On the Road, by Jack Kerouac. This is the only book I've read from Kerouac, I'm not sure why I haven't read anything else; but it was an excellent read.

The thing about the book that is pure genius is that you can skip to any page and start reading and feel like you haven't missed a thing.

I totally understand what you mean by skippin around, but that was the beat generation for ya. for other good reads check Mexico City Blues, the The Subterraneans, The Dharma Bums, or Desolation Angels. I've read everyone of these books more then once. and I think they are the best of Kerouacs work.

Gonna skip back to page 1, because I've not been around so much the few days and I hadn't seen it.

Wizard & Glass is an awesome book. However, I hated it the first time I read it.

When King finished the cycle I started again from the beginning. I was dreading getting to Wizard & Glass the second time around, but reading it through, seeing what formed Roland, the pain he'd endured, the cycle of betrayal that Roland that forever haunts him.

It is such an epic story. Second favourite in the series. The first being The Gunslinger - that so little is defined means that it's so open, there are so many possibilities.

Well, third favourite if you include (as King does) The Talisman in the series. That comes in at number two.

Now the nostalgia for page one is over I'll move things forward.

Clive Barker. Anyone read him? Especially Weaveworld and Imajica?

Weaveworld is the most joyous thing I have ever read, and Imajica breaks my heart every time I think about he enormity of what Pie'Oh'Pah did, and the moment where Gentle realises - well that comes close to breaking my mind too. But in a good way.

Sorry, never read him.

Clive Baker is good stuff.

China Mielville is also well worth reading. The story lines are complex, and require thought, but the character and world development is awesome.

Neil Stevenson, anyone?

Very much enjoyed Cryptonomicon and I started Quicksilver recently but got sidetracked.

I live an enclosed life apparently. =)
Never heard of him either.

many of the Henry Rollins books are fantastic reads. I read them cover to cover in one sitting.

Question - how do you (P)literati get hold of your literature?

Do you buy from a bookshop. borrow from you buddies or take lends from a library?

And do any of you use audio books?

As I may have mentioned before, I'm dyslexic. A literate dyslexic, but a dyslexic nonetheless. Whilst I love to read, sometimes it can be a bit of a strain, and I've recently discovered what a boon audio books are for those times.

Currently I'm listening to Phillip K d**k. I've just done Cosmic Pot Healer and have moved on to A Scanner Darkly. Hugely enjoyable, both.

My sister and I exchange books, which helps reduce costs. I go to a library every now and then, but not often.

I did order a Kindle, but it's still on hold. Perpetually on hold, sigh...

i dig used book stores. you can find some unique and rare books, but be prepared to spend some time browsing. most used book stored I have come across have a chaotic shelving system.

Yes.

(Don't overlook the gold mine that is the used book store. Also, look for garage sales and see if the local second-hand store has a book section.)

I don't like them, myself. There was a period in the 1980's where a particular computer company (rhymes with eye-bee-emm), decided that classes could be really effective if you just had someone read the book on tape (CBT hadn't come around yet.) It would have been OK, but the hired a guy that had an incredibly accurate MONOTONE voice. It was like being hypnotized by an evil torturer. About 2 chapters would make you scream, and even the course instructions recommended you take a break at least every 4 lessons.

My Dad likes them, though. Mostly it is an eyesight issue, but he started with them when he was in a situation with a very long commute. He would often have to commute to a remote testing location by bus. Since the site was a couple of hours from town, the crew would all get on buses at 5am and be taken to the sight. This would happen for a few months until the test occurred, then he would be back in town. He could listen to audio books while waiting for the bus, and he could listen on a dark bus without the eyestrain of those poorly aimed seat lights.

If you prefer audio, and have an MP3 player, look around the web. I have seen a few places where you can download audio books cheap or free.

I love to buy from used book stores or from charity stores. They have the lowest priced books around. Occasionally, I'll buy from Amazon when the price is under 2 bucks.

I once bought a slew of poetry collections at a Goodwill for a buck each. They each sell for $15 at Barnes and Noble.

I am fortunate that a very good friend of mine owns a used book store. In fact, just this week she "hired" me to read some books and critique them. Gee, twist my arm, dear. Free books and I get to nitpick on grammar and style...

I enjoy audio books, but I can't listen to them while driving. I can't focus on the story.

Now that's lucky. I've a friend who manages a branch of Waterstones, and he gets an enormous quantity of review copies of books pre-release.

He used to rent a room off me, which meant I could pillage quite a lot. Unfortunately he moved on to a store some way away (about 120 miles) so I don't get to borrow so much now.

No, I don't tend to whilst driving either.

Most commonly I'll have them on as I go to sleep. Cuts down on the number of times I wake up at 3am, bedside light still on and book crushed where I've rolled onto it as I've fallen asleep.

Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson

You really should read it!

Ressurection of Thread


I love George Orwell
of course 1984 and Animal Farm are great
,but his other novels are good to
such as Down and Out in Paris in London (based on his days being poor in those areas)
Burmese Days (about an Englishman in Burma)
and Keep The Aspidatra Flying (another poverty book, but much different)

I also enjoyed two books by Nathaniel West, one called Mrs. LonelyHearts (about a newspaper advice columnist, who pretends to be female and care about the letterwritters, and is looking for meaning in life) and Day of the Locust (an excellent novel about Hollywood reminds me of the Great Gatsby(which i thought was great) in some ways.)

Another man who writes genious novels/journalism would be Hunter S. Thompson. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is just a fantastic description of his drug addled adventure supposedly searching for the American dream. The movie is awesome too. I am currently reading through the gigantic The Great Shark Hunt, which includes many different articles he wrote for The Rolling Stone and other publications. it is great.

I also enjoy Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchet, Stephen King, Jack Kerouac, and Ken Kesey, who have all be mentioned in this thread.

[hijack]

[drooling]

MAVEN!!! WHERE DID THAT AV GO!?!?!?!

While we are in the resurrecting old threads mode, maybe you should resurrect that AV!!!!

[/hijack] (still drooling...)