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"Your list and taste is more or less the same as my own Pru."
You didn’t do an English degree (but were far more interested in reading around the course and in betting)in the early- to mid-1980s did you?!<br> <br>I have to admit that I didn’t get very far with Kundera’s book, but that was probably my fault. I should really give it another chance some time.
With my birthday coming up I have added Zamyatin’s book to my wish list on Amazon: it sounds interesting.
Despite starting this thread genuinely looking for ideas, I strolled into Waterstones the day after posting it and before any of these suggestions were tracked down, in the tiniest chain book shop I’ve ever been in this book I’ve wanted for ages but never before seen apart from on Amazon just leapt out at me. The Princess Bride by W Goldman (the source of an absolutely clsasic cult fantasy comedy film). Enjoying the first few chapters and looking forwards to reading it on the train down to London tomorrow for a day of culture (Norfolk’s driving me nuts!). A full Friday of escapism…bliss!!!
(Edited by Zoz at 7:26 pm on Feb. 17, 2005)
You didn’t do an English degree in the early- to mid-1980s did you?! <br>Prufrock Posted on 6:42 pm on Feb. 17, 2005
No Pru … Engineering I’m afraid, finished HND in ’83 .. dull as dish water.. !!
I did Pru!
Unbearable’s a great book.
Is Zemyatin’s the futuristic one about cars? I think I’ve got it in a box somewhere. I’ll dig it out.
I actually got accepted for Accountancy and Economics (don’t know what I was thinking of there) but switched, in part because I predicted, correctly as it happens, that the life of an English student would allow plenty of time for studying other "texts", such as The Sporting Life and Sporting Chronicle.
The English course was stuck in a time-warp, and most of my best literary reading was from outside it.
Quote: from Prufrock on 12:16 pm on Feb. 17, 2005[br].<br>Avoid anything by: Beyer or Mordin.
<br>:o :biggrin:
A great thread..
I can definitely recommend Haruki Murakami, I’ve read three of his, "A wild Sheep Chase", "Dance Dance Dance" which follows on from it and also "Wind up Bird Chronicle"
All rather surreal which is not generally my thing but thoroughly thought-provoking and a very good read.
Life of Pi is another of my favourites, as is Geisha (possibly one for the girls) and another recent favourite is Shadow of the Wind. I read it before it appeared on the Richard and Judy Good Book List which I try to boycott.
If anyone is interested in philosophical investigations and writing, I would like to present;
ABC of Reading …  Ezra Pound ..
The Cantos .. Ezra Pound
Nietchze .. JP Stern
Tractus Logico Philosophicus .. Ludwig Wittgenstien.
If you like ‘Round Ireland with a fridge’ then you’ll get a good laugh at ‘Playing the Moldovans at tennis’ by the same author. He has another book called ‘One hit wonderland’ but in my opinion it’s not quite so good.
Love Three To See The King by Magnus Mills – not as keen on the Restraint of Beasts though.  Quarantine by Jim Crace is similar too, and good if you don’t mind the religious angle.
My favourite B-movie equivilent of a book is anything by Christopher Brookmire (tuning out some of the more energetic political ranting) – One Fine Day in The Middle of The Night, and the Sacred Art of Stealing.
I remember enjoying Unbearable Lightness, and some Kafka, but strangely can’t recall much else about them.  Have the Mind Police been at work?
Also recommended is Anthropology by Dan Rhodes. Won’t take long to read – 101 short stories, each with 101 words – tiny little skits of stories, but amazingly loaded with humour and pathos.
Genius.
PS, I have read Pobby and Dingan on recommendation and can confirm that it is well worth finding a copy – a very talented writer and a beautiful story.
Managed to track down Pobby and Dingan on e-bay for £2.50 + postage! Just finished reading it and it was well worth the effort – great recommendation Tooting!
(It’d make a great film I reckon!)
(Edited by cormack15 at 11:51 pm on Mar. 7, 2005)
Scanning my bookshelves as I type, I can particularly recommend the following from a list of many:
The Executioner’s Song – Norman Mailer<br>Lonesome Dove – Larry McMurtry<br>A Perfect Storm – Sebastian Junger<br>A Prayer For Owen Meany – John Irving<br>Libra – Don DeLillo<br>American Gods – Neil Gaiman<br>Birdman / The Treatment – Mo Hayder<br>Ghostwritten – David Mitchell<br>The Big Blowdown – George P Pelecanos<br>The Black Dahlia / American Tabloid – James Ellroy<br>Quite Ugly One Morning – Christopher Brookmyre<br>The Redundancy Of Courage – Timothy Mo<br>Blood Meridien – Cormac McCarthy<br>Double Whammy – Carl Hiassen<br>Killing Flooer – Lee Child<br>In Xanadu – William Dalrymple<br>Scorpian Rising – Anthony Frewin<br>The Ultimate Rush – Joe Quirk
There are many more, but that’s a good shortlist!
Murakami is also a favourite of mine.
Great list Wizard – American Gods is excellent, but I found Blood Meridien to be too difficult for me (the horses suffering in the desert was unbearable).
I really enjoyed Ghostwritten, and David Mitchell’s new one, Cloud Atlas, is meant to be even better.
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