wanted to stop reading it but the ending made it worth reading for me.

2) Harry Potter: Goblet of fire

3) Harry Potter: Philosopher's stone

[Eenuh]

2.) The Alchemist


If that's the one by Paulo Coelho, then yes, it's a great book. I think I'm gonna read it again soon, except now not in French (had to read it for my French class).

[Supergrunch]

The Crucible about the Salem Witch huntsIf that's the one by Arthur Miller, isn't that a play?

[Katie]

1) High Fidelity - Nick Hornby

2/3) One Hit Wonder - Lisa Jewell

2/3) To Kill a Mocking Bird - Harper Lee


They will probably change with the new books I read although it will be hard for any to knock High Fidelity out of number one, especially as it made me love reading.

I'm reading Catch 22 at the moment but haven't got far enough for it to take a place.

[mario114]

My top 3 are probably all Tom Clancy books. My favourite has to be:

Without Remorse (Basic plot), *minor spoilers*

Without Remorse is the first book time wise in the Ryan-verse series; a series of books focus on and around a character Jack Ryan. Though he only appears in this book in once short scene, his father does play a large part in the book. The main character however is John Kelly a former US S.E.A.L. who served in Vietnam, who after a tragic accident losses his wife. His life however changes one day when he meets a young lady, Pam. Pam has run away from her life of abuse from drug dealers. He learns to love again; only to find out the horrid past that Pam has went through. John Kelly decides that he must take revenge as the local police are almost turning a blind eye to the drug dealers. At the same time however a high risk operation to save troops from a POW camp in Vietnam is being planned, Kelly is faced with 2 dangerous missions.

Why I like it:

Tom Clancy (the author) covers the topics so well, and in no way does it ever become a James Bond style fantasy type book. Everything is extremely well researched so although the book is fiction it is made very believable. The book shows both sides to every person, and covers dark subjects such as cold-blooded murder, torture and even rape and is a hard hitting, at first it surprised me. The book is never a cliché' and is always following new directions. Trust me, once you start reading it you will become obsessed, and will not put the book down.

The other Ryan-verse Clancy books (that I have read) are all equally as great, with "the hunt for Red October" being another favourite of mine.

[Charlie]

If that's the one by Arthur Miller, isn't that a play?

Yeah, it's really good. You should watch the film :)

[KKOB]

his dark materials by phillip pullman
kafka on the shore by haruki murakami
to kill a mockingbird by harper lee

three books that have made my life better and given me entertainment at the same time :D

currently in the third part of 1984 by george orwell :D

Kafka on the Shore particularly changed the way i view life.

[Supergrunch]

his dark materials by phillip pullman
kafka on the shore by haruki murakami
to kill a mockingbird by harper lee

three books that have made my life better and given me entertainment at the same time :D

currently in the third part of 1984 by george orwell :D

Kafka on the Shore particularly changed the way i view life.
Yes, I also like Murakami. If you haven't read Norwegian Wood, read it now. (also read Ghostwritten by David Mitchell... :heh:)

[Dan Dare]

Yeah, it's really good. You should watch the film :)


I saw this peformed in Sheffield a while back. It was one of the most emotionally savage experiences of my entire life. utterly incredible play, equally brilliant performance and direction. I think it was that directors final production in Sheffield too....great guy :bouncy:

[Action]

Trainspotting. read it 4 times laugh out loud its great

[Wesley]

This is really hard...

I think my top 3 books will be the 3 books that left a lasting impression on me.

* 1984 by George Orwell
* The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy Series by Douglas Adams
* Noughts and Crosses series by Malorie Blackman

[Dan Dare]

Trainspotting. read it 4 times laugh out loud its great


that's the first time I've heard trainspottibg described like that. I usually prefer phrases like 'brutal', 'harrowing' or perhaps 'fucking horrendous'


great book:yay:

[That Guy]

Shattered by Dean Koontz: The first proper book I ever bought about 4 years ago. Read the whole thing on holiday. Great book.
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown: Bit obvious but I really enjoyed it, even if it was a bit slow to start.
Angels and Demons by Dan Brown: Very similar to Da Vinci Code, but still great.

Can't really be arsed to write anymore.

[Supergrunch]

* Noughts and Crosses series by Malorie Blackman
Yes, I like that series, but I thought that she never managed to make the final 2 books as good as the original.

[The Bard]

1. Catcher in the Rye
2. To Kill a Mokingbird
3. Of Mice and Men

Really great choices here man.

The books that affected me most as a person are:

1. His Dark Materials and Catcher in The Rye (By Philip Pullman and JD Salinger respectively), I can't decide which, when a book like this comes along, wrestles with your beliefs and ideologies, and comes out on top, you know you have something special on your hands. These books brought on such stong emotions as I've never felt elsewhere. They are truly Magical. If you do not read these books sometime in your life, you will be truly incomplete.

2. One Flew over The Cuckoos Nest(Ken Kesey): An Absolutely perfect book, based on a man called McMurphy, who is inducted into a mental institute, when it is that he doesn't have any mental problems, he's just a complicated character. The book strongly challenges Americas conformist ideals and is above all, such an enjoyable read with a strong bunch of loveable, memorable characters. More than worth a read.

3. To Kill a Mockingbird(Harper Lee): I first read this in school, and it didn't have any effect on me at all, I didn't particularly enjoy it, well, I mean how can you when you read a paragraph and spent the next two lessons analysing the life out of it. I went back to it a few years later, haven forgotten about it completely, I found that I loved it, and it deals with small town relationships, racism in America and plenty other issues. It is based on the small family of a Lawyer (Attacus) who is one of the only remotely balanced and consciencious people in his town, and his two children.

[Dan Dare]

Did you not think that Murphy might be insane during the book, Bard? I always considered that the main point of his character.

[Charlie]

* Noughts and Crosses series by Malorie Blackman

I read that last week... in 1 day. Although it wasn't terribly well written it had a good plot and it was very fast paced which I always like too. I didn't know she wrote more books in this series? I'm going to get them out of the library if they continue the theme of black people being the 'best' and white's being sub-standard. It's funny how hard it was for me to grasp that white people weren't the bees knees, so to speak.

[Supergrunch]

I read that last week... in 1 day. Although it wasn't terribly well written it had a good plot and it was very fast paced which I always like too. I didn't know she wrote more books in this series? I'm going to get them out of the library if they continue the theme of black people being the 'best' and white's being sub-standard. It's funny how hard it was for me to grasp that white people weren't the bees knees, so to speak.
The other ones are called Knife Edge and Checkmate, and yes, they're similar (but a little more disturbing).

[Charlie]

Just ordered them from Amazon.
They should be at my other house (where I will be next week) on Wednesday :)

[The Bard]

Did you not think that Murphy might be insane during the book, Bard? I always considered that the main point of his character.

No, I don't there's any way he was insane, I think he was just a man and his will to do whatever he wants, he didn't want to stay at the work farm and he refused to do what people said he should, so they had him declared insane. His character was just the traditional virile male, who loves booze, gambling women and baseball. He was there as a contrast to what Kesey was believing was happening to America, or what the "combine" was turning it into, they were making everyone conform, so that they were no different from each other, and the Nurse was just a cleric of this organisation (that's the chief's metaphor for it anyway). You see this in the chapter where the chief's talking about all the homes and how they're identical, and that if a child from somewhere else went to the wrong house, no one would notice (which I suppose is exaggerating it a bit :heh:). Anyway, McMurphy also kind of struck me as a sort of Christ figure aswell, he came to the institute and helped all these loons find their manhood, helps them to realise these masculine values, but at the same time, it drains him, and because of his will to help them, he dies for it. Still, it may be me reading too much into it I suppose, but McMurphy never did strike me as a nutter.


If that's the one by Arthur Miller, isn't that a play?

I saw a production of All My Sons by Arthur Miller, and I suppose it was challenging American values, but I found it a bit dull, it wasn't much fun at all. Also read the view from the bridge, which I think would have been better onstage.

[KKOB]

Yes, I also like Murakami. If you haven't read Norwegian Wood, read it now. (also read Ghostwritten by David Mitchell... :heh:)

oooh! thanks! i will pick it up next time i see it. i was worried about buying it because its pretty thin for 6.99 in my opinion, but hey i have the wind-up bird chronicle for a decent sized read.

thanks for that :D

[Supergrunch]

I saw a production of All My Sons by Arthur Miller, and I suppose it was challenging American values, but I found it a bit dull, it wasn't much fun at all. Also read the view from the bridge, which I think would have been better onstage.
I had to read view from the bridge for school, and I didn't think it was all that wonderful... mind you, I didn't see it performed.

And Takeo, don't expect Norwegian Wood to be like Wind up bird... it's completely realistic. Neverthess, it is still a very good book.

[Roostophe]

I don't actually have just 3 fav books as I like the Harry Potter books. But I've kinda thought this through and found out there are other books I like:

A Child Called It - David Pelzer
I found this book in my house and I just picked it up and I liked it.
Basically it's the author's story of how he was badly abused as a child by his mother whilst his brothers lived quite comfortably, he suffers through a lot of shite.

Heroes - Robert Cormier
This is the book I had to do for English GCSE. I did enjoy the book as it was very well written. This is the story of a lad named Francis who suffered severe facial deformities when he jumped onto a grenade in a suicide attempt in WW2. He was awarded the Silver Star award (kinda like the US version of the Victoria Cross), but he doesn't call himself a hero like everybody else does. You also find out about his past, how he became close friends with a girl his age named Nicole, how they became closer than just classmates when the Town Rec. Centre was reopened, and how the role model and inspirational leader of the Rec. Centre came back from duty in WW2 after being awarded the Silver Star award raped Nicole, whilst Francis could do nothing but listen in as he stood in the dark foyer of the Rec. Centre, causing them to both fall out and cause Francis to try kill himself in the war. Afterwards he tries to exact his revenge on the Rec. Centre leader and reunites with Nicole, now at a boarding school.
This book makes you question what a hero is, simple as.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling
I don't really want to tell you about this book as I feel I don't particularly need to.

[Action]

that's the first time I've heard trainspottibg described like that. I usually prefer phrases like 'brutal', 'harrowing' or perhaps 'fucking horrendous'


great book:yay:

meby it cuz i am a sick bastard? na i really like it the bit that i laugh about is when renton shoots the dog in the ass and it attacks its owner :laughing: but ye really ood boobk well writen and i can relate from it as i live in scotland aswell

[KKOB]

YAY!!! Finished 1984!!!

what a fucking depressing but totally head fucky/scary scary book!

George Orwell was a GENIUS!!!

everyone should go to a library, join, rent out 1984 and read it (just because i wouldnt want to read it again in a hurry cos it did freak me out alot)

[Supergrunch]

If anyone wants to read a book that's good but very disturbing, read In the miso soup by Ryu Murakami. (no relation of Haruki Murakami)

[Eenuh]

YAY!!! Finished 1984!!!

what a fucking depressing but totally head fucky/scary scary book!

George Orwell was a GENIUS!!!

everyone should go to a library, join, rent out 1984 and read it (just because i wouldnt want to read it again in a hurry cos it did freak me out alot)


I think I got the book like, twice already from the library, but I never really got myself to actually read it. Don't know why.

I just remembered that I loved a lot of books as a kid, especially the ones from Anthony Horowitz and Thea Beckman (Dutch writer).

[KKOB]

i took the book out of my colleges library about two years ago and found it hard to get into, but i borrowed it again the other month and i manages to get past the first third and complete it. the first few chapters are pretty dull, but thats because it reflects the lives of people in that society. still very interesting book and well worth the slow start.

[Tone-aroma]

1) Generation X - Douglas Coupland
2) The Catcher in the Rye - J D Salinger
3) Fear and loathing in Las Vegas - Hunter S Thompson