# Something new and maybe different to read... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 31, 2001, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-new-and-maybe-different-to-read/90758 "2001-10-31T18:39:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sandpiper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@sandpiper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandpiper)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2001, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-new-and-maybe-different-to-read/90758/1 "2001-10-31T18:39:20Z")
So I have some things to return to the library and I’ll be looking for some new books to check out. Anyone have any suggestions for me? (I seem to remember someone else asking for book recommendations but I can’t find the thread.) Some of my favorite authors are (in no particular order) [list] [li]Sue Grafton[/li] [li]C.S. Lewis[/li] [li]Janet Evanovich (but only the Stephanie Plum series)[/li] [li]Stephen White[/li] [li]Billie Letts[/li] [li]Max Lucado[/li]Titles? Authors? Bring 'em on! ---
**Author:** ![k.os](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e0b2c6/32.png) [@k.os](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k.os)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2001, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-new-and-maybe-different-to-read/90758/2 "2001-10-31T18:48:27Z")
William S. Burroughs: The Cities of the Red Night Robert Anton Wilson: Masks of the Illuminati, Illuminatus! Trilogy, Shrödinger’s Cat Douglas Adams: The Hitch-Hicker`s Guide to the Galaxy (trilogy in five parts), Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, The Long Dard Teatime of the Soul There are many others, but these are what comes to mind first… ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2001, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-new-and-maybe-different-to-read/90758/3 "2001-10-31T19:01:01Z")
Just about anything by Terry Pratchett brings a big grin to my face, which is helpful for these stressful times. ---
**Author:** ![MJH2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@MJH2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MJH2)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2001, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-new-and-maybe-different-to-read/90758/4 "2001-10-31T19:23:14Z")
Arundhati Roy – _The God of Small Things_ Dorothy Dunnett – _The Game of Kings_ or _Niccolo Rising_ (each book first in a series) Austin Tappan Wright – _Islandia_ P.D. James – _A Taste for Death_, _Devices & Desires_ Ursula K. LeGuin – _The Left Hand of Darkness_, _The Dispossessed_ Storm Constantine – the _Wraethhu_ trilogy, _Stalking Tender Prey_ ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2001, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-new-and-maybe-different-to-read/90758/5 "2001-10-31T19:43:12Z")
‘Story of My Life’ by Jay McInerny. Stunningly funny, but very easy to read and it’s also quite short - so if you don’t like it you won’t have wasted a lot of time. ‘Walking On Glass’ by Iain Banks. Quite unlike any other novel ever written. Contains a wonderful surprise which must equate to any man’s worst nightmare. And, no, I haven’t spoiled anything by telling you that. ‘In Cold Blood’ by Truman Capote. A ‘non-fiction novel’ concerning a murder case. I’ve never known anyone read this and not agree it’s extremely well-written. ‘Good as Gold’ by Joseph Heller. The oft-overlooked third Heller opus, after Catch-22 and Something Happened. Much shorter and more accessible than anything else he ever wrote, with some fantastic jokes, characters and situations, plus a very clever structure which will surprise and delight you when you realise what Heller is doing. Again, not a spoiler. ‘The Gun Seller’ by Hugh Laurie. Very funny novel indeed, not as widely recognised as it should be. Terrific plot, great pace, loads of good ideas stirred into the mix, and more good laughs per page than many similar efforts. ---
**Author:** ![Billy\_Baroo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/76d3ee/32.png) [@Billy\_Baroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billy_Baroo)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2001, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-new-and-maybe-different-to-read/90758/6 "2001-10-31T21:07:01Z")
Try some Tom Robbins. My favorites are: Half Asleep In Frog Pajamas, Skinny Legs and All, Still Life With Woodpecker, and Jitterbug Perfume. His stuff is delightful, daffy, and more than a little thought-provoking. If he became a cult leader, I would consider the acolyte angle. ---
**Author:** ![sandpiper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@sandpiper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandpiper)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2001, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-new-and-maybe-different-to-read/90758/7 "2001-10-31T21:56:45Z")
This is terrific - I can’t wait to go to the library in the morning!