Are you a Henry James fan at all? I'd take him over Steinbeck. (Particular favourites: The Golden Bowl, The Wings of the Dove, The Portrait of a Lady).
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro.
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova.
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy; The Honourable Schoolboy, and Smiley's People, all by John le Carré. The books make up the Karla trilogy, and should be read in the order given. Schoolboy has the added plua of being set largely in Asia (Hong Kong, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand).
I'd pack the le Carré novels in my carryon luggage. :-)
I've never read Henry James before, but I might pick up one of his novels next time I head to a bookstore (knowing me, that'll be very soon). I read Never Let Me Go a month or two ago and it left me in an absolutely flaily state. I would pack The Historian, but I have a hardcover version, which might be impractical for packing purposes. Never read le Carré before -- I might give those novels a try too. Thanks for the suggestions!
I read Never Let Me Go a month or two ago and it left me in an absolutely flaily state.
Yes, that was my reaction as well, even though I knew the basics of the plot.
Le Carré is brilliant, as far as I'm concerned, and he has the added advantage of knowing what he's writing about, as he at one time worked for MI6 (until his cover as a British agent was blown by Kim Philby). Read more about him here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_le_Carr%C3%A9
I'm allergic to Steinbeck (except for his Arthurian book), but I will not pass judgement. ;)
Charles Dickens, Bleak House - I tore through this while on vacation in Tennessee. It takes a few chapters to get into it, but once you're in, it is very difficult to stop.
Michael Cox, The Meaning of Night - It had me flailing. Lots. If you enjoyed Diane Setterfield (which I seem to remember you did), you'll love this one. It's good, old-fashioned revenge tragedy. With lots of books.
Carlos Ruis Zafón, The Shadow of the Wind - Creepy, chilling, and mesmerising. It makes me want to go to Barcelona.
Dorothy Dunnett, The Game of Kings or Niccolò Rising - My only caveat is that both of these books begin series, and sometimes one runs into the problem of wanting the next book and it not being available. But I'm in the middle of the second series at the moment, and it's utterly addictive. Plus, she has got such a feel for both periods (sixteenth-century Scotland in GoK and fifteenth-century Bruges in NR). It's staggering.
Ooh, those all look fascinating! I might just substitute one of them for the Steinbeck, which has been sitting on my bookshelf for a few years now and can probably tolerate waiting a little longer. ;)
::snerk:: I tried to read Grapes of Wrath and gave up. I've been told Of Mice and Men is worthwhile, but maybe when I have nothing else to read. Which won't be for...er...yeah.
I just don't like modern American lit. I am rather embarrassed about this, but it's true.
I couldn't get into Steinbeck initially -- it's probably a bad idea for a thirteen year-old to attempt The Grapes of Wrath without the whips of academia behind her -- but I enjoyed the novel when I had to read it for AP English Lit. Modern American lit and I get along rather well, I've realised over the past few years, but I might have to exclude Hemingway in that assessment. I got through The Old Man and the Sea unscathed, but perhaps that was because the book was so short. x)
Consider your Villepin book as soon-to-be-commandered-by-a-Canuck
Ooooh pretty books!
Speaking of the Algerian War one, there was a movie made about 2 years ago starring Jamel Debbouze about the pied-noirs during the war called Indigènes (The Indigenous--but peculiarly retitled as 'Days of Glory'). I'm not 100% sure on the plot, but all I recall about it is that it deals with the war and it was really good Wiki article here
I've actually heard of that film, courtesy of its being nominated for an Academy Award -- another movie to download at some point because I'm too cheap to buy the DVD. :p
Yeah, I never understood why foreign films often have their names changed when it comes time to market them in the U.S. market. Indigènes is a far, far cry away from Days of Glory, or whatever.
I think you would greatly enjoy The God of Small Things, which is really profound and beautifully written, if you haven't already read it. I also recently finished The Power of Myth, which was utterly fascinating. It's really about the nature of humanity, and the role that stories play in it.
something I could instantly get lost in while flying 10,000+ miles above the Pacific Ocean
My problem with books-on-planes is usually that I read fast enough to need a really thick book, but the restrictions of carry-on luggage and the tiny pockets in the nearest seatback usually prevent me from taking one of those.
However: you might like to try George R. R. Martin's A Game of Thrones (I talked about it here - you may or may not have gotten round to it yet), though it is a little dark, so possibly not the 'fun' you were after.
For sheer unmitigated bubbling glee, I would recommend Naomi Novik's Temeraire (I believe the American title is Temeraire: His Majesty's Dragon - excerpt to be found here).
I've actually wanted to read A Game of Thrones for a very long time, as I mentioned in a comment to that post. I also don't mind dark things (and, indeed, I kind of love darker themes), so I guess I'll be picking that one up at the bookstore!
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Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro.
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova.
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy; The Honourable Schoolboy, and Smiley's People, all by John le Carré. The books make up the Karla trilogy, and should be read in the order given. Schoolboy has the added plua of being set largely in Asia (Hong Kong, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand).
I'd pack the le Carré novels in my carryon luggage. :-)
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Yes, that was my reaction as well, even though I knew the basics of the plot.
Le Carré is brilliant, as far as I'm concerned, and he has the added advantage of knowing what he's writing about, as he at one time worked for MI6 (until his cover as a British agent was blown by Kim Philby). Read more about him here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_le_Carr%C3%A9
Reply
Charles Dickens, Bleak House - I tore through this while on vacation in Tennessee. It takes a few chapters to get into it, but once you're in, it is very difficult to stop.
Michael Cox, The Meaning of Night - It had me flailing. Lots. If you enjoyed Diane Setterfield (which I seem to remember you did), you'll love this one. It's good, old-fashioned revenge tragedy. With lots of books.
Carlos Ruis Zafón, The Shadow of the Wind - Creepy, chilling, and mesmerising. It makes me want to go to Barcelona.
Dorothy Dunnett, The Game of Kings or Niccolò Rising - My only caveat is that both of these books begin series, and sometimes one runs into the problem of wanting the next book and it not being available. But I'm in the middle of the second series at the moment, and it's utterly addictive. Plus, she has got such a feel for both periods (sixteenth-century Scotland in GoK and fifteenth-century Bruges in NR). It's staggering.
Reply
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I just don't like modern American lit. I am rather embarrassed about this, but it's true.
Reply
Reply
Ooooh pretty books!
Speaking of the Algerian War one, there was a movie made about 2 years ago starring Jamel Debbouze about the pied-noirs during the war called Indigènes (The Indigenous--but peculiarly retitled as 'Days of Glory'). I'm not 100% sure on the plot, but all I recall about it is that it deals with the war and it was really good Wiki article here
Reply
I've actually heard of that film, courtesy of its being nominated for an Academy Award -- another movie to download at some point because I'm too cheap to buy the DVD. :p
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My problem with books-on-planes is usually that I read fast enough to need a really thick book, but the restrictions of carry-on luggage and the tiny pockets in the nearest seatback usually prevent me from taking one of those.
However: you might like to try George R. R. Martin's A Game of Thrones (I talked about it here - you may or may not have gotten round to it yet), though it is a little dark, so possibly not the 'fun' you were after.
For sheer unmitigated bubbling glee, I would recommend Naomi Novik's Temeraire (I believe the American title is Temeraire: His Majesty's Dragon - excerpt to be found here).
Reply
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