viadurham Posted February 13, 2007 Share Posted February 13, 2007 i'm taking a much-needed vacation to italy in the coming weeks and was wondering if anyone has read any good books lately they'd recommend for my journey. i'm a voracious reader but i'm having a bit of trouble thinking of new titles. some of my favorite writers are michael chabon, jonathan lethem, arthur nersesian, etc., if that helps any. thanks! MiKE Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gogo Posted February 13, 2007 Share Posted February 13, 2007 An Italian city that's not really Italian, written by a woman who wasn't always. A book about places and people that are neither one thing nor the other, or maybe they're both. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jahilia Posted February 13, 2007 Share Posted February 13, 2007 Are you looking for light, quick reads or something that takes a little time to get through? Edit: I'll just list some of the ones that come to mind when I think "Great Books" Steppenwolf - Herman HesseI've read this one about 15 times and each time I enjoy it as much as the first. Tin Drum - Gunter GrassHow can you go wrong with a book whose first line is "Granted, I am an inmate of a mental hospital"? It takes "unreliable narrator" to a whole new level. Lolita or Pale Fire - NabokovNabokov is my favorite writer and Lolita is my favorite book of all time. Pale Fire is a book in two (or three) parts - a poem, an editors commentary on the poem (which is where the real story is) and maybe the index. It's very funny and smart. London Fields - Martin AmisMy second favorite book of all time. His writing reminds me of Nabokov, but isn't quite as arrogant. There's been talk for years about turning this into a movie (by Cronenberg last time I checked), but the characters are just so real I can't imagine how they would cast it. The Magus - John Fowles Breakfast of Champions - VonnegutEveryone's probably read this, but I thought I'd put it on here anyway Short stories of Jorge Luis BorgesI have the Complete Fictions, but Book of Sand is the best collection if you're looking for something a little less expensive Quote Link to post Share on other sites
markosis Posted February 13, 2007 Share Posted February 13, 2007 I'd recommend Siddhartha by Herman Hesse. I understand it is a classic to some, its not too long, and it will get your mind working in a good way. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
viadurham Posted February 13, 2007 Author Share Posted February 13, 2007 Are you looking for light, quick reads or something that takes a little time to get through? either/or. pretty much just looking for something that goes well with a road trip. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lammycat Posted February 13, 2007 Share Posted February 13, 2007 either/or. pretty much just looking for something that goes well with a road trip.On the Road, Jack KeroacThe Electric Kool Aid Acid Test, Tom WolfeFear and Loathing in Las Vegas, HSTTravels With Charlie, SteinbeckThe Sun Also Rises, Hemingway Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouieB Posted February 13, 2007 Share Posted February 13, 2007 On the Road is always fun to read on the road.... LouieB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bobbob1313 Posted February 13, 2007 Share Posted February 13, 2007 I'll recomend my favorite 5 books (Kidsmoke will be familiar with this list) Lamb: The Gospel According To Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal by Christopher MooreThe Curious Incident of the Dog In The Nighttime by Mark HaddonIshmael by Daniel QuinnMe Talk Pretty one Day by David SedarisLife of Pi by Yann Martel All amazing books. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cryptique Posted February 13, 2007 Share Posted February 13, 2007 I always recommend Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson, regardless who's asking and why. That's a hell of a fun read. It'll probably show up in the Sci-Fi section at most bookstores, but it's so much more than a "genre" book. Plus, the technology and times are starting to catch up to those envisioned in the book, adding an extra level of surreality. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MeDave Posted February 13, 2007 Share Posted February 13, 2007 favorite travel books: the alchemist - paolo coehlosidharta - hessemilroy the magician - paul thereauxto a god unknown - steinbeckdharma bums - keroacor on the even lighter side - anything by kurt vonnegut jr. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Synthesizer Patel Posted February 13, 2007 Share Posted February 13, 2007 The Coral Island by R. M. Ballantyne (the inspiration for Lord of The Flies)Moonfleet by John Meade FalknerThe Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket by Edgar Allen Poe (As you can see I really like adventure yarns either on the sea or involving small boys ) Those kinds of books are great for travelling. Otherwise try Crome Yellow by Aldus Huxley, or anything by Richard Brautigan. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lammycat Posted February 13, 2007 Share Posted February 13, 2007 or anything by Richard Brautigan.In terms of a fun travel book, I'd actually narrow it down to In Watermelon Sugar, the lesser known but superior (IMO) book compared to Trout Fishing in America. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
WaronWar Posted February 13, 2007 Share Posted February 13, 2007 Why not have some poetry while your at it. Might I suggest "Leaves of Grass," which would be great while on the road or you could read "Walden." for novels or as other have suggested "On The Road" which is my all time favorite book. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouieB Posted February 13, 2007 Share Posted February 13, 2007 Do people actually still read Richard Brautigan?? LouieB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Synthesizer Patel Posted February 13, 2007 Share Posted February 13, 2007 In terms of a fun travel book, I'd actually narrow it down to In Watermelon Sugar, the lesser known but superior (IMO) book compared to Trout Fishing in America. Yeah, actually I'm not overly keen on Trout Fishing In America - it's got some great passages, but the nature of it makes it a little bit hit and miss. I actually like The Hawkline Monster (which really is dying to be made into a film), or A Conferdate General From Big Sur, more. Do people actually still read Richard Brautigan?? LouieB Did people ever read Richard Brautigan?? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spawn's dad Posted February 13, 2007 Share Posted February 13, 2007 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Basil II Posted February 13, 2007 Share Posted February 13, 2007 An Italian city that's not really Italian, written by a woman who wasn't always. A book about places and people that are neither one thing nor the other, or maybe they're both. Maudie.....that looks like a fantastic book!! may have to look into that....... Any trip to Italy for would include this obscure tome'...... "Byzantine Aspects of Italy"(An illustrated handbook guiding the traveler to Italy's Byzantine heritage) -by Daniel Crena De Iongh W.W. Norton and Co. -Robert. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Smokestack Joe Posted February 13, 2007 Share Posted February 13, 2007 nothing to do with italy but great reads nonetheless.... BUKOWSKI Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lammycat Posted February 13, 2007 Share Posted February 13, 2007 nothing to do with italy but great reads nonetheless.... BUKOWSKIWell, Hank does have the whole Germany thing going for him, so at least there's a European vibe. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
explodo Posted February 13, 2007 Share Posted February 13, 2007 White Noise - Don DelilloWind-up Bird Chronicle - Haruki Murakami Those were the two best books that I read last year. Yes. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gogo Posted February 13, 2007 Share Posted February 13, 2007 Maudie.....that looks like a fantastic book!! may have to look into that.......Robert, I love that book so much, I actually went to Trieste on vacation last year! It's not exactly a tourist hot spot, which was a good thing. White Noise - Don DelilloI keep meaning to read that one. The only books of his that I've read were Libra (great) and Cosmopolis (not quite so great). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
M. (hristine Posted February 13, 2007 Share Posted February 13, 2007 Brautigan and Hesse in one thread? I may be in literary heaven! I just finished reading Siddhartha last week. Third time since highschool. One of my all time favorites. Again and again... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Preferred B Posted February 13, 2007 Share Posted February 13, 2007 I just finished reading Siddhartha last week. Third time since highschool.Well, damn. I read Siddhartha back in high school and I don't remember having any opinion about it at the time. Based on all of your responses, maybe I should give it another go. Though we all did have to do some sort of research project associated with the book, and someone designed an "Eightfold Path" game (think an actual path of posterboard squares laid out on the floor with different "challenges" and such) that we all played. Good times. This was one of the most enjoyable books I read last year: Winner of The Orange Award for New Writers, whatever that may be. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
anodyne Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bobbob1313 Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 My favorite travel writer is Bill Bryson. He manages to make travel writing exciting and fun for the reader, and he's hysterical. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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