Thank you.

I tend to do this as well. Normally I read the last sentence of the book to insure that my interest peaks and I have a reason to finish the book.

An unanswered question is normally the best thing that keeps be reading.

About a boy. I think it was the first time I had experienced humor and sarcasm to that scale in a book. I remember reading it in my British literature class my senior year and getting busted for not reading the assigned text because I burst out laughing.

Fair point. But I think this book is kinda tricky in that regard, since pretty much every big reveal is given away but with its importance downplayed. Strictly speaking, there aren't any huge twists in the style of Fight Club or The Prestige, but nevertheless the book manages a couple really good surprise kicks in the teeth.

Little known fact, but Agatha Christie was a prolific serial killer.

I just pictured my least favorite politicians wearing clown makeup and getting pies in the face! Thanks for the visual! 😂😉

His book Spijkerschrift is also translated into English: My father's notebook: a novel of Iran.

Probably Romeo and Juliet.

I realized that Shakespeare could be a lot of fun, that the jokes were bawdy, and the language was actually a treat once I learned how to read it.

The Lord of the Rings for me too. I was 13 when I got it, but read them cover to cover when I was 15, cut out the maps in the beautiful set my Grandaddy gave me..I have tried to reread it every two years since. The movies made me want to kill the director. So Read The Books!!

Looking For Alaska

Thank you for a new author. Goodreads only showed one book of his in English, but I added it to my to read list.

For me it was both Catch-22 and The Poisonwood Bible.

A few arcades are still around. But I think young people see them as a novelty , not a social hub lol

Z for Zachariah.

Most impactful required book from high school was Death of a Salesman.

Favorite book from highschool is tied between the Sword in the Stone, the Hobbit and Watership Down.

My most impactful college assigned book was the Death of Ivan Illych which I still think is the best book I have ever read.

Kaffir Boy

Mine was Catch-22 as well. I never thought that a book about war, which is inherently tragic, could also be hilarious. I rarely laugh out loud when reading; this was one of the exceptions. People would ask me “what’s so funny?” and I’d show the them the cover. Cue a look of utter befuddlement.

Now, when I reflect on it as a tired and jaded adult. I’m even more impressed by the book’s ability to be comic and tragic at the same time. I’ve seen more of what war did to people physically and emotionally. I’ve experienced the tenth circle of hell that is bureaucracy. And Heller still makes me laugh.

War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning - Chris Hedges

Het Huis van de Moskee (in English: The House of the Mosque) by Kader Abdolah. Beautifully written, interesting characters, against the backdrop of Iran from like, 1950s to 1980s.

It was the first book of that author I read, and boy he did not disappoint.

Rebecca

I read A child called It in highschool that really fucked me up.

Victor Frankl - Mans Search For Meaning

Welp, this thread is definitely going to make me feel old.

That's not really a twist, just plot development.

Animal Farm