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From what I hear, Vonnegut gets repetitive after reading his books.

Joseph Heller's "Closing Time," which is the sequel to "Catch-22," is supposedly pretty bad and inept at doing the latter justice.

[Danny252]

Clive Cussler is good, as is R.E. Fiest. but I still don't see why Harry Potter is so good... its mediocore at best...

[Stroggy]

Originally posted by Danny252@Jan 22 2005, 11:11 PM
Clive Cussler is good, as is R.E. Fiest. but I still don't see why Harry Potter is so good... its mediocore at best...

I agree about Harry Potter. Never understood what was so special about it (and the idea wasn't very original either)

Harry Potter isn't as bad as it's made out to be, but it's far from perfect. Most characters are very static (notably Hermione, the Weasleys, Malfoy and his cohorts), and the plot features cliches from time to time. The series is misinterpreted as a children's series, but rather it is more for teens.

The Harry Potter series was banned from American libraries until recently, when the Supreme Court ruled that banning books from libraries was a violation of the First Amendment.

[Puffin]

harry s cool... is makingh magic
ilike harry

[feminista]

Hmm, interesting discussion going on here, I might have to drop a few of my own opinions. But first, to address the topic:

I'm not particularly "up" on "touching" books, because most books I enjoy are bitter, cynical, philosophical, and witty, which don't always fit in with "touching". The closest book I can think of to touching would be Little Fuzzy, by H. Beam Piper. Now, it may be written by a man stuck in the fifties, and it may be filled with characters who drink too much, smoke too much, and shoot each other more than necessary, but the story could not be better. The characters are great, very endearing. I won't provide you with a full review, but I'd encourage you to look it up. I love the story, and I've read it probably eight or nine times. You just have to get past the fact that it's not exactly socially progressive. It's not actively regressive, it just came from an unenlightened age. However, it is rather critical of monopolistic corporations, which should appeal to your cynical side.

As for just plain GOOD books, I have to make my obligatory recommendation: Just a Couple of Days by Tony Vigorito. This is an amazing book, unabashedly philosophical, hilariously funny, and probably a work of genius. I don't even have the words to describe it, so just go see for yourself: http://www.justacoupleofdays.com

[mika]

Originally posted by einherjar@Jan 22 2005, 11:14 PM
I can't think of any circumstances that would warrant even a glancing perusal of the book.* It is hype, plain and simple.

Speak for yourself, I really enjoyed Dan Brown's books, even before they were popular.

Myself, I just enjoy stories. Anything to take me away to another place or time. I like a bit of a horror/thriller theme, but even that is not a necessity. I like reading about weird, fantastical even unrealistic things, because they make my mind go exploring. When I want real life, then I just go and experiece it and not read about it

[Stroggy]

Originally posted by mika@Jan 23 2005, 07:50 AM

Speak for yourself, I really enjoyed Dan Brown's books, even before they were popular.

here here!

My morbidly obese dutch teacher has already spent serveral classes telling us that books don't have to be filled with symbolism and cultural references and hidden meanings to be a good book. He reffered to the dutch author Jacob Cats as proof. His poems and stories are simple, very simple, but people read his work like none other. Back then people couldn't read, now people don't want to read, but any author that manages to get a lot of people to pick up a book and read is worthy of praise.

[Danny252]

Originally posted by Puffin@Jan 23 2005, 03:49 AM
harry s cool... is makingh magic
ilike harry

You are having a hangover. End of discussion for you this morning.

[Havell]

Dan Brown's books probably have something for me that not many people will have, you see, I read The Da Vinci Code in Paris and I'm going to Rome in February and I'm planning to read Angels and Demons while I'm there.