The title is pretty self explanatory... you can recommend books (or fiction on FP, if you want) and get recommendations here. :)

YOU CANNOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, RECOMMEND YOURSELF. ahem.

Now... RECOMMEND SOMETHING! :D

-Lefty

Hm...

Then We Came to the End - Joshua Ferris

&

The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath.

I kept a running list of the books I read in 2007, and those were by far my two favorites (I read the Bell Jar twice).

The first one is really super funny. It's like Office Space and The Office in book form. And The Bell Jar is for the angsty little intellectual girl in all of us.

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

*sweet and sad and funny*

Howards End by EM Forster

*what a weepy, even better than the film which is just fab!*

White Teeth by Zadie Smith

*that woman CAN write*

The Shell House by Linda Newberry

*it's aimed at young adults, but MY GOD the subject matter is incredible and handled so sensetively*

-Lefty

Author: Bernhard Schlink

Medium: Fiction/Novel

Why You Should Read It: One of the best books I've read. It deals with the Holocaust in a way that no one has done before and will do again. It is brilliantly written and the subject matter well negotiated. Such superb writing that you will want to read it again as soon as you've finished it.

Title: The Fall

Author: Virgilio Piñera Llera

Medium: Fiction/Short Story

Why You Should Read It: Short, blunt and brutal. The best micro fiction I've ever read as well as the best extended metaphor I've come across.

I just finished re-reading those two for the millionth time, they are my favorite pieces of fiction.

Hunted by N.M. Browne.

It's a novel about a girl in a coma and where her mind goes while her body is sleeping. N.M. Browne is amazingly good at conspiracy and intrigue stuff, and she puts you in the middle of the action without feeling overwhelmed. I especially like trying to figure out all the religions she creates for her different settings.

Green Angel by Alice Hoffman.

This is a novel, I suppose, but it's very short and artfully written. Maybe I'm a sentimental sucker, but I adore this book because it goes from normal girl to horribly depressed girl to getting-better girl in an extremely rewarding fashion. I'm not normally one for the whole "healing" scene, but this book is a treasure. The language is beautiful and the imagery and symbolism are exquisite. I've read it four or five times and I still get a different impression every time I read it. Also of note: this is not a whiny drug addict book or a bullied-at-school book. It happens in a story universe unlike our own.

And for a more light-hearted read,

Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones.

I don't know why I love this book as much as I do, but I suppose one of the reasons is because every time I read it, I'm always entertained. The characters grow on you extremely rapidly and the world is so skewed that you can't help but love it. If you've seen the Miyazaki movie, I still want you to read the book. For one, they're very different stories, and for another, (with very few exceptions) books inevitably trump their movie imitators.

PopCo by Scarlett Thomas.

It's a novel full of code-breaking and deciphering a la The Da Vinci Code , except without all that biblical we-could-change-the-world stuff. Instead, it has a more modern revolution going on. Plus, the fact that the narrator is such a packed character with a sarcastic wit and an unsatisfactory job at a toy company makes this completely entertaining while you're reading your way to the finale.

Finally, I'd just like to say, if you haven't read the Sabriel/Lirael/Abhorsen series by Garth Nix, please do. His rendition of Death thrills me every time, and the whole ancient-ruins-meets-modern-day thing really grabs you. They're a must for anyone who enjoys fantasy of any sort.

Maybe I'm a nerd, but the other must-reads for me are Shakespeare and Oscar Wilde as well as The Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser. They're classics, they're full of wit and clever literary devices, they'll improve your writing, and they're enjoyable reads even for casual readers. I, personally, love the intensity of the language in The Faerie Queene, and Oscar Wilde's ironic sense of humor makes me laugh.

I really suggest y'all look into Making History, by Stephen Fry.

The authi=or is raelly good at what he does, and kept me interested to the point where I blasted through in 3 days... It was a bout a british man who made the world so that Hitler never existed... I loved it.

Other suggestions? Well, On this site, I particularly liked one titled "The Angelic Massacre" by Aimee Straughston... It was one of my first reviews on this site, I strongly recommend it for anyone who likes reading online...

Oh, another good one: 1984, by George Orwell... Most have probably heard of it, but if you haven't read it, you really should!

in that vein... go read oryx and crake. the first few chapters are kind of like "what??" but it's similar to 1984 and has a really great twist... :)

-Lefty

What's really interesting in this trilogy is that it takes place on Earth's moon, which has been long cultivated into a planet of its own accord, with societies such as the fierce slave country of Terrain. Because of this, the days are called 'daymonths'. The sun is also called Solstar, sunset being Solset, and the earth is called Oceanus.

On Fictionpress, I highly recommend "Tantalus Theory" by Aubrey Moore.

http://www.fictionpress.com/s/2471829/1/

Y'know, thaty's funny, but I started reading that, and really got into it....

I may be a masochist - I put myself through terrible starts all the time. Though sometimes it pays off. The Silmarillion starts off so boring it's worse than reading the textbook of a subject you have no interest in. But it's really worthwhile in the end (once you get into the style and can concentrate on the stories). I found it made Lord of the Rings make so much more sense.

"How to Write Suspense"

http://jaypinkerton.com/writing-great-suspense/

it's amazing; i got it from my english teacher. :) go read! (it's pretty short)

-Lefty

It's on adultFanfiction, so don't read unless you're in the mood for a little smut... But it is very good beyond all that anyway...

"Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep" is good if you like a good, quick, post-apocalyptic scifi

Bill Bryson is great for nonfiction, it's a really entertaining way to soak up lots of information.

And Jasper Fforde's books, like "The Eyre Affair" and the insane world he developed that just gets crazier with each installment are a lot of fun.

yeah, i think over analyzing novels totally defeats the purpose... ;_;

-Lefty

It's always been one of my favourite books for various reasons. Also, the old movie version with Robert Redford? Best adaptation of a book to film that I've seen.

-Lefty

It was sad, but i really didn't care... The subject matter just didn't catch me...

sometimes i can appreciate a book's quality without actually liking it, like 'beloved' it is well crafted and really well written, you can just see the author's skill, and i just utterly hated the story.

I haven't posted here, so I might as well!

I am only going to give some FP suggestions as those are so not loved here on this thread. Also because it's hard to find quality.

St Mary's School for Girls by An Inside Joke

Summary: When Sarah Jones accepts a job teaching at an all girls' boarding school, she has no idea what mysteries she'll uncover. Rated for violence.

Genres: Mystery

This is for everyone who adores mystery. I like this writer because she really has a way with her words, and I get sucked in very easily. It is also completed, which is a plus! Don't be discouraged by the lack of reviews, I think it's because the chapters are quite long in FP standard. It's still good, though!

Stupid Prophesies And The People Who Enforce Them by Jack Argyle

Summary: Gary is a sarcastic, easily annoyed people hater who, unfortunately, becomes the Chosen One. This story follows his efforts to prove that the prophecy that got him into this situation is nothing more than the scribbling of a retard.

Genres: Fantasy / Humor

For everyone who loves a fantasty parody! It's clever, exciting, and hilarious! Some weak spots here and there, but it's so easy to get into and adore. I love some of the funny names and spins on clichés this story features. Also a completed work!

From my black little heart by Winter Fox

Summary: What: dos and don'ts, tricks and treats, and questions that aren't asked enough. How: with extreme prejudice, snark and heartless cruelty. Based on author's subjective opinions: not a friendly, patient guide. No, I don't hate fantasy.

Genres: Essay / General

An essay about fantasy, and the author is very clever in her critique of the faults this genre harbors. And very witty! Do read!

Well, those were the meaty, true quality reads. I still have more I like that I think should get a mention:

An Analysis On Analyzation by Seiferre Quintesce

Summary: Kittalyn Mars muses on just how strange her best friend can be - with the help of her shiny new diary.

Genres: General / Friendship

For a first piece on this site, it's a darned good one! The entire one-shot screams of personality and a quirkiness I like. It's a general that features a lot of musings.

The Thrill of It by rider on the storm

Summary: i'm taking a shot at transgressional fiction (like Fight Club, for example) about a girl who is a sociopath basically

Genres: Horror / Angst

This is an incomplete story about a sociopath. I happen to like stories about those so naturally I find this interesting. If you like reading stories about insights on this sort of character, this is your pick! The character's progression is also worth reading it for.

Off-site, The Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathon Stroud. Those are great, and some of the funniest books I've ever read.

A good fantasy-suspense-occult novel would be The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray by Chris Wooding.

Also, for people looking for a good sci-fi novel, I'd try The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. It's thought-provoking, something of a cautionary tale, but also a pretty good/amusing read.

And might I just add that I'm really happy that someone mentioned Howl's Moving Castle? I *love* that book! True, it's not incredibly deep, but in terms of pure entertainment value, lovable characters, etc, it ranks very high on my list.

I also agree with whoever recommended the Nocte Yin series on fp.net. A really fun read.

On FP... here's my favorites so far.

Driving Under the Influence of a Minor by vanilla skyy- It's...edgy. Well written, and I really like it.

Goddess by soojinyeh- I've only read the first chapter so far, but that, at least, is great.

Once Bitten by mandybeth- If you like vampire stories, check this out. It's really good. And it's a real novel, too, and she hasn't finished yet :D!

Six Feet From Paradise by JD Allen- Maybe you've already read this...it won a couple SKoW awards. They need more authors in that contest...but this story definitely deserved it. It's also a completed work.

Mommy's on the Radio by Kinderwhore- You'll need a vocabulary for this.

The Sky is Falling? by tibetan-knight- Cute!

"Dune" by Frank Herbert. I liked the add-ons to this series, but I wasn't really that crazy about the series itself, with the exception of this book, which is the first. This is a good sci-fi classic that isn't as difficult to read as Tolkien, but still has some of that quality.

"Lord of the Rings" by JRR Tolkien- if your the kind of person who can get pulled into a book that's written at a slower pace, then you should be able to make it through the series. Now, the extra stuff...that's another story. His son isn't as good, in my opinion.

Piers Anthony's Xanth series, especially his older works (some of his newer ideas are getting a little out there, but he's as good a writer as ever). What really sets him apart is the unanimity of his appeal: he's got subtlety for adults, and lots of humor and action to appeal to the kids. It's humor though.

"Lirael" by Garth Nix. Actually, a lot of Garth Nix's stuff is good, but his Abhorsen series is my favorite. This book was my favorite from that series though.

Are we allowed to recommend manga? I just have one: "Mars" by Fuyumi Soryo. It's got thirteen books plus a prequel, but if you don't feel like spending almost $150 for some comics, you can read it online at mangafox.com. Don't feel too bad...Soryo has plenty of money, I assure you...plus, it's really hard to get all the novels at the store in order, since they're so popular.

All right, I'm going to go write my paper before I get sucked in any further.

okay, so i was chatting in the off topic topic and this came up:

"How to Write Suspense"

http://jaypinkerton.com/writing-great-suspense/

Lefty, did you read my mind?! I was just looking for something to help me write suspense!!!

I'm a firm believer in the efficacy of sarcasm, so I found that helpful after the requisite pound of salt. All in all, it pointed out a couple things I hadn't noticed previously about writing suspense- namely, that I should ignore the irritating questions I keep getting because people don't immediately understand my plots. I don't mean to offend, but I really hope your English teacher didn't intend for you to take that literally...I have, ironically, met English teachers who lacked a clear comprehension of the aforementioned sarcastic "humor".

Thanks for the tip!

END OFF TOPIC

God's Debris by Scott Adams (yes, the man who writes Dilbert). This is a free eBook- and Adams wants it free. It's what he calls a "thought experiment"- I enjoyed it, since I'm very interested in the meanings and purposes behind religions, but I should warn you that you need to read it with an open mind. It poses some very interesting ideas.

If you were intrigued by this book, then you should check out Zeitgeist (it's an online movie...sorry...). It's about religions... I find the concept of conspiracies very interesting, especially considering the way cynicism has a way of hacking off the legs of faith.

Ever heard of the rothschild family?

They secretly control the world from behind the scenes...

Whoa sounds mighty interesting. What is it called and who is the author?

- The Reluctant Fundamentalist. On the Booker shortlist and probably my favourite thing on said shortlist (struggling to get into the others). Very interesting and surprisingly easy to read. Short too. Quite political.

- The Time-Traveller's Wife. I haven't finished it yet but I'm half-way through and I already love it. What a book! It's technically sci-fi but was recommended to me by people who never read sci-fi. The characters, the psychology etc are amazing!

It's a great concept and the style of writing is one I'd love to be able to emulate, I wouldn't really call it sci-fi though, that sells it short :)

Requested Recommendation:

Can someone please recommend me a story within the supernatural category? A good one of course. But no werewolves, vampires or any of that usual cliché crap. I'd really like some OTHER supernatural element to read about.

So does anyone know a story like that?

Clarification: Stories here on FP, please ^^;

Well, since no one granted me a recommendation, I went and searched myself. So far I have only found this multi-chap that seems to be a good ride:

With Intent by Zebbie

Summary: Adam's got the Spidey Sense but he'd rather be The Invisible Man. Your regular Marvel Action Hero minus lycra and enthusiasm for saving the world, he'd rather just ignore it and his dormant to extinct love life. Going nuts is more of a problem. MxM. slash

Genres: Romance / General / Supernatural

Status: Complete

It's about this unfortunate young man, Adam, who sees bad intentions (ie if someone wants to kill, or if they have killed). But he is too much of a coward he thinks, to be called a hero. So he is passive about these things and tries to ignore them most of the time. I've read up to chapter 4, and I like it. There is never any repetition so far and only new elements are presented. Solid writing too.

It's MxM, but so far nothing explicit. He's currently without love interest, too.

He is openly gay from the start, though. Well, openly to us readers, at least.

I'm actually so tired that I think I might have messed that up, so here's a link just in case: http://www.fictionpress.com/s/2289617/1/Precious_Pearls

Demonic possession, Frac. You like?

That story is by JennieMR...

Bed...now.... Must close freebie.....

I started, but I've been slacking. Frac was looking for good supernatural, right? Well, that one qualifies.

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