(no subject)

[nny]

Okay, brief descriptions (taken from blurbs, because I'm determined to break tradition and read one of the books I haven't read before) behind the cut.



The Wind-up Bird Chronicle: Haruki Murakami

"As this compelling story unfolds, the tidy suburban realities of Okada's vague and blameless life - spent cooking, reading, listening to jazz and opera and drinking beer at the kitchen table - are turned inside out, and he embarks on a bizarre journey, guided (however obscurely) by a succession of characters, each with a tale to tell."

The Blind Watchmaker: Richard Dawkins

"Richard Dawkins' brilliant and contoversial book has become a landmark account. Here he vividly demonstrates that evolution by natural selection - the unconscious, automatic, blind yet essentially non-random process discovered by Darwin - is the only answer to the biggest question of all: why do we exist?"

Under The Frog: Tibor Fischer

"In this spirited endictment of totalitarianism, the two improbable heroes, Pataki and Gyuri, travel the length and breadth of Hungary in an epic quest for food, lodging, and female companionship."

A Pirate of Exquisite Mind: Diana and Michael Preston

"A curious man in a curious age, now all but forgotten in his native country, William Dampier combined a swashbuckling life of adventure with remarkable scientific achievements."

In Watermelon Sugar: Richard Brautigan

"iDEATH is a place where the sun shines a different colour every day, and where people travel to the length of their dreams. Rejecting the violence and hate of the old gang at the Forgotten Works, they lead gentle lives in watermelon sugar."

Rhinoceros, the Chairs & the Lesson: Eugéne Ionesco

"In these three 'antiplays' dream, nonsense and fantasy combine to create an unsettling, bizarre view of society."



[Poll #720459]

Comments

[darthrami.livejournal.com]

I will admit that I haven't actually read any of them but the Ionesco, but I voted based on neat-sounding-ness.

[oneechan19.livejournal.com]

... you know, it's really hard having a frog, a frog created by the antichrist, none the less, living in your head. It tries to influence your vote.

[gramarye1971]

Murakami's quite good. I haven't read that particular book, but I've read other short stories of his and enjoyed them. ^_^

[villainny.livejournal.com]

I started reading 'the elephant vanishes' - the short stories are great. Also a couple of novels... there's not much suspense there, I'm pretty sure I'll like it.

Have you read 'Wild Sheep Chase'? It's bizarre.

[soupytwist.livejournal.com]

I voted Murakami because he is mindblowing, in all the best ways, and I think you'll like him best. His view of the world is so fascinatingly different but very easy to identify with. It's like the way the world is at 8am when the world is coming awake but you haven't been to bed yet.

Second is definitely the Dawkins, though - that is one of the best books about evolution ever written, just fucking genius. Dawkins is the guy who got me to fall really in love with science, and I really hope you like him too.

[villainny.livejournal.com]

I've read some Murakami before - Wild Sheep Chase and Sputnik Sweetheart at least, although I'm sure I've read more and just don't remember.

And I picked up the Dawkins 'cos Douglas Adams loved the book liek wo.

They're all books I've been meaning to read for ages but haven't forced myself, yet. A poll means I can blame others. XD

[soupytwist.livejournal.com]

... now you've said that, I feel very sure I even knew that, but forgot. Um. Sorry? :)

I totally squeed when I first found out Douglas Adams liked Dawkins. :D *is sad fangirl*

*LOVE*

[aviss.livejournal.com]

I've actually only read Murakami's, but it's an amazing book, the first one I read of his books and the one that got me addicted to his writing. So I will vote for the one

[shati.livejournal.com]

Murakami makes me happy in my soul. But I want to lead a gentle life in watermelon sugar! Oh how I am torn.

[flyakate]

These all sound fabulously mind-blowing. You'll have to tell us how they are, as I also frequently succumb to reading only books I've already read.

[schiarire.livejournal.com]

Cannot. Say. Enough how important Ionesco has been to me.

I don't remember caring too much one way or the other about The Lesson (although I may well have), but I shall never be parted from Rhinoceros. & I adore The Chairs.