Great books

[glittertigger]

In the past month I've finally made time for some of the books which have been on my "to read" list for years. It was well worth it; I've already found three books, from different genres, which contain beautiful prose, compelling narratives (I sat up late into the night because I couldn't bear to put them down) and thought-provoking writing which doesn't shy away from difficult questions. In case you are curious they are,

Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card
The Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck
Stalingrad - Anthony Beevor

I also read the sequels to Ender's Game but rather regretted it, as the series seems to get worse as it goes along. I'd be interested in suggestions for other books you think I'd like. Don't assume I read anything worthwhile at school, as I went to left wing comprehensives in the days before the national curriculum and we mostly read trendy 1960s rubbish! We didn't do any Shakespeare; we read Arthur Miller plays instead as they were more "relevant". We missed out all pre-20th century poetry and got landed with bollocks like Philip Larkin. And yes, I am still cross...

Comments

[lanfykins.livejournal.com]

Well, obviously you should read Three Men In A Boat if you haven't already, but I give that advice to everyone :)

[glittertigger]

That's another one I bought a year or so ago but haven't read yet. Will move it up the list :)

[hatmandu.livejournal.com]

I only got round to reading that earlier this year. It's great, and way better than I had imagined it would be.

[abi]

Yes yes yes. It is one of my favourite books EVER. I haven't read it for a few months, must dust off my copy. NB do NOT attempt to read the sequel (Three Men on the Bummel), but instead accept the advice of the disappointed few who have already done so.

[hatmandu.livejournal.com]

advice of the disappointed few - indeed, advice I have already yielded to!

[htfb.livejournal.com]

You've missed the sound advice about overhauling bicycles, then, unless someone who's read TMOTB has shared it with you. There are good bits.

[lanfykins.livejournal.com]

Oh, and by the way:

I also read the sequels to Ender's Game but rather regretted it, as the series seems to get worse as it goes along.

You're not the only one. (http://xkcd.com/304/)

[mrlloyd.livejournal.com]

I agree about Stalingrad, it's a really well written account. Haven't read the other two though.

[bateleur.livejournal.com]

My top three book recs are:

* Dune - Frank Herbert
* The Curse of Chalion - Luis McMaster Bujold
* Neuromancer - William Gibson

All three have sequels, but none of the three require reading of the sequels since they're properly standalone novels. (And in the case of Dune, some readers feel the sequels are weak enough that they should be ignored. I don't agree, but I can see their point.)

Interesting

[a-llusive.livejournal.com]

I've read a lot of LMB but not the one you mention. I'll have to give it a go.

[glittertigger]

I read Dune and all the sequels in my teenage years. I didn't regret reading the whole series, but I'm not sure I'd read them all again. It's time I re-read the first one though :)

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

You might count yourself lucky that you never did Shakespeare etc at school; that usually has the effect of putting people off for life... at least as an adult you can come to it with an open mind.

Much of Steinbeck's other stuff -- Of Mice and Men, East of Eden, Cannery Row -- is also pretty enjoyable and interesting I think, if you can find it in print.

Card very rapidly degenerated into self-indulgent twaddle post Ender's Game (most recently, he's been calling for armed overthrow of the US govt if same-sex marriage is authorized). But some of the short stories he wrote prior to that, collected as Unaccompanied Sonata, are good if occasionally rather gruesome.

[secretrebel.livejournal.com]

Glad you liked Ender's Game. You're correct that series does go downhill, although I don't think the sequels are really *bad* until the Shadow sequence: Ender's Shadow etc.

I have so many books it's hard to know what to recommend. A Deepness in the Sky, by Vernor Vinge?

I second the 'Grapes of Wrath' recommendation.

[a-llusive.livejournal.com]

Must get my own copy one of these days. The other Steinbeck I read didn't feel satisfy as much.

Re: I second the 'Grapes of Wrath' recommendation.

[glittertigger]

You would be very welcome to borrow my copy if you want to