<p>just beautifully written. Helpful for vocab acquisition, too, probably.</p>
<p>the Pushcart War by Jean Merrill is a young book, but funny as can be.</p>
<p>the Agony and the Ecstasy by Irving Stone–about Michelangelo</p>
<p>I learned about history of several places by reading James Michener’s novels</p>
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<p>That’s why…</p>
<p>Catcher in the Rye
Harry Potter books</p>
<p>After reading some really boring crap for a long time, I saw my HP #6 on my bookshelf and decided to start reading it the other day, lol I go so addicted I finished in 2 days. Gotta love Potter.</p>
<p>Nthing Discworld. Terry Pratchett is just awesome. I’d also recommend his collaborative work Good Omens, which was written with Neil Gaiman, and Gaiman’s other novels (particularly American Gods). Both are fantasy, although Gaiman is a little more horror-y and Pratchett is generally more funny/satirical/philosophical. </p>
<p>If you like the Victorian style of writing, I really love Naomi Novik’s Temeraire series. It’s written in that fashion, but the stories themselves are fairly modern in their outlook. They’re set during the Napoleonic Wars with the minor change of adding dragons to world fauna, and it’s really fascinating to see the differences of cultures with dragons involved. I find that her writing style really helps me get into the story. This is historical fantasy. </p>
<p>Christopher Moore and A. Lee Martinez are also lighter, funnier reads.</p>
<p>angela’s ashes.</p>
<p>a tree grows in brooklyn.</p>
<p>and, al franken! whoo.</p>
<p>“and it’s really fascinating to see the differences of cultures with dragons involved.” lawl</p>
<p>I’d suggest Joyce and Faulkner. When you’re done with them, reread Joyce and Faulkner.</p>
<p>I looooovvvvvvveeeeee David Sedaris! I just recently “discovered” him.
I also read The Autobio of Malcolm X and that was amazing.
I love Jasper Fforde–he was on the NYT bestseller’s list but is still little-known. He’s good for ppl who read a lot of classics b/c it has a lot of those references but also ppl who like clever spoofs.
Vonnegut’s OK–I’m reading Slaughterhouse Five but I definitely liked Cat’s Cradle a ton better.
I’ll post more when I think of it that hasn’t already been said.</p>
<p>I think everyone should, at one point, read Ayn Rand. Her works are worth having an opinion about, either way, and make for good discussion.</p>
<p>Kurt Vonnegut’s pretty cool…somewhat. Some of his stories though, I am at a lack of words, or response, for. Those are the times I question my intelligence along with his sanity.</p>
<p>Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s series is awesome, as well as his Shadow series. I stopped liking him as much when he got into the profoundly religious (Mormon) stories, but I can assure you that the latest installment of the Shadow series is most excellent.</p>
<p>Violin, by Anne Rice – the only Anne Rice book I like a lot. It is a departure from her customary tales of vampires, and maybe I just really like music in general. She has pretty descriptions too. Actually, it’s just a very pretty piece.</p>
<p>And then of course, I almost completely forgot about Robert Heinlein (“The Moon is a Harsh Mistress” “Strangers in a Strange Land”). Oh, and Lester del Rey, especially for his short story, “The Smallest God,” because I found that entertaining and adorable.</p>
<p>I read from the Norton Reader, so yeah, thats fun :/</p>
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<p>Is Shakespeare not a playwright?</p>
<p>Vonnegut, definitely. Cat’s Cradle is good, but my favortie (so far) is Slaughterhouse 5. </p>
<p>The Lovely Bones was absorbing. I ended up reading it in about a day and half because I couldn’t put it down. I’ve only read Ender’s Game (Orson Scott Card) but I highly recommend it. </p>
<p>Right now, I’m reading a book called Language in Thought and Action, which is absolutely fascinating. It’s non-fiction though, so depending on your reading tastes… </p>
<p>A Clockwork Orange is a good read, as is 1984. Those are on a lot of school reading lists though, so you may have read them already. </p>
<p>proletariat2: Are you reading the Lorca translated, or in the original? I’ve never read any of his plays, but I wrote a paper on his poetry for my (college) Spanish class last semester.</p>
<p>The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins is pretty controversial, but really interesting…I’m about 2/3rds done with it now.</p>
<p>I love that I can finally read random books on my own for once now that I’m a second semester senior! Before it seemed that I only had time for required school readings…</p>
<p>I haven’t read in so long..</p>
<ul>
<li>Les Miserables (Long,even the abridged version, but I loved it)</li>
<li>Ender’s Game (Most of you probably read it but if not, it’s a must-read)</li>
<li>Dan Brown books are great thrillers, but a little cheesy. Angels & Demons, The Da Vinci Code.</li>
<li>Brave New World</li>
<li>Animal Farm (This is really short, I read it in like an hour. I recommend if you haven’t read it before)</li>
<li>And SAT prep books, of course..</li>
</ul>
<p>Btw, I absolutely hate Beloved. It was assigned to my class for reading, I guess it’s just not my thing.</p>
<p>edit: Oh and the 47 ronin is a really good book too. Dunno if anyone ever heard of it but it’s basically a group of samurai who wants to avenge the death of their leader.</p>
<p>I loved Ender’s Game and especially The Lovely Bones. </p>
<p>If you like scientific thrillers, I’d suggest Deception Point by Dan Brown. I’m not a very quick reader, but Deception Point was the only 700-800pg book that I read in 3 days. :D</p>
<p>Ugh, I can’t stand Dan Brown. Nor Harry Potter, for that matter. Haven’t read more than half a book for either of them. Rowling’s and Brown’s writing styles just annoy me to no end. Maybe I’m just a picky reader, though.</p>
<p>I really like the Pullman books, about the only books I can read more than once. I like Evonovich too, but that’s more of a lighter read.</p>
<p>The most interesting and most well-written Dan Brown book, imo, is Digital Fortress.</p>
<p>Einstein’s Dreams.
Usually a college freshman level reading book but I read it first in my fish year high school because of a recommendation from a friend. Actually finished the book in my junior year. Most amazing thing I’ve ever read.</p>
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<p>Unfortunately, translated. I couldn’t find a copy of the original.</p>
<p>Catch-22 is hilarious</p>
<p>The Count of Monte Cristo is a more tragic story, but it really is one of the best books ever written (IMO).</p>