Books Ok for the high brow crowd what books you are reading - Page 149

big nasty kcnut · 03-11-2006, 10:37 PM

I'm reading The New American Revolution by tammy bruce. She is a great thinker and funny.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 05-14-2015, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimBone

I just watched his "This is Water" commencement speech for an Informal Logic class. Enjoyed it quite a bit. Didn't know anything about him prior to that. Checked the book store, and he's written quite a bit. Are his novels any good? Anything I should definitely read? Anything to stay away from? I prefer fiction over nonfiction.

Infinite Jest is considered by some to be the best American novel since Gravity's Rainbow but it's a notoriously difficult read. I have it on my nook, but I haven't started it, and probably won't in that format, because it makes copious use of endnotes, which would be a huge pain in the ass on an e-reader.

I wouldn't recommend jumping into that right away. A lot of graduate students are going to struggle with a postmodern, allusion-heavy text like that.

Start with some of his short stories and see if you like those. I've had students in a contemporary lit class read this one before:

http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2009/12/14/all-that-2

'Hamas' Jenkins · 05-14-2015, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimBone

While I'm in the thread, I should mention that I'm looking for some recommendations. Author recommendations, really. I tend to get attached to authors. If I read a book and really enjoy it, then I tend to work my way through that author's works trying to find another gem. Anybody have an author in which you've loved most of their books? Fiction, please. Anything that's not Sci-Fi or courtroom related. Other than that, I'm game. As it stands, I've read nost everything from guys like John Irving, Carl Hiaasen, Jonothan Tropper, Larry McMurtry, and Chad Klutgen.

I personally love transgressive fiction, so my tastes are a little more risque than most. Aside from that, my literature preferences are more of a mile wide and an inch deep.

I still cannot make it through this without lying down.

http://chuckpalahniuk.net/features/shorts/guts

I've read the majority of his other novels, but that is by far the hardest for me to stomach.

NewChief · 05-14-2015, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimBone

While I'm in the thread, I should mention that I'm looking for some recommendations. Author recommendations, really. I tend to get attached to authors. If I read a book and really enjoy it, then I tend to work my way through that author's works trying to find another gem. Anybody have an author in which you've loved most of their books? Fiction, please. Anything that's not Sci-Fi or courtroom related. Other than that, I'm game. As it stands, I've read nost everything from guys like John Irving, Carl Hiaasen, Jonothan Tropper, Larry McMurtry, and Chad Klutgen.

Try out Barbara Kingsolver. I really like Prodigal Summer, then I'd move to Poisonwood Bible. If you like Hiaasen, you might like Kurt Vonnegut, though it borders on sci-fi, sort of.

**gblowfish** · 05-14-2015, 07:17 PM

I just got Dayton Moore's book. Plan to start reading it in five minute sittings in my "porcelain library."

In58men · 05-14-2015, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiefs1111

I enjoyed it. Def in my top 10 favorites of Stephen King.

Would you go as far as saying top 5?

BucEyedPea · 05-14-2015, 07:20 PM

Hamas I think Tim is looking for a read to enjoy as he stated.

chiefs1111 · 05-14-2015, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inmem58

Would go as far as saying top 5?

No,wouldn't go that high but its still an enjoyable read.

**Baby Lee** · 05-14-2015, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BucEyedPea

Frank McCourt's next one is T'Is . Also very good and will also have you laughing.

'Tis,

Hate to see Frank recounting this guy's journey.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 05-14-2015, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BucEyedPea

Hamas I think Tim is looking for a read to enjoy as he stated.

You don't need to read Dean Koontz genre fiction to enjoy a read, dumbass.

In58men · 05-14-2015, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiefs1111

No,wouldn't go that high but its still an enjoyable read.

Right on, I'll definitely give it a shot. What Stephen King book would you say is hands down the best?

chiefs1111 · 05-14-2015, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inmem58

Right on, I'll definitely give it a shot. What Stephen King book would you say is hands down the best?

For me it would be IT. I also love The Gunslinger,which is the first book of the Dark Tower series

**Baby Lee** · 05-14-2015, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

You don't need to read Dean Koontz genre fiction to enjoy a read, dumbass.

I'm sure I've recommended Chuck in this very thread, albeit long ago. But if Hamas needs a voucher, I'll be his Huckleberry. It's dark, seamy stuff, but breezily written so it comes off more as 'scandalous!!' reading than a slog.

TimBone mentioned McMurtry, which would have been my next choice to pick up a long line of books. But if he liked that, I'd recommend Cormac McCarthy and Elmore Leonard. Both deal with sparse American settings and terse characters with wit.

**TimBone** · 05-14-2015, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Infinite Jest is considered by some to be the best American novel since Gravity's Rainbow but it's a notoriously difficult read. I have it on my nook, but I haven't started it, and probably won't in that format, because it makes copious use of endnotes, which would be a huge pain in the ass on an e-reader.

I wouldn't recommend jumping into that right away. A lot of graduate students are going to struggle with a postmodern, allusion-heavy text like that.

Start with some of his short stories and see if you like those. I've had students in a contemporary lit class read this one before:

http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2009/12/14/all-that-2

This is about what I figured it would be with David Foster Wallace. I'll definitely look into the short stories to see if I can read him without hurting my brain too much. Thank's man.

blaise · 05-14-2015, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimBone

While I'm in the thread, I should mention that I'm looking for some recommendations. Author recommendations, really. I tend to get attached to authors. If I read a book and really enjoy it, then I tend to work my way through that author's works trying to find another gem. Anybody have an author in which you've loved most of their books? Fiction, please. Anything that's not Sci-Fi or courtroom related. Other than that, I'm game. As it stands, I've read nost everything from guys like John Irving, Carl Hiaasen, Jonothan Tropper, Larry McMurtry, and Chad Klutgen.

I love these baseball themed books by Mark Harris: "The Southpaw" and "Bang the Drum Slowly."

BucEyedPea · 05-14-2015, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

You don't need to read Dean Koontz genre fiction to enjoy a read, dumbass.

That's why I didn't recommend him you condescending snob. Not everyone is into postmodern, allusion-heavy text, transgressive fiction about society's misfits or notoriously difficult reads. Not everyone is a hi-brow lit snob or seeking Gertrude Stein etc. He used the word "enjoy" or was it "enjoyable. "

03-11-2006, 10:37 PM
big nasty kcnut The pizza king of kansas Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Somewhere in the u.s.a. Casino cash: $1640900	Ok for the high brow crowd what books you are reading I'm reading The New American Revolution by tammy bruce. She is a great thinker and funny.
Posts: 18,829

05-14-2015, 07:17 PM	#2224
gblowfish Be Kind To Your Pets Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Glorious Independence, MO Casino cash: $17686178 VARSITY	I just got Dayton Moore's book. Plan to start reading it in five minute sittings in my "porcelain library."
Posts: 40,830

05-14-2015, 07:20 PM	#2226
BucEyedPea Gimme My Berries Back! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: None of your business Casino cash: $3489963	Hamas I think Tim is looking for a read to enjoy as he stated.
Posts: 161,788