MobileRead Forums
Register Guidelines E-Books Today's Posts Search

Go Back   MobileRead Forums > E-Book General > Reading Recommendations
Reload this Page Obscure books you think should be read - and why

Notices

Reply
Page 8 of 8 « First 4567 8
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old 01-31-2013, 06:19 PM   #106
Angst
Cannon Fodder
Angst ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Angst ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Angst ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Angst ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Angst ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Angst ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Angst ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Angst ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Angst ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Angst ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Angst ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
Angst's Avatar
 
Posts: 2,883
Karma: 52253556
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Probably a library
Device: PRS-350, Kindle DX, Kindle Paperwhite
The Demolished Man - Alfred Bester
The Stars My Destination - Alfred Bester

I don't know if these books qualify as obscure, but they were written before I was born and I never read them until last year. They are listed on several top 100 SF books of all time.
Angst is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-01-2013, 01:46 AM   #107
avantman42
Wizard
avantman42 ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.avantman42 ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.avantman42 ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.avantman42 ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.avantman42 ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.avantman42 ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.avantman42 ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.avantman42 ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.avantman42 ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.avantman42 ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.avantman42 ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
avantman42's Avatar
 
Posts: 1,090
Karma: 6058305
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: UK
Device: Kindle Paperwhite
Quote:
Originally Posted by issybird View Post
This sounded so exactly my kind of thing that I went ahead and bought all four books for less than $5 each at Kobo while vouchercodes40 still works. Thanks.

Returning the favor in kind, I'd like to recommend the Bandy books by Canadian humorist Donald Jack. They tell the hilarious adventures of hapless and horsefaced Bartholomew Bandy, during WWI and immediately after. Kobo has the first six books (couponable) of which I've read four; I'm trying to make them last.
I've found the Bandy books on Kobo, but I can't work out how to read a sample. I'm possibly just being dumb.

If you like the Otto Prohaska books and you're willing to switch period, take a look at Arthur Conan Doyle's Brigadier Gerard short stories. They're about a retired French brigadier, and apparently the inspiration for the Flashman series. The Mobile Read library has The Exploits of Brigadier Gerard and The Adventures of Gerard. They're both good fun.
avantman42 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-01-2013, 04:08 AM   #108
HarryT
eBook Enthusiast
HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
HarryT's Avatar
 
Posts: 85,560
Karma: 93980341
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: UK
Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6
Quote:
Originally Posted by Angst View Post
The Demolished Man - Alfred Bester
The Stars My Destination - Alfred Bester

I don't know if these books qualify as obscure, but they were written before I was born and I never read them until last year. They are listed on several top 100 SF books of all time.
Where did you get the ebooks from? I'm unable to find them.

Thanks.
HarryT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-01-2013, 07:43 AM   #109
Greg Anos
Grand Sorcerer
Greg Anos ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Greg Anos ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Greg Anos ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Greg Anos ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Greg Anos ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Greg Anos ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Greg Anos ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Greg Anos ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Greg Anos ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Greg Anos ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Greg Anos ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
Posts: 11,545
Karma: 37057604
Join Date: Jan 2008
Device: Pocketbook
Quote:
Originally Posted by HarryT View Post
Where did you get the ebooks from? I'm unable to find them.

Thanks.
The Stars My Destination is available at the US Barnes and Noble Nook site. I don't know about The Demolished Man.
Greg Anos is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-01-2013, 07:44 AM   #110
BenG
Home Guard
BenG ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.BenG ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.BenG ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.BenG ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.BenG ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.BenG ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.BenG ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.BenG ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.BenG ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.BenG ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.BenG ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
BenG's Avatar
 
Posts: 4,730
Karma: 86721650
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Alpha Ralpha Boulevard
Device: Kindle Oasis 3G, iPhone 6
Amazon (U.S.) has The Stars My Destination (and I wouldn't call books obscure if they're on several top 100 lists).
BenG is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-01-2013, 07:45 AM   #111
HarryT
eBook Enthusiast
HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HarryT ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
HarryT's Avatar
 
Posts: 85,560
Karma: 93980341
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: UK
Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6
Quote:
Originally Posted by BenG View Post
Amazon (U.S.) has The Stars My Destination (and I wouldn't call books obscure if they're on several top 100 lists).
Thanks. Probably another case where there are different US and UK publishers.
HarryT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-04-2013, 10:36 AM   #112
WT Sharpe
Bah, humbug!
WT Sharpe ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.WT Sharpe ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.WT Sharpe ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.WT Sharpe ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.WT Sharpe ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.WT Sharpe ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.WT Sharpe ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.WT Sharpe ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.WT Sharpe ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.WT Sharpe ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.WT Sharpe ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
WT Sharpe's Avatar
 
Posts: 39,072
Karma: 157049943
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Chesapeake, VA, USA
Device: Kindle Oasis, iPad Pro, & a Samsung Galaxy S9.
Quote:
Originally Posted by WT Sharpe View Post
I don't know how "obscure" this book is, but The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements by Eric Hoffer is well worth reading.

Eric Hoffer was a self-educated longshoreman who wrote books in his spare time. This one is an interesting foray into the minds of fanatics of all types; a highly readable investigation of people who commit themselves fully to movements and their reasons for doing so. It's perhaps even more relevant today than when it was first published in 1951.

While he was President, Dwight D. Eisenhower received a letter from Robert Biggs, a terminally ill World War II veteran, who complained that the President's recent speeches displayed hedging and uncertainty. "We wait for someone to speak for us and back him completely if the statement is made in truth." Biggs wrote.

As part of his response, Eisenhower wrote:

"The mental stress and burden which this form of government imposes has been particularly well recognized in a little book about which I have spoken on several occasions. It is 'The True Believer,' by Eric Hoffer; you might find it of interest. In it, he points out that dictatorial systems make one contribution to their people which leads them to tend to support such systems--freedom from the necessity of informing themselves and making up their own minds concerning these tremendous complex and difficult questions."

As someone who is not immune to the temptation to certainty in the correctness of my own opinions and intolerance towards dissenting viewpoints, over the years I have found this book to be invaluable for restoring a sense of balance and perspective.

I haven't been able to find an electronic version of the work.
This book is now available for the Kindle at Amazon. I got it as soon as it was offered, but forgot about having mentioned the book in this thread until Angst reminded me. Now I'm passing that news on.

Thanks, Angst!
WT Sharpe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-04-2013, 04:43 PM   #113
HomeInMyShoes
Grand Sorcerer
HomeInMyShoes ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HomeInMyShoes ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HomeInMyShoes ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HomeInMyShoes ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HomeInMyShoes ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HomeInMyShoes ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HomeInMyShoes ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HomeInMyShoes ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HomeInMyShoes ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HomeInMyShoes ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.HomeInMyShoes ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
Posts: 19,226
Karma: 67780237
Join Date: Jul 2011
Device: none
Quote:
Originally Posted by Angst View Post
The Demolished Man - Alfred Bester
The Stars My Destination - Alfred Bester

I don't know if these books qualify as obscure, but they were written before I was born and I never read them until last year. They are listed on several top 100 SF books of all time.
Lol. I just borrowed Golem100 from my library in hardcover. I have seen Bester on the lists before and figured I would read what is supposed to be his worst book since I needed a title for 1980. It looks so cheesy b-movie science fiction that I think I am going to love it.
HomeInMyShoes is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-05-2013, 02:33 AM   #114
DrNefario
Wizard
DrNefario ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.DrNefario ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.DrNefario ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.DrNefario ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.DrNefario ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.DrNefario ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.DrNefario ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.DrNefario ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.DrNefario ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.DrNefario ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.DrNefario ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
DrNefario's Avatar
 
Posts: 2,226
Karma: 12029046
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: UK
Device: Kindle, Kobo Touch, Nook SimpleTouch
I really enjoyed all of Bester's SF novels, even the supposedly bad ones.

He does like to mess with text formatting, though. I don't know how easy it would be to reproduce some the text art in an ebook.
DrNefario is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply
Page 8 of 8 « First 4567 8

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Read all about it! Device owners read more books, magazines and newspapers dacattt News 24 10-21-2012 04:43 AM
A Mobile Read 'Essential Books to Read' list ficbot Reading Recommendations 41 09-24-2010 10:31 AM
Find me some books to read based on what I have recently read (and liked) rahulm Reading Recommendations 16 08-11-2010 03:18 PM
What books from Mobile Read have you read? ficbot Reading Recommendations 29 08-01-2009 05:39 PM
The Most obscure books you have Lobolover Reading Recommendations 66 05-23-2008 12:41 PM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:49 PM.

Contact Us - FAQ - Guidelines - Privacy - Top

MobileRead.com is a privately owned, operated and funded community.