ScottyRo

While were discussing everything else, how about your favorite reads.

Mine was Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. I had been reading Star Wars, Star trek and a few other sci-fi books for years before I read this. It totally blew me away. Hands down better than any other scifi book I have ever read.

The characters were extremely well developed while the action was fast paced. The plot was complicated to a degree, but not overly so.

themightyduck

Ender\'s Game was a good book, but my favorite now is The Da Vinci Code. That book kicks TEN different kinds of butt.

whowatches

Great topic.

I love both of your picks. The entire Ender series is incredible. I hear Card\'s got another in the works focusing on Bean\'s kid and the second Peter. Scotty, if you haven\'t read the whole series, I strongly recommend it.

Loved the DaVinci Code. If you\'re interested in the history behind Brown\'s work, you should read Holy Blood, Holy Grail. The book offers a unique look into the \"history\" of the grail and an alternative Christianity. Pretty dense, historical info, but very interesting.

My favorite book ever? Very difficult question. I recently read East of Eden and immediately wanted to read it again. Incredible, epic, moving story. I also enjoyed Life of Pi last month. Right now, I\'m re-reading The Wicked Day by Mary Stewart. It\'s the final book in her re-telling of the Arthurian Legend. It interprets the tale from the point of view of Mordred. Great book. Wonderful series. I strongly suggest it if you\'re at all interested in Arthurian lore. The books are extremely accessible, too.

Another book I would suggest is Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. Another book that I wanted to re-read as soon as I reached the end. It\'s set in medieval England and follows the stories of many different families whose lives intertwine.

whowatches

Oh, I didn\'t see the word author in the topic.

Right now, I would have to say Steinbeck, simply because I enjoyed East of Eden so much, and I also enjoy teaching Of Mice and Men. My kids thoroughly enjoy it. Grapes of Wrath is also one of my favorite reads.

As a good Southerner, I would be remiss if I didn\'t include Faulkner in my list. No other author confuses and excites me like he does. I\'ve read Sound and the Fury three times, and I still don\'t completely get it. A Light in August is one of the best books I\'ve ever read.

I don\'t know if any of you read comic books, but I also have to add Alan Moore to my list. He\'s one of the best writers of any genre that I\'ve ever read. If you have never read Watchmen, do yourself a favor. Your local library has a copy. You\'ll thank me; I promise.

I could go on. Gotta stop and go move some furniture.

JKool

Ok, obviously it would be too hard to pick a single favorite author or book.

I did enjoy East of Eden, just for the record.

Since you guys seem to be Si Fi fans, how about Dune by Frank Herbert? That would be on my top twenty books (probably top 10).

I\'d like to read Ender\'s Game - it comes highly recommended. Perhaps if I get some time this summer, I\'ll check it out.

kenpersons

East of Eden is one of the best books of all time, truly. I also loved \"The Winter of Our Discontent\" by Steinbeck.

My favorite author is Tennessee Williams, but not for his plays. The two books I most frequently read (regardless of author) are his collected short stories and poems, respectively.

My favorite poet is Pablo Neruda. If you teach English, consider his Ode to Wine.

The two books that most influenced me growing up were The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger and The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand.

The most important book for any heterosexual man (and truly, and woman) to read is \"The Clitoral Truth: The Secret World at Your Fingertips\" by Alice Chalker. Any woman you\'re with after you\'ve read that book will thank you, if they don\'t take the book for themselves, which is what happened to me (on both counts).

Carl Jung\'s autobiography \"Memories, Dreams and Reflections\" is a brilliant insight into being human.

Joseph Campbell\'s \"The Power of Myth\" is an iceberg tip of the same nature.

And lastly, Margaret Atwood. I have a weakness for the dual/multiple timelines in her novels.

So many more, but I need another beer.

It\'s not a question of whether or not the Saints will win the Super Bowl this year. It\'s a question of which Saint will be the MVP of the game.

What do you mean I\'m not supposed to snort the granola?

kenpersons

Another author for the \"good southerner\"- Flannery O\'Connor. She was ahead of her time in terms exploring the darkness of human nature and irony.

[Edited on 21/7/2004 by kenpersons]

turbo_dog

I loved Da Vinci code. I think I liked Dan Brown\'s other book better, Angels and Demons.

I recently read Watership Down by Richard Adams and really enjoyed it. Lots of symbolism wrapped in an entertaining story.

This is about the 3rd time this week that someone has mentioned Enders Game to me. Think its a sign?

canucksaint

I like most of Steinbecks other works, but I haven\'t had time to pick up East of Eden. Probably the fact that it\'s on the Oprah Book Club List keeps me away.
Nothing like a bit of Jack Kerouac or Hunter S. Thompson to enjoy on the dock.

kenpersons

Kerouac and Thompson rock the socks. I loved \"Subterraneans\" and \"The Rum Diary\" respectively, and highly recommend them.