Has anybody read the Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde?
Books The BOOK thread
- Thread starter Livvie
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Yeah, it's an entertaining story, omar. Wilde was a genuine scholar, but was at his best when being humorous (as this tale is).
Man, i have to read it and write a critical appreciation, comment on the ending, and character sketch on the 2 characters.
I've never read novels, long or short. Wish me luck.
I've never read novels, long or short. Wish me luck.
Up to you, omar, but if you're looking for a different angle on ordinary criticism, you could mention the following:
* The character Hiram Otis may be a reference to either Harrison Otis (publisher) or the name 'Hiram', which is the name of arguably the central character (Hiram Abiff) in Masonic ritual (Wilde was elevated to Master Mason degree while at Magdalen College, Oxford).
* This line from the story: 'I am also informed by Mrs Otis, who, I may say, is no mean authority upon Art – having had the privilege of spending several winters in Boston when she was a girl' surely refers to Wilde's generally positive experiences with the cultural society of Boston while he toured America in 1882.
* The character Hiram Otis may be a reference to either Harrison Otis (publisher) or the name 'Hiram', which is the name of arguably the central character (Hiram Abiff) in Masonic ritual (Wilde was elevated to Master Mason degree while at Magdalen College, Oxford).
* This line from the story: 'I am also informed by Mrs Otis, who, I may say, is no mean authority upon Art – having had the privilege of spending several winters in Boston when she was a girl' surely refers to Wilde's generally positive experiences with the cultural society of Boston while he toured America in 1882.
Is it funny or serious? I'd reckon serious, but as long as its good I don't mind.
I'll maybe try some Pratchett for holiday. Any suggestions where to start? I've got a few of his books. (about 20!)
Cheers to you both
It's totally grim, mate. A brilliant novel, but the writing style is an acquired taste. Probably best to avoid this one if you want a light-ish holiday read.
I've read The Road and I started reading something about horses but I stopped after a while.
I read East of Eden and thought it was really good even though it's not my usual kind of book (different author I know).
You read any Pratchett books?
I read East of Eden and thought it was really good even though it's not my usual kind of book (different author I know).
You read any Pratchett books?
^ it was the first book in the border trilogy.
Good book as was "The Blind Watchmaker". His magnum opus "The Ancestor's Tale" is magnificent. It's a weighty tome, but it's wonderful. It's a walk down the evolutionary tree stopping for an evolution themed story at each common ancestor. Brilliant. He's a great biologist when he stays on message.
Great reads.
It's bloody. After reading some histories of the Comanche wars though, I can assure you it's not gratuitous. Brutal times.
Happy days. Cheers for the suggestions.
Good ones to start off with for Pratchett are Mort, Reaper Man and Soul Music for introducing you to Death. For others after those Guards! Guards!, Men at Arms and Feet of Clay to introduce you to Vimes plus the others of the Night Watch. Death and Vimes are probably the most favourite characters for most Pratchett fans.
Read the very first one, then head towards Mort and the death classics.
The first one - of which the name somehow escapes me - is brilliant.
The first one - of which the name somehow escapes me - is brilliant.
I'll google what the first one is. I was put off reading them because there are so many and I didn't know where to start.
Colour of Magic was the first Discworld book but it wasn't one i would read first if it was me, it is a good start to the Discworld but just doesn't quite flow as well as the following books did.
So it's not like you'll miss out on a whole lot if you give it a miss? Don't want to not read it if it's vital that you read them all in order.
just pre-ordered the new Ian Rankin book.....Rebus is back!!
probably my favourite series of books,i cant wait for it to come out.
probably my favourite series of books,i cant wait for it to come out.
No you will be safe leaving Colour of Magic until later if you want to as it only really introduces Rincewind and Luggage but in the later books with Rincewind in the character develops into a more polished character from the first appearance in this book. It was a bit of a standalone book as it didn't really tie into further books with a storyline that carried on to following books. The ones i picked earlier are the first ones in the Death and Vimes storylines and they do follow on from one another through the later books.
There are also the Witches series of books which again you are best to follow from the start to see how the characters grow along the way. These start with Equal Rights, Wyrd Sisters then Witches Abroad.
With you having a large number of the books already you can at least read the books back to back in the series, if you have them, to the conclusion or to the last book with that character until he writes more. As he tends to flit about between the characters in each book he writes in the Discworld series to fit in with his way of writing so coming in late to the books works out well to follow one character from book to book.
There are also the Witches series of books which again you are best to follow from the start to see how the characters grow along the way. These start with Equal Rights, Wyrd Sisters then Witches Abroad.
With you having a large number of the books already you can at least read the books back to back in the series, if you have them, to the conclusion or to the last book with that character until he writes more. As he tends to flit about between the characters in each book he writes in the Discworld series to fit in with his way of writing so coming in late to the books works out well to follow one character from book to book.
Thanks very much for all that.
I've got all the books mentioned, have 37 in total. Will start with Mort, once I finish the hobbit.
I've got all the books mentioned, have 37 in total. Will start with Mort, once I finish the hobbit.
Great news...news which had totally passed me by. Thanks for the heads up
I despair, this is the Top 10 Best Books Ever as voted by Goodreads members http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1.Best_Books_Ever
1 Twilight (Twilight, #1)
by Stephenie Meyer
2 The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1)
by Suzanne Collins
3 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter, #5)
by J.K. Rowling
4 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter, #4)
by J.K. Rowling
5 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter, #3)
by J.K. Rowling
6 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter, #6)
by J.K. Rowling
7 Eclipse (Twilight, #3)
by Stephenie Meyer
8 Gone With the Wind
by Margaret Mitchell
9 Breaking Dawn (Twilight, #4)
by Stephenie Meyer
10 The Giving Tree
by Shel Silverstein
1 Twilight (Twilight, #1)
by Stephenie Meyer
2 The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1)
by Suzanne Collins
3 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter, #5)
by J.K. Rowling
4 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter, #4)
by J.K. Rowling
5 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter, #3)
by J.K. Rowling
6 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter, #6)
by J.K. Rowling
7 Eclipse (Twilight, #3)
by Stephenie Meyer
8 Gone With the Wind
by Margaret Mitchell
9 Breaking Dawn (Twilight, #4)
by Stephenie Meyer
10 The Giving Tree
by Shel Silverstein
11 I'm Going to Kill Myself
by SteveJ
by SteveJ
"Guards, Guards" was my clear favorite.
“They may be called the Palace Guard, the City Guard, or the Patrol. Whatever the name, their purpose in any work of heroic fantasy is identical: it is, round about Chapter Three (or ten minutes into the film) to rush into the room, attack the hero one at a time, and be slaughtered. No one ever asks them if they want to.
This book is dedicated to those fine men.”
anyone else been reading the Jon Spicer series by chris simms, i've really enjoyed them.
A pathetic list. I'll continue my line of thought that the majority of the public are incredibly stupid.
Welllllllllllll, as long as it gets young people interested in reading.
Y'know, in my local supermarket, they have baskets - full to the brim - of Fifty Shades books...as if they were bunches of bananas or Mars bars.
Y'know, in my local supermarket, they have baskets - full to the brim - of Fifty Shades books...as if they were bunches of bananas or Mars bars.
“Lessee...he'd gone off after the funeral and gotten drunk. No, not drunk, another word, ended with "er." Drunker. that was it.”
― Terry Pratchett, Guards! Guards!
“You had to hand it to the Patrician, he admitted grudgingly. If you didn't, he sent men to come and take it away.”
― Terry Pratchett, Guards! Guards!
― Terry Pratchett, Guards! Guards!
“You had to hand it to the Patrician, he admitted grudgingly. If you didn't, he sent men to come and take it away.”
― Terry Pratchett, Guards! Guards!
Welllllll you can argue that one might do the job as well as the otherWelllllllllllll, as long as it gets young people interested in reading.
Y'know, in my local supermarket, they have baskets - full to the brim - of Fifty Shades books...as if they were bunches of bananas or Mars bars.
But the Twilight books are also in the Top 10 Worst Books of All Time.
I think it tells more about the members of Goodreads, an important part are American and read Children and Young Adult fiction.
I finished reading Gary Neville's autobiography. What surprised me the most is that the reader has to already know many things.
I'm reading a biography of Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII's chief minister. In my favourite Hist. Fic. novel (Wolf Hall) Cromwell was presented as a thoroughly modern, compassionate man; turns out he was actually what we literary types call 'a git'. Damn.
You should look for a critics list. I think I found one list of critics top 100 and another of the website users a while back and L. Ron Hubbard's books were all top ten on the website users list!
Some of the examples he used in the book are brilliant and really catch the imagination but I just found myself phasing out the odd time. Still really explains things to a layman like me with his wording and examples.
Phasing out is understandable given it's a big bastard of a book. I know I did as well. I'm looking forward to reading it again soon though I hope. Hopefully to get more of it to stick this time.
That's a whole issue unto itself. I've read a roomful of books, mostly non-fiction, but who can tell how much of it stays with you. After I'm done with one, I reckon most of it's already floated away, but then in a conversation a year later I'm plucking related fachts out of nowhere. I wish I could quantify it better. I've just read a Chemistry textbook, and have sworn I will come back to it in a year and take the exercises again, just to see if I've managed to stow any of it away.
That's a whole issue unto itself. I've read a roomful of books, mostly non-fiction, but who can tell how much of it stays with you. After I'm done with one, I reckon most of it's already floated away, but then in a conversation a year later I'm plucking related fachts out of nowhere. I wish I could quantify it better. I've just read a Chemistry textbook, and have sworn I will come back to it in a year and take the exercises again, just to see if I've managed to stow any of it away.
Read Cormac McCarthy's The Road last night, brilliant book in my opinion, repetitive at times and so so bleak but very enjoyable.
Forgot to say, I finished American Tabloid and absolutely loved it. Have you read the other 2 books in the series? I've read mixed reviews and a lot said that they don't really live up to American Tabloid.No problem, mate. Great to read that you're enjoying it.
I think Tabloid's unsurpassable, mate. I was so interested in the three main characters that I didn't find the sequels to be quite as gripping. Still very much worth a read though.
Do Ward Littell and Pete Bondurant return for the second book at least?
I love it when I don't see twists coming, but even with Littell's rise from the ashes coinciding with Kemper Boyd's fall from grace, I still didn't see Littell killing him. Brilliant bit. Kemper was a great character, but for me that added so much to the ending.
I love it when I don't see twists coming, but even with Littell's rise from the ashes coinciding with Kemper Boyd's fall from grace, I still didn't see Littell killing him. Brilliant bit. Kemper was a great character, but for me that added so much to the ending.