Books The BOOK thread

The Idiot's my favourite but it's extremely sentimental, so ignore me. :D The Devils seems frighteningly relevant though and, between its 'devils' and its well-meaning but wishy-washy liberals, corresponds perfectly with the atmosphere ahead of the French Revoution.
 
Dostoyevsky's name is mentioned very frequently in this thread; every poster and his dog seems to have read him. So for a Dosty neophyte, what would you guys recommend as his most approachable book?
 
SteveJ said:
The Idiot's my favourite but it's extremely sentimental, so ignore me. :D The Devils seems frighteningly relevant though and, between its 'devils' and its well-meaning but wishy-washy liberals, corresponds perfectly with the atmosphere ahead of the French Revoution.
Click to expand...

The Idiot and The Devils are certainly the big two of his that I need to read. I think I'll go with The Devils first and interestingly you've already got me drawing an intertextual line between it and A Tale of Two Cities.
 
Will Absolute said:
Dostoyevsky's name is mentioned very frequently in this thread; every poster and his dog seems to have read him. So for a Dosty neophyte, what would you guys recommend as his most approachable book?
Click to expand...

I read Karamazov first (as Steve suggests) at University. If you do get it, make you sure you get the one published by 'Vintage' with the big cross on the cover. It's the best translation possibly ever into English apparently.
 
Will Absolute said:
Dostoyevsky's name is mentioned very frequently in this thread; every poster and his dog seems to have read him. So for a Dosty neophyte, what would you guys recommend as his most approachable book?
Click to expand...
Crime and Punishment is my favorite, followed by The Idiot. Humiliated and Insulted is also quite good.

Haven't read Karamazov Brothers yet.
 
51tFcXt1lUL._SY291_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_.jpg


In an isolated village in the Icelandic Westfjords, three friends set to work renovating a derelict house. But soon they realise they are not alone there - something wants them to leave, and it's making its presence felt.

Meanwhile, in a town across the fjord, a young doctor investigating the suicide of an elderly woman discovers that she was obsessed with his vanished son.

When the two stories collide the terrifying truth is uncovered...
Click to expand...

ProductImage-75290142.jpg

Jan has just started working at the Dell nursery. But this is no normal nursery. It’s linked to a high-security asylum by a dimly-lit underground tunnel, which is used for the children to visit their parents. Who are some of the most dangerous psychopaths in the country.

And Jan has complicated reasons for being here. There’s something he’s not telling people about his past. And there’s someone in the asylum who he really wants to see...
Click to expand...
Both books are geat, intriguing reads. 8/10
 
SteveJ said:
The Idiot's my favourite but it's extremely sentimental, so ignore me. :D The Devils seems frighteningly relevant though and, between its 'devils' and its well-meaning but wishy-washy liberals, corresponds perfectly with the atmosphere ahead of the French Revoution.
Click to expand...
Reading notes from the undrground at the minute but it wouldnt encourage me to read more. I think it could be over my head. Should i persevere?
 
Sorry, mate, I haven't read it.
 
Borys said:
Any Murakami recommendations?
Click to expand...

I've just ordered Dance Dance Dance to see if I like him. Sounds up my street - dystopian and weird.

Also ordered Orwell's 1984 because it's about time I started reading again and that seems like a good place to start.
 
entropy said:
I just discovered James Ellroy. My life will never be the same. Finished Black Dahlia in less than 2 days. Onto American Tabloid. Ellroy is the best!
Click to expand...

Tabloid is his best, IMO. Doubtless it helps if you've an interest in JFK's assassination but the novel is brilliant anyway.
 
entropy said:
The opening lines and the first chapter with Howard Hughes :drool:
Click to expand...
It gets even better, mate. :)

Archie: Planning a crime fiction thing, chief. 'Trouble is, I enjoy the planning more than the writing, as I'm very lazy - I haven't written anything since 2012(!)
 
The Girl With All The Gifts

The_Girl_with_All_the_Gifts.jpg


Quite a page turner this one. Post apocalyptic zombie thriller that obviously draws on all the usual tropes but still manages to feel quite fresh. The characters are engaging and the chapters are brief which is just the way I like it.

Don't make the mistake I did of finding out half way through it's being made into a film. It kind of ruined it for me when the cast (some of them awful choices too) for that meshed into my brain and forced out the ones I'd created for myself.
 
CassiusClaymore said:
The Girl With All The Gifts

The_Girl_with_All_the_Gifts.jpg


Quite a page turner this one. Post apocalyptic zombie thriller that obviously draws on all the usual tropes but still manages to feel quite fresh. The characters are engaging and the chapters are brief which is just the way I like it.

Don't make the mistake I did of finding out half way through it's being made into a film. It kind of ruined it for me when the cast (some of them awful choices too) for that meshed into my brain and forced out the ones I'd created for myself.
Click to expand...
I promise not to make the mistake of finding out its been made into a film halfway through.

D'oh
 
Stick said:
Reading notes from the undrground at the minute but it wouldnt encourage me to read more. I think it could be over my head. Should i persevere?
Click to expand...

What's the problem? After part 1, the book becomes much more novel like in terms of story line, rather than crazed ranting. You should persevere, even if it's going over your head at least you can think back on it after reading it and formulate your own ideas, that's what I do.
 
Adzzz said:
What's the problem? After part 1, the book becomes much more novel like in terms of story line, rather than crazed ranting. You should persevere, even if it's going over your head at least you can think back on it after reading it and formulate your own ideas, that's what I do.
Click to expand...
Yeah Part 1 was a bit of a crazed rant and I found it hard to relate to the overall moaning michael that is the main character. I find my patience run thin with characters like that but sure it's only a hundred odd pages. Books like this tend to turn me away from reading for a while though.
 
Stick said:
Yeah Part 1 was a bit of a crazed rant and I found it hard to relate to the overall moaning michael that is the main character. I find my patience run thin with characters like that but sure it's only a hundred odd pages. Books like this tend to turn me away from reading for a while though.
Click to expand...

He's exploring human depths, think of it like looking into someones mind and it might begin to take a better shape. Never be put off reading great works because you feel you misunderstand them, misunderstanding them is probably the best way to begin anyway.
 
Adzzz said:
He's exploring human depths, think of it like looking into someones mind and it might begin to take a better shape. Never be put off reading great works because you feel you misunderstand them, misunderstanding them is probably the best way to begin anyway.
Click to expand...
Thanks I'll give it a go and let you know what I think.
 
"City of Mirrors", book three in the "Passage trilogy" is supposed to be released today. Been a loong wait since book number two "The Twelve".

If you haven't read the series then I suggest you start, the books are serious bricks but probably some of the best doomsday \ thriller \ horror stuff ever written. We are talking Stephen King's "The Stand" level of greatness.

http://enterthepassage.com/

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6690798-the-passage
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13281368-the-twelve

Edit: Ebook acquired :drool:
 
Will Absolute said:
Ok, Adzzz and Steve recommend Karamazov which Revan hasn't read. So I'll give it a whirl. Thanks for the replies.
Click to expand...

Karamazov probably my favourite book - 'The Grand Inquisitor' chapter alone is as good a piece of literature as you'll find.
 
2cents said:
Karamazov probably my favourite book - 'The Grand Inquisitor' chapter alone is as good a piece of literature as you'll find.
Click to expand...

Most writers never write a single book anywhere near as good as that single chapter. Genius.
 
Recently finished Suttree by Cormac McCarthy (probably the lightest of McCarthy's work and pretty funny at times) and The Outsider by Albert Camus (very short, interesting character study), this week I'm on Pedro Paramo by Juan Rulfo.
 
Just finished Cogan's Trade by George V Higgins.Not your typical crime novel.Set in Boston during the early 70's,centered around few gangsters and their boring work routines.The book is 250+pages of just dialogue.Higgins rarely goes into detail describing anything in particular.Maybe, just the clothing of the characters but that's about it. I loved it.I highly recommend it if you aren't looking for too much plot but plenty of laughs,great characterization and backstories.
 
:lol:

Renowned author Dan Brown picked up the cellphone and pressed the button on the cellphone to stop the ringing of the cellphone and held the cellphone to his ear so that down the cellphone he could hear the voice of the person calling him on the cellphone.

“Hello?” he greeted.

It was his publisher, John Publisher.

“Hello, Dan Brown,” spoke John Publisher. “I’m calling you because I’ve had an idea and I want to tell you what the idea that I’ve had is.”

The wealthy scribe listened, his ears sharpening like pencils.

“What’s the idea you’re calling me to tell me that you’ve had?” he questioned.

“I’ll tell you,” informed John Publisher. “I want to republish bestselling book The Da Vinci Code – but this time, for Young Adults.”
Click to expand...
Look out, kids! It’s the return of renowned Dan Brown:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2016/05/21/look-out-kids-its-the-return-of-renowned-dan-brown/
 
Dan Brown... Jesus.


That's actually the title of his new historically accurate autobiography.
 
SwansonsTache said:
"City of Mirrors", book three in the "Passage trilogy" is supposed to be released today. Been a loong wait since book number two "The Twelve".

If you haven't read the series then I suggest you start, the books are serious bricks but probably some of the best doomsday \ thriller \ horror stuff ever written. We are talking Stephen King's "The Stand" level of greatness.

http://enterthepassage.com/

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6690798-the-passage
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13281368-the-twelve

Edit: Ebook acquired :drool:
Click to expand...

So, just finished book three which is the final chapter in the trilogy. And all I have to say is hooleee-shit, this book was just as good as the first one, while the second one didn't quite reach the levels of pure epicness that you grow accustomed to with this series.

6/6 for the trilogy in total. Actually better than both the Stand and the Dark Tower series by Stephen King. The ending and conclusion seriously gave me goosebumps. Just in a totally different division compared to other doomsday \ biotech \ thriller stuff.
 
Just finished reading Murakami first two novels that he wrote "wind & Pinball". Reading his books is like being in a dream where you don't see any story lines and it just flow seemlessly without realising that at the end you woke up and asked yourself , wow that was a good dream.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.