20 or so books to read.

[Sexy Beast]

Hey peoples. I'm bored and not in any mood to review movies. So here are few book recommendations. Now this list will probably consist of twenty books, maybe more if I can actually remember which I've read.

Oh, and reading is actually cool and anyone who says otherwise is pretty much a tool.

Anyway the list should continue in the next post.

 

[Sexy Beast]

What's it called?: Factotum
Who wrote it?: Charles Bukowski
When? 1975

What's it about? The book follow Henry Chinaski, whose a womanizing drunk in a perpetual state of unemployment. It takes place during WWII and our protagonist was turned away from joining the army for being either mentally or physically incompetent. So Chinaski bums around the US looking for work and getting fired from any job he gets. The man also fancies himself as a writer, but everything he submits to be published gets rejected.

Why should I read this? The book is kind of a downer, but gives an interesting perspective on life. The protagonist of the novel is apparently just a flimsy alter-ego of the author. So the book can be interpreted as some messed up auto-biography by Bukowski. I enjoyed it because it's about a man at rock bottom and who is content with staying there as long as possible. There is a little bit of Chinaski in all of us, even if we don't want to admit it.

 

[Passerby]

What's it called?: Factotum
Who wrote it?: Charles Bukowski
When? 1975

What's it about? The book follow Henry Chinaski, whose a womanizing drunk in a perpetual state of unemployment. It takes place during WWII and our protagonist was turned away from joining the army for being either mentally or physically incompetent. So Chinaski bums around the US looking for work and getting fired from any job he gets. The man also fancies himself as a writer, but everything he submits to be published gets rejected.

Why should I read this? The book is kind of a downer, but gives an interesting perspective on life. The protagonist of the novel is apparently just a flimsy alter-ego of the author. So the book can be interpreted as some messed up auto-biography by Bukowski. I enjoyed it because it's about a man at rock bottom and who is content with staying there as long as possible. There is a little bit of Chinaski in all of us, even if we don't want to admit it.

well good work you already got a hook in there for me to wait for the other 19 books to show since i read this a few other of Bukowski's works.

and aren't all of his works kinda downers they all seem to reflect something on Bukowskis state of mind, it seems that all of his book and scripts are auto-biographical.

 

[Sexy Beast]

What's it called?: American Psycho
Who wrote it?: Bret Easton Ellis
When? 1991

What's it about? It's the 1980's, Regan is in office, and nihilistic Yuppies ruled the landscape. Our protagonist is named Patrick Bateman, he is nihilistic Yuppie wall street type with many nihilistic Yuppie wall street type friends. Though unlike Bateman's friends, Patrick moonlights as a crazed misogynistic serial killer.

Why should I read this? I want you to sit down and try to picture Superman's most diabolical nemesis. If you're picturing Lex Luthor then you...ehh...are picturing Lex Luthor. What I trying to get at is that Superman's main nemesis is an 80's business man. Sure, Luthor was created in the 40's, but he was redesigned in the 80's to make him a villain that the 80's would recognize and the redesign still stays with us today.

What I'm trying to say is that still to this day the Regan era business man is still vilified. Ellis' book does an amazing job capturing the pure unadulterated nihilism that the 80's Yuppie culture personified and the protagonists attempt to cope with this culture.

 

[Sexy Beast]

and aren't all of his works kinda downers they all seem to reflect something on Bukowskis state of mind, it seems that all of his book and scripts are auto-biographical.

Yeah, they pretty much all are. Or the three that I read...being Post Office, Ham on Rye, and Factotum.

 

[Simon]

Books and movies? You have way too much time ;P


Review "A million little pieces"

 

[TremendousLion]

A Song of Ice and Fire :3

My favorite books.

 

[Sexy Beast]

What's it called?: Neuromancer
Who wrote it?: William Gibson
When? 1984

What's it about? Our protagonist is a man by the name of Case. He was at one time the worlds greatest hacker, then he screwed over the wrong guys who in turn burned out his neurons that he uses to connect to the cyberspace(Like the Matrix). Now he is stuck washed up in Chiba City, Japan, a place where one wrong move will get you killed and your organs harvested. One day Case is approached by Molly, who is basically a cyberninja and offers to fix his neuron receptors. In return he has to do a hack job against one of the biggest and most powerful companies in existence.

Why should I read this? Cultural significance, for one thing. If you've ever watch and liked Ghost in the Shell or The Matrix or any cyberpunk than you have to thank Neuromancer. This is basically the first book in the cyberpunk sub-genre. The world that Gibson manages to create is dark, gritty and all around fantastic. It's not the best work in the cyberpunk sub-genre, but still an entertaining read.

 

[Sexy Beast]

Ok, here's the thing. I've read a lot of books over the year, some good...some down right terrible. I never really got into the fantasy or Sci-fi genres except for a couple of Authors and series. I also tend to stay away from "inspirational" or books that might show up on Oprah's book of the month list...with the notable exception of The Road...seriously what was Oprah thinking?

Anyway, I'm taking a break now. Will post more in a bit.

 

[Sexy Beast]

What's it called?: The Great Shark Hunt
Who wrote it?: Hunter S. Thompson
When? 1979

What's it about? The book is a collection of articles written by Hunter S. Thompson from some arbitrary date to the late 70's. These articles a wide range of subjects from politics to sporting events and just about anything else Thompson felt like writing about.

Why should I read this? The times that this book covers are some of the most volatile in America's political history. With this book we get to view the events for this time through the eyes of Hunter S. Thompson. Which if you've seen Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, then you'd know that anything seen though Thompson's eyes is definitely an interesting perspective. The book is pretty long, but well worth the effort.

 

[Sexy Beast]

What's it called?: Lullaby
Who wrote it?: Chuck Palahniuk
When? 2002

What's it about? A reporter who is writing an article on SIDS or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome figures out that most of the case are directly due to an African chant which is found in a book of nursery rhymes that is found at the scene of the deaths. This chant, when spoken or even thought, will kill those in ear shot or who is in speakers minds eye. The reporter along with a pink haired Realtor, her Wiccan assistant and the assistant's vegan boyfriend go a cross country trip to find and destroy every copy of that book.

Why should I read this? Chances are that if you're under the age of twenty and even the slightest bit angsty, you'll come across Chuck Palahniuk. Now there isn't anything really wrong with Palahniuk or his writing...other than his books are usually graphically disgusting, sexually explicit, and fuming with deep seated misanthropy. Lullaby happens to be my favorite of his book...not much else to say about it.

 

[Sexy Beast]

What's it called?: The New York Trilogy
Who wrote it?: Paul Auster
When? 1987

What's it about? The book is comprised of three stories. The first is about a pulp fiction crime writer whose mistakenly contacted by some one looking for a private investigator. The second is a private investigate who is hired to spy on a man who just sits inside and writes all day...this is actually more interesting than it sounds. The third story is a B-grade writer who is contacted by the widow of a childhood friend, the friend apparently wrote a lot of quality material and never published. The protagonist takes publishes his friends work as slowly assumes the roles that his friend once held in his family.

Why should I read this? These three stories are a brilliant deconstruction of the standard detective novel. Going as far as a deconstruction of literature in general. There are hints of inspirations taken from other great works that can be found through out these three stories. Don Quixote is definitely a major inspiration for the first story. All three of these tales are excellent and definitely worth your time.

 

[Sexy Beast]

Oh, another thing about this list. It's more of book that I recommend read and not really a review list the movie review thing. Also I'm doing a strict "Not read in school rule." So if I was assigned to read a book in school it wont be on this list.

Meaning no:

The Great Gatsby
1984
Animal Farm
Of Mice and Men
Night
Cather in the Rye (wouldn't be on the list anyway)
A Brave New World
Siddhartha
The Old Man and the Sea
The Prince
...etc

 

[Sexy Beast]

What's it called?: The Dice Man
Who wrote it?: George Cockcroft (Luke Rhinehart)
When? 1971

What's it about? The Dice Man is a tale of a psychiatrist who one day decides to let fate, in the form of a role of the dice, chose an action in his life. He found the experience liberating and soon had the dice dictate every decision in his life. He soon spreads it into a national movement or cult.

Why should I read this? For this books initial release it was printed with the subheader "Few novels can change your life. This one will." I can't say if this novel has changed or impacted my life in the slightest, but I enjoyed reading the book. It was sprung out of the anti-psychiatry movement of the 1970's and makes a few good points about cons of the psychiatric treatment.

 

[Sexy Beast]

What's it called?: Ubik
Who wrote it?: Philip K. Dick
When? 1969

What's it about? Joe Chip is a lowly employee of a futuristic, but failing company. He along with his co-workers and employer go out to the moon on a job. The assignment was a trap and an explosion goes off killing only Chip's boss. They return to earth and freeze his body. Soon after they do that though the world around slowly begins to decay and the only thing that can stop it is a mysterious product named Ubik.

Why should I read this? Much like Philip K. Dick's other books, Ubik is a trip to read. The story is a little slow near the beginning, but once it gets going it doesn't stop till it's mindbending ending. The author is pretty interesting. The man was a meth addict and would just crank out tons fiction, a lot of the times what he would crank out was just mediocre...but sure enough he managed to create some of the most original Sci-fi classics of all time. If you have to read just one Philip K. Dick book, Ubik is the one you should pick up.

 

[Sexy Beast]

What's it called?: All Quiet on the Western Front
Who wrote it?: Erich Maria Remarque
When? 1929

What's it about? The book follows a German solder's life during the first World War. It talks about how he was convinced to join the army, the deplorable conditions of trench warfare, and the horrors of war.

Why should I read this? Probably the greatest book on war ever written. It's a heart wrenching tale filled with bleak imagery and unimaginable horror. The fact that it was written by someone who experience this first hand is all the more reason to be horrified by the soldiers experience. It's a must read.

 

[Sexy Beast]

What's it called?: Dune
Who wrote it?: Frank Herbert
When? 1965

What's it about? In the future humanity has made a move to space and is ruled a feudal-monarchy like family system. The House of Atreides has just acquired the desert planet Arakis from their rivals House Harkonnen. This planet is important because it is where the spice comes from, a mystical drug that is beneficial when taken, but is very addictive. The House Harkonnen soon betrays the House of Atreides and destroys the royal family saved all for except the queen and the prince who take refuge with the natives of the planet.

Why should I read this? Dune is a monolith on the Science fiction scene and right fully so. The complexity of the setting it takes place in and the story that it simply breath taking. Frank Herbert manages to create a believable functioning universe of adventure, political intrigue and some truly epic encounters. Taken as a whole with it sequels, it's a series that spans thousands of years and an incredible list of characters. Yes, it's a little nerdy to read, but it's a monumental literary achievement that one rarely sees.

 

[Passerby]

What's it called?: Dune
Who wrote it?: Frank Herbert
When? 1965

What's it about? In the future humanity has made a move to space and is ruled a feudal-monarchy like family system. The House of Atreides has just acquired the desert planet Arakis from their rivals House Harkonnen. This planet is important because it is where the spice comes from, a mystical drug that is beneficial when taken, but is very addictive. The House Harkonnen soon betrays the House of Atreides and destroys the royal family saved all for except the queen and the prince who take refuge with the natives of the planet.

Why should I read this? Dune is a monolith on the Science fiction scene and right fully so. The complexity of the setting it takes place in and the story that it simply breath taking. Frank Herbert manages to create a believable functioning universe of adventure, political intrigue and some truly epic encounters. Taken as a whole with it sequels, it's a series that spans thousands of years and an incredible list of characters. Yes, it's a little nerdy to read, but it's a monumental literary achievement that one rarely sees.

hmm i knew that this would hit the shelve

all 6 books are amazing and prolly the only si fi books i ever liked

 

[Sexy Beast]

What's it called?: Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World
Who wrote it?: Haruki Murakami
When? 1985

What's it about? The plot of this book is split between two different narratives. The first is about a data processor, basically a person who encrypts data by laundering it through their mind. In this tale our protagonist is tricked into processing data for a mad scientist, which my result in the end of the world. The second narrative is about a man who arrives at a mysterious town that is surrounded by walls. To get into this town the man must be separated from his shadow. After being separated he realizes that he must reunite with his shadow and leave this town forever.

Why should I read this? This is the only book I've read by Murakami and from what I've heard, some of his other books are better than this one. So by sheer ignorance I'm recommending this one. By reading the story description you'd think that it was a Science Fiction book, but it's not. The Science Fiction elements a merely there as a plot device. The book doesn't really have a definitive genre, more or a hybrid of several genres thrown into one book. The tale(s) delve into ideas of consciousness and identity that I haven't seen before in a novel.

 

[Sexy Beast]

hmm i knew that this would hit the shelve

all 6 books are amazing and prolly the only si fi books i ever liked

Yeah, it's the only classic Science Fiction series that I've ever bothered with...with one exception that'll show up latter.