Poll: Novels that have impacted you the most?
- Thread starter Koroviev
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Neuromancer is a completely different book, closer to what people expect when they think of cyberpunk. I'm not sure Pattern Recognition would even be classified as sci-fi, just straight fiction. Check out Gibson's website (http://www.williamgibsonbooks.com/books/pattern.asp) it will give a better summery then I could and lets you read the first couple of pages.Koroviev said:
There's been a few, but Nineteen Eighty-Four springs to mind. It was as depressing as hell (particularly the ending), but I found the setting fascinating, and to this day I'm grateful that I am lucky enough not to live in such a society. I read it in around a day, so yes, I was quite immersed.
Certainly, but first I should probably clarify I can only speak from experience of England, perhaps I should have said that instead of "Western society", but I assume America for example has many of the same cultural traits.Koroviev said:
While there are no 'telescreens' in my life a mix of the prevelence of CCTV, an internet connection that can monitor many of my actions and the fact mine (and anyone else) phone may be tapped reflects the monitoring element of 1984.
In 1984 the state is in a constant state of war, an abstract war which primary ramifications appear to be justifying the economic state of Oceania and inducing hatred in the individual against a quasi-mythic character 'Goldstein', or in contemporary Terms 'Sudan Hussain', 'Osama Bin Laden' or whoever else is not currently in favour. In both 1984 and reality I would argue it distracts the individual from injustices such as poverty and inequality.
Oceania is an allie with one country/state and in war with another, history is rewritten to present the current situation as 'how it has always been'. While it is widely acknowledged that Sudan Hussein and Osama Bin Laden and Kadaffi have had links with the West it is simultaneously ignored and hatred, sanctions and war are treated as rational and normal and not just economically motivated and distracting us from other issues of inequality.
The 'two minutes hate' of 1984 can be seen in both the publics response to the above figures, and certainly in the UK towards an "under class". Current Conservative proposals to cut benefits are rationalised as a number of media publications/broadcasters place great emphasis on "benefit scroungers" and to a large extent there is a public contempt for the "under class". A literal manifestation of 'two minutes hate' can be seen in TV shows like 'Jeremy Kyle' program (similar to Jerry Springer) where the public is invited to be appalled and pore scorn on the alleged "under class". Much like the threat of 'terror' removing attention and focus from greater issues of economic distribution.
In both 1984 and reality lotterys with minimal odds of winning promise happiness and encourage pragmatism.
In 1984 the secret police torture/kill people at will. After Dr David Kelly spoke out and wrote about the search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq in a way which the government didn't approve of, he then mysteriously killed himself in "suspicous circumstances. While it was never proven it is generally thought he was killed because of his comments and reports.
Orwell writing in 1947/8 commenting on Communism and Fascism had nothing to say about the pacifying nature of luxury goods and comfort that prevent the pursuit of change. The book which springs to mind in relation to this is 'One Dimensional Man' (1964) by Marcuse which comments on comfort as a pacifying tool while polarities between the richest and poorest members of society expand. Not being a novel it wasn't relevent to the topic.
That is why I feel 1984 reflects contemporary society. As I say I think most people (based on previous topics) have a more optomistic outlook, and like most people (on these forums at least) I live in enough comfort to not really pursue change.
The Grapes of Wrath by Steinbeck had a pretty big impact on me. I vowed never to read anything that poor again.
I'd say American Psycho and Less Than Zero have affected me in some way or another, couldn't tell you how, only that something changed after reading them.
Also, Bringing Down the House, which inspired me to take more risks and not worry too much about the consequences.
I'd say American Psycho and Less Than Zero have affected me in some way or another, couldn't tell you how, only that something changed after reading them.
Also, Bringing Down the House, which inspired me to take more risks and not worry too much about the consequences.
I'd have to say novels like The Picture of Dorian Gray, Illiad/Odyssey, The Great Gatsby, and probably A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Ian McEwan's 'Enduring Love' is very immersive. I could not put the book down until I had finished it. 'Saturday' is very good too, but a little easier to put down if you're planning to get some sleep.
Actually I'm a bit surprised Ian McEwan hasn't been mentioned yet, for me at least he does a very good job of making me feel for his characters.
Actually I'm a bit surprised Ian McEwan hasn't been mentioned yet, for me at least he does a very good job of making me feel for his characters.
I know I'm probably going to get flamed for this one, but The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand. There's just something very appealing about a guy fighting for his art in a world gone mad. The whole book pretty much argues that your work is your own, and you should be happy with it.
This too.LarenzoAOG said:
OP: I understand completely what you mean about Requiem For A Dream, even though it's made my list of influential novels - the writing style was alien yet intriguing to me, but then again I'm a fan of Jazz, so the math may be fairly simple.
On The Road by Jack Kerouac was such an inspiring read for me - it was refreshing to know that not all alternative literature of the 50s was limited to bland, self-absorbed garbage like Catcher In The Rye for a start, but the real delicious main course was the book's fundamental moral; Whether you're young, old or simply feeling confused about your next direction, just pack your bags and travel. Not only do you have some of the most down-to-earth observations of life as we know it, but, with such a writing style, we also find some of the most honestly beautiful descriptions of the urban and natural world in which we live. An essential read by any standard.
Excuse me for being a fanboy, but Get In The Van by Henry Rollins was another book which followed in the vain of escapism that On The Road had carved a niche for in my subconscious. Rollins' no-bullshit approach to the five years he toured with Black Flag and some of the uncomprimising brutality and hardship he was subjected to by fans, venues, promoters, other bands and, not being too proud as an Englishman, British Movement Skinheads by the ton on the way is terrifying, to say the least. Even though he expresses no regret for giving up a steady life in favour of a, quite literally, starving gig, his matter-of-fact writing style and the ease of which he shrugs off some of the potentially traumatic events leave little room for comfort in the knowledge that he is a sane man. Nerve-shredding, eye-opening and yet stangely life-affirming and refreshing, Get In The Van is a brilliant book.
Death Of A Mafia Don by Michele Guittari, whilst picturesque in it's title, is a textbook example of how to write a crime thriller. If this list were film choices, this would be The Third Man; Guittari realises that solving a crime within the confines of a narrative is a matter of speed and strategically placed information leaks, both of which are exercised beautifully in this novel. Whilst not exactly pulp, the book is definitely juicy and never slackens the pace with tense confrontations from everyone from the police and prosecution services to press officials, Mafia kingpins and a shadowy fixer, who for the purposes of non-spoilers shall go unnamed. As you may have already guessed, the scope of characters in the narrative is breathtaking for such a short novel. Whether you are a geniune fan of contemporary crime fiction or just sick of the Grishams and Pattersons of the world, Death Of A Mafia Don is perfect.
On The Road by Jack Kerouac was such an inspiring read for me - it was refreshing to know that not all alternative literature of the 50s was limited to bland, self-absorbed garbage like Catcher In The Rye for a start, but the real delicious main course was the book's fundamental moral; Whether you're young, old or simply feeling confused about your next direction, just pack your bags and travel. Not only do you have some of the most down-to-earth observations of life as we know it, but, with such a writing style, we also find some of the most honestly beautiful descriptions of the urban and natural world in which we live. An essential read by any standard.
Excuse me for being a fanboy, but Get In The Van by Henry Rollins was another book which followed in the vain of escapism that On The Road had carved a niche for in my subconscious. Rollins' no-bullshit approach to the five years he toured with Black Flag and some of the uncomprimising brutality and hardship he was subjected to by fans, venues, promoters, other bands and, not being too proud as an Englishman, British Movement Skinheads by the ton on the way is terrifying, to say the least. Even though he expresses no regret for giving up a steady life in favour of a, quite literally, starving gig, his matter-of-fact writing style and the ease of which he shrugs off some of the potentially traumatic events leave little room for comfort in the knowledge that he is a sane man. Nerve-shredding, eye-opening and yet stangely life-affirming and refreshing, Get In The Van is a brilliant book.
Death Of A Mafia Don by Michele Guittari, whilst picturesque in it's title, is a textbook example of how to write a crime thriller. If this list were film choices, this would be The Third Man; Guittari realises that solving a crime within the confines of a narrative is a matter of speed and strategically placed information leaks, both of which are exercised beautifully in this novel. Whilst not exactly pulp, the book is definitely juicy and never slackens the pace with tense confrontations from everyone from the police and prosecution services to press officials, Mafia kingpins and a shadowy fixer, who for the purposes of non-spoilers shall go unnamed. As you may have already guessed, the scope of characters in the narrative is breathtaking for such a short novel. Whether you are a geniune fan of contemporary crime fiction or just sick of the Grishams and Pattersons of the world, Death Of A Mafia Don is perfect.
Assigned reading + overenthusiastic teacher = epic failTestECull said:
Read something about which you'd like to have a conversation. If you like shooting smack, read a book about that. If you like bragging about your conquest of alien mutants, then read about that.
Fahrenheit 451. When I first read it, I came home from school and finished the 3rd part in one sitting, which is not saying THAT much, but I read literally every word and took my sweet time. I spent a while reading it, and all that time my dad was trying to get me to eat food, which I cast aside because chewing was distracting me from the greatest book I have ever read.
It was that immersive.
It was that immersive.
Brave New World - it had the opposite effect that it was intended to. Made me MORE enthusiastic about technology and science, as a matter of fact.
If you want a Non-Fiction book that is incredibly impacting, read "Humanity" by Jonathan Glover
If you want a Non-Fiction book that is incredibly impacting, read "Humanity" by Jonathan Glover