|
Post by spiritsurge on Jul 31, 2008 2:05:48 GMT -5
Just finished reading Kahlil Gibran's "The Prophet" (published 1923). According to Wikipedia, Gibran is the world's best selling poet after Shakespeare and Lao-Tzu. (note to self: must read more Lao-Tzu) "The Prophet" is actually credited for helping to spawn the newage movement in the West during the 60s and 70s, and on that basis, I recommend it (but only if you're into all that newage spirituality stuff). Although I think much of its content might come across as platitudinous and clichéd, I will admit that I was intrigued by a select number of passages and ideas. I particularly liked the book’s comments on love. For example:
"Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.
Love possesses not nor would it be possessed;
For love is sufficient unto love.
When you love you should not say, "God is in my heart," but rather, I am in the heart of God."
And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.
Love has no other desire but to fulfil itself.
But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:
To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.
To know the pain of too much tenderness.
To be wounded by your own understanding of love;
And to bleed willingly and joyfully.
To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;
To rest at the noon hour and meditate love's ecstasy;
To return home at eventide with gratitude;
And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips."
|
|
|
Post by Miyuki on Jul 31, 2008 5:11:07 GMT -5
Just finished: Lullabies For Little Criminals. ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!
Currently reading: Smart Women Finish Rich
Rereading: How To Talk To Anyone
|
|
|
Post by miaim on Jul 31, 2008 7:45:43 GMT -5
In his new book, CIA analyst, distinguished scholar, and best-selling author Chalmers Johnson argues that US military and economic overreach may actually lead to the nation’s collapse as a constitutional republic. It’s the last volume in his Blowback trilogy, following the best-selling “Blowback” and “The Sorrows of Empire.” In those two, Johnson argued American clandestine and military activity has led to un-intended, but direct disaster here in the United States.www.democracynow.org/2007/2/27/chalmers_johnson_nemesis_the_last_daysUncovering Showa History by Seicho Matsumoto... To be honest, starting to feel depressed about what seems the inevitable victory of fascism...which explains why I'm taking a break by posting here... peace
|
|
|
Post by spiritsurge on Jul 31, 2008 23:16:22 GMT -5
now reading: Jhumpa Lahiri's "The Namesake"
|
|
|
Post by attilathehun513 on Aug 4, 2008 21:21:50 GMT -5
Twight by Stephanie Meyer
|
|
|
Post by Altan on Aug 7, 2008 11:06:15 GMT -5
Japanese Death Poems Compiled and with Intro by Yoel Hoffman.
Excellent read.
|
|
|
Post by straylight on Aug 12, 2008 9:03:26 GMT -5
Argh? Dune is the most awesome sci-fi story ever written.
|
|
|
Post by honeyviper on Aug 12, 2008 15:42:01 GMT -5
Orlando by Virginia Woolf -- quite like it so far.
|
|
devinsky
New Member
Polish,mongol,metis,gaelic,african.
Posts: 43
|
Post by devinsky on Aug 12, 2008 21:24:05 GMT -5
i'm reading "killing the shaman", it's about a First nations family that was sent to jail for the spiritual murder of a woman that their community believed was possessed by an evil spirit!
|
|
|
Post by straylight on Aug 13, 2008 8:23:44 GMT -5
Hmm... Pretty normal sized book actually. Unless you're not used to reading novels.
I will agree though that it's tough to analyze. It covers a whole range of things. Complex subjects like religion and environmentalism. Good luck!
|
|
|
Post by spiritsurge on Oct 23, 2008 21:05:24 GMT -5
"The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali" ; trans. by Swami Vivekananda
|
|
|
Post by bluegum on Dec 19, 2008 19:49:29 GMT -5
I'm going to start Suite Française by Irene Nemirovsky tomorrow.
|
|
|
Post by davidbleo on Jan 10, 2009 20:00:05 GMT -5
The last books I've read:
Rules of Sociological Method, The Division of Labour in Society and Suicide all by Émile Durkheim. The Conquest of Bread by Peter Kropotkin. The German Ideology and The Part played by labour in the Transition from Ape to Man by Karl Marx.
The Inconvenient Dead by Paco Ignacio Taibo II and Subcomandante Insurgente Marcos. And Ernesto Guevara, also known as "Che" by Paco Ignacio Taibo II.
|
|
|
Post by Emily on Jan 12, 2009 17:37:18 GMT -5
My brother bought me "A Year in the Merde" to read while I'm being an anglo expat in France too. Difference is that I'm also francophone. It's a good book, not great, some funny parts, some not so funny. Worth finishing, but I don't think I'll read the sequels. Also reading Noir Canada by Alain Deneault et al. about Canadian mining companies in Africa and the blatant Human Rights violations attributed to them. It's a bit weak on the legal front side (the authors are academics, but not legally trained) and they're a bit sweeping in their statements, but the fact-finding is impressive and really hits home. I'm sad it's not a book not translated in English and thus only restricted to Quebec readers. And even then. Paul Desmarais and other mining bigshots are trying to censor the authors...
|
|
|
Post by dave on Jan 15, 2009 19:47:15 GMT -5
I'm liking haruki murakami's work atm [dunno if everyone knows this but www.scribd.com -- great for ebooks (for almost any title!)]
|
|