I'm going to the bookstore in a few hours...

[Krilons Resa]

...and I need a few recommendations of FICTION. As I said in another thread, I have a hard time getting into fiction and almost exclusively read non-fiction. So, I am up to the challenge of finding/reading something that will kick my ass. Please no fantasy crap. Something introspective and philosophical perhaps?

Ready, GO!

 

[JayKeeley]

Three words: Life of Pi.

 

[lizard]

Ayn Rand - The Fountainhead

(I KEED!)

 

[Carbonized]

The Dark Tower series by Stephen King. Best ever. Hit a library first and check some out before you go spending your cash just in case.

 

[speed]

Interestingly I just read Willhelm Meisters Apprenticeship by Goethe--excellent.

If you dont mind a french novel about what turns out to be a gay protaganist, Andre Gide's L'Immoralist is excellent; and very Nietszchesque. and speaking of frenchies, did you ever read Camus' play Caligula?

Im also going to say Bulgakov's Master and Margarita, his Heart of the Dog is excellent as well. Have you read your Kafka? If not try The Trial, and then read THe Castle.

Oh and for easy but good philosophical fiction, have you read any Graham Greene? The Heart of the Matter and The Power and GLory are both nice philosophical reads.

 

[J.]

Dune

It ain't fantasy, it's science fiction. And it's philosophical in that it's symbolic of the times that Frank Herbert lived in with everyone fighting over The Spice, which symbolizes oil (sound familiar?). A great six book series. If you like science fiction adn haven't read the series, your credibility is null and void.

 

[J.]

The Dark Tower series by Stephen King. Best ever. Hit a library first and check some out before you go spending your cash just in case.

Word. Only SK books you'll ever need.

 

[Krilons Resa]

Speed, Ive read The Metamorphosis, and The Trial but not The Castle. Kafka rules.

Keep the rec's coming.

 

[speed]

The Castle is his great surreal philosophical masterpiece, but it has no ending, plus it can be a daunting read.

God most stuff Id tell you I would figure you have already read before.

Oh try Julian by Gore Vidal. Its a fictional history of Julian the Apostate, the Roman warrior philosopher emperor who tried to destroy Chrisitianity because he thought it was foolish nonsense, and philosophy and the old Gods were much richer etc. ITs a excellent, excellent, read.

You have read Candide, havent you? If not, that would top my list for philsophical satire and fun.

 

[Krilons Resa]

oooh, Julian and Candide sound good. I'm gonna have to look into them.

 

[NAD]

Candide fucking rules.

Fury bitcha!

Melancholy Death of Oysterboy and Other Stories by Tim Burton!

Name of the Rose.

Where's Waldo in my Ass?

How to Win Friends and Influence Homos.

 

[Nate The Great]

Go with JayKeeley's rec of Life of Pi.

I'm currently reading Tom Wolfe's 'I am Charolotte Simmons'. Its cracking my shit up! He's sort of Hunter S. Thompsons rival in social commentary. Its fiction, but it has something to say.

 

[J.]

or go with Bret Easton Ellis books:

American Psycho, The Rules of Attaction, and Glamorama are all fantastic.

 

[Chromatose]

Anything Tom Robbins

or The Teachings of Don Juan by Carlos Castaneda

 

[Krilons Resa]

American Psycho rules but I get peeved with all the rhetoric about the clothing, etc...which is part of the message/story and all but it gets sickening after a bit.

 

[Nate The Great]

I also second Bret Easton Ellis. American Psycho is a masterpiece of modern fiction.

 

[Black Winter Day]

I've said it before and I'll say it again -- the be-all, end-all of fiction:

...if you dare!

 

[Krilons Resa]

^ I knew that was coming BWD. I just dont feel like dissecting a book 1,000 times just to scratch the tip of the iceberg of comprehension. Know what I mean?

 

[Black Winter Day]

Then read some Hesse! Or Dostoievsky!

 

[Black Winter Day]

Anyway, everyone should at least give Joyce a try... The reason you gave is the reason that hardly anyone reads him anymore. They'd rather read stuff like "The Life of Pi" and "The Da Vinci Code" nowadays!