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Post by muzo on Mar 25, 2006 14:15:25 GMT -5
hey amir, (or anyone else for that matter), have you read steppenwolf by herman hesse also? I found the novel heavy going, and i dunno if i missed the point of the whole book but couldn't always relate to they guy, even though it's supposed to be considered a classic? Maybe I'm too young to get it. It's put me off reading any of his other books really! i havent read 'steppenwolf'.. i only read siddharta and narcissus and goldmund, i dunno about steppenwolf, but the other two are really worth reading. very special books imo. As one who was somewhat influenced by Hesse's writings back when they were shaping my generation, I can only say understanding such matters can be a lifelong endeavor. Take the trip; it should be interesting. yes definitly
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Post by lauraroslin on Mar 25, 2006 18:36:45 GMT -5
Have you read any good books recently? Offer up your favorites. Any Topic/Genre Summary Comments/ reactions No spoilers please Here is my contribution: American Son by Brian Ascalon Roley (2001) The book is about two brothers who were born in the Philippines and grew up in California. Their mother is Filipina and their father is a white military officer. Their parents separate and their mother brings them to the United States for a better life. Tomas is the older brother who emulates a Mexican gang member raising vicious guard dogs to sell to wealthy people. Gabe is the "good" son who stays at home and helps his mom with chores but deep down he is ashamed of his mother. American Son is a very dark book that gives us a glimpse of the unpleasant side of the mixed race experience. The book deals with the American dream, assimilation, self-hatred, poverty, racism, stereotypes... etc. I found it very interesting. I have to get my brother to read it! He went through a phase where he pretended to be Mexican. It's also a fast paced, quick read. You won’t get bored. The author is Filipino/Caucasian. You've caught my interest. I think I will order this from Amazon. I know a few pretend Mexicans who are really half filipino/white kids I might send this book to. One of my old high school classmates who was half filipino/white was always trying to pass himself off as Hispanic. Ending up being shot by Hispanic gang members. Too bad this book wasn't around. Thanks for the info again.
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Post by rob on Mar 25, 2006 23:06:00 GMT -5
In topsy turvy land, there are literally millions of movies to be had. Most are downright effluent so only the more praiseworthy ones make it into books (making the original filmmaker handsome sums). And so having enjoyed the book in its delicious entirety the residents of topsy turvy land, perhaps in a vain bid for kinship, would commonly enquire "so, have you seen the movie?"
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Post by jenming on Mar 27, 2006 22:15:06 GMT -5
Speaking of mythology, I liked the book "The Power of Myth" by Joseph Campbell. I also bought the PBS CD set. Very interesting stuff. joseph campbell has quite a bit of material out there, and a lot of it, though it focuses on religion, says quite a few interesting things about the differences between eastern and western culture and the historical/anthropological reasons for those differences.
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Post by penguinopolipitese on Mar 29, 2006 1:15:23 GMT -5
just read richard matheson's "I am Legend". Very interesting book which "28 days later" was probably based on. The basic premise is the last man on earth battles vampires. But it is so much more than that. It's a very reflective book. But then this is from the guy who gave us 'what dreams may come' and 'a stir of echoes'...
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Post by davidbleo on Sept 10, 2006 12:58:08 GMT -5
I would recommend anything by Dostoievski... I'll start with Crime and Punishment... one of the best books I've read. I'm starting The Idiot... also pretty good so far.
Der Prozess by Franz Kafka... and many of his short stories...
Cantar de Mio Cid... the oldest "chanson de geste" in spanish language.
El ingenioso hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra... 400 years later and still fun to read... a graet satyr of all times
Khalil Gibran... "The Voice of the Master" and "The Prophet" great poet with good humor...
Georges Ivanovich Gurdjieff: "Beelzebub's Tales to His Grandson"
The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco
the list can go on and on......
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Post by thezealouscookie on Sept 10, 2006 21:13:16 GMT -5
Three pigs, brothers all, yet possessed of separate tempers. Sponges squeezed dry, of a soaked mothers countenance. Fated to the perilous mood of each cloths best service. But the wolf comes westward, made his course in warlike form.
Three dishes, but to one table. Huff, puff… Huff, puff First mouthed to be last swallowed. The Three Little Pigs
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Post by etudes on Sept 10, 2006 23:04:37 GMT -5
About a Boy by NIck Hornby.
You'd be thinking, "I don't need to f***ing read. I"ll just rent out the dvd," but the book and the movie is different (obviously), and the book has more stuff happening. It's a quick read and you won't get bored. I finished it in like 4 days i think; fast
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Post by Vestirse on Sept 10, 2006 23:13:36 GMT -5
I am not sure if any of you are into Science Fiction, but I highly recommend "Ender's Game" by Orson Scott Card. I felt this book had a great plot, and suprisingly deep characters. A summary from the New York Times: Intense is the word for Ender's Game. Aliens have attacked Earth twice and almost destroyed the human species. To make sure humans win the next encounter, the world government has taken to breeding military geniuses -- and then training them in the arts of war... The early training, not surprisingly, takes the form of 'games'... Ender Wiggin is a genius among geniuses; he wins all the games... He is smart enough to know that time is running out. But is he smart enough to save the planet? www.amazon.com/Ender-Game-Book-Orson-Scott/dp/0812550706/sr=8-1/qid=1157947865/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-5723383-0054545?ie=UTF8&s=books
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Post by spiritsurge on Oct 23, 2008 22:47:22 GMT -5
So anyone here ever read "Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert? I read it earlier this year, and I absolutely loved it! The book is basically Gilbert's memoirs of her journeys through Italy, India, and Indonesia, in her attempt to regain some balance in her life after a traumatic divorce, breakup, and depression. I don't know if you could consider it a 'literary masterpiece' or anything, but nonetheless, I found it was filled to the brim with so many quirky yet meaningful insights on topics such as love, the divine, and emotional wellness. I'm sure the book will remain a personal favourite of mine for years to come. So yes, if you dig love, eastern spirituality, and happiness, you must check it out! And despite the fact that I've heard many categorize "Eat, Pray, Love" as a "chick"-book, I think the insights and perspectives that Gilbert shares know no such boundaries..
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Post by helles on Oct 24, 2008 20:32:17 GMT -5
^ I just finished reading 'Eat' part of "Eat, Pray Love"... its takin me a while to get through it..
I actually havea bout 4 books on the go at the minute, which probably isnt helping my reading speed!
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Post by bluegum on Oct 30, 2008 0:40:13 GMT -5
Keeping this thread alive- I highly recommend Patrick Süskind's Perfume: The Story of a Murderer. It's beautifully written and the novel itself, as a whole, is dark, disturbing, and yet utterly fascinating.
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Post by ConceptDesign on Oct 31, 2008 7:41:11 GMT -5
Wicked
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Post by Miyuki on Nov 1, 2008 4:49:03 GMT -5
Currently reading: Beside A Burning Sea, and totally not liking it. It reads like a romance novel. Super cheesy so far.
Sort of recently, I've read the following:
Water For Elephants- A bit of a bummer, but overall a good book. A bit of a creepy vibe, dealing with circus people, aka freaks.
Lullabies For Little Criminals - Loved this book. Totally. Brought me back to my 11 year old mind. I miss looking at the world that way.
A Thousand Splendid Suns - A bit of a bummer as well, but really REALLY good/easy read.
The Kite Runner - Probably my favourite out of these four. Tugged at all my heartstrings.
Sorry for being so vague, but I don't want to spoil.
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Post by 2bob on Nov 3, 2008 0:51:09 GMT -5
lol uhhh harry potter. its good read it
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