<p>^^ I read Dante’s Inferno, first on my own and a second time as part of my English Lit syllabus. It was an interesting enough read, and there’s plenty of imagery to keep you from getting bored. You don’t need much acumen to see Dante’s dislike for certain members of the Church and his local government.</p>
<p>Someone suggest some physics books lol. Preferably relating to astro-, quantum, or general theoretical physics.</p>
<p>Can’t support you on Fablehaven – it reads like a failed screenplay.</p>
<p>The Hunger Games and its sequel Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins are the best books I’ve read in a very long time. Dystopian YA in a future United States.</p>
<p>catcher in the rye and a tree grows in brooklyn were by far my favorites</p>
<p>What about freakonomics? I’m not normally into books like that and Outliers, but I have heard some good things about Freakonomics (and I LOVE econ) so I was jw if anyone had read it</p>
<p>^ If you actually are interested in economics, Freakonomics + SuperFreakonomics are **** books.</p>
<p>The best books I’ve read recently were Slaughterhouse-Five and The Once and Future King.</p>
<p>I also highly recommend the Game of Thrones series.</p>
<p>I just skipped around to the interesting chapters in Freakonomics. I thought it was alright.</p>
<p>Oh and in response to the Physics request what about Faster than the Speed of Light by Joao Magueijo. I read the beginning a while back and I’m planning on reading the rest when I have time. It’s theoretical, innovative, and interesting, and well-explained…perhaps overly so (but tbh, remember im not very far in the book)</p>
<p>@ Jersey13…the asteriks in your response are indicating a negative review, right? Haha 
that is what I assumed about the book…thanks</p>
<p>
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<p>I didn’t know what time the gathering started at!</p>
<p>In addition, I also suggest the following:</p>
<ul>
<li>* The Great Gatsby </li>
<li> Lolita <a href=“I%20haven’t%20read%20this,%20but%20I%20intend%20to%20soon.”>/i</a></li>
</ul>
<p>Gah I do not understand the interest in Great Gatsby or To Kill a Mockingbird. Perhaps I read them at too late an age (10th grade haha) but to me they seemed like simply written and poorly constructed in regards to literary devices, books that have been blown out of proportion due to so many people calling them “classics.” Haha what exactly am I missing?</p>
<p>^Well, I think that the two books were more popular when they were written because at the time the issues were more directly relevant to that time period’s society. For example, during the 1920’s women had just acquired the right to vote and society began to emphasize the importance of the American Dream and the alternations beginning to take place amongst the new generation. Fitzgerald ultimately points out the misconceptions that individuals possessed regarding the American Dream, while also incorporating his own personal accounts and struggles through his elaboration of some of the characters.</p>
<p>Thank you so much, everyone! I will take these books into consideration. I read The Tipping Point (Gladwell) last year as an assingment for AP Lang, and really enjoyed it. I have also read 1984 and The Kite Runner, they are excellent! Flipped is great as well, my sister actually just did a project on it! :)</p>
<p>Thank you again for these suggestions. I have been meaning to read “The Jungle”, but if I do, will it totally turn me away from any meat?</p>
<p>Ah, I read Gatsby as well, and because I read it in class, we analyzed the book (i’m talking word for word). The symbolism is AMAZING. It’s ridiculous. If anyone is interested in symbolism, please PLEASE PLEASE read Lord of the Flies. Everything in there is somehow symbolic… golding is a genuis!!!</p>
<p>Pastoralia by George Saunders(it’s a collection of a novella and short stories).
I just finished reading this book and it’s really amazing, especially the last story called “The Falls”. It became my third favorite book after 1984 and Surely You’re Joking Mr.Feynman.</p>
<p>I’ve never personally read The Jungle but if you really like meat, I doubt it will turn you away from eating it. It’s like Supersize Me. If you really like fast food (like me), it won’t actually turn you away from it. Watching Supersize Me actually made me more hungry. And no, I’m not some overweight person, but I do eat fast food roughly 5 times a month probably.</p>
<p>^ nope…it’s not as gross as they say it is</p>
<p>And at @ warts, yes but simply because an author portrays a time period, does not make a great literary work. I suppose if they were the first to address it the it is revolutionary and important to history but I am more impressed with those who are able to incorporate thoughts on a time with a skillful use of literature. Not hating on F Scott Fitzgerald or Harper Lee, they were both great authors, but there are most certaintly better books out there that also capture a time period (Grapes of Wrath etc.) and I am surprised at how very many ppl recommend these 2 books.</p>
<p>^That’s solely a perception though. I personally am more fond of * The Great Gatsby * because I found it to be written well, while also addressing common misconceptions during the time that it was written. In addition, I enjoy books where authors incorporate their own perceptions and replicate themselves through their usage of characters in a way that make the books personal. I think that books are generally perceived more preferably when the material is more applicable and relevant to the readers.</p>
<p>@ hellohelicopter…great gatsby has symbolism but it’s hardly as complex as other greater works (again, a tale of two cities). Plus it is all obvious symbolism (gold/silver clothes = money, hot weather = hot plot, eyes, etc…it’s been a while since I read it). Haha sorry i’m totally not trying to argue with anyone and I don’t hate those 2 books, there’s just nothing better than a book debate while procrastinating on Chem hmwrk :)</p>
<p>Lol. I’m looking through this thread while procrastinating as well. Have to write an outline for an autopsy for anatomy >_<</p>