GMG Classical Music Forum

The Back Room => The Diner => Topic started by: MN Dave on September 22, 2010, 08:28:48 AM

Title: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: MN Dave on September 22, 2010, 08:28:48 AM
No repeats of other folks' picks. 3 picks each. Mine later.  8)
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: MN Dave on September 22, 2010, 08:35:49 AM
LONESOME DOVE - Larry McMurtry
SILENCE OF THE LAMBS - Thomas Harris
PET SEMATARY - Stephen King

[copy my format please]
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: bwv 1080 on September 22, 2010, 08:45:39 AM
THE CYBERIAD - Stanislaw Lem
THE MALAZAN BOOK OF THE FALLEN - Steven Erikson

Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: MN Dave on September 22, 2010, 08:50:31 AM
Quote from: bwv 1080 on September 22, 2010, 08:45:39 AM
THE CYBERIAD - Stanislaw Lem
THE MALAZAN BOOK OF THE FALLEN - Steven Erikson

One more.  :)
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: rubio on September 22, 2010, 09:20:13 AM
SHANTARAM - Gregory David Roberts
A CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES - John Kennedy Toole
A WILD SHEEP CHASE - Haruki Murakami
THE WIND-UP BIRD CHRONICLE - Haruki Murakami
KAFKA ON THE SHORE - Haruki Murakami
THE POWER OF THE DOG - Don Winslow
POST OFFICE - Charles Bukowski
ON THE ROAD - Jack Kerouac
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: Philoctetes on September 22, 2010, 09:23:15 AM
The Royal Family - William Vollmann
Mrs. Caldwell Speaks to Her Son - Camilo Cela
The Everlasting Story of Nory - Nicholson Baker
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: MN Dave on September 22, 2010, 09:29:46 AM
Quote from: rubio on September 22, 2010, 09:20:13 AM
SHANTARAM - Gregory David Roberts
A CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES - John Kennedy Toole
A WILD SHEEP CHASE - Haruki Murakami
THE WIND-UP BIRD CHRONICLE - Haruki Murakami
KAFKA ON THE SHORE - Haruki Murakami
THE POWER OF THE DOG - Don Winslow
POST OFFICE - Charles Bukowski
ON THE ROAD - Jack Kerouac

Three please.
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: MN Dave on September 22, 2010, 09:31:16 AM
LONESOME DOVE - Larry McMurtry
SILENCE OF THE LAMBS - Thomas Harris
PET SEMATARY - Stephen King
THE CYBERIAD - Stanislaw Lem
THE MALAZAN BOOK OF THE FALLEN - Steven Erikson
THE ROYAL FAMILY - William Vollmann
MRS. CALDWELL SPEAKS TO HER SON - Camilo Cela
THE EVERLASTING STORY OF NORY - Nicholson Baker
(8 )
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: karlhenning on September 22, 2010, 09:35:17 AM
PG Wodehouse, Thank You, Jeeves
TC Boyle, Water Music
Nicolas Slonimsly, Lexicon of Musical Invective
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: MN Dave on September 22, 2010, 09:39:37 AM
LONESOME DOVE - Larry McMurtry
SILENCE OF THE LAMBS - Thomas Harris
PET SEMATARY - Stephen King
THE CYBERIAD - Stanislaw Lem
THE MALAZAN BOOK OF THE FALLEN - Steven Erikson
THE ROYAL FAMILY - William Vollmann
MRS. CALDWELL SPEAKS TO HER SON - Camilo Cela
THE EVERLASTING STORY OF NORY - Nicholson Baker
THANK YOU, JEEVES - PG Wodehouse
WATER MUSIC - TC Boyle
LEXICON OF MUSICAL INVECTIVE - Nicolas Slonimsky
(11)

Please pick three, folks. Use the above format [title in caps, space dash space, author's name] Thanks!
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: karlhenning on September 22, 2010, 09:43:39 AM
Sorry I choked on the format, dude.
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: MN Dave on September 22, 2010, 09:44:07 AM
Quote from: k a rl h e nn i ng on September 22, 2010, 09:43:39 AM
Sorry I choked on the format, dude.

No problemo.
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: mc ukrneal on September 22, 2010, 09:50:38 AM
Here is my first choice - one of the funniest books I've ever read:

YEAR IN PROVENCE - Peter Mayle

More to come...
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: MN Dave on September 22, 2010, 09:55:04 AM
LONESOME DOVE - Larry McMurtry
SILENCE OF THE LAMBS - Thomas Harris
PET SEMATARY - Stephen King
THE CYBERIAD - Stanislaw Lem
THE MALAZAN BOOK OF THE FALLEN - Steven Erikson
THE ROYAL FAMILY - William Vollmann
MRS. CALDWELL SPEAKS TO HER SON - Camilo Cela
THE EVERLASTING STORY OF NORY - Nicholson Baker
THANK YOU, JEEVES - PG Wodehouse
WATER MUSIC - TC Boyle
LEXICON OF MUSICAL INVECTIVE - Nicolas Slonimsky
YEAR IN PROVENCE - Peter Mayle
(12)

*Please pick three, folks. Use the above format [title in caps, space dash space, author's name] Thanks!

Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: Ten thumbs on September 22, 2010, 10:26:50 AM
CASTLE RACKRENT - Maria Edgeworth
THE MYSTERIES OF UDOLPHO - Anne Radcliffe
THE INCREDIBLE ADVENTURES OF PROFESSOR BRANESTAWM - Norman Hunter
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: MN Dave on September 22, 2010, 10:46:07 AM
LONESOME DOVE - Larry McMurtry
SILENCE OF THE LAMBS - Thomas Harris
PET SEMATARY - Stephen King
THE CYBERIAD - Stanislaw Lem
THE MALAZAN BOOK OF THE FALLEN - Steven Erikson
THE ROYAL FAMILY - William Vollmann
MRS. CALDWELL SPEAKS TO HER SON - Camilo Cela
THE EVERLASTING STORY OF NORY - Nicholson Baker
THANK YOU, JEEVES - PG Wodehouse
WATER MUSIC - TC Boyle
LEXICON OF MUSICAL INVECTIVE - Nicolas Slonimsky
YEAR IN PROVENCE - Peter Mayle
CASTLE RACKRENT - Maria Edgeworth
THE MYSTERIES OF UDOLPHO - Anne Radcliffe
THE INCREDIBLE ADVENTURES OF PROFESSOR BRANESTAWM - Norman Hunter
(15)

*Please pick three, folks. Use the above format [title in caps, space dash space, author's name] Thanks!
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: Scarpia on September 22, 2010, 11:56:28 AM
THE DA VINCI CODE - Dan Brown
THE HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG - Andre Dubus III
THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - Alexandre Dumas
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: MN Dave on September 22, 2010, 12:00:21 PM
LONESOME DOVE - Larry McMurtry
SILENCE OF THE LAMBS - Thomas Harris
PET SEMATARY - Stephen King
THE CYBERIAD - Stanislaw Lem
THE MALAZAN BOOK OF THE FALLEN - Steven Erikson
THE ROYAL FAMILY - William Vollmann
MRS. CALDWELL SPEAKS TO HER SON - Camilo Cela
THE EVERLASTING STORY OF NORY - Nicholson Baker
THANK YOU, JEEVES - PG Wodehouse
WATER MUSIC - TC Boyle
LEXICON OF MUSICAL INVECTIVE - Nicolas Slonimsky
YEAR IN PROVENCE - Peter Mayle
CASTLE RACKRENT - Maria Edgeworth
THE MYSTERIES OF UDOLPHO - Anne Radcliffe
THE INCREDIBLE ADVENTURES OF PROFESSOR BRANESTAWM - Norman Hunter
THE DA VINCI CODE - Dan Brown
THE HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG - Andre Dubus III
THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - Alexandre Dumas
(18)

*Please pick three, folks. Use the above format [title in caps, space dash space, author's name] Thanks!

Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: MN Dave on September 22, 2010, 12:00:59 PM
I could have mentioned Vonnegut, Dumas or Hugo.
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: rubio on September 22, 2010, 12:44:15 PM
Quote from: rubio on September 22, 2010, 09:20:13 AM
SHANTARAM - Gregory David Roberts
THE WIND-UP BIRD CHRONICLE - Haruki Murakami
THE POWER OF THE DOG - Don Winslow

Corrected :)
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: drogulus on September 22, 2010, 01:04:57 PM
     
    THE END OF THE ROAD - John Barth
    THE SIRENS OF TITAN -  Kurt Vonnegut
    CATCH-22 - Joseph Heller

   
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: MN Dave on September 22, 2010, 01:29:59 PM
LONESOME DOVE - Larry McMurtry
SILENCE OF THE LAMBS - Thomas Harris
PET SEMATARY - Stephen King
THE CYBERIAD - Stanislaw Lem
THE MALAZAN BOOK OF THE FALLEN - Steven Erikson
THE ROYAL FAMILY - William Vollmann
MRS. CALDWELL SPEAKS TO HER SON - Camilo Cela
THE EVERLASTING STORY OF NORY - Nicholson Baker
THANK YOU, JEEVES - PG Wodehouse
WATER MUSIC - TC Boyle
LEXICON OF MUSICAL INVECTIVE - Nicolas Slonimsky
YEAR IN PROVENCE - Peter Mayle
CASTLE RACKRENT - Maria Edgeworth
THE MYSTERIES OF UDOLPHO - Anne Radcliffe
THE INCREDIBLE ADVENTURES OF PROFESSOR BRANESTAWM - Norman Hunter
THE DA VINCI CODE - Dan Brown
THE HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG - Andre Dubus III
THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - Alexandre Dumas
THE END OF THE ROAD - John Barth
THE SIRENS OF TITAN -  Kurt Vonnegut
CATCH-22 - Joseph Heller
HANTARAM - Gregory David Roberts
THE WIND-UP BIRD CHRONICLE - Haruki Murakami
THE POWER OF THE DOG - Don Winslow
(24)

*Please pick three, folks. Use the above format [title in caps, space dash space, author's name] Thanks!
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: MN Dave on September 22, 2010, 01:51:18 PM
Could have listed some graphic novels too.  :-\
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: Elgarian on September 22, 2010, 02:00:31 PM
ENTER PSMITH - P.G. Wodehouse
COLLECTED LETTERS (3 vols) - C.S. Lewis
THE RUPERT BEAR ANNUAL (any year will do)
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: bwv 1080 on September 22, 2010, 02:06:28 PM
Quote from: MN Dave on September 22, 2010, 08:50:31 AM
One more.  :)

Peter F Hamilton - Pandora's Star / Judas Unchained (one story in 2 novels)
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: Gurn Blanston on September 22, 2010, 02:55:33 PM
Still-Life with Woodpecker - Tom Robbins

Or for that matter, nearly any of his early books, like Even Cowgirls get the Blues. Robbins is a friggin' lunatic, an American Treasure of the Modern Age.  :)

8)

----------------
Now playing:
Ensemble Cristofori \ Arthur Schoonderwoerd - Op 37 Concerto #3 in c for Pianoforte 1st mvmt - Allegro con brio
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: Brian on September 22, 2010, 03:04:00 PM
Quote from: MN Dave on September 22, 2010, 01:51:18 PM
Could have listed some graphic novels too.  :-\

Just for you, then, I'll throw one in... sort of:

PASTORALIA - George Saunders
THE LOST CONTINENT - Bill Bryson
THE COMPLETE CALVIN & HOBBES - Bill Watterson
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: MN Dave on September 22, 2010, 03:26:05 PM
LONESOME DOVE - Larry McMurtry
SILENCE OF THE LAMBS - Thomas Harris
PET SEMATARY - Stephen King
THE CYBERIAD - Stanislaw Lem
THE MALAZAN BOOK OF THE FALLEN - Steven Erikson
THE ROYAL FAMILY - William Vollmann
MRS. CALDWELL SPEAKS TO HER SON - Camilo Cela
THE EVERLASTING STORY OF NORY - Nicholson Baker
THANK YOU, JEEVES - PG Wodehouse
WATER MUSIC - TC Boyle
LEXICON OF MUSICAL INVECTIVE - Nicolas Slonimsky
YEAR IN PROVENCE - Peter Mayle
CASTLE RACKRENT - Maria Edgeworth
THE MYSTERIES OF UDOLPHO - Anne Radcliffe
THE INCREDIBLE ADVENTURES OF PROFESSOR BRANESTAWM - Norman Hunter
THE DA VINCI CODE - Dan Brown
THE HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG - Andre Dubus III
THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - Alexandre Dumas
THE END OF THE ROAD - John Barth
THE SIRENS OF TITAN -  Kurt Vonnegut
CATCH-22 - Joseph Heller
HANTARAM - Gregory David Roberts
THE WIND-UP BIRD CHRONICLE - Haruki Murakami
THE POWER OF THE DOG - Don Winslow
ENTER PSMITH - P.G. Wodehouse
COLLECTED LETTERS (3 vols) - C.S. Lewis
THE RUPERT BEAR ANNUAL (any year will do)
PANDORA'S STAR/JUDAS UNCHAINED - Peter F Hamilton
STILL-LIFE WITH WOODPECKER - Tom Robbins
PASTORALIA - George Saunders
THE LOST CONTINENT - Bill Bryson
THE COMPLETE CALVIN & HOBBES - Bill Watterson
(32)


*Please pick three, folks. Use the above format [title in caps, space dash space, author's name] Thanks!
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: Benji on September 22, 2010, 04:42:57 PM
Well i'm going to take entertaining to mean couldn't put down until it was finished, and since i'm picking only 3 of the very many this applies to i'm picking one from each of the 3 decades of my life to date. So, with that said, and in order:

THE CALL OF THE WILD - Jack London
THE HUMAN APE - Desmond Morris
THE ROAD - Cormac McCarthy
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: MN Dave on September 22, 2010, 05:37:08 PM
LONESOME DOVE - Larry McMurtry
SILENCE OF THE LAMBS - Thomas Harris
PET SEMATARY - Stephen King
THE CYBERIAD - Stanislaw Lem
THE MALAZAN BOOK OF THE FALLEN - Steven Erikson
THE ROYAL FAMILY - William Vollmann
MRS. CALDWELL SPEAKS TO HER SON - Camilo Cela
THE EVERLASTING STORY OF NORY - Nicholson Baker
THANK YOU, JEEVES - PG Wodehouse
WATER MUSIC - TC Boyle
LEXICON OF MUSICAL INVECTIVE - Nicolas Slonimsky
YEAR IN PROVENCE - Peter Mayle
CASTLE RACKRENT - Maria Edgeworth
THE MYSTERIES OF UDOLPHO - Anne Radcliffe
THE INCREDIBLE ADVENTURES OF PROFESSOR BRANESTAWM - Norman Hunter
THE DA VINCI CODE - Dan Brown
THE HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG - Andre Dubus III
THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - Alexandre Dumas
THE END OF THE ROAD - John Barth
THE SIRENS OF TITAN -  Kurt Vonnegut
CATCH-22 - Joseph Heller
HANTARAM - Gregory David Roberts
THE WIND-UP BIRD CHRONICLE - Haruki Murakami
THE POWER OF THE DOG - Don Winslow
ENTER PSMITH - P.G. Wodehouse
COLLECTED LETTERS (3 vols) - C.S. Lewis
THE RUPERT BEAR ANNUAL (any year will do)
PANDORA'S STAR/JUDAS UNCHAINED - Peter F Hamilton
STILL-LIFE WITH WOODPECKER - Tom Robbins
PASTORALIA - George Saunders
THE LOST CONTINENT - Bill Bryson
THE COMPLETE CALVIN & HOBBES - Bill Watterson
THE CALL OF THE WILD - Jack London
THE HUMAN APE - Desmond Morris
THE ROAD - Cormac McCarthy
(35)


*Please pick three, folks. Use the above format [title in caps, space dash space, author's name] Thanks!
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: CD on September 22, 2010, 05:40:05 PM
Ayn Rand - Atlas Shrugged
Ann Coulter - Godless
Tim Lahaye - Left Behind

...oh sorry, I thought the title was GMG's 99 Most Embarrassing Books Ever Written.
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: MN Dave on September 22, 2010, 05:44:54 PM
Lots of people like Ayn Rand. I've never read.
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: Philoctetes on September 22, 2010, 06:59:07 PM
Quote from: MN Dave on September 22, 2010, 05:44:54 PM
Lots of people like Ayn Rand. I've never read.

You've not missed.
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: Todd on September 22, 2010, 07:08:10 PM
VERNON GOD LITTLE - DBC Pierre
THE GREAT GAME - Peter Hopkirk
THE RISE AND FALL OF THE GREAT POWERS - Paul Kennedy
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: Bogey on September 22, 2010, 08:42:52 PM
THE CIVIL WAR: A NARRATIVE VOL. 1-3- Shelby Foote
BASEBALL AMERICA- Donald Honig
LORD OF THE RINGS- JRR Tolkien
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: mc ukrneal on September 22, 2010, 11:07:25 PM
Here is my second choice:

HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY - Doug Adams


Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: Brian on September 23, 2010, 01:27:24 AM
Quote from: MN Dave on September 22, 2010, 05:44:54 PM
Lots of people like Ayn Rand. I've never read.

I've read The Fountainhead. It was essentially an action novel plot surrounding Ayn Rand's barely concealed sexual fantasies. The "philosophy," such as it was, is to distract you from the latter.
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: Sergeant Rock on September 23, 2010, 03:45:57 AM
PSYCHOTIC REACTIONS AND CARBURETOR DUNG - Lester Bangs
THE HORSE IS DEAD - Robert Kane
LOLITA - Vladimir Nabokov


Lester Bangs was the greatest rock critic: his writings are the stuff of legends

Lolita is the Great American Novel (at least Joyce Carol Oates and I think so): Humphrey Humphrey is a monster, of course, but a very entertaining monster and Nabokov's prose is dazzling.

The Horse Is Dead may just be the funniest book every written: a tasteless Portnoy's Complaint.

(http://photos.imageevent.com/sgtrock/july2010/horsedead.jpg)

Jacket blurb: "Mr. Robert Kane regrets to announce The Horse Is Dead. It is not difficult to undestand why he regrets it, since it is by all odds the bluntest, nastiest, most vulgar, most vicious, most sado-masochistic work of fiction to come along in some time."

You can pick up a used paperback copy for 200 bucks at Amazon. Luckily, I bought mine in 1969 for 75 cents new.


Sarge
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: karlhenning on September 23, 2010, 03:52:43 AM
Quote from: MN Dave on September 22, 2010, 05:44:54 PM
Lots of people like Ayn Rand.

But is she entertaining?
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: MN Dave on September 23, 2010, 04:20:52 AM
LONESOME DOVE - Larry McMurtry
SILENCE OF THE LAMBS - Thomas Harris
PET SEMATARY - Stephen King
THE CYBERIAD - Stanislaw Lem
THE MALAZAN BOOK OF THE FALLEN - Steven Erikson
THE ROYAL FAMILY - William Vollmann
MRS. CALDWELL SPEAKS TO HER SON - Camilo Cela
THE EVERLASTING STORY OF NORY - Nicholson Baker
THANK YOU, JEEVES - PG Wodehouse
WATER MUSIC - TC Boyle
LEXICON OF MUSICAL INVECTIVE - Nicolas Slonimsky
YEAR IN PROVENCE - Peter Mayle
CASTLE RACKRENT - Maria Edgeworth
THE MYSTERIES OF UDOLPHO - Anne Radcliffe
THE INCREDIBLE ADVENTURES OF PROFESSOR BRANESTAWM - Norman Hunter
THE DA VINCI CODE - Dan Brown
THE HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG - Andre Dubus III
THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - Alexandre Dumas
THE END OF THE ROAD - John Barth
THE SIRENS OF TITAN -  Kurt Vonnegut
CATCH-22 - Joseph Heller
HANTARAM - Gregory David Roberts
THE WIND-UP BIRD CHRONICLE - Haruki Murakami
THE POWER OF THE DOG - Don Winslow
ENTER PSMITH - P.G. Wodehouse
COLLECTED LETTERS (3 vols) - C.S. Lewis
THE RUPERT BEAR ANNUAL (any year will do)
PANDORA'S STAR/JUDAS UNCHAINED - Peter F Hamilton
STILL-LIFE WITH WOODPECKER - Tom Robbins
PASTORALIA - George Saunders
THE LOST CONTINENT - Bill Bryson
THE COMPLETE CALVIN & HOBBES - Bill Watterson
THE CALL OF THE WILD - Jack London
THE HUMAN APE - Desmond Morris
THE ROAD - Cormac McCarthy
VERNON GOD LITTLE - DBC Pierre
THE GREAT GAME - Peter Hopkirk
THE RISE AND FALL OF THE GREAT POWERS - Paul Kennedy
THE CIVIL WAR: A NARRATIVE VOL. 1-3- Shelby Foote
BASEBALL AMERICA- Donald Honig
LORD OF THE RINGS- JRR Tolkien
HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY - Doug Adams
PSYCHOTIC REACTIONS AND CARBURETOR DUNG - Lester Bangs
THE HORSE IS DEAD - Robert Kane
LOLITA - Vladimir Nabokov
(45)

*Please pick three, folks. Use the above format [title in caps, space dash space, author's name] Thanks!
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: Gurn Blanston on September 23, 2010, 04:25:43 AM
Have to admit I was fairly stunned to not see this posted yet. Hopefully I just overlooked it. Since choosing is too difficult;

COMPLETE WORKS - Mark Twain
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: karlhenning on September 23, 2010, 04:27:51 AM
Quote from: Gurn Blanston on September 23, 2010, 04:25:43 AM
Have to admit I was fairly stunned to not see this posted yet. Hopefully I just overlooked it. Since choosing is too difficult;

COMPLETE WORKS - Mark Twain

That's fair; I think practically anything of his I have read, is entertaining.
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: Keemun on September 23, 2010, 05:10:10 AM
TEATRO GROTTESCO - Thomas Ligotti
AND THEN THERE WERE NONE - Agatha Christie
DUNE - Frank Herbert
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: MN Dave on September 23, 2010, 05:29:24 AM
LONESOME DOVE - Larry McMurtry
SILENCE OF THE LAMBS - Thomas Harris
PET SEMATARY - Stephen King
THE CYBERIAD - Stanislaw Lem
THE MALAZAN BOOK OF THE FALLEN - Steven Erikson
THE ROYAL FAMILY - William Vollmann
MRS. CALDWELL SPEAKS TO HER SON - Camilo Cela
THE EVERLASTING STORY OF NORY - Nicholson Baker
THANK YOU, JEEVES - PG Wodehouse
WATER MUSIC - TC Boyle
LEXICON OF MUSICAL INVECTIVE - Nicolas Slonimsky
YEAR IN PROVENCE - Peter Mayle
CASTLE RACKRENT - Maria Edgeworth
THE MYSTERIES OF UDOLPHO - Anne Radcliffe
THE INCREDIBLE ADVENTURES OF PROFESSOR BRANESTAWM - Norman Hunter
THE DA VINCI CODE - Dan Brown
THE HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG - Andre Dubus III
THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - Alexandre Dumas
THE END OF THE ROAD - John Barth
THE SIRENS OF TITAN -  Kurt Vonnegut
CATCH-22 - Joseph Heller
HANTARAM - Gregory David Roberts
THE WIND-UP BIRD CHRONICLE - Haruki Murakami
THE POWER OF THE DOG - Don Winslow
ENTER PSMITH - P.G. Wodehouse
COLLECTED LETTERS (3 vols) - C.S. Lewis
THE RUPERT BEAR ANNUAL (any year will do)
PANDORA'S STAR/JUDAS UNCHAINED - Peter F Hamilton
STILL-LIFE WITH WOODPECKER - Tom Robbins
PASTORALIA - George Saunders
THE LOST CONTINENT - Bill Bryson
THE COMPLETE CALVIN & HOBBES - Bill Watterson
THE CALL OF THE WILD - Jack London
THE HUMAN APE - Desmond Morris
THE ROAD - Cormac McCarthy
VERNON GOD LITTLE - DBC Pierre
THE GREAT GAME - Peter Hopkirk
THE RISE AND FALL OF THE GREAT POWERS - Paul Kennedy
THE CIVIL WAR: A NARRATIVE VOL. 1-3- Shelby Foote
BASEBALL AMERICA- Donald Honig
LORD OF THE RINGS- JRR Tolkien
HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY - Doug Adams
PSYCHOTIC REACTIONS AND CARBURETOR DUNG - Lester Bangs
THE HORSE IS DEAD - Robert Kane
LOLITA - Vladimir Nabokov
COMPLETE WORKS - Mark Twain
TEATRO GROTTESCO - Thomas Ligotti
AND THEN THERE WERE NONE - Agatha Christie
DUNE - Frank Herbert
(49)

*Please pick three, folks. Use the above format [title in caps, space dash space, author's name] Thanks!
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: MN Dave on September 23, 2010, 05:29:40 AM
Quote from: Keemun on September 23, 2010, 05:10:10 AM
TEATRO GROTTESCO - Thomas Ligotti
AND THEN THERE WERE NONE - Agatha Christie
DUNE - Frank Herbert

My man!  8)
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: Keemun on September 23, 2010, 05:54:43 PM
Dave, have you read Ligotti's Songs of a Dead Dreamer?  It was reissued earlier this year and I'm making my way though it now.
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: MN Dave on September 23, 2010, 06:02:01 PM
Quote from: Keemun on September 23, 2010, 05:54:43 PM
Dave, have you read Ligotti's Songs of a Dead Dreamer?  It was reissued earlier this year and I'm making my way though it now.

Yep. I own the original paperback.  8)
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: karlhenning on September 24, 2010, 03:12:41 AM
Feeling some regret that my trio doesn't include Henry Fielding's Tom Jones ...
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: karlhenning on October 01, 2010, 09:20:36 AM
TTT

Our work here is not done!
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: Brahmsian on October 01, 2010, 09:33:29 AM
THE ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU - H.G. Wells
THE PERFECT STORM - Sebastian Junger
THE GODFATHER - Mario Puzo
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: karlhenning on October 01, 2010, 09:38:56 AM
Good choices, Ray.
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: MN Dave on October 01, 2010, 11:15:46 AM
LONESOME DOVE - Larry McMurtry
SILENCE OF THE LAMBS - Thomas Harris
PET SEMATARY - Stephen King
THE CYBERIAD - Stanislaw Lem
THE MALAZAN BOOK OF THE FALLEN - Steven Erikson
THE ROYAL FAMILY - William Vollmann
MRS. CALDWELL SPEAKS TO HER SON - Camilo Cela
THE EVERLASTING STORY OF NORY - Nicholson Baker
THANK YOU, JEEVES - PG Wodehouse
WATER MUSIC - TC Boyle
LEXICON OF MUSICAL INVECTIVE - Nicolas Slonimsky
YEAR IN PROVENCE - Peter Mayle
CASTLE RACKRENT - Maria Edgeworth
THE MYSTERIES OF UDOLPHO - Anne Radcliffe
THE INCREDIBLE ADVENTURES OF PROFESSOR BRANESTAWM - Norman Hunter
THE DA VINCI CODE - Dan Brown
THE HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG - Andre Dubus III
THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - Alexandre Dumas
THE END OF THE ROAD - John Barth
THE SIRENS OF TITAN -  Kurt Vonnegut
CATCH-22 - Joseph Heller
HANTARAM - Gregory David Roberts
THE WIND-UP BIRD CHRONICLE - Haruki Murakami
THE POWER OF THE DOG - Don Winslow
ENTER PSMITH - P.G. Wodehouse
COLLECTED LETTERS (3 vols) - C.S. Lewis
THE RUPERT BEAR ANNUAL (any year will do)
PANDORA'S STAR/JUDAS UNCHAINED - Peter F Hamilton
STILL-LIFE WITH WOODPECKER - Tom Robbins
PASTORALIA - George Saunders
THE LOST CONTINENT - Bill Bryson
THE COMPLETE CALVIN & HOBBES - Bill Watterson
THE CALL OF THE WILD - Jack London
THE HUMAN APE - Desmond Morris
THE ROAD - Cormac McCarthy
VERNON GOD LITTLE - DBC Pierre
THE GREAT GAME - Peter Hopkirk
THE RISE AND FALL OF THE GREAT POWERS - Paul Kennedy
THE CIVIL WAR: A NARRATIVE VOL. 1-3- Shelby Foote
BASEBALL AMERICA- Donald Honig
LORD OF THE RINGS- JRR Tolkien
HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY - Doug Adams
PSYCHOTIC REACTIONS AND CARBURETOR DUNG - Lester Bangs
THE HORSE IS DEAD - Robert Kane
LOLITA - Vladimir Nabokov
COMPLETE WORKS - Mark Twain
TEATRO GROTTESCO - Thomas Ligotti
AND THEN THERE WERE NONE - Agatha Christie
DUNE - Frank Herbert
THE BROOKLYN FOLLIES - Paul Auster
EARTHLY POWERS - Anthony Burgess
NORWEGIAN WOOD - Haruki Murakami
THE ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU - H.G. Wells
THE PERFECT STORM - Sebastian Junger
THE GODFATHER - Mario Puzo
(55)

*Please pick three, folks. Use the above format [title in caps, space dash space, author's name] Thanks!
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: The new erato on May 17, 2011, 12:17:07 AM
There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old's life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs.
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: Florestan on May 17, 2011, 01:54:24 AM
Quote from: The new erato on May 17, 2011, 12:17:07 AM
Atlas Shrugged.

I sometimes wonder who'd be the best choice for John Galt in a Hollywood production --- Woody Allen or Danny de Vito?  ;D
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: karlhenning on May 17, 2011, 02:07:49 AM
Quote from: The new erato on May 17, 2011, 12:17:07 AM
There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old's life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs.

Nicely played!
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: DavidW on May 17, 2011, 06:47:54 AM
Quote from: The new erato on May 17, 2011, 12:17:07 AM
There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old's life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs.

Now there is the post of the week! ;D
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: matti on May 17, 2011, 11:05:52 AM
Jaroslav Hasek: The Good Soldier Ċ vejk
Chekhov: The Complete Short Stories
Mika Waltari: Sinuhe, the Egyptian

(About the last one: a friend of mine to whom I gave the English translation of the book told me this one was the first book his son, suffering from dyslexia, read through and enjoeyd it. And it is a THICK one.)
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: Florestan on May 18, 2011, 01:08:57 AM
Quote from: matti on May 17, 2011, 11:05:52 AM
Mika Waltari: Sinuhe, the Egyptian

(About the last one: a friend of mine to whom I gave the English translation of the book told me this one was the first book his son, suffering from dyslexia, read through and enjoeyd it. And it is a THICK one.)

Actually, everything by Waltari is worth reading. He really knew his history and the characters are completely of their time in all his books.
Title: Re: GMG's 99 Most Entertaining Books Ever Written!
Post by: Antoine Marchand on May 18, 2011, 01:33:56 AM
Maybe 99 is a number too large to do any useful recommendation, but I have always related Ethan Canin's name with big fun, especially this novel:

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_scdO6nP-7VI/TPVz_PNjYJI/AAAAAAAADsI/1CxAvhpovPY/s1600/For-Kings-and-Planets-A-Novel-0312241259-L.jpg)