Home >> Poetry & Literature >> What book are you reading?
03.11.2007, 17:49 quote
Am interested to discuss books with peeps here.
What books are you reading at the moment?
Are you enjoying it? Why did you decide to read it?
Have you just finished one? Was it good? Would you recommend it?
I've just finished for the umpteenth time "African Wisdom" by Owen Burnham and Aliyou Diatta. Beautifully written and very interesting.
I also just finished The Portrait of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde. I've read other stuff but never this one and I never knew the end before now, it really stirred some passionate feelings (of hate!) for Dorian!!
I have now gone back to Animals In Transition by Temple Grandin, I started it months ago but although it's interesting its also hard work and needs concentration, so I've started from the beginning again.
03.11.2007, 18:59 quote
| RocketGirl wrote: |
|
I also just finished The Portrait of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde. I've read other stuff but never this one and I never knew the end before now, it really stirred some passionate feelings (of hate!) for Dorian!! |
Ahhh... not read that for ages! I'll have to dig it out and give it another going over.
tim (le Carre fan)
03.11.2007, 19:18 quote
Unfortunately I`ll be reading nothing but dry legal texts for the foreseeable future!
However, the last novel I started was Midnight`s Children by Salman Rushdie, but I found his style curiously annoying and didn`t get beyond a couple of chapters.
The last book I finished was Point Counter Point by Aldous Huxley, one of my favourite writers. Social satire, science fiction, druggy autobiography...you name it, he`s written about it beautifully.
03.11.2007, 22:26 quote
| pyrrho wrote: |
|
The last book I finished was Point Counter Point by Aldous Huxley, one of my favourite writers. Social satire, science fiction, druggy autobiography...you name it, he`s written about it beautifully. |
Have to love Huxley. I've read Brave New World several times over the years and see new parallels to our modern world every time I do!
tim
03.11.2007, 22:32 quote
I read Antic Hay years ago but can't for life of me remember a single thing about it! But yeah i agree I love brave new world. Got my son to read it when he was about 10 and he thought it was great too!!
| TimboDSLR wrote: | ||
Have to love Huxley. I've read Brave New World several times over the years and see new parallels to our modern world every time I do! tim |
03.11.2007, 22:35 quote
I find it quite sad that these days youngsters arent interested in the 'classics'. and they are trying to remove them from schools, i mean my son did his o'levels about 4 yrs ago and the twaddle he brought home for his English Lit was just awful, (although he *did* do MacBeth) I'm not a fan of modern stuff i'm afraid.
04.11.2007, 07:18 quote
| RocketGirl wrote: |
| I find it quite sad that these days youngsters arent interested in the 'classics'. |
Or are we just getting old?
When I was a brat (back in the 70's) I remember my own parents being very disapproving that we were reading such modern rubbish as 'Lord of the Flies' and 'The Chrysalids' at school, instead of Dickens and Shakespeare.
They say it's our destiny to become our parents......
tim
04.11.2007, 11:52 quote
I'm just starting '1984', by George Orwell. I had it for my birthday in September, and haven't been able to find the time to sit down with it since. 
04.11.2007, 12:24 quote
| Baggiebhoy wrote: |
| I'm just starting '1984', by George Orwell. I had it for my birthday in September, and haven't been able to find the time to sit down with it since. |
Another great book. 1984 and Brave New World are arguably the two finest dystopian sci-fi novels ever. Read them both if you find the time!
As for RocketGirl`s comments, I often wonder what makes an author or book `classic` in the first place. For instance, do Sir Walter Scott`s potboilers have any greater merit than Dan Brown`s latest bestseller, or has the passage of time simply inflated his critical reputation? And is Jane Austen really anything more than chick-lit with petticoats?
04.11.2007, 13:42 quote
For me, classics means 'have stood the test of time'.
Do you think there will ever be another shakespeare, or dickens? I think not, simply because Hollywood Blockbusters are taking over the written word.
I've seen countless profiles on here that state "I don't read books" but not a single one have I seen that said "I don't watch films" - even the ones who say they don't watch tv (like I dont have a tv) have listed their favorite films.
If I were sat in a crowded doctor's surgery and said "What do you all think of MacBeth?" - I bet the older generation would say Great/rubbish/boring/and would be able quote a line or two.....and I bet the younger generation would say Loved the film/boring film.....
04.11.2007, 14:52 quote
| pyrrho wrote: |
|
Another great book. 1984 and Brave New World are arguably the two finest dystopian sci-fi novels ever. Read them both if you find the time! |
You could probably add Ray Bradbury's 'Fahrenhite 451' to that pair. Written in the 50's, it's based on the decline in literacy and the rise of the soap-opera culture that we all know and eschew!
It's a very far-sighted and prophetic book. I think it's a classic - what say you RocketGirl?
tim
04.11.2007, 15:04 quote
| TimboDSLR wrote: | ||
You could probably add Ray Bradbury's 'Fahrenhite 451' to that pair. Written in the 50's, it's based on the decline in literacy and the rise of the soap-opera culture that we all know and eschew! It's a very far-sighted and prophetic book. I think it's a classic - what say you RocketGirl? tim |
I'm afraid I've never read it, but from what you say I think it *ought* to be a classic, something like that would perhaps go down a storm and be rather useful for today's GCSEs in literature and media studies?
I must try find it in the bookshops/library, it sounds very interesting!
04.11.2007, 15:08 quote
[ And is Jane Austen really anything more than chick-lit with petticoats?[/quote]
Nope, in my opinion that's exactly what it is! (living in her hometown, am I allowed to be so rude?!). Never liked Jane Austin, too girlie for me, give me Moby Dick instead any day.
04.11.2007, 19:03 quote
[/quote]give me Moby Dick instead any day.[/quote]
The Simpsons - Homer is preparing to shoot a grizzly bear that scared him earlier:
Lisa (pleading) "Dad, it`s impossible to take revenge on an animal. That`s the whole point of Moby Dick!"
Homer (patronising) "Lisa honey, the point of Moby Dick is `Be Yourself`"
Well it made me laugh...
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