Must reads?

Yesterday, I was talking with Keeper about a book I might want to read, since it has been lying unread on my shelf for years (Charlotte Brontë's Shirley). Going by her advice, I'll postpone that for a few more years But now I can't decide what to read next. There are still many books that have been in my possession for many years now, but of which I haven't read more than just the title. And again, I'm thinking about re-reading some books I've read more than once, but I can't just choose between Salinger's Catcher in the Rye, Süskind's Das Parfum, or Orwell's 1984 or Animal Farm.

Anyway, time for some new books, since I'll probably won't be reading the unread books for another period of time and I can't be re-reading the other ones forever.

What do you think are must reads? And which books are known as must reads, but turned out to be a real drag for you? Help me make my wish list for coming Christmas, people!

Well if you've never read them:

Must read :

Isaac Asimov's Foundation Cycle (7 books).

Philip K Dick is always a special experience.


Drags :

The Da Vinci Code. I liked the plot and the question it raises, but it's written like shit and a pain in the ass to read.


I'll look on my shelves later on and get back to you with more.


Ponrauil

Seven books?! Ehm, I think I'll wait for your other suggestions then.

Ah, we do have some Philip K. Dick on our shelves as well. Can try one of those.


Oh, I agree it was poorly written, but I didn't think it was a pain in the ass to read. Just a nice and easy read.


Much appreciated.

why would you re-read a book?

I might have done that out of utter boredom when I was a kid, but ..... geez, girlfriend, there is a huge library out there.........


That said, read "Stiff" it's about what happens to human cadavers. Best book I've read in a while.

I am not much for novels. I am reading one right now, it's utter bullshit, a bore, annoying, the main character is the stupidest female in the world.... Still, I must finish it before going on to the next ..... *sigh*......

I'm really not a book person but a few books that really did it for me, (some changed my life!) are:

Unlimited Power and Awaken The Giant Within by Anthony Robbins
Lucky Man - Michael J. Fox's Biography
Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
Ronnie O Sullivan's Biography



Phil

ahhhh, I love everything Steinbeck

and everything Hemmingway (naturally)

^ the book is definately better than the movie.

Roald Dahl is always good for a read. Even though he wrties childrens books, I love the way he writes. Especially "Boy" and his follow up to it "Going Solo." Also "Fantastic Mr Fox."

Catch 22 is a good book.

The Brush Off is a fairly good Aussie book.

Psycho-Cybernetics from Maxwell Maltz.

Basically, this man was a plastic surgeon and noticed that some patient's lives changed dramatically after their surgery, yet others continued to act as if they'd never had the surgery. So he decided that there must be more to it than touching up a person's physical appearance, and the book is the findings according to the subsequent studies he made into the human psyche.

Fantastic book, since there isn't anyone to whom it is not relevant.

Last books I read were the Jack Reacher - books by Lee Child. They're kinda like lone-wolf-agent -books, but much better than they seem to be. No classics, but very entertaining.

Oh, and Catcher In The Rye is the one I'd pick.

Ice

Because some books are so great that I enjoy to read them again. See if they can still sweep me off my feet.

I'll keep that one in mind. I do have a fascination for all death related things.

I'm more of a novel kinda girl. Well, as long as it's fiction. Not much of a biography reader, I guess.

Why did they change your life? I love it when books can do that.

I love Roald Dahl! I read both of his children and his more adult books.

Thanks to everyone so far for their suggestions!