A book for a 19 year old male?

mufc4lfe

Can someone give me the name of good books...something with a touching morale story would be perfect!I have only ever read sport biographies!:rolleyes:

Plowman

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c0rk3r

What i did awhile ago was read the entire "10 to read before the apocalypse?" thread and write down the names of books which were frequently mentioned until i had a list of 10. If i liked the poster id take his recommendation too. I picn'mixed. I then went out and bought these books. My list was something like this

Catch 22 - Joesph Heller
The Player of Games - Ian M. Banks
Nineteen Eighty-Four - Orwell
The Alchemist
A brave New world
Lord of the Rings
Atlas Shrugged - Ayn Ryan
Animal farm -Orwell
Lord of the Flies
The catcher in the rye

I have since read all these. This is the order i would re-read them

Morlar

Plowman wrote: »

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I would second that. Also Herman Hesse Demian.

Eliot Rosewater

c0rk3r basically hit the nail on the head. I suppose theres no point reading really heavy books, unless thats something you want to get into later. In the meantime I would certainly recommend:

Catcher in the Rye
To Kill A Mockingbird
Brave New World
Animal Farm
1984
Lord of the Flies

in that order as these are all great books while being relativity short and easy enough to read. As well they are "important" books, in that they are well known and integrated into popular culture. 1984 especially.


EDIT: On the Lord of the Rings: I think its an absolutely fantastic book but a bit of a struggle for new readers or even those who fail to get "in" to to it, due to its length and writing style.

On Atlas Shrugged: Although myself and Ms Rand would agree on most things I think she epitomizes the word self-indulgent. In the Fountainhead she says in 700 pages what a regular author could say in a third of that. Basically its repetitive, and long, and thus also unsuited to fresh readers. The reason she appears so popular is because she has a large Internet following who erroneously class an author by what they say rather than how they say it.

PDelux

This Is The Country by William Wall. The main character is an Irish guy around that age. Not a feel-good story but a good book nonetheless.

mufc4lfe

Plowman wrote: »

Have you tried: The Catcher in the Rye, J. D. Salinger?

It has a moral in there somewhere, but it is one book I wish I had read earlier...

Cheers I think I might give this one a go so!Is it a lengthy book?Is it a "page turner"?

Plowman

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RonMexico

I think I shall have to chip in here and once more suggest Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson:D

Sir Gallagher

How about, "The curious incident of the dog at the nighttime" by Mark Haddon, it's a touching story about a boy with aspergers sydrome(similar to autism). It's an easy enough read and has a few laughs thrown in there without compromising the seriousness of the condition.

Out of the really popular books mentioned, you can't go wrong with To Kill a Mockingbird, a truly fantastic novel.

BopNiblets

Snow Crash!

Kenny90

most books by chuck palahniuk are great
fight club and choke are two of my favourates now both movies the're great books for commuting journeys, light reads and well written

Phil D

"The Catcher in the Rye" and "Catch 22" have to be two of my least favourite books. I always felt their reputation was built on one or two ardent fans shouting louder than everyone else about how brilliant they are.

Teganz

How about the Twilight Saga? Haha I am just joking, although it would be great insight about what women want. Other than that, I would recommend Into the Wild.

Kenny90

i read the twilight saga so no one could call me out when i ripped on it
and fell in love with it within 100 pages. and couldnt put them down.
they honestly are brilliant reads

falan

I think you should read Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts.

One of the most inspirational books i have ever read.

A must!

http://www.curledup.com/shantara.htm

randomguy

Crow Road by Iain Banks and Eureka St by Robert McLiam Wilson are both very readable. A Nick Hornby book might also do the job, maybe Fever Pitch. Catcher in The Rye isn't a bad option if you want something a bit more classic.

Dades

mufc4lfe wrote: »

something with a touching morale story would be perfect!

I found nothing touching about Catcher in the Rye, tbh. And it was only a page turner so I could finish the damn thing quickly.

I would second Lord of the Flies, and Shantaram if you have the time.

mountain

RonMexico wrote: »

I think I shall have to chip in here and once more suggest Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson:D

have to agree with this,its a great read,
also its time for you now to read "On the Road" by Jack Kerouac,
for a bit of politics you could try some of John Pilgers book,
read lots, its a great age to open your mind to the world of books

fullback4glin

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larson is excellent. It's the first of a trilogy. Well worth a read, I'm a 20 yo male and loved it.

jackthekipper

Try Let the Right One In, should be forced on every Twilight fan.
Also try some of James Elroys stuff, he wrote LA Confidential.

mufc4lfe

falan wrote: »

I think you should read Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts.

One of the most inspirational books i have ever read.

A must!

http://www.curledup.com/shantara.htm

anyone else read this?Sounds good.

Fad

The Beach-Alex Garland.

Anything by Douglas Coupland.

gav86

Tucker Max - I hope they serve beer in hell. Hilarious read

Longboard

Ender's game.

NiamhDunk

interview with the vampire anne rice

John_C

A few people mentioned Brave New World on the first page but you might like Huxley's first book. It's called Yellow Chrome and it's about a 19 year old who spends some time with a girl he likes but is too shy to ask her out.

He was 22 when he wrote the book so the young characters are are very well developed. I found it good fun and quite funny.

Lands Leaving

Teganz wrote: »

How about the Twilight Saga? Haha I am just joking, although it would be great insight about what women want. Other than that, I would recommend Into the Wild.

Couldn't agree more, absolutely brilliant book. Touching, but never too sentimental, always exciting and just an incredible story all round. One of my favourite non-fiction books.

Capt'n Midnight

Terry Prachett diskworld stuff

Bill Bryson travel books are nice too

MedlyObsidian

Eliot Rosewater wrote: »

Catcher in the Rye
To Kill A Mockingbird
Brave New World
Animal Farm
1984
Lord of the Flies

That is literally the list of all the books I had to read in high school, with just two missing: Their Eyes Were Watching God and A Child Called It.

Though I wouldn't really suggest either of those to a 19 year old guy.

ocianain

Phil D wrote: »

"The Catcher in the Rye" and "Catch 22" have to be two of my least favourite books. I always felt their reputation was built on one or two ardent fans shouting louder than everyone else about how brilliant they are.

Couldn't agree more!