In English class we're supposed to read a novel of our choice. I was wondering what you recommend, or better yet what you favorites are.

If you're supposed to read a piece of literature I'd recommend "Heart of Darkness" by Joseph Conrad. It has a couple of things going for it: it's very short so it shouldn't take too long to read, it has many different themes with many interpretations so it is easy to analyse and it's written very well with vivid imagery and a unique writing style. It never really becomes dry but it's worth mentioning that most of it is very descriptive so if you don't like that you may want to stay away from it.

Edit: If you can read any type of book you like read "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams. I can't recommend this book enough. It's brutally hilarious and even slightly thought provoking not to mention the writing style makes it a very easy and interesting read.

Originally posted by Elite666@Aug 25 2004, 07:28 PM
Edit: If you can read any type of book you like read "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams. I can't recommend this book enough. It's brutally hilarious and even slightly thought provoking not to mention the writing style makes it a very easy and interesting read.
Thats what I was going to suggest.
Absolutely infectious. A super easy read with a ton of fun things to discuss.
^_^

The Horse whisperer and The Loop (both by Nicholas Evans) are nice books in my opinion, really well written, I went through both if them in a breeze.

I personally prefer the Dragonlance series by Maragret Weis and Tracy Hickman. Really great books.

Originally posted by Phoenix@Aug 26 2004, 01:02 PM
I personally prefer the Dragonlance series by Maragret Weis and Tracy Hickman. Really great books.
i like those books too! but i havent read most of them....

i recommend "Wizard's First Rule" by Terry Goodkind. its about a woods guide becoming a great warrior.

Originally posted by AznJoe@Aug 26 2004, 10:30 PM
i like those books too! but i havent read most of them....

i recommend "Wizard's First Rule" by Terry Goodkind. its about a woods guide becoming a great warrior.
that series gets boring after a while, but cara is hot :>

I don't read many novels but my sister reccomends The First Wives Club by Olivia Goldsmith

Originally posted by Phoenix@Aug 26 2004, 08:02 PM
I personally prefer the Dragonlance series by Maragret Weis and Tracy Hickman. Really great books.
Indeed great books as well.
Dragons of Autmun Twighlight was by faaaar the best.

I just read The Joy Luck Club and it was much better than I thought it would be. Although it's more of a novel for women...

try some anne rice :). I really like "The Vampire Lestat" one of her best book. If you like stories that you can really get attached with the characters in the book this is a must. there were times in the book when you couldn't help but feel sorry for lestat cause of everything he went to. te storie line is awsome ad wow... I love it.

u should read Lord of the Flies by William Golding. It's a classic. everyones gotta read it at least once. Plus there's alot of things to talk about

Definately The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. And all its follow-ups. XD *laughs* It is just too amusing.

Angel and Demons by Dan Brown. Even though more people like the Da Vinci Code, I was more into Angels and Demons because I'm weird. *shrugs* I think it's better.

I've just finished Daddy Long Legs by Jean Webster.
It's a 19th century classic.

Oh. I recently read The Lovely Bones. I forget who its by though :unsure:
I do remember that is was really quite enjoyable. :D

If you're in to Fantasy at all I'd suggest "The Wheel of Time" by Robert Jordan. It's very well written and it somehow never gets boring even though it's one continuous story. I also usually hate fantasy so it usually has to be pretty good for me to like it. I wouldn't suggest it if you don't have time to read it though because it's probably about 8000 pages long by now (spread across ten books) and it's highly addictive. It also wouldn't be very worthwhile as a school project.

Edit: If you get "Hitchhiker's guide" you should try to get the "A trilogy in five parts" edition that has all of the books in one. The "trilogy of four" is also worthwhile because you get a short story included but you don't have the last book "Mostly Harmless".

Originally posted by Elite666@Aug 30 2004, 10:25 PM
The "trilogy of four" is also worthwhile because you get a short story included
What's the short story?
*I read the trilogy in five parts*

I think it's "Young Zaphod Plays it safe" but if you already have the "Trilogy in Five parts" like I do (or even if you don't) I highly recommend the collection of Douglas Adams' works "The Salmon of Doubt". It includes the aforementioned short story and is an excellent look back at his life along with his last unfinished novel.

Ah...that's what I thought....I've got the Salmon of Doubt and Young Zaphod is the only short story I could think of to go with the Hitchhiker's Guide.

Originally posted by AznJoe@Aug 26 2004, 10:30 PM
i like those books too! but i havent read most of them....

i recommend "Wizard's First Rule" by Terry Goodkind. its about a woods guide becoming a great warrior.
god, dropped that book after about an hour or so, nad have yet to pick it up again, I would consider my self to have a god knowledge of Fantasy Writers, and its only growing.....

If your looking to start off, go with DragonLance/Wheel of Time, both are great series/ IM surpised no one has mentioned Forgoten Realms and Drizzit, great series there...

The Hitchhikers Guide, is really good, very humerous had to read that for summe reading this year, diffently worth checking out......

Originally posted by WinterEve@Aug 29 2004, 10:24 AM
u should read Lord of the Flies by William Golding. It's a classic. everyones gotta read it at least once. Plus there's alot of things to talk about
I agree. Lord of the Flies is definetly one of my favourite books. It also comes in helpful in English Extension (where you analyse literature to pieces) because the book is so versatile and contains so many messages. The black and white movie is also excellent, and really is what a 'book to movie' adaption should be like. Don't be discouraged because it is B & W though.

I also suggest 1984 by George Orwell. I am still reading it at the moment, and it is excellent. It is a slightly more adultish book and can at some points I imagine, be slightly confusing, but there are many things on the Internet that can help you out with that.