Which first?

[JamieRoberts]

Got a bunch of books last weekend, donated by my mum after I confessed I finally read a 'proper' book (The Road - Cormac McCarthy).

Now, I need to decide which to begin with. I've kinda started on one, but I dunno whether it's the easiest narrative to get into, having always struggled to keep my attention on a page for more than a minute.

Anyway...

In Cold Blood - Truman Capote
Lunar Park - Bret Easton Ellis
Vernon God Little - DBC Pierre (the one I started)
The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks (read two pages... it's mental)

Anyone got any particular love for one or more of these?

[Allegory Comics]

I would probably start with Capote. I've never heard of the others.

[Grant Perkins]

Scrap those. Have a read through Dwayne Hickenbottom and the War Boots of Doxxville.

I hear the sequel is good too, but it still needs a cover... ;)

[JamieRoberts]

Shameless. Absolutely shameless!

Hey, anyway, I've read it already. One of about 8 books I've ever read all the way through.

And the cover is en route!

[Grant Perkins]

Excellent - Don't fancy putting a review up on Amazon for me do ya?

Re- The cover. You get my text?

[Scott James]

The Wasp Factory is the standout title - there aren't many stories you can write about a teenage boy who lives in the Scottish wilderness with his eccentric old man but Ian Banks fucking nails it on the head.

[JamieRoberts]

Excellent - Don't fancy putting a review up on Amazon for me do ya?

Re- The cover. You get my text?
Just now. Phone's been weird all day. No probs, I'll sort it.

[JamieRoberts]

The Wasp Factory is the standout title - there aren't many stories you can write about a teenage boy who lives in the Scottish wilderness with his eccentric old man but Ian Banks fucking nails it on the head.
I already like it due to the fact they included snippets of reviews, good and bad, at the front. Takes balls to include reviews that blatantly hated it.

[Scott James]

I already like it due to the fact they included snippets of reviews, good and bad, at the front. Takes balls to include reviews that blatantly hated it.It is very upsetting. Especially if you like sheep.

[Grant Perkins]

Just now. Phone's been weird all day. No probs, I'll sort it.

D'xerlent.

[ditchman]

of those I've only read the wasp factory... complete mind f**k, but I loved it.

[Nick Kerklaan]

I couldn't quite make it more than a quarter through The Wasp Factory... no knock on it, it was interesting and well-written, it just couldn't hold my interest at the time.

Lunar Park, however, is one of my favourite novels. Ellis gets a bit meta with it - he's the central character, and some of his earlier work - particularly American Psycho - plays a key role. You definitely don't need to have read Psycho or anything else by him to appreciate the book, though one of the thematic elements running through it is something of a meditation on his own style and his place in the literary world, so having at least a passing familiarity with him and his work might enhance the experience. But it's a great book either way.