Mark Pawelek
New Member
Darkness at Noon, by Arthur Koestler, 1940.
Religion isn't about myths and fantasies. The important stories in the New Testament are parables. I think religions are about giving purpose to life in a situation when people can't find purpose without it.But that sort of beats the whole purpose, does'nt it?
I mean, the aim should be to convince people to stop believing in myths and fantasy, irrespective of what Christianity or any other religion says.
I don't believe in God. I take a skeptic stance. Curiously, I was a sort of believer with a very mystical interpretation of God for about a decade in my late teens to late '20s. Then I became a skeptic. I think a lot religious followers also have a mystical interpretation of God. So I, sort of, understand how they feel; having been there once myself.I agree with everything you have said. Yet, you haven't addressed the existence of a god.
Almost finished Grapes of Wrath, and I’m thoroughly depressed that it’s on the verge of ending. One of the best books I’ve ever read. What’d you recommend next of Steinbeck’s?Just finished Sweet Thursday by Steinbeck. I preferred Cannery Row, but this was still a very enjoyable book. That's the 5th Steinbeck I've read this year, so I'll move on to something else for the coming books, but those 5 are surely among the best I've read this year.
Have you read Of Mice and Men? Short and sweet length wise compared to Grapes but worth a go all the same if you're loving his stuff.Almost finished Grapes of Wrath, and I’m thoroughly depressed that it’s on the verge of ending. One of the best books I’ve ever read. What’d you recommend next of Steinbeck’s?
I haven’t! My class read Lord of the Flies instead. I’ve seen the film starring John Malkovich which I also loved, so Of Mice and Men makes sense. Cheers Cheese.Have you read Of Mice and Men? Short and sweet length wise compared to Grapes but worth a go all the same if you're loving his stuff.
Yeah it's a lot smaller in scope and scale than Grapes of Wrath but still classic Steinbeck and a lot more succinct: doesn't really go off on any tangents as such and has a very clear and somewhat straightforward but brilliant story. Easy to read in a day or so.I haven’t! My class read Lord of the Flies instead. I’ve seen the film starring John Malkovich which I also loved, so Of Mice and Men makes sense. Cheers Cheese.
Of mice and men is obviously a great book, but if you're looking for a book of similar depth, try East of Eden. It's pretty popular and well known, but for good reason. I preferred it to Grapes, but both are very good.Almost finished Grapes of Wrath, and I’m thoroughly depressed that it’s on the verge of ending. One of the best books I’ve ever read. What’d you recommend next of Steinbeck’s?
When I finished the Lord of The Rings when I was younger it was like saying goodbye to an old mate. After I finished the last series I read there were 17 books in the series and it feels like saying goodbye to many friends. I enjoyed it so much that I feel sad that there were not more books.What do you guys do when you've finished a book? I swear I mourn that it's over and feel actually sad about the whole thing. It feels really weird, am I just weird?
How did you like that? Its on my list to read at some pointLifespan by David Sinclair
Permanent Record by Edward Snowden
Glass House by Brian Alexander - chronicles the destruction of an American 'Small Town' by corporate leeches who latch onto a locally produced brand, mismanage it, milk it dry
I haven't read it but I have a friend who finished it a few months ago and he said it was great but a real trip. I have it on my list to order once I make it through another 6-7 books on my stack.Finished The Brothers Karamazov. Holy feck what a book. Better than Crime and Punishment.
10/10
Thinking of starting The Master and Margarita by Bulgakov. Is it any good?
Only halfway through, but it's good: well-researched and very sad. It's part autopsy, part crime-scene investigation pieced/stitched together via both the author's retelling of personal accounts and his research into how these predatory ventures operate. (One particular highlight is a section of a chapter that explains how PE ventures - like the Glazers/Woodward - work.)How did you like that? Its on my list to read at some point
Which version of the translation did you read? I apologise if I asked this question before in this thread as I have done it numerous times to different people but I never found one where the English translation felt natural enough to read.Finished The Brothers Karamazov. Holy feck what a book. Better than Crime and Punishment.
10/10
Constance Garnett. I cannot compare with others as her's is only one I've read.Which version of the translation did you read? I apologise if I asked this question before in this thread as I have done it numerous times to different people but I never found one where the English translation felt natural enough to read.
I think it’s the best book I’ll ever read. I go back to The Grand Inquisitor section all the time, I interpret it a bit different each time and still don’t know quite what to make of it but it’s so hauntingly evocative.Finished The Brothers Karamazov. Holy feck what a book. Better than Crime and Punishment.
10/10
The Grand Inquisitor and the Father Zossima chapters alone are enough for me to consider it one of the best books ever written.I think it’s the best book I’ll ever read. I go back to The Grand Inquisitor section all the time, I interpret it a bit different each time and still don’t know quite what to make of it but it’s so hauntingly evocative.
I'm reading The Atrocity Exhibition atm. Bit of a hard read but I'll keep at it.High-rise - endlessly dark and pretty darn funny. A fairly on point satire of the professional classes. It's sort of viewed as prescient but I'm not so sure about that, as the structure he's describing hasn't really developed. I rewatched Ben Wheatley's adaptation recently, a stylish but empty film.
That sounds like one of his more challenging novels. I might have a go at Crash next.I'm reading The Atrocity Exhibition atm. Bit of a hard read but I'll keep at it.
Was that what Cronenberg's movie was based on?That sounds like one of his more challenging novels. I might have a go at Crash next.
Only book I’ve listened to in full was Bill Bryson’s Short History of Nearly Everything. I’d say it’s a perfect type of book for audio, but I’ve nothing to compare against.Anyone recommend any books that translate well to audiobooks? Have started to have one going on the side for my commuter (I commute by bike so I can't 'read'). Am currently listening to 11.22.63 which I'm enjoying a lot, however I can imagine some books don't translate so well to being read out to you, even some books that I've really enjoyed reading.
Have already read that, but thanks. I can see how it'd be good as an audiobook.Only book I’ve listened to in full was Bill Bryson’s Short History of Nearly Everything. I’d say it’s a perfect type of book for audio, but I’ve nothing to compare against.
Thanks, have already read Never Let Me Go, but will have a look out for Childhood's End.Audiobooks tend to work best when the book is plot/conversation driven. It's best to avoid anything with dense description.
I don't know if I'd recommend them but Never Let Me Go and Childhood's End worked really well.
On the flip side, I listened to The Pale King and Zero K and remember nearly nothing about them.