[PhysicsAndCupcakes]

I read the perks of being a wallflower and absolutely loved it. Then read Catcher in the Rye and pretty much hated it

[Joist]

(Original post by Angury)
That's an interesting perspective. Have you read The Catcher in the Rye as well? Is it very similar to that? I've also read a couple of reviews that have been praising the book, so its' captured my interest.

Must confess that I haven't read Catcher in the Rye. Without wishing to sound too much of a pompous idiot, I think it depends on what you're used to as to how to receive Perks. Having spent 3 years of university reading, on the whole, excellent literature, Perks is brutally exposed as just...rubbish! It's a story, nothing more, and as I've said a heavily clichéd and flawed one at that.

Apologies to the above poster who loved it for my harsh words. I just expected so much better from a book compared to such an accepted classic as Catcher in the Rye.

[PhysicsAndCupcakes]

No apologies needed, each to their own I think the reason i liked perks is because i was able to identify with the character more whereas i felt the main character is Catcher in the rye was really annoying

[Angury]

(Original post by Joist)
Must confess that I haven't read Catcher in the Rye. Without wishing to sound too much of a pompous idiot, I think it depends on what you're used to as to how to receive Perks. Having spent 3 years of university reading, on the whole, excellent literature, Perks is brutally exposed as just...rubbish! It's a story, nothing more, and as I've said a heavily clichéd and flawed one at that.

Apologies to the above poster who loved it for my harsh words. I just expected so much better from a book compared to such an accepted classic as Catcher in the Rye.

To be honest I haven't read many classics, nor have I studied English Literature at A Level never mind at university. So I might be more easily pleased with the story, because I have less to compare it to. I managed to get the book for my kindle, so I'll start reading it within the next few days and post my views once I've finished.

Thanks for your opinion though, it's always nice to look at a book from different perspectives.

(Original post by PhysicsAndCupcakes)
No apologies needed, each to their own I think the reason i liked perks is because i was able to identify with the character more whereas i felt the main character is Catcher in the rye was really annoying

I felt the same way about the main character in Catcher in the Rye as well. It's the reason why I didn't enjoy the book - to me he was just constantly whining. Although I can see why others like the way the story is narrated by the main character and the way things are distorted by his perspective.

[jayjamine]

HEYYYYY!!!

I need a good book recommendation pleaseeee!

Sarted reading Jane Austen - Emma but it's just not doing it for me.

I like interesting language (Khaled Hosseini & Anthony Burgess)

Any ideas?

[Abiraleft]

(Original post by jayjamine)
HEYYYYY!!!

I need a good book recommendation pleaseeee!

Sarted reading Jane Austen - Emma but it's just not doing it for me.

I like interesting language (Khaled Hosseini & Anthony Burgess)

Any ideas?

Gunter Grass? James Joyce? Orhan Pamuk?

[Norfolkadam]

(Original post by jayjamine)
HEYYYYY!!!

I need a good book recommendation pleaseeee!

Sarted reading Jane Austen - Emma but it's just not doing it for me.

I like interesting language (Khaled Hosseini & Anthony Burgess)

Any ideas?

Mikhail Bulgakov, Haruki Murakami, Virginia Woolf.

[Angury]

After seeing this on 9gag:

http://9gag.com/gag/5196073

The novel Brave New World by Aldous Huxley has caught my eye. Anyone who has already read it, what did you think? Is it a good read?

[spacepirate-James]

(Original post by Angury)
After seeing this on 9gag:

http://9gag.com/gag/5196073

The novel Brave New World by Aldous Huxley has caught my eye. Anyone who has already read it, what did you think? Is it a good read?

It's really good. If you enjoy SF/1984 then you'll really like Brave New World. It's dystopian but in the complete opposite direction to 1984. I much preferred it to Orwell - I also think it was stylistically written better. Huxley's a fantastically engaging writer.

[Angury]

(Original post by spacepirate-James)
It's really good. If you enjoy SF/1984 then you'll really like Brave New World. It's dystopian but in the complete opposite direction to 1984. I much preferred it to Orwell - I also think it was stylistically written better. Huxley's a fantastically engaging writer.

I just finished reading it and I also preferred it to 1984, it was a very engaging read. I thought the idea of being one with society and not having your own identity was really interesting. Taking soma every time something bad happens and having no worries about death or disease was also quite thought-provoking.. I mean, I was pretty sure that living in a world with no disease would make life so much better, but after reading the novel I've had second thoughts. I also liked the final sentence, the words Huxley chooses create some very vivid descriptions.

[tjf8]

Can anyone recommend anything Russian, either Soviet (Bulgakov/Solzhenitsyn etc) or 19th Century pre-revolution? I've got the Brothers Karamazov and Anna Karenina and stuff like that, but who else is worth looking out for?

[gypsyclimber]

(Original post by tjf8)
Can anyone recommend anything Russian, either Soviet (Bulgakov/Solzhenitsyn etc) or 19th Century pre-revolution? I've got the Brothers Karamazov and Anna Karenina and stuff like that, but who else is worth looking out for?

I'm not that hot personally on Russian Literature, but my mother read Doctor Zhivago and absolutely loved it, so maybe if you haven't already you should give it a go. It's set between the Russian Revolution in 1905 and Second World War.

[Abiraleft]

(Original post by tjf8)
Can anyone recommend anything Russian, either Soviet (Bulgakov/Solzhenitsyn etc) or 19th Century pre-revolution? I've got the Brothers Karamazov and Anna Karenina and stuff like that, but who else is worth looking out for?

Very late, but Chekhov!

[tjf8]

(Original post by gypsyclimber)
I'm not that hot personally on Russian Literature, but my mother read Doctor Zhivago and absolutely loved it, so maybe if you haven't already you should give it a go. It's set between the Russian Revolution in 1905 and Second World War.

Thanks that sounds good, i have heard of it actually, and since then ive found a list of golden age of russian literature writers and it was on there i think so i'll give that a go

(Original post by Abiraleft)
Very late, but Chekhov!

Well i do know about Chekhov but the only thing thats putting me off is that my friend went to see three sisters and she said it was nonsense; i normally respect her taste so i havent been drawn towards it, i know its well respected though

[Abiraleft]

(Original post by tjf8)
Thanks that sounds good, i have heard of it actually, and since then ive found a list of golden age of russian literature writers and it was on there i think so i'll give that a go



Well i do know about Chekhov but the only thing thats putting me off is that my friend went to see three sisters and she said it was nonsense; i normally respect her taste so i havent been drawn towards it, i know its well respected though

I would urge you to have a look for yourself; I think Chekhov is brilliant, personally.

If you haven't read it already, another Russian essential is Fathers and Sons by Turgnev. And there's Gorky, of course, and Dostoevsky (sure you've heard of him, but just because he hasn't been mentioned yet). And if you're not talking exclusively about novels, Mayakovsky is well worth checking out for his poetry too.

[tjf8]

(Original post by Abiraleft)
I would urge you to have a look for yourself; I think Chekhov is brilliant, personally.

If you haven't read it already, another Russian essential is Fathers and Sons by Turgnev. And there's Gorky, of course, and Dostoevsky (sure you've heard of him, but just because he hasn't been mentioned yet). And if you're not talking exclusively about novels, Mayakovsky is well worth checking out for his poetry too.

I will, I think, i'd like a broad selection anyway so i'll have to include him!

Yes im going to read the brothers karamazov, have you read it? is it as good as its supposed to be? Thanks for the recommendations, do you know about pushkin, gogol or lermontov? any good?

[ixr94]

(Original post by tjf8)
Can anyone recommend anything Russian, either Soviet (Bulgakov/Solzhenitsyn etc) or 19th Century pre-revolution? I've got the Brothers Karamazov and Anna Karenina and stuff like that, but who else is worth looking out for?

The Master and Margarita by Bulgakov is a bit weird, but worth reading. A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovitch by Solzhenitsyn is really good, and it is really short, so it doesn't take long to read. Also, The First Circle, and Cancer Ward (both Solzhenitsyn) are supposed to be good.

[Abiraleft]

(Original post by tjf8)
I will, I think, i'd like a broad selection anyway so i'll have to include him!

Yes im going to read the brothers karamazov, have you read it? is it as good as its supposed to be? Thanks for the recommendations, do you know about pushkin, gogol or lermontov? any good?

I'm afraid I haven't read them yet, but I've heard about all of them. Gogol's Dead Souls is sitting on my shelf - looking forward to reading that soon. I'll get back to you with more recommendations if I remember any. If you're thinking of approaching Chekhov, I would highly recommend his short stories.

(Original post by ixr94)
The Master and Margarita by Bulgakov is a bit weird, but worth reading. A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovitch by Solzhenitsyn is really good, and it is really short, so it doesn't take long to read. Also, The First Circle, and Cancer Ward (both Solzhenitsyn) are supposed to be good.

I need to finish The First Circle. I was about half-way through when I discovered that the copy I had had pages missing in the middle.

Also, welcome to TSR!

[philistine]

(Original post by Abiraleft)
Very late, but Chekhov!

This. I'd also recommend Kuprin and Leskov, the former especially.

I'm currently running through Japanese literature, as if they've stopped printing it. After work this evening, I'm making a start on Tanizaki's Some Prefer Nettles.

Also, I'm a little late to the game when it comes to Murakami, though I've just managed to get a hold of his Norwegian Wood. It's highly celebrated of course, though could anyone give me their thoughts? I figured that it'd be a good place to start.

[Abiraleft]

(Original post by philistine)
This. I'd also recommend Kuprin and Leskov, the former especially.

I'm currently running through Japanese literature, as if they've stopped printing it. After work this evening, I'm making a start on Tanizaki's Some Prefer Nettles.

Also, I'm a little late to the game when it comes to Murakami, though I've just managed to get a hold of his Norwegian Wood. It's highly celebrated of course, though could anyone give me their thoughts? I figured that it'd be a good place to start.

Japanese stuff - I have Mishima's Thirst for Love on my shelf; have you read it? (I might have asked you this before, actually. )