Recommend me a book (1 Viewer)

[MDR]

slaughterhouse 5 is v. good, i haven't read any other kurt vonnegut but i'd recommend that fo sho'

its not american but you should give 'handful of dust' by evelyn waugh a shot,
don't let the f scott fitzgerald-esqueness of its first half put you off mind

I actually liked the great gatsby and the last tycoon (which is unfinished - by him, not me) but he spent 9 years on tender is the night and it is missing a little warmth. I have a feeling i read a handful of dust at school - is it on the leaving cert? Did he do the bloved as well?

 

[ci]

Hmm, just thought.. snappy, american and 20th century... You ever read Don de Lillo? Check out White Noise, Libra, or The Names. I personally think the man is a legend.

If yer going for Vonnegut, Slaughterhouse Five...

 

[avernus]

Perhaps Dave Eggers - A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius. its recent, but very brilliant.

 

[spiritualtramp]

American writers, eh? Aside from the ones listed here I'd suggest you check out Garrison Keillor and Raymond Carver.

 

[snakybus]

Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole. Not exactly literature but real funny like. And cynical. Funny and cynical.

Garn, it totally is literature! Why is humour not taken...um...seriously?

Ro, I would recommend you "The Corrections" by Jonathan Franzen, except I haven't read it yet. My brother lent it to me but the road to starting a book is paved with good intentions and all that. Anyhow, my brother's opinion is usually on the money (though he did like "Pieces of April", bleah).

 

[Kid Lovebeach]

fortress of solitude by jonathan lethem

Synopsis
From the funked-up, messed-up Brookyn of the 1970s to the present day, this stunning novel spans thirty years in the life of two best friends, Dylan and Mingus, their families and an entire neighbourhood. From their stories comes the history of soul music, of graffiti art, of comic books, of experimental film and 'rock writing'. With a cast of more than a hundred characters and more than fifty speaking parts, this is a touching and intimate novel on an epic scale.

i'm half way thru it, its good

 

[Pantone247]

Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole. Not exactly literature but real funny like. And cynical. Funny and cynical.

what Mike said, I can't believe you would say Confederacy isn't literature

I'm currently loving this

a little more Russian then American but still great

 

[Pantone247]

Cascarino's 'auto'biography. But only if it's 3 euro. Actually, I'll just give it to ya.

is that actually any good?

Cazza writes a column for the unnamed publication I work for, brilliant stuff

his best yet was on the occasion popes death, when quizzed and all he could remember about meeting him in 1990 was thathe called the priest who showed them round father dog breath cause his breath stank ...

also his theroy that all holligans were violent cause they didn't "get any from their missus"

I hate football, but he's hilarious

 

[MDR]

Cheers - loads of great suggestions.

Thanks thumped.

 

[Wavioli]

Hmm, just thought.. snappy, american and 20th century... You ever read Don de Lillo? Check out White Noise, Libra, or The Names. I personally think the man is a legend.

If yer going for Vonnegut, Slaughterhouse Five...

yeh my friend dave is mad into this guy, and he should know cos he's a big engrish nerd. Infact you should read some of his stuff here - http://www.culturenorthernireland.org/ he's the surly lookin fucker with the fag in his mouth...

 

[egg_]

Ro, Vernon God Little is deadly, can't remember who wrote it though, it's one o those recent feted books but, unusually, fucking good

To get into Kurt Vonnegut you need to read more than one of his books I think. Slaughterhouse 5 is a good place to start, Breakfast of Champions and Timequake are also brilliant.

(p.s. I don't like Don DeLillo)

 

[krystal]

white noise is one of my favourite bukes actually, loves it I do. It seems obvious to me he probably had a huge influence on Douglas Coupland who I absolutely adore and who needs to be read by everyone ever. Jay McInerney is also a really good writer with similar themes to Brett Easton Ellis except he writes with more humanity. The Corrections is fantastic but his other books are a let down, the 66th City was a rambling incoherent pile of shite. Jeffrey Euginedes - Middlesex is great. I can't think of anymore now because I'm not standing in front of my bookshelves and I appear to have no short term memory these days.

(p.s. I don't like Don DeLillo)

 

[Wavioli]

did anyone read my friends story? I want an external opinion on it, I think its real good, but like I'm biassed

 

[snap-apple]

Garn, it totally is literature! Why is humour not taken...um...seriously?

why was my flippant comment taken...um...seriously?

you bookworms are so up yourselves, i wouldn't know literature if it bit me on my elbow

 

[snap-apple]

no one wants to fight anymore.
or is it that one has to be polite and erudite on the arts and culture board

 

[Wavioli]

no one wants to fight anymore.
or is it that one has to be polite and erudite on the arts and culture board

You sir, have the boorish manner of a hoop concession attendant.

mmmmnnneeeeayyyssss.

 

[snakybus]

no one wants to fight anymore.
or is it that one has to be polite and erudite on the arts and culture board

Yeeeuuuuurrrrsssssssss, we deeeewwn't leeeewer eurselves for the loikes of ewe

 

[mamul]

read this pronto http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos...60652&tag=thumpedcom0e-21?tag=thumpedcom0e-21

and then read this http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos...60652&tag=thumpedcom0e-21?tag=thumpedcom0e-21

and then this http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos...60652&tag=thumpedcom0e-21?tag=thumpedcom0e-21

they're all deadly so they are

 

[Bluto]

Check out John Steinbeck - "the grapes of wrath" and "of mice and men"

I'm just finishing "The Grapes of Wrath" and I have to say it's a great read

 

[carcass]

Pastoralia is one of the funniest books I have ever read.
He/shes right READ THIS

read this pronto http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0099595818/ref=pd_bxgy_text_2_cp/202-2146088-4560652

and then read this http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0747553866/qid=1114082561/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl/202-2146088-4560652

and then this http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1852427469/qid=1114082777/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_2_1/202-2146088-4560652

they're all deadly so they are