What's you favourite book? (non photo)

[dewmuw]

Personally I'd have to go for 'To Kill a Mocking Bird' - I remember getting goose bumps the first time I read that scene after the school play and it still has the same effect 25 years later.

Non fiction would be 'North to the Night' - brilliant and would recoomend it to anyone who likes tales of travel/endurance.

[Scottes]

The Godfather, Mario Puzo. I've read it about 20 times now. The story-telling is fantastic. Subject matter aside, it's just a joy to have the words roll by.

[thomascanty]

"The Education of Little Tree" by Forrest Carter.

[Jon]

My one favorite book? Depends on what mood I'm in. I have several hundred, probably, that I've read at least 10 times. Several dozen that must be approaching the 100-reading count. And some of those are series (LOTR, Swallows and Amazons, the Honor Harringtons, 'Doc' Smith's Lensman series, Dorothy L. Sayers and Ngaio Marsh to name a few). And that's just the fiction.

[roanjohn]

"A Separate Peace" by John Knowles - great book!!! I've read it several times.

"Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri - absolute AMAZING collection of short stories!!! A masterpiece!!! Read it millions of times!!

"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee (or Truman Capote :-p)........also a great book.

Ro1

[Belmondo]

Nothing Like It In The World : The Men Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad 1863-1869

Stephen E. Ambrose

This is an amazing story of a segment of US history. It details the vision and unprecedented greed of the rail barons of the 19th century. It also describes the challenges that faced the people who actually built the railroads---the Irish and Chinese laborors, the construction bosses, the surveying parties, and so forth.

I've read it a few times, but also have it on tape and CD so that I can listen to it on longer trips. It never gets old.

BTW, Stephen Ambrose, who died recently, had a writing style that was descriptive, but not bogged down in minutia. His books on WW II are essential reading IMHO.

[robertwgross]

Nothing Like It In The World : The Men Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad 1863-1869

For any photographers out there in Northern California, you can still roam around and find evidence of where the early railmen put the first line through the mountains. Also, if you look around, you can find old photos from that time frame showing the construction underway.

And to think, those photographers did not have digital. They had big wet plate cameras and a steamer chest full of chemicals to lug around on horseback.

---Bob Gross---

[robertwgross]

Best book?

The Soul of the New Machine, by Tracy Kidder (around 1982 or so).

---Bob Gross---

[Scottes]

**Great** book, Bob.

Might I suggest "Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution" by Steven Levy

[Jon]

Soul of a New Machine was good, but I think Joel Garreau's Nine Nations of North America from around the same time, was better.

[Steven M. Anthony]

Wow--tough topic... So many good books...

To Kill a Mocking Bird, A Seperate Peace, and many of the others mentioned above are all on my list of favorites.

For truly deep thoughts, I've always liked Hesse's Narcissus and Goldmund. Read about a third of it in the original German, but it just gets WAY too thick that way. :)

For lighter--but still serious--fiction, John LeCarre's most recent 4 or 5 novels. These are post-cold-war spy novels that really give you a feel for the main character. "The Constant Gardener" is a real expose on drug testing in Africa. "Absolute Friends" is a major slam against the current administration. Probably none are classics like Mocking Bird, but great in their own way.

On the funny side, the only book that's made me laugh out loud while in public is Al Franken's "Lying Liars..."

Non-fiction: The Elegant Universe

[DeeplyDigital]

Love buying books, and reading them of course...

Favourite Fiction

Paul Coelho - The Alchemist
Forrest Carter - The Education of Little Tree
Paul Theroux - Picture Palace
James Joyce - Ulysses

Favourite Non Fiction

Larousse - Gastronomique
Moore's Almanach (yearly)


J.

[roanjohn]

.................
Paul Coelho - The Alchemist
......................
J.
Ahh!!! How can I forget??!!?? That book was very inspiring........

Ro1

[CyberDyneSystems]

I'll try and narrow my favorite book down to a reasonable number of them ;)

Somone mentioned Paul Theroux..
The Mosquito Coast was amazing,...

I've read The Once and Future King at least a dozen times and allways get something new out of it.

All 20 of the "Jack Aubry" series by Patrick O'brien (Master and Commander) ... I've read the first ten f them again for the second time...

The English Patient was actually a life changing book.. amazing that the terrible movie literally had nothing to do with the book.

I've read almost of all of the prolific Philip K. Dick,... no favorite in mind I guess...





----------------------------------
BUT, The book that has by far had the most impact on me is

The Ronin
By William Dale Jennings.

"Based on one of the 101 tales in "Zen Flash and Zen Bones" ... It was a story that struck me as having everything important contained within it that one needs to know...
...I played at expanding it a little bit,. bit of course,. have added nothing" WDJ

[KennyG]

The Source - James A Michener

[Moppie]

The Foundation series by Issac Asimov

and "Time Enough For love" by Robert A. Hienlein.

[HJMinard]

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

Anything by Mark Twain

Recently ...

Founding Brothers by Joseph Ellis

Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz

[psk4363]

Just one? Then it has to be Stephen Ambrose's "Band of Brothers" - incredibly moving and informative at the same time.

Cheers,
Barry

[dewmuw]

My one favorite book? Depends on what mood I'm in. I have several hundred, probably, that I've read at least 10 times. Several dozen that must be approaching the 100-reading count. And some of those are series (LOTR, Swallows and Amazons, the Honor Harringtons, 'Doc' Smith's Lensman series, Dorothy L. Sayers and Ngaio Marsh to name a few). And that's just the fiction.Swallows and Amazons was inspired by Lake Conistion and this island was mentioned in the book and used in the film! I go there quite a lot.

http://misheli.image.pbase.com/u19/dewmuw/large/9035143.coniston.jpg

OK why isn't this working? Anyone?

http://www.pbase.com/dewmuw/image/9035143

[dewmuw]

Nothing Like It In The World : The Men Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad 1863-1869

Stephen E. Ambrose

This is an amazing story of a segment of US history. It details the vision and unprecedented greed of the rail barons of the 19th century. It also describes the challenges that faced the people who actually built the railroads---the Irish and Chinese laborors, the construction bosses, the surveying parties, and so forth.

I've read it a few times, but also have it on tape and CD so that I can listen to it on longer trips. It never gets old.

BTW, Stephen Ambrose, who died recently, had a writing style that was descriptive, but not bogged down in minutia. His books on WW II are essential reading IMHO.
I concur - I have read all of his WWII books. I would highly recommend Crazy Horse and Custer too - excellent read.

[jyrgen]

The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy trilogy by Douglas Adams.

[Scottes]

OK why isn't this working? Anyone?

http://www.pbase.com/dewmuw/image/9035143
It wants ".coniston.jpg" at the end.
http://misheli.image.pbase.com/u19/dewmuw/large/9035143.coniston.jpg

Right-click on the image, choose Properties. You'll find the correct URL for just the image in that box.

[IndyJeff]

My all time favorite is a book from the 50's Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank. It is about nucular war and how a small group of people in rural Florida survive. I read it many years ago and the while at a library sale I found it and bought it. I have read it probably at least 20 times.

Also any John D. MacDonald books in his Travis McGee series. They all have a color in the name, i.e. The Dreadful Lemon Sky, The Empty Copper Sea, Free Fall in Crimson, The Green Ripper etc. I can't remember how many there are but I am thinking something in the neighborhood of 30, give or take a few.

Also a little more contemporary would be the Bob the Nailer series by Steven Hunter. Beginning with Dirty White Boys, Black Light, Time to Hunt, Hot Springs, and Pale Horse Coming. It is about a Viet Nam era sniper, his father, grandfather and are exciting as hell. Be sure to read them in order of publication as they are all tied together, in some small way.

[Canuck]

"Pillars of the Earth" -Ken Follett
It can be described as historical fiction, as in it coulda happened entirely but didn't. It takes place in the 1100s. This is a long book, the UK version I have is 1,076 pgs! I've been fascinated by mediaeval England for as long as I can remember, and having spent 3 years there I back it up to the beginnings in prehistoric times (Stonehenge and before) up thru Oliver Cromwell/Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot in the early 1600s. Although the Roman Britain times with the Iceni and Boudicca and then the Dark Ages followed by the Norman Conquest it is all interesting! This could be a discussion all of its own.

[stoneylonesome]

[b]Nothing Like It In The World : The Men Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad 1863-1869

Stephen E. Ambrose



Yup one of mine also, that and "A Pinprick of Light" the building of the Hoosic Railroad Tunnel. at the time it was the longest tunnel in the world at a length of 4 miles. Still in use today

[Digital Prophet]

All time favorite book: A Clockwork Orange - Anthony Burgess A truely interesting take on the maturation process of the adolescent male and freedom of choice. But the trick is (or rather was) to read the international printing of the book. Originally the book was published with three sections, each having seven chapters. Each section told a different stage of "Little Alex's" life story. But it is the 21st chapter that connects them all.

When Kubrick made the landmark (and somewhat disturbing) film on 1971 he made it primarily for an American audience. But the American printing of "A Clockwork Orange" only had 20 chapters. They had cut out the all inmportant 21st chapter just leaving a book that seemed to dwell in it's own depravity. And so the movie took the same tone.

Second favorite: The Fountainhead - Ayn Rand Not only the foundation for a system of belief called "Objectivism" this book really appealled to me in that it's hero, Howard Roark, wasn't a super-capable person. He was just focused, stubborn and egotistical. He seemed like a real person, someone who you could identify with. Only kind of one track minded and a little jerky. Not the classical "flawed" hero, but definately fractured. But also capable of so much that could be so great. It's kind of inspiring to see and believe that trough persistence even the average can achieve the amazing.

- Digital Prophet -

[gramps]

The Hungry Ocean by Linda Grenlaw. It's the sequel the The Perfect Storm. True story written by a woman who was considered to be one of the best commerical fisher"men"...............

[JAZZ D.P.G.]

First, over-all favorite is the Lord of the Rings Trilogy with the Hobbit. I've read these many times, and still see something new each time. Movies were close enough, but I prefer the books by far. J.R.R. Tolkien knew how to tell a bed time story!! For those that enjoyed these books but have not yet read the Silmarillion, it is worth the investment in time and money! Tolkiens' ages of the world is very entertaining.

Next would be "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand, the next in line from the Fountainhead, but much better descriptive work on the culture of Objectivism. (Kudos to Digital Prophet)

Everybody has there favorite "brain candy" author. Mine is Stephen King. His early work is better than some of the more recent stuff, but the Dark Tower Series hits both his highs and his lows.

edited note: Been reading some great science fiction / fantasy collections in the the Best Of year series. Entertaining.

I'm going to look for some of the titles here, seems like some good reading.

[Digital Prophet]

For "brain candy" I read Stephen King's favorite author: Clive Barker.

From "The Great and Secret Show" all the way to "Abarat" I love his books. Particularly "The Thief of Always" and Abarat (I have autographed copies) are my favoritess because they are almost childrens stories. Really twisted children's stories. But more so because they are illustrated with Barker's own art work (not many people know that he is a painter also). In fact Disney is making a deal with Barker (the same guy that created the characters for the McFarlane Toys Tormented Souls (Hellraiser) line of toys) to make a movie of the Abarat series. I for one can't wait.

But what really hooks me about Barker is that his writing all hinges on one universal aspect: desire. From The Books of Blood to Weaveworld to Imagica all of his characters (main and secondary) are interesting and apealling because they are driven by desire.

I once saw an interview were he said some along the lines of "I don't write books about the monster under the bed. I write books about why we have to look under the bed". And he does it so very well.

- Digital Prophet -

[Curos]

Although my opinion on this isnt worth much, as I'm 15 and naturally, I dont read a whole lot, here we go.

My favorite book: Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk

I wanted to find a book that the movie was made from, being my favorite movie, and lo and behold, it held the same title. First the movie depressed and scared me, then the book changed my life. Honestly, it changed how I think, how my mind works, and many of my beliefs. It completely changed my views on Christianity, whether it was meant to or not. Once a devout, Bible reading good kid, now I hardly know if I believe in a God. I think if a book can do that to me, its done its job. *insert random BS on how I want my pictures to have that effect on people* I've also read Choke, Lullaby, Survivor, and I am reading Invisible Monsters right now. I definately recommend Fight Club to you all, if you really want to think :)

[cricket]

1. Illusions by Richard Bach.
2. Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon.
3. The Once and Future King by T.H. White.

[Jon]

Swallows and Amazons was inspired by Lake Conistion and this island was mentioned in the book and used in the film! I go there quite a lot.



OK why isn't this working? Anyone?

http://www.pbase.com/dewmuw/image/9035143 Peel Island, right? I hit Lakeland Cam (http://www.lakelandcam.co.uk/) daily to see what's been happening there.

[dewmuw]

Peel Island, right? I hit Lakeland Cam (http://www.lakelandcam.co.uk/) daily to see what's been happening there.
Tony must do more for tourism in the Lakes than anyone else! I'm still trying to get myself into one of his shots! :)

[Scottes]

My Amazon WishList is full and my pocket is empty.

Puh-leeze STOP.... This is worse than L envy.

:-)

[Jon]

My Amazon WishList is full and my pocket is empty.

Puh-leeze STOP.... This is worse than L envy.

:-)
Nonsense - nothing that's showed up here yet is anywhere near as expensive as even a cheap L! In fact you could probably get 3-4 peoples' lists and have enough L headroom to get a carbon-fiber Manfrotto.

[Scottes]

You don't understand how much I like books. I want every single one listed. That's easily the price of a 17-40, but I dare not total it.

[Jon]

Hah! If you really liked books, the list would be short - because you'd already own most of them!

[Scottes]

Hah! There are far more good books than I can learn about. I own about 3,000 books give or take, and at this point it's easy to find something to read or re-read. So when I hear about recommendations I simply drool...

But I do own about 1/3 the ones listed, and have read about 1/2 I think, so it's not so bad. But in ways it's worse than L envy because each book is only a few dollars. So I could buy a few a week, since they're cheap.

And at the end of the year I'll have spent enough to buy L....

[stoneylonesome]

Hah! There are far more good books than I can learn about. I own about 3,000 books give or take, and at this point it's easy to find something to read or re-read. So when I hear about recommendations I simply drool...

But I do own about 1/3 the ones listed, and have read about 1/2 I think, so it's not so bad. But in ways it's worse than L envy because each book is only a few dollars. So I could buy a few a week, since they're cheap.

And at the end of the year I'll have spent enough to buy L....

Yup been there done that, and then when you add in all the Magazines (which IMHO) are way overpriced, that you buy in a years time you've got a couple of L lenses, why do I torture myself so? :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[dewmuw]

Hah! There are far more good books than I can learn about. I own about 3,000 books give or take, and at this point it's easy to find something to read or re-read. So when I hear about recommendations I simply drool...

But I do own about 1/3 the ones listed, and have read about 1/2 I think, so it's not so bad. But in ways it's worse than L envy because each book is only a few dollars. So I could buy a few a week, since they're cheap.

And at the end of the year I'll have spent enough to buy L....
Sell those 3,000 books (OK keep your favourites) and buy and L.

Please send the usual 10% fee for good ideas to my paypal account.

Seriously, I was clearing out some books the other day and decided to see if they would sell on amazon - three went the same day!

[Jon]

Sell a book?! Sacrilege!!!!! Your PayPal account is being debited for that outrageous suggestion.

[dewmuw]

Sell a book?! Sacrilege!!!!! Your PayPal account is being debited for that outrageous suggestion.
Again! :(

OK I should admit that they were my wife's! :)

OK another one for the list - The Heart of Darkness.

[Scottes]

Well, I won't sell a book if I can help it. I'll try to give it away to someone who will read it, or else donate.

Last time we moved I forced myself - with the help of the wife - to "throw out" some books. I did manage to find new owners for 54 computer books - a good $2000 worth mind you - and managed 3 boxes of other books that went to a few different places. (The folks at the local VA hospital were absolutely ecstatic, and I mean like happy to a point of sheer bliss. It was weird, really.)

That still left over 40 boxes of books.

Sell those 3,000 books (OK keep your favourites) and buy and L.
I did keep my favorites. That's why I'm down to 3,000!


However, I have to admit that I have shredded books in the past. There have been books that I've been forced to read - like when stuck on a plane for 7 hours - which I've torn into tiny pieces in order to save another from the misery of reading it.

[Scottes]

OK, though, back to books. Anyone ever read any of James Clavell's stuff? I love Tai Pan and find either Shogun or Noble House to be great rainy weekend books. They may be soap operas but they sure are entertaining.

[thomascanty]

My Amazon WishList is full and my pocket is empty.

Puh-leeze STOP.... This is worse than L envy.

Here, put one more on your wish list: No Picnic on Mt. Kenya by Felice Benuzzi. CDS recommended it to me a while ago and I'm almost finished reading it now. It took me a while to track down a copy of it because it's been out of print for a while. (So I guess it wouldn't do any good to put it on your Amazon wish list... Go to abebooks.com instead.)

Like CDS said, the writing style isn't the best. Actually, I think it might be more the translation that the author's style. He's Italian, and I doubt he wrote the book in English. Anyway, style aside, it's still pretty interesting, and I'll add it to my list of favorites.

[Scottes]

Hmmm... If I sell the 17-40 and the CPL then maybe....

[BearSummer]

Fave book, hmmm thats a hard one, so i will do what other people have done before me.. lol

Novels
The Healer - F Paul Wilson
Snow crash - Neil Stephenson

Short stories
Flowers for Algernon - Daniel Keyes
Casey Agonisties - Richard McCenna http://www.scifi.com/scifiction/classics/classics_archive/mckenna/mckenna1.html

There you go, a link to an online version of the story, now you dont even have to buy the book :)

All the best

BearSummer

[dewmuw]

OK - I really do have to recommend AGAIN - North to the Night. After putting up my list I started reading it again last night and it is just excellent.


Also, Memoirs of a Primate by Robert Sapolsky.

[kevinma]

I too love books but don't think I've got 3,000! But I'm getting there... Hard to pick a favorite, but a great book I received as a Christmas present was "The Good Earth" by Pearl Buck. A wonderful story about simple people, simple lives and commun human failings and problems.
Kevin.

[Scottes]

..."The Good Earth" by Pearl Buck. A wonderful story about simple people, simple lives and commun human failings and problems.

Wow, it's been a long time! That was a wonderful read.

[iowahawkeye6]

Classic - Tom Sawyer /Mark Twain
Current - Ghost Rider/Neal Peart An awesome read

[Cash--]

Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series.......

I was never really into fantasy novels, but those are Fantastic.

[rick barclay]

Non-fiction would have to be The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward
Gibbon, simply an amazing work.

Fiction I have to list authors, not titles--Ann Rice, Leon Uris, Gary Jennings, Larry Mc Murtry, James Clavell, Jean Auel, Michener... There's just too many to name one.

[blinking8s]

Rainbow Six - Tom Clancy