Cult novels

[violetblue]

I have always avoided so-called 'cult novels', feeling that I would be reading them just because I ought to rather than because they interested me, and many of them seemed so 'laddish'. I now feel I ought to make more of an effort. What cult novels would you recommend? (I'm thinking of Catch 22, On the Road etc.) Thanks in advance of replies.
Please don't all say The Da Vinci code, as I'm a bit sick of all the hype about it!

[warpig1]

Catch 22 is a classic in my opinion and would throughly recommend it. Have read it several times and will no doubt read it again. I did not find it laddish and although it can take a while to get into it is worth it. Hope you give it a try.

[Xanthippe]

The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger was quite revolutionary in its time and is quite good, but not as outstanding as one would hope. The teenage angst scenario is quite commonplace to modern readers.

[warpig1]

Xanthippe, I read Catcher in the Rye and although I enjoyed it I agree that it was not as great as I had been lead to believe, I guess with all literature it comes down to personal taste.

[marwel7]

I've always thought that the only reason to read a book is because you want to.

[violetblue]

Yes, quite, which is why I didn't previously do so. I now feel that I have more of a perspective, with age, to fit them into their social context and therefore enjoy them more. I'm aware of the basic storyline of many of the books but just wondered if anyone else rated them as worth all the hype.

I have some dyslexia-related difficulties and have lost count of the times I've struggled with a book, only to give up. That's why I'd be interested in other people's recommendations.

[suffragette]

I enjoyed Les Enfants Terribles by Jean Cocteau. I'd always assumed it was one of those pseudo-intellectual reads approved of by European intellectuals and aspiring actors hoping to appear deep and meaningful, but it's actually a great read, very moving and best of all, short.

[mccfluff]

how about ' to kill a mockingbird' i adore this book and have read it loads of times.

[Hellion]

Lady Chatterley's Lover was a 'cult' book in it's time, it's positively tame by today's standards but it's actually a good story.

[violetblue]

Really good advice, sufragette, nice to hear from someone who enjoys a book that isn't over-long. I've read To Kill a Mockingbird - fab. LCL is one I feel I ought to read. Don't get me wrong, I've read quite widely, I've just avoided certain over-hyped books and have been more seduced by fairly obscure ones that I just like the sound of. One Book that I don't know whether it has 'cult' status exactly, that I read and loved (you either love or hate it and I can appreciate both viewpoints) was American Psycho. Thanks for all your suggestions!

[luckyeight]

I think you're right about a lot of cult books being laddish - I have made this observation. I found Catcher In the Rye very laddish actually, and actually one of the worst books I've ever read! lol Contemporary cult literature tends to be a mixed bag purely as a lot of it is cult because it is anti-canon or 'classic' literature hence you get Irvine Welsh or equivalent...

[elvensteed]

Try "Slaughterhouse 5" by Kurt Vonnegut, it's an interesting style and brings humour to a very bleak subject.

[soozmac]

American Psycho is a modern cult, although I prefer Glamorama.

[Xavier X]

I'd agree with everything that warpig has said - Catch 22 is a MUST, Catcher is overated but OK. As a short read I'd also recommend The Outsider (Albert Camus) which has the best opening line ever. Maybe you should also think about The Wasp Factory (Iain Banks) or, more recently, I Lucifer (can't remember the author) but it's in all the bookshops at the moment. Enjoy!

[Joe Shmoe]

Ive lost count of the amount of times that i've recommended this book but I do not want any one to miss out. Try reading The Portable Door by Tom Holt . It is different ,very funny and should suit both genders.:-D

[St Germain]

I agree, "Slaughterhouse 5" is worth reading but even better is "Mother Night" by the same author. "Money" by Martin Amis has always been my favourite "cult" book - look at its reviews on Amazon. Iain Banks is excellent, my favourite (and the author's apparently) is "The Bridge". If you get a taste for Martin Amis try Will Self. J G Ballard and Anthony Burgess are great reads and so is Umberto Eco but his can be a bit hard going at times. I'm reading "The Aerodrome" by Rex Warner at the moment - which is considered a cult novel now.

[violetblue]

Xavier X, i've read 'The Outsider' and for years and years it was my absolute favourite book. However, for me, it's the final page that does it! 'the Portable Door' - I've never heard of that one. Have any of you read 'The Confederacy of Dunces'? I thought that was great. I also read The History Man' after having it on the shelves for years and found it hilarious, but with an ending that totally, utterly shocked me, I didn't see it coming at all. Thanks for your advice everyone!

[St Germain]

Yes, "A Confederacy of Dunces" is excellent. Really funny. John Kennedy Toole. What a brilliant world view Ignatius has. Everything modern is in "bad taste." Hilarious. Lady Fortuna. The wet dream he has about his dog!?! Damn that Minkoff Minx!

[patc7641]

This isnt a cult book (at least it wont be soon), I have read factual/autobiographies/biogs etc all my days, but The Amber Spyglass touched me like no other. It made me rethink my spirituality, though Im not spiritual! My outlook on the world and the people in it. Its by Philip Pullman and the last in a trilogy, but forget the first 2, they are for children, this is a quantum leap in storytelling. After I read it, I couldnt read it again it was that good.

[Joe Shmoe]

Hi Violetblue. The Portable Door is the first of a trilogy by Tom Holt. Read the reviews here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1841492086/ 202-9532100-2319054?v=glance&n=266239&s=books& v=glance
to find out more about it.:-D