Okay, I've been a very serious, hardworking girl reading Deepak Chopra and a bunch of deep, lifechanging stuff this summer. Then I took a break for Harry Potter. Wheee! Even though it's 105 here, I'm feeling some summer lovin' at last. I needed that.

Now this girl just wants to have fun, albeit intelligent, well-written, book snob fun. Anybody have any suggests?

thanks!

MM

-- Anonymous, July 18, 2000

Answers

You're not serious about considering Deepak "deep", are you?

Anyway, I will suggest [as I did in another thread] Sharon Kay Penman's "The Sunne in Splendour" about Richard III and the War of the Roses.

-- Anonymous, July 18, 2000

I only do fun reading. No self-help crap here... ;-)

It is never a bad time to read the Lord of the Rings series, my all time favorite. I also LOVE Robert Ludlum's Borne Trilogy (Borne Identity is the first book in it) and other works, as well as that of Tom Clancy. I would shy away from Clancy's book called SSN though.

Also, I think everyone should read Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged. That way you can see the society that we are heading too. It is amazing she wrote this in the 1940s I think, back before Big Gov't was so Big. The parallels are scary.

The best single book I have every read might be The Stand by Steven King. It contains some of the richest character development ever!

Lastly, I am a big fan of the Left Behind series, but if you are anti religion/Christianity these books will probably not do much for ya.

-- Anonymous, July 18, 2000

Okay, no Deepak isn't deep. I just meant that I've been studious about Eastern religion, spirituality, health and such...and I'm sick of it!

What are the Borne Trilogy and the Left Behind series? I've never heard of them.

Thanks. This is my first thread, so I'm still going "oooh, lookie! Neat technology stuff!"

mm

-- Anonymous, July 18, 2000

To the person who recommended Atlas Shrugged, two things: first, it doesn't (to me) seem to fit the description "fun". Second, on the point of "before big government", it was written pretty much in direct reaction to the New Deal--a lot of the government stuff in the book directly and explicitly parallels legislation from the New Deal.

That said, please please -please- can we not turn this into a huge Ayn Rand discussion? It strikes me that people either worship or loathe her, and the lack of a middle ground makes discussing her kind of boring. And frustrating.

Intelligent, well-written book-snob fun. Hrm. I'm a big big big fan of Nicola Griffith, and highly recommend "Slow River" and "The Blue Place". I've been known to refer to "Slow River" as "the best book ever written by anyone". Also fun--"Behind the Scenes at the Museum" by Kate Atkinson. If you've ever had any interest in quantum physics and philosophy, you'll probably like "Distress" and "Quarantine" by Greg Egan. They're both SF, both incredibly good, but probably not going to be as good if you don't like SF or physics.

Uhm uhm uhm. "The Great Gatsby" is really good, if you only ever encountered it in high school English class you should take another look. Also Fitzgerald's short stories.

I can recommend books probably forever, so lo, I'll stop here.

-- Anonymous, July 18, 2000

How about the all-time favorite Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas?

A really original fantasy (SF?) is Connie Willis' To Say Nothing of the Dog. A bunch of time travellers get caught up in Victorian England trying to save England from losing World War II... lots of cute little historical tidbits, and a great story to boot.

I can also recommend anything by Orson Scott Card, especially Ender's Game which won several awards when it came out.

And as always, Pride and Prejudice looks really snobby but is great fun!

-- Anonymous, July 18, 2000

Martha

The Borne Trilogy is a set of 3 books by Robert Ludlum, and they should be read in order: first there is Borne Identity, the next two are Borne Supremcy and Borne Ultimatum. These were written 20 years ago I guess, and are filled with all types of geographically descriptive locations we have always heard about (the Ponce D'leon, etc). After reading the books I felt as if I had traveled to these spots almost. The book is about a fellow who wakes up not knowing who he is other than he is really injured, and soon discovers he is a badas* who is being hunted by really Bad People. You don't learn for great while who he is and why folks are after him. You learn it as he searches for his identity and fights for his life. This is the best political science/spy/action thriller story I've read. Did I mention he is a badas*. The more I write the more I begin thinking this might be a "guy" book (ive read all 3 three times), but it is filled with romance stuff too. Gosh, that sounds sexist...

The Left Behind series is a series that begins with the book Left Behind. The first 5 books are already out with the next 2 to be realeased over the next year). It is a fictional work based upon mainsteamish prophesy from The Bible. It is a picture of what will happen at the rapture of the Christian Saints and thereafter- ie living under the anti-Christ. It is a pretty well put together story for those interested in the Christian view of "endtimes". The span of 7 books will cover the 7 years of the Tribulation. Book 2 seemed repetitive to me making sure the readers who missed book 1 could follow the story, but they gave up on that concept on book 3 and just worried more with telling a story.

Good luck on finding some good reading. Also, I don't think anyone can go wrong with The Stand, and the best part it is a looonnng book, my favorite kind. I don't like the the setup of a story as much as I like the story itself.

Susan

First of all, I'm a fan of your site, so take this with a grain of salt. I only mentioned a book and why I thought it was neat, you are the one trying to make an issue. Some people might have different interests than you, so please be tolerant.

By the way, good luck in Cali. I think you will do well out there.

PS its funny you call The Great Gatsby a good read (meaing fun I guess) but not Atlas, huh? To each their own. I know which one I found more interesting.

-- Anonymous, July 18, 2000

I second the Bourne Identity books by Ludlum. The earlier ones (ie. the first three) are good, the ones with Carlos the Jackal are entertaining as well. The later ones get really really stale. (ie. Scorpio Illusion onwards)

I just finished "The Railway Children" by Edith Nesbitt...it was a children's book written around the 1900s I recommend it as a charming, fun read. I found my copy online, as an eText I downloaded to my Palm from the Project Gutenberg website, but I am sure you could find a paper copy somewhere.

Although I will read just about anything if I get desperate enough. Oh...the Mrs. Pollifax books by Dorothy Gilman (Gillman?) (I think) are quite good as well.

-- Anonymous, July 18, 2000

Two words: ALFRED BESTER. If you like sci-fi then The Demolished Man and The Stars My Destination by him are two of the best you can get. If you want intelligent, well-written, and fun, then read these if you haven't already

-- Anonymous, July 19, 2000

Jarvis-- I tried to say this in email rather than on the forum, but AOL says it won't deliver mail to your address. I'm sorry if I came off sounding argumentative, it wasn't at all the intent.

Also. The person who recommended Connie Willis reminded me, if you can get your hands on a copy of "Impossible Things", it's a short story collection by Connie Willis, it's excellent lighthearted-intelligent writing. Connie Willis does viciously funny spot-on satire of wacky collegiate politicking, and also writes some clever science fiction. :)

-- Anonymous, July 19, 2000

Susan Marie,

Thanks for the note. If I woulda known you read Xeney, I might not have posted that recommendation. Afterall, I've read what you thought about Ayn's ideas. This forum, yours, and one other are my fav three places on the web to hang. It seems like a small world again to me. ;-)

"i'm going to cali, cali, cali, i'm going to cali, yeahhhhhhhh" (can't get that lick of the song outta my head)

-- Anonymous, July 19, 2000

I just finished a novel called Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson, and thought it was the best novel I've read all year. Kind of autobiographical fiction, with family history thrown in, and British dark humor.

I think everyone should read Atlas Shrugged preferably when they're in college, because that's the age when it's likely to make the most sense. But I wouldn't call it a fun read.

-- Anonymous, July 19, 2000

Oh! Oh!

What a great question! I just asked one of my better friends the same question (ok, similar but not the same.) He owns a book store, and is actually very well read. Anyway, he mentioned a book to me that I've been meaning to read for years! Every yaer I say "I'm gonna read it this year" and every year without fail, I don't. Well, I've actually started it! It is: Jack Kerouac's "On the Road". What a great book! Definitely a good summer read.

-- Anonymous, July 19, 2000

The Ground Beneath Her Feet by Salman Rushdie, A Widow for One Year by John Irving. Neal Stephenson's Cryptonomicon is fun too if you like action/adventure. Also, The Guide to Getting it On is a very funny & well written (non-fic) book about sex, if you're into that kind of thing (and have someone to share it with).

-- Anonymous, July 19, 2000

I must agree with Laural - Ender's Game is insanely good, as long as you like sci-fi.

Also, though some people hate it, i loved Bridget Jones' Diary - it had me laughing out loud almost every page. The sequel, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason was also quite good, but not quite on the same level of "wonderful".

And surprisingly, Judy Blume's "Summer Sisters" is quite excellent and breezy if you're looking for light.

-- Anonymous, July 19, 2000

I guess everyone has an opinion, because I thought "Summer Sisters" was one of the worst, most egregiously bad books I've read in years.

-- Anonymous, July 19, 2000

Y'all are awesome (that's Texan for "you guys"). So many good suggestions. So I'll return the favor:

Dangerous Angel, The Weetzie Bat Books by Francesca Lia Block Girly, magical stories intended for teens but I love 'em. Very evocative and well-crafted.

Any silly SF by Terry Pratchett (If you don't laugh out loud, go the the hospital because you're in a coma)

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman Entrancing story about the magical city beneath London

Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister

That Sophie book that's really about philosophy...I forget the title...

I guess you could say I was mostly looking for magic, escapism and charm, mixed with good ideas to chew on so I don't feel like a total brainless fool. I'm not the Danielle Steel beach-read type, but I do need a break from weighty tomes now and then.

Wow, my first thread is going gangbusters. So much fun!

Thanks all Martha

-- Anonymous, July 19, 2000

The funniest book I have read in a long time is LUCY SULLIVAN IS GETTING MARRIED by Marian Keyes. Nearly every page made laugh out loud - it's the most delicious book ever. It felt a little Bridget-y at first, but it's funnier. LE MARIAGE by Diane Johnson is very good - lots of funny comments on American and French culture. And I just finished Tom Stoppard's play THE REAL THING and I want to praise it. It's brilliant - lots of fun wordplay and some lovely passages about love and art.

-- Anonymous, July 20, 2000

I recommend anything by Diana Wynne Jones. She's another British author who writes fantasy novels that are nominally children's books but can be enjoyed by adults as well. Take a look at Deep Secret, A Tough Guide to Fantasyland (a "guidebook" to the things people encounter in Tolkeinesque fantasy novels), Dark Lord of Derkholm (a novel with similar themes to A Tough Guide...), Witch Week (about magic in an English school, written quite a while before Harry Potter).

Check out Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. It's the funniest book you'll ever read about the Apocalypse.


-- Anonymous, July 20, 2000

If you're going to read To Say Nothing of the Dog, which I highly recommend you do, read Jerome K. Jerome's Three Men in a Boat. This is laugh-out-loud funny and you'll enjoy the Willis book a lot more.

-- Anonymous, July 20, 2000

I just finished a great book called Second Hand by Michael Zadoorian. It's sort of the High Fidelity of thrift stores.

I can't recommend books, without talking about Marge Piercy. If you haven't read any of her works before, start with Braided Lives. It's a terrific summer book. Gone To Soldiers is a great read, too.

Others: Suttree Cormac McCarthy, As I Lay Dying William Faulkner (perhaps the easiest Faulkner to get through),Invisible Man Ralph Ellison, Play it As it Lays Joan Didion and I could go on and on. That's enough for now.

-- Anonymous, July 21, 2000

'Q-Squared' by Peter David, but only and only if you're a Trekkie. One of the very few Trek books which has literary aspirations and lives up to them. If you are into this stuff, here's a review I wrote about it a few years ago: http://www.suneater.org/books-tng-un03- qsquared.html

-- Anonymous, July 21, 2000

Sorry, I fouled that one up: this is the correct address.

-- Anonymous, July 21, 2000

What the #$%^ is the matter with me? One last try: http://www.suneater.org/books-tng-un03-qsquared.html. Now if it doesn't work again, I KNOW it won't be my fault.

-- Anonymous, July 21, 2000

Possession by A.S. Byatt is one of my all-time favorites. A British romance about poetry and love.

The sci-fi Hyperion set by Dan Simmons is very good -- well, the first 2 books are at least: Hyperion and The Fall of Hyperion.

The Girl's Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa Bank was a wonderful, quick read for me -- I was surprised at how much I liked it. (It's not about hunting and fishing, by the way -- it's a series of short stories, most of which are about one character, a woman whose name escapes me.)

Francesca Lia Block is a great choice for summer reading! I'm re- reading Girl Goddess #9. I think all of her stuff is listed as juvenile fiction, but heck, if it's good, it's good.

Oh, and check out Diana Gabaldon! Start with Outlander. Her stuff is listed under historical romance - it is that and MUCH more. There's romance, action, history... There was an article in Salon about her a while back that turned me onto her stuff. She'd be great summer reading.

This is fun!

-- Anonymous, July 21, 2000

ok, here's what you need. enlightening, funny, well-written, and just generally cool as hell (take your pick):

tom robbins - jitterbug perfume - and/or - half asleap in frog pajammas (sp?)

you've probably read at least one of these so here's some stuff you may not have been turned on to which you most certaily should make a part of your life:

stranger in a strange land/the cat who walked through walls/the moon is a harsh mistress - all by robert heinlein

Illuminatus trillogy, robert a. wilson & robert shea <-- everyone on the planet should read these books just for the bitter hillarity and quantum- conspiracy-dooming-of-the-planet metaphors about it all. kind of naughty in a few places too.

a confedracy of dunces [author chemically oblitterated by years of self-inflicted forgettfulness]

zen and the art of motercycle maintenance (an obvious classic)

you may also want to read: The Last Surviving Confedrate Widow Tells All, by Alan Gurgainas. this is probably too heavy for you at this time, in respect to your need for "intelligent, well-written, book snob fun." but i just can't let a book recommendation-ranting go by without bringing this one up (it's probably best for winter reading). This book is quite simply and quite literally the finest peice of american literature in existence. you simply must read this, and if you're into history, especially american civil-war history, you won't be able to put it down. otherwise, this book will touch you on a level which i cannot even begin to describe. I guess i'm saying i like the book, that it's a good book; read it, you'll thank me.

sorry for the painfully long reply, but i fancy myself an expert on light-hearted summer transcendence.

-- Anonymous, July 22, 2000

ps- i agree with at least a few postings re: Rand's 'Atlas.' Very little about Ayn Rand is fun (though some of her stuff is worth a casual peek)

-- Anonymous, July 22, 2000

Glad you asked this question,because I love telling people what to read.(Hah). I also think that Bridget Jones Diary is a fun read. Although some people hate it,etc. Welcome to My Planet by Shannon Olson is quite amusing and well written. I liked Cruddy by Lynda Barry,although it's not fun. It's very dark,but it's compulsive reading. Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto is a lovely book, quite short, and from a Japanese perspective(something different).You might like Henry and June, the first volume of Anais Nin's diaries(but don't bother with the rest-you want to slap her the more that you read). I hope th

-- Anonymous, July 22, 2000

Oooh, books, one of my favorite topics. These are all books I qualify as "beach books." They're fun to read and well written but aren't the sort of mind-numbing brain candy that you find in the romance section.

News of the Spirit - Lee Smith

Cowboys are my Weakness, Waltzing the Cat and A Little More About Me all three by Pam Houston

Yellow Raft in Blue Water and Cloud Chamber both by Michael Dorris

A Pirate Looks at Fifty by Jimmy Buffett

Memory and Dream and Moonlight and Vines both by Charles De Lint (actually almost anything by him is good beach reading.)

She's Come Undone and I Know This Much Is True both by Wally Lamb

A Gracious Plenty, The Rapture of Canaan and Bitterroot Landing all three by Sherri Reynolds

All Over But the Shoutin' by Rick Bragg

The Liar's Club by Mary Karr

What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day by Pearl Cleage

Shipping News by Annie Proulx

That's a start, at least.

-- Anonymous, July 22, 2000

Well, I was going to recommend Diana Wynne Jones, but someone has beaten me to it. Very quick reading, but interesting. Yesterday I went through _Witch Week_ and _Charmed Life_, and today I'm on _The Lives Of Christopher Chant_. All good. And _Eight Days Of Luke_ is my favorite of hers, although it seems to be out of print.

If you haven't read anything by Gaiman besides _Neverwhere_, go read it all. _Sandman_, the short story collections, _Stardust_ (though I haven't finsihed that one yet)...

And if you want to stay in the fantasy/sci fi area, I have enjoyed everything I've read by Tanith Lee, and some (most) of the books have been thought provoking. My favorite of those would be _The Silver Metal Lover_, which is far more interesting than its name would suggest. Also the _Secret Books Of Paradys_ series.

And if you want to stray into mysteries, go for Margery Allingham. _Dancers In Mourning_, _Police At The Funeral_, _Tether's End_... pretty much all of them. Or at least the pre-1960 ones. Very well-written.

-- Anonymous, July 23, 2000

ooooh beach books!

first, the (semi)guilty pleasure of musteries: Anything by Raymond Chandler, original pulp-art bleak-city mysteries and anything by Ross Macdonald, sort of Chandler-in-the-sixties and 'seventies.

For the brits, I go for any of the Lord Peter Wimsey books, especially the ones with Harriet Vane, like _Strong Poison_ and _Gaudy Night_. terrible snobs, but funny, literate stuff. and for a bit more trashy but with its heart in the right place, Anne Perry's work, particularly the (high melodrama) _Defend and Betray_ which have the benefit of being Victorian mysteries that play upon the separate/overlapping spheres of gender and class.

_Memoirs of a Geisha_ was a good quick read. And (if anyone hasn't already read it) _Wicked_ goes a bit farther, not as fast-going, retelling the Oz story from the WItch's point of view.

-- Anonymous, July 23, 2000

Martha, if you're looking for magic and escapism, try Raymond E. Feist's Riftwar books, starting with Magician: Apprentice. Trust me.

-- Anonymous, July 24, 2000

For time travel books, I like Time and Again, by Jack Finney, and the sequel, From Time to Time. The Mists of Avalon, by Marion Zimmer Bradley, for some magic. And for very entertaining reading, with some history and some magic, try The Eight, by Katerine Neville, one of my all-time favorites for a real page turner. By the way, has anyone ever read Speed of Light by Gwenyth Craven, and if so, know where I can get a copy? It's out of print and I haven't been able to locate a copy. Thanks. P.S. I really loved the Bourne Identity, by Robert Ludlum; the other two were pretty good. I also liked his book The Matarese Circle.

-- Anonymous, July 25, 2000

Try the The Hound and The Falcon trilogy by Judith Tarr. They mix medieval history and fantasy, and are quite enjoyable. Or her Avaryan Rising series. I also second the recommendation for Diana Wynne Jones' Dark Lord of Derkholm.

Stuff from Barbara Kingsolver is great for hot weather - Bean Trees, Pigs in Heaven, and Animal Dreams, or more recent Alice Hoffman - Practical Magic, Local Girls, or Here on Earth, although that one's depressing. I think she has a new one out, too.

And there's always Persuasion by Jane Austen, my personal fave.

-- Anonymous, July 25, 2000

"Oh, and check out Diana Gabaldon! Start with Outlander. Her stuff is listed under historical romance - it is that and MUCH more. There's romance, action, history... There was an article in Salon about her a while back that turned me onto her stuff. She'd be great summer reading. "

I second that strongly. The Outlander series is wuuuuunerful. I can't recommend it enough.

Another fabulous series is the Earth's Children series by Jean M. Auel. The first book is The Clan of The Cave Bear, that will get you started.

If you like Sci-Fi, any "fat" book by Robert A Heinlein is great. His "thin" books are more teen-oriented, and while good, pale in comparison to his adult fare. Some that I adore are "Stranger in a Strange Land", "To Sail Beyond The Sunset", and "Number of The Beast".

If you like magic/time travel and romance, a must read is "Knight In Shining Armor" by Jude Deveraux. It's one of my favorite books, and I can't help but crying like a baby each time I read it.

-- Anonymous, July 25, 2000

Well, if you want to continue in the sort of fantasy, wizardy vein, I bet you'd like Mary Stewart's King Arthur series. There are four books (The Crystal Cave, The Hollow Hills, and... um, I can't remember the last two. Sorry.) I'm halfway through the second book now, and they're phenominal.

-- Anonymous, July 25, 2000

Wow! The hits just keep coming! I've made a great list of "must reads" so thanks everyone!

For the record, I ordered the new Tom Robbins, picked up Francesca Block's Dangerous Angels again, got some short Noel Coward as well...and then the Pottery Barn catalog came in the mail and I was salivating like the good yuppie lackey that I am... ooohh....slipcovers...

Thanks again!

Martha

-- Anonymous, July 26, 2000

Oooh, Elaine, thanks! I didn't know there was a sequel to Time and Again (I love that book)! I'm off to Amazon, catch you guys later.

-- Anonymous, July 26, 2000

I've just started rereading Diana Gabaldon's stuff ... they are seriously cool, and now I want to play hooky for a day and read them all back to back.

-- Anonymous, July 26, 2000

Sophie's World is the title you meant. Great book. Not sure if I'd call it light, though.

How long has it been since you've picked up a Rudyard Kipling kid book?

-- Anonymous, July 27, 2000