I've already ready Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!, and yes, it is awesome. I have also read Six Not So Easy Pieces, and I have glanced at Six Easy Pieces, but I think it's a bit "easy" for my level (Engineer). I will probably get the lectures within the next few months.

Just finished The Instructions by Adam Levine. 1030 pages of outstanding writing, not a single word wasted, definitely one of my favorite books.

What is the Blarg method?

Today I bought Ernest Hemingway: Selected Letters. So much of what I know about Hemingway is more about the myth than the man. I'm also interested to read about his perception of the publishing world during the early to mid century.

Blarg has recommended this method to me a few times. It's summed up by saying that if you're going to hit something, hit it hard and with some breadth. Don't just read willy nilly. If you're going to read Steinbeck, read other Steinbeck work. Read other Great Depression work. Then, if possible, read something that is on the same topic, but from an entirely different style (author).

Basically, instead of just reading classics at random, make sure that you're reading in chunks of theme.

Unfortunately I don't have the time to dedicate to something like that, but I like the idea a lot. I'm not sure what ties in with my Salinger "unit" that I'm reading. What would be good to follow up a lot of Salinger with?

Oh I see what you are saying. Maybe you could still do that, but allow yourself longer periods of time to finish each book?

Revolutionary Road?

Well my interests switch too often, and that's the problem. After a few weeks, I no longer am into zombies, but rather pop-econ non-fiction (what would we classify that genre as...Freakonomics/Gladwell/etc.)?

Maybe we should figure out something fun for you, then. I like to follow up a dense book like Salinger's with something trashy, like comic books. May I suggest Marvel VS Zombies?

I have The Walking Dead Compendium One on the way. I may be a step ahead.

Heh I like how you think

I'll be reading that separately from novels though, I bet.

Once I finish Salinger, I might try a non-fiction book or one of the mysteries I meant to check out a while ago. I don't know yet. It could take a couple weeks to finish Salinger.

I'm rereading To Kill a Mockingbird for class. Tomorrow we discuss Part One. Hopefully. Or they write about it. But TKaM isn't as bad for teens as I remembered it seeming.

Just Kids by Patti Smith

It's a total joy

Day by Day Armageddon is a fun read. It's a journal kept by a guy as the world TURNS TO ZOMBIES OMFG

I bet I can find one.

Maroon 5 wrote a book?!

I went and checked, too. I got excited for a minute. I like Maroon 5. Yeah, I said it.

Also, Franny and Zooey is sharp. The first 60ish pages of Zooey all take place with him in the bathroom for a matter of minutes. It's crazy.

Never heard of it, but apparently one can read the beginning of it on google:

http://books.google.com.au/books?id=...page&q&f=false

Just ordered Blood Meridian and Killing Pablo. Looking forward to both of them.

I loved "A Short History of Nearly Everything" and recently bought "A Walk in the Woods" as my second Bryson read, but have not got to it yet. Anyway, since I enjoyed the former so much, I am curious to know what other books are in said Top 10 list, if you don't mind listing them.

Just finished Ender's Game, loved it... can't believe I missed this series all this time.

Any idea on where to branch off to for my next book in the series?

Ender's Shadow is similar and a ton of fun.

If you go to book 2 of the Ender series, expect a different type of novel. I haven't read it yet, but by all accounts it's way different than Ender's Game.

Haven't read it but giving it a 4-word review anyway: David Foster Wallace wannabe.

I am trying to convince a couple of my sophomore girls (high school) to read some literature with more depth. They tend to really like romance stuff. I'm a little light on this, and after looking through my personal library, my only real recommendation is Cyrano, which might be a little tough.

Is Pride and Prejudice the best recommendation I can make to them? It seems like that or Jane Eyre are my best bets. I haven't read either though.

Is P&P a decent rec for a 16 year old girl who likes romance?

when i was 16 my gf and her best friends wouldnt ****ing shut up about it. literate teenage girls love P+P.

Wuthering Heights?

Note: I know virtually nothing of these books, WH included. I'll look into it.

I think I might tell them that if they choose the same book, I'll read it, too so they can discuss it with me if they want.

Glad to hear that news tmcdmck, thanks. And thanks Dom. I'll add it.

My current rec list:

Pride & Prejudice, Jane Eyre, The Awakening, Cyrano de Bergerac, The Great Gatsby, The Book Thief, THe Curious Incident, The Perks of being a Wallflower.


Obviously we get away from romance there a bit, but I think that those novels have way more depth than their usual and are pretty accessible. Springboard novels, I'll call them.

teenagers in general love: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siddhartha_(novel)

and its a wonderful book that you would enjoy yourself. also has a lot of important things to say. may lead to them temporarily adopting eastern philosophies.