MetaChat - Which book should I read?

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31 August 2007

Which book should I read? I just bought a nice little stack home from the thrift shop. A dollah fiddy for all 5. Which one should I bring with me when I go to the beach for the weekend? I like to read in bed and on the beach.→[More:]

Angela's Ashes - Frank McCourt
Slaughterhouse Five - KV (have read before but long ago)
A Passage to India - EM Forster (saw the movie forever ago, loved it)
The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul - Douglas Adams
The Russian Debutante's Handbook - Shteyngart

post by: iconomy at: 12:28 | 13 comments

The Adams. Pure fun.

posted by Ambrosia Voyeur 31 August | 12:31

Out of your list I've only read Slaughterhouse Five (in school) and Angela's Ashes. Angela's Ashes is one of my favorite books. Definitely bring it. It's not your typical "beach read" but it's a great book.

posted by LoriFLA 31 August | 12:34

That Shteyngart is a good read, I call it A Confederacy of Дункеs.

posted by Hugh Janus 31 August | 12:44

Shteyngart. I haven't read that one, but Absurdistan is a good ol' time.

posted by box 31 August | 12:46

I couldn't get Absurdistan from the library for so long I forgot I was looking for it. Thanks for the reminder. Angela's Ashes was quite the page turner.

posted by rainbaby 31 August | 12:55

I've read 4/5 on your list so here's my two cents about the ones I've read:

-Angela's Ahses: uber depressing but such a good read
-Slaughterhouse five: uber good but possibly depressing. Oodles of dark humour.
-A Passage to India: hated it hard. Had to read it for an english course and will never read it again.
-Turns out I haven't read this one, misread the title (I saw Salmon of Doubt...I'm not very literate) but I love DA so it will be funny and not as heavy as the others.
-Dunno, never read it.

posted by LunaticFringe 31 August | 13:05

Angela's Ashes.

posted by essexjan 31 August | 13:32

Passage to India! It's the perfect beach book, long and lush and lovely. Okay, yeah, slightly depressing, so bring the Douglas Adams as an antidote. I've read all of them except the Shteyngart and Angela's Ashes depressed the HELL out of me, while Slaughterhouse 5 has never been one of my favorite Vonneguts.

posted by mygothlaundry 31 August | 13:52

Is Absurdistan really good? It's been on my bedside table FOREVER! I keep meaning to start it.

Angela's Ashes is good. Not exactly a feel-good book, but hey, your own childhood will inevitably seem like heaven in comparison. :)

posted by miss lynnster 31 August | 17:03

I think you should take The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul. It's easy, light reading and there is one bit in there having to do with a nose that makes me laugh hard enough that I cry. The first time I read the book I was on a plane when that bit came up and the people around me could not figure out why I was laughing and crying like a maniac. The same thing has happened every other time I've read it since. (I've probably read it 6 times or so.) YMMV.

posted by fluffy battle kitten 31 August | 18:11

Slaughterhouse Five!!!!!

posted by youngergirl44 31 August | 21:44

Angela's Ashes... you'll love it.

posted by hadjiboy 01 September | 10:36

Thanks for all the suggestions! I'm reading Angela's Ashes. It's fantastic so far, halfway through. I still have to get acclimated to the conversation style of no quotes.

posted by iconomy 01 September | 22:03

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