<p>Ayn Rand - Atlas shrugged and fountainhead... have to rank amongst the best of all time</p>
<p>Cant stand Catcher in the Rye</p>
<p>Try Eugene Onegin by Alexander Pushkin.. had to read it for school but loved it</p>
<p>Oh, for historical fiction, I like the author Ann Rinaldi (I think that's how you spell her name...), although her books would be an "easy read" for you.</p>
<p>I think I will re-read Catcher in the Rye now!!:p</p>
<p>Hm has no one mentioned Life of Pi yet? Yann Martel did a pretty good job, methinks.</p>
<p>I have to agree with watercannon!!! READ AYN RAND'S ATLAS SHRUGGED!!!
It's one of those books that change your life.</p>
<p>I loved the Catcher in the Rye
This one is more of a funny book, but Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
And one of my all time favorites is Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe</p>
<p>CDN_dancer,</p>
<p>My H just retired and his first act was to read two books:</p>
<p>Les Miserables and Frankenstein</p>
<p>He thought both were superb, but after thirty-some years in the workforce, that could be a qualified "superb", I suppose.</p>
<p>Haven't heard of Ann Rinaldi. Will look her up.</p>
<p>
[quote]
And one of my all time favorites is Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
[/quote]
Whoa, cool. Cornell's picking that book for the freshmen summer reading.</p>
<p>How is it that so many people liked catcher in the rye?!! It was so hyped up that i forced myself to read till the end, waiting for the pickup in the storyline which never came..</p>
<p>The Dante Club, by Matthew Pearl, was a good read..
I would definitely recommend Vanity Fair, by William M. Thackery, although it's a bit hard to get into at first. It's nothing like the movie... the book was much better.
Paolo Maurensig's works aren't usually in stock, but I used to be obsessed with his book, Canone Inverso. It's worthwhile to wait for the book to be ordered... although I read it a year or two ago, so it may have lost its charm on me.
I loved John Grisham's old books, although I was interested in law at that time. Of course, many people have recommended Dan Brown's books.. they are really good, and thought-provoking. Sylvia Platt was already mentioned, and she's one of my favorite authors. Her collection of poetry is wonderful- I loved Ariel.
Just browse through the bookstore- there are always hidden treasures that just haven't become mainstream yet.</p>
<p>John Grisham is great and so is Richard North Patterson
< A fan of the courtroom stories:)</p>
<p>Hawk's Nest by Hubert Skidmore (Semi-Fictional story based on an actual event. The story of the Hawk's Nest Tunnel Project in Gauley, West Virginia.)</p>
<p>Bastard Out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison</p>
<p>Lies My Teacher Told Me, Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong by James W. Loewen</p>
<p>The true confessions of charlotte doyle - avi
The power of one - bryce courtenay (definitely the best on this list!!)
Napoleon's Buttons (a must read!)</p>
<p>"Love" by Toni Morrison is a recent favorite
also recommend "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" series especially to those math dorks, but to anyone.. soooo funny
and if you're into funny, read David Sedaris, especially "Me Talk Pretty One Day" and "Naked" sooo hysterical</p>
<p>David Sedaris is really funny!!!</p>
<p>Any chris crutcher books are REALLY awesome especially his autobiography. They are easy reads that are very entertaining!!</p>
<p>You mention "coming of age" stories, so I suggest Prep, which I thought was quite good. Great handling of some of the discomfort between adolescents and the adult world, especially parental units. I think the young author is a really talented writer.</p>
<p>If you liked Dan Brown:</p>
<p>Quattrocento
The Flanders Panel
The Rule of Four</p>
<p>If you are looking for something more serious, try focusing on some American authors.</p>
<p>Edith Wharton (everything but Ethan Frome)
Henry James
Read these two as a single challenge; they are so wrapped in the same world and in each other.</p>
<p>Some other clusters are:</p>
<p>F. Scott Fitzgerald
Ernest Hemingway</p>
<p>Faulkner
Flannery O'Connor
Eudora Welty
Tennessee Williams</p>
<p>Harper Lee (Remember To Kill a Mockingbird--re read it, and then...)
Truman Capote ( ..the Southern ones...)
Carson McCullers</p>
<p>For a thematic rush, read:</p>
<p>Beloved by Toni Morrison
Sophie's Choice by William Styron
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan</p>
<p>leigh787 - I loved The Life of Pi! Try reading The Kite Runner, perhaps we share similar tastes.</p>