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I'd like to read some things and so I would like you, the discerning reader, to recommend me one and only book*: the only criterion is that it is something you feel I simply must read.

* though please feel free to agree with, disagree with, or otherwise comment on other people's suggestions

Never Let Me Go, by Kazuo Ishiguro.

Also, I'd recommend not looking anything up about it. The main plot point is placed so subtly that it's brilliant when all the pieces come together and it finally clicks, and unfortunately, and plot summary is likely to spoil this feeling, quite possibly within it's first two sentances.

Yeah, the book is incredible though. Easily comparable in impact to 1984.

EDIT: Well, not social impact. The book is a little bit underground when compared to 1984.

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance changed the way I look at the world more than, I think, any other book I've ever read.

The Wheel of Time Series: Hands down the best series I have ever read Despite the fact it's so long the author died before finishing the series.

I'm going to recommend Inherent Vice. It is amazing, universal, mildly challenging, and obscure enough that you have not yet read it.

Infinite Jest

I'm also supporting Tanner on Z&AoMM, it's a great read.

hairscapades wrote:Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance changed the way I look at the world more than, I think, any other book I've ever read.

Yes.

=w= wrote:I'm going to recommend Inherent Vice. It is amazing, universal, mildly challenging, and obscure enough that you have not yet read it.

Yes.

chocollama wrote:The Wheel of Time Series: Hands down the best series I have ever read Despite the fact it's so long the author died before finishing the series.

Noooooo. First, there are (13 soon to be 14) of them; second, they are hardly the most shining example of high fantasy out there.

My own recommendation is Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency.

boozy panache wrote:

hairscapades wrote:Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance changed the way I look at the world more than, I think, any other book I've ever read.

Yes.

Yes^Yes

Discipline and Punishment - Foucault. I think you'd find it interesting

2666, by Roberto Bolaño.

boozy panache wrote: Noooooo. First, there are (13 soon to be 14) of them; second, they are hardly the most shining example of high fantasy out there.

I love it because of the massive storyline, give it a chance and if you don't like it by the end of the third book then you might be crazy.

xVxCrushloaderusSupremusxVx wrote:2666, by Roberto Bolaño.

This is the umpteenth time I've seen this rec. I will have to look into this book.

Edit: Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami.

entwilight wrote:

xVxCrushloaderusSupremusxVx wrote:2666, by Roberto Bolaño.

This is the umpteenth time I've seen this rec. I will have to look into this book.

May I direct you to a review written by my sister, who loved the book.

Aidiera wrote:

entwilight wrote:

xVxCrushloaderusSupremusxVx wrote:2666, by Roberto Bolaño.

This is the umpteenth time I've seen this rec. I will have to look into this book.

May I direct you to a review written by my sister, who loved the book.

anal lyfe?

I think you need to have a talk with your sister.

squibbles wrote:

Aidiera wrote:May I direct you to a review written by my sister, who loved the book.

anal lyfe?

I think you need to have a talk with your sister.

I think I need to have a "talk" with his sister.

No, I think you should fuck her instead.

chocollama wrote:

boozy panache wrote: Noooooo. First, there are (13 soon to be 14) of them; second, they are hardly the most shining example of high fantasy out there.

I love it because of the massive storyline, give it a chance and if you don't like it by the end of the third book then you might be crazy.

I've read 'em all twice. But maestro asked for one book and I doubt that by this he meant one incredibly long and semi-interesting fantasy series. Anyway, if you're into fantasy, you've read or at least heard of WoT already.

EDIT: gloomp, once again you recommend a book which my feeble local library has never heard of. I'm gonna get my hands on it somehow, so I wanted to ask: is 2666 being unfinished a problem? Is it even unfinished? Wikipedia was a bit unclear.

yea, well, um, fuck....

whatever, I like 'em anyway

squibbles wrote:

Aidiera wrote:May I direct you to a review written by my sister, who loved the book.

anal lyfe?

I think you need to have a talk with your sister.

DECEMBER 4th:
As you can see, I warned her. She'll have do deal with the consequences, sadly.

New nickname for my penis: The Consequences.

hairscapades wrote:New nickname for my penis: The Consequences.

best post

Also ortsz: I would like to recommend Mailman by Robert Lennon

My favourite series would be the Malazan Book of the Fallen
Stand alone books
Metro 2033 was interesting
The Supernaturalist (I read it in grade 6 so it might not be as good as I thought, but I thought it was amazing at the time)

Thanks for the recommendations all, and if you have any more please keep them coming. I'll get to reading many of these soon.

boozy panache wrote:EDIT: gloomp, once again you recommend a book which my feeble local library has never heard of. I'm gonna get my hands on it somehow, so I wanted to ask: is 2666 being unfinished a problem? Is it even unfinished? Wikipedia was a bit unclear.

As I said on IRC, not really and sort of. Read it.

Hey, I've got a book report due soon. What is a short book that is difficult reading, has a complex storyline, great throughout, and clean enough for my Mormon English teacher to read if I recommend it? (If that's even possible....)