Good Books?

if it hasn't been mentioned yet Catch-22 is a really great book, its funny aswell. one of my favourites...
 
Blackhawk, go to the biographies, actually I think its still on the best seller and get "a million little pieces". Incredible book. You won't put it down. And you will never touch another drug again. (you shouldnt be doing drugs, anyway!)
 
blckhawk542 said:
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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Sounds good man, you've got a lot of killer titles in here, let us know how you make out...
 
a long time ago, in a city far far away I read a book entitled "The Contender". I believe that was the title.

If i remember correctly, it was about a young black kid who was trained by a Jewish man in boxing.

I loved the book, but only read it once but always wished someone would make it into a film.
 
I read The Contender in 8th grade. That really was a really good book. It takes place in New York..i think brooklyn or something.

I must agree with your opinion on it. :)
 
I'll take this opportunity to introduce you to my main inspiration and all-time favorite writer...

go get anything by
Ray Bradbury

Fahrenheit 451 is a fantastic novel
The Martian Chronicles is a great scifi novel/collection of short stories
Something Wicked This Way Comes is spooky fun about two boys roughly your age
Dandelion Wine is less spooky but just as excellent -- also about a boy roughly your age
and lastly for the novels, Green Shadow, White Whale since it pertains to writing and filmmaking.

for smaller doses, Bradbury has hundreds of short stories available. If you've only got 10 - 20 minutes to sit down and read something, and want a complete story, this stuff is awesome. There are many collections... some of my favorites:

Classic Stories 1 (big fat collection of really good stuff)
Classic Stories 2 (just as big fat and good)
The October Country

The list goes on and on. The man is 86 years old this year and STILL writing. I've got things he wrote in the 50s and things he wrote last summer. Massive body of work.

I discovered Bradbury in middle school. Not only is his stuff enjoyable, it is also recognized as "literature" by teachers and professors and the like. That said, it comes in extremely handy when you are assigned a book report on a book of your choosing that might have to qualify as "respectable." Having devoured pretty much everything Bradbury has written gave me YEARS of source material for school assignments in high school and college, and I was actually able to enjoy it since I was writing about something I loved.

Anyhoo... sermon over. Carry on.
 
c.g._eads said:
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.
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Generally yes -- but a few years ago I picked up Michael Ende's The Neverending Story. It blew me away. Light years better than the movie... it quickly replaced any and all movie images in my head with the ones described in the book, and I learned that the Wolfgang Petersen movie (while it has a special place in my heart) is only HALF of the book. (The poor sequel is technically the other half, but HORRIBLY done).

I recommend the Ralph Manheim translation for anyone picking this up (original is in German -- so I guess I recommend THAT if you speak it).
 
I'm an idiot. I said to read the Steven Weber books, but I didn't tell you you could get copies for free. :)

http://www.baen.com has a "free library" (and I'm pretty sure that's what the link says) where you can download complete novels in HTML, Microsoft Reader (the best idea, imo...easiest to read, and it keeps track of where you left off), or for Palm.

Also, if you buy any of the more recent hard cover editions of Weber's or Eric Flint's books, a CD is included which contains even more books. Free.

Anyway, there are a bunch of the books in that free section on the web page...Weber, Flint, Pournelle, Niven, Lackey, etc etc etc.

OR, you oculd PM me with your address and I'll send you a CD with all the books on it. Baen actually *encourages* people to copy the CDs and hand them out. Smart people.
 
I think good sci-fi gives you the greatest mindstretch for the time invested. Plus, I liked it at 15 and still do now.

Against the Fall of Night - Arthur Clarke - protagonist is a 15 yr old boy, awesome reading for you at your age and easy too.

Dune (series of 12 if you like the first) - Frank Herbert

Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert Heinlein, also The Moon is a Harsh Mistress

Atlas Shrugged - by Ayn Rand - A bit tedious, but possibly one of the most important books of the last 500 years. More prophetic than 1984

** The Richest Man in Babylon - George Clason

** Challenge to Succeed - Jim ROhn (CD program)

** These two are not sci-fi, but will permanently change your life philosophies ( I bet you didn't think you had philiosophies, did you?)

How to Read a Book (I forget author). This also has a list of great books in it...

MY strategy is to wander into the library (or bookstore) and see what grabs my attention. Don't be in a rush, and don't be afraid to put abook back if you find a better one. Kismet always sends me what I need to read next... The key to getting value out of books is to read the right one at the right time. If timing is off, you just won't get the message.... I urge you to seek out the CD program by Jim Rohn (always on ebay cheap), let me know if you can't find it.
 
A few Suggestions:

Fiction: Dean Koontz
Non: John Douglas
Personal Growth: John Maxwell, Napolean Hill
 
I totally agree with Chuck Palahniuk suggestions but you left out his latest (and if i do say so myself) greatest work Haunted. Some of the darkest material you will read and sick as all hell. And if you like comics (and ill try not to get into a literature vs comics debate here) I can recommend Preacher (by Garth Ennis) and Watchmen (or anything by the peerless Alan Moore). Oh and From Hell it pisses all over the film and will scare the bejesus out of you (also by Alan Moore).:thumbup:
 
OOOhhh almost forget as well since were on a filmakers forum this is a book i read and re-read again Bruce Campbells Autobiography If Chins Could Kill.
 
WTF is a book?

Seriously, I've been making my way through Dark Tower VI since I can't remember when.

My recommendation is Invisible Monsters by Chuck Palahniuk.
 
uhrgl said:
WTF is a book?

Seriously, I've been making my way through Dark Tower VI since I can't remember when.
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You got that far? You're a better man than I am...


Oh...that reminds me. I've got the DVD of Gunga Din sitting in my backpack, waiting to be watched.
 
Look for books by John Le Carre. You may recognize a couple of his recent books that were adapted for the screen, "The Tailor of Panama" and "The Constant Gardener." Both were excellent books.

Among his earlier stuff was "The Spy Who Came In From the Cold", "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy", "The Honorable Schoolboy" and "Little Drummer Girl".

On warning, it sometimes takes a little time to get into the stories. He has his own style of pacing.
 
Thanks for all ur suggestions.

I went to the library on Sunday and picked up Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas. I didnt get to read much of it yet..only chapter 5. It's funny so far. It's the part where they go outside of Las Vegas to a bar and witness the Mint 400.

ITS BAT COUNTRY!!!! hahaha
 
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