Atticus Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 The Last Girlfriend on Earth, by Simon Rich Link to post Share on other sites
NoJ Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 OK, book people! As an avid non-reader, I would like to get some recommendations for a book or two to read on an upcoming beach vacation with my wife who will be glued to her kindle. I haven't read a book in years. I'd like to get something that's along the lines of the earlier Michael Crichton books - kind of science fiction / techie stuff, but an easy read. Also something funny / quirky a la Hitchiker's Guide but maybe a little more current. Not much to go on there. Any help would be greatly appreciated... I generally have no business in a book thread. Stranger in a strange land by r heinlein(sp?) Link to post Share on other sites
Lammycat Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 I read Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea on a beach in Cape Cod about 6 yrs ago. Seemed apt. Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Stewart Posted October 10, 2013 Share Posted October 10, 2013 Speaking of unfinished - anyone ever work their way through A Confederacy of Dunces? I have tried many times, and will try again, but good Lord, it is tough to stick with... Link to post Share on other sites
calvino Posted October 10, 2013 Share Posted October 10, 2013 Speaking of getting through book - I have read every Dostoyevsky novel over the years, with the exception of The Brothers Karamazov - I must have started it 5 times over the last 20 years and haven't gotten passed page 100 or so ---- one of these days I am going to get through the mother. I have read my share of Hemingway, too - but never gotten around to The Old Man and the Sea. Link to post Share on other sites
Lammycat Posted October 10, 2013 Share Posted October 10, 2013 Speaking of unfinished - anyone ever work their way through A Confederacy of Dunces? I have tried many times, and will try again, but good Lord, it is tough to stick with...No, but I, too, have tried several times. My brother gave it to me as a gift a bunch of years ago and said I'd love it but I just can't seem to get into it. Pretty sure it's a fave of NoJ's, though. Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Stewart Posted October 10, 2013 Share Posted October 10, 2013 My copy was a gift from a writing teacher, who told me my writing style reminded him of it, and that it was his favorite book. So, it's a mindfuck that I can't get through it (yet). Link to post Share on other sites
NoJ Posted October 10, 2013 Share Posted October 10, 2013 Speaking of unfinished - anyone ever work their way through A Confederacy of Dunces? I have tried many times, and will try again, but good Lord, it is tough to stick with... Reported. Link to post Share on other sites
anthony Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 I loved Dunces. I do not remember it being a challenging read. Very enjoyable. Link to post Share on other sites
smells like flowers Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 I lived in New Orleans in '98-99 and read A Confederacy of Dunces shortly after moving away from there. It was hilarious! But a couple months ago I thought I'd revisit it and was dismayed to find it didn't resonate the way it had before. Timing is everything! Link to post Share on other sites
theashtraysays Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 Thank you everyone.... I really appreciate the input. Based on your advice, a couple other recommendations, and a trip to the local library, here's what I'm taking with me. I have no illusions that I'll read them all, or even more than maybe 2, but I figure some may not click and I'll have some choices. I also have an upcoming long trip to China after the vacation, so I'm hoping to have some carryover reading enthusiasm for that... The Last Girlfriend on EarthThe Restaurant at the End of the UniverseAn Oral Biography of Buster CaseyEmperor Mollusk Versus the Sinister BrainSkinny Legs and AllThe Business (Iain Banks)Learning How to Die (been a while...) Will report back later.... thanks again!tas Link to post Share on other sites
Moss Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 I loved Dunces. I do not remember it being a challenging read. Very enjoyable.Yesh, I loved that book and don't remember it dragging ever. Link to post Share on other sites
GtrPlyr Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 Yesh, I loved that book and don't remember it dragging ever. Same here. It's probably been 25 years since I read it, wonder if it would still hold up for me. Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Stewart Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 OK, I'm inspired to give Dunces another shot, after I finish Doctor Sleep. Link to post Share on other sites
NoJ Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 OK, I'm inspired to give Dunces another shot, after I finish Doctor Sleep. Great, you'll love it this time, I guarantee! Link to post Share on other sites
Lammycat Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 I didn't find it challenging to read at all, just didn't like what I read so stopped reading it. Link to post Share on other sites
NoJ Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 I didn't find it challenging to read at all, just didn't like what I read so stopped reading it. How can you not like hilariousness? Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Stewart Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 I didn't find it challenging to read at all, just didn't like what I read so stopped reading it. Yeah. Link to post Share on other sites
Oil Can Boyd Posted October 14, 2013 Share Posted October 14, 2013 I really like Chabon - and given the subject matter I thought I was going to love this one - but I really struggled with it. Link to post Share on other sites
Moss Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 I really like Chabon - and given the subject matter I thought I was going to love this one - but I really struggled with it. Uh oh. I just started it. I remember the reviews being a bit tepid as well. Link to post Share on other sites
The High Heat Posted October 17, 2013 Share Posted October 17, 2013 Re-read. One day during the first time I read this book I was enjoying it while eating out for lunch and I noticed the guy next to me reading The Bible. I almost pointed out the coincidence, but at that point in the novel I was navigating through some "questionable content," so I kept my mouth shut. Link to post Share on other sites
NoJ Posted October 17, 2013 Share Posted October 17, 2013 "The Man Who Quit Money" by M Sundeen Just started it, not sure what to make of it....is he a holy man or a half wit layabout? Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Stewart Posted October 17, 2013 Share Posted October 17, 2013 He's a witch! Link to post Share on other sites
gogo Posted October 18, 2013 Share Posted October 18, 2013 Thank you everyone.... I really appreciate the input. Based on your advice, a couple other recommendations, and a trip to the local library, here's what I'm taking with me. I have no illusions that I'll read them all, or even more than maybe 2, but I figure some may not click and I'll have some choices. I also have an upcoming long trip to China after the vacation, so I'm hoping to have some carryover reading enthusiasm for that... The Last Girlfriend on EarthThe Restaurant at the End of the UniverseAn Oral Biography of Buster CaseyEmperor Mollusk Versus the Sinister BrainSkinny Legs and AllThe Business (Iain Banks)Learning How to Die (been a while...) Will report back later.... thanks again!tas Very late to the game on this one, but this summer I read Ready Player One and really enjoyed it. It's a little bit young adult-y, but the whole premise is built around modern (set in the near-future) teens immersing themselves in 80s pop-culture references, so I had a lot of fun with it. i described it to my 16 year old niece and 14 year old nephew as "the Hunger Games takes place inside World of Warcraft". They didn't believe me at first, but then each of them devoured it in one (long) sitting. (My sister told me that she went out to work one morning and left my nephew sitting on the couch just opening the book; when she came home six hours later, he was in the same place, and practically yelled at her "I really have to go to the bathroom, but this book is too good to put down!") Anyway, late in the season for a beach read, but could be a good distraction on a long flight. Link to post Share on other sites
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