Comments on: Book Torture http://pancakesandfrenchfries.com/2009/08/book-torture/ Phenomenally Indecisive Since 1972 Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:48:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Rachel http://pancakesandfrenchfries.com/2009/08/book-torture/#comment-4478 Rachel Fri, 21 Aug 2009 22:56:04 +0000 http://pancakesandfrenchfries.com/?p=914#comment-4478 I, too, am a lurker, but I love your blog/s. And I just can't help but add my two cents. Here's the list of books I think everyone should read: The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien (A collection of connected short stories, they're heartbreakingly poignant and have stayed with me in the 10+ years since I first read it) The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon (Abso-lutely-freaking-fantastic work of Literature. Even if you think "Ew! Comic books!" I'd still recommend it) A Collection of Beauties at the Height of Their Popularity by Whitney Otto (I think Otto's an under appreciated (Interconnected stories about a group of women navigating through their youth in a melting pot society. At times, a bit fluffy in substance, but ripe with lyrical prose and art) Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri (Another collection of short stories. Written largely from the prospective of first generation Indian Americans and Indians that are breaking free from traditional cultural confines, I think the stories have something profound to say to anyone who has ever felt like a foreigner, regardless their geography). Cities of the Interior by Anias Nin (Haughty, but oh-so-satisfying high-brow erotica. It's actually a collection of 5 novellas) I, too, am a lurker, but I love your blog/s. And I just can’t help but add my two cents. Here’s the list of books I think everyone should read:

The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien (A collection of connected short stories, they’re heartbreakingly poignant and have stayed with me in the 10+ years since I first read it)

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon (Abso-lutely-freaking-fantastic work of Literature. Even if you think “Ew! Comic books!” I’d still recommend it)

A Collection of Beauties at the Height of Their Popularity by Whitney Otto (I think Otto’s an under appreciated (Interconnected stories about a group of women navigating through their youth in a melting pot society. At times, a bit fluffy in substance, but ripe with lyrical prose and art)

Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri (Another collection of short stories. Written largely from the prospective of first generation Indian Americans and Indians that are breaking free from traditional cultural confines, I think the stories have something profound to say to anyone who has ever felt like a foreigner, regardless their geography).

Cities of the Interior by Anias Nin (Haughty, but oh-so-satisfying high-brow erotica. It’s actually a collection of 5 novellas)

]]> By: Kim http://pancakesandfrenchfries.com/2009/08/book-torture/#comment-4438 Kim Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:42:53 +0000 http://pancakesandfrenchfries.com/?p=914#comment-4438 Hi - just a lurker here, but since I've read most of the books on your list, I figured we must have similar taste. Just wanted to recommend a few of my recent favs that I didn't see on your list. Rebecca by Daphne Du Marier, and The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. You also might like The Road by Cormac McCarthy and Atonement by Ian McEwan. Hi – just a lurker here, but since I’ve read most of the books on your list, I figured we must have similar taste. Just wanted to recommend a few of my recent favs that I didn’t see on your list. Rebecca by Daphne Du Marier, and The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. You also might like The Road by Cormac McCarthy and Atonement by Ian McEwan.

]]> By: Amy http://pancakesandfrenchfries.com/2009/08/book-torture/#comment-4437 Amy Wed, 19 Aug 2009 13:32:45 +0000 http://pancakesandfrenchfries.com/?p=914#comment-4437 Well, I did what I never thought I'd do - I made a list of what I'm PLANNING to read. Crazy-talk I tell ya. Thanks for inspiring me to actually read what's been lounging about on my bookshelves! Well, I did what I never thought I’d do – I made a list of what I’m PLANNING to read. Crazy-talk I tell ya. Thanks for inspiring me to actually read what’s been lounging about on my bookshelves!

]]> By: maguelonne http://pancakesandfrenchfries.com/2009/08/book-torture/#comment-4420 maguelonne Tue, 18 Aug 2009 07:28:10 +0000 http://pancakesandfrenchfries.com/?p=914#comment-4420 me again. if you want to add two really good and beatifully written french books to your reading list (i hope the translations are good): Hunting & Gathering by Anna Gavalda (they made a movie from the book with Audrey Tautou.pretty good but nowhere near the book) The house of Scorta by Laurent Gaude (i gave it as a present to 8 or 9 people so far.) me again. if you want to add two really good and beatifully written french books to your reading list (i hope the translations are good):
Hunting & Gathering by Anna Gavalda (they made a movie from the book with Audrey Tautou.pretty good but nowhere near the book)
The house of Scorta by Laurent Gaude (i gave it as a present to 8 or 9 people so far.)

]]> By: maguelonne http://pancakesandfrenchfries.com/2009/08/book-torture/#comment-4413 maguelonne Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:53:57 +0000 http://pancakesandfrenchfries.com/?p=914#comment-4413 I'm always looking for books to read so thanks for all these suggestions! i'm currently reading the English Patient and i absolutly love it. on the other end i'm about burn Whuthering Heights that i find extremally boring. xxx I’m always looking for books to read so thanks for all these suggestions!
i’m currently reading the English Patient and i absolutly love it.
on the other end i’m about burn Whuthering Heights that i find extremally boring.
xxx

]]> By: Jules http://pancakesandfrenchfries.com/2009/08/book-torture/#comment-4353 Jules Thu, 13 Aug 2009 15:01:54 +0000 http://pancakesandfrenchfries.com/?p=914#comment-4353 Annie--I am off to check out your books! Annie–I am off to check out your books!

]]> By: Annie http://pancakesandfrenchfries.com/2009/08/book-torture/#comment-4351 Annie Thu, 13 Aug 2009 14:07:25 +0000 http://pancakesandfrenchfries.com/?p=914#comment-4351 I realize this comment is a little overdue, but I had so much fun with this! Coming up with 15 books was mind-boggling... what to keep, what to leave off?? I kept going back to the books of my teenage years: The Diary of Anne Frank, The Great Gatsby, The Scarlet Letter... I forgot what good reading years those were! Now I'm planning a trip to the library to check out the books on others' lists. (Also, have you considered adding some of Flannery O'Connor's work to your list? I love her!) I realize this comment is a little overdue, but I had so much fun with this! Coming up with 15 books was mind-boggling… what to keep, what to leave off?? I kept going back to the books of my teenage years: The Diary of Anne Frank, The Great Gatsby, The Scarlet Letter… I forgot what good reading years those were! Now I’m planning a trip to the library to check out the books on others’ lists. (Also, have you considered adding some of Flannery O’Connor’s work to your list? I love her!)

]]> By: Hallie http://pancakesandfrenchfries.com/2009/08/book-torture/#comment-4337 Hallie Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:17:36 +0000 http://pancakesandfrenchfries.com/?p=914#comment-4337 I had one more book idea last night. This one isn't hard and chewy at all, but it's probably my favorite story of all time (and, therefore, strange that it didn't dawn on me to mention it until last night): The Little Prince. My dad read it to me when I was very young, and then I read it again when I was, like, 15 (but in French this time...yikes) and again when I finished high school, and then when I finished college, and then right before I got married. It's one book that has always stayed with me and has a really lovely message. I had one more book idea last night. This one isn’t hard and chewy at all, but it’s probably my favorite story of all time (and, therefore, strange that it didn’t dawn on me to mention it until last night): The Little Prince. My dad read it to me when I was very young, and then I read it again when I was, like, 15 (but in French this time…yikes) and again when I finished high school, and then when I finished college, and then right before I got married. It’s one book that has always stayed with me and has a really lovely message.

]]> By: Jessica http://pancakesandfrenchfries.com/2009/08/book-torture/#comment-4336 Jessica Wed, 12 Aug 2009 12:32:54 +0000 http://pancakesandfrenchfries.com/?p=914#comment-4336 Second The Secret History. I always forget about that one :-) Second The Secret History. I always forget about that one :-)

]]> By: Jacqueline http://pancakesandfrenchfries.com/2009/08/book-torture/#comment-4331 Jacqueline Tue, 11 Aug 2009 22:53:48 +0000 http://pancakesandfrenchfries.com/?p=914#comment-4331 Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, I could read it a million times. The Picture of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde, scared the crap out of me, but I loved it. Anything by Kurt Vonnegut but especially loved Breakfast of Champions and The Slaughterhouse Five. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, heard they are making this into a feature film. I hope they don't mess it up. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller, it will either drive you insane and you'll love it or it will drive you insane and you'll hate it. If you love books but get overwhelmed by indecision at the bookstore or library I would definitely suggest joining goodreads.com. You can track and rate all the books you have read, are reading, and want to read as well as check out other people's reviews and reading suggestions. I have found it to be very helpful in choosing new books to read and rediscovering books I enjoyed in the past. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, I could read it a million times. The Picture of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde, scared the crap out of me, but I loved it. Anything by Kurt Vonnegut but especially loved Breakfast of Champions and The Slaughterhouse Five. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, heard they are making this into a feature film. I hope they don’t mess it up. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller, it will either drive you insane and you’ll love it or it will drive you insane and you’ll hate it. If you love books but get overwhelmed by indecision at the bookstore or library I would definitely suggest joining goodreads.com. You can track and rate all the books you have read, are reading, and want to read as well as check out other people’s reviews and reading suggestions. I have found it to be very helpful in choosing new books to read and rediscovering books I enjoyed in the past.

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