Recommend a Good Book
 

Recommend a good book.

I recommend Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger. He didn't just write Catcher in the Rye. Zooey is probably my favorite character of all time... Such hopeless optimism. Anyone ever know of a male named Zooey? I once tried to talk my long time girlfriend into naming a possible future son Zooey… Thankfully she talked some sense in to me.

1984 by George Orwell, a classic and way before its time.

Hehe teflonian I see we share a "non-stick" connection. Anyway I liked Hamlet on the Holodeck by Janet H. Murray since it talks about ways we can express stories and art with computers. It touches on so many aspects of storytelling and the potential that a "procedural, interactive" digital medium truly has, and how we haven't even touched the tip of the iceberg.

Out Of Sight by Elmore Leonard. Fantastic book and a fantasic movie.

Anything by Terry Pratchert, especialy his discworld series. One of the greatest satirists of our time.

His Dark Materials Trilogy, Philip Pullman

George R. R. Martin's series that started with "A Game of Thrones" is great if you like Fantasy, but it's not for the sqeamish.
If you want to have your world turned upside down (and have already read Vonnegut, Pynchon, etc.) then try Ishmael by Daniel Quinn. Just read it recently, it's very interesting.

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Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card (and to a lesser extent, the sequels like Speaker for the Dead and Xenocide).

haha... BubblegumTeflon you are right. I am envious though, your name is a bit more creative than mine.

Of the books mentioned that I have read I know 1984, Without Remorse, and Ender's Game are all great books. Without Remorse isn't just another page turner by Clancy, though all his books are good reads. I absolutley loved Ender's Game when I read it in Jr. High and I still loved it when I read it in college. I would have to say the new Shadow series which takes place in the time of Ender's game and, guess what, actually shadows the events of Ender's game, is more in key with the storytelling of Ender's game and is therefore my favorite of the "sequels".... Ok, I am starting to sound like a book reviewer except I am not really telling anything interesting. I guess I am just glad you all are giving your advice and contributing to the first thread I have started. I am sure I will end up checking out at least a couple of the books mentioned.[

Snow Crash by Neil Stephenson is one of the most clever, well-written books i've ever had the pleasure to read... definitely take the time to check it out.

I second Mr. phredgreen's selection. That "delivery" part at the start was the perfect way to get you hooked.

Anything by Tom Robbins. By far one of the best modern writers.

Dune

Survivor by Chuck Palahniuk was amazing

I'm not sure if they have been translated to english but if you read spanish or swedish you might like Jan Guillos trilogy about the crusador Arn.

I really like reading the Nebula Awards, it's a collection of the years best science fiction short stories and novellas. I think they're up to volume 34 now.

Also, you can't get much scarier than reading "the stand" with all the stuff going on in the world today.

My favorite book of all time has to be "Watership Down" by Richard Adams. If you don't really read the book it seems like a bunch of rabbits walking around, but if you read into it, it's a great work revolving around the great chain of being and an excellent social commentary.

A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole - Very funny book. I haven't finished it (class required reading took my free time), but I laugh aloud while reading this. It is that funny.

Among the Thugs by Bill Buford - A book about soccer Hooligans. Very well written and interesting. Also quite startling to read about some of the things these guys do.

Dragon Wing by Margaret Weis - The first book of a fantasy series (The Deathgate Cycle) that is the best of have ever read. I recommend the entire series, as I loved it and still consider it to be the best series of books I have read. The characters are so well developed, and the world so enveloping, that it's simply amazing and enjoyable to read.

The Book of the Dun Cow Seriously...you have to find this book and read it!
"Sum Wyrm sub terra! Sum Wyrm sub terra!

Non-fiction...try Theodore Rex but, I'm a TR freak so...

I saw the thread subject & that is exactly what I thought! Its an awesome book, everyone should read this.

Cannery Row by Steinbeck. I love Steinbeck's style, and its a great book. Very quick and easy read, as well.

You beat me. I don't really read fantasy but my cousin (the sane one) recomended it. Oh my lord, great series. The author will get you liking one character and then BAM!! they are dead, you never have the slightest idea what is gonna happen next. Excellent reading.

phunktastic, Cannery Row is my favorite of Steinbeck's works. I have yet to read a couple of his though and therefore my favorite might change.

Anything by Dan Simmons. Especially Carrion Comfort, The Song of Kali, and the Hyperion/Endymion series.

Man alive, y'all have hit a bunch of my favorites so far. My favorite not yet listed:
Zelazney, <i>Lord of Light</i>. I can't explain the book without gving away too much. Whatever you do, do not read the blurb on the back - it is either flat out wrong or completely misleading (depending on which edition you get. I've gone through three.)

Dune is fantastic. The rest of the Dune series is underrated. Herbert's other works are pretty interesting too, particularly <i>The Dosadi Experiment</i>.

Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" series is the best epic sword and sorcery series currently going. Steve Brust's Vlad Taltos series is darn good too, but more Chandler than Tolkien. For one that is not in danger of having the author die before the series is complete, try "Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn" by Tad Willams (<i>The Dragonbone Chair</i>, <i>The Stone of Farewell</i>, and <i>To Green Angel Tower</i>). That's the only other series out there that may be better than Martin's, and it's finished.

<i>Snow Crash</i> is one of my favorite books. I've read all of the rest of Stephenson's work, too, and it's all as good, nearly so, or better.

Someone mentioned Terry Pratchett. A very witty man, but I have only read two of his books that stand out on their own (rather than as a part of the whole Discworld "thing"), <i>The Colour of Magic</i>, and <i>Small Gods</i>. The latter will be forever underrated because of its humorist source. It is a positively fantastic book: there are universal truths therein.

One that hasn't been mentioned is Tim Powers, particularly <i>The Anubis Gates</i>, <i>Last Call</i>, and <i>Declare</i>.

"No Ordinary Time" by Doris Kearns Goodwin. It's historical AND entertaining. And that's just plain rare!

'Demian' and 'Steppenwolf' by Herman Heese. Also, the two greatest American novels ever -> "Moby Dick" and "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn".

I'll go ahead and mention Infinite Jest, even though it's 1100 pages and will take you a couple of months to read. They'll be good months, though.

Among books that won't give you a hernia when you lift them, I just finished Ken Kalfus's The Commissariat of Enlightenment, which was great. I actually work for a literary review, so I could go on for a while...

American Gods by Neil Gaiman

"Ambitious, gloriously funny, and oddly heartwarming... A magical mystery tour through the mythologies of all cultures, a unique and moving love story, and another winner for the phenomenally gifted, consummately reader-friendly Gaiman."

Absolutely amazing book. Great story with many twists. you will get even more out of the book if you have some knowledge of mythology but its definately not required.

The Otherland Series by Tad Williams or The Artefacts of power series by Maggie Furey (I'm currently reading that at the moment)
:D

If you like action try Don Pendleton's Mack Bolan Punisher series. If you like funny fantasy try Piers Anthony, Xanth series.

I would throw in for Dune and its sequals.

Also "Executive Orders" by clancy is a good read,

you might want to try Ice Station by Matt Reilly, a little like clancy, but a bit far feched.


The last book i read was PREY by michael crighton. it was good.

it's already mentioned but i'll agree...LOTR series is a great read so is The Hobbit

The Earth Children series by Jean Auel

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/6293/auel.html
Alpha phi read these and convinced me to read them...The 5th book just came out last year ....great series....

The Incarnations of Immortality series by Piers Anthony

http://www.piers-anthony.com/tocseries.html

Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

Neuromancer
Count Zero
Mona lisa Overdrive
by William Gibson

I'd agree with KrazyKemist; I was going to recommend Amercan Gods by Neil Gaiman. His book Neverwhere is also good.

Here a few lesser known ones:

I am Legend
To Your Scattered Bodies Go
Cross Time Engineer

Some great choices up there!

Here's a couple that haven't been mentioned:

Robert Asprin's "Tarot" trillogy.

Ayn Rand's "We the Living"

Don Quixote

"Religion for Dummies"
its easier to make of people if you know more about them.

And if you want to question everything u have ever heard or believed in the "illuminatus" by robert shea and robert wilson, although it makes war and peace look like a light read.

I have to throw my lot in with many of my fellow TFPers:

Still Life with Woodpecker
Tom Robbins

Neverwhere
Neil Gaiman

Stardust
Neil Gaiman

Dune
Frank Herbert