I have a coupon to Border's, tell me what book to buy.

[Phillycat]

Already have Jon Stewart's America and basically every other political book out there. I'm looking for good fiction. To give you an idea of my taste, the last novel that I loved was Straight Man by Richard Russo. I also loved The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen. I don't really like sci-fi, mysteries, horror, or romance. Just plain old contemporary fiction.

What have you read lately that you loved?

[Jack_Dawson]

1. Hustler

Great articles. Flynt is a good Dem.

:hi:

[Phillycat]

2. Oh, you read it for the articles, too?

:eyes:

[realFedUp]

63. Did the outing of David Dreier appear in Nov. Hustler?

[realFedUp]

65. Speaking of Larry Flynt....his book is a good read

Sex, Lies and Politics

[Richardo]

3. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

Only $12 in paperback and one of the best books I've read ever. Read it in one Sunday. :thumbsup:

[Phillycat]

7. I read it a couple weeks ago.

Also loved it. Fell in love with the main character. Thanks for the suggestion though!

[Richardo]

11. Damn!

I'll think of another.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

4. Anything by Tom Robbins

[Phillycat]

10. Not a fan.

I don't know why. :shrug:

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

29. What've you read?

[Phillycat]

37. Just Still Life With Woodpecker.

I found it interminable. I am certain this is a failing in me, since all whose opinion I respect love this guys.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

40. Before you write him off read Even Cowgirls Get The Blues

Just for ha has

[Phillycat]

42. Hmm, I'll see if I can borrow it from a friend.

I'd rather not invest, you know?

[skygazer]

59. My personal favorite was Another Roadside Attraction

In this current time of religious fervor, I may have to give it another read. I love the guy - he's funnier than hell and extremely thought provoking.

[redqueen]

5. Have you read any David Sedaris?

If not, you might try Me Talk Pretty One Day. Not fiction, but good.

:hi:

[Phillycat]

9. I have read all of his and I am going to see him speak tonight.

Thanks!

[redqueen]

20. Ooooh lucky you!

Where's that green smiley?

[Phillycat]

25. My boyfriend is taking me for my birthday present.

Which is about the best gift he could have given me. Don't you love when your SO gives you something that shows how well they know you?

Better than jewelry any day. :loveya:

[FDRrocks]

6. War and Peace by Tolstoy

It makes a great paperweight. But I jest. Have you read "Crime and Punishment" by Dostoevsky? It's my favorite fiction book to date.

[Phillycat]

12. Heh.

I think I'm looking for less "giant Russian tome" and more "clever contemporary fiction". But thanks! :)

[FDRrocks]

23. I'm getting depressed now...

I simply haven't kept up on my fiction reading. I forget the name of it, but thers a book with all or most of E.A. Poe's stories. That got me through sophomore year, but I doubt it classifies as contemporary.

"Great Irish Tales of Horror"? Damn, I'm sad. :)

[Phillycat]

27. Ha!

You're cracking me up!

[aden_nak]

8. Nuklear Age by Brian Clevinger

Even though it completely defies all of the criteria you set up in your post, it likely will have to be special ordered, and it's a 660 page joke disguised as a work of satire on a genre you probably wouldn't be interested in. It's a damn fine book once you read it through.

[Phillycat]

13. Well.

I just don't know what to say about that.

[aden_nak]

24. Then my job here is done!

[Richardo]

14. Hiaasen's latest ("Skinny Dip") is good...

...he's back to form after a couple of weak (IMO) outings.

[Phillycat]

17. Huh! I've never read any.

Should I start with this new one? What's he like?

[Richardo]

26. Comic crime novels - invented the genre IMO

All set in Florida - very pro-environment and anti-development. His strongest are:

- Native Tongue
- Lucky You
- Stormy Weather
- Tourist Season
- Skinny Dip
- Striptease (yes, the Demi Moore movie was based on this book but don't hold it against Carl. The book is superb.)

[Phillycat]

36. Oh yeah, I heard the book Striptease was actually good!

Huh. I will have to look into this.

[elehhhhna]

15. The Poisonwood Bible OR he Handmaids Tale OR

King Leopold (of that's historical biog.--)

All very timely.

[Phillycat]

18. I read the first two years ago.

And recently re-read the Handmaid's Tale for its timeliness. Thanks!

[elehhhhna]

16. The Poisonwood Bible OR he Handmaids Tale OR

King Leopold's Ghost (of that's historical biog.--)

All very timely.

[Richardo]

19. How are you with Michael Connolly or Dennis Lehane?

I like all of their books.

"Shutter Island" by Lehane (Mystic River) is particularly good.

[Phillycat]

22. I read The Narrows while staying at a friend's house.

It's not something I would buy for myself, but I enjoyed it, you know? It covered a weekend's worth of reading and didn't require a lot of thought to enjoy.

[Richardo]

30. I liked The Narrows, but "Shutter Island" is much deeper and psychological

I recommend it highly.

[Phillycat]

33. Hmm! Okay, this is going on the "maybe" list.

I like "psychological" thrillers.

[auntAgonist]

21. Bitter Winds : Harry Woo

[Phillycat]

31. Oof. It looks...depressing.

It's Wu, by the way. Took me a minute to find it. It looks totally worthwhile, but I'm looking for something more "smart and entertaining" and less "slit my wrists in response to the futility of humanity".

[auntAgonist]

62. I really did type woo didn't I? LOL I'm sorry.

I don't think it's depressing at all. Hearing Mr Wu speak on NPR was most uplifting, his story is amazing.

[Merrick]

28. Master and Margarita - Bulgakov

[Phillycat]

35. Whoa!

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0679760806/104-1895892-4444721?v=glance#product-details

This looks fascinating!

I think we may have a winner.

[redqueen]

39. Thanks for the link

Looks like I'll be making another trip to the library!

[Richardo]

41. That's on some schools' reading lists - we've been selling a lot...

...But I've never read the synopsis 'til now.

Looks good!

[Eumenides]

48. Read it

I've heard so many good things about this book for so long and I finally read it, gosh, I really hated it (and I used a Borders coupon on it as well).
Lately, my two favorites in fiction are:

John's Wife by Robert Coover
&
The Unntouchable by John Banville

[bloodyjack]

43. Seconded!

terrific book :thumbsup:

[Phillycat]

46. Can you give me your impression?

[bloodyjack]

50. Where do I begin?

I'll provide a brief overview of the THEMES and pretext of MASTER & MARGARITA. mind, it's been a few years and like most Russian novels there's a whole lot of characters but it's a strong piece of work.

Think of it as Doctor Faustus set in Stalinist Russia.

There also is a parallel narrative of the Crucifixion, told from the perspective of Pontius Pilate who is greatly tormented by the thought of having to sentence such a harmless holy fool to death. He also suffers from intense migraines. This is where THE MASTER comes in.

Satan visits the HERO (Bezdomny) of the novel in various guises, sometimes assuming multiple forms (eg, a black cat, a magician/Mephistophelean archetype)

My memory's a little choppy but the MASTER is this novelist whose GREAT MASTERPIECE concerned the suffering of Christ and moral dilemma of Pilate. He attempts to destory the manuscript for some reason that currently escapes me (probably couldn't get published) but his lover (Margarita) has salvaged it and longs to see it in publication. Satan turns Margarita into a witch and she exacts revenge on those who crushed her lover's vision.

Anyway, that's a rough synopsis. The thing is, you could probably easily find it at any half price book store in your area. If not, go for it. Otherwise, you should pick up Rabindranath Tagore's GITANJALI if you have an appreciation for fine verse.

[Phillycat]

55. Wow, thanks!

Great overview.

[sniffa]

32. "wiLL they ever trust us again" - michaeL moore

[TwentyFive]

34. "THE HAMMER - Tom Delay, God, Money, and the rise of the Repug Congress"

by Lou Dubose and Jan Reid.

This book will is a well researched account of the rise of Tom Delay. It's bone chilling...but will open your eyes to the extent of how large corporations and the GOP are merging and creating a fascism for the 21st century.

[Parche]

38. book

Thunder Below By RADM Eugene Fluckey

[Phillycat]

47. Hmm. Too....nonfiction.

Sorry, I'm a girl who likes fiction. Thanks though!

[Parche]

58. fiction book

"You can run but you cant hide"
The Biography of GW Bush
True fiction

[Phillycat]

60. Ha ha!

Good one. :thumbsup:

[MsAnthropy]

44. Anything by Nick Hornby

He wrote "High Fidelity" (movie with John Cusack) and "About a Boy" (movie with Hugh Grant)

[Phillycat]

45. Read 'em all.

I love him too. :) Thanks!

[phaseolus]

49. "Good Omens", Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman

Kinda borders on SF/Fantasy, but it's a hilarious, essential book. Apparently the Anti-Christ went missing as a baby, and an angel and a demon are under orders to find him because management has decided it's time for The Apocalypse. Problem is those two aren't the best employees, & have grown quite attached to the earth in the last couple millenia...

It'll be in the SF paperback section. Get it.

That goes for everyone.

[Phillycat]

56. Read it, own it, LOVED it!

Thanks for the suggestion!

[skygazer]

61. How nice to see a fellow Gaiman fan!

Loved Good Omens - have you read American Gods? Simply the best book I've read for many, many years. I finished it, put it down, and picked it up and re-read it about a month later. It was just so great.

[LDS Jock]

51. The Left Behind series

just kidding! I feel like such a smart ass today.

[Sequoia]

52. "All the Kings Men"

by Robert Penn Warren. Great political novel!! And "The Children's War" (see post in lounge) which is awesome!!

[Love Bug]

53. The real question is: how did you get a coupon to Borders?

This reader wants to know! :evilgrin:

[Phillycat]

57. Got it from my BF--I don't know where he got it!

I'll try to find out for you. :)

[bif]

54. If you like goo sci-fi: "Darwins Radio"

Is one of the best i've read. You won't be ble to put it down. Also "Time and Again" by Jack Finney. time travel back to 1880s New York City.

[auburngrad82]

64. The Life Of Pi was good

Can't remember the author's name but search Amazon and you'll find it. It's about a guy that's stuck on a liferaft with a tiger, a hyena, and a couple other animals. I liked it. Kind of an allegory. Some religious undertones.

[Phillycat]

66. Sounds good.

Religious undertones like subtle propaganda? Or just used as a motif?

[Richardo]

67. Motif...the protagonist dabbles in Hinduism, Islam and Christianity...

There's a scene where each of his three mentors meet that's pretty funny.

[Phillycat]

70. Coo-wul!

This is one of the reasons I loved Good Omens, as well as Rushdie's work--I am interested in the SUBJECT of religion, but I don't want to be preached to. I will be checking this one out!

[Richardo]

68. Author: Yann Martel

[hiphopnation]

69. Rise and Fall of the Third Reich

by William L. Shirer. If you haven't read this book yet it's an absolute must and very relevant to the day given the current fascists in office. The account is incredibly detailed and thorough and the story most chilling. It gives an incredible window into Hitler's mind and life and has left the indelible impression on me that history most certainly can and will repeat itself. :thumbsup:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0671728687/qid=1098809225/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/102-6317375-6064940?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

[Phillycat]

78. This sounds like a must-read.

I promise, it'll be my next nonfiction book!

Ps. I like your sigline pic. :)

[hiphopnation]

79. Thanks

The other one that I'm going to pick up because I hear such great things about it is "Guns, Germs and Steele". Supposted to be excellent.

[Dastard Stepchild]

71. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay

I thought it was a great book.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

72. It was pretty darn good

[Phillycat]

73. Read it. I've read all of Micahel Chabon's books and loved them.

I actually like his first, Mysteries of Pittsburgh, the best. But Kavalier and Klay was very good. Thanks! :)

[Patiod]

74. I loved "Straight Man"!

If you like Russo and Chambon, you might also like:

Lee Smith - gorgeous Southern fiction which even a yankee can love. My bookclub was wowed by "Fair and Tender Ladies" and we rarely agree on anything. Other Southern voices you might like are TR Pearson (longwinded but funny) and Kaye Gibbons.

Russell Bank's "The Sweet Hereafter", though a downer, is also amazingly well-written. Jeffrey Eugenides "Middlesex", about a hermaphodite, is long, but facinating.

"Empire Falls" (I'm sure you though of that if you like Russo)

Laurie Colwin is also amazing - I love her short story collection (The Lone Pilgrim), but any of her novels are good as well

The problem is that most of what I read is mysteries and non-fiction (Friday Night Lights is amazing - and that's coming from someone who doesn't like football - as is Seabiscuit). And Michael Dibdin's Aurelio Zen mysteries are really beautifully written literature, not constrained by the genre; "Dead Lagoon" is a beautiful piece of work, mystery or not.

[Phillycat]

75. I read Middlesex and Empire Falls and loved both!

Thank you for the thoughtful post and the suggestions! I am looking into Lee Smith as I type.

[Patiod]

77. It just sounded like we have similar tastes!

[Phillycat]

76. Wow, y'all! This thread is great. I'm so bookmarking it.

I have book suggestions for the next few months! This will also help me put my Christmas wish list together more quickly. :) Thanks to all of you! Good to know there are so many more lovers of good fiction out there. Gives me hope for the future! :hi: