Any Book Recommendations?

[onthepequod]

I tried posting this in the general discussion section and was advised this is a more appropriate place. My mistake. So here I am and here is my question regarding book recomendations.

Perhaps Novel would be a more appropriate term. Here is my dilema. I am currently approximately 60.5% of the way through The Brothers Karamotzov with a mere 350 pages left. I am trying to decide what to read next and thought I would poll all of you for your ideas.

However, there is some groundwork I need to lay.
1) While I immensely enjoy authors like Brooks and Jordan, I want to stay within the classics.
2) I am finishing Dostoyevski two books after some Tolstoy. Consequently I want to stay away from Russian authors for a while.
3) While I loved Mobey Dick, the rest of Melville's work is probably too esoteric for me.
4) Tolkien is incredible but I have read the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings trilogy numerous times and am looking for something different.
5) Beowulf is a great idea but I am sving this to read to my son in a few weeks.

Other than that, it is completely open. I am considering Dickens, Chaucer, Hugo, Virgil, and Hommer. I would be very interested to hear opions on these or any others you think would be beneficial. Also, please tell me what you like (and perhaps disliked) about your suggestions.

Thanks.

[Fljotsdale]

It's STILL Chaucer, lol! BTW, have you read Tolkien's version of Gawain and the Green Knight? V. good!

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Smile! Life is too short for bitching!

Fljotsdale

[catzenpewters]

Hmmm... I enjoyed Ivanhoe. Not too heavy, neat story, good reflection of the life and times in England. I understand Tom Jones to be an entertaining read as well. Personally I want to read the Three Musketeers and the Man in the Iron Mask next. My brother highly recommends Dickens.

[Ladyzekke]

Have you ever read any Terry Goodkind? Seems right along with your tastes from what I have read (if you like Jordan you should like Terry Goodkind basically).



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[RudeDawg]

Originally posted by onthepequod: I tried posting this in the general discussion section and was advised this is a more appropriate place. My mistake. *snip* Thanks.

No problem, but this is a good forum, and we would love to have more regular visitors!!!
<---- heh, he's reading, get it?

OK, RudeDawg recommends :
The Three Musketeers, The Man in the Iron mask,Twenty Years After, and The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

That should keep you busy....

Also, how about Kipling?

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The RudeDawg
Known in these Forgotten Realms as Perin LightEyes
and my girlfriends, Pamila and Pfil

[John D Harris]

Seawolf, Beoux Gest(sp?),Call of the wild

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"the memories of a man in his old age,
are deeds of a man in his prime"

[Keryvian]

Well, if you are willing to extend to the definition of "classics" to include modern classics, I highly recommend the Gormenghast novels by Mervyn Peake. Peake is an artist with words. I haven't read anything quite like his books. They are generally classed as fantasy, but a very unique fantasy - dark and bizarre and extraordinary. I can't do them justice in a description.

There are three novels in the set: "Titus Groan", "Gormenghast", and "Titus Alone". Sadly, Peake died before finishing a fourth novel, "Titus Awakes". I believe that the original versions are out of print, but there is a new, combined, version available.

Anyway, if you would like to try something unique, you should give these a look.

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Nid yw'r hoff o lyfr yn fyr o gyfaill.

[RudeDawg]

*bump* to meet the copy


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The RudeDawg
Known in these Forgotten Realms as Perin LightEyes
and my girlfriends, Pamila and Pfil

[Sir Taliesin]

Try the Aneid (that may be spelled wrong) by ? (Homer comes to mind, but he was Greek. This was written by a Roman. Anyway it's very good. You just have to get
used to the style of writing. Just like you have to with Shakespear and Chaucer.
It's about what happemed after the fall of Troy and how Rome came to be founded.

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Sir Taliesin

If they take my gun can I still use my Claymore?

[onthepequod]

All of you are giving me alot to think about.

But could you expand a little to let me know what you like and disliked about your recommendations.

To illustrate what I am hoping for: I loved Mobey Dick because of the way Melville masterfully worked three different messages seamlessly into one work (i.e. the story, the philosophical, and the theological). Further more, I found my vocabulary challenged at every turn forcing me to expand myself.

I am not looking for any explanation directly along these lines but what you were intrigued by, or gripped by, or entertained by, or put in awe of, etc...