The Readers' Cafe: Top 5 books that you randomly discovered

Jonathan

Often I’ll go into the library and pluck books I’ve never heard of from the shelves because I like the cover or the blurb sounds interesting or turn to page x and decide to read on or possibly because I’m a bit disorgansed. Is it just me?

Anyway. Top 5 books read in this way:

‘The Funnies’, by someone called Lennon (while his first name wasn’t John I can’t remember what it was).
This was, er, funny and well written.

‘Ghostwritten’, David Mitchell.
This was back when Ghostwritten was David Mitchell’s only published book, I think. Now he’s one of my favourite authors, although I waited about eight years before picking up another of his books for reasons I’m finding too complicated to put into words at the moment.

‘Flashman and the Redskins’, George MacDonald Fraser.
Reading this now, actually. It’s utterly immoral and brilliant. I haven’t encountered a more likeable thieving, cowardly, womanising, adulterous, pimping sex crazed killer. Currently I’m about half way through and Flashman’s just abandoned his third wife. I raved about the book to someone the other day and felt slightly embarrassed after I’d described it – experiencing the same feeling right now. Oh well.

‘Through a Glass, Darkly’, Bill Hussey.
No, that comma’s not a typo (although I think the title is lifted from the bible). This book makes the list only because I found it so bad that it transcended badness to become something remarkable. I found it both inspiring and depressing – the former because such a bad book could get published and the latter because such a bad book had been published. Maybe I’m doing the thing a disservice, in which case I apologise to Mr Hussey, who might consider Through a Glass, Darkly his magnum opus. And to him I’m only some guy on a forum, so I’m sure he won’t take offence.

‘Black Swan Green’, David Mitchell
I know I’ve got Ghostwritten up there but I hadn’t twigged the same man wrote both books until I did some research (typed David Mitchell into wikipedia). Glad I read it. And the person who illustrates the covers is pretty good too, because this is the second book by Mitchell I’ve picked up because of the pretty colours.

Over to you!

Izzie

Picked up purely on the basis of the cover illustration, the blurb or a combination of the two in bookshops, libraries and from the multiple bookshelves of my parents house (and stealthily transferred onto mine).

‘Memoirs of a Geisha’, Arthur Golden
The scarlet lips in a white face on a greyish background can hardly fail to catch the eye. As it was a culture I knew nothing about, the title finished up for the cover and persuaded me. It is a fascinating and well written book, but somehow not so good for re-reading so maybe one to borrow rather than buy?

The War of Don Emanuel’s Nether Parts’, Louis de Bernieres
Colourful and apparently random images and an enticing blurb. I love this book and the rest of the trilogy and it is incredibly re-readable.

‘The Travelling Hornplayer’ Barbara Trapido
Once again colourful and apparently random images…coincidentally by the same illustrator. Maybe the familiar style and the fact that I enjoyed the de Bernieres books that I associated with it predisposed me, but the text lived up to my expectations. Barbara Trapido’s characters are lively and individual and the plot is original. If you like this, her others are similar (dare I say samey) in style, have similar pretty colours on the covers and are quite fun as some of the characters pop up in other books at different stages of their lives.

‘The Time Traveller’s Wife’, Audrey Niffenegger
The cover to this is quite understated and becomes more significant once you’ve started the book, but is still an unusual image. The blurb definitely did most of the work in this case, the premise is just so different from anything else I’d read I had to find out more. I have re-read this book too many times, but am not sure another review would contribute anything new…

‘The Confessions of a Justified Sinner’, James Hogg
This book is truly bizarre. The row of superimposed profile faces with just the one in colour on the cover is a bit disturbing and the concept of a fanatic convinced that he is incapable of sin due to the grace of God is a frightening yet intriguing thought. I don’t know how readily available this is, but try it if you want something different.

Jonathan

I agree that Louis de Bernieres’ books have interesting, colourful covers. And The Time Traveller’s Wife keeps popping up in my internet trawls so maybe I should try it, though what I know of it has kind of put me off.

I like the sound of the James Hogg book – especially as I skimmed through your post initially and read that the main character was a sinner granted some kind of literal divine immunity.

I wonder how important a nice cover is for book sales? I imagine for judgemental types (of which I may sometimes be one) it might tip the balance if you’re undecided… certainly books jacketed by a photograph rather than, say, a drawing or something more abstract instantly push me away a little… how about you?

Izzie

I think the cover would be more likely to catch your attention in the first place than convince you if were still unsure after the blurb. Having said that, if I had to choose between two books that seemed equally interesting according to the blurb, I would probably go for the one I picked up first which would most likely be the one with the more eye-catching cover.

I think a good cover probably does do a lot for sales, especially among buyers who are browsing without a particular book in mind and pick up books to find out more depending on the cover or who only have limited time to choose and so only look at the books whose covers most appeal to them.

Part of the point of the James Hogg is that he believes that his sins are automatically pardoned, but this isn’t necessarily the case. If you read it I’d be curious to know what you think.

I don’t know what you’ve read about the time traveller’s wife, although I can guess that it might be made to sound like a bit of a girly book. In its defence, all the characters are well developed with personal traits and flaws that make them seem human, and the fact that Niffenegger doesn’t go for too much detail about the medical side of the time travel stops it being too fantastic and ridiculous.

Jonathan

Well, I’ve ordered the James Hogg but at my library requesting a book is often like adding to a wishlist so I may have to get it some other way. :|

As for the Time Traveller’s Wife, I think you’ve said it – I guess it does come across as a bit girly and the sci fi gimmicky. Still if I see it around I’ll read some just to spite my prejudgment.

The cover thing actually is a bit of a non-argument now I think of it because I rarely buy books these days. Certainly in a library I’ll check out a catching cover, though. Probably a discussion for another topic but I wonder how many others rely mainly on borrowing.

Anyway… it almost snowed in London last night, which was nice!

Anna

I have to admit that the thing that drew me towards ‘Half of a Yellow Sun’ initially was its fantastic cover. There’s something about it which really appealed. The book was a great read anyway so I was very glad I chose it.

Another book that I randomly discovered was ‘Yes Man’ by Danny Wallace. I found it in a new flat that I moved into a couple of years ago. I found it fairly entertaining, although the style reminded me a lot of a Tony Hawks book I’d read previously, ‘Round Ireland with a Fridge’. But I noticed the other day that there is a film of it coming out starring Jim Carey which I think (though wouldn’t like to bet on it!) might be better than the book, as the book itself seemed to be rather drawn out. Perhaps Jimmy C can inject a bit more life into it?!

Felicity

This is going to sound bizarre. About a year before The Philosopher’s Stone became popular a family friend from America turned up and gave me the book as a present. I thought it was going to be one of those ‘read it and then put it away cause it’ll never amount to anything’ books but then look what happened! I did discover it in a very wierd way though?!

Another one of those randomly discovered books was The End of Mr Y, which i just picked off the shelf because the edge of the pages is black, and it’s got a hot fiery red cover. It called out to me!

Robert

I randomly discovered the authors BS Johnson and Jonathon Coe in an review of the biography of Johnson written by Coe. It was in an issue of The Spectator which I had picked up on a whim once(feeling clever in 2002) but didn’t get round to reading until 2005 when I was clearing out some papers and flicked through it as I felt I owed it to myself to read it after all these years (it was the one and only time I’ve looked through The Spectator). I immediately purchased the biography and then one of Coe’s books and then one of Johnson’s books and both became favourite writers. Lucky for me.

cla

“The Book Of Laughter And Forgetting” by Milan Kundera
I discovered this book on a tiny book shelf in the corner of a British bar in Peru. I swapped it for a book I’d brought to read with me on my travels and read it in two days sunbathing in the Andes.
It is one of the most beautiful and strange books I’ve ever read. I love it! I’m going around recommending it to everyone now. ;)

Anna

Wow! That’s a great find and sounds like the perfect place to relax and read a good book. Will have to keep an eye out for that (perhaps you could write a review on here?)
What was the book that you swapped it for?

cla

It really was. I recommend both Peru and the book. ;) I’ll indeed write a review on here. I discovered completelynovel yesterday, so I’m still learning, fumbling around not quite knowing what I’m doing!
I swapped the book for ‘I Capture The Castle’ by Dodie Smith which I’ve been meaning to read for so long! I still haven’t read it (as my copy’s now all the way in deepest, darkest Peru!), but it was definitely worth the exchange. :)

Anna

Ah…the author of 101 Dalmatians I believe. Is that possibly an excuse to go back to Peru…“In search of the book you are longing to read…” Do you think Channel Four would fund a Documentary on that?
Hope you enjoy exploring CompletelyNovel – it’s worth taking a look at some of the CompletelyNovel books here if you have a minute. There are some really good ones!

Michelle

I was at a bookstore and ‘Good Omens’ by Neil Gaiman and Terry Prachett was there and my friend said BUY THIS AND READ IT. So I did. I haven’t looked back since then. I’ve bought several other Gaiman books and have loved what I’ve gotten around to reading. Fantastic stuff!

Anna

I really need to start reading some Neil Gaiman books…I’m yet to read Good Omens but have heard so much great stuff about it!

ANTHONY

Neil Gaiman is a really interesting writer. I’ve read Anasi Boys, which was creepy but delicious at the same time. Some of his film translations have not been as successful.. say Mirrormask, but it was still a film well worth watching.. Lush.. I recommend him if you havent tried him yet.
=]

Jim

As for my five ‘random’ books, I would have to say:

‘The Hounds of the Morrigan’ by Pat O’Shea

I saw this one in the library and found the title intruiging.

‘Artemis Fowl’ by Eoin Colfer.

Another intruiging title and I just liked the idea of teenage master criminal.

‘Something Rotten’ by Jasper Fforde

Another title I found interesting.

‘Magician’ by Raymond E Feist

As much as anything, it was Geoff Taylor’s artwork on the cover.

,Burying the Shadow’ by Storm Constantine

I liked the idea of an interesting of a new spin on the vampire myth