Good Books?

DBoz699

DBoz699

Veteran
Hey..does anyone know of any interesting books that I could probably pick up at a library? I wanna really start getting into reading stories. Doesnt matter what genre it is. It could be Fiction or Non-Fiction..just anything to read that would formulate ideas.

After tonight...i jus wanna start reading more books and reading different stories and like enrich myself. I had a talk with my dad about doing more important things with my life, and reading i think is really one of them. Without reading, it's jus not usuing your time wisely and like not making your brain active...and espeically with filmmaking...reading is key.

If any of you have good suggestions for books you read or something...Post the title and author.
 
Ugly Americans - forget the author, but it's about snobby rich kids that rape Japan's economy.

Story of my life, except for the snobby rich kid part.
 
Haruki Murakami's "South of the Border, West of the Sun"

David McCullough's biography of "Truman"

Faulkner's "Wild Palms"

Walter Mosley edits "The Best American Short Stories"

I could go on and on...Reading is a passion. Try and mix classics with modern writers. I find that when you broaden what you read, even if it's not your regular genre etc..., you become a better story teller. Also, you might be surprised by what books you identify with. And as a nod to the upcoming sci-fest, I would say check out Asimov's "Foundation" series...
 
If you want quick popular new stuff Dan Brown (Angels & Demons, DaVinci Code, Deception Point, and Digital Fortress) writes good stuff.

If you want great erotic sci fi horror fantasy Clive Barker (The Great & Secret Show, Everville, Imagica, Gallillee, The Damnation Game)

If you want something that will disgust you Poppy Z. Brite (Exquisite Corpse)

If you want 80's sensationalism that will make you think Brett Easton Ellis (American Psycho, Less than Zero, Glamorama)

If you want classics... Well my favorites that I read once a year: Catcher in the Rye, Withering Hieghts, Count of Monte Cristo

If you want sports: Moneyball will make you change the way you look at pro baseball

If you want politics, well, I'm going to leave that one alone

If you want philosphy, the absolute greatest thinker of all time, Baruch Spinoza's Theological Political Treastie (I wrote my master thesis in Philosphy on him... brilliant).

On the philosphy tip also, if you want something that will take you a lifetime to understand, appreciate, and embody Immanuel Kant's Critique of Pure Reason is the difinitive guide to the all metaphysical thought. I have read it close to thirty times and understand only about 10% of it.

There is so much great stuff... Chuck Pahalniuk has written some great stuff (Fight Club, Survivor, Lullaby, Choke, Invisible Monsters).

Hell, the Harry Potter series is great and magical (no pun intended).

I read a lot... If there's anything I can do to help or suggestions, let me know.
 
The Davinci Code is the best mainstream book of all time. Belive the hype. It's that good.

Empire Falls is a great book with a slow build that just continues to get better and better all the way to the end.

The Sex Lives Of Cannibals is hilarious.
 
Thanks everyone.

Yankee..you made good suggestions..I read Catcher In The Rye....good book.

I was thinking of novels or something more suited to my age...im turning 16 in february...sophomore in high school. Most of those books you probably mentioned are geared to a more older audience who really understand like...a lot of different topics and stuff that i just probably would never understand until i actually experience it or learn about it in college or something.

any ideas?

EDIT TO ADD: I also wanted to say in reply to CG...i read Da Vinci Code..it was good...confused the **** out of me the first time...had to read it again..but my brain hurt aftewards. lol
 
For a 16 year old, wow...

I'm guessing that you're at an ideal age to start playing with Clive Barker. Start with The Great & Secret Show. It is one of the few books I have read that is considered fiction that I have read more than 20 times. I read it for the first time when I was about your age, and it not a year has gone by that I don't read it at least twice. It deals with a perfect anti hero, the most complete villian of all time, and a mystery about the world that will linger with you long after you finish reading it. Clive Barker, in my opinion, is the most under rated author of our time. His writing, descriptive as hell, but it is perfect. From a writing stand point, he is one of the best voices working today.

Other than filmmaking what do you enjoy? I read Less than Zero when I was younger than you are now, and that is a great read. American Psycho also got to me. Exquisite Corpse (by Poppy Z. Brite) is about homosexual necrophiliac serial killing canabals. I know it sounds cheesy, but it is actually a great novel.

Ooooh. Here is the ideal book for you. Lorenzo Carcatera's Sleepers (follow that up with Gangster). I don't care if you have seen the movie, that is one of the best, most chilling and incredible books I have ever read.

Then again, the Harry Potter series is still great.

Then again, one final option, especially if you want to learn more about the world, thought, and have it not be at a college or academic level, read Candide by Voltaire. I can honestly say that no other book has influenced me more in my life or affected my paradigm. Brilliant book.
 
Thanks Yankee..im gonna go to the library tomorrow night after band practice to see if i can find any of them...yeah tahts right...saturday nite at the library!! YEHH im soo cool!! lol

but other than filmmaking....music...guitar...photography...TV...hanging with friends...traveling. I might start trying out for lacrosse...that should be interesting...they'll prolly stick me on defense thou cuz i cant run for ****!!!
 
the-lyons-den.com said:
anything CHUCK PALAHNIUK!

my favs: Survivor, Choke, and Fight Club
Click to expand...

At 16 though?

I mean, it's hard to say... Yeah, he's a great writer and will most likely turn into the Sallinger of our generation, but at the same time, every interview I've seen with him he comes across as an arrogant prick (you have met him though, so maybe that is just how he comes across).

Blackhawk, If you're into that high school experience RUN, don't walk, to barnes and nobles and pick up Election by Tom Perrotta (or PM me your address and I will mail it to you, it's that good of a book).

I originally picked it up at some book store at the Mall of America when I was up there visiting old college roommates for like $2 on the clearance rack, read it on the plane home, great read... Haven't seen the movie yet, but I hear that's pretty good too. This is great though, and you can have a free copy.

Hmmm, what else did I like to read????

I think when I was your age I discovered Anne Rice's Vampire series (Interview, Lestat, Queen, Memnoch)... She writes incredible characters but her description is a little weak. Overall though, you continue to read because it's almost intoxicating.

Ooooh, 'All My Octobers' by Mickey Mantle. Great inspirational and incredible read.

Now that I think about it, I'm going to disagree with Lyons, simply because, although I have a ton of respect for the guy, I don't think that CP's writing is really aimed at people under 25. I'm not saying that you wont enjoy it, but I think that you won't appreciate it for all it's worth.

Have you read the Godfather? That's classic and brilliant... Plus, then you can rip on the film for all the ommissions.

Here is my ultimate recommendation (in case you don't like any of the titles that I've already named and don't want that free book, although it is a quick read: 200 pages, like 2 hours to tear through)...

Go to the library, go to the biographies, and just grab a biography (not an unauthorized one, and not an autobiography, just a biography) and sit down and read it. That will lead you to wanting to learn about other people. Start with an artist, musican, or athlete, since that is where your interests are. Soon, you'll be playing six degrees of that person with other biographies you've read.

One note, and this will be weird, don't read in bed. One of two things happens, either you'll get tired and want to crash (your body thinks that it's time to go to bed b ecause your in bed) or you'll develop a wicked case of insomnia (you get into bed and your body doesn't know it's time to go to bed)... Trust me on this one. It might seem silly, but you'll save yourself thousands in shrink bills in the future.
 
TheYankee said:
At 16 though?

I mean, it's hard to say... Yeah, he's a great writer and will most likely turn into the Sallinger of our generation, but at the same time, every interview I've seen with him he comes across as an arrogant prick (you have met him though, so maybe that is just how he comes across).
Click to expand...

At 16 Palahniuk will be like crack to Blackhawk! trust me.:thumbsup:

Chuck is seriously the coolest most down to earth person you could ever imagine, and thats no bullshi t.
 
the-lyons-den.com said:
Chuck is seriously the coolest most down to earth person you could ever imagine, and thats no bullshi t.
Click to expand...

See, that's why I said you would know better than me. I've never met the guy or anything, but I'm a big fan of his writing.

I'm going to change my earlier opinion and agree with Lyons and say that, yes, CP will be like crack for ya. He's a great writer and actually speaks for an entire generation (in many more ways that Fight Club conveys that he would). His writing style is very reminiscent of Sallinger, and everything he writes has the ability to take on a life of its own. It's really worth the purchase and time to read it.

That being said, I still stand behind my other suggestions.
 
The best book ever written is called The Mosquito Coast. i highly suggest you pick up that book before any other book mentioned here.

If you're looking for something to draw out artistic ideas, try Burrough's Naked Lunch.





ok well it isnt the best book of all time, it's my favorite.
 
Check out Flannery O'Connor. She's a short story writer. I was really into her around 16. Still am. Her sensibility is very black comedy. Good stuff.
 
Life Of Pi is a great book with a great ending. I want to direct this movie. Can anybody hook me up with the author?
 
Oh, and I don't think it's possible to read a book for the first time once you've watched the movie. The actors and everything about the film stick in your head and it ruins the experience of creating that world in your mind.
 
I think Neil Gaiman would be a good writer for you. Some of the highlights are as follows:

Comics - Sandman

Novels - American Gods (realls great, and fairly new) and Good Omens (about an angel and a demon who live on earth and are trying to prevent armageddon. Think Monty Python does the end of the world. It was written by both Gaiman and Terry Pratchett)

Childrens - Pretty much all of his childrens books are good. I know it sounds funny, but they really are. Mirrormask was just recently turned into a film.

Apparently Good Omens is also going to be turned into a film helmed by Terry Gilliam, so I'd get on the bandwagon now, so you can say, "Yeah, I read the book before the film came out. The film didn't do it justice" no matter how good the film is.

Just realized something.... I'm a pretty weird guy...
 
OK. From the 2 or 3000 books I've got sitting here...

Anything by John R. Maxim (all of which are crying out to be a film).
Steven Weber's Honor Harrington series. Read them in order, of course.
Don't laugh: "Tarzan" and "The Return of Tarzan".
Anything by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, but the Saint Germaine series is probably the only thing you'll easily find.
John Myers Myers "Silverlock".
Larry Niven & Steven Barnes' "Dreampark".
 
Thanks for all your suggestions everyone!

I'm gonna try to jus copy and paste all the titles and authors into MS word..make a list....go to the library and check out if they have any of the books.
 
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