Reading 'Better' (and more diverse).

[Calza]

I've always read books, but generally pretty simple stuff. Action / Spy / Fantasy books mostly. Currently working my way through a boat load of Terry Pratchett stuff. I generally prefer to switch off and not have to think much with a book (same with films), I do enough thinking at work - although admittedly switching off during a Pratchett novel is a waste.

But I feel I'm missing out on a whole host of 'must read' books, you know .. the sort that it looks good in a 'book's I've read' section? I'm not 100% sure what books to start reading, "East is Eden", "Lord of the flies", "1984" .. no idea. These are just some classics that I've heard of and might order to get me going. Anything to provoke thought or improve the vocabulary is a big bonus.

My main worry is that I'll just breeze through them without really appreciating them in the right way. I don't fancy joining a book club, but is there anything to help me 'get the most' out of a book?

[Calza]

Appreciate the book suggestions, and the stuff on eBooks too.

Any advice on how to get more out of a book though? (I'm thinking along the lines of school days when someone would explain or provoke what ideas and themes were being conveyed or suggested.)

[Calza]

Top advice, I'd never read and do something else at the same time but I do tend to get a bit excited and steamroll through the book. Pratchett has definitely made me slow down to enjoy it a bit more though.

Funnily enough I've got Catch-22 up at my parents so I'll look at getting that - definitely one I feel I should have read.