Can you recommend a good book for me to read?

Question

I like reading John Grisham
I like the dark and graphic stuff of Poppy Z Brite
and also the unusual contemporary writings of Toby Litt
and some others which I can't think of at the moment...

I don't like to read books which have been made into movies and all that...

I'm willing to try something new if you recommend a good book to me, thanks!

Answer 1

In rejecting books that have been made into movies, you are missing out on some seriously great literature. If you like Poppy Z, I would suggest looking at some of Laurell K. Hamilton's works, although I preempt that with a warning, there is quite a bit of graphic "activity" in that series. Guilty Pleasures is the first in that series, I believe. Also it sounds to me like you might enjoy On the Road by Jack Kerouac (I'm drawing on your Toby Litt like here), or William Bernhardt or Jefferey Deaver for a more John Grisham-esque flavor.

Answer 2

Hmmm, a good combination of John Grisham, Poppy Z Brite, and Toby Litt attributes... that's a tough one... Wait, I think I got it:

Midnight's Children
or
The Satanic Verses
or
The Moor's Last Sigh

(all) by Salman Rushdie

Rushdie goes into the twisted tangents like Brite, but retains the elaborate characterization of Toby Litt. I guess you could say he's detail oriented like John Grisham, but I've only read one of his books.

Answer 3

The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly - read it it's absolutely brilliant!

They're called Lincoln Lawyers: the bottom of the legal food chain, the criminal defence attorneys who operate out of the back of a Lincoln Town Car, taking whatever cases the system throws in their path. Mickey Haller has been in the business a long time, and he knows just how to work it. When a Beverly Hills rich boy is arrested for brutally beating a woman, Haller has his first high-paying client in years. The evidence mounts on the defence's side, and Haller might even be in the rare position of defending a client who is actually innocent. But when his case starts to fall apart and neither the suspect nor the victim are quite who they seem, Haller quickly discovers that when you swim with the sharks, it's easy to wind up as prey.

Answer 4

Different, dark, but not so dark. I read this last summer and liked it more than I thought I would. Not like Hannibal which I didn't like.

Darkley Dreaming Dexter. About a cop - (who's a blood splatter specialist) that also is a serial killer sometimes? Or is he?

I saw something on TV about a new show coming this fall out called Dexter something. I think that's based on this book. Read it first before you know too much about it.

http://www.powells.com/biblio?show=MASS%20MARKET:NEW:1400095913:7.99&page=excerpt

By the way, I added this list to my watch because of all the other good selections / suggestions.

Answer 5

I read an interesting book. It is "Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom" by Cory Doctorow. I am reading another of his books, "Eastern Standard Tribe" and it is very interesting.
I have also read a trilogy of books about a samurai/ronin by Dale Furutani that was a very good series to read. Also, if you want some sort of crazy stuff to read but very entertaining is anything by Spider Robinson, especially his Calahan series. Definetely read "Calahan's Crosstime Saloon." It is a funny, poignant book that is an easy read.

Answer 6

The Poisonwood Bible
Barbara Kingsolver
Stunning

Answer 7

You have to get hold of a copy of 'All Things Are Illuminated' by Jonathan Safran Foe. Quite brilliant. Read any Roddy Doyle? 'A Star Called Henry' is exceptional, but pick up any of his stuff and you'll be challenged and entertained.
Anything by Ford Maddox Ford.
'Pinball', by Jerzy Kosinski, the story of the world's biggest rock star who has managed to keep his identity secret. Same bloke who wrote 'Being There'. genius.
If you haven't read them, obviously 'To Kill A Mockingbird' by Harper Lee (?) and everything by John Steinbeck.
Everything by John Irvine. Start with 'The World According to Garp.'

And so on.

But, if you read no other, read 'Scannan' by Keith Hunter and Ian Reynolds. It's the dog's danglies, and it was me wot wrote it.

Love and all
x

Answer 8

oh my God, i love john grisham's books they are the best!!!!! I especially like that book called "the firm" was amazing. try reading some of these books: les miesrables, the natural, farenheit 451, the scarlet letter, or bee season, this ones is a god one, just type in the title into yahoo search and you'll find all the info. Have fun reading!!!

Answer 9

i recently read -the child called it
and it was really sad as it is based on the author's childhood Dave Pelzer

also read the curious incident of the dog in the night time by mark haddon,
it is about an autistic boy and how he perceives the world, i read it in a few hours so its not very long it is just interesting to see how they perceive the world... its classed as a children's book but i'm not sure many children would like it!

Answer 10

Lola Rose by Jacquline Wilson