Book Thread
I'm sure I'm not the only one who got some great suggestions for future books to read from the books qotw.

So here's my suggestion - each week (or so, maybe just when someone remembers) there's a Book thread and if you're reading something amazing tell us so we can all read it too.

My current suggestions are in the reply.
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Thu 18 Sep 2008, 11:37, 37 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

The End of Mr. Y by Scarlett Thomas
I finished this yesterday and I can't recommend it highly enough. The story is about a PhD student at Kent Uni who discovers the way to some sort of universal consciousness called the Troposphere and from there she can slip into other's minds and memories.

That's it put simply, but the book deals with Victorian scientists, quantum physics, Derrida, Baudrillard, universities, seedy sex and living in Canterbury.

I have to admit I had put off reading this book because I've met the author - in fact one of the classes the heroine mentions in the book is based upon a real class of which I was part...However, having now read it - compulsively in a couple of days I might add - I think it's an amazing book.

Read it!
Here's the first chapter -
www.theendofmry.co.uk/MrY_Chapt1.pdf
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Thu 18 Sep 2008, 11:45, Reply)

now and then.
I'm reading the book by the ex-Heat editor, documenting his time on the mag.

It's easy to read, but not addictive. I think it's more of a trip down memory lane and being able to look at things in hindsight (wow, he mentions Jordan's baby and doesn't mention that he was born with something wrong with him...) than any literary gold.

Mind you, my fave book is The Book, The Film, The T-Shirt by Matt Beaumont. Not quite a chick lit, but damn close, an addictive read with a story that pulls you along, changing your opinion of the main characters as you go.
( SeasonTicketless is too often the statue, and rarely the pigeon., Thu 18 Sep 2008, 11:47, Reply)

hehehe
Two replies, and we couldn't have come up with more opposite books ;)
( SeasonTicketless is too often the statue, and rarely the pigeon., Thu 18 Sep 2008, 11:48, Reply)

@chickenlady...
Thanks for the recommendation. I'd heard of it in the past, and then forgotten about it.
*goes to amazon*
*adds to bas...*

HANG ON! You mention Derrida and Baudrillard with approval!
*clicks ignore*

:)
( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Thu 18 Sep 2008, 11:50, Reply)

Porno by Irvine Welsh
The sequel to Trainspotting, and 10 times better!

The general gist of the story os that SickBoy wants to make a Porno and having found out that Renton lives in Amsterdam and is a successful club promotor, goes off to get his money back (from the end of the 1st film) and get him involved.

You also get Bebgby slowly becoming more psychotic which culminates in his downfall.

QUICK EDIT: Anything by Irvine Welsh actually - I'm currently half way through 'FILTH'
( SpikeyPickle wishes he was mabazaritchie, Thu 18 Sep 2008, 11:51, Reply)

Derrida and Baudrillard
I mentioned them....I didn't say I approved of them...although I have got 'The Revenge of the Crystal' even though it depresses me. And as for Derrida...I began reading his theory of the paragraph and found it to be a most excellent remedy for insomnia.

*EDIT* Okay, I've reread my post about the book and I'll concede that I do approve of the book and therefore by extension both D & B but in their defense I'll add that Thomas's explanation of both chappies is by far the clearest I've come across in a long time.
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Thu 18 Sep 2008, 11:53, Reply)

I finally read George Orwell's Animal Farm last week and it was excellent. Looking for 1984 now.

Currently reading Moon Dust by Andrew Smith, non-fiction in which he meets up with the nine remaining moon astronauts and talks about their experiences since returning to earth. Bloody fascinating and quite amusing too.

Oh, and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime was ace.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Thu 18 Sep 2008, 12:04, Reply)

PoMo
It's a simple Pavlovian reaction from me. Derrida, from what I can tell, has a case to make. Unfotunately for him, it's the sort of case that is'n't all that world-shattering, and that could've been made in a paragraph. Much of the rest is nonsense.

Baudrillard... ahem...
( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Thu 18 Sep 2008, 12:06, Reply)

Kill Your Friends by John Niven
it's about the record industry.

Dark, nasty, hilarious

Well worth reading

any of Neil Gaiman's stuff.
The Crow Road or Espedair Street by Iain Banks. Great books
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Thu 18 Sep 2008, 12:06, Reply)

DO NOT
get the Steel remains by Richard Morgan, because it is arse.

Read the Joe Abercrombie books instead.

Im currently very very slowly ploughing through The Raven King: Matthias Corvinus and the Fate of His Lost Library by Marcus Tanner

Its not quite what I expected and although its interesting its also the most tangent filled non fiction book ever, lurches all over the place and makes for a grind of a read
(Halfy By light alone, Thu 18 Sep 2008, 12:06, Reply)

@ chickenlady
I always found Derrida to be really willfully obtuse. I liked some of Baudrillard's ideas and he clearly influenced The Matrix.

I like the sound of your recomendation though. I shall check it out.
( Boss Keloid Got your mother's maiden name tattooed on my arm, Thu 18 Sep 2008, 12:09, Reply)

i was recently given
"never let me go" by kazuo ishiguro, which i thought was very interesting.

also, although i am neither a lesbian nor a victorian, i LOVE sarah waters' books - "tipping the velvet" is brilliant, as are all her others.

it was, however, unfortunate in the extreme that i bought a copy of "tipping the velvet" for a male friend at christmas and autographed it to say "because i know what a rancid little pervert you are". then thought, "aha, my sister-in-law might like this too," and bought a second copy.

you can guess what happened on christmas day. i was deeply unpopular there. although my brother found it hilarious.
( rachelswipe with a fork, Thu 18 Sep 2008, 12:11, Reply)

Attack of the Unsinkable Rubber Ducks
By Christopher Brookmyre.

Thoroughly enjoying it so far. A murder mystery told from the perspective of those who have been murdered.
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Thu 18 Sep 2008, 12:17, Reply)

Marley and Me
Quite simply a brilliant book! The way John Grogan writes you really believe that you owned Marley and experienced all the stories he writes abouts! If you're a cat lover, then I recommend you try another book....

Also, read "5 People you meet in Heaven" by Mitch Albom. I read it all in one sitting, I couldn't put it down (overused phrase).
(The Stig, Thu 18 Sep 2008, 12:18, Reply)

Sarah Waters
I read the first couple of chapters of Tipping the Velvet and just couldn't get into it and usually Victorian melodramas I find rather entertaining. I did managed to get through 'Affinity' though and quite enjoyed that so maybe I'll go back to her others.

The End of Mr Y is like Affinity in parts...
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Thu 18 Sep 2008, 12:22, Reply)

The 5 people you meet in Heaven
by Mitch Albom. It's only about 250 pages long and is extremely easy to read but really struck a chord with me. I've given it to several people since and most felt the same. The others didn't get it but I have doubts over their ability to form emotions.

I also read Atonement but I'm embarrassed to admit it's the only time I enjoyed a book to film adaptation more.


EDIT @ The Stig....good shout, just noticed you mentioned that one too! I read it one sitting too but then started re-reading straight after. Have you read Tuesdays with Morrie?
(Holy Cremola Foam Batman will be back on, Thu 18 Sep 2008, 12:46, Reply)

Nope.
Haven't heard of that one. Is it any good?

I'm currently reading "Confessions of an Economic Hitman" I bought it when I was in the United States. It's quite disturbing what people will go to secure natural resources (e.g. bribe governments, rig elections, engineer coups and if all of that doesn't work, they'll bring in an assassin to kill the person in question!)
(The Stig, Thu 18 Sep 2008, 12:56, Reply)

Mr Weston's Good Wine
by T F Powys.

Is it allegory? Is it bucolic farce? Is it anti-religion?

Yes, and I will need to read it again.

Very good though. Gentle but fierce.
(happylittletulip helpless and delicious, Thu 18 Sep 2008, 13:00, Reply)

@ Davros
Yes! Unsinkable Rubber Ducks is great.
Best one he's written IMO.

Recently read Death and the Penguin. Brilliant. Got Penguin Lost to read next after I've finished yet another Flashman novel.

I'll recommend The Book Thief by markus Zusak again. It's soooo good!
( Boss Keloid Got your mother's maiden name tattooed on my arm, Thu 18 Sep 2008, 13:02, Reply)

@ Boss K
I too loved the Book Thief - really lovely story.

@ Holy CF Batman - I've not yet seen the film but read the book of Atonement some years back and enjoyed it up until the big literary reveal and then I was disappointed at its smugness - it reminded me a bit of Atwood's Blind Assassin in that respect - literary smugness.
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Thu 18 Sep 2008, 13:07, Reply)

@chickenlady
Unfortunately, I finished it on the train on the way home from work and everybody looked at me strangely while I sobbed:(
( Boss Keloid Got your mother's maiden name tattooed on my arm, Thu 18 Sep 2008, 13:13, Reply)

Chickenlady
Couldn't agree more about the smugness. It was extremely infuriating as I felt it let down what had been a thoroughly enjoyable read up until then. The film, however, didn't have that. If anything it underplayed that final twist which made it all the more startling (and enjoyable).

Have you read the Boy in the striped pyjamas? I just saw an advert for that the other night which I didn't expect. Apparently it's not too good.
(Holy Cremola Foam Batman will be back on, Thu 18 Sep 2008, 13:14, Reply)

I howled and sobbed
when I read Charlotte Grey - it was the bit about the children going off to the camps that did me in.

Books regularly make me cry.

@ Holy CF Batman - I'm avoiding that one mainly because of my experience of reading Charlotte Grey and also because I recently read The Silver Sword to my sons - I first read it myself when I was their age at school - I sobbed again.
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Thu 18 Sep 2008, 13:15, Reply)

Oh heavens YES!
The Book Thief!

*wells up*
(happylittletulip helpless and delicious, Thu 18 Sep 2008, 13:17, Reply)

I've just bought the
Book Thief of Amazon for £4. Thanks for the top tip.

Chickenlady, I've only cried once since I was six and that was a few years ago when re-watched the Lion King. I love reading but seem unable to cry for some reason!
(Holy Cremola Foam Batman will be back on, Thu 18 Sep 2008, 13:29, Reply)

American Gods
by Neil Gaiman was given to me as a present many years ago. It is still one of my favourite books of all time.
(misspiggy In danger of having to get a job, Thu 18 Sep 2008, 13:30, Reply)

I've just finished
"Nation" by Terry Pratchett. It goes without saying that I love his books, he's an utter genius.

I'm halfway through "Labyrinths" by Borges, and about to start "Lord Jim" by Conrad.
(The Empress it seems you CAN polish a turd!, Thu 18 Sep 2008, 13:31, Reply)

The Sheltering Sky by Paul Bowles.
I know it's supposed to be deep and meaningful but I just love the story and the way Kit just leaves her dead husband and dissapears into the desert. It's one of the books I re-read every few years.
( girlinthehole, Thu 18 Sep 2008, 13:39, Reply)

If you like a giggle
I can highly recommend any of Tony Hawks, Dave Gorman or Danny Wallace's books, especially Danny Wallace's 'Yes Man' which is still the only book that made me cry and the end, for all the right reasons.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Thu 18 Sep 2008, 14:02, Reply)

oracle night
by paul auster.

it's a little bit like how a russian doll be if she was a book.

and apparently the new york trilogy, also by auster, is better. unfortunately this was not on my father's bookshelves last time i raided his study.
( kitsune-tsuki tankeløst hode får lettest sove, Thu 18 Sep 2008, 14:19, Reply)

@BGB
re: The Sheltering Sky - I read that cos William Burroughs said it was his favourite book. There's a film of it I havent seen yet. Believe Big John Malkovich is in it.
(bazmorningstar efil4nat3b, Thu 18 Sep 2008, 15:10, Reply)

Your order has been posted
Just purchased 'The Road' by Cormac McCarthy. Expecting it to arrive today as well \o/

Heres a bit of the blurb I think:

A father and his son walk alone through burned America, heading through the ravaged landscape to the coast. This is the profoundly moving story of their journey. The Road boldly imagines a future in which no hope remains, but in which two people, `each the other's world entire', are sustained by love. Awesome in the totality of its vision, it is an unflinching meditation on the worst and the best that we are capable of: ultimate destructiveness, desperate tenacity, and the tenderness that keeps two people alive in the face of total devastation.
( whenanimalsattackhumans clad in global hypercolour, Fri 19 Sep 2008, 10:59, Reply)

Oh by the way I quite like futury type books whether it involves some kind of apocalypse or not.

Books such as 1984, , Farenheit 451... also I read Z for Zacariah in school, V for Vendetta.

Anyone have any recommendations along these lines?
( whenanimalsattackhumans clad in global hypercolour, Fri 19 Sep 2008, 11:04, Reply)

Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
His Doors Of Perception is better though and will probably lead you to RD Laing. This may change your perspective on everything or bore you to tears.
(bazmorningstar efil4nat3b, Fri 19 Sep 2008, 11:14, Reply)

Dirty Weeker
I can recommend Eon by Greg Bear and its sequel, the name of which escapes me right now. Sort of sci-fi without being up its own arse, kept me glued to the pages... not in the adult novel sense of the phrase.

Edit: actually, having re-read your list, this is probably way off the mark. But I still recommend it :)
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Fri 19 Sep 2008, 11:20, Reply)

@ No3l
Had a sly peek on wikipedia and that book looks to have great potential! Will add to wishlist!
( whenanimalsattackhumans clad in global hypercolour, Fri 19 Sep 2008, 11:35, Reply)

Books
I second the Vipros suggestion of 'Kill Your Friends'.

On an earnest note, 'What is the What' by Dave Eggers changed my life.
(TheSnark oh, c'mon, like you didn't see me coming, Tue 23 Sep 2008, 18:20, Reply)