Book Recommendations

[soraanaam]

if you wanna read something good, read "one day in the life of ivan denisovich" fuking awesome story, then read the illusionist, clockwork orange. all fuking awesome

[A_G]

I'm not too terribly familiar with Welsh but going on what you have said maybe Brett Easton Ellis?

And although he really doesn't touch too many of the topics that you mention, I'll second Hakuri Murakami.

[dizzhizz]

Drugs, booze, sex, self-destruction and all that good stuff - try Bukowski, Stahl, Palahniuk, Carroll & Miller.

Cosign on Murakami. Norweigan Wood is a classic.

[homme.homme]

Thanks all.

[wEstSidE]

American Psycho is good. it's also funny to the sartorially inclined.

[viv1984viv]

good suggestion westside, any Bret Easton Ellis novel should be up your street homme homme, glamourama, rules of attraction etc, all have some pretty dispicable and strung out characters.

Last exit isnt really a long book, but some may find it hard to pick up because of his style, that said once you are tuned into his writing its easy to just rip through. Bukowski is very easy and quick.

Ivan Denisov is a brilliant book, but doesnt really feature much drug use or self abuse, maybe you should get a bukowski or ellis or selby jr as well as a classic, they are allways much harder to pick up and might last you longer but they are allways rewarding. Tolstoys books are some of the most thought provoking ive read - After Camus...

[lightinaugust]

seconding bukowski, also coupland, martin amis, william burroughs. paul auster and john updike are good too.

[homme.homme]

I didnt think i would end up with so many choices. Thanks a bunch..

I've always wanted to read Tolstoy.

I have realised that my reading abstinence of late has left me quite dim-witted - I'm going to pick up a few of these titles to repair the damage.

[Analyst]

Jay McInerney - Bright Lights, Big City

...about a young writer working at a New Yorker-like publication and partying afterhours in '80s Manhattan...

Should be along the same vein as Bret Easton Ellis...

[Analyst]

For books to read while on vacation, I think any books by Ben Mezrich would be entertaining:

Ugly Americans - young american trades Nikkei futures by day and explores Japan's seedy side by night

Bringing Down the House or Breaking Vegas - MIT students develop a method to beat blackjack tables at casinos around the world

Tom Wolfe is also a fun read - Bonfire of the Vanities

[werdtoyourmoms]

i'm in this book club, and everything people pick out i'm not into at all: 1. the echo maker by richard powers (pretty wack) and 2. the road by cormack mccarthy (not really hooking me in)

there are too many classics to read before looking at anything hardcover you know? plus hardcovers are like $20! fuck that

my recommendation - nothing hardcover

[wEstSidE]

i 6x bukowski. mockingbird wish me luck is a good one.

[Uinku]

Here are a few of my recommendations, these books have all won the Booker Prize, so there is no doubt that they're good.

Yann Martell - Life of Pi (336 pages)

Boy on a ship. The ship sinks. He survives on a life vessel surrounded by dangerous circus animals. Bizzare, but VERY cool book

Kazuo Ishiguro - Never Let Me Go (304 pages)

Imagine being at a school where the main purpose is NOT to give you a headstart in life.

Kazuo Ishiguro - Remains of the day (256 pages)

Story about a butler in love with his housekeeper, they've also made a movie of this book starring Anthony Hopkins!

Margret Atwood - The Robber Bride (528 pages)

A story about revenge and people returning from their grave.

Ian McEwan - Enduring love (262 pages)

Known to have one of the best/weirdest opening scene in literature. About an accidental meeting which turns violent

Ian McEwan - Atonement (351 pages)

Story is about the pain of secrets and the mistakes that can haunt you for the rest of your life.

[daikonyama]

Yeah, definitely Bret Easton Ellis - though I didn't like Lunar Park at all. Murakami is ok, but does anyone else find that it's the same old thing over and over again?

I just read Murakami Ryu's "In the Miso Soup" - it's a nice short read about a Japanese sex tourist guide meeting a serial killer. Might be worth a peek if you're interested.

[efeks]

well i was snoopin in on this thread here and there and looking at the recommendations and i saw that Requiem For a Dream seemed really intresting so today i went to barnes and noble and got the novel. now im not sure which to do. either to watch the movie first or read the book. either way im starting my book tonight =]

[lms]

i may be the only one, but i loved Jerzy Kosinski: A Biography. he was a self-made author who lived a life of obscene debauchery and hoodwinked everyone into believing he was a genius. that's the american dream if you ask me: riches, fame, power, and deceit. if you're interested in his works, checkout Steps.

[denimdestroyedmylife]

homie----have you read JUNKIE by W.S. Burroughs? or Naked Lunch?

those are the cornerstones of modern drug fiction

[Larry Bird]

other books about heroin:

permanent midnight-jerry stahl

the man with the golden arm- ( i forgot who wrote it and its lost in my room)

yes, the best book ever about smack would be Junky as DDML stated.

but these days however, i read recovery books such as When painkillers become dangerous and The Gifts of Sobriety.

[homme.homme]

those are the cornerstones of modern drug fiction

Man no one tells me shit. Thanks dude.

[homme.homme]

well i was snoopin in on this thread here and there and looking at the recommendations and i saw that Requiem For a Dream seemed really intresting so today i went to barnes and noble and got the novel. now im not sure which to do. either to watch the movie first or read the book. either way im starting my book tonight =]

I would read the book first. Knowing the story line of a movie is OK but the story line of a book is sometimes frustrating. And considering you already have the book you might as well.

[lil brown brother]

The fuck Up - nersesian(?)

[mellowbonsai]

The book is infinitely better than the movie, but only if you can dig the way Selby writes. He is extremely stylistic, in the same vein as Faulkner or Foer. If you read any Selby books, Last Exit to Brooklyn is much better than Requiem for a Dream. Even if you haven't already seen the movie, the narrative arc of Requiem is too predictable, and you end up turning pages wondering when the characters' lives get worse. There are moments of stunning description in Selby's novels that the movie couldn't include.

Last Exit to Brooklyn is probably more suitable for travel reading; it's a compilation of short stories.

[efeks]

after im done with requiem for a dream im definatly getting last exit to brooklyn i heard really changed peoples life and outlook on things. so im very excited to read it

[mswill_i_am]

White Oleander by janet fitch.

was also a movie but the book is really good. its long. and is definitley related to self-destruction.

[mswill_i_am]

the curious incident of the dog in the night-time by mark haddon

Very good book. Check it out.

ooooh my god-----that book is ridiculus!! i finished it in one night, i couldn't put it down. i've always had an interest in learning more about autism (one of my friends brothers has it so it sparked my curiosity), and that book was absoutely amazing. + rep. :-D

[mswill_i_am]

also...although it ended up that not the entire thing was true like it claimed to be, and that it was only based on truth,

A Million little pieces by James Frey

and if you REALLLLY like that..read the second book to it...

My Friend Leonard by James Frey.

really good reads but they go kinda fast just because of the way they're written and that its such a good story.

[homme.homme]

homie----have you read JUNKIE by W.S. Burroughs? or Naked Lunch?

those are the cornerstones of modern drug fiction

Purchased these today.

Will get last exit and requiem upon my return.

[Larry Bird]

also...although it ended up that not the entire thing was true like it claimed to be, and that it was only based on truth,

A Million little pieces by James Frey

and if you REALLLLY like that..read the second book to it...

My Friend Leonard by James Frey.

really good reads but they go kinda fast just because of the way they're written and that its such a good story.

yes, two very good books....i really like the way james frey writes, it flows so well.

did oprah ever forgive him?? ill be honest, i first read a million little pieces through her book club.

[nairb49]

i may be the only one, but i loved Jerzy Kosinski: A Biography. he was a self-made author who lived a life of obscene debauchery and hoodwinked everyone into believing he was a genius. that's the american dream if you ask me: riches, fame, power, and deceit. if you're interested in his works, checkout Steps.

An interesting character indeed. Read his "The Painted Bird" if you want more. Some of the imagery and description is unforgettable.

[mswill_i_am]

yes, two very good books....i really like the way james frey writes, it flows so well.

did oprah ever forgive him?? ill be honest, i first read a million little pieces through her book club.

yeah, definitley...i read each of james frey's books in like a day. hahaha i read it through oprah too! actually my mom did then she told me to read it. i am not sure if she ever forgave him but i think didnt she have him on the show again to like admit it and shit? i duno. fuck her.