The Books Thread (Fiction)

tifosikrishna · 17th December 2005, 13:41

thanks amitoj, i will add it to my list. two guys have suggested "the prophet" by khalil gibran. i have marked that too for my future reading.

krishna.

tifosikrishna · 17th December 2005, 13:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by islero

)

Malgudi days - RK Narayan
(this book can be described by only one word. beautiful.)

Actually , anything by Narayan.

do you read tamil books? if yes, i would suggest "srirangathu devadaigal" by sujatha. its a kind of memoir of his childhood days in srirangam near trichy. its a good one. something on the lines of malgudi days...

this book made me nostalgic about my childhood.

amitoj · 17th December 2005, 14:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by tifosikrishna

thanks amitoj, i will add it to my list. two guys have suggested "the prophet" by khalil gibran. i have marked that too for my future reading.

krishna.

You are most welcome Krishna. As for Prophet, its more than a must read. The Prophet is the book i often go back to, whenever things get a bit too hard to take. When people tell me that its almost impossible to get me angry, i attribute it to this book. I guess now i have revealed the secret behind my "harmless as a sheep" character

Cheers
Amitoj

Steeroid · 17th December 2005, 14:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by amitoj

I cant believe there are no fans of Hihtch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy!!! But then, no one has mentioned Catch 22 either, though H2G2 is far more hilarious than C22.

Hi there Amitoj

Am a Catch22 fan, too. I didnt really get involved with reading H2G2, but then perhaps I need a re-read.

Noticed that you seem to go for the Gibrans and Neitzches of the world...perhaps that explains the sheep's clothng part.

Tarun · 19th December 2005, 10:15

Good topic. Deserves a place in best collection.

- You can win. Shiv Khera : One of the most simplest and effective writing i have read.
- Seven habits of highly effective people. Stephen R Covey.
- One minute manager : A very short and a amazing read. I strongly recommend.
- Wings of Fire : Dr. APJ Kalam. An autobiography and journey of the of a man who rose to heights from a small village. His passion /vision for the country makes this one a definite read for every Indian.
- Mein Kampf : Adolf Hitler (still reading). Just gone through first 100 pages, gives you an insight of an otherwise brilliant mind which went wrong.

Besides, i am also a fan of short stories of Sherlock Holmes.

Tarun.

Harrie · 19th December 2005, 10:33

In no particular order

Fiction
Fist of God - Fedrick Fosyth (all of his books), Perry Mason series, LOTR trilogy, Harry Potter, Bourne Identity (The other Ludlum books are pretty much like masala films), Time line - Michael Crichton, Winter's Heart (Not done with the seires still), Stephen King's...

Being a techie has its own perks too. I have loads of books in text format that I read while working. Those books that I like, I buy. Have a pretty big collection of books from Tintin, Aestrix and tinkle to Salman Rushdie and Hitchkikers guide to...

Not a big fan of non-fiction stuff. I believe I am not old enough to read serious non-fiction stuff though I read the ocassional biographies.

Samurai · 19th December 2005, 10:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steeroid

Am a Catch22 fan, too. I didnt really get involved with reading H2G2, but then perhaps I need a re-read.

This happened 12-13 years back, one colleague challenged that nobody can read more than 25 pages of Catch 22, it was supposedly too nutty. I managed to read 100 pages and won the bet, but I didn't go beyond those 100 pages, may be I was not ready for it then.

Joz · 19th December 2005, 10:59

While trying to pick a book for my wife, I browsed through Strand Books for about 20 minutes undecided and finally took advice from the store assistant and picked up Catch 22. She didn't read beyond 10 pages. I am yet to try it.

Any reviews on 'Fire Down Below' - a book on Micheal Doohan. Always wanted to read this as I liked that guy a lot.

tifosikrishna · 19th December 2005, 11:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samurai

This happened 12-13 years back, one colleague challenged that nobody can read more than 25 pages of Catch 22.

i too have a copy of catch22 with me. read the first 15 pages and have never laid my hands on it again...

amitoj · 19th December 2005, 12:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steeroid

Noticed that you seem to go for the Gibrans and Neitzches of the world...

Well, Neitzcshe and Sartre etc seemed to wound up to me whereas Gibran's simplicity completely blew me away.
By the way, if anyone wants to read The Prophet online, here is the link:
The Prophet

Oh and another author that i like (dunno how i could forget him) is Kurt Vonnegut. Best dark satire i have ever read.

Cheers
Amitoj

islero · 19th December 2005, 16:59

Damn how could I Forget??

THE GODFATHER- MARIO PUZO

Scuderia · 19th December 2005, 17:12

Currently reading "Maximum City - Bombay Lost and Found" : All about the city of Bombay and it people. Just started reading.

Favs: Godfather, Kane and Abel, Fist of God... actually a lot of them.

One really good book is "The old man and the sea" - Ernest Hemmingway - A true classic. Nothing in the subject per se, but amazing writing.

Dyslexic_Typist · 19th December 2005, 20:42

Here's my list of favorites:

Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier

Gone with the Wind - Margaret Mitchell

To kill a mocking bird - Harper Lee

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd - Agatha Christie

Animal Farm - George Orwell

1984 - George Orwell

No Comebacks - Fredrick Forsythe

Runaway Jury - John Grisham

The Prophet - Gibran

5 point someone - Chetan Bhagat

Short Stories by Roald Dahl and Saki

All the books that P.G. Wodehouse has written

All books written by R.K Narayanan

Some of the books by James Hadley Chase

Actually there are so many...

camry93 · 20th December 2005, 12:22

My recent reads:
1. Deception Point - Dan Brown
2. Overload - Hailey
3. Ramayana - Rajagopalachari
4. Timeline - Crichton

Favorite reads:

- Anything by Wodehouse (but more from the Blandings and Wooster series please)
- Quite a few books by Crichton are eminent reads
- Nothing by Grisham has impressed me so far

Upcoming reads:
1. Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

tifosikrishna · 20th December 2005, 12:32

hey, we have quite a few liking wodehouse fans as well...

View Poll Results: I read most my books in...
Paper book format	253	61.86%
Amazon Kindle	101	24.69%
Apple iPad	9	2.20%
Android Tablet	12	2.93%
B&B Nook	5	1.22%
Sony eBook Reader	0	0%
Smartphone	18	4.40%
Others (mention in post)	6	1.47%
Kobo eReader	5	1.22%
Voters: 409. You may not vote on this poll

17th December 2005, 13:41	#61
tifosikrishna BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: chennai Posts: 827 Thanked: 383 Times View My Garage	thanks amitoj, i will add it to my list. two guys have suggested "the prophet" by khalil gibran. i have marked that too for my future reading. krishna.
	() Thanks

19th December 2005, 10:15	#65
Tarun BHPian Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: New Delhi Posts: 159 Thanked: 17 Times	Good topic. Deserves a place in best collection. - You can win. Shiv Khera : One of the most simplest and effective writing i have read. - Seven habits of highly effective people. Stephen R Covey. - One minute manager : A very short and a amazing read. I strongly recommend. - Wings of Fire : Dr. APJ Kalam. An autobiography and journey of the of a man who rose to heights from a small village. His passion /vision for the country makes this one a definite read for every Indian. - Mein Kampf : Adolf Hitler (still reading). Just gone through first 100 pages, gives you an insight of an otherwise brilliant mind which went wrong. Besides, i am also a fan of short stories of Sherlock Holmes. Tarun.
	() Thanks

19th December 2005, 10:33	#66
Harrie BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: KA 03, KL 12, TN 38 Posts: 701 Thanked: 36 Times View My Garage	In no particular order Fiction Fist of God - Fedrick Fosyth (all of his books), Perry Mason series, LOTR trilogy, Harry Potter, Bourne Identity (The other Ludlum books are pretty much like masala films), Time line - Michael Crichton, Winter's Heart (Not done with the seires still), Stephen King's... Being a techie has its own perks too. I have loads of books in text format that I read while working. Those books that I like, I buy. Have a pretty big collection of books from Tintin, Aestrix and tinkle to Salman Rushdie and Hitchkikers guide to... Not a big fan of non-fiction stuff. I believe I am not old enough to read serious non-fiction stuff though I read the ocassional biographies.
	() Thanks

19th December 2005, 10:59	#68
Joz BHPian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Dubai Posts: 247 Thanked: 2 Times	While trying to pick a book for my wife, I browsed through Strand Books for about 20 minutes undecided and finally took advice from the store assistant and picked up Catch 22. She didn't read beyond 10 pages. I am yet to try it. Any reviews on 'Fire Down Below' - a book on Micheal Doohan. Always wanted to read this as I liked that guy a lot. Last edited by Joz : 19th December 2005 at 11:18.
	() Thanks

19th December 2005, 16:59	#71
islero Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chennai Posts: 1,574 Thanked: 13 Times View My Garage	Damn how could I Forget?? THE GODFATHER- MARIO PUZO
	() Thanks

19th December 2005, 17:12	#72
Scuderia BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Mumbai Posts: 127 Thanked: 8 Times	Currently reading "Maximum City - Bombay Lost and Found" : All about the city of Bombay and it people. Just started reading. Favs: Godfather, Kane and Abel, Fist of God... actually a lot of them. One really good book is "The old man and the sea" - Ernest Hemmingway - A true classic. Nothing in the subject per se, but amazing writing.
	() Thanks

19th December 2005, 20:42	#73
Dyslexic_Typist Newbie Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Mumbai Posts: 6 Thanked: 5 Times	Here's my list of favorites: Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier Gone with the Wind - Margaret Mitchell To kill a mocking bird - Harper Lee The Murder of Roger Ackroyd - Agatha Christie Animal Farm - George Orwell 1984 - George Orwell No Comebacks - Fredrick Forsythe Runaway Jury - John Grisham The Prophet - Gibran 5 point someone - Chetan Bhagat Short Stories by Roald Dahl and Saki All the books that P.G. Wodehouse has written All books written by R.K Narayanan Some of the books by James Hadley Chase Actually there are so many...
	() Thanks

20th December 2005, 12:22	#74
camry93 BHPian Join Date: May 2005 Location: Pune Posts: 102 Thanked: 2 Times	My recent reads: 1. Deception Point - Dan Brown 2. Overload - Hailey 3. Ramayana - Rajagopalachari 4. Timeline - Crichton Favorite reads: - Anything by Wodehouse (but more from the Blandings and Wooster series please) - Quite a few books by Crichton are eminent reads - Nothing by Grisham has impressed me so far Upcoming reads: 1. Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
	() Thanks

20th December 2005, 12:32	#75
tifosikrishna BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: chennai Posts: 827 Thanked: 383 Times View My Garage	hey, we have quite a few liking wodehouse fans as well...
	() Thanks