book recommendations (stuff i can find in my local library rather than the bookstore)

[Jason]

have to get away from the spaceships

would like to get lost in a pile of books

don't have the money to purchase said pile

would love recommendations as to what said pile should contain

looking for virtually anything from any genre (save for danielle steel type shit)

reply forthwith, if you please

[brookus]

Terry Pratchett's Discworld books are great. Anything by Douglas Adams, of course.

llater,
Tony

[Saturn V]

1. Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! -- Richard Feynman
2. A Short History of Nearly Everything -- Bill Bryson
3. A Brief History of Time -- Stephen Hawking
4. A Man on the Moon -- Andrew Chaikin
5. Rocket Boys -- Homer Hickam

At least consider #1, it's really, really good and funny. Well, I thought so. :turned:

[Horny Elf]

1. Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! -- Richard Feynman
2. A Short History of Nearly Everything -- Bill Bryson
3. A Brief History of Time -- Stephen Hawking
4. A Man on the Moon -- Andrew Chaikin
5. Rocket Boys -- Homer Hickam

At least consider #1, it's really, really good and funny. Well, I thought so. :turned:

Cool, i was also gonna recommend Bill Bryson - A short history of nearly everything. You should also read his book, Down Under.

Stephen Hawkings books are cool, because they lure you into thinking you understand very complicated stuff. But i wouldnt recommend it unless your one of those douches who likes to gloat with your useless knowledge. Pretty god damn boring.

Other than that you should read 1984 - George Orwell.
This is one is a classic. Orwell wrote this in 1950 and its about how he thought the world would be 34 years later. Big Brother is watching you!

Two books id also recommend are the two latest by Dan Brown.
The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons. Youve probably heard about these. Thriller filled with riddles and ancient conspiracy theories. Gotta love it.

[Facetious]

if you havent read a heartbreaking work of staggering genius, by dave eggers, you should at least check it out. the first part of the book (the upside-down part) is probably the funniest things ive ever read. the actual meat of the book is merely average, id say, but still worth reading.

[Ilya]

i just got finished reading i am charlotte simmons by tom wolfe and liked it

if you're into nonfiction, John Hersey's Hiroshima is worth a read

bonfire of the vanities is another good tom wolfe book. hes a pretty nice writer, though his stuff is a little too long and kinda dragged on, but i'd still recommend him

[SpiderMage]

I haven't really gotten into the book scene at all so 'm kinda limited.

LotR is classic of course, but you've probably already read it.
Dante's Inferno(The Divine Comedy) has always been a favorite of mine.
Greek Myth is full of stories, the Illad(sp?), Odysee(sp again?), Medusa and all that.
've heard Wheel of Time series is good and Dragonlance is good as well.

[bloodzombie]

Anything by Tom Robins or Kurt Vonnegut.

Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal - Christopher Moore. All of his books are pretty amusing, but this one stands out way above the rest. But I might be biased because I think jesus jokes are funny. his second best is probably Bloodsucking Fiends or Practical Demonkeeping.

High Fidelity - Nick Hornby. You've probably seen the movie. Good book. He also wrote About a Boy and Being Good. Both are pretty good.

Running with Scissors: A memoir - Augusten Burroughs. Autobiographical story about his messed up childhood. I'm not sure why, but I was completely fascinated by it. He wrote a follow-up called Dry, which was like the next chapter in his life.

Set this House in Order: A romance of Souls - A fictional story about a guy with multiple personality disorder and how he has come to terms with it. Cool concept and interesting read.

[cundor]

Wheel of time (Robert Jordan)
Everything by Feist
--> Fantasy books
Try to read some Bill Bryson, best author ever! (writes about his journeys through woods, Great Britain, US; really fun, interesting read)

[geekbot]

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintence - Robert M Pirsig

Subjects: psychology, a little bit about technology, of course motorcycles

Takes place: on a motorcycle journey as well as talks about flashbacks to past events

And the main character is a right brained, reasoning type of person who has been through some stuff in a mental institution.

[Verthanthi]

Running with Scissors: A memoir - Augusten Burroughs. Autobiographical story about his messed up childhood. I'm not sure why, but I was completely fascinated by it. He wrote a follow-up called Dry, which was like the next chapter in his life.

He also just put out one called Magical Thinking. I didn't like Dry much, but the other two are excellent, and I think Jas would really love them.

Real books:
Choke - Chuck Palahniuk
Tempest-tost and Leaven of Malice - Robertson Davies (part of The Salterton Trilogy, but <i>A Mixture of Frailties</i> is okay, but not really the good)
The Caprices - Sabina Murray
A Carnivore's Inquiry - Sabina Murray
We Have Always Lived in the Castle - Shirley Jackson
Fear and Loathing in ... - Hunter S. Thompson (Doesn't matter which one, really)
Whores for Gloria - William Vollman

Graphic Novels:
Sandman - Neil Gaiman
American Elf - James Kochalka
Preacher - Garth Ennis
Transmetropoliton - Warren Ellis

If you read and like either of the Murray books, please tell people about her. She's my personal hero and I am trying to spread word of her outside people who know who won the PEN/Faulkner

[bloodzombie]

He also just put out one called Magical Thinking. I didn't like Dry much, but the other two are excellent, and I think Jas would really love them.
r

I didn't read magical thinking because I like novels better than essays. I also read Dry and Sellevision, both were alright, but Running with scissors is definitely the one to read if you're only going to read one.

[Existenz87]

Orson Scott Card, Enders series. Philip K. Dick has written some good books. Wheel of time books, Chuck Palanhuk(spelling) wrote fight club and a couple other good books, red mars, blue mars, green mars, by kim stanley robinson.

[Jerome Scuggs]

I L O V E Rocket Boys. Check it out.

Check out Dave Berry, funny guy. Has a few books.

Hmm, Ayn Rand. "The Fountainhead". I know you'd like that one. Atlas Shrugged is as good.

[Galleleo]

Didn't read anything so sorry if this has been said:

But if you like/liked LOTR, you might wanna go in deeper on that subject, the hobbit the similarion (sp?) etc, you can spend ALOT of time on books surrounding and having to do with LOTR.