Indulge me with book recommendations.

[May Kasahara]

For a hilarious memoir, try Confessions of a Failed Southern Lady by Florence King - I've owned and lost at least three copies of this wonderful book which tells the story of Ms King's upbringing in the South amid an oddball family, her sexual adventures and general life stuff. There is both gayness and drunkenness too

 

[sojourner]

For a hilarious memoir, try Confessions of a Failed Southern Lady by Florence King - I've owned and lost at least three copies of this wonderful book which tells the story of Ms King's upbringing in the South amid an oddball family, her sexual adventures and general life stuff. There is both gayness and drunkenness too

I just bought that

 

[Brainaddict]

I just read Gentlemen of the Road by Michael Chabon. It's pretty light fare compared to some of his previous books but all the better for it in my opinion - a most entertaining read.

 

[perplexis]

Rupert Thomson is wonderful and weird, in an 'am I dreaming?' kind of way - The Insult, The Book of Revelation and Death of a Murderer are all aces.

Yeah- he's good and trippy!

This thread has reminded of a book called "Pandora's Handbag" by the late Elizabeth Young, which is a collection of her essays/reviews/writings. It's certainly the only lit crit work I've ever bothered to read, but it's splendid and was an introduction to loads of fabulous fiction for me (e.g. T. Coraghessan Boyle, Flannery O'Connor...), I'd highly recommend it to anyone as a great book in itself, and as a springboard to more

 

[Pieface]

Tom Drury- The Driftless Area
It's a totally engrossing piece of midwest noir. It reads like a Cohen Bros. story with a bit of David Lynch thrown in for good measure. The only problem with it is that you'll want to read it in one go. It's really really good. It was recommended to me by the boss of the bookshop I used to work in as "The best book I read in 2007", and he has taste.
On the basis of the authors and styles you cite above (I've liked all those whom I've read) you'd probably enjoy it.

that sounds fantastic - I love that sort of thing - have you read Geek Love??

 

[Pieface]

I just read Gentlemen of the Road by Michael Chabon. It's pretty light fare compared to some of his previous books but all the better for it in my opinion - a most entertaining read.

Dub's got that - I just finished the Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay. It was wonderful but I think Dub was so smitten he resents the fact he doesn't actually exist within its pages.

Drunk AND gay? Hmmm!!

Um, can't do the drunk, but would recommend Stone Butch Blues by Leslie Feinberg for the gay, together with Just Take Your Frock Off by Barbara Bell. The former is a gay/trans classic, and I think EVERYONE should read it. The latter is a bit of a frivolous (and true) romp from a Northern lass during the war

If you fancy a bit of sheer deviant filth, try Rode Hard, Put Away Wet, a collection of lesbian erotica put together by Sacchi Green and Rakelle Valencia

Heh. I knew you would sort me out

 

[perplexis]

that sounds fantastic - I love that sort of thing - have you read Geek Love??

No, but I bought it for my mum as a birthday present when I was about 12. I wonder if she's still got it...? I don't think she ever read it. I should fetch it up next time I go to hers.

 

[Pieface]

http://www.urban75.net/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=6931161&postcount=7442

Just finished it - was wonderful

 

[El Jefe]

I just read Gentlemen of the Road by Michael Chabon. It's pretty light fare compared to some of his previous books but all the better for it in my opinion - a most entertaining read.

I didn't finish it. I'm a massive Chabon fan, but I found G O T R a bit dull, which doesn't help when you're writing a book like that

 

[nosos]

Dan Simmons:

Hyperion
The Fall of Hyperion
Endymion
The Rise of Endymion.

In that order. They are epic.

Seconded.

I never got the profundity of the Christ story until I read these books.

 

[tastebud]

Hullo PieEye

For gay, have you read Sarah Waters? Fingersmith is simply amazing! Beautifully written and so exciting... completely addictive.

The Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers is one of my favourite books ever.

And right now I'm, reading The Legend of the Holy Drinker by Joseph Roth - it's great. Brainaddict I'm going to place it in your hands when I next see you.

Oh and I agree with Rupert Thomson The Book of Revelation - that was SUCH a fun read.

 

[Pieface]

I'll read more Carson McCullers definitely - and had totally forgotten about Sarah Waters! Thanks everyone - got a lot to be going on with here

 

[Brainaddict]

For gay, have you read Sarah Waters? Fingersmith is simply amazing! Beautifully written and so exciting... completely addictive.

The Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers is one of my favourite books ever.

I have both of these out the library right now

 

[Barking_Mad]

Tolstoy - Resurrection.

Heartwarming descriptive brilliance from the bearded wonder. Check translation reviews to get the best copy.

 

[Cheesypoof]

if you are a beatnik fan, i highly recommend my favourite book of the past ten years, 'The Giro Playboy' by Michael Smith. The language is simple and hilariously funny, its just about an unemployed drifter wandering around.

Its much better than 'On the Road' by Jack Kerouac, or any writers from the original beatnik period, and i have read over 25 of the them. Micheals masterpiece was released last year, and hes writing another one at the moment.

check the reviews here

http://www.giroplayboy.co.uk/

 

[The Groke]

Dan Simmons:

Hyperion
The Fall of Hyperion
Endymion
The Rise of Endymion.

Meh, fairly average sci-fi fayre with a few nice ideas IMO


Compared to his peers, it is quite poorly written as well.


I have just ordered The Road and Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay on Urbanites recommendations.

 

[El Jefe]

I have just ordered The Road and Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay on Urbanites recommendations.

Probably my two favourite books of the last 5 years.

 

[sojourner]

For gay, have you read Sarah Waters? Fingersmith is simply amazing! Beautifully written and so exciting... completely addictive.

I'd just like to add my opinion of SW - I think she's utter fucking crap. Can't write for toffee, the stories are JUST about bearable. Turgid fucking shite. The only books I've ever given away, as it happens

Just for a bit of balance, like

 

[The Groke]

Probably my two favourite books of the last 5 years.

I am certainly looking forward to reading them, given how highly regarded they seem to be by more than a few posters here.



Of course, like anything else worthwhile, I couldn't find them on the shelves here in Dubai so I have had to get them in via Amazon, which could take anything up to 3 weeks...

 

[Pieface]

I'd just like to add my opinion of SW - I think she's utter fucking crap. Can't write for toffee, the stories are JUST about bearable. Turgid fucking shite. The only books I've ever given away, as it happens

Just for a bit of balance, like

ooh. I have to read it now - just to enter the fray.

 

[teecee]

(((Bee)))



Rupert Thomson is wonderful and weird, in an 'am I dreaming?' kind of way - The Insult, The Book of Revelation and Death of a Murderer are all aces.

I agree, he's been my best discovery of recent years but thought Divided Kingdom was far and away his best one so far

 

[May Kasahara]

I need to start again with that one really. I tried to read it last year during a very difficult time in my life, when my concentration was all fucked up, got about halfway through and then stopped (not because of the book, more just life stuff). So now I'm in that annoying position of not really wanting to start again because I've read half of it already, but knowing I haven't had the best out of it and that I should just go back to the beginning.

 

[sojourner]

ooh. I have to read it now - just to enter the fray.

Well, it's also good for insomnia, and wiping bottoms, and lighting fires - just in case you get a bit bored

 

[Brainaddict]

I just looked up Rupert Thomson - he looks very interesting. Why have I never heard of him?

 

[bluestreak]

I don't understand how I can be constantly reading good books and yet read threads like this that make me feel dull and poorly read.

 

[moonsi til]

I adore the author John Irving and suggest reading any of his books, though a fave of mine is 'A Prayer for Owen Meaney'.

 

[Orang Utan]

I just looked up Rupert Thomson - he looks very interesting. Why have I never heard of him?

Ahem, I have suggested we read him at BG TWICE. Your reaction both times was your trademarked contemptuous sneer. His books are all so different and often can't be summarised well enough to attract a cynic such as yourself :-P

 

[Brainaddict]

Ahem, I have suggested we read him at BG TWICE. Your reaction both times was your trademarked contemptuous sneer.

Oh but that was probly cos you suggested it OU

Anyway, I don't sneer, I simply express strong disapproval when the situation calls for it

 

[MightyAphrodite]

The Corrections...Jonathan Franzen

i thought it was gonna be silly, but ages ago orang utan told me it was amazing and he was right.

 

[El Jefe]

The Corrections...Jonathan Franzen

One of the best novels of the last decade, easy.