06-15-2003, 10:37 PM
I probably couldn't tell you my absolute favorite book, don't think one exists. But I'll give my little list.
Red Mars/Green Mars/Blue Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson - trilogy of 600-800 page books about the colonization and terraforming of Mars. Takes place over a period between 150-200 years, lots of stuff happens, even an Earth-Mars war of sorts. Most of the main characters stay throughout all three books because they have created technology to lengthen lifespans... which has problems on its own. Very hard to read, lots of science stuff, also very uniquely written. It's the not-too-distant future, so don't expect Star Trek type stuff... and no, there are no aliens.
The Stranger (L'etranger) by Albert Camus - everyone should read this book, it's the best existentialist book ever written. And no, Meursault is not a monster, he is misunderstood....
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller - ultimate in absurdity... love it.
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger - who hasn't heard of it? Most famous work of American literature.
I may edit to add on... to be honest, I don't do very much reading outside of school stuff. The main reason is usually I would always have something to read for school, hard to read other things at the same time, no real time. I'll try reading some stuff this summer, though. Tried reading Tropic of Cancer... didn't get past 60 pages, it truly sucks.
As for my favorite authors. I'll say I guess my favorite literary author is Albert Camus (al-bare kah-moo... none of this "kay-muss" stuff). I consider many of my philosophies and my writing as existentialist, and The Stranger is an unbelievable book. Camus never admitted to being existentialist... but he is. He is also a good writer of just about everything else, not just books... he did plays, short stories, and even some poetry I believe.
I also enjoy Michael Crichton. Awesome author. Of course, Stephen King. Kim Stanley Robinson just for the Mars trilogy. The one writer that everyone should like, unless you are braindead, is William Shakespeare. Same as with the books, I'll add-on more later.
Red Mars/Green Mars/Blue Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson - trilogy of 600-800 page books about the colonization and terraforming of Mars. Takes place over a period between 150-200 years, lots of stuff happens, even an Earth-Mars war of sorts. Most of the main characters stay throughout all three books because they have created technology to lengthen lifespans... which has problems on its own. Very hard to read, lots of science stuff, also very uniquely written. It's the not-too-distant future, so don't expect Star Trek type stuff... and no, there are no aliens.
The Stranger (L'etranger) by Albert Camus - everyone should read this book, it's the best existentialist book ever written. And no, Meursault is not a monster, he is misunderstood....
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller - ultimate in absurdity... love it.
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger - who hasn't heard of it? Most famous work of American literature.
I may edit to add on... to be honest, I don't do very much reading outside of school stuff. The main reason is usually I would always have something to read for school, hard to read other things at the same time, no real time. I'll try reading some stuff this summer, though. Tried reading Tropic of Cancer... didn't get past 60 pages, it truly sucks.
As for my favorite authors. I'll say I guess my favorite literary author is Albert Camus (al-bare kah-moo... none of this "kay-muss" stuff). I consider many of my philosophies and my writing as existentialist, and The Stranger is an unbelievable book. Camus never admitted to being existentialist... but he is. He is also a good writer of just about everything else, not just books... he did plays, short stories, and even some poetry I believe.
I also enjoy Michael Crichton. Awesome author. Of course, Stephen King. Kim Stanley Robinson just for the Mars trilogy. The one writer that everyone should like, unless you are braindead, is William Shakespeare. Same as with the books, I'll add-on more later.