Thread: Books that are must reads before you die ?

Okay. I have to say it.

The Bible.

Boom.

Pow.

(glam metal scream) Yeaaahhhhh!

SRP Library.

Forgot to mention that for me motorcycle, car and various engine repair manuals & blueprints have been 'must' reading. It's not that i wanted. I just had to.

While waiting for the next Vince Flynn book which may come out this fall, I have read a couple of the Jack Reacher stories, written by Lee Child, "One Shot," and "Killing Floor." It's good reading.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Now I am starting out on Moby Dick and I will finish it. Next up is Marcel Proust Remembrance Of Things Past. Another one I tried and failed to read 25 or 30 years ago. Keeps life interesting. Anyone else have books that are must reads before they die ?

I know this is replying to an old post but it should have given you enough time. Have you finished reading Moby Dick?

That is one of the books/authors that this thread has lead me to try. It took me about a week. One of the things that I liked about it is the chapters are so short and a lot of time are disjointed from each other so you can read for a few minutes and set it down not being in the middle of anything in particular. The biggest negative I can think about at the moment is the story could have been told in less than 1/4 of the length. There is a lot of filler. It reminds me of having an assignment of 10 pages in school and only having 2 pages of material. What can I put in the middle to make it long enough?

Another author that I hadn't tried was Franz Kafka. I also got his complete stories. Some of the BS that got added to that collection was also filler of notes that he asked to be destroyed upon his death. I can see why. Unfinished junk. I did prefer, In the Penal Colony, over from what I gather is his most famous story, The Metamorphosis. I would recommend these as a read. Maybe not for everyone but the stories are short enough you won't feel like you have wasted your time if you don't like them.

Then added to the list is The Complete Novels of James Joyce. I made about 50 pages into Ulysses before I could go no further. I will have to work at these stories! He strikes me as a literary snob. Many of the books and stories that are considered classics are written by these literary snobs for other snobs. They think that if you don't understand you are not as smart as they are. I had a Seventh grade English teacher that is the type of person that I am thinking of. They have a little group that plays games with each other and hold themselves above the rest of us. I will leave this one lay out for a while and pick it up when I am bored but I can't see me spending much time with Mr. Joyce.

Tim

P.S. I did pick up a Noodlers Ahab pen today! I thought that was an omen even if Ahab didn't believe in them!

As far as Proust goes, "Remembrance of Things Past" is a great read. Yes there are times where it gets a little boring and monotonous. But there are also parts that are so damn captivating that you read 400 pages in a single night.

Books originally written in English that I have read and impressed me, are:

The Painted Bird by Jerzy Kosinski

In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

Down The River, Or Practical Lessons Under The Code Duello by George W. Hooper. This thing has it all, intrigue, mystery, and boat trips down the Chattahootchie River. It also gives us a glimpse into 19th century genteel mentality as well as a look at the ritual and ceremony that goes along with intentionally plotting to kill another human being in the name of honor. A two-page description of how a person bows is definately pushing the envelope, but the end result is humorous and surprisingly educational.

Kafka's The Metamorphosis is, for some odd reason, a page turner. It's about a guy who wakes up in the morning only to discover he has turned into a large cockroach. Really weird but a great read nonetheless.

Some favorite authors and books that I've read repeatedly in my life and probably will continue to read:
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
Anything by Carlos Castineda
Charles Bukowski
Richard Brautigan
Ernest Hemmingway (of course)
Mark Twain (probably the greatest American writer ever)

"Fox in Socks" by Dr. Seuss