I just recently started reading The Dark Tower series by Stephen King. There are 7 in the series and I'm about halfway done flying through the second one and it's quite amazing. I recommend it to anyone looking for a nice long story about alternate realities, junkies, violence and much more. Many of my family members have read the series, and my mom who is an avid reader (or used to be, now she's just an avid Hulu watcher) says it's her favorite read. The first one is called The Gunslinger, check it out, oh yeah, do it. Anyway I figured a forum full of all types of drug users and crazies must have read some good books in their time. Tell me what you recommend and I will be grateful. :2thumbsup:
The Dark tower series is awesome! I stopped reading it though, I think on "The wolves of calla" or maybe "the song of susannah" after it... Because I was mugged and my bag with the book in (which I was borrowing) was stolen. My life has actually been ruined by thieves. Hmm. Now I think about it, I can hardly remember the books, although the part with Blane and the number keypad stands out, the city with the war between the "greys" and "pubes" and of course the acquisition of the aspirin! For fiction, I would strongly recommend the Discworld series, absolutely outstanding, especially the City Watch books (Men at arms, feet of clay, guard! guards!, the fifth elephant, thump etc). Much better if read in chronological order. There are around 30 books in the series atm, I think. The author (Terry Pratchett) blends traditional fantasy with modern attitudes and perspectives, often nodding at classic films and cultural icons, sometimes obviously but sometimes very sneakily. Like the main character of "soul music" who becomes basically a rock and roll star. And he's an elf. He's elvish. Get it?
Read The Talisman by Stephen King and Peter Straub. I always recommend this book for people who 'hate' kings work. I know king fans will love it but none will as well. The book is an incredible journey of a boy, jack, who knows his mother is dying, he then travels to other worlds or dimensions?? You make your own conclusion on that after you read it. The book has great characters that you really care for. It has scary, adventure, thrills, sadness all the while you are cheering for jack to make it! The characters are very old, very young, sick, dying, one of the best characters of all is a wolf. I try to get everyone to read it because its just so good. Go to amazon.com and read the reviews on it, good luck finding a single person who says this book is not pure joy. If you don't like king's work READ IT, if you like king's work READ IT! You will like no matter what!
i love to read. i like the Kushiel books by Jacqueline Carey, the Earths Children series by Jean Auel (that last one was incredibly disappointing though) and the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. my favorite Stephen King include the Stand, Insomnia, and the Bachman Books. The Long Walk and Rage are just awesome. i think all kids should have to read Rage, though he let it fall out of print. i think thats a disservice, its a poignant story that makes you think.
The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner He has a reputation for being 'difficult' but I think it is overstated. I read this book on my own in highschool, and the section everyone says is so incomprehensible (the first third of the book, which is told from the perspective of a mentally handicapped young man) I read in a single sitting. The only other work of his I've read is As I Lay Dying, which was also good but not as visceral as TSATF. Nausea by Jean Paul Sartre An incredible existential novel about a man who is made nauseas by his own existence. It's filled with pessimistic philosophy and overflowing with an uncompromising sense of intellectual inquiry. Highly recommended. Beautiful Boy by David Sheff I'm reading this now, I'm about 80% done with it. I've only been reading it for a few days, and I don't have the attention span to get through something so quickly unless I absolutely can't put it down. It's interesting in that its a memoir, but the subject is not the author. David Sheff writes about his son's (Nic) steady descent into a nasty methamphetamine addiction. Anyone who has struggled with substance abuse of any kind will probably see a lot of themselves in Nic. I did. In the beginning of the book David kind of pissed me off when he went on a rant about how durgs r so bad and marijuana is a gateway drug and all that stereotypical bullshit. But once you get past that, it's incredibly compelling reading. And I think if anyone has a right to be critical of drugs, it's the father of a meth addict.
I read to learn.. not to entertain.. most of my recent book purchases are flora/fauna related... or related to fishing and other outdoor happenings..
I don't think I've read a single book where I haven't learned one thing or another. I see what you're saying though, non-fiction books to boost up your knowledge, always fun stuff. Thanks for the recommendations everyone, I think I actually have The Talisman lying around I'll definitely read it.
Philip K Dick. ESPECIALLY his highly underrated straight fiction. So much insight, such great complicated, yet concise pulp. Shows the most understanding of human beings and human thought of any writer. I Am Legend by Richard Mathesson So ridiculously, seriously dark. American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis Best satire ever. A History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters by Julian Barnes Amazingly creative, insightful, fun read Flaubert's Parrot by Julian Barnes A tougher, more cerebral read, one of the most amazing books ever though; almost all of the story is basically a metaphor, explained in the final chapter or so Edith Wharton - any book Such amazingly beautiful, effective prose. Her words are the most controlled, elegant strokes rivaled by the best realist painters.
I'm currently reading the Silmarillion by JRR Tolkien for the second time around. Everybody says it's a hard read, but it's really good.
I've been obsessed with David Sedaris lately: Let's Go Explore Diabetes with Owls Me Talk Pretty One Day When You're Engulfed by Flames Or if you get into anime, I can list a dozen great reads
