Book club.

[Scuz39]

This might be kind of an off the wall question. Lately though (last year or 2) I have noticed my reading falling off and I realized it is because I just don't know what I want to read anymore. Is anyone in a book club they really like? Obviously no bestseller crap please. Something that spans alot of genres would be ideal.

Or we could just start a neo-geo.com book club.

Thanks in advance. -Scuz

 

[subcons]

I'm fairly new to reading--past couple of years or so. I've been reading Palahniuk, Tom Robbins, Ellis, Sedaris, Burroughs (Augusten), etc. with the occasional suggested book from a friend thrown into the mix. Fairly typical I guess for a reader my age.

I've also been trying to catch up on the classics I've never read. I've got Don Quixote half read and I'm almost finished with Wuthering Heights. Problem is, these don't seem to grab me like more modern fiction. Not that I don't enjoy them on any level at all, I just kind of just read them inbetween other books.

I'd love for some suggestions for fictional authors to look out for when I go trade books in. The place I go is so cluttered with books it's kind of hard to just browse without an author in mind.

 

[Mike Shagohod]

Can't say I'm any book clubs, but you should read
the following writer's (I hate the word "author") works
if given the chance.

Mickey Spillane
William Gibson
Walter Mosley
K.W. Jeter
Steve Perry (Matador Saga)
Mike McCray
L.S. Riker


...some good shit there.

 

[DanAdamKOF]

I'm fairly new to reading--past couple of years or so. I've been reading Palahniuk, Tom Robbins, Ellis, Sedaris, Burroughs (Augusten), etc. with the occasional suggested book from a friend thrown into the mix. Fairly typical I guess for a reader my age.

I've also been trying to catch up on the classics I've never read. I've got Don Quixote half read and I'm almost finished with Wuthering Heights. Problem is, these don't seem to grab me like more modern fiction. Not that I don't enjoy them on any level at all, I just kind of just read them inbetween other books.

I'd love for some suggestions for fictional authors to look out for when I go trade books in. The place I go is so cluttered with books it's kind of hard to just browse without an author in mind.

Aaaaugh, why would anyone voluntarily read Wuthering Heights? Even if I didn't have it in my English class's curriculum, I'd be too bored with it to bother.

I had a reading hiatus for a while, but my girlfriend loaned me Requiem for a Dream, and after reading that I started on an autobiography my cousin Mark Hasten wrote called Mark My Words.

 

[oldschool]

I've been reading these two lately:

Kurt Cobain: Journals
The Indie Band Bible

I like to read but I'm not into everything that's put out. I usually read either Non-Fiction or more Music type books.

A book club would be pretty interesting though and I'd be in for it.

 

[norton9478]

Why read a Book when you can just read a MERC post?

 

[Mike Shagohod]

Why read a Book when you can just read a MERC post?

Oh come on now, my posts aren't THAT long.

 

[Zenimus]

I tend to like stories with a lot of historical elements to them.


The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
(this refers collectively to all the short stories and 4 novels. Great stuff!)

Lord of the Flies by William Golding
(a bunch of kids crash-land on an island and attempt to make a civilized society in order to survive during World War 2)

Battle Royale by Koushun Takami
(probably inspired by Lord of the Flies, it's also about a bunch of kids on an island. Except, this one is set in an alternate future where Japan never lost World War 2 and is a harsh dictatorship. The story revolves around a 3rd year junior high school class who are forced into a cold-blooded government program, where they are told to fight and kill each other until only one is left alive. Lots of terror and social intrigue. Much better than the movie, although I like the movie too)

Samurai William by Giles Milton
(the true story on which the TV mini-series Shogun was based. A historical tale told in the style of a novel, it recounts the story of William Adams, who was the first Englishman to see Japan. After an extremely harsh journey across the seas, his merchant ship finally lands in Japan in April 1600. It's an interesting culture clash story, between not only the English and the Japanese, but also the Portuguese and Dutch, who had already established contact with Japan and were enemies of the English.)

 

[subcons]

Aaaaugh, why would anyone voluntarily read Wuthering Heights? Even if I didn't have it in my English class's curriculum, I'd be too bored with it to bother.

I had a reading hiatus for a while, but my girlfriend loaned me Requiem for a Dream, and after reading that I started on an autobiography my cousin Mark Hasten wrote called Mark My Words.

I started reading Wuthering Heights out of curiosity. I saw it mentioned in Kite Runner (a book which was given to me as a gift from my ex-girlfriend--I surprisingly enjoyed it a lot). A character in the book is reading it and it's mentioned that it's very sad. I like sad. It's not so sad in the way I thought it would be thus far though. I'm almost done with it, so I'm just going to finish it to see what the ending is. I will admit though, reading through some of it is a chore.

I couldn't read Requiem because I saw the movie years before attempting to do so (one of my all-time favorite flicks BTW). It just follows the book way to closely. I couldn't picture anything but the movie while reading it. Same problem I had with Fight Club. You should check out The Demon by Selby. Excellent book. I've read a couple of his other books, but didn't enjoy them nearly as much as that one. I find his writing style in some of his books hard to read at times. The Demon is written more conventionaly though.

 

[Michael Yagami]

Don't take this the wrong way, but this may be the gayest thread I've ever seen here.

 

[DanAdamKOF]

I started reading Wuthering Heights out of curiosity. I saw it mentioned in Kite Runner (a book which was given to me as a gift from my ex-girlfriend--I surprisingly enjoyed it a lot). A character in the book is reading it and it's mentioned that it's very sad. I like sad. It's not so sad in the way I thought it would be thus far though. I'm almost done with it, so I'm just going to finish it to see what the ending is. I will admit though, reading through some of it is a chore.

I couldn't read Requiem because I saw the movie years before attempting to do so (one of my all-time favorite flicks BTW). It just follows the book way to closely. I couldn't picture anything but the movie while reading it. Same problem I had with Fight Club. You should check out The Demon by Selby. Excellent book. I've read a couple of his other books, but didn't enjoy them nearly as much as that one. I find his writing style in some of his books hard to read at times. The Demon is written more conventionaly though.

I saw the movie first too, but I liked that the book had more detail. For example, I felt so sorry for Sara when I read the part where the young doctor realized that she wasn't a mental patient but no own would listen to him.

My cousin's book is a great non-fiction story that tells the tale of an Eastern European Jew who emigrates to America after the Holocaust (which he thankfully escaped). If that sounds up your alley, try it out. I can probably get it autographed for you

 

[subcons]

Don't take this the wrong way, but this may be the gayest thread I've ever seen here.

I'm in no way offended, but reading is gay? Wow.

More people should read. I think it's funny how people at my work think I'm so utterly smart because they see me reading a book. It's a fucking book. Human beings have been reading them for a long time. Shame how many people actualy read of their own will now. They just sit at home and watch American Idol.

My cousin's book is a great non-fiction story that tells the tale of an Eastern European Jew who emigrates to America after the Holocaust (which he thankfully escaped). If that sounds up your alley, try it out. I can probably get it autographed for you

It does sound interesting. Kind of along the lines of Kite Runner--just replace Jew with Afghani. It's a bestseller, but you should still check it out. Very sad story. I'll definitely check that book out though.

 

[DanAdamKOF]

I'm in no way offended, but reading is gay? Wow.

More people should read. I think it's funny how people at my work think I'm so utterly smart because they see me reading a book. It's a fucking book. Human beings have been reading them for a long time. Shame how many people actualy read of their own will now. They just sit at home and watch American Idol.



It does sound interesting. Kind of along the lines of Kite Runner--just replace Jew with Afghani. It's a bestseller, but you should still check it out. Very sad story. I'll definitely check that book out though.

I just read the wikipedia entry on The Kite Runner and it does indeed sound sad, and I may check it out at the library pretty soon. Mark Hasten's book is not a tearjerker like Kite Runner seems to be. I'm not quite finished with it yet, but so far I loved his insightful, first-hand account of the Altalena's voyage.

 

[Soniku]

Ok yeah, but seriously, I can't recommend much... I've been meaning to read The Hobbit and all three Lord of the Rings books since I borrowed them from the drizzle a while back... I just never seem to have the patience to read, or play games as much as I used to... When I was little, I did both a lot.

I remember really liking "Of Mice and Men" (I don't remember the author's name) back in high school and "Macbeth" (Shakespeare) if you can understand the damn thing...

"The Scarlet Letter", "The Great Gatsby" and "Romeo and Juliet" are utter shit, I don't care what anyone says. Maybe "Lil' Romeo and Juliet" can be given another chance, but I'd rather not.

If you have a DS, then Phoenix Wright is almost like reading a book... well a comic/manga book at least, I mean there is quite a bit of text in there and it's definitely a nice change of pace, even though I probably sound like a tard for suggesting it...

Oh yeah, and if you have any kids, Highlights is actually pretty bad-ass, I dunno about how it is now, but it was awesome back in the day...

 

[Hot Chocolate]

Good stuff to be had in this so far, I might go check out "Is Bill Cosby Right"

 

[Michael Yagami]

I'm in no way offended, but reading is gay? Wow.

More people should read. I think it's funny how people at my work think I'm so utterly smart because they see me reading a book. It's a fucking book. Human beings have been reading them for a long time. Shame how many people actualy read of their own will now. They just sit at home and watch American Idol.

No, reading itself is not gay, but trying to start a book club on your local video game message board is. Try www.opra.com if you're looking for a book club.

 

[Scuz39]

I remember really liking "Of Mice and Men" (I don't remember the author's name)
[/QUOTE]
John Steinbeck, I love that book. Probably my favorite book I was ever forced to read. If you don't feel like crying at the end you are made of stone.



If people wanted to I would help run it. It would be pretty easy to do. People could Msg me with book ideas they would like to see and every 2 weeks I could post a Thread to discuss the last book we read and to announce the next one. (assuming 2 weeks would work for people.)

I will accept any genre people want to send me.

I will make the first post in a few days so if you have an idea get it into me! I already know what my first suggustion will be but I probably won't put my book up first.​

 

[subcons]

No, reading itself is not gay, but trying to start a book club on your local video game message board is. Try www.opra.com if you're looking for a book club.

Well, we sit here and discuss video games to no end. I don't see the difference...?

I've been meaning to read Steinbeck's East of Eden for a year or so now. Friend told me it was quite engrossing.

 

[melchia]

Oh come on now, my posts aren't THAT long.

ummm

 

[Turrican_Man]

If anyone likes sociologically bent literature, Tom Wolfe is a terrific author of it. I've read his "Bonfire of the Vanities" and "I am Charlotte Simmons" and loved both. If foreign literature interests you, I would most strongly recommend "The Confessions of Zeno" by Italo Svevo. It was a national bestseller in Italy. It's a faux auto-biography by an incredibly deluded, narcissistic man whose flaws come through the pages in hilarious irony, despite his complete oblivion about them. If you're interested by the hypothetical circumstance of the anthropomorphic Christian/Judeo God falling from the sky into the ocean as a giant corpse, and the ensuing reactions across different stratas of society, I would recommend "Towing Jehovah"- despite the sillyness of the theme, it's a thoughtful book with a pretty philosophical bent to it.

And if anyone is interested in philosophy, I would recommend "The True Believer" by Eric Hoffer, a treatise on the psychological and social dynamics of mass cultural movements, whose differing religious, racial or nationalistic shells are shown to all share a basic nature and process of development (a topic very relevant to our modern world).

Seriously, listen to me if you want to read something really thought-provoking.

 

[not sonic]

i have a short attention span (i didnt even read the whole thread) and i can never quite find a comfortable position to read a book.

however.

ive read every harry potter front to back, most in a day or two, and i say fuck the haters. its a great series.

no other book just keeps me reading.

ive been trying to read lotr forever. i want to read it i just cant i dunno.

 

[Scuz39]

i have a short attention span (i didnt even read the whole thread) and i can never quite find a comfortable position to read a book.

however.

ive read every harry potter front to back, most in a day or two, and i say fuck the haters. its a great series.

no other book just keeps me reading.

ive been trying to read lotr forever. i want to read it i just cant i dunno.

That is probably because old Tolk can't write his way out of a paper bag. LotR is a wonderful idea but his writing makes it totally unreadable. And this is coming from a guy who has read 1000+ page books in a sitting.

 

[The_Chosen_One]

Samurai William by Giles Milton
(the true story on which the TV mini-series Shogun was based. A historical tale told in the style of a novel, it recounts the story of William Adams, who was the first Englishman to see Japan. After an extremely harsh journey across the seas, his merchant ship finally lands in Japan in April 1600. It's an interesting culture clash story, between not only the English and the Japanese, but also the Portuguese and Dutch, who had already established contact with Japan and were enemies of the English.)

Unless you are speaking of a different TV mini series other than this one
Than you are mistaken. As it was based off the book by the same name (Shogun) by James Clavell.

Which would be a good recommendation for anyone interested. As the entire series from James Clavell is fantastic.

 

[subcons]

If anyone likes sociologically bent literature, Tom Wolfe is a terrific author of it. I've read his "Bonfire of the Vanities" and "I am Charlotte Simmons" and loved both. If foreign literature interests you, I would most strongly recommend "The Confessions of Zeno" by Italo Svevo. It was a national bestseller in Italy. It's a faux auto-biography by an incredibly deluded, narcissistic man whose flaws come through the pages in hilarious irony, despite his complete oblivion about them. If you're interested by the hypothetical circumstance of the anthropomorphic Christian/Judeo God falling from the sky into the ocean as a giant corpse, and the ensuing reactions across different stratas of society, I would recommend "Towing Jehovah"- despite the sillyness of the theme, it's a thoughtful book with a pretty philosophical bent to it.

Thanks for the input. Those all sound very interesting.

And if anyone is interested in philosophy, I would recommend "The True Believer" by Eric Hoffer, a treatise on the psychological and social dynamics of mass cultural movements, whose differing religious, racial or nationalistic shells are shown to all share a basic nature and process of development (a topic very relevant to our modern world).

I cannot read books like this. I've tried.

I need a story. A plot. Characters. Even if it's just memoirs or a short story.

 

[starman]

I need a story. A plot. Characters. Even if it's just memoirs or a short story.

Try the Rabbit Tetralogy by John Updike (Rabbit Run, Rabbit Redux, Rabbit is Rich, and Rabbit at Rest). They're all character-driven plots, and each one is pretty relavent to the present day society. There's also some vividly described sex, so be wary if you don't want the wife/significant other to catch you.

I'd also reccommend East of Eden by John Steinback. Its an excellent novel in that despite the characters fitting a generic "role" as a literary device (like this is the quintessential chinaman, this is the retired richman, this is the whore), they each have individual idiosyncrancies that make them unique. It's interesting stuff.

You might also enjoy The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison. Its a pretty disturbing book psychologically, but if characters and plot are your thing, its pretty hard to beat.

If all else fails you, why not just go down to the local library "bookstore" place, and buy all those big text books that say LITERATURE on them, or all the novels on the classics shelf. It won't run you over 10 dollars, and you can go home with a bunch of books that you know will be pretty interesting. I say get those LITERATURE textbooks because they usually are loaded from cover to cover with short stories--most of which are excellent.