I found a book, hooo!!!

[amy]

I have recently lost all desire to read books, which really scares me, since reading used to be a big thing of mine. Can anyone recommend a book X__X

I like:

- Non-fiction

- Classics

- The Great Plains

I don't like:

- Science fiction

- Fluff novels

Also, I don't feel like reading something long and difficult right now. I am looking for something that is a little like the articles in National Geographic, which i am interested in enough.

Thanks to all you lovely AErs :buki:

[auralaura]

What kinds of non-fiction? Like, what subject areas?

[Belial]

Read:

Any and all Steinbeck you can get your hands on namely Tortilla Flats or The Grapes of Wraith

Kafka

What are your feelings on poetry because I'd like to recommend some to you?

[mst3kjunkie]

Two interesting non-fiction:

Stiff

Spook

both by Mary Roach...quite interesting

I second Grapes of Wrath

Brave New World

In Cold Blood

[Samurai Drifter]

Brave New World

Agreed. It might be considered sci-fi though.

I also second Spook. The bit about re-incarnation is especially fascinating.

I reccommend any incarnations of the legend of King Arthur, particularly Le Morte D'Arthur by Sir Thomas Mallory.

I think you would really like What Dreams May Come, by Richard Matheson. Basically, a man dies in an accident and his wife commits suicide because she can't live without him, but because the afterlife is largely a reflection of one's own state of mind, she'll torment herself in the lower levels of spiritual existence unless her husband rescues her. It really is an excellent book, one of my favorites. There was a movie made based on it but it was heavily altered to fit a judeo-christian view of the afterlife.

[Belial]

Anything by Chuck Klosterman is on my recommends list after I read "Killing Yourself To Live"

[Ceraziefish]

War and Peace by Lev Tolstoy.

[amy]

What kinds of non-fiction? Like, what subject areas?

I like most best-selling nonfiction, lolz. I guess anything with an engaging narrative. Except that biography of John Adams.

some areas of interest I guess are: racism, Native American history, art, socialism, American folk music, the abacus, food, beverages, Christianity, the Midwest/Great Plains

Read:

Any and all Steinbeck you can get your hands on namely Tortilla Flats or The Grapes of Wraith

Kafka

What are your feelings on poetry because I'd like to recommend some to you?

Poetry is hard for me to concentrate on and right now I'm looking for something that will easily hold my interest. Feel free to recommend and I will store it in my head for later though.

Agreed. It might be considered sci-fi though.

I also second Spook. The bit about re-incarnation is especially fascinating.

I reccommend any incarnations of the legend of King Arthur, particularly Le Morte D'Arthur by Sir Thomas Mallory.

I think you would really like What Dreams May Come, by Richard Matheson. Basically, a man dies in an accident and his wife commits suicide because she can't live without him, but because the afterlife is largely a reflection of one's own state of mind, she'll torment herself in the lower levels of spiritual existence unless her husband rescues her. It really is an excellent book, one of my favorites. There was a movie made based on it but it was heavily altered to fit a judeo-christian view of the afterlife.

That sounds interesting. I will check it out (literally!) tomorrow.

Though I really don't like her, I'd suggest Margaret Atwood. We just finished Surfacing, and though I didn't like it, it was definitely well-done/I think you might like it.

It might not be your style, but Kurt Vonnegut's Breakfast of Champions was a stunning read.

Again, might not be your style, but Nick Cave's And the Ass Saw the Angel was a pretty awesome read, definitely original.

As for some "Classics":

I read Wilkie Collins' the Moonstone in high school and thought it was awesome.

Really boring, but necessary, is Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness.

I never finished my copy, but William S. Burroughs' Naked Lunch is supposed to be awesome.

I also didn't finish Lolita, but it's pretty cool too.

Not sure if you'd like any of those, but those are my suggestions thus far.

I really loved Lolita. I am uninterested in the other prospects though.

[amy]

I only read a few pages, but it grossed me out in a racist manner. I might have gotten an unrepresentative sample, but as I said before, I'm at "Critical Amy Needs to Read a Book" emergency so I want to read something that won't piss me off.

[Belial]

Guns, Germs, and Steel

Its a book about why Europeans where so good at oppressing every civilization they encountered.

[Ceraziefish]

If you like reading history, Giles Milton wrote some pretty fun books. They have a fun narrative and he explores parts of history that are usually more ignored; i.e. he has one book about an English man who was shipwrecked and lived in Japan for 40 years in the 1550's. He also has a book about Sir John de Mandeville's messages of racial tolerance, and other things. I think he's a good writer, anyway. I don't really know why this came to mind.

[Samurai Drifter]

he has one book about an English man who was shipwrecked and lived in Japan for 40 years in the 1550's.

Reminds me a little of Shogun (also a great book, BTW).

[Nega-Brent]

The Bible, by that God fellow. It's a great work of non-fiction and quite an endearing classic I must say.

[TeleportSandwich]

All Over but the Shoutin' by Rick Bragg. Its about journalism

[Ceraziefish]

The Bible, by that God fellow. It's a great work of non-fiction and quite an endearing classic I must say.

I hear the Qu'ran is actually really cool... If you read it in the original Arabic.

[Crube]

Reminds me a little of Shogun (also a great book, BTW).

I agree.

Oh and here is my list.

The Masked Rider: Cycling in West Africa by Neil Peart

Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road by Neil Peart

Traveling Music: Playing Back the Soundtrack to My Life and Times by Neil Peart

Roadshow: Landscape with Drums: A Concert Tour by Motorcycle by Neil Peart

[Chris]

Fingerprints Of The Gods by Graham Hancock

I had read up and knew about much of the material he covers in this book, but in this book he puts all the evidence together and basically proves without a doubt that Atlantis existed. Everything you read is fact.

If you like mythology I suggest you try out The North Myths interpreted by Kevin Crossley-Holland. I just started it today, and it is an excellent read.

[amy]

Again, I didn't finish due to the sheer amount of reading that I have to do for school, but Shake Hands with the Devel: The Failure of Humanity in Rwanda by Roméo Dallaire seems like it could be something you'd be interested in?

!!!!! I AM VERY INTERESTED!!!! I know a little about him already, it seems like his book would be fascinating not only because of what he did but because of how he relates to it and the kind of guy he is. I have found my book! Thank you Foldered!!!

[margot]

Raymond Carver

[auralaura]

I REALIZE YOU FOUND A BOOK, BUT I'M POSTING HERE ANYWAY. OH WELL.

Amy, you should read Karl Fleming's Son of the Rough South: An Uncivil Memoir.

I'm actually reading it for class now, and I love it. It's a memoir about the civil rights movement in the 50's. Only it's written by a white Southern reporter who is sympathetic to the black cause. He gets really caught in the middle of things, and he recounts the dangers and challenges he faced in getting the stories to press. It's really engrossing, and very well written. Thought you might enjoy it.

[Kreutz]

The Bible, by that God fellow. It's a great work of non-fiction and quite an endearing classic I must say.

Your ideas are intriguing to me and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter.

[Baltar]

"Breakfast of Champions" by Kurt Vonnegut is quality and is not so much Sci-fi esk compared to "Slaughter-house five"