The Books Thread (Fiction)

Gansan · 12th November 2009, 16:15

1) The Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck.
2) East of Eden - John Steinbeck.
3) Three Men in a Boat (Not forgetting the Dog) - Jerome k. Jerome
4) Jonathan Livingston Seagull - Richard bach
5) Mila 18 - Leon Uris.

And on second thoughts, here is a second set of five:

6) Contact - Carl Sagan
7) Shogun - James Clavel
8) Battle Cry - Leon Uris
9) City - Clifford D.Simak
10) Centennial - James Michener.

Wolfheart · 12th November 2009, 16:31

Wow didn't notice this thread earlier!

Anyway I would really like to recomend this one book to everyone it's called "Courage: The Joy of living dangerously" by Osho.

Now just for the record I'm not the religious type nor am I the spiritual / new age / flower power/ Osho type. It was a really boring day at work and a colleague had left behind this book, so I just started skimming through it. Once I had read a few paragraphs, this book just stuck to me like chewing gum on a shoe. However this book is not about religion nor is it about spirituality (atleast the way I interpret it). This book has in a way inspired me and re-inforced my personal beliefs.

It teaches one to live by conqureing your fears. A life without fear is a life well lived! Whatever it may be that you fear or you dread, just face it head on. Just plunge smack in the middle of it instead of avoiding it or running away from it and you will overcome it! Don't be afraid to swim against the tide and don't be afraid to stand up for yourself and speak your mind. No matter who you are and where you come from, I strongly recommend that you read this book.

thewhiteknight · 12th November 2009, 16:32

I am currently re-reading Ayn Rand 'Atlas Shrugged' and one of PG Wodehouse's Jeeves series. I get a little wired with Ayn Rand and shift to PG Wodehouse for mode a-la-relax. I am a huge fan of Ayn Rand but the books can get a little heavy sometimes.

Top 5 books, um, i'm not sure i can even begin to rate them because i re-read them all over and over again. Oh, and i do have a huge collection. Over 1500 titles and growing.

Anyone wanting to get rid of their old books, I will be more than happy to take them off your hands.

cogweelz · 12th November 2009, 18:12

Best 5:

1. Endless Night
2. Arrangements of Love
3. Simoquin Prophesies
4. The Big Four
5. Four Point Someone

Now: Outliers - Malcom Gladwell

Surprise · 13th November 2009, 15:38

The book/s you are currently reading...... your all time best read & favorite book, be it a spiritual/personality development/fiction...

anoops · 13th November 2009, 15:48

just finished Paths of Glory by Jeffrey Archer...going to start The Collectors by David Baldacci.
My all time favorite is To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee.

aaggoswami · 13th November 2009, 16:14

The book I am currently reading is The Peaceful Pill Handbook by Dr. Philip Nitschk.

Abhay · 13th November 2009, 16:52

Really difficult to pin down 5 books but what I'm currently reading is the 3rd book in the Space Odyssey series. 2061 - Odyssey Three by Arthur C Clarke

bj96 · 14th November 2009, 23:41

I am not much into novels. I like short stories, essays and technical books. The thickest volume that I have ever read 1st-to-last page is "The Class".

Can't restrict to just five, but, some of my favorites (not in any order) would be:

1. The Class - Erich Segal
2. Love Story- ditto
3. Stories of Ruskin Bond
4. Three Men in a Boat - Jerome K Jerome
5. We the living - Ayn Rand
6. Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance- Robert Pirsig
7. Works of Munshi Premchand (in hindi) - like Poos Ki raat, Kafan etc. Having spent considerable time in rural North Bihar during my growing up years in 70s/80s- Munshiji's stories have left indelible place in my childhood memories. Sadly, some of these stories are still relevant in most rural part of our country.
8. Future Shock- Alvin Toffler
9. Brief History Of Time - Hawkins
10. I am OK, You are OK- Dr Harris
11. The Fountainhead- haven't completed yet

Current (planning to) read - The Mythical Man-month- essays on S/w Engineering.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoopoe

For all automobile lovers Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig is a must

+1.
It is actually not only about motorcycle maintenance... but, yes autoheads will connect better.

-BJ

manolin · 14th November 2009, 23:49

reading "hunchback of notre dame"- Victor Hugo

Just finished "the gathering storm"- 12th book in the wheel of time series by Robert Jordan. Now i hear apparently there are going to be 2 more!!

abhinav.s · 16th November 2009, 15:39

Currently reading Many Lives, Many Masters by Brian Weiss & Fly without Wings by Osho

jigbarai · 16th November 2009, 15:53

2 States (Chetan Bhagat)

Wolfheart · 18th November 2009, 16:05

Just very difficult to have a top five list, 'cos I haven't read that many books

(just kidding)

Anyway here goes:

1. The Teachings of Don Juan (non fiction) - Carlos Castaneda
Castaneda is a UCLA student working on his Phd thesis in anthropology. He meets Don Juan who is a Yaqui Indian Shaman / Sorceror and becomes his apprentice

2. The Blood Countess (Historical / Gothic / Erotic Fiction) - Andrei Codrescu

A pseudo biography of Elizabeth Bathory also known as "Countess Dracula" who used to bathe in the blood of virgin peasant girls due to her quest for eternal youth. A gripping tale of a beautiful and evil woman and her sado -erotic excesses. If you like horror, history and erotica and are not easily offended, you will relish this book. One of the few books that I have read over and over again.

3. Mind Trek: Exploring Consciousness, Time and Space through remote viewing (Non Fiction) - Joseph McMoneagle

McMOneagle is an Ex-CIA employee and a participant in the U.S. Government's Remote Viewing experiment. In this book he explains the phenomenon of Remote Viewing which enables one to peek through space and time. Anyone is capable of being a remote viewer and Joe has also written about corporations that use remote viewing and other E.S.P. tactics to spy on their competitors.

4. Holy Cow (Non Fiction / Humour / Travel) - Sarah Mcdonald

Australian journalist Mcdonald's first visit to India is a very unpleasant one in what she describes as a crowded, polluted and chaotic country. While she is glad to be leaving India for good, a leper at the airport prophesizes that she will be back in India soon. The prophecy comes true as McDonald is compelled by her circumstances to join her fiance who is posted in India for 2 years. One of the most hilarious books that I have ever read.

5. Courage: The joy Of living dangerously (Non fiction / Philosophy) (have already described this one in an earlier post)

Samurai · 18th November 2009, 16:24

The most amazing series of books I have read are Jean Auel's Earth' Children series. Since 29 years, she has only written 5 books, the last one was written in 2002. For the last 7 years Jean Auel's fans have been waiting, waiting and waiting for the sixth book.

Earth's Children - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Read any book and you would want to read every one of them. I read the 3rd book first, and now I have all 5 books, all have been read many many times. These books have enormous re-readability unlike other books.

Quote:

Originally Posted by anoops

just finished Paths of Glory by Jeffrey Archer...

There was one statement I found very hard to believe. Apparently George Mallory used to walk to work everyday to keep himself in shape, and he used to cover 5 miles in 50 minutes. How can somebody walk at the speed of 6mph or 9.6kmph?

tsk1979 · 18th November 2009, 16:39

I can walk at 7.5kmph for 30 minutes at a stretch. I guess Mallory being much more fit could manage 9.6kmph!

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12th November 2009, 16:15	#346
Gansan Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Chennai Posts: 4,636 Thanked: 5,988 Times	1) The Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck. 2) East of Eden - John Steinbeck. 3) Three Men in a Boat (Not forgetting the Dog) - Jerome k. Jerome 4) Jonathan Livingston Seagull - Richard bach 5) Mila 18 - Leon Uris. And on second thoughts, here is a second set of five: 6) Contact - Carl Sagan 7) Shogun - James Clavel 8) Battle Cry - Leon Uris 9) City - Clifford D.Simak 10) Centennial - James Michener. Last edited by Gansan : 12th November 2009 at 16:26.
	() Thanks

12th November 2009, 16:31	#347
Wolfheart BHPian Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Bombay Posts: 160 Thanked: 37 Times	Wow didn't notice this thread earlier! Anyway I would really like to recomend this one book to everyone it's called "Courage: The Joy of living dangerously" by Osho. Now just for the record I'm not the religious type nor am I the spiritual / new age / flower power/ Osho type. It was a really boring day at work and a colleague had left behind this book, so I just started skimming through it. Once I had read a few paragraphs, this book just stuck to me like chewing gum on a shoe. However this book is not about religion nor is it about spirituality (atleast the way I interpret it). This book has in a way inspired me and re-inforced my personal beliefs. It teaches one to live by conqureing your fears. A life without fear is a life well lived! Whatever it may be that you fear or you dread, just face it head on. Just plunge smack in the middle of it instead of avoiding it or running away from it and you will overcome it! Don't be afraid to swim against the tide and don't be afraid to stand up for yourself and speak your mind. No matter who you are and where you come from, I strongly recommend that you read this book. Last edited by Wolfheart : 12th November 2009 at 16:34.
	() Thanks

12th November 2009, 16:32	#348
thewhiteknight BHPian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Poona Posts: 126 Thanked: 246 Times	I am currently re-reading Ayn Rand 'Atlas Shrugged' and one of PG Wodehouse's Jeeves series. I get a little wired with Ayn Rand and shift to PG Wodehouse for mode a-la-relax. I am a huge fan of Ayn Rand but the books can get a little heavy sometimes. Top 5 books, um, i'm not sure i can even begin to rate them because i re-read them all over and over again. Oh, and i do have a huge collection. Over 1500 titles and growing. Anyone wanting to get rid of their old books, I will be more than happy to take them off your hands.
	() Thanks

12th November 2009, 18:12	#349
cogweelz BHPian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Bangalored Posts: 57 Thanked: 6 Times	My Best 5 and Now Best 5: 1. Endless Night 2. Arrangements of Love 3. Simoquin Prophesies 4. The Big Four 5. Four Point Someone Now: Outliers - Malcom Gladwell
	() Thanks

13th November 2009, 15:38	#350
Surprise Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Chennai Posts: 2,530 Thanked: 463 Times	Your current and favorite book... The book/s you are currently reading...... your all time best read & favorite book, be it a spiritual/personality development/fiction...
	() Thanks

13th November 2009, 15:48	#351
anoops BHPian Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: bangalore Posts: 182 Thanked: 4 Times	just finished Paths of Glory by Jeffrey Archer...going to start The Collectors by David Baldacci. My all time favorite is To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee.
	() Thanks

13th November 2009, 16:14	#352
aaggoswami Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Vadodara Posts: 4,997 Thanked: 3,006 Times	The book I am currently reading is The Peaceful Pill Handbook by Dr. Philip Nitschk.
	() Thanks

13th November 2009, 16:52	#353
Abhay BHPian Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pune Posts: 727 Thanked: 12 Times	Really difficult to pin down 5 books but what I'm currently reading is the 3rd book in the Space Odyssey series. 2061 - Odyssey Three by Arthur C Clarke
	() Thanks

14th November 2009, 23:49	#355
manolin BHPian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Delhi/Cuttack Posts: 392 Thanked: 206 Times	reading "hunchback of notre dame"- Victor Hugo Just finished "the gathering storm"- 12th book in the wheel of time series by Robert Jordan. Now i hear apparently there are going to be 2 more!!
	() Thanks

16th November 2009, 15:39	#356
abhinav.s Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: B'lore,Coorg Posts: 2,802 Thanked: 1,327 Times	Currently reading Many Lives, Many Masters by Brian Weiss & Fly without Wings by Osho
	() Thanks

16th November 2009, 15:53	#357
jigbarai BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Mumbai Posts: 560 Thanked: 39 Times	2 States (Chetan Bhagat)
	() Thanks

18th November 2009, 16:05	#358
Wolfheart BHPian Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Bombay Posts: 160 Thanked: 37 Times	Just very difficult to have a top five list, 'cos I haven't read that many books (just kidding) Anyway here goes: 1. The Teachings of Don Juan (non fiction) - Carlos Castaneda Castaneda is a UCLA student working on his Phd thesis in anthropology. He meets Don Juan who is a Yaqui Indian Shaman / Sorceror and becomes his apprentice 2. The Blood Countess (Historical / Gothic / Erotic Fiction) - Andrei Codrescu A pseudo biography of Elizabeth Bathory also known as "Countess Dracula" who used to bathe in the blood of virgin peasant girls due to her quest for eternal youth. A gripping tale of a beautiful and evil woman and her sado -erotic excesses. If you like horror, history and erotica and are not easily offended, you will relish this book. One of the few books that I have read over and over again. 3. Mind Trek: Exploring Consciousness, Time and Space through remote viewing (Non Fiction) - Joseph McMoneagle McMOneagle is an Ex-CIA employee and a participant in the U.S. Government's Remote Viewing experiment. In this book he explains the phenomenon of Remote Viewing which enables one to peek through space and time. Anyone is capable of being a remote viewer and Joe has also written about corporations that use remote viewing and other E.S.P. tactics to spy on their competitors. 4. Holy Cow (Non Fiction / Humour / Travel) - Sarah Mcdonald Australian journalist Mcdonald's first visit to India is a very unpleasant one in what she describes as a crowded, polluted and chaotic country. While she is glad to be leaving India for good, a leper at the airport prophesizes that she will be back in India soon. The prophecy comes true as McDonald is compelled by her circumstances to join her fiance who is posted in India for 2 years. One of the most hilarious books that I have ever read. 5. Courage: The joy Of living dangerously (Non fiction / Philosophy) (have already described this one in an earlier post)
	() Thanks

18th November 2009, 16:39	#360
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,688 Thanked: 23,494 Times View My Garage	I can walk at 7.5kmph for 30 minutes at a stretch. I guess Mallory being much more fit could manage 9.6kmph!
	() Thanks