I'm trying to learn more about contemporary Indonesia, and I'd love book & essay recommendations, especially of narrative non-fiction with a strong first person narrative voice! (But I'd also love suggestions of fiction, good travelogues, podcasts, blogs, zines, films, academic articles--really anything that doesn't demand prior in depth knowledge.)
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posted by tapir-whorf
on May 13, 2013 -
4 answers
How do you decide what books to read? Recommendations? Reviews? Go to the bookstore and read a chapter? I often find myself overwhelmed with the zillions of choices. How do you narrow it down?
posted by SampleSize
on Jan 9, 2013 -
40 answers
Writing fiction: is it the sort of thing where you either have "the gift," or you don't?
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posted by indognito
on Jan 6, 2013 -
38 answers
I need suggestions of fictional or non-fictional books or films that deal with illness or dying in relation to humor/the absurd.
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posted by Felicity Rilke
on Sep 19, 2012 -
23 answers
Can you help me expand my “popular epidemiology” book collection by recommending books that are similar to
The Coming Plague by Laurie Garrett and the following titles?
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posted by pupus
on Aug 29, 2012 -
24 answers
I have a week at my parent's cottage coming up, and I'd like to get some recommendations on some comprehensive introductions to the classics, mythology, psychology and a few other subjects.
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posted by chrillsicka
on Jul 4, 2012 -
11 answers
To writers: how do you consider questions of which form in which to express your ideas - short story, essay, novel, poem, even unconventional forms like very short fiction or experimental plotless fiction or aphorism collection or blog posts (to the extent they're their own thing)? Are there any good articles or books that wrestle with this dilemma?
posted by shivohum
on Mar 8, 2012 -
8 answers
Recommendations for stories about the mentor/protege dynamic that are sexy. Bonus points if both parties are female.
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posted by divabat
on Dec 2, 2011 -
8 answers
I'm looking for books, nonfiction or fiction, that accurately and effectively discuss, portray, and/or meditate on the condition of specifically children, or perhaps more broadly families, being poor. Any ethnicity or cultural group, although I am primarily interested in relatively contemporary narratives, 1950 or later, more or less.
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posted by grokfest
on Nov 13, 2011 -
31 answers
Where can I read more about the Romanian Revolution in December 1989, and the events leading up to it?
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posted by lovableiago
on Jan 7, 2011 -
10 answers
Is there a term for travel accounts of explorers, both fictional and real-life? Also, tell me some of your favorites.
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posted by actionpact
on Dec 11, 2010 -
22 answers
Looking for books and/or movies about fiascos and disastrous but avoidable situations
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posted by reenum
on Nov 22, 2010 -
25 answers
Wanted: Stories of leaving it all behind (family, relationships, work, obligations etc) and traveling to a remote place for peace, to think and/or escape society.
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posted by nomadicink
on Nov 3, 2010 -
48 answers
Book recommendation! Need a gift, fast! Nonfiction or fiction, but must deal in some way with humanity's relationship with the natural environment.
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posted by Beardman
on Jul 9, 2010 -
33 answers
What books best describe/approximate what it was like to be in New York City during the 1970s/80s?
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posted by lxs
on Jun 30, 2010 -
28 answers
I'm looking for suggestions for a "common read" book for a large public university. Any ideas?
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posted by Madamina
on Feb 9, 2010 -
26 answers
New Year's resolution: pick a different historical period each year and spend the year immersing myself in that time as much as possible. Help me decide the "when" and give me your suggestions of what to read and watch to learn as much as possible.
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posted by purenitrous
on Jan 23, 2010 -
9 answers
Between my iPhone's Stanza app and the loooooong quiet days ahead of me in the office during the holiday season, I'd like to read some stuff online. Any suggestions?
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posted by Madamina
on Nov 25, 2009 -
6 answers
Anybody have recommendations for good historical fiction/nonfiction books set in China or Southeast Asia?
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posted by ebeeb
on Feb 19, 2009 -
20 answers
I want to read fictional and/or true stories about people being put into positions of responsibility unexpectedly for extended periods of time and how they deal with it.
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posted by reenum
on Jan 27, 2009 -
37 answers
Can you recommend good books about Los Angeles? Non-fiction preferred but fiction as well.
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posted by jeremias
on Oct 29, 2008 -
25 answers
I'm looking for short stories/poems/creative non-fiction and the like about school, schooling, education, and/or learning to write/self-expression. Should be suitable for college freshpersons.
posted by Saxon Kane
on Aug 24, 2008 -
4 answers
I'd like to broaden my horizons by getting a better understanding of life in different cultures and time periods. Please recommend great books or films (fiction or non-fiction) which paint a broad, immersive, reasonably accurate picture of a place and time.
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posted by MetaMonkey
on Jul 12, 2008 -
29 answers
Korean Book Gift Filter: What Korean books (meaning books written in Hangul) should I get for my parents?
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posted by ignignokt
on Dec 20, 2007 -
5 answers
I would like to read some literate, accurate portraits of what it's like to be an attractive person in present U.S. or European society.
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posted by cgc373
on Aug 7, 2007 -
25 answers
I love finding books and authors who have been forgotten until a long time fan decides to make their work available again through some labor of love small press. Do you know of a publisher that has a somewhat esoteric focus along these lines? Who are they? Fiction or non is fine. It doesn't have to be someone who republishes old books though. If you know a house that has great taste with contemporary authors, go ahead and share. I would also like to hear about small presses that do particularly beautiful editions of good reading books as long as they are reasonably priced (barely breaking a $100). I've got a few examples inside.
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posted by BigSky
on Jun 21, 2007 -
19 answers
I am looking for well regarded books/scholarly papers about writing. Most specifically in the areas of Nonfiction (the essay style of article writing) and Children's Fiction (for a young adult audience).
Any tips? Go as far and broad as you can. I'll be off to the British library tomorrow, so the sky is the limit.
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posted by 0bvious
on Jan 9, 2007 -
6 answers
Audiobooks: My Audible wish list is empty -- help me fill it with compelling, commute-friendly nonfiction and literary fiction.
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posted by kmel
on Mar 16, 2006 -
24 answers
NovelFilter: I just finished
Romola, by Eliot, and didn't love it, but want to learn more about Florence in the era--a very interesting time, to put it mildly--with the Medicis, Savanarola, etc. Any good novels or
non-boring non-fiction on Florence in the late 1400s-early 1500s?
posted by amberglow
on Mar 18, 2005 -
11 answers
As a lay...
very lay...student of Roman Republic and Empire, and anticipating the upcoming HBO/BBC series
Rome with relish, I'm reading everything I can get my hands on about both Republic and Empire. Currently I'm reading an abridgement of
The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire I just inherited. What next? [insert Latin for "more inside" here].
posted by WolfDaddy
on Sep 2, 2004 -
19 answers
