Suggest a Different Author

[mosquito]

Since bruceflinch created his thread I realized that I need help finding some good books for me. My primary criterion is different though:

I want books that have a lot of good vocabulary.

See, I'm going to apply for graduate school before too long and I need to improve my vocabulary to the point that I can blow the GRE out of the water. I don't care much what the style of writing is or, generally, what the topics are. Moderately well written or better?

I'm prolly going to read everything written by Humberto Eco in the next year, and will prolly get some Joyce for the first time, but beyond that, I'm not sure where to go.

What's your suggestion?

 

[MysterYvil]

Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle. That'll get your vocabulary in order, plus it's a great story.

Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita is chock-full of beautiful language.

 

[mosquito]

Great sounding start.

BTW, I'll take the list with me to the Big Book Sale on Tuesday the 15th. arty

 

[CoorsLight]

John Crowley

William Faulkner

 

[Lex Talionis]

Since bruceflinch created his thread I realized that I need help finding some good books for me. My primary criterion is different though:

I want books that have a lot of good vocabulary.

What's your suggestion?

Oxford English Dictionary. :laughing

Lex

 

[MysterYvil]

Since bruceflinch created his thread I realized that I need help finding some good books for me. My primary criterion is different though:

I want books that have a lot of good vocabulary.

See, I'm going to apply for graduate school before too long and I need to improve my vocabulary to the point that I can blow the GRE out of the water. I don't care much what the style of writing is or, generally, what the topics are. Moderately well written or better?

I'm prolly going to read everything written by Humberto Eco in the next year, and will prolly get some Joyce for the first time, but beyond that, I'm not sure where to go.

What's your suggestion?

I started re-reading Lolita yesterday and, as I remembered, it is replete with GRE-worthy words (I helped a friend study for the GRE a few years ago). Also, it is not overly long.

 

[mosquito]

Nice. I did pick up an Eco a few days ago and I'd forgotten how much I like to read. Only problem is that now I want the OED on a cell phone!

For the Book Sale, I think I'm going to have to get a duffel bag and a handtruck. Woo! arty

:teeth

 

[GPzPop]

"Ridley Walker" by (???) ... written in phoenetic post appocaliptic english. rather "anti-vocabulary" ish

 

[nbean16]

Anthony Burgess

 

[mosquito]

Thanks, GPzPop. Is the entire book written like that or primarily the quoted speech of the characters? If it's the first, it'd be really hard to read, much like reading txt-typing instead of normal spelling. *But* that would mean that the syntax would prolly have to be very clear. That could prove an interesting exercise even if it doesn't directly help me with my goal. *grinn*

Wasn't Anthony Burgess an actor in the 'Rocky' films? ;o)

 

[nbean16]

Thanks, GPzPop. Is the entire book written like that or primarily the quoted speech of the characters? If it's the first, it'd be really hard to read, much like reading txt-typing instead of normal spelling. *But* that would mean that the syntax would prolly have to be very clear. That could prove an interesting exercise even if it doesn't directly help me with my goal. *grinn*

Wasn't Anthony Burgess an actor in the 'Rocky' films? ;o)

Thats Burgess Meredith

 

[Butch]

Dan Simmons

 

[AbsolutEnduser]

Si

I want books that have a lot of good vocabulary.

Se

Wizard of Earthsea, Ursula leGuin

 

[mosquito]

Dan, not Gene. Gotcha.

I like Ursula K!

 

[bruceflinch]

Since bruceflinch created his thread I realized that I need help finding some good books for me. My primary criterion is different though:

I want books that have a lot of good vocabulary.

See, I'm going to apply for graduate school before too long and I need to improve my vocabulary to the point that I can blow the GRE out of the water. I don't care much what the style of writing is or, generally, what the topics are. Moderately well written or better?

I'm prolly going to read everything written by Humberto Eco in the next year, and will prolly get some Joyce for the first time, but beyond that, I'm not sure where to go.

What's your suggestion?

Good Luck on the GRE!

 

[mosquito]

Thanks again, everyone. Any last minute additions?

--

Burgess, Anthony
- I never knew who wrote A Clockwork Orange.

Hoban, Russell
Riddley Walker
- This does sound interesting: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riddley_Walker

- FWIW he also wrote these well-known children's books (among many others):

The Mouse and His Child
The "Frances the Badger" series

--

And thanks about the GRE. I prolly won't take it until next year. Hope I do at least as well this time as when I first took it, in something like ... 1991?)