Any decent novels worth a read?

[Sarah J.]

I was wondering if anyone has recently read something genuinely thought provoking and entertaining recently?

I am always stuck when I go looking for something to read. I see so many books that I would love to dive into, but can never settle on just one as the information contained in the outline given is never unbiased (after all, the publisher wants to sell copies!)

Any suggestions?

SJ

[Keef]

You should get lots of ideas HERE.

And HERE.

Although I thin tastes vary dramatically.

[Sarah J.]

Thank you! I'll rick taking a look now whilst I am at work ;-)

SJ

[bigbadwolf]

Right Sarah are you paying attention? Good, now this is what you have to do.

1)Go to the cash point and withdraw about ?30.

2)Go to Waterstones or any other high street book shop.

3)Locate IAN RANKIN'S 'REBUS' SERIES.

4)Select titles in CHRONOLOGICAL order, you'll be able to buy about three on the allowance I've advised but it's your money so feel free to spend more.

5)Pay, but then again if you want to add some spice/realism to this crime series, leave without paying.

6)Read.

7)On completion of your first purchase/5 fingered discount let everyone know how much you enjoyed them and how much of a genius bigbadwolf is fo suggesting them. If you don't I'll come round and knock your house down.

[matthew123]

Crime and Punishment... well it is thought provoking!

[Jah Lush]

Yup! If you want to get into Dostoyevsky Crime And Punishment is a very good place to start.

[matthew123]

..and for something that is very entertaining, as well as thought provoking, I must strongly recommend - "Candide" by Voltaire

[Jah Lush]

I'd go along with that Matthew or how about The Prince by Niccol? Machiavelli.

[Sarah J.]

I have read Crime & Puishment ;-)

To be honest; crime novels/series are not really my cup of tea.

I quite like Creative Non-Fiction (books based on real life events or themes), and have just gotten through 'The Kite Runner' and 'A Thousand Splendid Suns'

I got hooked on CNF through studying various ethnographic works; including George Orwell's 'Down and Out in Paris and London', which has got to be one of my top 10 books of all time.

I really do try to stay open minded, so perhaps a visit back to crime novels might be in order...I'll have to take a deep breath and close my eyes...er, maybe I'll leave out the, 'closing the eyes' bit... might make reading a little difficult with my peepers shut!

SJ

[Sarah J.]

I like your suggestions Jah Lush and matthew123 :)

The Prince and Candide. I'll head out to get them when I have a chance this weekend...in between moving etc etc....

[matthew123]

How about "The Domestic Manners of the Americans" by Fanny Trollope - although it's a travel log from the 1830s, it is very entertaining.

[Sarah J.]

matthew123 Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> How about "The Domestic Manners of the Americans"

> by Fanny Trollope - although it's a travel log

> from the 1830s, it is very entertaining.

Now that is worth a read....

And, in a slightly juvenile line of thinking; am I horrid to think the name, Fanny Trollope, is rather unfortunate? Or just not very lady like?!

[Jah Lush]

No, it's just an unfortunate name. Fanny was quite a common name in those days though. Is she any relation to Anthony Trollope?

[matthew123]

I think it was his Mother

[Sarah J.]

Jah Lush Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> No, it's just an unfortunate name. Fanny was quite

> a common name in those days though. Is she any

> relation to Anthony Trollope?

An unfortunate name it is. And I do realise that is was a popular name in that day and age. Just as Sarah was a popular name in the late 70's and very early 80's; hence, why I ended up with it!

As for Anthony Trollope.....does the time line fit for dear old Fan being his blessed Mama?! :))

[Jah Lush]

Just looked it up and he was apparently her third son. (Her name is recorded as Frances Trollope on Wikipedia).

[grabot]

Richard Yates is fashionable at the moment with the hype around Revolutionary Road. The novel is very good, I do not know anyone who has not appreaciated his work.

[Sarah J.]

Wow, well, you are industrious! I'm impressed!

Whenever I see the name, Trollope, I always think of shellfish; probably due to the fact it rhymes with scallop (Australian's say 'scallop' "scollop" strange, yes :) )

Hmm, that was off the point. Digressing again!

[Sarah J.]

grabot Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Richard Yates is fashionable at the moment with

> the hype around Revolutionary Road. The novel is

> very good, I do not know anyone who has not

> appreaciated his work.

Thank you! I'll have a new library of lovely books before I know it :)

SJ

[Michael Palaeologus]

Porterhouse Blue is well worth a read.

I finished it a few days ago .....

[RosieH]

Dostoevsky's The Idiot - great story, made me want to be a better person, (which I need right now), and I think that's a pretty good recommendation for a book

[matthew123]

When Fanny Trollope went to America with her children, that resulted in her famous(UK)/infamous(US) travel journal book, she left behind in London her son Anthony and "mad" husband... but she did also take along a young French artist... which of course raises the question whether there were some scandalous entries missing from her travel log..

Someone has done some quite interesting research on Fanny... http://trollope.org/old/htmlarcs/msg00731.html

[Sarah J.]

Michael Palaeologus Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Porterhouse Blue is well worth a read.

>

> I finished it a few days ago .....

Right, another potential gem for my list of "literature to obtain" !!

[Sarah J.]

matthew123 Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> When Fanny Trollope went to America with her

> children, that resulted in her

> famous(UK)/infamous(US) travel journal book, she

> left behind in London her son Anthony and "mad"

> husband... but she did also take along a young

> French artist... which of course raises the

> question whether there were some scandalous

> entries missing from her travel log..

>

> Someone has done some quite interesting research

> on Fanny...

> http://trollope.org/old/htmlarcs/msg00731.html

It seems that someone has indeed! Goodness; Fanny has become a hot topic of conversation! :))

[hibbs]

You must read Shantaram, by Gregory David Roberts - its amazing!