Books everyone should read

[country_boy]

I've just got back into reading, can anyone recommend a book you think everyone should read before they die?
Would post in Literature but it's as quiet as a library in there!

[Shadow Man]

"Fluke" by James Herbert

"Wilt" by Tom Sharpe

"From Russia With Love" Ian Fleming

""Beautiful Losers" Leonard Cohen

[neo.]

Accounting 2 by Frank Wood.....a right riveting read

[helliebobs]

Hello neo :)
country_boy I would suggest

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks
1984 by George Orwell
American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis

Where's robbo82 when you need him? :)

[neo.]

hes probably busy reading a book

[whiffey]

Please try to read A Tale of Two Cities (Charles Dickens). It is the finest love story ever written, wherein a man lays down his life by taking the place of the husband of the girl he loves

[cazzz1975]

heat
closer
reveal

a good read :D

[nuoyg]

I agree re: Of Mice and Men.

I would also recommend The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salenger.

[country_boy]

Read Fluke and Wilt, ta Wardy I'll add the other 2 to the list.
Ah Frank Wood, BTEC Business and Finance 1991!
Thanks folks, keep em coming.
Hellie - didn't realise American Psycho book even existed, I always prefer book before film (usually disappointing) - how does the film compare to the book? I think the film is pretty good.

[bensmum]

"A Prayer for Owen Meaney" John Irving
"Life in a time of Cholera" Gabriel Garcia Marquez
"Lord of the Rings" JRR Tolkien
"The Rainbow"/"Women in Love" DH Lawrence

and anything by Margaret Attwood!

[babycakes200]

basically anything by james patterson...trust me u wont be dissapointed.

[webbo3]

a walk in the woods and down under by Bill Bryson.
both very funny.

Dave.

[helliebobs]

I think I'm alone in my opinion on this country_boy but I thought the film was *****. The book is awesome if you don't mind graphic depictions of brutal violent killings and sexual encounters. The film missed huge chunks out - not just the violent scenes but intrinsic parts of the story.

[country_boy]

Hellie - did you read the book before you saw the film? I'll definitely make an exception to not bothering with the book if I've already seen the film with that one! I loved the random-ness and vanity!
My father always said how good James Bond books were compared to the films as you know what he's thinking and feeling, which doesn't come across so well in the films.
Dave - I've read Notes from a Small Island, are they of a similar vein?

[helliebobs]

Yes I read the book a couple of years after it came out, you should definitely read it if you liked the randomness of the film - there are whole chapters randomly dedicated to particular albums of the 80s and huge long sections about Bateman's skincare routine - you'll love it, it intersperses nicely with the horrific killings :)

[shk]

Agree with 1984 by george orwell, try "keep the aspidistra flying" by the same author

[Goodsoulette]

Countryboy, american psycho is an ace book. Much much worse than the film

I agree with a tale of two cities, Im a big Dickens fan anyways.

Too kill a mocking bird - Harper Lee
Lord of the Flies - WIlliam Golding
The Catcher in The Rye - J.D. Salinger
A KEstrel for a Knave - Barry Hines

I would recommend prisoner of azkban n its own so by rights you gotta read the whole Potter series.

Anyways Pam Ayres for country boys. I reckons.

[ermintrude35]

..To kill a mocking bird - harper lee ( my fave book of ALL time)

the mayor of Casterbridge- Thomas Hardy

the stand - stephen king ( dont be put off when you see the size of it!)

Lord of the flies - William golding


...and last but no means least ...

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams

[helliebobs]

I'm dying to tell him bits of it Goodsy but don't want to spoil it for him :)

[country_boy]

Pam Ayres GS?!
Excellent - the Genesis etc and skincare routines etc were fantastic in the film, def gonna read that next. Oh and the business cards!