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Recommendations!
singeivoire:
--- Quote from: Uber Ritter on 04 Jan 2008, 08:52 ---Jonathan Strange and Mister Norrell By Susanna Clarke
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I agree! This book is a brick - but I thought it was excellent. Honestly, I was derailed about halfway through my first reading of it, but recently picked it back up and powered through the last 500 pages in a single weekend. The book invents its own genre - a blend of fantastic literature, novel of manners, and faux-academic textbook. The footnotes in and of themselves are charming little bunny trails that keep the narrative dense and richly layered. Loved it, bought it, will read it again.
I also would highly recommend the Gentelman Bastard Sequence from Scott Lynch - the two books out so far are just plain fun. The Lies of Locke Lamora and Red Seas Under Red Skies may not be the deepest, most life-changing reads out there, but they are still worth owning, in my opinion. They are chock full of great characters, heists, pirates, revenge, magic, etc. If violence or profanity bother you, these may not be your bag. They are great "popcorn books", though - energetic and entertaining.
Saiokuo:
Ok, I know a few of these have been mentioned so I won't state reasons for them as the other contributors have already done that but:
Books
His Dark Materials (Philip Pullman)
Ishmael (Daniel Quinn)
Rebecca (Daphne Du Maurier)
"Last night I dreamt I went to Manderly again" - Rebecca is a romance novel twisted in lies and murder. Sound good yet? The story is set in first person of an author never given a first name who tells the story of how she went from being a poor companion girl to marrying a wealthy Englishmen and then to the small hotel from where she recounts the story. A very good read for any girls with an inferiority complex this is a must read as you have to watch Mrs. De Winters struggle with her own and how others manipulate her with it.
Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte)
I think this book should be required for all girls in high school. This too is a romance of sorts but not your typical damsel in distress. Jane is a witty and sharp young girl which gets her into trouble until she becomes a governess for a man almost as sharp and witty as herself. Almost. But this is not a Disney story and there is no perfect marriage and happily ever after leaving Jane to find her own strength and choose what is best for herself.
Speak (Laurie Halse Anderson)
Another girl book but one that the boys might enjoy as well. Speak is the delightfully dark tale of a freshmen raped at a summer party and her coping with what happened and being a social outcast. I can't recall if it's in first person or not but you do get insight into Melinda's mind which is full of wonderful dark sarcasm. Its a fun read, rape aside, and for me personally alot easier to stomach than it's sister "Catalyst" by Anderson as well.
Shows
Fullmetal Alchemist
Fullmetal Alchemist starts out looking like an amusing and adorable series with action and a hint of tragedy. But once it starts up you realise just how wrong you are. The comic relief and cute scenes stay active throughout the series but more to break the growing tensions as brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric struggle to make sense of the world they're growing up in. Again and again they are forced into situations that open their eyes to the naivity of their beliefs until that point. A wonderful series to the end. Also, I have yet to see the movie that accompanies the series but I have heard it to be very good.
Deathnote
Ok, so for anyone whose read the graphic novel and feels they don't need to watch it they're probably right. Its the same basic thing, no major plot changes, and you have to deal with Misa's voice. It could break windows, I swear. But that aside, Deathnote is a psychological cat and mouse game between killer and detective as Light Yagami is given the power to kill with a notebook and decides to use it to cast judgement on the criminals of the world. A trully amazing series, either in book or animation form.
ad0wrc:
--- Quote from: Ishotdanieljohnston on 07 Oct 2007, 05:00 ---i've just started reading motherless brooklyn by Jonathan Lethem and while it's not the best book i've ever read (so far) it's a really good read- witty, orignal, interesting and not to heavy. Kind of a paul Auster, Chuck Palahniuk thing... about an orphan with tourettes tryin to find the killer of his mentor... currently being made into a film by Ed Norton.
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I agree, solid read, very original voice. Is the movie going forward? I heard the same thing when the book came out, but then nothing.
My recommendation would have to be Agyar, by Steven Brust. Great anti-hero, dark stuff, and absolutely Brust's best work. He's probably better known in sci-fi/fantasy circles for the Taltos books, but Agyar just blew me away. I've recommended it to a lot of people, and without fail they've enjoyed it.
Uber Ritter:
If you want to read something that's about as subtle, uneventful, beautiful and profound as life itself, only contained in 800 pages, I'd reccomend Middlemarch by George Eliot. This novel single-handedly convinced my pompous ass that 19th century literature in English has something to offer on par with its Russian contemporaries. Is it slow? Yes. But the characters are among the best drawn you'll ever see, the novel is incredibly philosophical without being preachy or digressive and towards the end it actually gets pretty engrossing for a novel where nearly nothing happens.
If you want a shorter read, Benito Cereno by Herman Melville is around 50 or so pages of condensed awesome (and it can be found here-- http://www.esp.org/books/melville/piazza/contents/cereno.html). The contrast between the titular Spaniard (BC) and the American Amasso Dellano (AD) alone offers up plenty of possible interpretations, including old vs. new world, ancient versus modern, etc etc. Plus few stories probe as openly the connection between liberty for oneself and domination over others.
cmalberg:
--- Quote from: pistachio_love on 29 Nov 2007, 16:08 ---I've just started reading Everything Is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer; I'm only a few chapters in, and I've fallen in love.
Alex Perchov is a gem; "I am a premium person." ^^
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absolutely wonderful book, although it does get a little dull at times (mostly in the history of Tchechimbrod.) the writing style is enthralling with the letters from alex between the history of the safran. if you haven't yet had the chance, watch the movie as well. different as it only follows the "very rigid search" and not the history, but good none the less. that film has one of the most depressing scenes of all time in it. not going to go into details for those who haven't had the chance to see it yet.
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