[waxcrash]

I ride the train & bus to and from work everyday and I usually read the newspaper and listen to tunes on my iPod. I'm in the mood for a good book to read during my commute. Any recommendations from the MacNN crowd? What was the last good book you've read?

[chris v]

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genious by David Eggers.

CV

[viperstrike]

In my opinion, if you want an entertaining book, i really liked the Harry Potter series. If you want to be philosophical, The Art Of War by SunTzu (haven't finished it, but very interesting). Those are pretty much the last books i've read. Or you can do magazines of your liking. I like Popular Mechanics, financial/business mags, and car mags. Oh, and the occasional comic book Hope that helps your commute.

[vmpaul]

Seabiscuit by Laura Hillebrand. I avoided it for 2 years because it was too popular and finally gave in. Definitely worth the read. It's fast-paced and well written. Knocked it off in two days.

It reminds me of another book that captured the public's imagination. Like Into Thin Air it took a topic (mountain climbing) I was never too interested in and made it fascinating. Seabiscuit does the same for horse racing.

[ShortcutToMoncton]

If you're into good fantasy, don't even bother with Harry Potter.

"But," THEY say, "they're such entertaining books!"

THEY can suck it. The Hobbit was entertaining and meant for kids, but at least it was creative.

Good fantasy readers go out and buy Steven Erikson's Malazan Empire Series.

Get Gardens of the Moon. Be prepared to be confused, lost and frightened at 150 pages in. By the end, you'll be thinking "Woah, that was pretty good!" By the end of Book 2, Deadhouse Gates, you'll be a slavering fanatic, preaching the holy virtues of The One Steven Erikson to the weary masses in the streets. By the time you polish off Book 4, House of Chains, you'll feel a desperate urge to go read Gardens of the Moon again. You'll moan incessantly at the time it takes him to write a new book, in spite of his speed compared to every OTHER good writer in the genre. You'll turn to dangerous and varied illegal substances. You'll become an immoral slut, dabbling in the increasingly erotic pleasures of the flesh. In fact, you'll do just about anything in order to stop yourself from thinking about the mind-blowing orgasm you'll experience when Book 5, Midnight Tides, is finally in your grasp in March.

*coughs*

Uhhhh...that's what they tell me, anyway.



greg

[bushwhacker]

Vonnegut: Galapagos, Cat's Cradle
Roth: Human Stain (just started this one).

[dlefebvre]

If your in a mood for a long run, read The "Wheel of Time" serie by Robert Jordan. There's 10 volumes so far, but it's really worth it if you're into fantasy. I'm reading it for the second time (I'm in the middle of book 4). I could go on for hours, IMHO it's more rich and more exciting than "Lords of the Ring" wich I love and read 3 tines.

[hazelnutcoffeeg]

"Tomcat In Love" Tim O'Brien
"Wonder Boys" Michael Chabon
"The Obituary Writer" forget his name...

want 'girly' books?

"The Song Reader"
"Shopaholic" series of three
"Good In Bed" Jennifer Werner

[The Placid Casual]

The Electric Kool Aid Acid Test - Tom Wolfe.

Again.

[chris v]

Originally posted by bushwhacker:
Vonnegut: Cat's Cradle

I am, essentially, a Bokononist.

MacNN is a Grandfaloon, but I worry that Zimphire might be a member of my Karass.

CV

[wifedoer68]

Originally posted by chris v:
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genious by David Eggers.

CV

I've heard excellent things about that book from one of my friends (neon friends actually). I might have to check that out.

I was going to suggest 'the Fountainhead'.

- Ca$h

[wifedoer68]

Originally posted by ShortcutToMoncton:
If you're into good fantasy, don't even bother with Harry Potter.

"But," THEY say, "they're such entertaining books!"

But they are. They're really enjoyable to read. I can't wait to read the newest one.

- Ca$h

[catsank]

Good hardback english translation of a 1981 deleuzian
text on the proverbial outsider Francis Bacon -

[Trygve]

Some great travel books...

Danziger's Travels
Night Train to Turkestan
Between the Earth and the Sky
Yak Butter & Black Tea

Can't recall teh authors on the last three since my books are in the US and I am not.

[tracheopterix]

Originally posted by chris v:
I am, essentially, a Bokononist.

MacNN is a Grandfaloon, but I worry that Zimphire might be a member of my Karass.

CV

lol

well, almost done with "The Street of Crocodiles" by the Polish writer Bruno Schulz. Pretty damn good, reminicent of Kafka with a little something else. It was the inspiration for the Brother's Quay short of the same name, which is my favorite thing on film.

For fantasy, read The Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin. Book four should be out soon

My next is "The Teseract" (spelling?).

[engaged]

'The Reader' by Bernhard Schlink. I've never really been into novels, but I found this novel very moving indeed.

ISBN 0753804700.

[Zimphire]

Originally posted by chris v:
I am, essentially, a Bokononist.

MacNN is a Grandfaloon, but I worry that Zimphire might be a member of my Karass.

CV

Oh freddled gruntbuggly thy micturations are to me as plurdled gabbleblotchits on a lurgid bee. Groop I implore thee my foonting turlingdromes and I hooptiously drangle me with crinkly bindlewurdles, or I will rend thee in the gobberwarts with my blurglecruncheon, see if i dont!

[catsank]

But if you must read American... Can't go to far wrong
with the old metafictional giant Mr.Vonnegut.



I suggest starting at the beginning and
working your way through all of it... :)

[marusin]

If you are into Pop Culture at all, I cannot recommend "Sex Drugs and Cocoa Puffs" by Chuck Klosterman enough.

Every chapter uncovers things that you just "need to know"... Some examples of the topics from different chapters: "The Sims", MTV's "The Real World", and the behind-the-scenes life of a Guns and Roses cover band.

Phenomenal book that I couldn't put down. It's hilarious and very entertaining...

[talisker]

Just read "Dark Star Safari" by Paul Theroux, essentially a travel book about a trip from Cairo to South Africa, but also a good look at the state of things in Africa in general. Fantastically well written (as usual).

Currently reading "A Question of Blood" by Ian Rankin, the latest in his series of crime / detective novels featuring John Rebus, an Edinburgh detective. Fantastic (as usual, again). Actually going to a lunch event with Ian Rankin today, which should be interesting.

Another standout recently was "It's Not About the Bike" by Lance Armstrong. Even if you don't follow cycling at all, it's a pretty amazing book, mostly about his battle with cancer (oh, and that little bike race thing he did a few times).

[malvolio]

Originally posted by tracheopterix:
For fantasy, read The Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin. Book four should be out soon

Absolutely! Martin's novels are brilliant! Much better than anything that hack Jordan has written (I started one of the Wheel of Time books, and literally could not finish it, which rarely happens with me).
The last good book I read was The Falls by Ian Rankin. Gritty noir crime fiction set in and around Edinburgh.
Just before that, I thoroughly enjoyed Gallows Thief by Bernard Cornwell. Not quite Great Literature, but an exciting action story chock-full of interesting details of daily life in Regency England.

[mrfrost]

"The secret history" by Donna Tart.

I didn't actually think I was going to like it but I did. I have been meaning to get my hands on "The unbearable lightness of being" for some time as someone recommended it to me. Does anyone know if it's really worth it?

[MaxPower]

I heard some interesting things about This one.

But I am fairly certain that it is indeed a bunch of malarkey.

[talisker]

Originally posted by mrfrost:
" I have been meaning to get my hands on "The unbearable lightness of being" for some time as someone recommended it to me. Does anyone know if it's really worth it?

A long time ago since I read it, but I think it was pretty good.

[thunderous_funker]

I know I've mentioned it a few threads, but I honestly think Under the Banner of Heaven should be read by every single American who is concerned about Fundamentalism in all it's myriad forms.

Can't recomend it highly enough.

[KeyLimePi]

I read 'The Life of Pi' a couple months ago and it was good. A little slow at first and kinda spiritual/philosophical, but it sticks with you.

[malvolio]

Originally posted by MaxPower:
I heard some interesting things about This one.

If only Rush Limbaugh had turned to that technique instead of Hillbilly Heroin!

[AB^2=BCxAC]

Originally posted by catsank:

Good hardback english translation of a 1981 deleuzian text on the proverbial outsider Francis Bacon -

Trying to impress the English grad students of the female persuasion with your pick, hmmm?

Well, I'm going for broke to impress no one.

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

[tracheopterix]

Originally posted by mrfrost:
I have been meaning to get my hands on "The unbearable lightness of being" for some time as someone recommended it to me. Does anyone know if it's really worth it?

I think it's definatly worth it, a beautiful, beautiful book. Written very well and it tells a great story of love and life. Poetic. The film version is great, (not as good as the book as is usually the case) check that out if you want also.

[catsank]

Originally posted by AB^2=BCxAC:
Trying to impress the English grad students of the female persuasion with your pick, hmmm?

Well, I'm going for broke to impress no one.
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

No it's literally the book I'm reading.
This only recently came out, Deleuze
is the aesthetic philosopher par excellence and Bacon
like myself is an artist on the outside turned avatar.

I impress the female population with
my looks and charm and keep the books
for my insatiable love of the 'thing-in-itself'.

[talisker]

Originally posted by catsank:
Deleuze is the aesthetic philosopher par excellence and Bacon
like myself is an artist on the outside turned avatar.

I tried this in Babelfish but it didn't help. I'm confused

[Gene Jockey]

The Prize by Daniel Yergin. It's the history of the oil industry. I'm about 2/3 of the way through. Fascinating stuff, and a must read if you want to be informed about current goings on vis-a-vis oil in the context of what's come before.

But then again, I work at an oil refinery, so I like the subject matter. But so far it hasn't been technical.

--Josh

[catsank]

Originally posted by Gene Jockey:
The Prize by Daniel Yergin.
... I work at an oil refinery, so I like the subject matter...

--Josh

Work in Oil, Pour you ;)

[Beewee]

Video Girl Ai I have yet to read all of the volumes though.
Or any of the Incarnations of Immortality Series.

[malvolio]

Originally posted by catsank:
I impress the female population with
my looks and charm and keep the books
for my insatiable love of the 'thing-in-itself'.

The ol' ding an sich, eh?
[Professor_Gumby]My. Brain. HURTS.[/Professor_Gumby]

[MadBrowser]

Charlie Wilson's War. Great book.

The Gambler by Dostoyevsky.

That latest Kennedy bio, Unfinished Life.

Interesting stuff.

[tintub]

Applied .NET Framework Programming and IPSec: Securing VPNs (both good books, read them concurrently).

Last novel I (re)read - HG2TG!!! (well actually, I then (re)read the restaurant at the end of the universe...)

[ShortcutToMoncton]

Don't bother with the Robert Jordan Wheel of Time series. He started out so well, and then the entire series went to shi�. Ugh.

I'll third George R.R. Martin's Game of Thrones series. Quite good, although he's taking a hell of a looooooooong time to write the latest one. I don't know if he's run into a wall or not...but here's to hoping it's on par with the rest of the series.

Go pick up Erikson, though. The Malazan Empire series has the most convoluted plot line I've ever come across. He's effectively combined the incredible scope of the Wheel of Time series (except better) with the brutal, realistic writing of Martin.

greg

[xylon]

Last book I really enjoyed was Snow Crash. An interesting mix of language, technology, action, etc. Couldn't put it down. I give it two thumbs up.

[OwlBoy]

Not what I expected, but still great, I think I liked Holistic Detective Agency a bit better though. A bit.

What would you recomend for someone who has finished all the Douglas Adams books, and would like more like it?

-Owl

[fat mac moron]

Basketball Diaries by Jim Carroll.

[MacGorilla]

My favorite book of all time:

[waxcrash]

Originally posted by xylon:
Last book I really enjoyed was Snow Crash. An interesting mix of language, technology, action, etc. Couldn't put it down. I give it two thumbs up.

I read Snow Crash back in 1993. I really liked it too.

By the way, back in '93 I opened an AOL account and had to come up with a screen name. I couldn't think of a screen name. I liked the book 'Snow Crash' so I came up with the name: waxcrash. I dropped AOL a month later, but I've always used 'waxcrash' as my 'avatar' name on the Internet.

[NYCFarmboy]

"When Character was King" by Peggy Noonan.

A facinating short bio of Ronald Reagan anyone would enjoy irregardless of party affiliation.

[tie]

I like very particular styles of books. Here are a few, with classification. All good books, esp. the first two.

Long and good:
- A Suitable Boy, Vickram Seth (Indian epic, but fun)
- Aubrey-Maturin series, Patrick O'Brian (Royal Navy in the early 1800s)

Nick Hornby (Fever Pitch) style:
- Propellerhead, Antony Woodward (learning to fly an ultralight)

Adventure, nature:
- Barren Lands, Kevin Krajick (the Canadian Ekati diamond mine)

The supernatural:
- Ghost Soldiers, Hampton Sides
- From the Land of Green Ghosts, Pascal Khoo Thwe

SciFi, Fantasy:
- Still looking. Trying Gormenghast at the moment. Avoid Robert Jordan (and many others). I enjoyed Gibson Pattern Recognition (till the end) and Max Barry's Jennifer Government (ditto). Maybe I'll try Martin's series, not right now.

[teszeract]

Originally posted by dlefebvre:
If your in a mood for a long run, read The "Wheel of Time" serie by Robert Jordan. There's 10 volumes so far, but it's really worth it if you're into fantasy. I'm reading it for the second time (I'm in the middle of book 4). I could go on for hours, IMHO it's more rich and more exciting than "Lords of the Ring" wich I love and read 3 tines.

The worst. Sorry, not as bad as Sword of Sanharra but very bad.

It is just SO obvious to me at least, that sales are the only thing on the author's mind.

[teszeract]

Originally posted by malvolio:
Absolutely! Martin's novels are brilliant! Much better than anything that hack Jordan has written (I started one of the Wheel of Time books, and literally could not finish it, which rarely happens with me).
The last good book I read was The Falls by Ian Rankin. Gritty noir crime fiction set in and around Edinburgh.
Just before that, I thoroughly enjoyed Gallows Thief by Bernard Cornwell. Not quite Great Literature, but an exciting action story chock-full of interesting details of daily life in Regency England.

[teszeract]

I loved:

Ayn Rand - Atlas Shrugged

All Arthur Clarke (light holiday reading)

Ragtime - E L Doctorow

Song of Ice and Fire - George Martin

It - Stephen King but nothing new from him is nice

Lord of the Rings (little known fantasy novel)

Bonfire of the Vanities - Tom Wolfe

King Rat + Hong Kong series - James Clavell

Hotel New hampshire - John Irving (can someone recommend John Irving-like stories for me?)

[MindFad]

The last book I read, I *realllly* enjoyed it: "Pillars of the Earth," by Ken Follet. Read it earlier this year. Fine, fine story; really liked it; I recommend it.

[vmpaul]

Originally posted by teszeract:
I loved:

Hotel New hampshire - John Irving (can someone recommend John Irving-like stories for me?)

If you like Irving you should read 'A Prayer for Owen Meany' & 'The Cider House Rules'. Two of his best. I loved 'World According to Garp' when I was younger but having re-read it a few years ago I didn't think it held up well.