Examples of quality writing?

[JonBonham]

What are two well-written fiction books and films that you can recommend? In terms of plot, story, character development, allegory, or whatever that you find appealing about them? I would like to expand my exposure to good fiction and highly appreciate your suggestions!

 

[MantaRevan]

As far as books are concerned, I would recommend the Discworld series. I'm no critic of movies, but Tropic Thunder is a surprisingly intelligent film. Does that help at all?

 

[rugbyLEAGUEfan]

Ok I'll go straight for a classic. Anna Karenina epitomizes all the qualities you requested and Tolstoy is surprisingly easy to read. It's all plot and dialogue. 700 pages just breeze by.

Sticking with books and classics, Catch 22 is unlike anything you have ever read or ever will.

 

[holy king]

as is naked lunch.

 

[Tee Kay]

 

[sophie]

I'll see your Twilight and raise you

 

[cardgame]

No, just no.

In terms of plot, you'll not find it wanting in George R.R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire.

 

[Glassfan]

Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice is a classic of the English language. Plus, it's a lot shorter than War and Peace. P&P is an attractive novel in a number of ways (as any English-Lit major will pontificate upon), but personally I find the changing perceptions and attitudes of the lovers towards each other to be the most endearing. First impressions are reversed - Prejudice gives way to understanding, pride to acceptance.

There are any number of movie versions of Pride and Prejudice - my favorite is the 1995 BBC/A&E mini-series with Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth, available on DVD.

 

[sophie]

Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice is a classic of the English language. Plus, it's a lot shorter than War and Peace. P&P is an attractive novel in a number of ways (as any English-Lit major will pontificate upon), but personally I find the changing perceptions and attitudes of the lovers towards each other to be the most endearing. First impressions are reversed - Prejudice gives way to understanding, pride to acceptance.

There are any number of movie versions of Pride and Prejudice - my favorite is the 1995 BBC/A&E mini-series with Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth, available on DVD.

Yes, Pride and Prejudice is excellent, not just for lonely housewives. It's raucously hilarious. I'm also partial to Sense and Sensibility along the Austen tack. Jane Eyre is fun in the same lines; I see it as a satire of Austen (my own interpretation, I have no idea if it literary critics interpret it as such), which makes it great fun to read. There are any number of good pieces of literature, and we could be here for years just listing them off. I'm a big fan of Cornwall. His history can often be on the shallow side, and his characters are usually the exact same cookiecutters in every one of his stories, but man can he sling a tale. His recent Saxon chronicles have been especially good.

 

[GoodGame]

The main character starts off as 'normal' guy, then becomes a bit of an anti-hero early on, then goes on to become a heroic savior of civilization, in a way that might be challenging to some people's sense of morality, but I'd recommend The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant by Stephen R Donaldson.



Dune by Frank Herbert is another one, although I felt the plot in the first sequel was too contrived to enjoy. I enjoy Dune as an amazing one-shot that is something like the highest-rated sci fi novel of all time.


Going back to old English classes, I think I thought Wuthering Heights was a decent classic.

 

[rugbyLEAGUEfan]

as is naked lunch.

He wants to read more, not be turned off it for life.

 

[Traitorfish]

Slaughterhouse 5 is fantastic. One of the few books I've read that I can honestly say blew me away.

Filmwise, I'd recommend Sergio Leone's Duck, You Sucker! (a.k.a A Fistful of Dynamite). It tends to be overshadowed by the more famous Dollars trilogy, but there's a lot to be said for it, and it somehow manages to function as both a war epic and a critique of war epics at the same time.

Sticking with books and classics, Catch 22 is unlike anything you have ever read or ever will.

So you're saying I should give the copy that's been mouldering on my desk for about two months a read?

 

[rugbyLEAGUEfan]

Whoops. Double post

 

[rugbyLEAGUEfan]

So you're saying I should give the copy that's been mouldering on my desk for about two months a read?

Totally. You'd love it with your sense of the absurd. And I can't wait to get your reaction to Milo Mindbender's take on capitalism.

Any book with a kid who's surname is Major and is subsequently given a first name Major surreptitiously by his father in the hospital against his mothers will for a laugh and ends up being promoted to Major, thus Major Major Major, is at least worth a chapter or two.

 

[holy king]

He wants to read more, not be turned off it for life.

 

[innonimatu]

Totally. You'd love it with your sense of the absurd. And I can't wait to get your reaction to Milo Mindbender's take on capitalism.

Any book with a kid who's surname is Major and is subsequently given a first name Major surreptitiously by his father in the hospital against his mothers will for a laugh and ends up being promoted to Major, thus Major Major Major, is at least worth a chapter or two.

Ok, you've also persuaded me to re-read the copy that's been mouldering on my bookshelf for some 15 years I can't even recall it.

By the way, fiction book recommendations. For the plot and ideas, a scary book: Forever Peace. For the amusing story: Lord of Light.

 

[Grisu]

Totally. You'd love it with your sense of the absurd. And I can't wait to get your reaction to Milo Mindbender's take on capitalism.

Any book with a kid who's surname is Major and is subsequently given a first name Major surreptitiously by his father in the hospital against his mothers will for a laugh and ends up being promoted to Major, thus Major Major Major, is at least worth a chapter or two.

that book realy had me in stitches....absolutely recommend it

 

[rugbyLEAGUEfan]

In a book literally teeming with quotable quotes (it was once described as being shouted, as opposed to written, onto the page), this one always cracked me up. It's the hero Yossarian, a WW2 bomber pilot explaining why he isn't crazy.

"They're trying to kill me," Yossarian told him calmly.
"No one's trying to kill you," Clevinger cried.
"Then why are they shooting at me?" Yossarian asked.
"They're shooting at everyone," Clevinger answered. "They're trying to kill everyone."
"And what difference does that make?"
Catch-22
Yossarian explains to his friend Clevinger why he is not crazy for thinking people are trying to kill him, Chapter 2: Clevinger.


Or......
"From now on I'm thinking only of me."
Major Danby replied indulgently with a superior smile: "But, Yossarian, suppose everyone felt that way."
"Then," said Yossarian, "I'd certainly be a damned fool to feel any other way, wouldn't I?"
P. 445

 

[Radio Noer]

Speaking of Catch-22:

Yossarian sidled up drunkenly to Colonel Korn at the officers' club one night to kid with him about the new Lepage gun that the Germans had moved in. "What Lepage gun?" Colonel Korn inquired with curiosity. "The new three hundred and forty four millimeter Lepage glue gun," Yossarian answered. "It glues a whole formation of planes together in mid-air." pg 124

 

[Ailedhoo]

When it comes to film the Third Man, staring Orsen Wells, would be a good pick.