The Proverbial Desert Island Library

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Permalink Reply by jeffh on November 20, 2008 at 1:03pm

I rarely read books again and again, but the books I have re-read at least once or would really like to re-read again are:

Dhalgren - Samuel R. Delany

The Bone People - Keri Hulme

Shantaram - Gregory David Roberts

Crime and Punishment/Brothers Karamazov - Dostoevsky

Titan/Wizard/Demon - John Varley

Chronicles of Amber - Roger Zelazny

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Permalink Reply by Michael Bernstein on November 21, 2008 at 7:46am

Never could get into 'Dhalgren' or most other Delany ('Nova' was OK).

Varley's Gaea trilogy is very good, I also liked 'The Ophiuchi Hotline'.

Zelazny's original (or first) 'Chronicles of Amber' was very good, but the second set was much weaker (and never did finish). I also have a fondness for a short novel of his titled 'Roadmarks'.

Have you tried Steven Brust's 'Vlad Taltos' series?

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Permalink Reply by jeffh on November 21, 2008 at 10:27am

Dhalgren blew my mind as a teen, and I've re-read it a few times-I love it, but can see its definitely not for everyone.

I agree--the original Zelazny Amber series is much better than the second--can't even remember if I finished the second. Roadmarks sounds familiar--trying to remember if I read that or not.

I have not tried Steven Brust though I've been curious as I'm a fan of others in the Minneapolis sci-fi/fantasy set--especially Emma Bull. Plus I'm hesitant to start anything that has a planned 17 books in the series.
The one reason I dont' read much sci-fi anymore is that it is almost impossible to find a single novel that is not part of a multi-volume series.

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Permalink Reply by Michael Bernstein on November 21, 2008 at 10:53am

Don't worry too much about it being a series, each novel is reasonably self-contained. The only choice you need to make is whether to read them in chronological or publication order.

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Permalink Reply by jeffh on November 21, 2008 at 11:04am

which would you recommend starting with?

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Permalink Reply by Michael Bernstein on November 21, 2008 at 2:32pm

I'd say go with publishing order, and start with 'Jhereg'.

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Permalink Reply by Renee on November 30, 2008 at 8:10pm

The Thorn Birds by Collen McCullough
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver (I'd read anything of hers twice)
Siddhartha
A Prayer for Owen Meany and The Cider House Rules by John Irving
Eat, Pray, Love
In Defense of Food (anything by Michale Pollan)
Anything by Jon Katz or Patricia McConnell or Elizabeth Marshall Thomas (dog books)
Cry, the Beloved Country
The Good Earth by Pearl S Buck
Noah's Garden by Sara Stein
Water for Elephants
anything by Amy Tan
The Red Tent

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Permalink Reply by Michael Bernstein on November 30, 2008 at 9:12pm

I have a certain fondness for 'Geeks' by Jon Katz (not a dog book).

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