Topic: Your 10 favourite books

[manifest]

Journey to Ixtlan - Carlos Casteneda
One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Up from Eden - Ken Wilber
Dune trilogy - Frank Herbert
Cutting through spiritual materialism - Chogyam Trungpa
The Book of the New Sun - Gene Wolfe
The Art of Loving - Eric Fromm
Island - Aldous Huxley
The Awakening Earth - Peter Russell
The I Ching - Wilhelm edition

[Degs]

The Master and Margarita - Mikhail Bulgakov
World War Z - Max Brooks
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - Hunter S. Thompson
Mr. Nice - Howard Marks
Catch-22 - Joseph Heller
A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
1984 - George Orwell
Death and the Penguin - Andrey Kurkov
Flight from Deathrow -Harry Hill
A Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickins

[Okkervil]

Must say Degs, thats a cracking list.

[classycarra]

raymond chandler - the big sleep
dashiel hammet - red harvest
cormac mccarthy - the road
joseph conrad - heart of darkness
joseph heller - catch 22
george orwell - 1984
aldous huxley - brave new world
ernest hemingway - the old man and the sea
william golding - lord of the flies
struggling to make ten, so maybe include maltese falcon.

[Redcap]

Off the top of my head.. hard to do with books really

Great Expectations- Charles Dickens
The Call of the Wild- Jack London
A Farewell to Arms- Ernest Hemingway
Catch-22- Joseph Heller
The Unbearable Lightness of Being- Milan Kundera
The End of the Affair- Graham Greene
The Great Gatsby- F. Scott Fitzgerald
Brave New World- Aldous Huxley
The Wind-up Bird Chronicle- Haruki Murakami
Slaughterhouse 5- Kurt Vonnegut

[conman]

cormac mccarthy - the road

we were just talking about this at work right now, and McCarthys bar itself

[James Mac]

A Farewell to Arms- Ernest Hemingway
Catch-22- Joseph Heller
The Unbearable Lightness of Being- Milan Kundera
The End of the Affair- Graham Greene
The Great Gatsby- F. Scott Fitzgerald
Brave New World- Aldous Huxley
The Wind-up Bird Chronicle- Haruki Murakami
Slaughterhouse 5- Kurt Vonnegut

Big "tunes". "Big books" doesn't sound right really...

[Redcap]

Big "tunes". "Big books" doesn't sound right really...

I don't know.. I'd say A Farewell to Arms and The End of the Affair are hardly those authors' most acclaimed or famous books. If that is what you mean. As I said though, those are just 10 I really enjoyed. Should I make a more personal list just for you mate?

[Chaztastic]

I see science fiction and fantasy in some of these lists. Get a grip.

My stab at the impossible:

Underworld - Don Delillo
Money - Martin Amis
A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
New York Trilogy - Paul Auster
Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
American Psycho - Bret Easton Ellis
The Death of Ivan Ilyich - Leo Tolstoy
The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
The Naked and The Dead - Norman Mailer
Portnoy's Complaint - Philip Roth

While the following are incontrovertibly superb:

Hmmm.  Tricky
Midnight's Children - Salman Rushdie
A Clockwork Orange - Anthony Burgess

London Fields- Martin Amis
The Metamorphosis- Franz Kafka
1984- George Orwell
Animal Farm- George Orwell

To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee

The Catcher in the Rye J.D. Salinger

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - Kesey Keller

From What I've read so far in my 19 years, in no particular order:
Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck

[Andy @ Allerton!]

I see science fiction and fantasy in some of these lists. Get a grip.

What's supposed to be wrong with Science Fiction and Fantasy? I take it you are an up-your-arse literary snob?

[Chaztastic]

What's supposed to be wrong with Science Fiction and Fantasy? I take it you are an up-your-arse literary snob?

If it's easier for you to think that way, then yes mate.

[James Mac]

I don't know.. I'd say A Farewell to Arms and The End of the Affair are hardly those authors' most acclaimed or famous books. If that is what you mean. As I said though, those are just 10 I really enjoyed. Should I make a more personal list just for you mate?

Oh no, I meant as in, good books. I really should have just said good books, looking at it now, but it was 3 in the morning... 

[Okkervil]

If it's easier for you to think that way, then yes mate.

So you are then?

[Ginamos]

Well the thread title is "Your 10 favourite books", so if you want to choose something by Jeffrey Archer or Enid Blyton it's entirely up to you.

As for the whole SF/Fantasy isn't proper literature debate, didn't that die out years ago, some people need to broaden their horizons.

[Andy @ Allerton!]

If it's easier for you to think that way, then yes mate.

Not able to answer the question then?

Here it is again in case you're a bit slow..

"What's supposed to be wrong with Science Fiction and Fantasy?"


And what makes it even more bizarre is that four of the books you agreed with Metamorphosis, 1984, A Clockwork Orange and Animal Farm could be argued to be Science Fiction/Fantasy in their own right.

[UntouchableLuis]

Always been tempted to read 'The Master and Margarita' but worried it will be lost on me..

[Corkboy]

Always been tempted to read 'The Master and Margarita' but worried it will be lost on me..

Not at all. Cracking story. I'm sure a lot of the historical allusions sailed over my head but I still liked it.

[James Mac]

Always been tempted to read 'The Master and Margarita' but worried it will be lost on me..

Do it! It's a really good book, and suprisingly more "western" than most Russian novels.

[Degs]

Must say Degs, thats a cracking list.

Cheers

[Chaztastic]

Not able to answer the question then?

Here it is again in case you're a bit slow..

"What's supposed to be wrong with Science Fiction and Fantasy?"


And what makes it even more bizarre is that four of the books you agreed with Metamorphosis, 1984, A Clockwork Orange and Animal Farm could be argued to be Science Fiction/Fantasy in their own right.

Ah, right, thanks for that, I'm honoured you took time out between rants on the main forum to comment.

I personally wouldn't classify any of those titles I cited as science fiction/fantasy, but if you can find them in those departments in Waterstones I would have to stand corrected.

"What's supposed to be wrong with with Science Fiction and Fantasy?" Nothing. In fact I used to read it. When I was made to. At school.

Abused - on the subject of literature - by RAWK hero Andy@Allerton, I feel I've finally arrived 

[Not funny reecehenebry]

Ah, right, thanks for that, I'm honoured you took time out between rants on the main forum to comment.

I personally wouldn't classify any of those titles I cited as science fiction/fantasy, but if you can find them in those departments in Waterstones I would have to stand corrected.

"What's supposed to be wrong with with Science Fiction and Fantasy?" Nothing. In fact I used to read it. When I was made to. At school.

Abused - on the subject of literature - by RAWK hero Andy@Allerton, I feel I've finally arrived 

HAha Waterstones are now the mainstand directors of whats what.
Sorry lad.Good writing and social commentery has nothing at all to do with what Waterstones or you call X or Y.
Watchmen was listed by the top authors/professors as a top 100 books for the 20th century.But hey what do they know,Red Tsar claims it's a children's book.
You sir are a ......

[saoirse08]

10 novels I have or would reread - I good marker in my opinion.

Ulysses - James Joyce
Huckleberry Finn - Mark Twain
The Counterlife - Philip Roth
Great Expectations - Charles Dickens
The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald
Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
Crime and Punishment – F. Dostoyevski
Beloved – Tony Morrison 
Invisible Man – Ralph Ellison
USA (trilogy strictly speaking)  – John Dos Passos

As has been said already, in week’s time this list would most probably change. But it will do for now.

[Chakan]

I read a lot of series books so they will have to be included as one.

The wasp factory  - Ian M Banks
Malazan Book of the Fallen - Steven Erikson
Reaper Man - Terry Pratchett
Sandman Series - Neil Gaiman
Power of One - Bryce Courtenay
Night Chills - Dean Koontz
Lord of the Rings Trilogy - Tolkien
Runaway Jury - John Grisham
Slaughter House 5 - Kurt Vonnegut
Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy -  Douglas Adams.

[Mouth]

All hail Red Tsar the arbiter of personal taste, if he doesnt like it, it must be shit! All bow down before him and his overwhemling superior knowledge and taste on all things, Red Tsar has spoke and you will listen idiot worms! You will like what he likes or you will like nothing!

[Not funny reecehenebry]

I read a lot of series books so they will have to be included as one.

The wasp factory  - Ian M Banks
Malazan Book of the Fallen - Steven Erikson
Reaper Man - Terry Pratchett
Sandman Series - Neil Gaiman
Power of One - Bryce Courtenay
Night Chills - Dean Koontz
Lord of the Rings Trilogy - Tolkien
Runaway Jury - John Grisham
Slaughter House 5 - Kurt Vonnegut
Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy -  Douglas Adams.

Can tou follow this series.I am taking the read the wwhole series with every new book system.Did it with the Wheel of Time.Look were that got me.

[Chaztastic]

Oh dear, looks like some are taking one person's distaste for certain literary oeuvres personally.

Apologies, I'll duck out of this and those who were inadvertently offended can return to their Philip K Dicks 

[Chakan]

Can tou follow this series.I am taking the read the wwhole series with every new book system.Did it with the Wheel of Time.Look were that got me.

Yeah I am on book 9 at the moment, it helps if you read the last one beforehand. Although I forgot what happened so read them again before the 9th one came out. As it had been ages.

[Mouth]

Oh dear, looks like some are taking one person's distaste for certain literary oeuvres personally.

Apologies, I'll duck out of this and those who were inadvertently offended can return to their Philip K Dicks 

No lord do not forsake us, we can learn, teach us, mold us, we will smite the unbelievers in your name, we will strike them down and force them to read Dostoyevsky's The Brothers Karamazov in original Russian, so that they might know the true glory of literature!

[Agger]

Maybe i'll finish the list later but "the great gatsby" is probably one of my all time favorites.

[johnybarnes]

Really want to start reading more, just never think of doing it and I've only ever finished a handful of books (most recently the diceman and marijuana time)

I've got two books lying around left by my brother, 'Charles Bukowski women' and 'Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance'. Are these decent reads? Which should I read first to reinvigorate my thirst for reading?  I've had a look online and they seem critically acclaimed but I was seeking the opinion of the wise gentlemen on RAWK. Ta

[Corkboy]

I've got two books lying around left by my brother, 'Charles Bukowski women' and 'Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance'. Are these decent reads? Which should I read first to reinvigorate my thirst for reading?  I've had a look online and they seem critically acclaimed but I was seeking the opinion of the wise gentlemen on RAWK. Ta

Ask VdeM about Bukowski, he likes him. As for Zen, I recall that as pretty dense stuff. If you've only ever finished a few books, as you say, I wouldn't bet on finishing that. Long time since I read it, though. Again, de Mayo is a fan, I'm sure he'll be along presently.

[Ray K]

OK, slightly random list (3 non-fiction) , will definitely change :

The Road - McCarthy
Catch-22 - Heller
American Pastoral - Roth
American Tabloid - Ellroy
His Dark Materials - Pullman
The Great Gatsby - Fitzgerald
A Secret History - Tartt
Easy Riders, Raging Bulls - Biskind
King of the World (Muhammed Ali bio) - David Remnick
Revolution in the Head - Ian McDonald

And I've left Of Mice and Men and Hitchikers Guide out. And I love those. And In Cold Blood. And The Right Stuff. This is hard.

[Not funny reecehenebry]

Really want to start reading more, just never think of doing it and I've only ever finished a handful of books (most recently the diceman and marijuana time)

I've got two books lying around left by my brother, 'Charles Bukowski women' and 'Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance'. Are these decent reads? Which should I read first to reinvigorate my thirst for reading?  I've had a look online and they seem critically acclaimed but I was seeking the opinion of the wise gentlemen on RAWK. Ta

Bukowski is great.Real crazy lowlife poet guy.Women is the last of his books really.I started with Women but Post Office would be his most entertaining piece.Kinda part of the Beat Gen only found 20 years after and way to lazy to be a Beat Gen.

[Not funny reecehenebry]

A Secret History - Tartt

really enjoyed that at the time.
Something kinda like it is The Magus by John Fowles.That book had a huge effect on me when i was 18.Followed by The Collector By Fowles.

[Corkboy]

really enjoyed that at the time.
Something kinda like it is The Magus by John Fowles.That book had a huge effect on me when i was 18.Followed by The Collector By Fowles.

French Lieutenant's Woman was on my list earlier.

[johnybarnes]

Ask VdeM about Bukowski, he likes him. As for Zen, I recall that as pretty dense stuff. If you've only ever finished a few books, as you say, I wouldn't bet on finishing that. Long time since I read it, though. Again, de Mayo is a fan, I'm sure he'll be along presently.

Cheers. Maybe I'll swerve the Zen one then, do readers research a book properly before committing to reading it? I won't watch any film before I've seen some reviews/ratings as I don't want to waste 2 hours of my time but I'm almost terrified at the thought of committing hours upon hours to a book and at the end going, meh.

Bukowski is great.Real crazy lowlife poet guy.Women is the last of his books really.I started with Women but Post Office would be his most entertaining piece.Kinda part of the Beat Gen only found 20 years after and way to lazy to be a Beat Gen.

Thanks, I've discovered two others of his lying around - Post Office as you mention and 'Factoum', so of the three which should I delve into? (Women seems considerably longer than the other two)

[Nice Guy Davey]

One Hundred Years Of Solitude                 Gabriel Garcia Marquez
All Quiet On The Western Front                 Erich Maria Remarque
The Wrench                                             Primo Levy
The Little Friend                                       Donna Tartt
Don Quixote                                            Cervantes
Catch22                                                  Joseph Heller
The Grapes Of Wrath                                John Steinbeck
As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning   Laurie Lee
Brideshead Revisited                                 Evelyn Waugh
Hawksmoor                                              Peter Ackroyd

Ten off the top of my head

[Not funny reecehenebry]

Cheers. Maybe I'll swerve the Zen one then, do readers research a book properly before committing to reading it? I won't watch any film before I've seen some reviews/ratings as I don't want to waste 2 hours of my time but I'm almost terrified at the thought of committing hours upon hours to a book and at the end going, meh.

Thanks, I've discovered two others of his lying around - Post Office as you mention and 'Factoum', so of the three which should I delve into? (Women seems considerably longer than the other two)

Factoum is first.Not as good as the other two.
Post Office was written first but is the middle part of his life.
Any which way suits,but if i was to reread them i would start with Factoum,rush through it and then relax and enjoy the other two.

[Not funny reecehenebry]

The Little Friend                                       Donna Tartt

Bought this because of the long wait for her second work but never read.Is it that good.have you read her first work and does it stand up(secert history)

[hassinator]

off the top of my head and in no particular order

american tabloid - james ellroy

amazeball.  the first ellroy i read and i've consumed the lot.  a drug driven miasma of language that redfines the term 'hard boiled'

blood in the time of cholera - gabriel garcia marquez

charming, lyrical and romantic from the squeezed out sound of a prostate piss marquez builds a beguiling tale of love.

any human heart - william boyd

a book i've given as a present more than any other.  about to be a four part adaptation for channel 4.

i claudius - robert graves

really part of a double pack with claudius the god this is history vividly and cruelly brought to life.

brideshead revisited - evelyn waugh

you should really read everything he has ever done but this is his crowning glory for me.

the bonfire of the vanities - tom wolfe

again i've read everything he's ever done but 'day-glo dickens' pretty much nails it for me.  the ultimate novel of the 80s.

from hell - alan moore

an unbelievable meditation on evil that pushes back the boundaries of how we can tell a story.  simply a stunning piece of work.

breakfast of champions - kurt vonnegut

hard to pick just one from vonnegut but this is my favourite.  the feeling of what its like to be going insane.  amazing man, amazing book.

lsd my problem child - dr albert hoffman

a profound book from the creator of the one truly great mind catalyst of the 20th century.  i can't tell you how wonderful this man is.

ragtime - el doctorow

again it could be anything from doctorow just for the sheer glee with which he deploys beautiful language.

the road - cormac mccarthy

a book that i had to be goaded into reading - what a pompous little prick i can be - this book is as lean and perfect as the great gatsby.