Challenging

[thessalian]

Hmmkay, so looking at my request for lit suggestions and the replies I got, I think I have my ten books to complete the 50-book challenge.

1) Anansi Boys, by Neil Gaiman
I meant to read this anyway, and I know dodgyhoodoo will want to borrow it right after me, but prettyarbitrary reminded me with mention of Neverwhere

2) Something from the Nightside, by Simon Green
I think that's the first one of the series (it's the one with the earliest Amazon release date, anyway), and prettyarbitrary sold me on it.

3) The Bloody Chamber, by Angela Carter
I have had many suggestions from dodgyhoodoo to read Angela Carter. So I will read Angela Carter.

4) Slaughterhouse 5, by Kurt Vonnegut
jamileigh17 suggested, "Read any Vonnegut", and prettyarbitrary seconded the Vonnegut; that's the Vonnegut we have in the house.

5) The Secret History, by Donna Tartt
I'd heard of this one before weaselbitch suggested it, but wasn't sure if I'd be interested. But I trust weaselbitch's recommendations, so...

6) Furnace, by Muriel Gray
Stephen King gushes over her work, as does dodgyhoodoo. I'm picking the shorter of the two we have, mainly for ease of reading during commutes.

7) Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, by Lewis Carroll
My only exposure to Alice should not be Disney. That is all.

8) Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, by Philip K Dick
prettyarbitrary suggested Dick; again, it's what we have in the house, and I'd like to see how it differs from Blade Runner.

9) Neutron Star, by Larry Niven
I'll start with the shorts, I think; it looks a little hardcore sci-fi for my tastes, but you never know.

10) The Sicilian, by Mario Puzo
Another "I keep meaning to read this" book, this one yoinked off my Amazon.co.uk recommendations list.

So that's all fifty books. That should keep me going for a few months.

Okay, now my challenge to you all. I'm going to list my ten all-time favourite books (of the moment, anyway). Pick one of them that you haven't read, letting me know in comments which one you've chosen, and read it. It seems to be a horizon-expanding exercise, this 50-books-a-year thing, and I'd like to return the favour a little.

So here's the ten I've picked:

Anne of Green Gables, by L M Montgomery
Battle Royale, by Koushun Takami
Dance Dance Dance, by Haruki Murakami
Flowers for Algernon, by Daniel Keyes
The Godfather, by Mario Puzo
Gone With the Wind, by Margaret Mitchell
The Handmaid's Tale, by Margaret Atwood
Neverwhere, by Neil Gaiman
Prozac Nation, by Elizabeth Wurtzel
White Teeth, by Zadie Smith

Is anyone game, then?

Comments

[thessalian.livejournal.com]

Far from it. Book came first, I think. There's a lot more characterisation and look at motivations, it's a lot deeper than the film. The manga series is good too.