Book recommendations for Neil

[neil_thomson]

I am in need of some book recommendations. Either fiction/non-fiction, but something which is fairly light as I am an extremely slow reader and take a long time to digest words. Anything involving music, films, 1960s America, Robert De Niro or detectives should go down well. No complicated plots. Something which will grip me. Classic literature is good.

Unlike Joe, I haven't been through all (in fact any) of Zadie Smith's books, so feel free to pick one of them.

If you have a recommendation I need you to really sell it to me. Persuade me why your book is better than others. Why should I give it the time of day?

If I really enjoy your book then I'll send a handwritten thank you card for turning me onto it.

Love Neil x

[Basil]

Percy Jackson obviously

[MarsStars]

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner (Japanese Breakfast) has lowkey become my go to 'airplane' book. It's a beautifully devastating read that tackles cultural identity, mother-daughter relationships, and loss.
For classics, I recommend The Waves by Virginia Woolf or Jane Eyre. (The hungry caterpillar is always there too)

[soundwavesociety]

If you want something very light, there is a lovely short story from Ben Shattuck titled “The History of Sound.” I have a copy saved to my desktop I’d be happy to email you.

The story is about a lost love between two characters, Lionel and David. They meet around a piano at a bar and quickly become acquainted. They spend a later summer together traveling the countryside recording folk songs in rural Maine together, and this tells the tale of their fleeting connection. Very brief and light read, beautifully written as well! An adaptation of the story starring Josh O’Connor and Paul Mescal is set to release later this year.

Unfortunately, it is 1910’s America, and not 1960’s. But still wonderful.

[joe]

I am in need of some book recommendations. Either fiction/non-fiction, but something which is fairly light as I am an extremely slow reader and take a long time to digest words. Anything involving music, films, 1960s America, Robert De Niro or detectives should go down well. No complicated plots. Something which will grip me. Classic literature is good.

Unlike Joe, I haven't been through all (in fact any) of Zadie Smith's books, so feel free to pick one of them.

If you have a recommendation I need you to really sell it to me. Persuade me why your book is better than others. Why should I give it the time of day?

If I really enjoy your book then I'll send a handwritten thank you card for turning me onto it.

Love Neil x

Pretty basic rec but you’d definitely enjoy some Raymond Chandler

[neil_thomson]

Percy Jackson obviously

A bit too high-brow for my taste.

[neil_thomson]

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner (Japanese Breakfast) has lowkey become my go to 'airplane' book. It's a beautifully devastating read that tackles cultural identity, mother-daughter relationships, and loss.
For classics, I recommend The Waves by Virginia Woolf or Jane Eyre. (The hungry caterpillar is always there too)

Thank you these sound good, I've heard of Crying in H mart before so will check it out properly!

[neil_thomson]

If you want something very light, there is a lovely short story from Ben Shattuck titled “The History of Sound.” I have a copy saved to my desktop I’d be happy to email you.

The story is about a lost love between two characters, Lionel and David. They meet around a piano at a bar and quickly become acquainted. They spend a later summer together traveling the countryside recording folk songs in rural Maine together, and this tells the tale of their fleeting connection. Very brief and light read, beautifully written as well! An adaptation of the story starring Josh O’Connor and Paul Mescal is set to release later this year.

Unfortunately, it is 1910’s America, and not 1960’s. But still wonderful.

This sounds great, I love a short story. Long reads scare the shit out of me. And don't even get me started on small fonts.

[cinn.amen]

Pretty basic rec but you’d definitely enjoy some Raymond Chandler

Was thinking along these lines, too. Chandler's stuff is on the whole fantastic. Dry and wry but it goes down smooth.

I've never gotten through books quicker than with Dashiell Hammet's books. He writes well, but plainly, and the noir plots are simple but very satisfying. Maltese Falcon and Red Harvest are my favourites from him I've read so far.

I reckon there's more depth to Chandler's stuff than there is to Hammett, particularly when you hear what was going on in his life e.g. when he wrote The Long Goodbye.

[soundwavesociety]

If you want something very light, there is a lovely short story from Ben Shattuck titled “The History of Sound.” I have a copy saved to my desktop I’d be happy to email you.

The story is about a lost love between two characters, Lionel and David. They meet around a piano at a bar and quickly become acquainted. They spend a later summer together traveling the countryside recording folk songs in rural Maine together, and this tells the tale of their fleeting connection. Very brief and light read, beautifully written as well! An adaptation of the story starring Josh O’Connor and Paul Mescal is set to release later this year.

Unfortunately, it is 1910’s America, and not 1960’s. But still wonderful.

This sounds great, I love a short story. Long reads scare the shit out of me. And don't even get me started on small fonts.

It’s wonderful. The short story itself is part of a book of 11 other short stories, but it is the title story and you can usually find it online.
I’m also reading an autobiography from Richard Hell right now, titled “I Dreamed I Was A Very Clean Tramp.” Very interesting read so far. It is 300 pages but very generously spaced, pictures every few pages, and short chapters make it light.