Fiction_L Archives Pirsig read alikes Dates: 12/5/00,7:03 PM  through  12/8/00,11:54 AM  (11 postings) Search for: Select one or more indexes to search: 2011-current     2009-2010     2004-2008    1995-2003    (Matches from each index will be displayed separately in the results page.) Return to December 2000 thread menu   |   Fiction_L Archives Menu

FROM: Barry Trott <[removed]@mail.wrl.org>
REC'D: 12/5/00, 7:03 PM

Any suggestions for a patron looking for similar books to Pirsig's Zen and
the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance? He was looking for books that showed a
character developing a philosophy, rather than ones that were overtly
expressing the author's philosophy (he was not interested in Ayn Rand for
instance). The journey of exploration was what was important. The titles
could be fiction or non. He left with William Least Heat Moon's Blue
Highways, but I told him that I would run this question by the collective
wisdom. Thanks,

Barry

*******************************************************************************
Barry Trott 7770 Croaker Rd.
Readers' Services Librarian Williamsburg VA 23188
Williamsburg Regional Library Phone: 757-259-4050 or
[removed]@mail.wrl.org 757-259-7720
http://www.wrl.org/REF/Bookweb_Main.html
*******************************************************************************

FROM: Adonna Thompson <[removed]@kckpl.lib.ks.us>
REC'D: 12/6/00, 9:01 AM

Sophies World by Gaarder might work.

Adonna Thompson
KCKS Public Library

Barry Trott wrote:
>
> Any suggestions for a patron looking for similar books to Pirsig's Zen and
> the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance? He was looking for books that showed a
> character developing a philosophy, rather than ones that were overtly
> expressing the author's philosophy (he was not interested in Ayn Rand for
> instance). The journey of exploration was what was important. The titles
> could be fiction or non. He left with William Least Heat Moon's Blue
> Highways, but I told him that I would run this question by the collective
> wisdom. Thanks,
>
> Barry
>
> *******************************************************************************
> Barry Trott 7770 Croaker Rd.
> Readers' Services Librarian Williamsburg VA 23188
> Williamsburg Regional Library Phone: 757-259-4050 or
> [removed]@mail.wrl.org 757-259-7720
> http://www.wrl.org/REF/Bookweb_Main.html
> *******************************************************************************
>
> .......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L: http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html

FROM: "Gina Sheade" <[removed]@nslsilus.org>
REC'D: 12/6/00, 10:27 AM

Barry,

I have not read Pirsig's Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, so
please forgive me if the following suggestions don't hit the mark with your
patron:

Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder
Ishmael by Daniel Quinn


Gina Sheade
Adult Services Librarian
Vernon Area Public Library
Lincolnshire, IL

FROM: Cheryl Cammenga <[removed]@kentlibrary.lib.mi.us>
REC'D: 12/6/00, 10:54 AM

Mutant Message Down Under by Marlo Morgan
A contemporary woman goes on a "Walkabout" in the Outback of Australia.
Definitely a journey of discovery. (non-fiction)

The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo
A fable about following your dream. A shepherd boy travels the world
in search of treasure and ends up with a different type of riches.
(fiction).

Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck
It has been a while since I read this, but I think it has an element of
discovery.

Cheryl Cammenga, Manager "Opinions given above are
Kentwood Branch personal and do not reflect
Kent District Library official library policy or
Grand Rapids, MI statements."

"There is a time in the life of every problem when it is big enough to see
yet small enough to solve." Mike Leavitt

FROM: Karen Dini <[removed]@addison.lib.il.us>
REC'D: 12/6/00, 12:11 PM

Re: Mutant Message Down Under, I'd be careful about recommending this to
anyone as a nonfiction account or spiritual experience/journey of discovery
type of book. There's been a lot of controversy about this book, and
several Aboriginal groups were outraged by it. If I remember correctly, an
investigation could not substantiate whether the author was ever in the
areas she claimed to be, and several groups were convinced that this book
was a complete fabrication. In our library, we have it under fiction. I
actually don't know how (or if)this issue was resolved, but would be
interested if anyone does know. If you prefer not to put this on the
general list, please e-mail me directly. Thanks.

Karen Dini
Reader Services Coordinator
Addison Public Library
e-mail: [removed]@addison.lib.il.us


-----Original Message-----
From: Cheryl Cammenga [[removed]@kentlibrary.lib.mi.us]
Sent: Wednesday, December 06, 2000 10:44 AM
To: Fiction_L
Subject: Re: Pirsig read alikes


Mutant Message Down Under by Marlo Morgan
A contemporary woman goes on a "Walkabout" in the Outback of Australia.
Definitely a journey of discovery. (non-fiction)

The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo
A fable about following your dream. A shepherd boy travels the world
in search of treasure and ends up with a different type of riches.
(fiction).

Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck
It has been a while since I read this, but I think it has an element of
discovery.

Cheryl Cammenga, Manager "Opinions given above are
Kentwood Branch personal and do not reflect
Kent District Library official library policy or
Grand Rapids, MI statements."

"There is a time in the life of every problem when it is big enough to see
yet small enough to solve." Mike Leavitt

FROM: Suzanne Booker <[removed]@monroe.lib.in.us>
REC'D: 12/6/00, 12:22 PM

Hermann Hesse! My favorites were "Siddhartha" and "Narcissus and
Goldmund."
Susie

On Tue, 5 Dec 2000, Barry Trott wrote:

> Any suggestions for a patron looking for similar books to Pirsig's Zen and
> the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance? He was looking for books that showed a
> character developing a philosophy, rather than ones that were overtly
> expressing the author's philosophy (he was not interested in Ayn Rand for
> instance). The journey of exploration was what was important. The titles
> could be fiction or non. He left with William Least Heat Moon's Blue
> Highways, but I told him that I would run this question by the collective
> wisdom. Thanks,
>
> Barry
>
> *******************************************************************************
> Barry Trott 7770 Croaker Rd.
> Readers' Services Librarian Williamsburg VA 23188
> Williamsburg Regional Library Phone: 757-259-4050 or
> [removed]@mail.wrl.org 757-259-7720
> http://www.wrl.org/REF/Bookweb_Main.html
> *******************************************************************************
>
>
> ......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L: http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html
>

FROM: "Ann Bouricius" <[removed]@cml.lib.oh.us>
REC'D: 12/6/00, 1:46 PM

Possibly THE RIVER WHY by David James Duncan-- which is really not about fishing-- like Zen isn't really about motorcycles.

Ann Bouricius/Annie Kimberlin
Columbus Metropolitan Library
The Middle of Ohio...

FROM: Dennis Lien <[removed]@tc.umn.edu>
REC'D: 12/7/00, 5:14 PM

At 04:38 PM 12/5/00 -0500, you wrote:
>Any suggestions for a patron looking for similar books to Pirsig's Zen and
>the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance? He was looking for books that showed a
>character developing a philosophy, rather than ones that were overtly
>expressing the author's philosophy (he was not interested in Ayn Rand for
>instance). The journey of exploration was what was important. The titles
>could be fiction or non. He left with William Least Heat Moon's Blue
>Highways, but I told him that I would run this question by the collective
>wisdom. Thanks,
>
>Barry

Disclaimer: I've never read Pirsig. Still...

You might try him with THE EDUCATION OF HENRY ADAMS. Also some of
the books in the general category of "bildungsroman" (not necessarily
German), some of which would qualify...

Dennis Lien / U of Minnesota Libraries // [removed]@tc.umn.edu

FROM: Fiction_L Administrator <[removed]@nslsilus.org>
REC'D: 12/7/00, 7:01 PM

You might like to try "Stone work" by John Jerome.
It describes the authors development of personal philosophy as he builds a
stone wall at his home in the country.

Ann Ryan
Library Support Services Manager
North Shore Libraries
Ph (09) 486-8472
Fax (09) 486-8519
[removed]@shorelibraries.govt.nz
-----Original Message-----

At 04:38 PM 12/5/00 -0500, you wrote:
>Any suggestions for a patron looking for similar books to Pirsig's Zen
and
>the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance? He was looking for books that showed a
>character developing a philosophy, rather than ones that were overtly
>expressing the author's philosophy (he was not interested in Ayn Rand for
>instance). The journey of exploration was what was important. The titles
>could be fiction or non. He left with William Least Heat Moon's Blue
>Highways, but I told him that I would run this question by the collective
>wisdom. Thanks,

FROM: Susan LaBelle <[removed]@metronet.lib.mi.us>
REC'D: 12/7/00, 7:50 PM

You might like The Cliff Walk: A Memoir of a job lost and a life found/
Don J. Snyder. A very good read.

*******************************************************************************
Susan LaBelle Voice 248.647.1700
Librarian Fax 248.647.6393
Adult Reading
Baldwin Public Library
300 W. Merrill
Birmingham, Michigan 48009

FROM: "Brad Scott" <[removed]@ci.allen.tx.us>
REC'D: 12/8/00, 11:54 AM

A couple of books came to mind:

"Catapult : Harry and I build a siege weapon", by Jim Paul. Historical and philosophical digressions abound as two men research and construct a working replica of a medieval stonethrower.

"Goodbye to a River", by John Graves, is an account of the author's final canoe trip down the length of Texas's Brazos River before the Corps of Engineers transformed it into a chain of reservoirs. It's a philosophical journey as well as a physical one, as he considers local history and ecology and the inevitability of change.

The patron may also enjoy reading Edward Abbey's short "review" of ZAMM, written from the imagined perspective of an hardbitten Arizona biker. It's in his essay collection "Down the River".

Bradley A. Scott
Formerly of the Plano (Texas) Public library... now of the Allen (Texas) Public Library.

**All opinions are personal. **

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