If you had to recommend ONE book...

[djtoast]

Originally Posted by MarkMono

Time Travellers Wife was dogshit

Ah, Mark, never one to dissapoint... That's kinda more worth saying if you give us a clue about why you think so, n'est-ce pas? Unless you mean literally, like you dropped your copy in the street and it landed unfortunately.

For books that'll make you sound like a Streber, Paradise Lost by mister Milton. Knocks me over with the efficiency of the language. For something that won't get a note pinned to your back, Perfume: the Story of a Murderer (I read it - very slowly and laboriously - in German as Das Parfum but the translation's meant to be good and there's a film now too.)


And reading my own link just now I learned that

Scentless Apprentice," by the American grunge band Nirvana, was inspired by Perfume. It appears on their 1993 album In Utero. The band's singer and guitarist Kurt Cobain often described the novel as one of his favorite books.

The song "Herr Spiegelmann" from the Portuguese gothic-doom metal band Moonspell contains an excerpt from the book.

There ya go: if Portugese gothic doom metal is your thing you may feel some kinship with this book.

[Rowsbette]

I'm not sure everyone would instantly enjoy Paradise Lost.

To any Scottish person I'd recommend Laura Hird's Born Free, which is just the most readable thing in the world. A little crude in places, but even my mum and dad thought it was great.

[Potatojunkie]

Watchmen. Nobody who's any good doesn't like Watchmen.

[LesMTS]

"Cat's Cradle" by Kurt Vonnegut I'd recommend to everyone. It's terribly accessible and simple (in fact the messages are so obvious that it's more of a lengthy, complicated fable than a traditional novel) but it's an immensely enjoyable, charming wee book.
Read it. It'll only take you a couple of days.

[MarkMono]

Originally Posted by djtoast

Ah, Mark, never one to dissapoint... That's kinda more worth saying if you give us a clue about why you think so, n'est-ce pas? Unless you mean literally, like you dropped your copy in the street and it landed unfortunately.

Less enjoyable than standing in dogshit, but more enjoyable than landing face first in it.

Probably comparable to getting it on your shirt and hands.

[Bunnylingus]

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop Cafe.

Easy to read, engaging, sweet and a bit mental in places.

[Devastator]

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. Unless you have no heart.

[Bunnylingus]

Originally Posted by Devastator

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. Unless you have no heart.

Ahh, good yin.

[the.definitive]

Cloud Atlas, by David Mitchell. I read it about five times, it's just such a great book.


Also, this probably isn't particularly relevant, but "Scar Tissue" (Anthony Keidis' autobiography) is a highly entertaining easy read, whether you're a fan or not.

[Bunnylingus]

Also puts you right off him, fo shame.

[the.definitive]

Ha, aye, he's a tool.

[djtoast]

Originally Posted by Rowsbette

I'm not sure everyone would instantly enjoy Paradise Lost.

I know that, hence my back-up suggestion. But they should

Never Have Your Dog Stuffed by Alan Alda (an autobiography if not a typical one) is easier going and fun throughout. I might reccommend that just to get to say the title with a suggestive leer.

[Tacky]

The Mysterious Incident of the dog in the middle of the night time....i tihnk that's what its called.

If not, Chrissie Glazenbrook's the Madolescents - its just nuts and lovely!

[The Continental]

[bugpowderdust]

Originally Posted by Largest of Als

Chickenhawk ... by Robert Mason

Word. Excellent book.


I'd recommend 'Screenburn' by Charlie Brooker. It's a collection of his articles over the past few years and every page has at least one laugh-out-loud moment. Perfect for anyone with a touch of the cynical misanthrope in them.