Charlie can skip this book recc. thread.

[fade]

Yeah, I skipped classics, because they're ... well classic. I may have to check out the "invincible" book, but I've never liked so-called "realistic" portrayals of superheroes (book , comic, movie, or tv) because "realistic" always seems to translate to "whines a lot about having superpowers".

 

[AshburnerX]

Yeah, I skipped classics, because they're ... well classic. I may have to check out the "invincible" book, but I've never liked so-called "realistic" portrayals of superheroes (book , comic, movie, or tv) because "realistic" always seems to translate to "whines a lot about having superpowers".

It does show all the heroes and villains as if they were real people with real problems. If your of the persuasion that the fact you have cool powers means you don't get to bitch about your legitimate problems, this isn't the book for you. Dr. Impossible's chapters deal with him analyzing his life choices as he's pulling off a serious of heists, wondering if maybe he should have stopped sometime along the way and just gone legit. It's actually very interesting from a psychological standpoint. All of the heroes have some serious issues too, though not all of them (Elphin, Lily, and Feral come to mind) let these issues turn them into angst filled assholes. Here's a quote from Wikipedia about some of the themes the book brings up.

Even as Dr. Impossible constructs his latest world domination scheme, he finds himself reflecting on his life and whether he could have used his beyond-genius IQ for anything else - curing disease, saving the ecosphere, amassing vast piles of cash... or at least, anything that didn't involve being regularly pummelled by superheroes.

His calm deconstruction of his own futile, repetitive and self-destructive behaviours - even as he repeats them yet again, and knowingly lies to himself that this time things will be different - can be compared to classic existentialist theories, particularly Sartre (bad faith: Dr. Impossible's compulsive behaviour negates his own chance at a happy existence). Another Sartrean aspect is how Dr. Impossible allows his nature to be defined by the views of others - even revelling in his infamy - while simultaneously protesting their unfairness and incompleteness.

Another recurring theme is the place of superheroes in a modern world. While Grossman takes care not to satirise the superhero genre of itself, he uses them to take pot-shots at post-2000 morals and ethics. For example, the conceit that Impossible's actions are caused by a mental illness (Malign Hypercognition Disorder) rather than his own choices reflect on modern notions of personal responsibility.

In the case of Fatale, the heroic viewpoint presented, she is perfectly justified in being upset about her powers:

Spoiler

She's a cyborg who remembers nothing about her past, has to take immunosupressants to stop her body from rejecting her implants (which would kill her via secondary infection), recently was fired from the US Military (who provided her with repairs and medication which was necessary to keep her alive), and had her uterus removed to make room for her power supply. She can't even kiss someone without a billion warnings and pre-programed maneuvers fighting against her desires at every second...

...and yet despite that all, she actually does learn to deal with it all.

 

[fade]

It's not that I think that powers mean you shouldn't complain about legitimate problems. I was merely remarking that that seems to be the trend in realistic superhero works. Usually to the detriment of the actual superhero aspect. The character almost seems to be subsumed by the "bad" aspect of their powers or personal lives. They never seem to enjoy the good aspects of either, or the good aspects appear as prologues and epilogues. It's the trend in the comics, too, these days. Though, the X-Men have done it all along.

I'm not saying this book is that way at all. It's just a trend I've noticed.

 

[SeraRelm]

Dune, as always.

 

[AshburnerX]

Dune, as always.

Only the first or second books. From three onwards it gets crazy.

 

[SeraRelm]

Was answering the OP. One book, only one book.

 

[Rob King]

The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand. It shook me out of a bit of a rut I was in. I was satisfied with living life as a cog in the machine that is society, and though I know I might never be anyone great, it prodded me into at least aspiring to something bigger.

Just be sure to stay away from Atlas Shrugged, where Ayn Rand reveals that the only people she thinks matters are the artists and visionaries of the world, completely forgetting that it's the "cogs" (as you put it) working towards a great good that makes such dreams possible. That's my biggest criticism of Randian Philosophy; the simple fact that you are regarded as sub-human unless you are a creative, artistic type.[/QUOTE]

I've actually been meaning to read Atlas Shrugged. It's sitting on my desk right now, looking imposing. I don't necessarily like how Rand sort of devalues the average human being, but I can sort of see where she comes from. She looks at the grand scope of things, and has the exact opposite problem from what you'd expect: she can't see the trees for the forest. It's like one of my old teachers said: If everyone becomes an astronaut, who will pump their gas?

 

[Yoink]

Dune, as always.

100 % agree

(God Emperor of Dune is also awesome)

 

[SeraRelm]

Dune, as always.

100 % agree

(God Emperor of Dune is also awesome)[/QUOTE]

*keeps this one*

 

[Rob King]

Damn this thread. My next visit to the bookstore will be an expensive one.

 

[AshburnerX]

Damn this thread. My next visit to the bookstore will be an expensive one.

OR you could just go to the library and read all of them for free first, then buy the ones you liked.

 

[Rob King]

Damn this thread. My next visit to the bookstore will be an expensive one.

OR you could just go to the library and read all of them for free first, then buy the ones you liked.[/QUOTE]

... Why does this never occur to me?

I'll definitely look into it, though. I'm not sure if the University library will let me take books out, since I'm not a student anymore. But I've been meaning to find the city's public library anyhow.

 

[Krisken]

-Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell (non-fic)

Fantastically enjoyable to read. Who knew reading about someone's visits to historical sites linked to Presidential assassinations could be so enjoyable to read about. This book covers the Lincoln, Garfield, and McKinley assassinations.

 

[Andromache]

It would also tell us if you wanted anything more specific, possibly narrow it down

1 book, the best you've ever read, or the one above all you'd recommend.

regardless of genre. But yes, just one book please. Ideally you'd each recommend a different book, and in reading them I'd get an idea of your individuality.

 

[ElJuski]

In which case, mein gott, Slaughterhouse Five. Once again, probably the most important book written in the last 60 years.

 

[Sparhawk]

Damn this thread. My next visit to the bookstore will be an expensive one.

OR you could just go to the library and read all of them for free first, then buy the ones you liked.[/QUOTE]

Only if you have a decent library in the area, that is open when you aren't at work, and that doesn't have less of a choice of books than you have on your own shelves.

 

[Andromache]

Damn this thread. My next visit to the bookstore will be an expensive one.

OR you could just go to the library and read all of them for free first, then buy the ones you liked.[/QUOTE]

Only if you have a decent library in the area, that is open when you aren't at work, and that doesn't have less of a choice of books than you have on your own shelves.[/QUOTE]

your location says Deep East Texas. I'd say you could always move.

 

[Sparhawk]

your location says Deep East Texas. I'd say you could always move.

I will, in a few years, need to get the daughter graduated from high school first.

 

[AshburnerX]

Damn this thread. My next visit to the bookstore will be an expensive one.

OR you could just go to the library and read all of them for free first, then buy the ones you liked.[/QUOTE]

Only if you have a decent library in the area, that is open when you aren't at work, and that doesn't have less of a choice of books than you have on your own shelves.[/QUOTE]

The libraries in my area (http://www.spl.lib.oh.us/) are all conglomerated into a single system, so you can just reserve a book at one of the 28 locations (or online even) and they'll just send the book to whatever library you want for pick-up. So yeah, it's not too bad.

 

[Bubble181]

Ahh, the wonders of our Belgian semi-socialist system. All civil libraries are one big network with free interloaning.

That aside, I'll stick with my recommendation for the complete AC Clarke short story omnibus.

 

[Shannow]

Yeah, I skipped classics, because they're ... well classic. I may have to check out the "invincible" book, but I've never liked so-called "realistic" portrayals of superheroes (book , comic, movie, or tv) because "realistic" always seems to translate to "whines a lot about having superpowers".

It does show all the heroes and villains as if they were real people with real problems. If your of the persuasion that the fact you have cool powers means you don't get to bitch about your legitimate problems, this isn't the book for you. Dr. Impossible's chapters deal with him analyzing his life choices as he's pulling off a serious of heists, wondering if maybe he should have stopped sometime along the way and just gone legit. It's actually very interesting from a psychological standpoint. All of the heroes have some serious issues too, though not all of them (Elphin, Lily, and Feral come to mind) let these issues turn them into angst filled assholes. Here's a quote from Wikipedia about some of the themes the book brings up.

Even as Dr. Impossible constructs his latest world domination scheme, he finds himself reflecting on his life and whether he could have used his beyond-genius IQ for anything else - curing disease, saving the ecosphere, amassing vast piles of cash... or at least, anything that didn't involve being regularly pummelled by superheroes.

His calm deconstruction of his own futile, repetitive and self-destructive behaviours - even as he repeats them yet again, and knowingly lies to himself that this time things will be different - can be compared to classic existentialist theories, particularly Sartre (bad faith: Dr. Impossible's compulsive behaviour negates his own chance at a happy existence). Another Sartrean aspect is how Dr. Impossible allows his nature to be defined by the views of others - even revelling in his infamy - while simultaneously protesting their unfairness and incompleteness.

Another recurring theme is the place of superheroes in a modern world. While Grossman takes care not to satirise the superhero genre of itself, he uses them to take pot-shots at post-2000 morals and ethics. For example, the conceit that Impossible's actions are caused by a mental illness (Malign Hypercognition Disorder) rather than his own choices reflect on modern notions of personal responsibility.

In the case of Fatale, the heroic viewpoint presented, she is perfectly justified in being upset about her powers:

Spoiler

She's a cyborg who remembers nothing about her past, has to take immunosupressants to stop her body from rejecting her implants (which would kill her via secondary infection), recently was fired from the US Military (who provided her with repairs and medication which was necessary to keep her alive), and had her uterus removed to make room for her power supply. She can't even kiss someone without a billion warnings and pre-programed maneuvers fighting against her desires at every second...

...and yet despite that all, she actually does learn to deal with it all.[/QUOTE]

i reccomend the audio of this book. The two readers are fantastic. Especially Dr. Impossible's voice. Its so perfect tht it actually made the book even more enjoyable than just reading it.

 

[Vytamindi]

PS: When is the next book coming out, arglebargle!

George R. R. Martin is not your bitch.

 

[AshburnerX]

i reccomend the audio of this book. The two readers are fantastic. Especially Dr. Impossible's voice. Its so perfect tht it actually made the book even more enjoyable than just reading it.

I'm listening to it now... he doesn't have enough bravado. He seems more... bored than anything. Fatale sounds fine though... I enjoy how she does bad impersonations of the other heroes.

 

[phil]

I think one of the most enjoyable books I've read was pillars of the earth.

The short version of the summary is that it follows a medieval family and their children as they grow and change and try to make a living. Children who are 7 at the start are grown and have children by the end so you really feel attached to their whole situation because it's like you were there when they grew up.

It's not a perfect book by any means, but I have to say I really enjoyed reading it and have been meaning to go through it again for a while now.

 

[Fun Size]

I know I always say the same thing, but House of Leaves is still the one I go back to. I never know how to describe it. I guess it just has more depth than any other piece of fiction I've read as far as how much is going on for those who care to explore it. It's also interesting as a piece of experimental fiction that works on a level beyond being a gimmick.

 

[Kitty Sinatra]

I think one of the most enjoyable books I've read was pillars of the earth.

It was engaging.

 

[fade]

Crone,

I think for a forum full of readers, that's nearly an impossible request. I can't a) remember all the books I've ever read, even the really good ones and b) it's more like there's a layer of cream floating to the top than a single cherry. I would be really hard pressed to pick one over the other.

I did remember another book that shares the poetic prose writing style with Beagle and Bradbury: Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God. That is a gorgeous book. Hurston paints such a picture, you could swear you were there. She can turn a phrase like few others, and gives you goose bumps doing so. And she can evoke emotion, from passion to sadness (if you aren't close to tears when Motorboat gives up to the hurricane, and Janey and Teacake leave him behind, then you're pretty cold).

I should've said this for The Last Unicorn, too, but don't watch the movie. In both cases, they're far inferior. None of the beautiful prose is there, and things have so much less impact.

 

[AshburnerX]

I actually really enjoyed the Last Unicorn movie when I was a kid. Never read the book though.

 

[Skinny Santa]

I've changed my mind. If I had to recommend 1 book to anyone it would be The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K Le Guin. Its about a man who's dreams shape the world around him and the moral implications of controlling them.

 

[fade]

I actually really enjoyed the Last Unicorn movie when I was a kid. Never read the book though.

It's not terrible, mind you. Just inferior to the book in so many ways. Happy-fying the ending really bugged me. A lot. It sort of ruins the central theme of the book.

 

[Covar]

If everyone becomes an astronaut, who will pump their gas?

Well everywhere in the US except for New Jersey the astronauts could pump their own gas

I'm going to fifth the To Kill a Mockingbird suggestion. An amazing book.

To not waste my choice though how about Huckleberry Finn? You know, that racist book all about the wrongs of racism.

 

[General Specific]

One book and one book only?

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.


A few others just for the hell of it:
Anansi Boys - Neil Gaiman
Neverwhere - Neil Gaiman
Nation - Terry Pratchett
Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency - Douglas Adams

 

[AshburnerX]

To not waste my choice though how about Huckleberry Finn? You know, that racist book all about the wrongs of racism.

To be fair, it was VERY progressive for it's time. And nigh impossible to read in it's original dialect... that Mississippi drawl is nigh impenetrable.

 

[Covar]

To not waste my choice though how about Huckleberry Finn? You know, that racist book all about the wrongs of racism.

To be fair, it was VERY progressive for it's time. And nigh impossible to read in it's original dialect... that Mississippi drawl is nigh impenetrable.[/QUOTE]

Oh I don't believe for a second that it's a racist book. Just hate the people who want it banned from schools and libraries, completely missing its point.

I agree with you about the book being Progressive. Surprised it was published to be honest.

 

[ElJuski]

Fade: Fuck YES Their Eyes Were Watching God. How she describes the storm and the flood is fucking gorgeous.