comment by mk

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comment by mk

mk · 4351 days ago · link · · parent · post: What are your top 5 books?

1. Guns of August - Barbara Tuchman 2. Godel Escher Bach - Douglas Hofstadter 3. Moby Dick - Herman Mellville 4. A Clockwork Orange - Anthony Burgess 5. War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy

It's tough to pick a Top Five, but those are books that I'll recommend without hesitation. Ok, five more:

6. Catch-22 - Joseph Heller 7. Franny and Zooey - J. D. Salinger 8. The Lord of the Rings (all 3) - J. R. R. Tolkein 9. Broca's Brain - Carl Sagan 10. The Private Life of Chairman Mao - Dr. Li Zhisui

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briandmyers · 4349 days ago · link ·

Nice list. "Godel Escher Bach" was one of those great books, that I am still very hesitant to suggest to people - it's not for everyone, and it gets very dense about halfway through. So beautiful, though.

Pro-tip for readers of "A Clockwork Orange" - there is a glossary at the back! I read it to the end before I realised that. I'm not sure if knowing that in advance would have made it better or worse, though!

+discuss+discuss

user-inactivated · 4350 days ago · link ·

I fucking love Catch 22.

The Texan turned out to be good-natured, generous and likeable. In three days no one could stand him.

Once I read that line I was hooked. I don't think I ate or moved until I finished the book.

+discuss+discuss

ecib · 4351 days ago · link ·

You've got two of my top 5 in yours (Godel and War). That damn whale isn't grabbing me. I've picked it up and put it down like 10 times now.