I've halfway through "A Game of Thrones". Had delayed starting it as thought it would be a bit heavy going -I normally have a few books on the go at any one time and am also reading "God is Not Great" by Christopher Hitchens so was reluctant to get into something else intense. But finally succumbed and its much lighter reading than I thought it would be. Really enjoying it so far.
Books The BOOK thread
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It's definitely quite a slow-paced book. I've invested so much time in the saga now, so it seems appropriate that I should follow through to the end.
Anybody read the James Bond novels? Are they worth a gander?
It depends how much you like the films. If you're a nostalgic type of guy and love a Bond with little feeling and a lot of smarm, you won't like them. If you prefer the newer ones with a bit more emotion, you might think they're alright.
Put it like this - I can see why it was decided to make a film out of them as opposed to admiring them for their literary skills.
Put it like this - I can see why it was decided to make a film out of them as opposed to admiring them for their literary skills.
As an aside, I'm currently reading the war poems of Wilfried Owen again. Majestic.
I'm reading Crime and Punishment... again.
Dostoevsky is pretty much the key to literature. Have you tried any Thomas Mann Spoony?
I forced myself to read crime and punishment not thinking I would enjoy it as for some reason I expected it to be like pride and prejudice, although I have no idea how I got that perception of it. It is brilliant though, I thought it really delved into the psychology of people's mindsets and is one of the most amazing pieces of analysis of peoples thought process.
No, Adz. Any recommendations?
Yeah try Doctor Faustus. Basically Mann tried to appropriate Dostoevskys style into Germany and like you can see communism and stuff in TBK you can see the rise of Nazism and the affect it would have on art in Doctor Faustus. One of the true literary achievements in the considerable German canon.
I'm reading this too...good stuff ...do you watch the HBO series also ?
Did you read "Death in Venice"? I tried years ago, but didn't finish. Been meaning to give it another go? Worth the while?
I never have, I don't think it's very long though is it? You should probably give it a go, Mann is a masterful writer.
Cheers, Adz. We're bringing geeky back.
I think it is safe to say i'm a literature geek.
As far as books are concerned, "1984", is still a brilliant read, and have read it on three occasions in the last year.
Great book, but 3 times in a year? That's some heavy shit man! I think I'd feel a bit depressed after doing that.
Yeah, move on Proud_Lyon. Bigger and better books out there.
Madness, there are hundreds of better books he's never read once, starting with 'Extension du domaine de la lutte'.
I do!
La-di dahling.
Saw the film too, many times over.
Move on
? Another great book to read is "Germinale", by Emile Zola. An absolutely brilliant read and I recommend it, if it is sold in English of course.Definitely! Variety is the spice of life, I love "1984" but not as often you!Saw the film too, many times over.
Move on
Let's talk about Camus
A worthy read, thanks again for the tip (I've gotten "Whatever" but haven't started it yet).
His fiction I really liked. "The Plague" was my favorite, but also the Stranger, and the Fall (and I feel like I'm leaving one out). Didn't so much care for the philosophical treatises (The Myth of Sisyphus).
The more so with Sartre. Brilliant fiction (Nausea and the trilogy), and plays (The Flies, No Exit, Dirty Hands, The Respectful Prostitute are all bound in one edition). Again, though the straight out philosophy is unbearable, though I kept trying to read them back when I felt like I should. "Being and Nothingness" is a most un-navigable pile of pulp.
Seeing as we've gone all French here, has anyone read Maupaissant's short stories? I really enjoyed them. Good call on Germinal as well. I didn't finish Pere Goirot, but want to give Balzac another try if anyone's got a recommendation. "Les Miserables" should be a requirement. Rollicking reat lit.
When I asked my "What 3 books from your country should I read" to a French mate of mine he said:
1. The Red and the Black - though he said Stendahl was Belgian. Haven't tried it yet, though I hear it's a bit of a commitment.
2. The Ice People - ?? - had never heard of it, it was hard to find, and it just seemed like old style sci-fi.
3. The Bombardment by Henri Barbusse - I bought it but haven't read it yet. If anyone has anything to say about it, I'm all ears.
Anyway, pretty strange list.
Just checked and my copy is ~400 pages small type. I'll give it another crack some day.
Just finished "Beyond Outrage" by Robert Reich. It's not literature. Short and sweet indictment of money in US politics, and what it's done to the process and the disparity in wealth. He was preaching to the choir, but still learned a fair bit.
Of all his works, I preferred "L'étranger." It is an absolutely brilliant read.
Fantastic post. Regarding Camus I've read L'étranger and the Plague though I need a real re-read of the Plague as I was young when I read it from my Grandad's library. L'étranger is incredible though, I love how devoid of any real emotion there seems to be.
It's like one day "ok i'll have a wife", the next "yeah I think I love you but what even is love anyway?!" I loved his style. I've not really moved into his philosophy, I've heard it's dense in a literary sense as it is seeking to emulate perhaps better philosophers.
Ah okay - well in context of Mann's wider works that probably is short!
Indeed, fantastic read. Nice and short too. Took me ages to realise his name is pronounced Al-ber Ka-moo too.
Or you could sound like a thick cnut and pronounce it 'Albert Kam-us' to a librarian. Not that I did....er......
L'etranger is just an A-Level text and lacks real depth.
Les Miserables, on the other hand, is up there as one of the greatest novels ever written. Absolutely out of this universe.
Les Miserables, on the other hand, is up there as one of the greatest novels ever written. Absolutely out of this universe.
If you're talking about French author books, one of the most important works of the 20th century is "Voyage au bout de la nuit" (Journey to the end of the night) by Louis-Ferdinand Céline. An absolute must-read. Though one of the brilliant things about the book is Céline's style, used slang and very down to earth expressions back in 1932 when it was unheard of with most authors considered 'serious'. Don't know if it translates that well into English. But even if that's lost in translation, there's enough left to make it an exceptional read.
Have started reading 'World War Z' due to comments read on this forum, I'm just 50 pages in and already hooked!
Have started reading 'World War Z' due to comments read on this forum, I'm just 50 pages in and already hooked!
I want to read some classics, starting with Hemingway's Fiesta, the sun also rises
It's meant to lack depth on an emotional level.
Can't comment on Les Mis, on the to read list.
What classics have you read?
Old Man and the Sea is a fantastic and short start into Hemingway.
I get that it's supposed to be lacking in heart because he's a bit of a misanthrope, but it was just one of these pieces that tried harder to be clever than it did to actually be a decent read, in my view.
And you should push Les Miserables up the read list. It'll take an age to get through it though. 1500 pages, odd.
Bryce Courtney died today. He is probably best known for The Power of One, which is great but my favorite book of his is Mathew Flinder's Cat. He seemed like a very nice and humble man and his passing saddens me.
On book 5 of Game of Thrones now. A Feast For Crows. Still keeping my attention although I'm probably slowing down a bit.
Started reading Thrawn trilogy. 'Heir to the Empire' is pretty good, likely the best Star Wars book I have ever read.