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from Baxter Monday, October 03, 2005 - 11:59 (Agree/Disagree?) I did a bit of reading over the summer. Hopefully, someone will enjoy these as much as I did: J.G. Ballard- Empire of the Sun, High Rise, Super-Cannes. The underlining theme of Ballard's work seems to be that the modernisation is a cancer on the soul of humanity, which he staunchly portrays as violent, savage and integrally tribal. His description of childhood survival in a Japanese Internment camp during WW2 (Empire of the Sun) sets the groundwork from which one can understand his work. Kurt Vonnegut- Slaughterhouse Five, Breakfast of Champions. I don't know how to describe Vonnegut other than, if you haven't read Slaughterhouse Five, it should be a priority. That one book gave me a better understanding of post-modernism than a whole year of university drumming on the subject. Every man, woman and child on earth should read it. Stanislaw Lem- Solaris, His Masters Voice, the Cyberiad. Lem is a comparatively uncelebrated Polish science-fiction writer who in my opinion puts westerners like Michael Chrichton to shame. His work is heavily steeped in philosophy, and he conjures worlds frightening, satirical, insightful and ultimately enchanting. He manages to weave a fascinating social commentary into his work that subtlely confronts an enormous range of ideological and political questions. Hannah Arendt- Eichmann in Jerusalem. One of the most comprehensive Analyses of the Holocaust and its aftermath ever composed. Anyone who wants as close to an objective examination of the social history of the Final Solution should read this. (reply to this comment)

from books Monday, October 03, 2005 - 10:36 (Agree/Disagree?) papillon - Henri Cherri Brave New World - Aldous Huxley the structure of magic - Bandler & Grinder Siddhartha - Herman Hesse Guerrilla Warfare - Che Guevara (reply to this comment)

From Lance Monday, October 03, 2005, 14:08 (Agree/Disagree?) Something interesting to read along with A Brave New World is Ray Bradbury's Ferenheit 451.(reply to this comment)

from Lance Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 03:21 (Agree/Disagree?) Well, you just simply have to know the great Hunter Thompson, the creater of gonzo journalism. You will learn from there. (reply to this comment)

from Jules Monday, December 13, 2004 - 21:27 (Agree/Disagree?) One of my favourite books of all time has to be The Cider House Rules. I just watched the film, and even though it was very lame in comparison to the book, there is only so much you can do in 90 minutes, yet the visuals of the stunning landscape of Maine in the Fall and the stellar performances of the actors with the screenplay they were given was really a treat to watch. There is almost nothing worse than seeing someone butcher a story you love. However the complexity and incomparable development of the characters in the original novel reminds me again of why I love books so very much. I was so very lucky to have been able to read books before I was 10 (oddly enough most of the books Big Sister recommended for children just below) and it was the escape those books gave me (the secret knowledge that "there are more worlds than these"--even if only in your imagination) that helped me more than anything to escape the insanity of the Family. Irving is a genius and one of my all time most favourite authors. The first time I read him (a boyfriend gave me A Widow for One Year), I didn't get him at all. I was waiting to have it all tie up nicely in the end. Virtue prevails, sin is has its price--not that I think that, but that is the typical Hollywood/Disneyed storytelling that we get used to. Irving's characters are complex and a mixture of good and bad, strong and weak, sane and crazy--just like life. I actually "got" him when I realised that there was no real ending to his stories. His writing is about the story and that is what makes him brilliant. He doesn't lead up to a climax, but each character he introduces is someone you feel you actually know at the end of the story. His characters are friends that he introduces you to, not performers that you watch. That is really his brilliance. I have read most of his books. In A Son of the Circus, the protagonist works in my hospital (when he is not in Bombay) so I just had to love him after that. If anyone reading this has never read John Irving, you seriously have to. He will make you love the people he creates, which is what good storytelling is really all about. (reply to this comment)

From The Pedantic Prick Tuesday, December 14, 2004, 11:41 (Agree/Disagree?) A hyphen between 'cider' and 'house' would have cleared up the controversy of whether the title is synonymous with "The Cider House Rocks!" or "The Cider House is Awesome!" etc. Or he could have just called it "The Rules of the Cider House", or "Hail Abortion, Solution to All Problems!". While we're on the topic of Irvings, let's not forget the other, more famous Irvings: Washington Irving and Irving Berlin. I believe the only thing I have read from either of these authors is The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow, so don't take this recommendation too seriously. A book I'm told is good, and that I think would be an appropriate read this morning would be Guia de la Resaca or Guide to Hangovers, by spanish author whose-name-I-forget.(reply to this comment)

from smashingrrl Thursday, October 14, 2004 - 21:47 (Agree/Disagree?) Still Life With Woodpecker- Tom Robbins Beyond Good and Evil- Nietsche Of Human Bondage- Sommerset Maugham (my favorite book) A Farewell to Arms- Hemmingway Atlas Shrugged- Ayn Rand Weird Like Us- Ann Powers Skipping Towards Gammorah- Dan Savage Survivor - Chuck Pahlaniuk (pronounced pawlanick) Choke- Pahlaniuk The World According to Garp- John Irving Read anything that makes you think. Don't discount anything with a different viewpoint. (reply to this comment)

From Lance Tuesday, December 14, 2004, 02:12 (Agree/Disagree?) If you've read Survivor and Choke then you must read Lullaby, Invisible Monsters, Diary and the best of all: Fight club. Chuck Palahniuk is a genius of our time. You must also read his nonfiction book: stranger then fiction, wich actually features a story about mariyln Manson. with brief mention throughout the article of then-time mariyln Manson girlfriend Rose McGowen, who used to be in the family as a kid. A farewell to arms was a wonderful novel about a world that I saw as antiquated. It was nostalgic in a way that I would never relate to, I yet understand why so many people did and it left me with a good impression. I thought that Erich Remarque's 'all quiet on the western front' was a far better portrayal of world war one, and far more impressionable. From his conflict with superior officers, his confusion on the battlefield, personal questioning when at home on leave, to the slow massacre of his comrades and the untimely death of his greatest friend and mentor. All this leads me to believe that this is truly the greatest war novel of all time. Inspite of it having been written some 75 years ago, it still portrays the nature of warfare very accurately. (reply to this comment)

from Baxter Thursday, April 29, 2004 - 04:59 (Agree/Disagree?) May I suggest ' The Naked and The Dead', by Norman Mailer. Possibly one of the best novels ever composed about soldiers. Unapolagetic, harsh, at times only a littel bit overexpressive; Overall, a powerfull exploration of men and war. (reply to this comment)

From Lance Tuesday, December 14, 2004, 02:33 (Agree/Disagree?) Dude, you and I have something in common there. Norman mailers is a fucking genius! It is hard to believe though that 'The naked and the dead' was his first novel. He has written so many great novels since. Though he kind of did destroy himself as a novelist by creating such pedantic works like 'Charlottes ghost' and 'Ancient evenings'. both have great qualities if you can get past the thirteen hundred pages each. Still, he has an incredible mind, if you're willing to take the time to read all of it... and I mean ALL of it. Still, Norman Mailer remains one of the greatest thinkers of the twentieth century. I did like that quote when he mentioned that all war was beautiful to some degree.(I'm paraphrasing here) And that it would be only human to see a bomb fall on the land and find the explosion beautiful. That is the first impression, that is the nature of man.(reply to this comment)

from Gregd Wednesday, March 03, 2004 - 08:14 (Agree/Disagree?) THE OLD MAN WHO READ LOVE STORIES - by LUIS SEPULVEDA. Fantastic book by a Chilean writer who lived lived through Pinochet. Don't let the title put you off, the book is a great read. He has also written a children's story The Story of the Seagull and the Cat Who Taught Her To Fly, I haven't read it but it might be worth a look. If you like your fantasy dark and in your face read Perdito Street Station - China Merille. I really liked alot but it's not for everyone. The Colour of Magic - Terry Pratchet, if you like your fantasy wierd and funny. (reply to this comment)

from frmrjoyish Friday, January 16, 2004 - 00:13 (Agree/Disagree?) "The Origin of Species" by Charles Darwin. My all time favorite book by one of the most influential men in recorded history. It's surprisingly emotional and passionate. His incredible humanity as well as his genious shows through. "Cadillac Desert" by Marc Reisner. This book is amazing! It's all about the real way the west was won. It chronicles the unsustainable daming and diverting of rivers in the west so as to change the landscape and ecological processes of half a continent. It's researched incredibly well. Really sheds light on the pork barrell politics practiced in this country. If you wanna know what goes on in those smoke filled rooms, read this book. "The Song of the Dodo" by David Hammond. Talks about the theory of island biogeography. As we isolate wild populations, creating inland islands of plants and animals, were are accelerating speciation and extinction at unnatural rates. It's a very interesting subject and has huge consequences for everyone, although not always given the attention it deserves. "The world used to be a place where people were surrounded by nature, but it is more and more a place where nature is surrounded by people." (quote by a different author but can't quite think of the name right now) (reply to this comment)

from Peter Wednesday, January 14, 2004 - 04:11 (Agree/Disagree?) My short incomplete leisure reading list would definitely include Doris Lessing, Paul Theroux, Anthony Burgess, Primo Levi, William Browning Spencer, Martin Amis, Salman Rushdie, William Faulkner (the Snopes trilogy is a good introduction), Ernest Hemingway, Norman Mailer (Harlot's Ghost" is a very enjoyable if rather lengthy read), William S. Burroughs (if you find his writings somewhat unreadable - get a CD of his readings such as "Dead City Radio" and "Spare Ass Annie") and Thomas Berger. Someone mentioned Herman Hesse - if I only had to pick one book by Hesse it would definitely be "Damien" rather than "Siddharta." While certainly not great and classic literature, Thomas Berger is a fun page-turning read and one of my guilty pleasures in the popular fiction category. Many of his books have been adapted into movies, my personal favorite is "Little Big Man" with Dustin Hoffman. Doris Lessing - Some good summaries and info can be found at http://lessing.redmood.com/ Paul Theroux - prolific travel writer and novelist. He is probably best known for "The Mosquito Coast" but there is quite a bit more. I would reccomend almost everything he's written except perhaps "Fresh Air Fiend." Here's a short story - "Misery on the Orient Express" - http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/75jul/misery.htm On the same page are links to few other of his stories published in The Atlantic Monthly. William Browning Spencer - definitely get the short story collection "The Return of Count Electric and other stories" Anthony Burgess - 'Earthly Powers" is perhaps one of his best novels. Of course, he is best known for "A clockwork orange." He also wrote the script for Franco Zeffirelli's "Jesus of Nazareth" but don't let that dissuade from checking out his work. I would also reccomend "1985," his cactopian analysis of Orwell's "1984" in which he notes that Orwell originally wanted to call it "1948." If you are ever obligated to read James Joyce, you should also read Burgess's "Joysprick: An Introduction to the Language of James Joyce." (reply to this comment)

from Big Sister Wednesday, January 14, 2004 - 00:49 (Agree/Disagree?) Herewith, a list of books to read to your children or that they can read to themselves (depending on age, of course). These are some of the books I have read to my children (now ages ten and eight), or they have read themselves in the past few years. Most of these books are totally enjoyable for adults as well. The Narnia Chronicles, C.S. Lewis The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien A Series of Unfortunate Events, Lemony Snicket Summerland, Michael Chabon The TinTin books, Herge Holes, Louis Sachar The Westing Game, Ellen Raskin The Wind in the Willows, Kenneth Grahame The Little House on the Prairie (series), Laura Ingalls Wilder Alice in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll Hucklebery Finn, Mark Twain Tom Sawyer, Mark Twain Phantom Tollbooth, Norton Juster Little Women and Little Men, Louisa May Alcott For younger children: Winnie the Pooh (Series) A.A. Milne Where the Wild Things Are, Maruice Sendak If there is interest I can do a longer list of books for younger readers on another day. -happy reading!! (reply to this comment)

From Lance Tuesday, December 14, 2004, 03:44 (Agree/Disagree?) Good job! Though I don't have any kids of my own, I have neices and nephews. I couldn't agree more that children need a fascinating culture and a world of ideas to think and dream about. If we had some "greatest storyteller mom" award, you would be nominated. Hey Jules! We should create a greatest storyteller mom award! what do you think?!(reply to this comment)

From Sonderval Wednesday, January 14, 2004, 02:28 (Agree/Disagree?) Well, so far Seamus is 5 months old and his library consists of the following:- The Narnia Chronicles, C.S. Lewis The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien The Wind in the Willows, Kenneth Grahame Winnie the Pooh (my wife has several ancient hardback books from when she was a child) A.A. Milne The Little Prince by some French guy (I suck at names) The Princess and the Goblin and The Princess and the Curdie by George Macdonald The Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales The complete works of Shakespeare The Mouse and his Child by some guy I can't remember Loads of others (our books are still mostly in boxes and I'm at work) I currently read a chapter of the Chronicles of Narnia to him each night, he won't be able to understand what I'm saying as yet but he seems to enjoy the story nonetheless, we're half way through A Horse and His Boy. I just hope I can impart to him my love of books and of knowledge, he'll be growing up without being addicted to TV so there's hope ;-). Good list of books there and good genre to pick, will definitely be picking him up some TinTin books, alice in wonderland and a couple of the others, some of them are definitely more American culture than British though, so probably not the full list you've got there. ;-)(reply to this comment)

From porceleindoll Wednesday, December 15, 2004, 03:15 (Agree/Disagree?) Amelia Bedelia books are a lot of fun for kids My kids like the Magic Tree House series which are educational fiction, and we are reading through some Little House on the Prarie books. I'm thinking to get Howl's Moving Castle and A Series of Unfortunate Events (or Misfortunate?) by Lemony Snickett (?). I loved the Wrinkle in Time series when I was younger. And if you like TinTin, what about Asterix and Obelix, I loved them too.(reply to this comment)

From french lit lover Saturday, January 17, 2004, 20:31 (Agree/Disagree?) "Le Petit Prince" (The Little Prince) is by writer/pilote/inventor Antoine de Saint Exupery. The best editions come with his original artwork. Another great book by Saint-Exupery is "Terre des Hommes." I think the title is translated into English as "Wind, Sand and Stars." In it, the author relates some of his experiences as a pilot. Like "The Little Prince" it has philosophical implications about the meaning of life.(reply to this comment)

From Sonderval Sunday, January 18, 2004, 13:46 (Agree/Disagree?) That's what I said, some french guy. :p And yeah, book wouldn't work without the artwork. Haven't read the other book, will get it if I ever see it, is it as good as The Little Prince? (reply to this comment)

From Bella Thursday, January 15, 2004, 19:00 (Agree/Disagree?) That is so cool that you read to your little baby like that Sonderval. Sure he can't understand what you are saying, but starting so young will not only increase his vocabulary as he begins to talk, but instill in him the importance of reading. I think that is a really cool idea and will certainly do that when I have kids. (reply to this comment)

From Big Sister Wednesday, January 14, 2004, 01:00 (Agree/Disagree?) Oops, I just noticed that you asked for a few comments on each book. Perhaps another day for that task except to say these are all fiction, a few based on historical fact, good for child and adult, boys and girls alike. Although I'm sure I've left out something good, these are the "classics and standards". Many well read Americans have read most of these books in their childhoods.(reply to this comment)

from exister Tuesday, January 13, 2004 - 11:23 (Agree/Disagree?) "The Courage To Be" - Paul Tillich. Deals with the ontological ramifications of existence and belief. Brief and succinct. "Discipline and Punish" - Michel Foucault. Want to get angry about the microcosms of power that impact your reality? Read this book. If it doesn't have you stamping your fists then you are intellectually unarousable. "Justine" - Marquis de Sade. The sensitive among you may find this one disturbing. The Marquis' central work of fiction. Good old 18th Century sexual deviance cast against a background of decaying social mores. "Brothers Karamazov" - Fyodor Dostoyevsky. The grand inquisitor scene is philosophically significant. The rest is fairly entertaining, dramatic, Russian suffering. Discuss... (reply to this comment)

From Lance Tuesday, December 14, 2004, 02:43 (Agree/Disagree?) I,ve read a lot of the marquis off hand. It's about time I got to actually reading something that he's written. Thanks for that! I'll check it out on a lazy afternoon sometime.(reply to this comment)

From Benz Tuesday, January 13, 2004, 17:48 (Agree/Disagree?) Big fan of Russian and European literary writers. Dr Zhivago by Boris Pasternak an amazing read. One next on my list is Fateless by Imre Kertez, a Hungarian author winner of the 2002 Nobel prize for Literature. Another good read is Monk by Matthew G Lewis, written in 1795 toward the end of the Spanish Inquisition when the author was only 19. (reply to this comment)

From Alf Tuesday, January 13, 2004, 14:54 (Agree/Disagree?) If Foucault aroused you, what do you think about Baudrillard's essays? (reply to this comment)

From exister Tuesday, January 13, 2004, 15:06 (Agree/Disagree?) Haven't gotten around to reading them yet...(reply to this comment)

From Sonderval Tuesday, January 13, 2004, 11:34 (Agree/Disagree?) mmm, discipline, I'm aroused already. :p Haven't got round to reading Dostoyevsky, definitely will though, as soon as I find someone who possesses it and wants to lend it me, as for Justine, it's a giggle, what struck me most was how tame it was by modern standards and yet so many people claim it's the pinnacle of perversion, I strongly suspect that a lot of people who say they've read this haven't ;-p (not you of course, just talking in general).(reply to this comment)

from The Duc Tuesday, January 13, 2004 - 11:07 (Agree/Disagree?) Madness and cold rationality vs moral hipocrisy, shadow as a means to enlightenment. What if vice was a cure for, rather than a symptom of, the stress in modern society? Is morality the source of inhumanity? If you ever find yourself thinking along these lines then you will thouroughly enjoy the following. Michel Houellebecq - Atomised and Platform Anything by JG Ballard but start with shorter works such as Concrete Island and High Rise just to get you hooked. Jerzy Kosinski - particularly "Steps" (reply to this comment)

From Sonderval Tuesday, January 13, 2004, 11:36 (Agree/Disagree?) are Atomised and Platform fiction or straightforward philosophy (or whatever)?(reply to this comment)

From the Duc Tuesday, January 13, 2004, 13:25 (Agree/Disagree?) Fiction with philosophical impact. Unsettling, un-pc modern storytelling. Can be difficult to start for some but once your in you cant put em down, worth finishing just in case it changes your outlook if even for a week. Atomised or Platform - Can't say which I prefer, read both! Since his recent UK popularity there's a lot of opinions online, have a look around.(reply to this comment)

from Regi Tuesday, January 13, 2004 - 10:56 (Agree/Disagree?) I just finished the Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. It’s a very intelligent mystery/suspense. I loved the theme too. (reply to this comment)

From Tim R Tuesday, January 13, 2004, 22:22 (Agree/Disagree?) I liked "The DaVinci code" too, good mystery mixed with actual history. (reply to this comment)

From Shackled Tuesday, December 14, 2004, 23:16 (Agree/Disagree?) I just finished Angels and Demons and that was an awesome book. I was gonna get The Davinci Code first but thought I'd start with part 1 and go from there. (reply to this comment)

From porceleindoll Wednesday, December 15, 2004, 03:17 (Agree/Disagree?) Your the first person I heard say they liked Angels and Demons, most people who've read it say they hated it, or were very disappointed by it. Personally I liked the whole conspiracy and church thing, but the Davinci Code was better.(reply to this comment)

from 1984 Tuesday, January 13, 2004 - 10:16 (Agree/Disagree?) a very significant and at the same time simple book to read would be "Sidartha" from Herman Hesse. In general terms what this author did was to put into fiction some thesis of the psychoanalysis, specifically the theories postulated by Carl Jung. Though this book presents an oriental perspective and culture, there are some significant passages when the main character find himself alone, and he has to face life and see life for the very first time by his own, etc. it won´t take more than a day to read it, two the most. (reply to this comment)

From Sonderval Tuesday, January 13, 2004, 10:48 (Agree/Disagree?) Think it took me a couple of hours, it's a very short book and well worth a read, I didn't completely agree with it's underlying message tbh (I felt it was a little slanted against the so called 'negative' emotions, such as anger, hatred, pain etc, and I didn't agree with what it kind of put across as the goal of life) but it's a beautifully written book and has a very valid message, very very worth a read, particularly for anyone looking to weigh up different schools of thought and philosophies. PS, for anyone looking to buy this online, it's Siddharta (double d, phwoar . . . sorry) for easier searching.(reply to this comment)

from Sir Rantalot Tuesday, January 13, 2004 - 06:30 (Agree/Disagree?) Colin Wilson - "The Outsider" & "the Robot" A couple of amazing books. Robert Shea & Robert Anton Wilson's "illuminatus" triology, this book is brilliant, insightful & downright hilarious, they wrote it as a spook on all the '60s conspiracy theories floating around at the time, a brilliant satire on religion and governments. (reply to this comment)

From Siolo Monday, December 13, 2004, 23:14 (Agree/Disagree?) Sir Rantalot! I just read the Outsider, fantasticly intelligent, I loved it. I am happy to hear that someone else is reading Colin Wilson. Others I've read recently and enjoyed: Deliverence by James Dickey, a suprisingly simple, elegent and honest book wrapped in a macho package. It's become one of my favorites. Keep the Aspidestrias Flying, George Orwell's commentary on the perils of middle class life. Hegel on Madness, interesting and less umm.. long than most of Hegels' essays. Schopenhauer's The World as Will and Representation, this book is full of world rocking ideas all stated with precision and simplicity. For me, it was a life changing book. I am pleasently surprised at the number of excellent suggestions people have made. (reply to this comment)

from Prisma Monday, January 12, 2004 - 20:04 (Agree/Disagree?) Here a few of books that I’ve check out recently. Pale Fire by Vladimir Nabokov : One of the funniest satires on literary criticism. Sabbath’s Theatre by Philip Roth: Philip Roth such a talent for shocking his audience – his style is great if you like to read about human frailties and have an appreciation for unconventional content. Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison: This is a great book and touches on some rather serious racial issues but also issue’s of self identity and discovery. Of Love and Other Demons by Gabriel Garcia Marquez: This is the next thing on my list but, I’ve heard its great. (reply to this comment)

From Sonderval Tuesday, January 13, 2004, 01:13 (Agree/Disagree?) Sabbath's Theatre, weird dark book about a weird dark little old man, great book, haven't read any of the others, will try to.(reply to this comment)

From Prisma Tuesday, January 13, 2004, 20:39 (Agree/Disagree?) Yes, its a dark book about a sick man and his sick life... but, I couldn't put it down.(reply to this comment)

from Sonderval Monday, January 12, 2004 - 16:52 (Agree/Disagree?) Hrm, few favourites of mine are Umberto Eco - Foucalt's Pendulum Italian writer translated into English, fantastically gifted, this is a novel about a young guy who get's involved with an underground scene of paranormals and cultists and sucked into a conspiracy he helped create, it's incredibly insightful into the pull that the occult can have on people and what it can do to your mind (no, it's not a warning about the evils of satanism, more about cult mentality than anything else) Terry Pratchet - all his old stuff, particularly the witches trilogy This guy is a genius, pure and simple, some of his books are better than others but all are works of genius, haven't read a single one of his books that hasn't had me in stitches at least once. :D some guy who's name I can't recall - Zen and the art of Motorcycle Maintenance. Very deep book, loved it, if you like a touch of philosophy and long rambling discourses on everything under the sun then read this book. David Zindell - Danlo the Wild (and the other two in this series which I've forgotten the names of) Another very philosophical book, sci-fi this time, this one will probably appeal more to weirdo's like me who actually enjoy maths, really really loved this book. Iain Banks - Walking on Glass (or anything else by this author) This guy has written a lot of books, either sci-fi or contemporary fiction, his sci-fi is good, well thought out and very very clever, but his contemporary stuff is pure distilled genius, especially Walking on Glass (particularly if you've ever skirted round the edges of mental illness), this guy is who I want to be when I grow up, in total seriousness. Joseph Heller (think that's his name) - Catch 22 Say what you like, I loved this book, if you've ever stopped and actually looked at society and realised it's completely insane you'll love it, this book has me in stitches every time I read it. There's loads more but I'll leave it there for now, apologies for all the stuff I've forgotten but my library is still in boxes, just moved house. (reply to this comment)

from Joe H Monday, January 12, 2004 - 16:40 (Agree/Disagree?) Anything by Paolo Coelho, Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, Ken Kesey, Carlos Fuentes, Mario Vargas Llosa, or Brianda Domecq. Also, authors I haven't read but have heard good things about and will probably be reading shortly: William Gibson Philip K Dick Ayn Rand Antonio Gala (reply to this comment)

From KD Monday, January 19, 2004, 00:08 (Agree/Disagree?) I second you on the Paulo Coelho books and add Gabriel Garcia Marques and Isabel Allende. (reply to this comment)

From Sonderval Tuesday, January 13, 2004, 01:11 (Agree/Disagree?) Oh, if you like Gibson (start with Neuromancer) check out Star Fraction, can't remember the author.(reply to this comment)

From Sonderval Monday, January 12, 2004, 17:02 (Agree/Disagree?) Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchet, William Gibson, Philip K Dick, Ken Kesey all brilliant authors, have you read any of 'The Sandman' series, love that stuff, artwork rules as well. Ayn Rand worth reading just so you've read it, that's about it, dunno any of the other names, but I'm pretty bad with names anyway.(reply to this comment)

From Alf Tuesday, January 13, 2004, 07:44 (Agree/Disagree?) Yes, everyone I think should read 'The Sandman', it shows just how powerful graphic novels can be. In fact ive got the entire series, its the sort of stuff u can re-read. I'm surprised no one mentioned Bret Easton Ellis. Luke Rheinhart's 'diceman'is interesting or Stanislaw Lem for thoughtful SF.(reply to this comment)

From Tim R Tuesday, January 13, 2004, 22:29 (Agree/Disagree?) Have you read his recent novel "American Gods"? If you liked Sandman, you'd probably find it interesting. Also "Good Omens" (which he co-wrote with Terry Pratchet) has got to be one of the funniest novels ever, especially for those of us who grew up waiting for the endtime. (reply to this comment)

From Sonderval Wednesday, January 14, 2004, 03:00 (Agree/Disagree?) I haven't read American Gods, will look it out, what's it about? And Good Omens is hilarious, particularly if you've ever been stuck on the M25, that and the bit about mobile phones was a stroke of genius, in fact the whole book was brilliant. :D Who's that guy who wrote the 'Armageddon' series, funny as well, books such as Nostradamus Ate My Hamster etc, can't remember his name . . .(reply to this comment)

From Tim R Thursday, January 15, 2004, 02:43 (Agree/Disagree?) American Gods is about myth and how it creates Gods and spirits. It's hard to describe, but it kind of reminded me of Piers Anthony's "Incarnations of Immortality" series. (reply to this comment)