where to begin with the following authors?

spa ced · 07-20-2006, 02:28 AM

what books would be the best introduction/and or best book(s) by the following authors? also, which books by these authors should i avoid?

vonnegut -

j.d. salinger -

bret easton ellis -

david foster wallace -

margaret atwood -

thomas pynchon -

david sedaris -

j.g. ballard -

any help is appreciated. thanks.

daydreamer999 · 07-20-2006, 03:38 AM

read slaughterhouse-five and then cat's cradle for the vonnegut

benjamin619 · 07-20-2006, 03:39 AM

sedaris - naked
salinger - franny and zooey

ChristHimself! · 07-20-2006, 03:42 AM

bret easton ellis - I absolutely love American Psycho, you should too, if you can get past the anal descriptions of everything. It's got some hilarious black comedy moments in it, and I just really enjoyed the way it was written. Rules of Attraction is quite good, but nowhere near as good as American Psycho is for me.

alisonmonster · 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChristHimself!

bret easton ellis - I absolutely love American Psycho, you should too, if you can get past the anal descriptions of everything.

i couldn't read Ellis for this reason, it was so distracting. I enjoyed the movie though.

I've read most of Atwood's books, everyone says 'A Handmaids Tale' or 'The Robber Bride' (both of which are excellent) but Cat's Eye is really heartbreaking. Its sort of like a more detailed, subtler version of Welcome to the Dollhouse.

Isn't JG Ballard the one who wrote the book that the movie 'Crash' was based on? (the first Cronenberg one). The book is pretty much exactly like the movie is, but the author put himself in as the lead character.

schaadow · 04:12 AM

i haven't read much of David Foster Wallace's work but when i asked the same question of a friend, they suggested Infinite Jest, and i really enjoyed it.

as far as vonnegut, i wouldn't start with slaughterhouse five. cat's cradle is a good suggestion, but i think breakfast of champions is a better introduction

TuralyonW3 · 07-20-2006, 04:27 AM

why isn't philip roth on your list

pale blue eyes · 07-20-2006, 07:07 AM

David Sedaris - Me Talk Pretty One Day and Barrel Fever are both great. The latter has possibly the funniest thirty pages of any book ever as a final chapter.

Toby · 07-20-2006, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pale blue eyes

David Sedaris - Me Talk Pretty One Day.

i think you sent that to me. it was great.

Kahlo · 07-20-2006, 07:23 AM

Vonnegut - I started with Mother night, but Breakfast of champions is a good start..actually his collection of essays is good.

for B E Easton - American Psycho is fantastic, kind of graphic (rat + inside of vagina)

ChristHimself! · 07-20-2006, 07:25 AM

coathangers kahlo

Nimrod's Son · 07-20-2006, 09:23 AM

hey let's ask netphoria what i should read great idea idiot

Orenthal James · 07-20-2006, 12:42 PM

Ellis' Glamorama is his best work.

spa ced · 07-20-2006, 12:56 PM

thanks guys...i'm going to the library today so i'll look for these.

oh and kiss my ass nimrod.

AndySlash · 07-20-2006, 01:00 PM

I don't read much, but I liked Salinger's 'Nine Stories'. It's exactly what it says it is- nine short stories. A couple aren't very good, but I enjoyed the majority of it.

pale blue eyes · 07-20-2006, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndySlash

I don't read much

No, you sure don't. Did you finish that book yet? No rush, just curious.

AndySlash · 07-20-2006, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pale blue eyes

No, you sure don't. Did you finish that book yet? No rush, just curious.

Yes! I'm sure I told you?!

Get on AIM, we'll talk about it.

twice · 07-20-2006, 02:39 PM

pynchon: the crying of lot 49. or V. if you jump into gravity's rainbow you'll drown!

Oblivious · 07-20-2006, 02:58 PM

i love vonnegut(even if he has gone a bit off of his rocker in later years) and ballard. i think that with vonnegut you should maybe just work through the novels in chronological order or if you're just testing the waters maybe you should just check out welcome to the monkey house. but you should definitely read cat's cradle if nothing else. and as far as ballard goes - empire of the sun would be a good start but high rise and the unlimited dream company are also really good reads. but then again this is all just the personal opinion of someone that's already totally taken by both of these authors.

spa ced · 07-20-2006, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oblivious

i love vonnegut(even if he has gone a bit off of his rocker in later years) and ballard. i think that with vonnegut you should maybe just work through the novels in chronological order or if you're just testing the waters maybe you should just check out welcome to the monkey house. but you should definitely read cat's cradle if nothing else. and as far as ballard goes - empire of the sun would be a good start but high rise and the unlimited dream company are also really good reads. but then again this is all just the personal opinion of someone that's already totally taken by both of these authors.

i remember back in the days of SPC...you used to go to SPC too right?..there was a chatter by the name of...shit..what was her name...well i don't remember her screenname but her real name was lisa grant and she was from cincinnati, ohio...and i remember her telling me once that she found an amazing boyfriend and one of the major things they shared was a deep deep love for vonnegut...which i thought was amazing...so yeah..i've definitely been interested in him since then..but only barely finally getting around to him.

Egadsman · 07-20-2006, 03:17 PM

vonnegut - Cat's Cradle is a nice starting point, because I started with Breakfast of Champions and I loved it, but it didn't prepare me for his less dadaist writing style (that book is gloriously nuts). I wouldn't shy you away from BOC either. I like it better than Cat's Cradle.

j.d. salinger - Franny & Zooey

thomas pynchon - (I'm so tempted to just thrust you into Gravity's Rainbow...)

david sedaris - Naked

Argh · 07-20-2006, 03:34 PM

brkfast of chsmpions anf catcher s rye

spa ced · 07-20-2006, 03:50 PM

okay guys here's what i got from the library:

margaret atwood - oryx & crake
bret easton ellis - american psycho
kurt vonnegut - breakfast of champions
j.d. salinger - franny and zooey

and these books i purchased at half-price books:

david foster wallace - infinite jest ($5.96!)
david sedaris - me talk pretty one day (6.98)

07-20-2006, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spa ced

david foster wallace - infinite jest ($5.96!)

ChristHimself! · 07-21-2006, 03:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spa ced

bret easton ellis - american psycho

Quote:

Originally Posted by alisonmonster

i couldn't read Ellis for this reason, it was so distracting. I enjoyed the movie though.

I can totally understand that, I know a few people who feel the same way. At first I was a bit

because of it all, but in the end it was so worth it.

Rockin' Cherub · 07-20-2006, 03:54 PM

out of those i've only read salinger. i'm uneducated as fuck

07-20-2006, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spa ced

david foster wallace -

don't waste your time

twice · 07-20-2006, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graveflower

don't waste your time

wtf

spa ced · 07-20-2006, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twice

wtf

phew...i'm glad you said that...graveflower was making me feel like i made a bad decision by purchasing infinite jest...but if you like it...your opinion holds more strength with me than graveflower's opinion so that's good...

concerning pynchon...i have v. already...actually it was my brother's...but i sorta took it...but for whatever reason i've just never gotten around to it. so you think v. is a good place to start then? i like how you said i would drown if i went straight into gravity's rainbow...which of course is the book i hear most about when it comes to pynchon. i've always been sort of curious about the crying of lot 49...especially since yo la tengo has a song titled the crying of lot g...which seems to be a pretty obvious nod to pynchon.

daydreamer999 · 07-21-2006, 03:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spa ced

phew...i'm glad you said that...graveflower was making me feel like i made a bad decision by purchasing infinite jest...but if you like it...your opinion holds more strength with me than graveflower's opinion so that's good...

concerning pynchon...i have v. already...actually it was my brother's...but i sorta took it...but for whatever reason i've just never gotten around to it. so you think v. is a good place to start then? i like how you said i would drown if i went straight into gravity's rainbow...which of course is the book i hear most about when it comes to pynchon. i've always been sort of curious about the crying of lot 49...especially since yo la tengo has a song titled the crying of lot g...which seems to be a pretty obvious nod to pynchon.

v. is pretty long and dense as well, so if i were you i'd read the crying of lot 49 first, just to see if you are going to dig pynchon's style or not.

07-20-2006, 02:28 AM	#1
spa ced Braindead Location: Machu Picchu Posts: 15,291	where to begin with the following authors? what books would be the best introduction/and or best book(s) by the following authors? also, which books by these authors should i avoid? vonnegut - j.d. salinger - bret easton ellis - david foster wallace - margaret atwood - thomas pynchon - david sedaris - j.g. ballard - any help is appreciated. thanks.

07-20-2006, 04:06 AM	#6
schaadow Apocalyptic Poster Location: Villa Incognito Posts: 1,150	i haven't read much of David Foster Wallace's work but when i asked the same question of a friend, they suggested Infinite Jest, and i really enjoyed it. as far as vonnegut, i wouldn't start with slaughterhouse five. cat's cradle is a good suggestion, but i think breakfast of champions is a better introduction Last edited by schaadow : 07-20-2006 at 04:12 AM.

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07-20-2006, 03:38 AM	#2
daydreamer999 Minion of Satan Posts: 5,782	read slaughterhouse-five and then cat's cradle for the vonnegut

07-20-2006, 03:39 AM	#3
benjamin619 Apocalyptic Poster Location: West Coast Posts: 4,290	sedaris - naked salinger - franny and zooey

07-20-2006, 03:42 AM	#4
ChristHimself! mental problems angel Location: i want u 2 caress me like a tropical priest Posts: 20,592	bret easton ellis - I absolutely love American Psycho, you should too, if you can get past the anal descriptions of everything. It's got some hilarious black comedy moments in it, and I just really enjoyed the way it was written. Rules of Attraction is quite good, but nowhere near as good as American Psycho is for me.

07-20-2006, 04:27 AM	#7
TuralyonW3 Immortal Posts: 25,623	why isn't philip roth on your list

07-20-2006, 07:07 AM	#8
pale blue eyes NOPE. Location: :/ Posts: 15,108	David Sedaris - Me Talk Pretty One Day and Barrel Fever are both great. The latter has possibly the funniest thirty pages of any book ever as a final chapter.

07-20-2006, 07:23 AM	#10
Kahlo Registered User Posts: 17,539	Vonnegut - I started with Mother night, but Breakfast of champions is a good start..actually his collection of essays is good. for B E Easton - American Psycho is fantastic, kind of graphic (rat + inside of vagina)

07-20-2006, 07:25 AM	#11
ChristHimself! mental problems angel Location: i want u 2 caress me like a tropical priest Posts: 20,592	coathangers kahlo

07-20-2006, 09:23 AM	#12
Nimrod's Son Master of Karate and Friendship Location: in your butt Posts: 72,972	hey let's ask netphoria what i should read great idea idiot

07-20-2006, 12:42 PM	#13
Orenthal James Minion of Satan Location: standard hotel accommodation Posts: 9,398	Ellis' Glamorama is his best work.

07-20-2006, 12:56 PM	#14
spa ced Braindead Location: Machu Picchu Posts: 15,291	thanks guys...i'm going to the library today so i'll look for these. oh and kiss my ass nimrod.

07-20-2006, 01:00 PM	#15
AndySlash Posts: 20,277	I don't read much, but I liked Salinger's 'Nine Stories'. It's exactly what it says it is- nine short stories. A couple aren't very good, but I enjoyed the majority of it.

07-20-2006, 02:39 PM	#18
twice Socialphobic Location: kitty in the middle Posts: 10,183	pynchon: the crying of lot 49. or V. if you jump into gravity's rainbow you'll drown!

07-20-2006, 02:58 PM	#19
Oblivious Apocalyptic Poster Location: Village Oblivia Posts: 3,481	i love vonnegut(even if he has gone a bit off of his rocker in later years) and ballard. i think that with vonnegut you should maybe just work through the novels in chronological order or if you're just testing the waters maybe you should just check out welcome to the monkey house. but you should definitely read cat's cradle if nothing else. and as far as ballard goes - empire of the sun would be a good start but high rise and the unlimited dream company are also really good reads. but then again this is all just the personal opinion of someone that's already totally taken by both of these authors.

07-20-2006, 03:17 PM	#21
Egadsman Apocalyptic Poster Location: Moist and Bouyant. Posts: 1,967	vonnegut - Cat's Cradle is a nice starting point, because I started with Breakfast of Champions and I loved it, but it didn't prepare me for his less dadaist writing style (that book is gloriously nuts). I wouldn't shy you away from BOC either. I like it better than Cat's Cradle. j.d. salinger - Franny & Zooey thomas pynchon - (I'm so tempted to just thrust you into Gravity's Rainbow...) david sedaris - Naked

07-20-2006, 03:34 PM	#22
Argh Apocalyptic Poster Posts: 1,438	brkfast of chsmpions anf catcher s rye

07-20-2006, 03:50 PM	#23
spa ced Braindead Location: Machu Picchu Posts: 15,291	okay guys here's what i got from the library: margaret atwood - oryx & crake bret easton ellis - american psycho kurt vonnegut - breakfast of champions j.d. salinger - franny and zooey and these books i purchased at half-price books: david foster wallace - infinite jest ($5.96!) david sedaris - me talk pretty one day (6.98)

07-20-2006, 03:54 PM	#26
Rockin' Cherub Braindead Location: the amazing year 400 million Posts: 18,188	out of those i've only read salinger. i'm uneducated as fuck