Broaden one's horizons

[Jaelinn]

Hello all!

 

I've recently been wanting to expand on my literary experiences, so to say, so I'm looking for recommendations on books that you think everyone should read at least once. Books you consider classics, or even books that are overlooked, but very good. I'm interested in pretty much anything, new or old, as I want to broaden my horizons, and experience something I perhaps wouldn't have otherwise. 

 

So, what are books you absolutely think everyone should read at least once in their life? 

 

Bring it on! 

[calanthrophy]

If you're familiar with the story of Beowulf, Grendel by John Gardner is a really good book that I don't think gets recommended enough. It's Beowulf from the antagonist's point of view. If you've not read Beowulf (or seen the movie or whatever) I'd recommend doing so before moving on to Grendel

[Grizzy]

Fantasy: The Black Prism by Brent Weeks and the books following it in the series.

Feminist Fantasy: anything by Tamara Pierce just as a broad category.

Fiction: Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore

YA Dystopian Fiction: Little Brother by Cory Doctrow

YA Zombie Book: Feed by Mira Grant

Modernish Classic: The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

Sci Fi classic: I, Robot by Isaac Asimov

 

 

I like books.

[wooflee90]

Jaelinn,  I felt like you a few years ago.  I was bored with reading the same genre of mostly unchallenging literature and wanted to broaden my horizons.  I created my Level-Up Quest to read every Pulitzer Prize Winning Novel, which forced me to read outside my comfort zone and to pick up some challenging literature.  Some of the books on the list are classics, like "The Old Man and the Sea," while others are examples of great, modern-day fiction.

 

Take a look at the list and see if anything piques your interest.  My three most favorite books so far are "The Goldfinch," (long, but a great, great read I have gifted to others), "The Confederacy of Dunces," and "Olive Kittredge."

[Kucki68]

On 24.6.2016 at 0:33 AM, Jaelinn said:

Bring it on! 

I have three authors from school that I still think about to this day:

 

Max Frisch: Homo Faber or for me A Wilderness of Mirrors

Hermann Hesse: Steppenwolf

Alfred Andersch: Flight to afar

 

I think these books should also be available in English. Otherwise Catch-22 or Fahrenheit 451 are also books I still have in my mind.

[LondonIrishEwok]

A big yes to Hemingway, Hesse, and Bradbury! Also Will Self, Lee Child, Christopher Brookmyre.

 

Specifically I'd recommend:

 

Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance, Robert M. Pirsig

 

One hundred years of solitude, Gabriel Garcia Marquez

 

The curious incident of the dog in the night time, Mark Haddon.

 

Perfume, story of a murderer, Patrick Süskind

 

The dice man, Luke Rhinehart.

[AverageFish]

To Kill a Mockingbird is the first thing that comes to mind