[cerveza_fiesta]

I guess just have too much of contemporary tastes. Catch 22 is one of those "american classics" type books.

I always like the idea of reading classics but rarely enjoy the act of doing so...except The Count of Monte Cristo. That book was fucking badass.

I also have a pretty vivid imagination so if the story isn't going a bit surreal in terms of SciFi-ness or Fantasy-ness, I'm not really interested.

[End of Disc One]

cerveza_fiesta, on 16 December 2010 - 05:59 PM, said:

I guess just have too much of contemporary tastes. Catch 22 is one of those "american classics" type books.

I always like the idea of reading classics but rarely enjoy the act of doing so...except The Count of Monte Cristo. That book was fucking badass.

I also have a pretty vivid imagination so if the story isn't going a bit surreal in terms of SciFi-ness or Fantasy-ness, I'm not really interested.

I haven't read Catch 22 but I agree. The Count of Monte Cristo is the only classic that comes to mind that I really enjoyed.

[MTS]

While The Count of Monte Cristo is undeniably awesome, there's a lot of classics that are just as enjoyable. 1984, Grapes of Wrath, Tale of Two Cities, Crime and Punishment, Brave New World, War of the Worlds, Heart of Darkness etc. etc.

[Nicodimas]

Just went through

The name of the wind
The way of kings
Shadow Prowler

[Use Of Weapons]

My Infinite Jest intermission book, Banks's Transition, is itself on hold, as last night I picked up SE's Crack'd Pot Trail, the only B&KB novella I haven't yet read. Halfway through, and it's my favourite of the four by far at this stage. Favourite line: "[...]He has an undying fan! I'd kill for that!"

[cerveza_fiesta]

MTS, on 17 December 2010 - 02:39 AM, said:

While The Count of Monte Cristo is undeniably awesome, there's a lot of classics that are just as enjoyable. 1984, Grapes of Wrath, Tale of Two Cities, Crime and Punishment, Brave New World, War of the Worlds, Heart of Darkness etc. etc.

I did actually read War of the Worlds and Tale of Two Cities.

Did not like War of the Worlds at all. The style just didn't jive for whatever reason.

Tale of Two Cities was the only one I really enjoyed from high school. Overall not too bad. I think we read it immediately after Pride and Prejudice though, so by comparison a book about turds would have been great literature.

Which goes back to the earlier point about reading a not-so-bad book after a horrible one. Makes the not-so-bad book into a real winner...even if it's about turds.

[QuickTidal]

cerveza_fiesta, on 17 December 2010 - 04:04 PM, said:

Tale of Two Cities was the only one I really enjoyed from high school. Overall not too bad. I think we read it immediately after Pride and Prejudice though, so by comparison a book about turds would have been great literature.

Which goes back to the earlier point about reading a not-so-bad book after a horrible one. Makes the not-so-bad book into a real winner...even if it's about turds.

My opinion here is thus: Pride & Prejudice works really well as a film or a TV series...but as a book it is dull as tombs. I always like the story, but the book puts me to sleep everytime I try to read it. The Keira Knightley film version is my fave though...gotta say...

Then you have something like A Tale Of Two Cities that as a book is awesome....and would probably (in the right directorial hands) make an excellent film.

I think you can actually say that of all Austen's work. Boring as shit on paper, but really quite good on screen.

[cerveza_fiesta]

It's always a question of whether the author's style really draws you in.

Pride and prejudice didnt, War of the Worlds sure as hell didn't

But other classics like Bronte's "wuthering heights" pulled me right in, even though I'd argue that book easily twice as dull as a book about turds. For some reason I loved that book (even though it's considered a girly book) and when I gave it to my wife to read she was like "what the fuck CF...this is the worst book I've read in forever"

Heathcliff is a badass literary character though. I stand by my affection for wuthering heights always.

[QuickTidal]

cerveza_fiesta, on 17 December 2010 - 07:34 PM, said:

and when I gave it to my wife to read she was like "what the fuck CF...this is the worst book I've read in forever"

Did she really call you CF? Cause that would be awesome online Handle crazyness.

LOL!

[McLovin]

I still remember Wuthering Heights vividly, though it's been 20 years since I read it. So hold your head high, CF!

Continuing my Montessori crash course with Montessori: A Modern Approach.

Reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeally want to get back to Infinite Jest.

[Ain't_It_Just_]

Just finished the Last Argument of Kings, thus completing the First Law trilogy. I loved the series, but the last book dragged a tad.

Spoiler

We killed Bethod, then had the Gurkish invasion, which suffered a bit from ending fatigue. And the whole thing about Bayaz having orchestrated practically everything that happened-Jezal's kingship, Valint and Balk, etc

was kind of a grind. But I loved the ending, especially Logen's part. Very fitting it was, too.

Going shopping for school books....so I expect to be reading Farewell to Arms next. Hope it's not too boring.

This post has been edited by Ain't_It_Just_: 18 December 2010 - 01:09 PM

[amphibian]

Ain, on 18 December 2010 - 03:30 AM, said:

Going shopping for school books....so I expect to be reading Farewell to Arms next. Hope it's not too boring.

It's a great, great book.

Keep in mind while you're writing this that Hemingway was one of the first big stars of writing in shorter sentences the way he did. I recall reading it and thinking that this was a pretty straightforwards book and that there wasn't a ton of really cool writing, but now that I know more about literature, I realize that he really did innovate and bring fresh stuff to the world.

So think of Hemingway as like the Rakim to today's modern hip-hop, is what I'm saying.

[Ain't_It_Just_]

amphibian, on 18 December 2010 - 06:08 AM, said:

Ain, on 18 December 2010 - 03:30 AM, said:

Going shopping for school books....so I expect to be reading Farewell to Arms next. Hope it's not too boring.

It's a great, great book.

Keep in mind while you're writing this that Hemingway was one of the first big stars of writing in shorter sentences the way he did. I recall reading it and thinking that this was a pretty straightforwards book and that there wasn't a ton of really cool writing, but now that I know more about literature, I realize that he really did innovate and bring fresh stuff to the world.

So think of Hemingway as like the Rakim to today's modern hip-hop, is what I'm saying.

True, I read a preview of it that our teacher gave us. He handles description very well.

[Yellow]

Fuck's sake, AIJ, you might want to spread those spoiler tags out a little more.

[Ain't_It_Just_]

Ah crap. Bit of an oversight there. Will correct it.

[Yellow]

Nice one

[QuickTidal]

Briar King, on 18 December 2010 - 07:11 PM, said:

Got Abyss last night from the store finally!

Coolio, it's a good one!

[Mentalist]

I AM HOME!!!!

thus, starting Stonewielder, all else is on hold.

[Bauchelain the Evil]

Finished The Aleph by Jorge Luis Borges. Beautiful book, all the stories really made you think

[QuickTidal]

Mentalist, on 19 December 2010 - 06:38 AM, said:

I AM HOME!!!!

thus, starting Stonewielder, all else is on hold.

Bastard! Mine hasn't come yet!! Arg!!

JK, enjoy it brother!