FabSwingers.com forum: Which classic book would you recommend?

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

I'm just starting The Catcher in the Rye, as I've never read it.

As always , I'd recommend To Kill a Mockingbird.

There are numerous other classics to work my way through. Which would you recommend?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Classic book I love and read as a child is stig of the dump

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Boss, add to your 2 fine examples:

Catch 22

1984

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

To Kill a Mockingbird is my favourite book.

The Grapes of Wrath is very good too.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Never got to finish Stig of the dump.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"Boss, add to your 2 fine examples:

Catch 22

1984

Your avatar distracted me from your post! Just dissected Animal Farm, so 1984 could be next !

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Never got to finish Stig of the dump. "

Are you still reading the Ladybird books?

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"Never got to finish Stig of the dump. "

Because ???

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"To Kill a Mockingbird is my favourite book.

The Grapes of Wrath is very good too."

Yes it's mine too. I'll look the other one up.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Boss, add to your 2 fine examples:

Catch 22

1984

Your avatar distracted me from your post! Just dissected Animal Farm, so 1984 could be next !

Apologies

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By *anchestercubMan
over a year ago

manchester & NI

And Then There Were None

Charlotte's Web (childhood fav)

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

There are loads of good books on the BBC Big Read.

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By *dam_TinaCouple
over a year ago

Hampshire

"I'm just starting The Catcher in the Rye, as I've never read it.

As always , I'd recommend To Kill a Mockingbird.

There are numerous other classics to work my way through. Which would you recommend?

So wanted to read Catcher in the Rye, but read about 50 pages and couldn't go on. Let me know if it's worth persevering with when you've finished it

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By *he tactile technicianMan
over a year ago

the good lands, the bad lands, the any where you may want me lands

Lord of the Flies, William Golding, but then I went to a boys school and lived in the far east, so something ressinates with me, lol

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I'd recommend you go for Conrad's Heart of Darkness, which was the inspiration for Apocalypse Now

Also on a film theme, Chandler's Farewell my Lovely. People often underrate the Noir

Can anyone spot the connection between the two books ?

Brownie points for those who can

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By *oe bloggs69Man
over a year ago

fife

Living at the movies by Jim carroll

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Lord of the Flies, William Golding, but then I went to a boys school and lived in the far east, so something ressinates with me, lol"

Whereabouts did you live?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Never got to finish Stig of the dump.

Because ??? "

I think the teacher got bored.

Nobody mentioned treasure island yet?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Anna Karenina is a favourite too.

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By *ibbyhunterCouple
over a year ago

keighley

Brighton rock great book great film.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Mary Shelley's Frankenstien, and Bram Stokers Dracula.

Two of the very few books I've read more than once.

I'm currently reading Oscar Wilde.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Prefer 1984 to animal farm. Orwells essay on killing an elephant is excellent

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By *inaTitzTV/TS
over a year ago

Titz Towers, North Notts

I guess it depends what you call a classic. Does a book become a classic because it is old, or on the school curriculum, or popular?

I enjoyed The Black Arrow, but then 3 men in a boat is nice

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Little Grey Men.

Loved that book as a child. May have to revisit.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

FYI, Amazon do lots of 'classics' for free download...

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

To kill a mocking bird too.

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By *dam_TinaCouple
over a year ago

Hampshire

"To kill a mocking bird too. "

I never read the first one...

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Tess of the D'Urbervilles. Most Thomas Hardy is a bit wank but I love that.

Vanity Fair.

Jane Eyre.

I seem to like classics with female main protagonists.

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By *bbandflowCouple
over a year ago

South Devon

I suppose I define a classic as a book that I can read again and again and still find new insights.

Three men in a Boat is a delight.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Starship troopers.

Some very interesting ideas on politics and government. So much so I believe it's on nearly every US intelligence and military agency's required reading list and many others around the world.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

The Grapes of Wrath is very good too."

Blimey that's nearly as dreary as Of mice and men...that was no sodding accident Lennie you perv.

Chekov Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky are hard work, seem to be copied a lot too.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Anything by Jim Thompson,the getaway,killer in me,grifters pop 1280

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Anything by Jim Thompson,the getaway,killer in me,grifters pop 1280

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By *dwalu2Couple
over a year ago

Bristol

"Anything by Jim Thompson,the getaway,killer in me,grifters pop 1280"

Love all of those. Thompson is amazing.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Story of O

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By *onbons_xxMan
over a year ago

Bolton

Catcher in the Rue for me, or Catch 22. I tend to periodically go back to them. Or some Murakami but I don't know if that classes as 'classic'

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By *dwalu2Couple
over a year ago

Bristol

Classically overrated, maybe!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Don't bother reading a winters tale. Not Shakespeare at his best

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"Lord of the Flies, William Golding, but then I went to a boys school and lived in the far east, so something ressinates with me, lol"

Studied that book for English Lit - great book, but makes you question lots about friendship groups. How we are like pack animals at times. It's uncomfortable reading in parts, hence very well written.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Boss, add to your 2 fine examples:

Catch 22

1984

Your avatar distracted me from your post! Just dissected Animal Farm, so 1984 could be next !

1984 is good but for me - like animal farm - the message is a bit too sledgehammer and lacks subtlety. I think Orwell was a better journalist than he was a novelist, and I much prefer Homage to Catalonia to both the above.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"To kill a mocking bird too.

I never read the first one..."

I believe Harper Lee is releasing the sequel this summer. I'm sure, I read, she wrote it prior to " to Kill a Mockingbird". I can't think of the title just now!

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By *earboynottinghamMan
over a year ago

Nottingham

Animal farm

The hobbit

Discworld novels

An inspector calls

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"Starship troopers.

Some very interesting ideas on politics and government. So much so I believe it's on nearly every US intelligence and military agency's required reading list and many others around the world."

Just looked it up, I like fantasy and science fiction so looks a good read!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Moby Dick - can't believe nobody's mentioned it yet.

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By *octor DeleriumMan
over a year ago

Wellingborough

The Seed and the Sower.

Lauren's van Der Post

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"Tess of the D'Urbervilles. Most Thomas Hardy is a bit wank but I love that.

Vanity Fair.

Jane Eyre.

I seem to like classics with female main protagonists."

Of Thomas Hardy's books, I thought Far from the Madding Crowd was a great book too.

Never read Vanity Fair, it's on the list now.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

And just because I watched Hot Fuzz last night and it reminded me...

Iain Banks: Complicity

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

so many - our house is full of books and more so as daughter studying english literature and language at uni - she asked for grimms fairy tales for her 21 st birthday - but i couldnt choose one over another

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By *ere-for-my-convenienceWoman
over a year ago

Tenbury Wells

Jane Eyre

The best book ever

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"Animal farm

The hobbit

Discworld novels

An inspector calls"

The Hobbit is a book that is always on one of my bookshelves somewhere.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

far from the madding crowd - is on tv over the weekend sometime

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By *earboynottinghamMan
over a year ago

Nottingham

"Animal farm

The hobbit

Discworld novels

An inspector calls

The Hobbit is a book that is always on one of my bookshelves somewhere.

Yea I like to read again every so often.

Love the first chapter!

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By *andl76Couple
over a year ago

north east

My favourite is the count of monte cristo by Alexander Dumas - it's a thick one but really fantastic

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"To kill a mocking bird too.

I never read the first one...

I believe Harper Lee is releasing the sequel this summer. I'm sure, I read, she wrote it prior to " to Kill a Mockingbird". I can't think of the title just now! "

Its called go set a watchman, looking forward to reading it.

As mentioned above, it depends what you class as a classic, for me:

Childhood classic - Peter pan

Traditional classic - Great expectations

Modern classic - The outsiders

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Starship troopers.

Some very interesting ideas on politics and government. So much so I believe it's on nearly every US intelligence and military agency's required reading list and many others around the world.

Just looked it up, I like fantasy and science fiction so looks a good read!

Nothing like the film I should point out lol

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

The old man and the sea. Terrific short story, and good for kids to.

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By *educedWoman
over a year ago

Birmingham

I read Wuthering Heights at least once a year. It's my very favourite.

Also most things by Tolkein, Lord of the Rings being my preferred read. I used to spend whole summers just reading that book and teaching myself to write Elvish.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I read Wuthering Heights at least once a year. It's my very favourite.

Also most things by Tolkein, Lord of the Rings being my preferred read. I used to spend whole summers just reading that book and teaching myself to write Elvish.

I love the Tolkien books although the Silmarillion does take some getting into if you are reading it for the first time

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By *oddamnCouple
over a year ago

leicestershire

James Herbert The Rats for anyone who wants to be scared for the rest of their lives!

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By *andS66Couple
over a year ago

Derby

A tale of two cities by Dickens.

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By *verysmileMan
over a year ago

Canterbury

Treasure Island ... classic.

Slaughterhouse 5 ...a tale of post traumatic stress written in the 1950's.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Fanny Hill is wonderful titillation and entertaining too, but perhaps not a mainstream classic.

I choose Pride and Prejudice which I read at least once a year.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

A child called it

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

just bought a kindle on ebay and loaded it up with books I down loaded.

got a few classics:

platos republic

comunist manifesto

wealth of nations

heroditus the histories

the prince

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

A suitable boy? Vikram Seth

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I still think Angela's Ashes and 'Tis are modern classics.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Lord of the flies and of mice and men

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Any of Milligan's war memoirs. My particular favourite was Rommel - Gunner Who?

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By *ushandkittyCouple
over a year ago

Gloucester

"James Herbert The Rats for anyone who wants to be scared for the rest of their lives!"

Followed by 'Lair' and 'domain'.

Also 'A kestrel for a knave'

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Confessions of an economic hitman (blueprint to how wars are started)

Atlas shrugged by Ayn Rand

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By *oe bloggs69Man
over a year ago

fife

Soft warm rain-roberta latow lol

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By *dwalu2Couple
over a year ago

Bristol

[Removed by poster at 30/04/15 16:25:14]

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By *dwalu2Couple
over a year ago

Bristol

"Atlas shrugged by Ayn Rand "

A classic example of books that people should read so they know why they can disregard the opinions of people who admire the libertarian twaddle espoused by Ayn Rand.

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By *ilkpantiesCouple
over a year ago

colwyn bay

For a modern classic 'Lonesome Dove' a Pulitzer prise winner ,truly epic in scope and a great exploration of friendship

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Down and Out in Paris and London

The Bell Jar

Cider With Laurie

On The Road

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"For a modern classic 'Lonesome Dove' a Pulitzer prise winner ,truly epic in scope and a great exploration of friendship"

Hello John

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By *o-jCouple
over a year ago

Outskirts of Notts

Has anyone mentioned the wasp factory ?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Ooh I read all way through and noone mentioned my classic I'm so pleased. I'd like to nominate

F Scott Fitzgerald, The great Gatsby.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"A child called it "

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Atlas shrugged by Ayn Rand

A classic example of books that people should read so they know why they can disregard the opinions of people who admire the libertarian twaddle espoused by Ayn Rand."

you have got to be kidding! Ayn Rand is very much the authoritarian big brother type that current influential people swear by...her book is a handbook to establishing the goals of the elite

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By *onyneMan
over a year ago

Newcastle

Decline and Fall and Vile Bodies...both by Evelyn Waugh

Rogue Male ...Geoffrey Household

Ulysses by James Joyce is amazing but you have to really get into it

Nice thread...some of the books on this list are ones I love, and others are books that I really should read.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"Decline and Fall and Vile Bodies...both by Evelyn Waugh

Rogue Male ...Geoffrey Household

Ulysses by James Joyce is amazing but you have to really get into it

Nice thread...some of the books on this list are ones I love, and others are books that I really should read."

I reslly enjoyed Ulysses, I'd had to study The Dubliners and then decided I fancied reading Ulysses. Really enjoyed it.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.... its good, the suspense was so strong i used to read it in weird places just to finish it

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I wouldnt call it classic but still..

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"To kill a mocking bird too.

I never read the first one...

I believe Harper Lee is releasing the sequel this summer. I'm sure, I read, she wrote it prior to " to Kill a Mockingbird". I can't think of the title just now!

Its called go set a watchman, looking forward to reading it.

As mentioned above, it depends what you class as a classic, for me:

Childhood classic - Peter pan

Traditional classic - Great expectations

Modern classic - The outsiders"

Good choices.

My childhood classic would be Anne of Green Gables.

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By *onyneMan
over a year ago

Newcastle

"Decline and Fall and Vile Bodies...both by Evelyn Waugh

Rogue Male ...Geoffrey Household

Ulysses by James Joyce is amazing but you have to really get into it

Nice thread...some of the books on this list are ones I love, and others are books that I really should read.

I reslly enjoyed Ulysses, I'd had to study The Dubliners and then decided I fancied reading Ulysses. Really enjoyed it.

I enjoyed the collection of short stories as well but the name slips my mind...is it Dubliners or am I mistaken? Just can't remember which is which! I bought it in Galway after inadvertently getting locked out of my hotel and getting two hours sleep in a shop doorway...woke up the went to the shops, bought that and read loads of stories in a cafe.

Whenever I see the book I remember the whole thing...but obviously not the title!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

possibly the best modern(ish) fiction I've read is The Road, by Cormac McCarthy - although it's a bit of an emotional rollercoaster. Terryfying, Touching, Dark as night and yet somehow life-affirming too. Had me in tears several times...

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By *onyneMan
over a year ago

Newcastle

"possibly the best modern(ish) fiction I've read is The Road, by Cormac McCarthy - although it's a bit of an emotional rollercoaster. Terryfying, Touching, Dark as night and yet somehow life-affirming too. Had me in tears several times..."

I really disliked the film though...maybe because I was troubled by it for weeks after!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

The crucible is a good tale mirroring the macarthy witch hunts

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

That's been recommended to me as a good read and they said it would make me cry.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

A classic fairytale "the conservative election manifesto 2015" makes for a highly amusing read.

On a true note, trainspotting is a classic to me. I also have enjoyed the LOTR and the Harry Potter books. A classic classic I like is war of the worlds.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I really disliked the film though...maybe because I was troubled by it for weeks after!"

Well yes both book and film are fairly harrowing! reading the book was even more so for me as at the time my son was a similar age to the boy character, and I just kept imagining it as him and me...

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By *onyneMan
over a year ago

Newcastle

I really disliked the film though...maybe because I was troubled by it for weeks after!

Well yes both book and film are fairly harrowing! reading the book was even more so for me as at the time my son was a similar age to the boy character, and I just kept imagining it as him and me..."

I can see how that would happen...I am not good with being psychologically troubled at the best of times...watched the film without reading book and had no idea what was going to unfold...

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Probably not a classic but Papillon is one the most gripping stories I've ever read

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"The crucible is a good tale mirroring the macarthy witch hunts"

Read that at school and really enjoyed it

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

The Singularity is near:

When Humans Transcend Biology

By Roy Kurzweil

Notable Quotes from this book,

`One cubic Inch of nanotube Circuitry,

Once fully Developed, would be up to

One hundred million times more powerful than the human brain".

If this book could be summarized in an Image, that Image would be:

A holographic robot orgy that`s not Actually happening, but the Nanocomputers embedded into the synapses of your brain just make

You think its happening.

Read this book if you are a geek (which I,m not

) You want to see why the Internet And smartphone are just the tip of the Iceberg of whats comeing in our Lifetime, or your a ageing boomer who Refuses to see a therapist and needs Something to look forward to.

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By *andS66Couple
over a year ago

Derby

"A classic fairytale "the conservative election manifesto 2015" makes for a highly amusing read.

Not forgetting the fantasy novel 'Labour election manifesto 2015'... subtitled 'spend it, borrow it, bust it'

Or the feelgood novel 'the liberal election manifesto 2015', subtitled 'harmless to all, clueless about everything'.

Or you can now get the whole trilogy in one bound book. It's title is 'promise the earth, deliver a road atlas' and the subtitle is 'how to lie and cheat your way to power'

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Emanuelle!

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By *B9 QueenWoman
over a year ago

Over the rainbow, under the bridge

Brave New World

1984

Animal Farm

The Handmaids Tale

Wuthering Heights

Pride and Prejudice

Shirley by Charlotte Bronte which I think is better than Jane Eyre

Oliver Twist

Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy books

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

[Removed by poster at 01/05/15 07:19:25]

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Of mice and men was a favourite of mine! X

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By *earboynottinghamMan
over a year ago

Nottingham

"just bought a kindle on ebay and loaded it up with books I down loaded.

got a few classics:

platos republic

comunist manifesto

wealth of nations

heroditus the histories

the prince

The prince is good.

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