Serious reading

[MrRubix]

Re: Serious reading

It's truly a great book -- I did a report on it in high school via skit and basically got to invoke Agent Smith mannerisms. XD

But really, it's a short, enjoyable read with some great theme/character development that, in one way or another, puts forth interesting takeaways for the readers.

1984 is pretty much the archetype for Dystopian novels, and it's not for everyone. I personally didn't love nor hate it, but I think it's something everyone probably *should* read.

Brave New World is awesome. In my HS psych class, I used it to bring forth a sort of troll-debate that threw the rest of the class period into a massive tangent: If you were programmed to *really, really* enjoy cleaning **** for a living, would you live such a life? In that role, you would be happy... but you'd be cleaning ****.

[dooty_7]

Re: Serious reading

Most of the books in Rubix's list are pretty awesome. Here a few other good ones that I have read in the last year that I enjoyed
The Road - Cormac Mccarthy
Geek Love - Katherine Dunn -> It's not about some nerds in love, it's about a freak show
Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde
Sirens of Titan - Vonnegut
Cat's Cradle - Vonnegut
....Pretty much everything by Vonnegut is pretty awesome

[MrGiggles]

Re: Serious reading

Rubix, I note you had WoT and LotR in that list. Have you read A Song of Ice and Fire yet? That **** is nuts, easily my favorite epic fantasy read.

Also, Brave New World is one of my favorite novels of all time. I jizzed when my cultural studies professor assigned it early on. It's cool comparing it to 1984, as well.

[dooty_7]

Re: Serious reading

Also, Brave New World is one of my favorite novels of all time. I jizzed when my cultural studies professor assigned it early on. It's cool comparing it to 1984, as well.

It's even more cool comparing some of the concepts covered in them to the society we currently live in

[MrGiggles]

Re: Serious reading

Yeah there's an infographic that posted around a lot, it's a good place to start.

http://www.recombinantrecords.net/images/2009-05-Amusing-Ourselves-to-Death.png

e: ****ing huge removed [img] tags

[dooty_7]

Re: Serious reading

Good call on removing the tags lol. I had seen that graphic before and just began looking for it when you posted.

By the way, Rubix did mention LoTR and WoT :P

[xealix]

Re: Serious reading

Yeah there's an infographic that posted around a lot, it's a good place to start.

http://www.recombinantrecords.net/images/2009-05-Amusing-Ourselves-to-Death.png

e: ****ing huge removed [img] tags

Wow, even not having read those books yet this made want to check both out far more then ever. Again thanks to all of you, and please continue to post recommendations of your favorite literature. Any form is alright.

[devonin]

Re: Serious reading

Personally, I have no issue with Chuck Palanhiuk. To die-hard philosophers and academics, the underlying concepts/themes may cause a lot of eye-rolling ("Oh god, we all already know about this and have seen this sort of thing done to death a billion times elsewhere"), but at least Chuck is packaging the concepts in a way that reaches a larger audience and, in some way, promotes a desire for further inquiry and investigation among those who were previously inert with respect to philosophy/psychology/literature/etc.

If you get rabies, and then die in a car accident, you'll go back in time, where you can become your own ancestor which gives you super powers. Yeah, plenty to think about in that one.

[devonin]

Re: Serious reading

Also books, given Rubix's giant list, I'm not going to go back over the whole thing, so there's probably going to be some repeats.

The Redemption of Althalus by David & Leigh Eddings
The Book of Amber by Roger Zelazny
Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay (Really anything by him)
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
Sharpe's ______ by Bernard Cornwell
The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher (First is called "Storm Front")
Anything at all by Terry Pratchett (Start with "Jingo" it will sell you)
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss (Possibly one of the best 'first novel' books I've ever read
By Schism Rent Asunder by David Weber
The Baroque Cycle by Neal Stephenson
Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson

[tom101]

Re: Serious reading

Reading, I never took it upon myself to become into it while I was in school. I am just now starting to regret this, and I would like to hear recommendations of what books you in the FFR populace have found noteworthy. I don't care if they are books everyone has heard of, or books no one has heard of. Post the title, author, and genre here along with a reason you recommend the book. Hopefully people will take it upon themselves to read the books posted here.

I am starting this thread, because I will be starting college soon and I want to get to a point in which I feel confident in my knowledge of literature. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Read Lolita.

[Eeumi]

Re: Serious reading

I like pride and predjudice by jane austen. Srsly doesn't get enough credit

[MrRubix]

Re: Serious reading

Rubix, I note you had WoT and LotR in that list. Have you read A Song of Ice and Fire yet? That **** is nuts, easily my favorite epic fantasy read.

Also, Brave New World is one of my favorite novels of all time. I jizzed when my cultural studies professor assigned it early on. It's cool comparing it to 1984, as well.

I have not read ASOIAF yet but it sounds pretty sweet

[MrRubix]

Re: Serious reading

I like pride and predjudice by jane austen. Srsly doesn't get enough credit

overrated

[xealix]

Re: Serious reading

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

Amazing book, I also think a lot of people need to read this one whether your into Sci-Fi or not.

[zolaric]

Re: Serious reading

The best epic fantasy is The Malazan Book of the Fallen