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one work of fiction EVERYONE should read?

Karbon said:
For me it's a practical thing. It's not that i don't look down on it. I can enjoy literature for art's sake that's not a problem. I just hate putting time into books that are essentially time vampires.
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This. The only fiction I've really read was in college and it's because my literature classes required it. I'm more of a non-fiction reader when I'm doing much reading anyway.

I didn't even read 1984 until I was in college. :laughing Oh and Bassem, I had to read War and Peace for one of my literature courses. It was a bitch.
 
I love fiction. A well-crafted story can change your whole outlook. My college experience was the opposite, where all but one class were based on nonfiction. The literature class was by far my favorite.
 
I suppose it depends on your degree path. I had to take two literature classes and I wouldn't say they were both bad, just not what I'd take if I had the choice.
 
"The Conquest of New Spain" by Bernal Diaz is a great account of Hernando Cortez' conquering of Mexico, population 25-25 million people, with 600 soldiers.
"A Bend in the River" by V. S. Naipaul This book has one of the best opening sentences I've ever read. From my memory "The world is what it is, men who are nothing and allow themselves to become nothing, have no place in it.".
"The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson is a good read. He's a master of narrative nonfiction.
 
There is no one book, but "All Soul's Rising" by Madison Smartt Bell is masterful.
 
House of Leaves by Mark Danielewski

It is the only work of fiction that inspired me to write a work of fiction.

His sister put out an album that is kinda the soundtrack to the book. I recommend that as well.
 
Karbon said:
For me it's a practical thing. It's not that i don't look down on it. I can enjoy literature for art's sake that's not a problem. I just hate putting time into books that are essentially time vampires.
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Says the guy with over 17,500 posts...:laughing
 
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kevin 714 said:
No iliad or odyssey?
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I prefer my works of fiction to be easier to digest; less of a grind and a chore to read. I don't need them to be prophetic, cathartic, spiritual, or inspiring. When I read fiction, it's for entertainment.

but if they are enjoyable to you: go fer it! :thumbup

that said: lord of the rings would top the charts, personally
 
kevin 714 said:
theres a lot more to learning, than just factoids
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Title of thread:

"one work of fiction EVERYONE should read."

If you meant:

"one work of fiction that EVERYONE should read but only if kevin 714 approves of it"

Please post as such, or have the mods edit your thread title.

:thumbup
 
Marlowe said:
Title of thread:

"one work of fiction EVERYONE should read."

If you meant:

"one work of fiction that EVERYONE should read but only if kevin 714 approves of it"

Please post as such, or have the mods edit your thread title.

:thumbup
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where I have I ever judges what someone posted? (shouldnt be to hard for you to search-fu ,theres only a couple posts posts)

all I said was I thought the idea was more than entertainemt. I never disapporved of anything. the closest I ever came was expressig surprise at rand being posted (and Ive read mjuch of her work)
 
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Uhh, disapproving of posts and claiming that wasn't your original (sadly uncommunicated) intent? Is exactly that.

:teeth
 
Marlowe said:
Uhh, disapproving of posts and claiming that wasn't your original (sadly uncommunicated) intent? Is exactly that.

:teeth
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who's recomendation did I disapprove of?

name the book recomendend, and where I said that was dumb
 
Karbon said:
For me it's a practical thing. It's not that i don't look down on it. I can enjoy literature for art's sake that's not a problem. I just hate putting time into books that are essentially time vampires.
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Man what a horrible way to view novels. I'm glad I dont think that way.
 
elbacalao said:
Man what a horrible way to view novels. I'm glad I dont think that way.
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I love me some non fiction. truth is my shelf is full of probably 2/3 non fiction, but I have to agree with you here.

I rarely read fiction (tho my guilty pleasure is comics lol)


but I see a book like sidhartha and think I may have learned more form that short novel than the vast majority of non fiction books on my shelf.

the works of shakespeare are another. conrad's heart of darkness as well. gotta agree with 1984 and brave new world, tho I thinmk animal farm is more powerful.


my peronsal opinion is Camus' "the fall" should be required reading for every adult
 
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