The Book Corner

Weasel · Post by **Weasel** » Thu Jun 27, 2002 12:18 pm

Originally posted by Azmodan

yes it is called "the song of Kali" that is a good book too!.
but "Summer of nights" are better

Is "Summer of Nights" a set? (I'm kind of thrown off by the 'are')

I'm in need of a good book, I might just check this one (or set) out.

frogus · Post by **frogus** » Thu Jun 27, 2002 12:20 pm

Hunter S. Thompson

Finally! @RandomThug I don't think anyone else reads HST on here...I have tried to bring him into conversation a couple of times, but was apparently ignored...

I guess F&L in Las Vegas is the one which everyone should read, but IMO The Great Shark Hunt and F&L on the Campaign Trail 72' are his best...have not read the Rum Diaries yet, and am only half way through Songs of the Doomed, but have read all his other stuff AFAIK. I could be wrong though.

To anyone who doesn't know; Hunter S. Thompson is a character somewhat similar to our native Bloodstalker (enjoys sitting on his porch naked shooting at rocks, favourite drink is Wild Turkey), except where BS has a carefully disguised gentle and friendly nature, HST has a viscious, sadistic and manic nature.
He got Honourably Discharged from the Airforce (IIRC) on condition that he didn't dare try and write anything. He ran for Sheriff of Aspen, Colorado in 74(?) and helped to orchestrate a bid for local government with a movement called 'Freak Power', which included on its party manifesto an intention to change the city's name to 'Fat Town'. He declared to the natives of Hawaii that he was the reincarnation of their ancient and most sacred god of destruction 'Lono', where a fisherman who matched his description was beaten to death by a mob of goons. He hated Nixon before anyone else did. He may have invented the phrase 'king-hell', and he writes really really funny, clever and brutal books, some of which have pictures drawn in them by Ralph Steadman. I recommend you read Fear & Loathing on the Campaign Trail first, especially if you are interested in the nastiness of American politics, or Nixon in particular.

I would love to know what the 'Less Than 200 Unique Books In The World Ever' are, so how about we all try and recommend one, and then try and destroy our friends suggestions by suggesting other books which are in some way like their book?

I will start with:
Bob Dylan - Tarantula (anyone ever tried to read it BTW?)

humanflyz · Post by **humanflyz** » Thu Jun 27, 2002 3:43 pm

A definite read for anyone would be "The Name Of The Rose" by an Italian author named Umberto Eco. You can enjoy the book on a variety of levels. First, the book functions beautifully as a detective story set in an elaborately constructed and historically authentic fourteenth century Europe. The plot will keep you glued to your seat and wondering who done it all the way through the end. On a mere entertainment level, this book is excellent.

Yet beneath the trappings of a medieval detective story, the book has many, many layers to it. There are several back stories going on at the same time the main detective story is going. It's a wonderful discussion on various Christian and religious symbols. In fact, the book is bombarded with symbols, and I personally enjoyed very much it's explanations and interpretations. The book also deals with Catholicism extensively, it's history, philosophy, various factions, sect wars, etc. It's an insightful look into the religion and its workings.

The book is also a book about literature, as it quotes and discusses many influential religious and secular work of the medieval time, ranging from mathematics to herbal properties. All of the subsequent layers tie very nicely into the overall detective plot. The layers don't hit you over the head with its messages and implications and instead leave the reader to ponder on their meanings.

However, the book cannot be understood fully without extensively knowledge of Latin and the doctrines and history of the Roman Catholic Church. You definitely need a way to understand the copious amount of Latin used in the book to fully appreciate the book's depth and subtlety. The book is full of theological, logical, and philosophical debates over ideas found in St. Augustine, St. Thomas, and Arab philosophers and theologians. This book packs an amazing amount of knowledge and historical research.

One last thing, there are literally hundreds and thousands of symbols in this book. You don't need to fully understand their importance to enjoy the story as the characters and the narration explains the crucial symbols beautifully so that you as the reader won't be deterred from understanding the plot. Overall, this book is a definite read for anyone, whether you only like the thrilling plot, the complex symbolism, the subtle philosophical discussions, or the setting itself. You do need to know some Latin and have knowledge of Catholicism to fully appreciate this book, but those won't keep you from enjoying this book.

JackOfClubs · Post by **JackOfClubs** » Thu Jun 27, 2002 7:14 pm

@humanflyz: I too loved "The Name of the Rose" when it first came out. Imagine a book about a 13th century theological debate getting to the top of the NYT bestseller list!

If you liked that one you should get hold of Foucault's Pendulum, also by Eco. The story is about four guys in a modern Italian publishing firm that specializes in Occult conspiracy theories. They decide to invent their own conspiracy theory, but it backfires when a cult forms around their theory and starts hunting them down for revealing their secrets! Wickedly funny and very sophisticated.

Don't go anywhere near Eco's third book, The Island of the Day Before, though. Mental masturbation at its most self-indulgent.

AngusThermopole · Post by **AngusThermopole** » Thu Jun 27, 2002 7:55 pm

**Third stone from the sun**

@Kameleon

I also enjoyed "Ender's Game". Was actually caught off guard with the ending. OSC really hasn't been able to follow up on that award winning novel though. I believe the next book of his I read (it was recommended to me) was "Lost Children" and it probably should have been lost at the publisher.

For good stories, Stephen R. Donaldson, can write with anyone, but if want a good story with something subtle to say, I would have to go with Gene Wolfe.

Azmodan · Post by **Azmodan** » Fri Jun 28, 2002 4:17 am

hey frogus......!!!! i totally forgot Hunter... i have only ever read and/or bougt Fear and loathing..... but it is absolutely incredible!

I cant really remember who asked about "summer of nights" but it is not a set. only one book..... im sorry, but my english gramma could be better!

But you should read it!!!! *nods in aproval*

C Elegans · Post by **C Elegans** » Fri Jun 28, 2002 5:19 am

Originally posted by JackOfClubs
If you liked that one you should get hold of Foucault's Pendulum, also by Eco.

Seeing one of favorite contemporary novels has been suggested by JacksOfClubs, I will not rant about Eco as I usually do in all book threads

I didn't think the Island of the day before was that bad, although far from reaching the heights of the Pendulum and Name of the rose.

Instead, I'd like to recommed "The master and Marguarite" by Soviet author Michail Bulgakov. A fantastic story with many absurd and surrealistic events, but also full of satire and "undercover" critisism of the regime. The characters in the book are highly eccentric people.

The nice thing is that this book can be read and appreciated by anybody, any age

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Fri Jun 28, 2002 6:50 am

Originally posted by JackOfClubs
@humanflyz: I too loved "The Name of the Rose" when it first came out. Imagine a book about a 13th century theological debate getting to the top of the NYT bestseller list!

If you liked that one you should get hold of Foucault's Pendulum, also by Eco. The story is about four guys in a modern Italian publishing firm that specializes in Occult conspiracy theories. They decide to invent their own conspiracy theory, but it backfires when a cult forms around their theory and starts hunting them down for revealing their secrets! Wickedly funny and very sophisticated.

Don't go anywhere near Eco's third book, The Island of the Day Before, though. Mental masturbation at its most self-indulgent.

I pretty much agree with all this. I found it strange that 'The Island of the day before' was so bad. I was so dissapointed when I read that book. 'The name of the rose' has got everything - charecters, depth and a great story. 'Foucault's pendulum' is funny, wicked and very very clever (maybe just a bit too clever sometimes).
And then I read 'The island of the day before' - hard to belive its the same author. Its still shows that a lot of research has gone in to it but it just lacks suspence and I dont feel a thing for the charecters.

I wonder if he will write another big novel.

C Elegans · Post by **C Elegans** » Fri Jun 28, 2002 7:01 am

Seeing several people here like Eco, I must also recommend Jorge Luis Borges classic short story "The library of Babel". It is a beautifully written story about an infinite library, perhaps representing the universe itself, and man's strive for understanding and bringing order into chaos.

Robnark · Post by **Robnark** » Fri Jun 28, 2002 12:25 pm

i'm re-reading my 'complete collected fictions' of borges (hence the sig and location) and unreservedly reccomend anything by him ever.

i also love the works of Haruki Murakami, especially 'a wild sheep chase' and 'the wind-up bird chronicle'. they are the best two books i discovered this year, combining ordinary life, surreal situations, and an undercurrent of menace in an excellent way.

Kameleon · Post by **Kameleon** » Fri Jun 28, 2002 12:33 pm

Originally posted by AngusThermopole
I also enjoyed "Ender's Game". Was actually caught off guard with the ending. OSC really hasn't been able to follow up on that award winning novel though. I believe the next book of his I read (it was recommended to me) was "Lost Children" and it probably should have been lost at the publisher.

I've read quite a few of his other books, and the only ones that came close to the level of goodness were the other books written either as sequels or parallel novels to "Ender's Game". So it's 3 sequels, and the two (so far) novels based on Bean are IMO excellent. Especially the three sequels, which form another long story, but 3000 years in the future, where Ender is grown up but still has all his skills...well I'll leave it to you to find out when you read them. They are more grown up than Ender's Game, as befits the subject matter, but still are an excellent story, with a plot even better than Ender's Game, I think.

humanflyz · Post by **humanflyz** » Fri Jun 28, 2002 4:02 pm

I've also read Foucault's Pendulum but I found that I liked Name Of The Rose better. Foocault's Pendulum is no doubt a fascinating and very good book, but IMHO, I've found it in some ways inferior to the Name Of The Rose. Don't ask me why because I can't really explain it.

C Elegans · Post by **C Elegans** » Sat Jun 29, 2002 5:10 pm

Personally I liked the Pendulum better although I know most people view the Rose as his Magnus Opus, and many devouted Eco-fans actually hate the Pendulum.

Some other recommendations:

Stiller - Max Frisch

A novel about a man in jail, who is writing his autobiography to the attorney to convince him he is not Stiller, an artist who mysteriously disappeared some years earlier.

Max Frisch was a Swiss author, and he wrote several books I'd like to recommend although Stiller is the most well known and perhaps also the easiest to read. Frisch was a very skillful stylist, and his books often concerns issues such as reality of self-image versus reality of other's image of a person and how they related to identity, mass psychology versus the individual and the individuals place in the world, relationships and the image of each other. IMO his best novel is Bluebeard, but exept Stiller I also recommend Homo Faber and Man in the Holocene. His books are original both in style and story, and his literary style is razor sharp.

IMO Frisch together with Joyce, Borges and Mishima belong the greatest authors of the 20th century who weren't awarded with the Nobel prize.

C Elegans · Post by **C Elegans** » Sat Jun 29, 2002 5:31 pm

The secret history - Donna Tartt

The lady is a buddy of Brett Easton Ellis, and she has the same wordy style as him, but IMO she is the better writer. The secret history is a novel about a group of university students who's intellectual games go to far and they find themselves is a horrible situation. It is a story of how the group lessens responsibility, about paranoia and psychological instability, about what can change a person and about crime and guilt - and punishment in different shapes. Wordy, but well written, very good and deep personality descriptions. A bit of a modern classic.