Recommend just one book - Science Fiction Fantasy Chronicles: forums

Arch · 12th July 2003, 10:36 AM

I haven't read anything this year. Not in novel format. I should.
So I got to thinking if there was one single book you'd recommend this year, what would it be and why? I just thought I'd ask that question. *grins*

dwndrgn · 14th July 2003, 02:38 PM

That depends on the genre you favor.

General Historical Fiction: Outlander, Diana Gabaldon
Historical Mystery: Absolution By Murder, Peter Tremayne
Fantasy: Luck in The Shadows, Lynn Flewelling
Sci-Fi: Battlefield Earth, L. Ron Hubbard
Non-Fiction: A Walk In The Woods, Bill Bryson
Irreverent fun fiction: The Pyrates, George MacDonald Fraser

All of these were selected because they made a definite impact on me. Each one changed my views, habits or interests in some way.

nemesis · 18th July 2003, 08:27 PM

One book? Long or short? Fact or fiction? Fantasy or speculative fiction? Do you have a preference or actual area to read up on?

scifimoth · 22nd July 2003, 06:34 PM

Just one? Oh dear, I really can't name just one.
If you are into non fiction I would suggest
"What it means to be 98% chimpanzee."

There I have done it...just one book....sigh!

dwndrgn · 22nd July 2003, 07:51 PM

scifimoth: What is the 98% chimpanzee book about? I haven't heard of it.

scifimoth · 24th July 2003, 05:39 PM

It's a anthropological book....about what our origings might mean on a behavioral and biological level. It explores the idea of how much and what does it really mean to say that our DNA is 98 % like that of Chimpanzees....
I found it a very interesting book...I will have to reread it sometime soon.

dwndrgn · 24th July 2003, 05:41 PM

It does sound interesting, I will have to see if my local library carries it. Thanks for the suggestion.

Foxbat · 25th July 2003, 08:53 AM

My book recommendation is Flowers For Algernon. It's not only well written (Nebula & Hugo winner) but is a book which educates and moves the reader.

chronicles · 25th July 2003, 09:01 PM

That's a great short story, that - we read that in English when I was 16 - Charlie Gordon, yes?

Foxbat · 26th July 2003, 06:17 AM

Yep. Charlie Gordon was his name. It was also made into an Oscar winning film. It started life as a short story and was expanded into a full blown novel.

brian · 26th July 2003, 09:22 PM

A novel and a film? My goodness - how far behind the times am i?

Or were these commerical flops?

littlemissattitude · 27th July 2003, 04:47 AM

The film was called Charly, and starred Cliff Robertson and Claire Bloom. As I recall, it was a fairly successful film. It was released in 1968. Robertson won an Academy Award for his portaryal of the title character. The movie and video review guide I have access to gave the film three and a half our of four stars, not a bad review at all. Daniel Keyes wrote the short story, and I believe he also wrote the expanded novel.

Arch · 27th July 2003, 02:34 PM

I'm surprised no one's recommended James Joyce's Ulysses to me! Go on, someone dare!

dwndrgn · 27th July 2003, 04:00 PM

Can't. Never read it. So there!

brian · 28th July 2003, 08:36 PM

Ah - now there's a book that been on my shelves gathering dust.

(Actually, it was in the loft, but I brought it down with Heinlein - I found a few classics I thought I really should read.)

12th July 2003, 10:36 AM	#1 (permalink)
Arch Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 34	Recommend just one book I haven't read anything this year. Not in novel format. I should. So I got to thinking if there was one single book you'd recommend this year, what would it be and why? I just thought I'd ask that question. grins

14th July 2003, 02:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
dwndrgn Fierce Vowelless One Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 3,750	Re:Recommend just one book That depends on the genre you favor. General Historical Fiction: Outlander, Diana Gabaldon Historical Mystery: Absolution By Murder, Peter Tremayne Fantasy: Luck in The Shadows, Lynn Flewelling Sci-Fi: Battlefield Earth, L. Ron Hubbard Non-Fiction: A Walk In The Woods, Bill Bryson Irreverent fun fiction: The Pyrates, George MacDonald Fraser All of these were selected because they made a definite impact on me. Each one changed my views, habits or interests in some way.

18th July 2003, 08:27 PM	#3 (permalink)
nemesis Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 154	Re:Recommend just one book One book? Long or short? Fact or fiction? Fantasy or speculative fiction? Do you have a preference or actual area to read up on?

22nd July 2003, 06:34 PM	#4 (permalink)
scifimoth Deity of Random Weirdness Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 201	Re:Recommend just one book Just one? Oh dear, I really can't name just one. If you are into non fiction I would suggest "What it means to be 98% chimpanzee." There I have done it...just one book....sigh!

22nd July 2003, 07:51 PM	#5 (permalink)
dwndrgn Fierce Vowelless One Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 3,750	Re:Recommend just one book scifimoth: What is the 98% chimpanzee book about? I haven't heard of it.

24th July 2003, 05:39 PM	#6 (permalink)
scifimoth Deity of Random Weirdness Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 201	Re:Recommend just one book It's a anthropological book....about what our origings might mean on a behavioral and biological level. It explores the idea of how much and what does it really mean to say that our DNA is 98 % like that of Chimpanzees.... I found it a very interesting book...I will have to reread it sometime soon.

24th July 2003, 05:41 PM	#7 (permalink)
dwndrgn Fierce Vowelless One Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 3,750	Re:Recommend just one book It does sound interesting, I will have to see if my local library carries it. Thanks for the suggestion.

25th July 2003, 08:53 AM	#8 (permalink)
Foxbat Haggis Connoisseur Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 2,664	Re:Recommend just one book My book recommendation is Flowers For Algernon. It's not only well written (Nebula & Hugo winner) but is a book which educates and moves the reader.

25th July 2003, 09:01 PM	#9 (permalink)
chronicles Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 102	Re:Recommend just one book That's a great short story, that - we read that in English when I was 16 - Charlie Gordon, yes?

26th July 2003, 06:17 AM	#10 (permalink)
Foxbat Haggis Connoisseur Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 2,664	Re:Recommend just one book Yep. Charlie Gordon was his name. It was also made into an Oscar winning film. It started life as a short story and was expanded into a full blown novel.

26th July 2003, 09:22 PM	#11 (permalink)
brian Administrator Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 960	Re:Recommend just one book A novel and a film? My goodness - how far behind the times am i? Or were these commerical flops?

27th July 2003, 04:47 AM	#12 (permalink)
littlemissattitude Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 3,507 Blog Entries: 9	Re:Recommend just one book The film was called Charly, and starred Cliff Robertson and Claire Bloom. As I recall, it was a fairly successful film. It was released in 1968. Robertson won an Academy Award for his portaryal of the title character. The movie and video review guide I have access to gave the film three and a half our of four stars, not a bad review at all. Daniel Keyes wrote the short story, and I believe he also wrote the expanded novel.

27th July 2003, 02:34 PM	#13 (permalink)
Arch Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 34	Re:Recommend just one book I'm surprised no one's recommended James Joyce's Ulysses to me! Go on, someone dare!

27th July 2003, 04:00 PM	#14 (permalink)
dwndrgn Fierce Vowelless One Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 3,750	Re:Recommend just one book Can't. Never read it. So there!

28th July 2003, 08:36 PM	#15 (permalink)
brian Administrator Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 960	Re:Recommend just one book Ah - now there's a book that been on my shelves gathering dust. (Actually, it was in the loft, but I brought it down with Heinlein - I found a few classics I thought I really should read.)

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