Book discussion

[arsenalno1]

We have a thread for what music we listen to and one for the movies we watch, but none for books. Does that mean BA members don't read anything else than teamnews and statistics? I sure hope not, and will open this thread where we can share our reading experiences.

I've just about finished Veronika Decides To Die by Paolo Coelho
It's about a young and unhappy Slovenian woman who feels life doesn't have anything more to give her, or she doesn't have anything to give to life, and attempts suicide. She fails, and wakes up in Villete - a mental institution somewhere in Slovenia.

It seems to be a, more or less, true story and it is about sanity vs insanity. Illnesses such as depression and schizophrenia is adressed in a very interesting way. And it is about finding reasons to keep living in this too often cruel world.

I strongly recommend reading this.

[darebt]

My personal favorites are Agatha Cristie's books, but I am sure many might disagree with that, but that's it. I just love those and I am only reading one per month, because sadly, they are not unlimited. Other book that I recall as good recently is Dan Brown's 'Angels and Demons' Though a bit, commercialized nice thing in my opinion.

[kfcpro]

I like :
- historical books of Woloszanski,our polish reporter .Abot 2n world war mainly.
-David Morrel's books
-Frederick Forsyth's books
-And books about biology,anathomy ,chemistry etc reffered to human body
-I can also add that i like autobiographies


i decided to add one more category here,of books that i love to read, it might be controversial.but maybe someone also likes such books,just because of historical,not idelogical point of view,like me. Memories of Walter Schellenberg and Mein Kampf are examples of such books.I believe that everyone interested in history should know such books

[arsenalno1]

Other book that I recall as good recently is Dan Brown's 'Angels and Demons' Though a bit, commercialized nice thing in my opinion.

I agree. That one is a good and interesting book one can learn a lot from (not saying everything he claims is true) and the "action-factor" makes it hard to stop reading. I also felt I got to know my way around Rome reading it.

[George_Hanson]

My fav books:

James Clavell's "King Rat"
JD Sallinger's "Catcher in the Rhy"
George Orwell's "Year 1984"
Goscinny and Sempe's "Le Petite Nicolas"

I could read them all the time, I could finish the first from the list and then make the full circle to start again and I could do it till the end of my life. THere are probably some more, but right now I cannot remember.

[SenD]

Nikos Kanantzakis - Zorba The Greek

[Belfour]

J. M. Coetzee - "Disgrace"

Best book i've read in years. Here's some info about it:

"Set in post-apartheid South Africa, J. M. Coetzee's searing novel tells the story of David Lurie, a twice divorced, 52-year-old professor of communications and Romantic Poetry at Cape Technical University. Lurie believes he has created a comfortable, if somewhat passionless, life for himself. He lives within his financial and emotional means. Though his position at the university has been reduced, he teaches his classes dutifully; and while age has diminished his attractiveness, weekly visits to a prostitute satisfy his sexual needs. He considers himself happy. But when Lurie seduces one of his students, he sets in motion a chain of events that will shatter his complacency and leave him utterly disgraced."

[gold7352]

almost every book from irving welsh.

[Jawor]

Betting to win by Prof. Leighton Vaughan-Williams

[arsenalno1]

If any of you are in to fantasy, I must recommend R.A. Salvatore's masterpiece: The Dark Elf Trilogy

It is a very moving story about a young dark elf (drow) - the legendary Drizzt Do'Urden - whose concience makes him forsake his own people and their, by any standards, evil ways and leaves the underground city of Menzoberranzan in search for the love, compassion, tolerance and understanding he is sure exists on the surface. Or a meaning to his existance. He gets very lonely and the colour of his skin is associated with evil so finding what he is looking for becomes a real challenge and he is constantly on the verge of giving up. He is fortunate to have an astral ally, the panther Guenhwyvar, he can turn to when times get tough.

I think it has some deep, existencial meanings and philosophy in it and I feel I have grown as a person by reading it.

[Arbiter Elegantiarum]

If any of you are in to fantasy, I must recommend R.A. Salvatore's masterpiece: The Dark Elf Trilogy

It is a very moving story about a young dark elf (drow) - the legendary Drizzt Do'Urden - whose concience makes him forsake his own people and their, by any standards, evil ways and leaves the underground city of Menzoberranzan in search for the love, compassion, tolerance and understanding he is sure exists on the surface. Or a meaning to his existance. He gets very lonely and the colour of his skin is associated with evil so finding what he is looking for becomes a real challenge and he is constantly on the verge of giving up. He is fortunate to have an astral ally, the panther Guenhwyvar, he can turn to when times get tough.

I think it has some deep, existencial meanings and philosophy in it and I feel I have grown as a person by reading it.

I've read it few year's ago and really enjoyed it. Descriptions of subterranean world were great and drow society and it's customs was very interesting. Drizzt's search enjoyable to follow. I can reccommend it too.

Talking about fantasy, recently I'm absolutly in love with George R.R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire". A large series, 4 heavy books so far, while 3 other are to follow. Series started in 1996, it takes long for Martin to write, but the results of his work are phenomenal. He created a big world, with it's own history, legends, tons of interesting characters. It only lacks it own language(Martin admits he's not a Tolkien ) It's very interesting mainly because he created world where not many things are simpy black or white, there are many sides and many points of view on same matters. Each chapter is told from one of main characters POV. By that we get to know their thoughts, emotions and reasons of their actions but then we see those persons from others POV. It makes it really enjoyable to read aswith passing time we get new POV and can see some facts in completly new light, get to know other sides motivations, and even completly change our opinion of previously loved/hated character.

Martin writes in easy to read style, with lot of great humour but also can create VERY touching scenes. In his world, like in real one, there is a LOT of violence, evil, betrayal etc. and he doesn't neglect it, his world is a dark one, he also knows that sex plays a big role in life and influences people's deeds.

Also, what's rarely is seen in fantasy, in his books no one is safe, and everyone can die, either he is good guy or bad guy. It really makes you cheer and fear for your favourite characters.

His creation of characters is awesome, some of best characters I've read are in his books.

I know that even people who are not into fantasy likes his books. It's not a fantasy about elfs and dwarfs but mainly concentrated on real, flesh and bones people, court intrigues, love/hate etc.

I highly reccommend this bookes, if you can cope with it's size and have patience to wait for series to finish(which could be achieved like in 5-6 years from now on probably).

Jaime Lannister rocks!

[Satyr]

Currently reading a book from Frederic Beigbeder.

Its title is a bit hard to explain.

Originally it was named "99 francs" but as it is being translated to other languages, it has the name of the translated value in currency of that particular country.
(Retitled 14,99 euro after the introduction of the euro), Grasset (translated into English as £9.99 by Adriana Hunter)


Read more about it here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fr%C3%A...9ric_Beigbeder

Solid book, before that I read a book on Berlusconism. Not by Berlusconi of course, but an independent analysis of his way of conducting things and how it affected Italy and how it affects other countries, not necessarily Berlusconi himself but similar mindsets.

[IGUANA]

Haven't read the fantasy novels suggested in here by arsenalno1 or Arbiter Elegantiarum, but I don't think they are better than The Lord of the Rings. This book is the best fantasy novel that I've read... the images that it sends too you, the complete universe created, the depth of the story.... (I'll also try the novels you recommended as soon as I get the chance)

Would also like to add the Dune saga, again, one of the best SF novels (actually, it's the best in my acceptance, but that's just me). Frank Herbert created an entire universe, the 'plot within plot' idea... and in this books, little is what it seems. Great evolution of the plot-line and the characters... just brilliant.

Also, I'd like to add one of my favorite books from when I was a child: The Wonderful Adventures of Nils Holgersson, written by Selma Lagerlof. Took me a while to finish reading it, but it was worth it. I was amazed by that story that made me dream of visiting Sweden...

[CG]

I read loads and i mean loads of books. Ian Rankin, Bernard Cornwell, Stephen King, Shaun Hutson, John Connolly, Clive Barker et. etc. and also autobiographies.

[arsenalno1]

Also, I'd like to add one of my favorite books from when I was a child: The Wonderful Adventures of Nils Holgersson, written by Selma Lagerlof. Took me a while to finish reading it, but it was worth it. I was amazed by that story that made me dream of visiting Sweden...

You'd probably like Gösta Berlings Saga then, also by her. Or did you perhaps read it?