anodyne Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 my brother is a pretty awesome travel writer. he's not written any books yet, but he has written a few articles. the washington post and ny times both bought some of his pieces. he loves bill bryson. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wheelco Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 Cannibals and Kings- Marvin HarrisGuns, Germs and Steel - Jared Diamond Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Atticus Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 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 Moore many, many thanks for mentioning this. an ex-girlfriend recommended this to me years ago, and I couldn't ever remember the title. a-book-hunting I shall go... I guess I should also mention more vonnegut. "God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater" has been my favorite book for so long I can't remember when it became so. I also love Sirens of Titans... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Welsh Rich Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 I'll second anything by Martin Amis and the short stories of Jorge Luis Borges as well (just read them myself and their lovely). I'll also recommend The Corrections by Jonathan Frazen, fantastic book and The Magus by John Fowles - perfect holiday material, a dark and fantastic thriller. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bobbob1313 Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 many, many thanks for mentioning this. an ex-girlfriend recommended this to me years ago, and I couldn't ever remember the title. a-book-hunting I shall go... Every person I've reccomended it to has fallen in love with that book, and I hope it does the same for you. Simply put, it's perfect. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Somnambulist Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 Anything by Terry Southern. His novels are short and quick which might be good for traveling. I read the newish compilation Now Dig This on vacation a few years ago. Red Dirt Marijuana is a good collection of short stories as well. Southern is good for way over the top sarcasm, irony, etc. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
viadurham Posted February 14, 2007 Author Share Posted February 14, 2007 Thanks everyone. So many choices! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Scalzunfield Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 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. Excellent read. I breezed through this in 3 days and was actually sad when it ended. Spectacular book that, as you said, is much more than a genre book. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
peqger Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 Flicker by Theodore Roszak. Especially if you're a film buff. Or perhaps Hyperion (and the sequels) by Dan Simmons. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr. Heartbreak Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 Some of my faves: John Fowles - The Magus, A Maggot, Daniel Martin, The French Lieutenant's WomanWilliam Styron - Set This House On Fire, Sophie's Choice, Confessions of Nat TurnerE. L. Doctorow - Book Of Daniel, Loon Lake, Waterworks, Billy Bathgate Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kathyp Posted February 15, 2007 Share Posted February 15, 2007 I don't know how you feel about books on tape, but I listened to Salman Rushdie reading Fury recently, and hearing his words spoken in his own resonant, hypnotic voice is something to experience. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
explodo Posted February 15, 2007 Share Posted February 15, 2007 I keep meaning to read that one. The only books of his that I've read were Libra (great) and Cosmopolis (not quite so great).Do it. It might be the best book I've ever read. If you've read/are familiar with Baudrillard's Simulacra and Simulation (which I also couldn't recommend more) it should come close to.....I guess blowing your mind? I don't know how to put it other than that, though that might be a kind of sensationalist representation. Just read it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jahilia Posted February 15, 2007 Share Posted February 15, 2007 Do it. It might be the best book I've ever read. I agree, "White Noise" is a great book. Currently, I'm stuck halfway through "Underworld" - I think it's a bit too ambitious. A writer like Tolstoy can pull off a book with such scope, but with "Underworld" I feel like the characters aren't developed enough to make me want to trudge through the remaining 600 pages. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Oil Can Boyd Posted February 15, 2007 Share Posted February 15, 2007 This is one of my favorite books ever: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Stewart Posted February 15, 2007 Share Posted February 15, 2007 Mr. Vertigo by Paul Auster is great, and would be great to read on the road, I think. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
quarter23cd Posted February 15, 2007 Share Posted February 15, 2007 I agree, "White Noise" is a great book. Currently, I'm stuck halfway through "Underworld"I think I've been stuck on page 50 of "Underworld" for about 5 years now. Same with Pynchon's "Mason & Dixon", which if I remember correctly, I bought at the same time and I fizzled out pretty quickly on both. Not that I dislike either, but I think I got overwhelmed at the thought of trying to wade through 600 pages of it. Someday I'll get through em... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gogo Posted February 15, 2007 Share Posted February 15, 2007 Do it. It might be the best book I've ever read. If you've read/are familiar with Baudrillard's Simulacra and Simulation (which I also couldn't recommend more) it should come close to.....I guess blowing your mind? I don't know how to put it other than that, though that might be a kind of sensationalist representation. Just read it.Perhaps we can discuss this in the near future. This is one of my favorite books ever: Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! No, really though. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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