A book for a 19 year old male?

mufc4lfe

Can someone give me the name of good books...something with a touching morale story would be perfect!I have only ever read sport biographies!:rolleyes:

Plowman

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c0rk3r

What i did awhile ago was read the entire "10 to read before the apocalypse?" thread and write down the names of books which were frequently mentioned until i had a list of 10. If i liked the poster id take his recommendation too. I picn'mixed. I then went out and bought these books. My list was something like this

Catch 22 - Joesph Heller
The Player of Games - Ian M. Banks
Nineteen Eighty-Four - Orwell
The Alchemist
A brave New world
Lord of the Rings
Atlas Shrugged - Ayn Ryan
Animal farm -Orwell
Lord of the Flies
The catcher in the rye

I have since read all these. This is the order i would re-read them

Morlar

Plowman wrote: »

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I would second that. Also Herman Hesse Demian.

Eliot Rosewater

c0rk3r basically hit the nail on the head. I suppose theres no point reading really heavy books, unless thats something you want to get into later. In the meantime I would certainly recommend:

Catcher in the Rye
To Kill A Mockingbird
Brave New World
Animal Farm
1984
Lord of the Flies

in that order as these are all great books while being relativity short and easy enough to read. As well they are "important" books, in that they are well known and integrated into popular culture. 1984 especially.


EDIT: On the Lord of the Rings: I think its an absolutely fantastic book but a bit of a struggle for new readers or even those who fail to get "in" to to it, due to its length and writing style.

On Atlas Shrugged: Although myself and Ms Rand would agree on most things I think she epitomizes the word self-indulgent. In the Fountainhead she says in 700 pages what a regular author could say in a third of that. Basically its repetitive, and long, and thus also unsuited to fresh readers. The reason she appears so popular is because she has a large Internet following who erroneously class an author by what they say rather than how they say it.

PDelux

This Is The Country by William Wall. The main character is an Irish guy around that age. Not a feel-good story but a good book nonetheless.

mufc4lfe

Plowman wrote: »

Have you tried: The Catcher in the Rye, J. D. Salinger?

It has a moral in there somewhere, but it is one book I wish I had read earlier...

Cheers I think I might give this one a go so!Is it a lengthy book?Is it a "page turner"?

Plowman

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RonMexico

I think I shall have to chip in here and once more suggest Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson:D

Sir Gallagher

How about, "The curious incident of the dog at the nighttime" by Mark Haddon, it's a touching story about a boy with aspergers sydrome(similar to autism). It's an easy enough read and has a few laughs thrown in there without compromising the seriousness of the condition.

Out of the really popular books mentioned, you can't go wrong with To Kill a Mockingbird, a truly fantastic novel.

BopNiblets

Snow Crash!

Kenny90

most books by chuck palahniuk are great
fight club and choke are two of my favourates now both movies the're great books for commuting journeys, light reads and well written

Phil D

"The Catcher in the Rye" and "Catch 22" have to be two of my least favourite books. I always felt their reputation was built on one or two ardent fans shouting louder than everyone else about how brilliant they are.

Teganz

How about the Twilight Saga? Haha I am just joking, although it would be great insight about what women want. Other than that, I would recommend Into the Wild.

Kenny90

i read the twilight saga so no one could call me out when i ripped on it
and fell in love with it within 100 pages. and couldnt put them down.
they honestly are brilliant reads

falan

I think you should read Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts.

One of the most inspirational books i have ever read.

A must!

http://www.curledup.com/shantara.htm

randomguy

Crow Road by Iain Banks and Eureka St by Robert McLiam Wilson are both very readable. A Nick Hornby book might also do the job, maybe Fever Pitch. Catcher in The Rye isn't a bad option if you want something a bit more classic.

Dades

mufc4lfe wrote: »

something with a touching morale story would be perfect!

I found nothing touching about Catcher in the Rye, tbh. And it was only a page turner so I could finish the damn thing quickly.

I would second Lord of the Flies, and Shantaram if you have the time.

mountain

RonMexico wrote: »

I think I shall have to chip in here and once more suggest Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson:D

have to agree with this,its a great read,
also its time for you now to read "On the Road" by Jack Kerouac,
for a bit of politics you could try some of John Pilgers book,
read lots, its a great age to open your mind to the world of books

fullback4glin

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larson is excellent. It's the first of a trilogy. Well worth a read, I'm a 20 yo male and loved it.

jackthekipper

Try Let the Right One In, should be forced on every Twilight fan.
Also try some of James Elroys stuff, he wrote LA Confidential.

mufc4lfe

falan wrote: »

I think you should read Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts.

One of the most inspirational books i have ever read.

A must!

http://www.curledup.com/shantara.htm

anyone else read this?Sounds good.

Fad

The Beach-Alex Garland.

Anything by Douglas Coupland.

gav86

Tucker Max - I hope they serve beer in hell. Hilarious read

Longboard

Ender's game.

NiamhDunk

interview with the vampire anne rice

John_C

A few people mentioned Brave New World on the first page but you might like Huxley's first book. It's called Yellow Chrome and it's about a 19 year old who spends some time with a girl he likes but is too shy to ask her out.

He was 22 when he wrote the book so the young characters are are very well developed. I found it good fun and quite funny.

Lands Leaving

Teganz wrote: »

How about the Twilight Saga? Haha I am just joking, although it would be great insight about what women want. Other than that, I would recommend Into the Wild.

Couldn't agree more, absolutely brilliant book. Touching, but never too sentimental, always exciting and just an incredible story all round. One of my favourite non-fiction books.

Capt'n Midnight

Terry Prachett diskworld stuff

Bill Bryson travel books are nice too

MedlyObsidian

Eliot Rosewater wrote: »

Catcher in the Rye
To Kill A Mockingbird
Brave New World
Animal Farm
1984
Lord of the Flies

That is literally the list of all the books I had to read in high school, with just two missing: Their Eyes Were Watching God and A Child Called It.

Though I wouldn't really suggest either of those to a 19 year old guy.

ocianain

Phil D wrote: »

"The Catcher in the Rye" and "Catch 22" have to be two of my least favourite books. I always felt their reputation was built on one or two ardent fans shouting louder than everyone else about how brilliant they are.

Couldn't agree more!

whiterob81

wouldn't agree with that about catch 22, really enjoyed it myself. Can't really vouch for catcher in the rye. started reading it once but i remember the sarah palin-esque "gee whizz gosh darn" language started to grate after 2 or 3 chapters and had to give up.

i'd recommend one flew over the cuckoo's nest by Ken Kesey. Loved that as a teenager and it's still one of my favourite books. It's a pretty uplifting book.
the lord of the rings trilogy might be worth a look
animal farm might be worth checking out too judging by what you're looking for

ocianain

LoTR is a great book, it shows you what is important in life, the little things, time with friends, good beer and a smoke. It also shows there are forces that hate this view of life and seek to destroy it. The good news is, they can be defeated. Very relevant for our times as the orcs are in the shire.

A more overt moal tale would be C.S. Lewis Narnia books, see also his Silent Planet trilogy. Catcher is one of the most depressing books I've ever read. There's nothing upliftig in it IMHO.

bathroom gurgle

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

I don't know if anyone said it yet though.

glenjamin

Playboy 2010 Annual

SLUSK

I can recommend Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand, The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand. Another great book although it is not fiction is The road to serfdom by Friedrich von Hayek.

spadder

On the road- Jack Kerouac

Blush_01

I know I'm not a guy, but I hated The Catcher in the Rye. I found the protagonist vacant, petulant and irritating beyond belief. I definitely agree with Dades about turning the page to get through it.

I'd recommend:
Shantaram - the sheer size of it is a bit daunting, but it's so worth it.

Steig Larsson's Millenium Trilogy - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo; The Girl who Played with Fire and The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest - I've only read the first two, but the third is supposed to be the best in the trilogy - so worth reading. The beginning of the first one can be a bit tough going as it's not very entertaining, but it is interesting. Stick with it!

The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks. Compelling reading. Wonderfully engaging.

Platform - Michel Houllebecq. Well written.

Million Little Pieces - James Frey. Very easy to read, compulsive reading and very entertaining.

Oryx and Crake - Margaret Atwood. The first Atwood novel I ever read and I fell in love. Creepy 1984 edge to it, but well worth it, very easy to read and very enjoyable.

There are a few more that are prodding my brain but I'm having issues remembering what I wanted to say today. It's just too cold.

c0rk3r

SLUSK wrote: »

recommend Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand

+1 but i dont think its apt in the case of the orginal poster. You just dont go ramming your...:eek: analogy is abit crude.heh

Im sure by now you;ve bought and maybe read something. Let us know which one you bought and how you found it

Denerick

OP, if you're looking for a sweet moral theme, then look no further than 'To Kill a Mockingbird'. This is the kind of book that transcends cynics, idiots, and the literati, and forcibly merge them into one streaming, emotional mass of consciousness.

Or failing that, Lord of the Rings. I recently re-read it and its only got better since the last time I read it (6 or 7 years ago..)

Ridley

Discworld.Specifically The Last Hero (for an introduction).

REPSOC1916

Gomorrah - Roberto Saviona

Ok I know its not fiction but to be honest its a fantastic tale of the modern day Camorra in Naples.

garfieldsghost

spadder wrote: »

On the road- Jack Kerouac

+1. You could also try 'The Dharma Bums' by the same author.

spurious

"A confederacy of dunces" by John Kennedy Toole

Classic.

garfieldsghost

I forgot to add 'The Rum Diary' by Hunter S Thompson. It's a book I go back to every now and again... it draws you right in and you can vividly picture each scene!

RonMexico

+1 on the Rum Diary. They are making a movie out of it this year too.

Here is a transcript of a really funny fax that Thompson sent the producers of the movie:

Dear Holly,

Okay, you lazy bitch, I'm getting tired of this waterhead ****around that you're doing with The Rum Diary.

We are not even spinning our wheels aggresivly. It's like the whole Project got turned over to Zombies who live in cardboard boxes under the Hollywood Freeway... I seem to be the only person who's doing anything about getting this movie Made. I have rounded up Depp, Benicio Del Toro, Brad Pitt, Nick Nolte & a fine screenwriter from England, named Michael Thomas, who is a very smart boy & has so far been a pleasure to talk to & conspire with...

So there's yr. ****ing Script & all you have to do now is act like a Professional & Pay him. What the hell do you think Making a Movie is all about? Nobody needs to hear any more of that Gibberish about yr. New Mercedes & yr. Ski Trips & how Hopelessly Broke the Shooting Gallery is.... If you're that ****ing Poor you should get out of the Movie Business. It is no place for Amateurs & Dilletants who don't want to do anything but "take lunch" & Waste serious people's Time.

**** this. We have a good writer, we have the main parts casted & we have a very marketable movie that will not even be hard to make....

And all you are is a goddamn Bystander, making stupid suggestions & jabbering now & then like some half-bright Kid with No Money & No Energy & no focus except on yr. own tits.... I'm sick of hearing about Cuba & Japs & yr. Yo-yo partners who want to change the story because the violence makes them Queasy.

**** on them. I'd much rather deal with a Live asshole than a Dead worm with No Light in his Eyes.... If you people don't want to Do Anything with this movie, just cough up the Option & I'll talk to someone else. The only thing You're going to get by quitting and curling up in a Fetal position is relentless Grief and Embarrassment. And the one thing you won't have is Fun...

Okay, That's my Outburst for today. Let's hope that it gets Somebody off the dime. And if you don't Do Something QUICK you're going to Destroy a very good idea. I'm in the mood to chop yr. ****ing hands off.

R.S.V.P

(Signed)

HUNTER

cc:
Depp
Benecio
M. Thomas
Nolte
Shapiro

hupyago

I'd recommend bill brysons books or michael palin both funny and entertaining and really gives you a taste of other countries and cultures
theres james redfields books which are fairly easily available and have a great moral to the story
also theres dan millmans way of the peaceful warrior a great story with a powerful message
and on a similar warrior theme theres the carlos castenada books
then theres the classics like treasure island and all the rest
interms of sci fi artur c clarkes novels are very good
obamas autobiography dreams from my father is quite good
have a look in the travel section
the biography section and the music section you should find plenty of good stuff
also theres the bible of course full of moral tales
and books on myths and legends which are good fun
theres this site where I buy a lot of my stuff
http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/
free shipping worldwide which is good
and theres this network
http://www.goodreads.com/
full of interesting people and reading matierial
the auld books ha'
sure ya can't beat em !
especially since tv is a bunch of commercialised rubbish (mostly)

Recon

The Gospel According to Biff, Christ`s Childhood Pal

very funny book...

Anton Chigurh

Any of Chuck Palahniuk books. Fight Club, Choke or Survivor is a great introduction to his work.

Owenw

Can't go wrong with the Adrian Mole diaries by Sue Townsend (can't believe these are cropping up on the Junior Cert!) First two books are the best and will have you in stitches remembering your early teenage years.

If you like Sci-Fi the Asimov books are great as well as the ones mentioned above (I Robot is vastly superior to the movie which used none of the original story).

Philip K. Dick is worth a read too - his short stories were the basis for films such as Blade Runner, Total Recall, Minority Report and A Scanner Darkly.

Thoroughly recommend Douglas Adams for his hilarious Hitchhikers Guide 'trilogy in 5 parts' and the Dirk Gently detective novels.

Another thumbs up for Hunter S. Thompson

IronMan

Robert Harris, Fatherland, Enigma, Pompeii etc.

Page turners. Well written, historically based thrillers. Highly recommended.