I Want To Read Some Books

[p_p_man]

Speaking of literature, which you are now even if you weren't before, I realise that my knowledge of the American classical scene is more or less non-existent.

So I'm going to read some books. But what?

I've read and enjoyed Melville, Salinger, Jack London, Herman Melville, O'Henry and Lovecraft and it's the short story, light reading novel I'm looking for.

Definitely not Fitzgerald who I found too serious to read for enjoyment and definitely not modern writing, (Stephen King etc).

So who's left?

 

[Laurel]

When you say no modern, how not-modern do you mean? I really enjoy David Foster Wallace (start with his short stories), William T. Vollmann (not very light, but very talented), and Scott Bradfield. Madison Smartt Bell is VERY good, as is Harold Brodkey & Cormac McCarthy (he's VERY American - writes about cow-herding and Indians but in a very fresh way).

But these authors are relative newbies (though very talented and well-regarded newbies), and all are still alive (to my knowledge) with the exception of Brodkey (who died of AIDS, and wrote a book on the experience of dying titled "This Wild Darkness", which is AMAZING.)

As far as older writers, I like Thomas Pynchon a lot. I ADORE Nabokov, but he's not American. Grew up on Steinbeck, Ray Bradbury (an underrated talent, if you ask me), and Kurt Vonnegut (one of my top 5 faves all-time). But lately, I've been reading mostly young writers, and a lot of non-fiction. So I'm probably not being helpful, but there you go...babble babble, call me Brooke!

 

[Willing and Unsure]

not all of these are deemed classics... but they are worth reading

Mark Twain... he wrote a lot of different things.. all fiction, but really good for the lines of pleasure reading... just beware of some of the language used in some of his books, and remember that most all of them were written around the time of the Civil War, so the racism is very present in all of it..

Joseph Heller.. Catch-22... another good one.. wont say too much about it, except it's different

Forrest Gump (the book)... isnt much of a classic, but i'd say it's better than the movie in many ways... btw it's by Winston Groom and there is a sequel to it

Ray Bradbury... anything by him is really interesting.. i've found Fahrenheit 451, The Martian Chronicles, and many of his short stories to be excellent and enough to keep my interest for awhile and to keep reading his books.

Kurt Vonnegut... always a good read if you want some strange form of sci-fi. Breakfast of Champions is definitely not what you'd expect from the title (and is about 300 times better than the movie that was made). Slaughterhouse Five, Cat's Cradle, and all the others of his i've read (can't remember all the titles) are all really good. he also has a few books filled with short stories if you're interested in those instead of a long book.

William Goldman.. The Princess Bride... this one is for everyone.. if you have not read it, READ IT!!! it's an excellent fairy tale, action, and romance all in one

any other suggestions you'd like... just ask.. i have a large collection of books that i will recommend... and i work in a bookstore and can get many more suggestions from other people i work with

 

[Desert Amazon]

 

[Samuari]

Admiral Bob

Try Robert Hienlien who a large lexicon ranginging fro juvienals that were serialized in Boy's Life, to the delightfully baudy The Cat Who Walks Through Walls, including several anthologies of short stories.

I don't think that you can study American Lit and not read Mark Twain. His The Adventures of Huckelberry Finnis considered by many authorities to be be greatest American novel. It is a fun read that can go as deep as you are in the mood for.

 

[Laurel]

lmao! That's my sister's name and exactly what she did/does and what we call her!

I must be easily entertained tonight.

LOL! I swear, people live up to their names. Parents Beware!

 

[p_p_man]

Before I end up with 1000s of titles to read...

I'd like to bring the thread to halt now.

Thanks Laurel and Willing and Unsure. I'll go with your suggestions to begin with.

Funnily enough as a science fiction fan of the 1950s-1960s period I've already read all the titles on your lists, I just never thought of them as classics before. But I suppose they are.

Thanks Willing and Unsure for your offer I may take you up on that but let me start with what you've both given me so far.

Thanks or as we Brits would say...

Ta muchley.

 

[Samuari]

Re: not all of these are deemed classics... but they are worth reading

Mark Twain... he wrote a lot of different things.. all fiction, but really good for the lines of pleasure reading... just beware of some of the language used in some of his books, and remember that most all of them were written around the time of the Civil War, so the racism is very present in all of it..



Actually W&U they were mostly writin well after the Civel War, and were frequently critized for not keeping blacks in 'thier place',Huck Finn was banned in Boston because it portrayed A black (Jim) as morally superior to the white people that were arround him.

 

[Willing and Unsure]

Actually W&U they were mostly writin well after the Civel War, and were frequently critized for not keeping blacks in 'thier place',Huck Finn was banned in Boston because it portrayed A black (Jim) as morally superior to the white people that were arround him.

i couldnt remember when exactly it was written... that's why i said around that time.. and as of now, Huck Finn is the second most banned book among high schools


and ppman... i'm also going to suggest George Orwell... 1984, and Animal Farm are great and interesting outlooks on communism... but that's all i'll say for now unless you want more

 

[p_p_man]

Trying to get this posted...

before someone else adds to the list.

Thanks Samuari.

I've e-mailed this thread to myself so tomorrow it's off to the Library I will go.

Thread now closed for further suggestions

 

[nasty]

I've started

"The Godfather" because I just saw part of the movie on TV. I'm about 20 pages in. So far it's just as good as the movie. It's worth reading.

 

[Demian]

Calvin and Hobbes...

And I'm serious...Oh, and the Bible and the Dictionary...

And I'm serious

 

[p_p_man]

Re: Calvin and Hobbes...

And I'm serious...Oh, and the Bible and the Dictionary...

And I'm serious

Since when has the Bible been American?

You can't be serious, not really, can you?

 

[doctor_insanus]

Hustler?

 

[Demian]

Re: Re: Calvin and Hobbes...

Since when has the Bible been American?

You can't be serious, not really, can you?

Since the Day we invented the Plane and TV...

 

[Demian]

Speaking of literature, which you are now even if you weren't before, I realise that my knowledge of the American classical scene is more or less non-existent.

So I'm going to read some books. But what?

I've read and enjoyed Melville, Salinger, Jack London, Herman Melville, O'Henry and Lovecraft and it's the short story, light reading novel I'm looking for.

Definitely not Fitzgerald who I found too serious to read for enjoyment and definitely not modern writing, (Stephen King etc).

So who's left?

The Pearl...

Lust for Life

 

[Demian]

Mmmmmmm....

I won't Pull any Knucklheadz in here...Kisses