What should I read now?

Question

I recently enjoyed:
His Dark Materials
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time
Machiavelli: A Man Misunderstood
A collection of Voltaire (though I'm not really sure I'm getting under the skin of it)
The Picture of Dorian Gray (and would have enjoyed it more if it wasn't so dark - I'm in a lighten-me-up mood)
Eats, Shoots and Leaves

I read the Harry Potters the way some people take cigarette breaks in the rain

Currently on Chronicles v1 (Bob Dylan)

I drifted off Zen Guitar and found Natural Capitalism was far too much like work.

oh yeah and Zadie Smith - White Teeth and On Beauty - lovely

I love asking questions like this - every answer has thought behind it. THANKS EVERYONE. But I haven't read that stack yet so to the vote it goes...

Answer 1

What about the Thomas Harris books, Hannibal etc
Or any books by Hunter, S. Thompson

Answer 2

Try Charlaine Harris, she writes very entertaining supernatural books. I can also recommend Garth Nix "Abhorsen" series, Michelle Paver's Wolf Brother (Chronicles of Ancient Darkness) and any of the Terry Pratchett Discworld series (I read *them* like cigarette breaks in the rain). John Connolly's "The Book of Lost Things" was also quite nifty as is "Sophie's World" by Jostein Gaarder. Excellent book if you're into philosophy. All the above are a bit quirky, often thought provoking but mostly just very funny.

Happy reading.

Answer 3

Definitely try Jasper Fforde Eyre Affair. Douglas Coupland Girlfriend in a Coma. Terry Pratchett Carpe Jugulum although if you've not read any of his start with Colour of Magic. Vernon God Little by DBC something!! Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer. Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
Hope these help and enjoy

Answer 4

The Third Policeman - Flann O'Brien. Surreal and hilarious
Arthur and George - Julian Barnes.
Money - Martin Amis
The Cold Six Thousand - James Ellroy
The Satanic Verses - Salman Rushdie
We Can Remember it for You Wholesale - Philip K. Dick (collected short stories)
Porno - Irvine Welsh

Actually those are all quite dark! But well worth the read

Answer 5

Paradise Lost by Milton
A Dog's Life by Peter Mayle
Marley and Me
Christy by Catherine Marshall
All The way Home by Ann Tatlock
Uncle Tom's Cabin
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
In HIs Steps

Answer 6

I recommend something really interesting:
Elizabeth Hyde -- Abortionist's Daughter
Jeff Abbott -- Panic

If you like something on a lighter tone: Go for The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James

If you like hardcore stuff then read Painted Bird by Jeez Kosinski, this book will definitely leave you shocked for a long time.

I am into ethnicity and can recommend a few titles worth reading:
Toni Morrison "the beloved" or "Sula"

Answer 7

Ursula Under (sorry can't remember the author) but it's very good and quite thought provoking. Also Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell - you need to stick with it, but it's worth it. Two very challenging modern novels. Don't dismiss authors like Ruth Rendell (also writing as Barbara Vine) just because she's popular; they can be very dark - but I don't think she's ever written a bad book. and try some Harlen Coben for 'light' relief. His are unputdownable, but undoubtedly easier reading than some on your list.

Answer 8

Try the other wizard called Harry (surname Dresden). They're by Jim Butcher and the first one is Storm Front.
I'm currently reading Catch 22. It's quite funny in places although it's less a story, more a series of mad rants.

Answer 9

The Time-Master trilogy By Louise Cooper.(review from Amazon)The books are 'The Initiate',The Outcast and The Master.It tells the story of Tarod a fascinating anti-hero, evolving throughout the series from a loyal disciple of Order to the God of Chaos that is his true heritage, with the repeated examination of his humanity thrown into the mix.

Bellarion the Fortunate by Rafael Sabatini.Brilliant swordfights,marvelous schemes and beautiful damsels abound in this fascinating tale of a condottiere or mercenary in 15th century Italy.As the story unfolds Bellarion a convent bred orphan youth is on the way to Padua for higher studies. He gets entangled in the affairs of Princess Valeria of Montferrat.And immediately takes up her cause.He acquits himself marvelously in the court intrigues at Montferrat.However the situation proved too hot and he escapes to Milan.In Milan he passes himself off as the son of Facino Cane,the great mercenary captain to escape the clutches of Gian Maria Visconti the bloodthirsty Duke of Milan.The real Facino Cane was amused at Bellarion’s deviousness and adopts him as his son.Under Facino Cane’s tutelage Bellarion emerges as one of the greatest mercenary captains of that age.

Count of Montecristo by Alexander Dumas.The hero is Edmond Dantés, a young French sailor who, falsely accused of treason, is arrested on his wedding day and imprisoned in the island fortress of Château d'If. After staging a dramatic escape he sets out to discover the fabulous treasure of Monte Cristo and catch up with his enemies. A novel of enormous tension and excitement, Monte Cristo is also a tale of obsession and revenge, with Dantés, believing himself to be an `Angel of Providence', pursuing his vengeance to the bitter end before realizing that he himself is a victim of fate.The author did a great job describing the emotions of the prisoner.Disbelief,denial,self pity,madness,apathy and finally hope.For God's sake don't see any of the movies based on the book.They don't do justice to the book.

Answer 10

I highly suggest anything and everything by Kurt Vonnegut and Chuck Palahniuk. Two of the most innovative and creative writers I've ever heard of. Their books are works of art.