Rotghroth Rhapsody Feo Takahari Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 Just started "Night Watch" by Sergei Lukyanenko. The forces of capitalized Good and Evil come to an agreement--for every life Evil takes, Good gets to save one. Naturally, things get ugly fast, with a lot more moral complexity than you might expect. Read. It. NOW!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garrulous Glaahk Brock The Archmage Posted August 17, 2008 Share Posted August 17, 2008 Dang, I think I am going to read that! Andraste: unfortunately, in some cultures the nobles really did have that much incest. Yech. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Understated Ur-Drakon Sudanna Posted August 17, 2008 Share Posted August 17, 2008 Just finished Star Wars: A Dark Rendezvous. Nalyd really liked it, it really gave a lot more depth to Dooku, his fall to the Dark Side, his relation with Sidious and the Confederacy. Dooku really didn't get enough screen time in the movies. Oh, Brock, you stole Nalyd's avatar idea while he was away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magnificent Ornk Student of Trinity Posted August 17, 2008 Share Posted August 17, 2008 Hmmm, if Drew likes A Game of Thrones maybe I should consider it. Over a long spell at the cottage I've read: Red Seas Under Red Skies, the sequel to The Lies of Locke Lamora. The only apparent fault in this series is that volumes 3 through 7 are not yet written. This guy makes you realize how much filler most other writers get away with, because his books are pretty much pure story for every page. He's somebody who really absorbed the 'show, don't tell' axiom. Volume 2 in Bujold's current 'Sharing Knife' series, which although a bit of a departure for Bujold I am quite liking. Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman, which was great. I may even be motivated now to pick up Fragile Things. An important factor in how much I like a book these days seems to be my impression, however slight or subtle, of the character of the narrator or author's persona. And Gaiman's voice is very likeable. Spook Country by William Gibson, which I felt disappointed with right after reading, but which grew on me afterwards. The second volume in Glen Cook's 'Instrumentalities of Night' series, which was disappointingly rambling and disjointed. Seemed to have a lot of uninspired filler. Historians' Fallacies, by some guy whose name I forget, which was dry but quite interesting if you read a lot of history. And I skimmed through Bruce Catton's US Civil War trilogy one more time. Those books are just beautifully written, with a very clear and down-to-earth style, conversational except for having no wasted words, well able to support bursts of eloquence in appropriate places. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magnificent Ornk Kelandon Posted August 17, 2008 Share Posted August 17, 2008 Still working through the X-Books. Turns out that you can get trade paperbacks of most of the early parts of each X-series, and you can fill in the gaps with cheap used comics. I'm seeing them go at about $1-2 per comic on some sites, and that's for comics that are older than I am. Old-school Excalibur must've been the last gasp of Chris Claremont at his peak. I hear his more recent stint at Marvel did not meet with the same acclaim, but even through the end of the '80s, he was doing good work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garrulous Glaahk Brock The Archmage Posted August 18, 2008 Share Posted August 18, 2008 Originally Posted By: Yelbis Eceer Nalyd Just finished Star Wars: A Dark Rendezvous. Nalyd really liked it, it really gave a lot more depth to Dooku, his fall to the Dark Side, his relation with Sidious and the Confederacy. Dooku really didn't get enough screen time in the movies. Oh, Brock, you stole Nalyd's avatar idea while he was away. only for a second while I got the one I have now. Also, mine was from the digitally enhance recent movies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easygoing Eyebeast Sullust Posted August 18, 2008 Share Posted August 18, 2008 Originally Posted By: Yelbis Eceer Nalyd Just finished Star Wars: A Dark Rendezvous. Nalyd really liked it, it really gave a lot more depth to Dooku, his fall to the Dark Side, his relation with Sidious and the Confederacy. Dooku really didn't get enough screen time in the movies. Oh, Brock, you stole Nalyd's avatar idea while he was away. My favorite part is when Dooku realizes what would have happened if Yoda turned to the dark side of the force... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Understated Ur-Drakon Sudanna Posted August 18, 2008 Share Posted August 18, 2008 Yep, that was good. It's really too bad he didn't. http://www.rabittooth.com/1024x768StarWarsWallpapers2/DarthYoda1024.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easygoing Eyebeast keira Posted August 18, 2008 Share Posted August 18, 2008 I would suggest reading anything by L.E. Modesitt, Jr. Corean Chronicles - The first book takes a while to get good but it is worth it. Legacies - Gets good about 1/3 of the way through. You need to read it, though. Darknessess - The best by far. Scepters - This one was OK. Alector's Choice - Again: Read it. Cadmian's Choice - It was good. Not great, though. Soarer's Choice - Best out of the last three. The Saga of Recluce - Start with The Magic of Recluce. The Magic of Recluce - Good intro book. The Towers of the Sunset - Beginning a little weird but got good quick. Wellspring of Chaos - Worth the read. Ordermaster - Working on this one now. Really good. Build on Ordermaster Natural Ordermage - Haven't opened it yet but it looks great according to the back. Also The Eternity Artifact - Worth the read but not great. The Elysium Commision - Dead boring except for the end. Read if you like Politic-ey crap with a little action. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ineffable Wingbolt Arch-Mage Solberg Posted August 18, 2008 Share Posted August 18, 2008 I'm reading 'The Indian and the Cupboard'. I read it years ago that's why I'm reading it again now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Understated Ur-Drakon Sudanna Posted August 18, 2008 Share Posted August 18, 2008 Nalyd's been doing his best to read Glen Cook's novels, but the libraries are missing most of the Black Company books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rotghroth Rhapsody Feo Takahari Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 Originally Posted By: Arch-Mage Solberg I'm reading 'The Indian and the Cupboard'. I read it years ago that's why I'm reading it again now. Did you ever pick up the sequels? They get to be rather . . . interesting. (The explanation in book 4 of how the cupboard got its powers is just plain weird.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unflappable Drayk Xelgion Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 Uglies: Interesting Sci-fi. Prettys: Sequel to the above. Specials: Sequel to the above. Extras: Spin off of Specials. Peeps: Great Sci-fi that teaches you A LOT about parasites. The Last Days: Less informative sequel to peeps. All of these are by Scott Westerfield. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unflappable Drayk Xelgion Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 Sorry Double Posted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ineffable Wingbolt Arch-Mage Solberg Posted August 26, 2008 Share Posted August 26, 2008 I haven't heard about any sequels to the 'Indian in the Cupboard'!?! But then again...I'm not much of a book person either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easygoing Eyebeast Goldengirl Posted August 27, 2008 Share Posted August 27, 2008 Letters, words, sentences, paragraphs, pages, chapters, books. Specifically, the Twilight series. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rotghroth Rhapsody Feo Takahari Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 "Maus" by Art Spiegelman left me the most depressed I've been in my life. "Up the Down Staircase" by Bel Kaufman is occasionally depressing, but more often hilarious. (Student in an English class: "We study myths to learn what it was like to live in the golden age with all the killings.") Oh, and a collection of the world's "75 Best Short Stories" introduced me to 73 works I'd never read and 72 I'd never even heard of. About 10 were worth reading for someone like me who doesn't know how to interpret deep symbolism and hidden meaning. (Orson Scott Card said once that quite a few critics have based their careers on the idea that any book the general public can understand is meaningless drivel. I agree with him that those of us who are stupid should still be able to learn lessons from what we read, and would add that those of us who are stupid have the most need of the lessons in the first place.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Understated Ur-Drakon Callie Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 Kind of a random question: Does anyone besides me like John Steinbeck? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easygoing Eyebeast Goldengirl Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 Originally Posted By: Timshel Kind of a random question: Does anyone besides me like John Steinbeck? I do. He's not my favorite author, or anything, though. And I very rarely re-read books, so yeah. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magnificent Ornk Swimmin' Salmon Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 I find him to be tedious, but do admire the effort he devoted to chronicling a tremendously difficult subject. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchling Cockatrice Randomizer Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 I've read some of Steinbeck's works, but he isn't a favorite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magnificent Ornk Swimmin' Salmon Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 New pages differ by individual settings. It happens that your post was on the same page as mine, and Excalibur's, based on my preferences. Your mileage may vary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unflappable Drayk Toby-Linn Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 I love John Steinbeck, my favorite is "Of Mice and Men" followed by "East of Eden". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easygoing Eyebeast keira Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 Originally Posted By: Jumpin' Salmon New pages differ by individual settings. It happens that your post was on the same page as mine, and Excalibur's, based on my preferences. Your mileage may vary. Ditto that. You don't see very many new pages when it's set to '99' And I've never heard of the author. Will have to search wikipedia... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyshakk Koan Smoo Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 I'm reading Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb. I'm about 80 pages in. Seems nice. As for Steinbeck, I read the Pearl when I was in 8th or 9th grade or something. I liked the ending, but that's about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fledgling Fyora Smiley Face Of Rome Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 Yeah, the Pearl was okay. I liked the Giver a lot... Haven't read anything in a while though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Understated Ur-Drakon Tyranicus Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 Originally Posted By: w-dueck Originally Posted By: Jumpin' Salmon New pages differ by individual settings. It happens that your post was on the same page as mine, and Excalibur's, based on my preferences. Your mileage may vary. Ditto that. You don't see very many new pages when it's set to '99' And I've never heard of the author. Will have to search wikipedia... How in the world did you go to high school in the US without reading something by Steinbeck? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magnificent Ornk Swimmin' Salmon Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 The Idaho/Montana region of Canada. That's how. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easygoing Eyebeast keira Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 Originally Posted By: Tyranicus Originally Posted By: w-dueck Originally Posted By: Jumpin' Salmon New pages differ by individual settings. It happens that your post was on the same page as mine, and Excalibur's, based on my preferences. Your mileage may vary. Ditto that. You don't see very many new pages when it's set to '99' And I've never heard of the author. Will have to search wikipedia... How in the world did you go to high school in the US without reading something by Steinbeck? I just started my freshman year, so there is hope yet. I am sure I will end up reading some of his works. Originally Posted By: Jumpin' Salmon The Idaho/Montana region of Canada. That's how. Idaho and Montana are not in Canadia. Close, but we are still Americans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magnificent Ornk Swimmin' Salmon Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 Typical. "Americans" includes all that live on the continent, which includes Canadians. Admittedly there is no convenient shorthand for "citizen of the United States of America" that isn't misleading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchling Cockatrice Randomizer Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 Originally Posted By: w-dueck Idaho and Montana are not in Canada. Close, but we are still Americans. Close enough and we wouldn't miss them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unflappable Drayk Evnissyen Posted August 29, 2008 Share Posted August 29, 2008 Not much of a Steinbeck fan, myself. Oddly, I seem to be going through a non-fiction phase at the moment. I'm reading The Ghost of Freedom: a history of the Caucasus by Charles King (published this year), and I'm picking my way through several books about Queen Kristina of Sweden. You know... the one who inadvertently killed René Descartes. EDIT: Personally, I think John Steinbeck is just one of those moldy guys who needs to be removed from the Literary Canon, and replaced with... oh... say Ben Marcus, or Gary Lutz, or Donald Barthelme, or Mark Z Danielewski... or Andrei Bely for chrissake. Andrei Bely was probably literally a genius. (Hard to tell in a translation.) How come he gets ignored and schoolkids still have to be stultified with John Steinbeck and Thomas Hardy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magnificent Ornk nikki. Posted August 29, 2008 Share Posted August 29, 2008 I like Hardy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchling Cockatrice Alorael at Large Posted August 29, 2008 Author Share Posted August 29, 2008 Not liking a writer and not thinking they belong in the English canon are two different things. I don't love Steinbeck, but he's definitely a great writer. Andrei Bely is great, but he's really not English canon, what with not actually writing in English and all. —Alorael, who will also remind you that some books are read not because they are good but rather because they are important. If all good books were required English reading (for the literati, at least) no one would have time for anything else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rotghroth Rhapsody Feo Takahari Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 Originally Posted By: Desdén del Dramaturgo Not liking a writer and not thinking they belong in the English canon are two different things. I don't love Steinbeck, but he's definitely a great writer. Andrei Bely is great, but he's really not English canon, what with not actually writing in English and all. There are two reasons I don't quite understand what you're saying. First, how can a writer be great if their writing is a chore to read? (Surely you're not saying that they're great because of their moral lessons? Speaking personally, I have never read a moralistic book whose morals, if followed, wouldn't worsen the lives of both myself and those around me.) And second, what relation does the fact that an author isn't part of the "English canon" have to whether or not a particularly good translation of their work is worth teaching in schools? P.S. As for what I've read recently: "Sharp Teeth" by Toby Barlow. I can think of no other book remotely like it, so I can't recommend for or against it to any particular audience (it's bound to be polarizing), but I can recommend that any dedicated reader at least take a look at it and see if they like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchling Cockatrice Alorael at Large Posted August 30, 2008 Author Share Posted August 30, 2008 If no one likes a writer, it's not a great writer. If you don't, it's a matter of taste. —Alorael, who also doesn't think whether a book is part of English canon, whether a book is good, and whether a book should be taught in schools are at all the same thing. It's nice when one book fits more than one set of criteria, but not all do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magnificent Ornk Student of Trinity Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 Imagine that the world is ignoring a horrible problem, because there is no easy way to deal with it, but one book brings the problem so forcefully to light that the world can't ignore it any more. That would be a great book, but it might well be quite unpleasant to read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Understated Ur-Drakon Sudanna Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 Reading Ender's Game, currently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magnificent Ornk Student of Trinity Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 Originally Posted By: w-dueck Idaho and Montana are not in Canadia. At least somebody knows his Americian geography. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magnificent Ornk Swimmin' Salmon Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 They are like that table lamp which never quite sells at the yardia sale, despite the price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unflappable Drayk Evnissyen Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 Alorael: Then why is Franz Kafka in the English canon? Why is Fyodor Dostoevsky in the canon? It's fully proper that the canon should embrace world literature, not just English-language literature. If the canon can only afford a certain number of writers, then it needs to be constantly updated. Which means taking some writers out and replacing them with new ones. I say: Get rid of Thomas Hardy and O'Henry, and replace them with Donald Barthelme and Andrei Bely. Actually, SoT's point, which is a good one, emphasizes why Andrei Bely's masterpiece Petersburg is an "important" book which illuminates a critical moment in Russian history. Honestly... I think that every High School student should read David McDuff's translation of Petersburg. Not only for the socio-historical perspective, but also for the artistic possibilities he opens up within that novel. If gradeschool students are not interested in literature, then it's because they're not being exposed to enough literary styles. Like music, I think that literature possesses enough variation to interest most people. I think that most of America's youth is not being exposed to enough variation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Understated Ur-Drakon Callie Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 Originally Posted By: Evnissyen EDIT: Personally, I think John Steinbeck is just one of those moldy guys who needs to be removed from the Literary Canon, and replaced with... oh... say Ben Marcus, or Gary Lutz, or Donald Barthelme, or Mark Z Danielewski... or Andrei Bely for chrissake. Having never heard of any of those, I've decided to find a copy of Petersburg. Hopefully the county library has it, because there isn't a bigger library for 150 miles. -I've been reading a lot of long articles on the internet recently. To be more precise, ones about serial killers. That's not being morose or sadistic, just a recent interest I've had in psychology. Ted Bundy is particularly fascinating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchling Cockatrice Alorael at Large Posted August 30, 2008 Author Share Posted August 30, 2008 There's obviously no agreed-upon list of great and important works of English literature, but I wouldn't put either Dostoevsky or Kafka on it. They're not English writers. They're certainly both great and important, but not English. I'd certainly recommend reading them and teaching them in school, though. —Alorael, who doesn't think the list can be limited, and he questions why you think Hardy and O. Henry should be excised. It's fine not to like them, but it's going a little far to suddenly decide that their writing and their contributions to English literature no longer qualify them for recognition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magnificent Ornk Swimmin' Salmon Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 Most public libraries are networked so that they can borrow books from each other. If you do not find a specific volume in your local library, you should request from the librarian that they search throughout Nevada and ship it to you. If it interests you, you might include a short review for publication in your school paper as well as for reference to the librarian. Short budgets make for difficult choices, but the librarian does have some say in how their meat gets spent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unflappable Drayk Evnissyen Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 Ex: If you're going to pick up Petersburg, pick up David McDuff's translation (greenish cover, Penguin Books). This is also the most recent translation. If you can't find the McDuff translation then do not read the book. I'm serious. Translation is a tough thing... but when you totally eviscerate a genius' work... well.. I'll just say that I don't find evisceration to be an admirable practice. The more popular translation (red cover, I don't remember who the translator is) might be half the read, but by shortening the book, an awful lot of good material was removed, as well as much of the humor. I'd suggest checking out Donald Barthelme, too... you might like his stuff. Look for Sixty Stories, it's a pretty decent collection. Also... oh, hell, this really is getting to be a habit... but Salmon is right again, here. There are ways to influence how the head librarians spend their budgets (and it's often through other librarians). The better librarians are open to ideas... especially from people who frequent the library. As for inter-library-loans (ILL): Check the library website and it should have a link... if your state has an ILL service then exploit it to death. Librarians don't dislike the "extra work" at all... in fact it's helpful to them because if they can show the state higher figures for its usage then that gives them a stronger hand in asking for a budget increase. I'm sure school libraries can be influenced, too, to help you find certain books even when they're not "available". In fact: A lot of libraries have storage facilities. None of the books in these storage facilities are accessible to the public. But they are released from time to time on request. If you know that a book is in storage you can also email a request to the librarian in charge. Alorael: I'm in no way trying to say that everyone should like or dislike whom I like or dislike, I'm just saying that if people are going to decide which writers should be taught and which writers shouldn't (which they've been doing, obviously, for a long time... nobody knows who these people are! but they're out there someplace)... then they should keep up with the times and the new ideas. The canon necessitates its own borders, and great books and great writers are being overlooked, and students are growing up hating literature. Of course, you can certainly argue getting rid of the canon. The Internet might some day free us of any need for a scholastic literary canon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magnificent Ornk Swimmin' Salmon Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 You could try disagreeing just for the sake of being contrary... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unflappable Drayk Evnissyen Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 All in due time. I'm sure you'll come out with something outrageous, eventually. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magnificent Ornk Swimmin' Salmon Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 Actually, that is due in just over 6 months. Like you say, all in due time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unflappable Drayk Evnissyen Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 I didn't realize you were on a schedule. Well, I'll wait. Then again, I've got plenty of opinions, myself, that people aren't too happy with... so maybe we'll end up disagreeing sooner. On subject of the Literary Canon, I've just been thinking... perhaps I can find some sort of 'unofficial' general list that describes said canon? I suppose it's true that there really isn't any sort of agreement on what books really compose "The Canon", and to what extent that canon is divided in regard to domestic, English-language and world literature... although anybody can point out at least a few which 'belong' to it. If I find anything I'll get back to you all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchling Cockatrice Randomizer Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 Try list of Great Books for a starting point of a canon. It's not exactly what I was looking for, but there have been attempts to create a list of great books that everyone should read to have an understand of the past. The University of Chicago started a program with selected books and stories that were to be taught at each grade level starting at kindergarden level going through high school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.