What to read ?

Tusky

Am just about to finish reading 'American pycho' which I am really enjoying and I dont have anything else lined up to read. So what should I read next ? Heres a list of some of my favourite books to give you an idea of what I like.

Filth - Irvine Welsh
I am Legend - Richard Matheson
The Lord Of The Rings - J.R.R
A song of ice and fire (series ) - George R.R Martin
The Beach - Alex Garland

looking for something that I wont be able to put down sure arent we all... !

Rabies

I'm currently in on a bit of a Dan Brown craze. After reading his amazing book The Da Vinci Code a couple of weeks ago i went out and bought Deception Point a few days ago. Its a great book so far. Nearly have Deception Point finished so I bought Angels and Demons yesterday, can't wait to start it on the plane home tomorrow.

impr0v

I recommend:

The Secret History - Donna Tartt

Guaranteed to be unable to put down, I'll stake my reputation on it!

Tusky

The Da Vinci Code has been reccomended to me by loads of people , I think I'll give it a look see.

thanks for the replies !

SprostonGreen

You cant go wrong with Complicity by Iain Banks or He Kills Coppers by Jake Arnott.

nesf

impr0v wrote:

I recommend:

The Secret History - Donna Tartt

Guaranteed to be unable to put down, I'll stake my reputation on it!

An uttery fantastic book. One of the very few I'd say to people that they HAVE to read.

Tusky

Interesting..from reading up on 'the secret history' it doesnt seem like my type of book but because of the great reviews ive read I may give it a go.

Cheez

That Iain Banks fella's good, get his book "The Bridge" or if ya like sci fi most of the Iain M. Banks stuff is savage(see the way he added the M for the science fiction so ye don't get confused if ye don't like stuff about space and futuristicy stuffs. WOW!)

gnu

yeah, l read 1 Iain M Banks, the Player of Games, I think it was called, it was great. I'm just starting Dune by Frank Herbert, I loved the film. Just hope the book isn't a letdown after that. I'd also recommend Anna Karenina, it was one of those books that left me thinking for ages after I'd finished it.

SprostonGreen

Cheez wrote:

That Iain Banks fella's good, get his book "The Bridge" or if ya like sci fi most of the Iain M. Banks stuff is savage(see the way he added the M for the science fiction so ye don't get confused if ye don't like stuff about space and futuristicy stuffs. WOW!)

yeah, l read 1 Iain M Banks, the Player of Games, I think it was called, it was great

I keep meaning to get an Iain M Banks book, "the Bridge" and "the Player of Games" you reckon is good?

I had a Sci-fi book as a kid, but never since, but when I watch films like Alien Ressurection and Birdy, I often think it would be good to read a book like those films are presented.

gnu

Yeah, I really liked it, it's the only Iain M Banks book I've read but it made me want to read more. Took me about a chapter to get really into it then I was just sucked in. The Bridge was recommended to me by loads of hardcore sci-fi fans, I'd say either book is a good intro to the author/genre

Silent Grape

if you like Irvine Welsh read 'Porno' its class

Trixiebelle

I'm reading "The Plague" by Albert Camus, and enjoying it. It shows how different kinds of people would act and react in the throes of a citywide plague.

D!ve^Bomb!

i'm reading the da vinci code at the moment.. its absolutely brilliant..highly recommended!!

Bri

I'd say try Da Vinci code first before any other Dan Brown. I'm in the process of the reading his earlier stuff (mostly because the girlfriend has 'em all) but they're nowhere near as intriguing. In fact they're becoming a bit repetitive for me. Everyone else seems to think he's the best. I think he's grand

Another angle: I read the book of Black Hawk Down - if it's your cup of tea - then you might really like it. It's so much more than just the film. I literally read every page of background info at the start and end which is not my ususual style!

OfflerCrocGod

The Da Vinci Code is the best book Dan Brown has ever written....the rest are not really that good DVC though is a must read for anyone who likes stories full of historical intrigue or good thrillers.

John

Trixiebelle wrote:

I'm reading "The Plague" by Albert Camus, and enjoying it. It shows how different kinds of people would act and react in the throes of a citywide plague.

Good book that

Keano_sli

Try "perfume" by Patrick Suskind, it is a trully excellent and slightly distrurbing book.

seanboy

"At swim two birds" - Flann O'Brien

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

tad williams - the otherland series, 4-5 books. Long as ****, mix of sci-fi and fantasy. (although it's really a fantasy story told through science fiction..)

kurt vonnegut - slaughterhouse 5, i loved this book when i read it.. damn genius.

dalton trumbo - johnny got his gun, . anti war book, metallice took scenes from the film for their video "one"

steve-hosting36

Have read Dan Browns four books now, the DaVinci Code is by far the best, but you could do a lot worse than the other three (Angels and Demons - my no.2 preference), Deception Point and Digital Fortress.

DapperGent

I don't get this whole Dan Brown fandom.

The Da Vinci Code was one of the worst fúcking books I've ever read. If it had been mine I would have chopped it up for kindling.

Tusky I'd recommend Snow Crash, Cryptonomicon, Chickenhawk, Captain Corelli's Mandolin and Ender's Game. Off the top of my head.

eske

I loved reading this thread, as I was reminded of so many books that I really loved.
'American psycho' - What a book, Brett Easton Ellis gets a lot of flack but I do enjoy his writing. I think I still like "Less than Zero" the best. The language is quite tight and sparse but I believe that was to reflect the whole theme of the book. And talking of very sparse language - you mentioned Alex Garland's "The Beech" - he has a new novel out "Coma" - more of a novella really... very short - you'll breeze through it. Excellent idea - guy gets beaten up - ends up in a coma - mind jumping all over the place.. wakes up and life goes on .. or does it? - Which really does bring me on nicely to Ian Banks - the Bridge. I don't think he's written a book I didn't like ( although I haven't read all the sci fi stuff), but I loved "Espadair Street", "The Wasp Factory" ( of course), "Complicity" - what a book. Then on to Irvine Welsh - I read "Trainspotting" and was just so blow away by it. That whole colloquial phonetic spelling thing - "hue cud undrstan t?" I though "Marabou Stork Nightmares" was even better but everything since then has been a bit of a let down. Having said that I didn't finish" Filth" and haven't read "Porno".
The ubiquitous "Da Vinci Code" by Dan Brown - I think everyone has read it by now. And I did like it. At least I liked the story behind it all. The story about the templars and the priory of Scion was really interesting but other than that it was really just a very standard thriller.
Someone else mentioned "The Secret History" - Donna Tartt - If you're an Easton Ellis fan you'll love this. I believe there friends. Unfortunately here latest book "The Little Friend" (I think that's the title) 10 years in the writing but isn't really as anywhere as good. Beautifully written but I guess the plot didn't capture my imagination as much. But you'd read it for the anyway.
"The Plague" by Albert Camus - I've never read but I fancy having a go at some existential heavyweights. Doesn't Sartre have a story about being locked in a room with strangers .. Hell being other people ... or maybe I'm confused. But it sounds like something I'd like.
"Perfume" by Patrick Suskind - I've heard this is a wonderful read but haven't had the pleasure yet.
Anyway that was more therapeutic for me than informational for the rest of you.
And rereading it I'm realising 2 things...
I sound like I'm stoned and more importantly there seems to be a particular type of story I like to read.
Anyway .......

impr0v

heh @ eske

Read 'Bunker 13', by Aniruddha Bahal recently, and it's well worth a look. It has its faults, but for a breathless adrenaline hit you can't get much better.

Woden

gnu wrote:

Yeah, I really liked it, it's the only Iain M Banks book I've read but it made me want to read more. Took me about a chapter to get really into it then I was just sucked in. The Bridge was recommended to me by loads of hardcore sci-fi fans, I'd say either book is a good intro to the author/genre

iirc the bridge is one of the Iain Banks books not Iain M Banks. With regards to the books by Iain M Banks i thought that he player of games was the best in the series really really enjoyable and the others are worth reading as well.

of the books recommended by dappergent above i have read snow crash and enders game.

snow crash is by neal stephenson and is worth a read, (so is Cryptonomicon) as is another one of his books called the diamond age.

Enders game by orson scott card is one my favourite books, its the first of four in the ender saga and i enjoyed all of them, the spin off books are also very good know as the shadow saga and they follow the style of enders game more so then the actual books in the ender saga.

Currently reading a song of fire and ice by martin myself and enjoying it very much. just finished the first book in peters hamilitons the nights dawn trilogy also which is worth a look. its called the reality dysfunction

data

Piste

Life of Pi is a really good book, As is 1984, Go ask Alice is meant to be good, haven't got around to reading it though.

SprostonGreen

eske wrote:

Then on to Irvine Welsh - I read "Trainspotting" and was just so blow away by it. That whole colloquial phonetic spelling thing - "hue cud undrstan t?" I though "Marabou Stork Nightmares" was even better but everything since then has been a bit of a let down. Having said that I didn't finish" Filth" and haven't read "Porno".
.

Porno is great, its like the follow-on from Trainspotting, 10 year or so later.

Glue is sheer class, its a great book about mates and growing up in the 80's and 90's and then drifting apart.

eske

SprostonGreen wrote:

Porno is great,
Glue is sheer class.

I'll have to check them out. I think I bought "glue" but never got around to reading it.
I found "Filth" a bit heavy going - not a hard read but (like most of his stuff) seriously depresssing.

I see you're a whitnail fan - no flies on that.

SprostonGreen

Indeed a Withnail and a Ride fan.

I never read American Psycho, but had someone read the part about the prostitute and brie to me, and I thought, no way thats too sick.

But then I saw the movie and thought it was well tame, but that happens a lot.

echomadman

The Bridge is Iain Banks not Iain M banks, but it has some sci-fi ish themes
full lists of fiction and sci fi.
I've read them all bar the newest sci fi one, well worth a read imo.

I picked up "The Eyre Affair" by Jasper Fforde recently, I loved it, reading the sequel "Lost in a good book" at the moment,(although i've paused to get Terry Pratchetts newest one read first).

Woden

didn't know he had a new sci fi one out, must look into it. from that link above i have to say i immediately don't like the fact that the cover has a different style to the others but ah well such is the way of things.

data

eske

Dataisgod wrote:

snow crash is by neal stephenson and is worth a read, (so is Cryptonomicon) as is another one of his books called the diamond age.
data

Can't agree more - absolutely brilliant, especially cryptonomicon. When i just bought used on amazon, to reread as I've lost my original copy.

Did anyone read quicksilver - a bit of a departure form cyberpunk / techie roots.

echomadman

eske wrote:

Can't agree more - absolutely brilliant, especially cryptonomicon. When i just bought used on amazon, to reread as I've lost my original copy.

Did anyone read quicksilver - a bit of a departure form cyberpunk / techie roots.

I love the Baroque Cycle, which reminds me, The System of The World came out in September and i forgot to buy it.

Quicksilver took me a while to get into i have to admit, maybe a day of stopping and starting until i got my bearings. The Confusion was excellent i thought, I'm a sucker for rip-roaring yarns though and the Shaftoe bits in it consistently delivered on that.
Hopefully The System of the World wont suffer from Stephensons noted inability to end books satisfactorily

sprinkles

"the 5 people you meet in heaven". Brilliant book!

oscarBravo

impr0v wrote:

The Secret History - Donna Tartt

Guaranteed to be unable to put down, I'll stake my reputation on it!

Her indoors read it earlier this year - wasn't that impressed (altho she's rather hard to impress). I didn't get a chance to read it myself.

Speaking of books that impressed the boss, she tells me Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth is unputdownable.

eoin_f

perfume - patrick suskind

one of the most intruiging books i have read in a long long time and i be a full time book worm,

E.

RichieC

Emperor: The Gates of Rome by Conn Iggulden.
I've just finished the first part last night, and I have to say, this book is Brilliant.
It melds history with fiction beautifully. it follows the childhood and young adulthood of one of historys greatest leaders Gauis Julius Ceasar, and his closest friend Marcus.
It was recommended to me by my brother, and my cynical eye jumped to some text on the cover "If you liked Gladiator, youll love Emperor". Sad
Well, I hated Gladiator. trash in my opinion. but I read on anyway, trying to keep an open mind.
It was worth it. some characters in the book are fully fictional, Renius the hero Gladiator brought in to train the young boys, others are real, marius and Sulla, the two consuls of rome both generals of their own legions. at the beginning of the book, it is Sulla who holds rome but a vote in the senate elects Sullas legion to go to greece to fight back an army lead by a rebel king, when sullas legion move from rome, Marius (who is Julius' Uncle) moves in, and vows to defend rome for the first time in its history, against Sullas army when they return. Though the book is brutally violent, there is something charming about the sence of Honour that the Soldiers have. Something I fear is long dead in military circles.

This book will read its self, I guarantee satisfaction. I cant wait to get stuck in to part 2.

elbee

I recommend 'Tuesdays With Morrie'.

Cactus Col

Read the da vinci code, and thought it was alright, but I'm begining to hate it more and more every time I read a post by someone who thinks its brilliant (or worse ... someone who thinks its based on historical fact!?!).

Anyway for a good read you good check out Mick Foley's "Have a Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks" (his autobiography ... really good)

Or "Hunt for red october" by Tom Clancy ... a much more exciting read than da vinci code could ever be.

Or ... considering recent events you could give Christopher Reeve's "still me" a try, his autobiography, which was pretty interesting.

Or even "Bobby Fischer Goes To War" about the world championship game between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky, which, although it doesn't sound like it should be, is a pretty great read.

Undergod

Didn't like the DaVinci code. Very standard fare. Deception point is a bit better, and more interesting to the nerd in me.

I love Neal Stephenson. I think I've read all his books bar The Big U, which seems to be hard to find. The Baroque cycle is brilliant- just finished System of the World. It's different to the previous two, but I think you need to read it to tie up the story.

Sarky

I'm halfway through Resumé With Monsters by William Browning Spencer, and enjoying it.

One reviewer's comment on the cover describes it pretty well- If Woody Allen ever wrote a Cthulhu Mythos book, it'd be a bit like this. It's a good read, and the Cthulhu stuff is mostly just a clever disguise for something more disturbing in a human, neurotic way...