Thread: Recommend a book!

'The Coma' By Alan Garner (the same guy who wrote The Beach, which was later turned into a film)

I picked this book up at 1pm this afternoon, i couldn't put it down!! It talks a lot about dreaming, and remote viewing...the whole book, as i read it, felt like a dream, everything was so seamless.
That's about the best way i can describe it really...all i know is, when i finished reading it, i did an RC!
Just to check!!

I'll always say it, but both Fahrenheit 451 and 1984 are must-reads. The two forms of dystopian societies are both equally shocking, though Bradbury is more on the poetic side, and Orwell more on the philosophical. There's a balance of both in each, however.

"The Latent Power of the Soul"
By Watchman Nee

I loved 1984, but i can't seem to get a hold of Farenheit 451 in my local library....

Strange...they usually have about 10 copies of it. It's pretty popular for classes.

Originally posted by Joseph_Stalin
I'll always say it, but both Fahrenheit 451 and 1984 are must-reads. The two forms of dystopian societies are both equally shocking, though Bradbury is more on the poetic side, and Orwell more on the philosophical. There's a balance of both in each, however.

I totally agree with these choices in books, they are both classics in their own right, you have a sharp taste for books

I'm reading Fahrenheit 451 at the moment (had a short break from reading the book to savor the delights of thinking about its lyrical landscape).

I would really like to read "Brave New World" by Huxley, it seems like an interesting book in the same vein as Fahrenheit and 1984.

It must be great to study books like this for English Literature classes.

Yes, it's great to study such a brilliant book. But i find the problem is, i can't go back and read it again.
For example, when i did my English Lit class, i read The Mayor of Casterbridge. I had an excellent English teacher.
We pulled the book and it's characters to bits, trying to work out why Hardy was writing as he was, and what the characters motives behind their actions were.
As a result, i've never been able to read the book since.
Sometimes, i think it's best not to analyse a book too much, because you can lose enjoyment from it.

Thanks Journey

I always tell myself I going to rent A Brave New World, but it always passes me by to do so. I'm usually thinking about too many things to actually dedicate myself to 'smaller' things (if that even makes sense). But I promise myself, I will read it.

Irishcream, I know what you mean. Taking apart books and studying often leaves them with nothing for you to take out of said book when you go back to read it again. Instead of focusing on what you want to focus on, you simply are reminded of the miniscule things, and it can really bother you, unfortunately.

I’m sort of balanced in the middle with this viewpoint. Analysing something can take you out of the process and pleasure of reading but I think you also discover the purpose of the piece when you look into its core (beyond the 'entertainment'). I guess its sort of like glancing behind the red curtain on a stage and looking ‘behind the scenes’ at the technical side to the idea.

Sometimes I think it can be fun when you take something apart like a book or a film, considering the fact you put it back together again after you have pulled it apart. Like if you study a book/film in that moment it might seem dull to do so, but when you revisit your observations at a later date, say a few months later when your taken out of that picture you learn to enjoy it again with that new level of understanding. But then on the flipside you might hate the book when you revisit it and what you feelings were towards its meaning or purpose (lol).

You learn to appreciate the craft and structure involved within the book and the motivation behind characters and their actions (that’s what I was trying to say –lol).

Like I really enjoy reading in-depth interviews with filmmakers when they talk about their ideas and themes – you gain a level of admiration for their craft and you comprehend the level of integrity they bring to what they have created out of a single idea. I don’t think this takes away the fun, but I agree it sometimes can make you lose track of the entertainment factor involved – the reason why we read books or watch film at the end of the day is enjoy them.

Sort of like when I studied film, you sometimes think to yourself “this is shit, I wish I could just enjoy a film and not study it”, but then I realized that we do it subconsciously anyway and when you bring it into your conscious awareness you value it more when you look at what you enjoy or what you hate about it (I always think you have to appreciate the idea even if you don’t enjoy it).

Sorry to ramble on and on (lol).

I think i agree with you there...i used to like pulling films to bits...not so much action flicks, but a good drama.
There was a great film i saw in the states called Crash, some people may have heard of it...
it was like action and drama, but it had really strong moral and social lines running through it, things that made you really look past what was going on in the film.
As a result, myself and my friends went all the way back home from the cinema, pulling it to bits, trying to work out why each character did what they did.
That can be fun to do...
I think it's more fun to do if the characters motives aren't immediately obvious to you, either in book, or film.
And i think you may be right, thats why it's good to re visit a film, and gain a better understanding of it.
Like when i watched Angela's ashes. The first time i saw it, i watched it for entertainment, simply because it interested me. When i watched it a second time, i was more aware (possibly because i was a year older) of the characters, and what had led them to the circumstances they were in at particular points in the film.
I think when you put it back together, it gives you a better understanding of the film...
I'm thinking i should maybe go back and read Mayor of Casterbridge and Kestrel for a Knave...
I might even see if i can get hold of the longman poetry anthology...
Might be nice to revisit, see if my views and thoughts have changed.

I loved reading..It was one of my hobbies, but now Im too busy to read..:/...I read pretty fast too..lol...Hm.....Mission Impossible..hm....I used to read Adult books...Lol....oh yah...Alex Rider Series...Those were great.....And...Harry Pottter of course...although I didn't quite like the new one...

Hey Irish-
kinf of ironic your couldn't find farenheit 451 at the library
If you're really interested, I could send you a copy. PM me.


Huxley!! Yay for Aldous Huxley! I really liked The Doors of Perception and Heaven and Hell. I bought mine together in the same book. Both are great!

1984 is a MUST. I read that in highschool.

I recommend Dreamland by Phil Patton. Its about area 51 and the area surrounding it and all the UFO stuff and goverment conspiracies, Its funny and at times scary to know what has happened. Its not saying that its all true either, its explaining what the events were. And anoher one I have just started to read now is Tom Clancy's: Rainbow Six. Its a nice shoot em up, brilliantly written.

Woohoo! The Alchemist was a great book, for those who mentioned it.

I suggest Cat's Cradle. I knew I would love the book before I even finished reading it, and I did.

The Perks of a Wallflower was also very good.

New one I'm reading right now and haven't finished, but still am in love with:

"Redeeming Love" by Francine Rivers

It is a love story, not recommended for younger audiences (you know what I mean). While it doesn't have any really graphic material, it is the story of a prostitute who's learning she can be more than she believes. Inspiring, moving, and just a good read.

Mitch Albom-Tuesdays with Morrie. I've just read this book in two hours, flat.
And by the time i was finished, i was crying.
Every word that was written, was totally true. This life really is it, there are no second chances. Reading that book has taught me something very important.

It's about a man who gets back in touch with his old college professor, when he finds out he has Lou Gehrigs' disease.
Together they take a journey through life, and the old man passes on some very valuable lessons to the younger one.
I'm glad he wrote it.
SO GO READ IT!!

My favorite book is The Alchemist... but I also loved The Pilgrimage and The Fifth Mountain, also by Paulo Coelho. Two more of my favorite books are Brain Droppings by George Carlin and Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, which is just beautifully written.

I guess I'd have to say On Writing by Stephen King -- it's the only book I've read in a while, and it really gets to the heart of the art.

READ THE ALCHMEIST. There is no beter book. Its an amazing stroy about lfie, and its fun and adventurosy to read. Its one of those books where you must have a copy for your hwoel life. I cnat even discribe how awsome it is.

Well, im more of one to read fantasy books or books pertaining to philosophies that coincide with martial arts. Fantasy books- Dragonlance- Twins series, Dragons series, just about any of them really. Also i have yet to find a book written by Margaret Weis that is bad. MA philosophy- "living the martial way" by forrest morgan(lot of talks about honor and modern day warriorship) and "hagakure" by hmmm i think yamamoto tsunetomo and William Scott Wilson are the people who translated what i read.

Don Quixote !!!! It rocks.

Awareness. by anthony De Mello

The footprints of God by Greg Iles

The Dictionary

with avian 'flu all over the news, I recommend Stephen King's The Stand

US Military accidently release a deadly virus - mortality rate of 99%
The actual death of all but 1% of the population happens within the first couple of chapters, the rest of the book focuses on the survivors, and the aftermath of the virus
(leading to the formation of two bands of people, in preparation for the ultimate battle of good & evil - the stand)

It's a great insight into the human psyche when faced with catastrophe

anyway, not giving too much away
recommended, definately

-T

Inkheart - Cornelia Funke
It's a -great- book about what would happen if people could read characters out of books. It sounds cool and all, but that's until you read the wrong character out, and someone close to you gets taken back in to the book. It's a really good book, and a quick read.

Abarat - Clive Barker

It's all about the most boring place on Earth and a girl from Chickentown (the most boring place on Earth). Out of nowhere, a huge wave shows up in the middle of a field, the trick is their in the middle of the US, seriously far away from any oceans or anything. So she gets carried away to the Abarat, a fantasy world with 25 islands, one for each hour of the day, and the 25th hour. There are dark forces at work of course, and Candy is called to stop them.[/b]