Books that have stayed with you

kiwi123

Hi all,

I've just finished my college exams and have found that now i no longer have required reading to complete, i am back reading for enjoyment purposes.

Was wondering what (if any) books have stuck with ye fellow boardsies over the years, what ones have had a big impact on ye and why?
any must reads that ye would recommend for those of us looking to be blown away by a book.

At the minute i am reading the perks of being a wall flower and am loving it. Are there any books ye would recommend that have at some point blown yer minds?

metrovelvet

One Hundred Years of Solitude-Garcia Marquez
Invisible Cities -Calvino
Ficciones-Borges

Denerick

To Kill a Mockingbird had a massive impact on me when I read it. Over the same weekend I read The Picture of Dorian Gray, so I was bombarded by thought provoking literature (I don't think I've fully recovered, a few years on!)

Lord of the Rings instilled a love of reading in me and an even greater admiration of the non material world.

azzie

The Grapes of Wrath (or anything written by Steinbeck)

fergywergy

Anthony Kiedis Autobiography is a keeper if ur into that sort of thing.

neveah

I read this book about 7 years ago and I often think of it. It was called 'Saul' and it was about a premature baby and the first few months of his life spent in the neo-natal. The book was written from the point of view of the baby.

I thought the book was very powerful, it was a story of strength and endurance, happy and sad times. It was unique due to the fact that it was based on a true story, the woman who wrote the book (can't remember her name) actually wrote it about her son and his experience in the neo-natal ward.

It is a heart wrenching book, very sad in parts and I don't think I have every read anything that has made me cry so much and that's why it has stayed with me.

Not that I want to recommend a book that'll make you cry or anything, but if you are looking for something different, this may be one to try.

damselnat

A Clockwork Orange - in fact, just finished reading it again this weekend, one that I never fails to fascinate me. Less Than Zero, have only read it once, but it's definitely stuck with me! And The Age of Innocence, because the ending always haunts me, I always want to know what really happened after the ending

wicklowdub

Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance has always been a favourite of mine.

One_Armed_Dwarf

Glamorama by Bret Easton Ellis, read this while traveling a couple of years ago and it always stuck with me, it really is a "love it or hate it" type book as i've read a lot of bad reviews of it online but I loved the way you were never really 100% sure what was going on and the more messed up it gets the more confused you get. And theres alot of different interpretations of the novel online and some are very interesting.

Busi_Girl08

To Kill a Mockingbird - It really is one of the most powerful books ever written. Atticus Finch being the voice of reason, Bob Ewell being the voice of irrational hatred, the mob a mix of irrational hatred/prejudice and mindless sheep, Tom Robinson the innocent party (who has little-no say), and the whole notion of realising, as a young child, just how monsterously horrible the world really is.

Animal Farm and 1984 - The way the world in Animal Farm was pretty much a precursor to the dystopian world in 1984 was chilling.
Both had *very* memorable endings that will always stay with me, gave me chills.

How Many Miles to Babylon? - The coldness of the mother character in this story was chilling,

as was the main character's fate

The Road - I really don't think I need to explain that scene, do I? :eek:

Lord of the Flies - Similar reasons to Animal Farm/1984. The brutality was shocking.

Poor Piggy

Wolfe Tone

To Kill a Mocking Bird, The Aeneid, Oedipus Rex, An Trial.



Can I say the Bible?

Busi_Girl08

MUSSOLINI wrote: »

To Kill a Mocking Bird, The Aeneid, Oedipus Rex, An Trial.

Oh dear god, yes!! That thing nearly made me

stick my head in an oven at the end of it.

Wolfe Tone

Busi_Girl08 wrote: »

Oh dear god, yes!! That thing nearly made me

stick my head in an oven at the end of it.

Was very sad alright, damning too. Was about the only worthwhile thing I have ever read in Irish. Must read it again.

Denerick

MUSSOLINI wrote: »

Can I say the Bible?

The bible had a big impact on me as well. Whether you read it as the inspired word of God or as great literature it is very impressive (a lá the 23rd psalm)

'Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: For thou art with me;'

Denerick

Busi_Girl08 wrote: »

To Kill a Mockingbird - It really is one of the most powerful books ever written. Atticus Finch being the voice of reason, Bob Ewell being the voice of irrational hatred, the mob a mix of irrational hatred/prejudice and mindless sheep, Tom Robinson the innocent party (who has little-no say), and the whole notion of realising, as a young child, just how monsterously horrible the world really is.

Animal Farm and 1984 - The way the world in Animal Farm was pretty much a precursor to the dystopian world in 1984 was chilling.
Both had *very* memorable endings that will always stay with me, gave me chills.

How Many Miles to Babylon? - The coldness of the mother character in this story was chilling,

as was the main character's fate

The Road - I really don't think I need to explain that scene, do I? :eek:

Lord of the Flies - Similar reasons to Animal Farm/1984. The brutality was shocking.

Poor Piggy

We have disturbingly similar literary tastes!

JohnDee

The Monk by Mathew Lewis. One of the first gothic novels.

Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk. Collection of short stories,only time I ever felt myself squirm while reading.

Wolfe Tone

Denerick wrote: »

The bible had a big impact on me as well. Whether you read it as the inspired word of God or as great literature it is very impressive (a lá the 23rd psalm)

'Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: For thou art with me;'

Yeah I agree, it stands up as a fascinating read even to those who are not religious.

kaki

Norweigan Wood, by Haruki Murakami, first English book I read in ages and it's still hanging over me. In a good way...

Sephiroth_dude

Neil Gaimens-Neverwhere,best book I ever read.

LenaClaire

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. I read it when I was about 16 for the first time and I still get chills when I re-read it now.

Lord of the Flies and the Heart of Darkness were ones from school that stuck with me.

Sergeant

JohnDee wrote: »

Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk. Collection of short stories,only time I ever felt myself squirm while reading.

A truly disgusting book.


The Painted Bird by Jerzy Kosiński. Set during the holocaust, told through the eyes of a young orphan, and the things that he sees.

Sprocket77

Blood Relations by Eilis Dillon, read it as a kid and it instilled a love of history and historical novels in me.

Lord of the Rings has to be dipped into every few years and reread it was that enjoyable a read.

lemon_sherbert

The Diary of Anne Frank - read it during my formative years, still get choked up when I see references to it or to her life

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly - read it last year, but really beautiful and sticks with you

naasrd

The Ginger Man.

epgc3fyqirnbsx

1984 and Animal Farm : for the exact same reasons stated in previous posts, amazing books

Of Mice and Men : Just such an amazing story with very true characters, the book is without any pomp or flamboyance yet is incredibly descriptive

Great Expectations : First had to read this in school and I have loved Dickens since. It's a book that brings me to another time, another world in my head and the characters are deliciously over the top and each one has a very definite image in my minds eye, a considerable achievement considering characters often have undefined features in my mind

Wild Swans : An amazing book and a wonderful way to learn history. I wish there were a similar book for every country, then learning history would be made simple (feel free to recommend similar!)

The Life of Pi : A recent book and a great book, after finishing I immediately looked up some academic reviews on it which really opened up the book for me. This truly is a book which has solidified my attitude as an atheist, or more accurately reconfirmed my opinions on why religion exists and why it is probably a good thing. Who wants to live in a yeastless world of cold hard facts?

blue_steel

Cloud Atlas.
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle.
Crime and Punishment.

MadRush

if you are going to read Gabriel Garcia Marquez, read Love in the Time of Cholera first, instead of One Hundred Years of Solitude.

both are amazing, but Marquez's unique style is more muted in Love in the Time of Cholera than One Hundred Years of Solitude, and there is more of a plot to draw you in.

Sergeant

naasrd wrote: »

The Ginger Man.

Great book, pity the author hasn't produced anything approaching it since.

Sebastian Dangerfield is one of the great rogues of Irish literature.

Callan57

Two that have really stuck in my mind are:

Human Traces by Sebastian Faulks
The Kindly Ones by Jonathan Littell

Knut Hamsun - Mysteries
Henry Miller - Tropic of Capricorn
Mikhail Bulgakov - Master and Margherita

Cecelia Ahern - A Place Called Here (Immediate comic relief )

pinkheels88

Maria - Mary Wollstonecraft (Early feminism at it's finest I know, but it is a great read!)

Tess of the D'Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy (I just LOVE this story. I could reread it a million times. Really want to get the BBC series version with Gemma Aterton on dvd too).

Strangely enough I studied both these novels in the final year of my BA! Exam stress didn't take the joy out of reading them!

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

StinkySocs

Tuesdays With Morrie - very good, but very sad. If you know anyone who was recently diagnosed with an illness, it's very motivating.

Remember Me - It's about a girl whose adopted and I'm adopted so it was interesting.

For a funny factor/chick lit then Viva Las Vegus - you will LOL! Promise!!

siltirocker

Animal Farm by George Orwell
High Fidelity by Nick Nornby
Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote
At Swim - Two Birds by Flann O'Brien
The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller (Yes i know, a comic book/graphic novel).

In the regular occasions in my life where i've nothing new to read and i've no money to buy anything decent, these are the books i also find myself reading again and again and again. As regards a book that changed my whole notions of literature and the simple read definitely Animal Farm.

Valmont

Most of Kafka's work still gives me shivers when I think about it and I still laugh when I think of the The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series of books. Lolita is my favourite book of all time and I'm half way through the 1979 limited edition copy I bought over in the UK a few weeks ago. I'd have to say The Wasp Factory because it had been so long since a book really made my jaw drop.

Callan57

Valmont wrote: »

Most of Kafka's work still gives me shivers when I think about it and I still laugh when I think of the The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series of books. Lolita is my favourite book of all time and I'm half way through the 1979 limited edition copy I bought over in the UK a few weeks ago. I'd have to say The Wasp Factory because it had been so long since a book really made my jaw drop.

Agree with you .... Lolita is certainly a disturbing read and not easily forgotten.

CorkonianRebel

There are quite a few that comes to my mind that have stayed with me for varying reasons.That is what a good book does in my view.You are left thinking about it and you never forget the joy of reading it,the way it made you feel and how it effected you.Here are just a few of mine.....

Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien- The sheer scope and entertainment of the tale

The Dice Man - Luke Rhinehart - Just think of living your life solely to the die!

American Psycho -Bret Easton Ellis - The vivid details of a psycho

Lord of the Flies- I had to study this in school but loved it.Are we that close to savagery?

All of Philip K Dicks Works seem to stay with me but most notably A Scanner Darkly.He is the only author that after every time I read his books I am left continually thinking about the tale and its themes.

you just read this

The Dark Tower series by Stephan King, mind blowing stuff.


Eh sorry for this WILDLY off topic question but how do you 'thank' posts?:o

siltirocker

you just read this wrote: »

The Dark Tower series by Stephan King, mind blowing stuff.


Eh sorry for this WILDLY off topic question but how do you 'thank' posts?:o

the 'thumbs up' button in the bottom right hand corner of each post.

Giselle

The first 'grown-up' novel I read as a young teen, was Sophies Choice by William Styron It haunted me for years. I was probably too impressionable to read it at that age, the subject was difficult to comprehend completely so young.

The second one I remember most from my teens was one called The Artificial Man by LP Davies, a sci-fi one that I found on a shelf. It wasn't very good, but it sparked an interest in sci-fi that kept me busy for most of my teens.:)

Bearhunter

The Borstal Boy - Brendan Behan - I read this every year and I still get great joy out of it.

Clancy's Bulba - Michael O'Gormon - A magnificent book, packed with wit, insight, piles and cockfighting. An absolute treasure.

The Tain - Thomas Kinsella - Probably the greatest saga of them all after the Iliad.

Those in Peril - Russell Braddon. An odd book, quite simple and even predictable, but a beautifully constructed story.

Stay Me With Flagons - Maurice Healy - Probably the best wine book ever written.

Dracula - Bram Stoker - The archetypal horror novel.

The Criminal History of Mankind - Colin Wilson - Utterly fascinating look at the development of civilisation as seen through crime.

Padraic Colum's Treasury of Irish Folklore is another I keep dipping into, although to label it simply folklore would be a sin.

I. Claudius by Robert Graves is a constant companion as well.

sponsoredwalk

fergywergy wrote: »

Anthony Kiedis Autobiography is a keeper if ur into that sort of thing.

What a crazy book, I've read it about 10 times

What sticks in my mind right now is Tolstoy's Anna Karenina,
Susskind's The Pigeon, Chekov's Uncle Vanya, Salinger's Franny & Zooey
& Gogol's The Overcoat. All these books contain literary stitches from the
same ball of thought-wool are really worth the time if you have it.

angelxx

Anna Karenina is one of my all time favourites. It is often counted as one of the best novels ever written.

JohnMearsheimer

I read This Boys Life when I was 16 and I still go back to it now 10 years later. It really struck a chord with my teenage self. American Psycho was a fantastic insight into the mind of a total loon. The Remains of the Day taught me to live my life with as few regrets as possible.

guineapig1975

Here's my list in no particular order (and they're only my faves at the mo'):

• The Mistress of Silence by Jacqueline Harpmann
• Spares by Michael Marshall Smith
• The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
• Children of Men by P.D. James
• It by Stephen King
• Rachel's Holiday by Marian Keyes
• Enduring Love by Ian McEwan
• 1984 by George Orwell
• Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh (A children's book but no less fabulous. I still have the copy I got when I was ten!)
• Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood

I have so many others that I re-read again and again.

todolist

Is that it? ............Bob Geldof
Tarry Flynn...........Patrick Kavanagh.
Terrific reads.

Denerick

I second Tarry Flynn

Censorsh!t

American Psycho by Brett Easton Ellis - I read this when I was quite young (around 12 or 13) so no wonder it had such an affect on me. I just remember it as being disturbing, not only for the graphic violence, but the way it was written.

The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides - I absolutely loved this book. So many times there were lines where I just nodded my head and couldn't help smiling because it was such a perfect way of describing something.

Animal Farm by George Orwell - Especially the very last line. Very powerful

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde - So many clever lines and a great story

A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess - At first I was a bit baffled by the nadsat language, but once I got the hang of it, it totally made the story. Great book

The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman - A short story. It really creeped me out, but in a good way.

NatWW

'Writings from Prison' by Bobby Sands

I read it 10 years ago when I was a student. It put everything back into perspective.

Denerick

Censorsh!t wrote: »

The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilmore - A short story. It really creeped me out, but in a good way.

I've been trying to get my hands on this for some time but its long out of print. Is it worthwhile paying a little extra for it? (A costly second hand edition)

Callan57

Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
Mao: The Unknown Story by Jung Chang

and recently The Help by Kathryn Stockett
and many, many more