Book Advice

jordan_76 · 07-04-07, 06:54 AM

Okay, I'm looking for some works which fit one or more of the below criteria:

- Modern American social commentary
- Satire
- Witty humor, but with substance
- Stupid and risque things that happen in a New York City
- Fresh ideas and themes
Any suggestions appreciated.

Letum · 07-04-07, 07:12 AM

Could you be a little more specific?

Tchocky · 07-04-07, 08:51 AM

Chuck Palahniuk is the man for you

Bret Easton Ellis if you want to keep it in NYC

Heibges · 07-04-07, 11:15 AM

If you substitute San Francisco for NYC I would suggest Amistad Maupin's "Tales of the City".

PBS also did a wonderful adaptation with Laura Linney, James Moffat, an Olympia Dukkakis, Parker Posey among others.

"Catch 22" by Joseph Heller

"Moscow 2042" by Vladamir Voinovich (Satire about Communism being achieved, but only in Moscow. Voinovich loathes Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, and this plays a part in the story.

)

"A Prayer for Owen Meaney" by John Irving (In New England, a sad fairly tale of a story about a Christlike child)

"The Tin Drum" by Gunter Grass (In 1930's Danzig, a fairy tale about a boy who doesn't want to grow up)

"Oblomov" by Ivan Goncharov (a satire on a Russian noble who can't get out of bed. Created quite an uproar and spawned the term Oblomovshina for not being able to stir yourself into action.) Unfinished

"Dead Soul's" by Nikolai Gogol (a satire on the "value of serfs) Unfinished

"The Good Soldier Svejk" by Jaroslav Hasek (satire on a lowly lazy soldier in the Austro Hungarian Army in WWI) Unfinished

joseph60 · 07-05-07, 01:15 AM

One of the books which interest me is “Tales of a New York Limo Driver” by Nicky Testaforte. It talks about the stupid and risque things that happen in a New York City limo.

Not only does the author tell amazing stories of sex, excess and stupidity, he also offers up a bunch of driving and travel tips, some very sarcastic and scathing. I found the book at amazon.com

dean_acheson · 07-05-07, 03:29 PM

P.J. O'Rourke.

'nuff said.

That is, unless you can find anything written by Fred Thompson, and that is because he is the world's baddest man.

lesrae · 07-05-07, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jordan_76

- Witty humor, but with substance

Try 'Last chance To See' by Douglas Adams and Mark Carwardine, it's about nearly extinct animal species - but with some of Adams' wit thrown in.

Skybird · 07-05-07, 05:20 PM

Okay, it's a bit older now, but back in my later university time it was a hit and very popular at German universities: Matt Ruff: Fool on the hill.

http://www.amazon.com/Fool-Hill-Nove...3673986&sr=8-4

Not everybody's taste, but I enjoyed it and laughed tears more than once.

07-04-07, 06:54 AM	#1
jordan_76 Nub Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 2 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Book Advice Okay, I'm looking for some works which fit one or more of the below criteria: - Modern American social commentary - Satire - Witty humor, but with substance - Stupid and risque things that happen in a New York City - Fresh ideas and themes Any suggestions appreciated.

07-04-07, 07:12 AM	#2
Letum Navy Seal Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: York - UK Posts: 6,079 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	Could you be a little more specific? __________________

07-04-07, 08:51 AM	#3
Tchocky Navy Seal Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,874 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	Chuck Palahniuk is the man for you Bret Easton Ellis if you want to keep it in NYC __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

07-04-07, 11:15 AM	#4
Heibges Sea Lord Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 1,633 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	If you substitute San Francisco for NYC I would suggest Amistad Maupin's "Tales of the City". PBS also did a wonderful adaptation with Laura Linney, James Moffat, an Olympia Dukkakis, Parker Posey among others. "Catch 22" by Joseph Heller "Moscow 2042" by Vladamir Voinovich (Satire about Communism being achieved, but only in Moscow. Voinovich loathes Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, and this plays a part in the story.) "A Prayer for Owen Meaney" by John Irving (In New England, a sad fairly tale of a story about a Christlike child) "The Tin Drum" by Gunter Grass (In 1930's Danzig, a fairy tale about a boy who doesn't want to grow up) "Oblomov" by Ivan Goncharov (a satire on a Russian noble who can't get out of bed. Created quite an uproar and spawned the term Oblomovshina for not being able to stir yourself into action.) Unfinished "Dead Soul's" by Nikolai Gogol (a satire on the "value of serfs) Unfinished "The Good Soldier Svejk" by Jaroslav Hasek (satire on a lowly lazy soldier in the Austro Hungarian Army in WWI) Unfinished __________________ U.Kdt.Hdb B. I. 28) This possibility of using the hydrophone to help in detecting surface ships should, however, be restricted to those cases where the submarine is unavoidably compelled to stay below the surface. http://www.hackworth.com/ Last edited by Heibges; 07-04-07 at 11:26 AM.

07-05-07, 01:15 AM	#5
joseph60 Nub Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 2 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Re: Book Advice One of the books which interest me is “Tales of a New York Limo Driver” by Nicky Testaforte. It talks about the stupid and risque things that happen in a New York City limo. Not only does the author tell amazing stories of sex, excess and stupidity, he also offers up a bunch of driving and travel tips, some very sarcastic and scathing. I found the book at amazon.com

07-05-07, 03:29 PM	#6
dean_acheson Ace of the Deep Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Midwest - USA Posts: 1,057 Downloads: 42 Uploads: 0	P.J. O'Rourke. 'nuff said. That is, unless you can find anything written by Fred Thompson, and that is because he is the world's baddest man.

07-05-07, 05:20 PM	#8
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,609 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Okay, it's a bit older now, but back in my later university time it was a hit and very popular at German universities: Matt Ruff: Fool on the hill. http://www.amazon.com/Fool-Hill-Nove...3673986&sr=8-4 Not everybody's taste, but I enjoyed it and laughed tears more than once. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.