<p>some literary value would be nice too...your favs? some of mine for reference:</p>
<p>perks of being a wallflower, youth in revolt, catcher in the rye, harry potter, ender's game, ender's shadow, kite runner, giver, watchmen</p>
<p>THANKS</p>
<p>TWILIGHT.</p>
<p>jkjkjkjk.</p>
<p>but i suggest the classic "Stowaway" fun book i read in 4th grade.
or the sherlock holmes unabridged collection.</p>
<p>animorphs definitely</p>
<p>the bible (science fiction/fantasy)</p>
<p>Pullman's Northern Lights, Subtle Knife and Amber Spyglass.</p>
<p>
[quote]
the bible (science fiction/fantasy)
[/quote]
? Definitely not science fiction... the Bible has neither the themes nor the stylistic choices which identify science fiction.</p>
<p>Honestly, I am not a big fan of the bible, either (thing belongs in an anthropology museum, not in the nightstands of motels), but there is no need to make stuff up.</p>
<p>Anyways, as far as light reading goes, the Goosebump series is entertaining. If you want some actual literature (you liked The Catcher in the Rye, after all), try The Stranger by Albert Camus, a most excellent book dealing with existentialism and absurdism. Mind you, the plot is not very interesting at all... to enjoy the book, you have to think about what everything means and analyze what all represents.</p>
<p>Somewhere in between the 2, how about The Little Prince? Pretty good book, entertaining on both an infantile and philosophically mature level.</p>
<p>If you liked The Giver, I recommend you look into other dystopia novels, namely 1984 and Brave New World. If you end up liking 1984, check out Animal Farm by the same author. 1984 is laced with more political and historical ideas than The Giver, though.</p>
<p>Then there is always Shakespeare. The Bard can be very entertaining to read. Try Julius Caesar, Romeo and Juliet, or Hamlet. They are pretty fun.</p>
<p>That's all I can think of right now. Hope that helps!</p>
<p>lately i've fallen in love w/classical books; like something written by Jane Austen. My fave was Pride and Prejudice. I also liked The Bronze Bow(little religous, but not much). Or Timothy and The Cay or even Dicey's Song (really loved that one!) I think there's a sequal too...</p>
<p>Have you read There Eyes Were Watching God? (not religous) but great nontheless. </p>
<p>If your looking for something really deep (meaning of life n all that) you could read Tuesdays With Morrie</p>
<p>P.S this is a great thread!</p>
<p>animorphs, goosebumps, the bible, a book you read in 4th grade? come on, ha! Also- some of those other books aren't exactly entertaining. the book needs to have a plot...and an interesting one...as well as characters and some value. thanks</p>
<p>edit- 1984, the stranger, pride and prejiduce, and their eyes were watching god were basically all required reading...most of them aren't page-turners</p>
<p>Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy, all of them - Douglas Adams
The Gun Seller - Hugh Laurie
The Rainmaker - John Grisham
Rising Sun - Michael Crichton
Anything by Bill Bryson</p>
<p>1984 is awesome, but I wouldn't call it entertaining. It is pretty intense</p>
<p>Zora Neale Hurston is superawesome. Their Eyes Were Watching God was great. I also second Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Maybe Artemis Fowl too, for it's readability and really interesting story.</p>
<p>lol Youth in Revolt. The sequels are really annoying.</p>
<p>You do have to have certain taste to read 1984. But it is a good book.</p>
<p>I second the Camus suggestion.</p>
<p>'Entertaining', and you like Harry Potter? I recommend anything by Douglas Adams, Neil Gaiman, or Terry Pratchett.</p>
<p>The Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris, wonderful read.
Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs (A little graphic at parts)</p>
<p>That's all I can really think of at the moment.</p>
<p>If you're on a French bent (Camus, Saint-Exupery, etc.), I highly suggest Sartre. I liked "Huis Clos" ("No Exit"), and I also enjoyed what I read of "Les Mouches" ("The Flies"?).</p>
<p>I'm not sure about Sartre and Camus. Both authors are great, but someone who is unfamiliar with existentialism would probably not understand the point of most of their novels.</p>
<p>^Wouldn't the novels serve as an introduction to existentialism, then? Besides, getting the basics of existentialism is as brief as looking up the Wikipedia page, or reading and understanding the following poem by Stephen Crane:</p>
<p>
[quote]
A man said to the universe:
"Sir I exist!"
"However," replied the universe,
"The fact has not created in me
A sense of obligation."
[/quote]
Anyways, I refrained from recommending No Exit because it is a short play rather than a full novel, but if you are into it, by all means, read it. Great stuff.</p>
<p>
[quote]
edit- 1984, the stranger, pride and prejiduce, and their eyes were watching god were basically all required reading...most of them aren't page-turners
[/quote]
I beg to differ on 1984. Once you get into it, it has all the suspense of a Michael Crichton book. I remember I finished reading it at like 3 in the morning because I just could not put it down in the end (unfortunately, that ending made it hard for me to sleep >.<).</p>
<p>But anyways, speaking of Michael Crichton, how about Jurassic Park?</p>
<p>alright well i already own 1984...so once i decide to read it ill have it..i started it a bit back but never got into it...any others? i cant see how your favorite books are so scholarly >< ...im waiting for someone to recommend the fountainhead or something..i mean i have nothing against that, but i want some super entertaining books that are also valuable...</p>
<p>
[quote]
^Wouldn't the novels serve as an introduction to existentialism, then? Besides, getting the basics of existentialism is as brief as looking up the Wikipedia page, or reading and understanding the following poem by Stephen Crane:
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Yes, it may serve as an introduction to existentialism, but I don't think just reading the books would give anyone a true knowledge of the subject. A full understanding of the implications of such a philosophy would take years to acquire, and though it may seem simple for anyone to say that they understand existentialism, this is rarely the case. Concepts like total liberty and the inherent meaninglessness of life are not ones that can be easily grasped, and I will be the first to say that the magnitude of either hasn't struck me yet, and it possibly never will.</p>
<p>Either way, this thread is for "very entertaining books," and I think that, though interesting, Sartre and Camus wouldn't necessarily fit into this category.</p>
<p>Most of my favorites have already been mentioned, but I'd like to recommend The Gospel According to Larry, by Janet Tashjian. It's a light read, but it also gives you something to think about.</p>