The Morningstarr*

Daveboy · 09-05-2007, 18:03

Ive just finished reading "ANGELS AND DEMONS" by Don Brown.......a good story with loadsa suspense]

jambolo · 09-05-2007, 19:14

I like most of Terry Pratchett's novels they appeal to my sense of humour which is a real achievement

Darksat · 11-05-2007, 15:33

Celestine Prophecy.

Snapper · 17-05-2007, 01:59

the book I would recommend is On The Road by Jack Kerouac. Although not a great deal happens in the book other than the authors autobiographical adventures as he hitchhikes/travels to and fro across America, the book is considered a masterpiece.

I read it first when I was 16 I bought the book just because I liked the look of the cover:

The book has a great rhythm to it and gives a fabulous feel of what life was like immediately after world war 2. It begins with a sense of optimism and belief that anything is possible and during the course of many "adventures" the optimism slowly fades away with the author feeling betrayed and isolated as he realises the hope and feeling after the war is something that they cant hold onto.

I loved this book and it was one of the reasons I studied American History at university. I wanted to be there with them on the journey, experiencing the sights/sounds/smells (hey maybe even the drugs!) as there is a sense of time and place with the novel that was lost during the Cold War. The characters in it are all real life members of the "beat Generation" such as Allen Ginsburg, William S Burrows and Neal Cassady (who? Probably the greatest inspiration to almost every member of the Beat Generation, not only immortalised in this book but quite a few others and even in the Grateful Dead song "That's It For the Other One"), all friends of the author after they met at university in New York.

Certainly worth reading if you like a sense of nostalgia. Jack Kerouac reportedly wrote the novel in 3 weeks on one continuous scroll of paper during 1951 from all his notebooks and scraps of paper that he kept while he was travelling. The scroll is currently doing a tour of America and should be on display in New York this spring. Its the 50th anniversary of the books publication this year and I will definitely be reading it again.

Mr Morningstarr* · 17-05-2007, 08:11

I read this book because it was described as pure rock and roll. I'm sorry to say I found it dull and uninteresting, certainly overrated.

The book just rambles on, there's no real direction or plot to follow and ultimately I didn't like or relate to the characters. Not so much bohemian as just bums and down and outs. No thanks, not my cup of tea at all.

blackdahlia · 29-05-2007, 08:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donachiel

Let's get our favourite novels out there.

What books do you like the best? Would you recommend them to a friend? And did they change your life?

One of my Favourites is The Princess Bride the "good parts" version abridged by William Goldman. Now, some of you may be familiar with the movie - with Peter Falk, Mandy Patinkinson, Chris Sarandon, Cary Elwes, Robin Wright and Fred Savage, which is a great movie. And it was because of the movie I found the book.

I read this for the first time on my first trip to Egypt, and couldn't put it down. The story itself is very much like the film, except the main story is about Goldman himself and his childhood memory of his father reading the Princess Bride "S Morgenstern's classic tale of true love and high adventure" to him when he was sick. (used in the film with Peter Falk and Fred Savage)

Goldman starts out by stating at the start "This is my favourite book in all the world, though I have never read it". In later life, he decides to buy the book for his own son, and goes to great lengths to get it. Only to find his son finds the book boring and too difficult to read. Amazed (as this was his favourite as a child) he sits down to read it for the first time, and is suddenly struck with the reality that his father had skipped parts, and only read the "good parts" to him, to keep him entertained.

And so the "Good Parts" version is born, with Goldman doing his father's take on the book.

The Book is a story within a story, with The 'character' of Goldman narrating his omissions, summaries of chapters and just nostalgic banter. And that's just the build up! The story itself is filled with "fencing, fighting, torture, poison, true love, hate, revenge, giants, hunters, bad men, god men, beautifulest ladies, snakes, spiders, beasts, chases, escapes, lies, truth, passion and miracles."

The story is filled with wit and good fun, and I recommend this to any age of reader. You'll love it.

The best factual and most moving book I have ever read without doubt is "The Hiding Place" by Corrie Ten Boom.

If you can read this true story of one families life harbouring Jews in War torn Holland and their eventual arrests and experiences in concentration camps and not fall in love with the whole family Of Ten Boons then I despair for you.
I've read Anne Franks diary and hundreds of similar books but the Ten Boons were one amazingly giving ,caring family.

I dont know if a film has ever been made of their story but i'd watch it now if I could download it somewhere.

SFB · 29-05-2007, 08:51

Anything by Isaac Asimov.

"I received the fundamentals of my education in school, but that was not enough. My real education, the superstructure, the details, the true architecture, I got out of the public library. For an impoverished child whose family could not afford to buy books, the library was the open door to wonder and achievement, and I can never be sufficiently grateful that I had the wit to charge through that door and make the most of it." (from I. Asimov, 1994)

adi · 29-05-2007, 14:26

The Fountainhead is one that has influenced my thinking a lot (fiction wise anyway) and I guess if I'm to mention that then I should mention Atlas Shrugged.

They're not especially influential but I like Salman Rushdie novels as well, he has a fine writing style.

Snapper · 29-05-2007, 20:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by SFB

Anything by Isaac Asimov.

"I received the fundamentals of my education in school, but that was not enough. My real education, the superstructure, the details, the true architecture, I got out of the public library. For an impoverished child whose family could not afford to buy books, the library was the open door to wonder and achievement, and I can never be sufficiently grateful that I had the wit to charge through that door and make the most of it." (from I. Asimov, 1994)

Very Marxist .... cant fault some of his books though I like the foundation series.

Gemo52 · 13-06-2007, 11:37

I've read so many books it's hard to decide my favourites and I hardly ever re-read anything because there is always something new I want to read.

I like Clive Barker, Galilea was one of my favourites.
I enjoyed On the Road by Jack Kerouac as well.

I've read and enjoyed Kurt Vonnegut and Jack Vance in the distant past. Must see if I can find them again.

I like Terry Pratchett and Robert Rankin. Can't stand Dan Brown.

One of the most memorable trilogies I've read was Gormanghast by Mervin Peake.

I like Iris Murdoch but I don't know anyone else who does.

Bruce Chatwin's novels are worth reading.

John Irving (Owen Meany, CiderHouse, Garp, Son of a Circus) at his peak is good as is Stephen King, The Stand is my favourite.

I enjoy David Mitchell's work (Cloud Atlas) very clever but possibly a little too contrived.

If I had to pick a favourite, though, I think it would be between Mark Twain's Roughing It or Innocents Abroad, closely followed by Following the Equator. Not really novels, but hilarious and informative travelogues that give an insight on life 100 years ago.