| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
peppermint
Joined: 13 May 2003
Location: traversing the minefields of caddishness.
|
 Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 2:46 am Post subject: |
 |
|
Dan Brown, and Donna Tartt novels are the sort of things you read on long flights, and leave in the seat pocket when you deplane. Acceptable way to pass the time, but forgettable.
Sherlock Holmes isn't a bad recommendation, they're classics for a reason. Elroy is good, but I like my noir well aged. Something by Raymond Chandler or Dashiell Hammett is a safe bet |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
butlerian
Joined: 04 Sep 2006
Location: Korea
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 2:56 am Post subject: |
|
|
| peppermint wrote: |
Dan Brown, and Donna Tartt novels are the sort of things you read on long flights, and leave in the seat pocket when you deplane. Acceptable way to pass the time, but forgettable.
Sherlock Holmes isn't a bad recommendation, they're classics for a reason. Elroy is good, but I like my noir well aged. Something by Raymond Chandler or Dashiell Hammett is a safe bet |
Which is my why I recommended Dan Brown, as the OP just wants a book to read for fun. Nothing too intense. Mystery, suspense, and revelations at the end. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
cubanlord
Joined: 08 Jul 2005
Location: In Japan!
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 3:04 am Post subject: |
|
|
| butlerian wrote: |
| peppermint wrote: |
Dan Brown, and Donna Tartt novels are the sort of things you read on long flights, and leave in the seat pocket when you deplane. Acceptable way to pass the time, but forgettable.
Sherlock Holmes isn't a bad recommendation, they're classics for a reason. Elroy is good, but I like my noir well aged. Something by Raymond Chandler or Dashiell Hammett is a safe bet |
Which is my why I recommended Dan Brown, as the OP just wants a book to read for fun. Nothing too intense. Mystery, suspense, and revelations at the end. |
I've already read all of Dan Brown's books. Stuff like that isn't too bad. I quite enjoyed Da Vinci Code. The others were a bit repetitive.
So, Sherlock Holmes has a gang of votes and so does the other author. Anyone else? Should I take up Stephen King? I've only read the following Steven King books:
Everything's Eventual
The first 3 darktower books (got bored towards the end of 3).
That's about it. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
butlerian
Joined: 04 Sep 2006
Location: Korea
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 3:05 am Post subject: |
|
|
| cubanlord wrote: |
I've already read all of Dan Brown's books. Stuff like that isn't too bad. I quite enjoyed Da Vinci Code. The others were a bit repetitive.
So, Sherlock Holmes has a gang of votes and so does the other author. Anyone else? Should I take up Stephen King? I've only read the following Steven King books:
Everything's Eventual
The first 3 darktower books (got bored towards the end of 3).
That's about it. |
The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky is an interesting murder mystery. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
SeoulShakin
Joined: 05 Jan 2006
Location: Seoul
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 5:39 am Post subject: |
|
|
| VanIslander wrote: |
A quick, fun, refreshingly odd read:
You won't regret it. I promise. |
I really enjoyed reading that book. My mom works with autistic children, so I told her about it, and she said it was written really well.
I just bought another book by him called "A little spot of bother" (I think I am remembering it correctly), and am hoping it is as good as the one you posted about. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Zutronius
Joined: 16 Apr 2007
Location: Suncheon
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 6:01 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Michael Ondaatje's "In the Skin of a Lion" |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Carmy
Joined: 12 Apr 2007
Location: Seoul
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 6:33 am Post subject: |
|
|
| VanIslander wrote: |
A quick, fun, refreshingly odd read:
You won't regret it. I promise. |
I LOVED that book! Seriously it is a fantastic book.
Other favourites of mine
The Poisonwood Bible
I know this much is true |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
reactionary
Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Location: korreia
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 7:54 am Post subject: |
|
|
John Fante - Ask the Dust.
horrible film, great book and a nice look at pre-ww2 los angeles.
The Road to Los Angeles and Dreams from Bunker Hill are both great too.
PBS had a documentary about Fante awhile back. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
deadman
Joined: 27 May 2006
Location: Suwon
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 8:30 am Post subject: |
|
|
"The Algebraist" by Iain Banks.
Big, meaty sci fi novel, but mystery is always incorporated into Banks' stories, and slowly revealed with expert timing, so it might fit your specs.
Spanning galaxies and billions of years, it is an epic story set in an original, detailed and plausible universe. Highly recommended. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
butlerian
Joined: 04 Sep 2006
Location: Korea
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 8:38 am Post subject: |
|
|
| deadman wrote: |
"The Algebraist" by Iain Banks.
Big, meaty sci fi novel, but mystery is always incorporated into Banks' stories, and slowly revealed with expert timing, so it might fit your specs.
Spanning galaxies and billions of years, it is an epic story set in an original, detailed and plausible universe. Highly recommended. |
The Culture novels are sheer genius. Love them all. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 11:18 am Post subject: |
|
|
| The Jamshil Kyobo carries The Best American Mystery Stories of (Year) should be right up your alley. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
blurgalurgalurga
Joined: 18 Oct 2007
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 11:31 am Post subject: |
|
|
Phillip Pullman, "His Dark Materials."
They just made a shytte movie of it, but the books are pure gold. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
blurgalurgalurga
Joined: 18 Oct 2007
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 11:45 am Post subject: |
|
|
One thing about the Culture novels--'the algaebrist,' and 'the use of weapons,' especially, and even 'Consider Phlebas:' there's always at least the one little twist (at least) at the end.
If you like your mysteries, cubanlord, and your little twists, that's the stuff right there.
Ian Banks 'non-science fiction novels' are good for that as well. I recommend 'the wasp factory.' I suppose if you want to get all lit-geek about it, it might read like a bit of a 'first novel,' but that dude Banks is fekkin good. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Don Calliente
Joined: 31 Oct 2007
Location: SEOUL
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 11:32 pm Post subject: |
|
|
London fields by Martin Amis.
Possibly his best book.
A who dunnit and a whydunnit |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
blurgalurgalurga
Joined: 18 Oct 2007
|
| Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2007 2:24 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Martin Amis' "Time's Arrow" is good as well.
Graham Greene's 'the Comedians,' 'Brighton Rock,' and 'the Quiet American' are all excellent as well.
While I'm tapping that vein, I'd recommend anything by Evelyn Waugh, too. 'The Sword of Honour' is especially good, as is 'the Loved Ones." |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
