Help an English lit noob out - need some good fiction

[Dale Dough]

I've been having some boredom/motivation related issues lately (ok the whole year) and Krantz' post inspired me to start taking short trips to chill, take in some nature, and read. Lately I've spent way too much time on 2+2 and Wikipedia vs. books.

Problem is, I'm not really familiar with English literature. I've read mostly Dutch stuff, and I feel like broadening my horizons a bit. So, I'm hoping you guys in your infinite wisdom can give me some recommendations.

- No LOTR/Harry Potter or anything like that. I'm just not into that [censored].
- I like science fiction, but not just for its own sake. I read some Heinlein, planning to get more. What are similar authors?
- While I'm not against heavy literature, the type of English can't be absurdly difficult. Finnegan's Wake is definitely out. I did read some Shakespeare, but I feel that I would miss too much of between the lines stuff if it wasn't explained to me.
- Appeal to a young man. Last year I read Pride and Prejudice in the metro, and while I enjoyed it in a good literature kind of way, I'd prefer something that's easier to identify with.

[tw0please]

I personally don't like them, but reading annotated versions of Shakespeare works might help if you feel you are missing out on contextual/period references.

[bobman0330]

Hemingway
Conrad
Catch-22
Beowulf

[ValarMorghulis]

Steinbeck
Catcher in the Rye
To Kill a Mocking Bird

[theblitz]

Orson Scott Card.

All the Ender books.
They are a cross between sci-fi and political science and are a great read.

[ArturiusX]

Confederacy of Dunces and Fear and loathing in las vegas are two such weird books. They will change your perspective.

[Rhone]

[ QUOTE ]
Confederacy of Dunces

[/ QUOTE ]

the second funniest novel I've ever read, the first being Catch-22.

[Phil153]

I love good literature but quickly get bored with it. Short stories are good compromise, you get the best of an author without the boredom.

There's a great collection of the classics here: http://www.bibliomania.com/0/5/frameset.html

[jeffnc]

[ QUOTE ]
Beowulf

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh brother.

Count of Monte Cristo is probably more appealing to men, if I understand your point correctly. Although it is pretty long.

Have you read any Tom Clancy? It's fiction, it's science, but it's not really science fiction - it comes pretty close to reality. Sum of All Fears or Hunt for Red October were both pretty good (the movies for those were bad and good, respectively).

Something I'd recommend you do is surf through Amazon for awhile. Go look up a book you like (Heinlein for example) and then start looking at the "Listmania" links. Customers list their favorite books. Also if you read through the reviews for some of your favorites, you'll read other recommendations.

[jeffnc]

[ QUOTE ]
- I like science fiction, but not just for its own sake. I read some Heinlein, planning to get more. What are similar authors?

[/ QUOTE ]

Here are examples of what I was talking about
http://tinyurl.com/2puouz
http://tinyurl.com/2kx5kz
http://tinyurl.com/342m7r