Reading any good books? - Page 15

sun-star · 06-01-2005, 05:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mercutio

Tess of the D'Urbevilles (for English class...we have three days to finish the entire book).

Do you like it? I'm a big Hardy fan but it's never been my favourite book of his. I've started re-reading The Mayor of Casterbridge, which I prefer, though it's still just as depressing

Quote:

Trivia question: what is the title "Things Fall Apart" taken from?

Things fall apart, the centre cannot hold,
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world...

The Second Coming, Yeats

Adonai Dragonwagon · 06-01-2005, 09:28 PM

1984 was made into a movie?!? The horror! So were Farenheit 451 and Animal Farm. Really bad movies. Don't watch them, they're stupid, and barely keep up a pretense of adhering to the books.
I'm about half way through Catch 22, by Joseph Heller, if anyone's read that. Apparently I'm going to have to read it again as a senior in high school... but it's so good, I just can't stop. Unfortunately, I lost my Dad's copy.

An aquaintance of mine found it, but they didn't know it was mine and gave it to the school library. Which is closed for the year.

My dad's pretty angry, but I'm more worried about the book's ending!

Quote:

Originally Posted by RÃ*an

Am almost done with Homer's Iliad - I must admit that I'm getting tired of all the killing and description of various gory deaths, but the writing is great - he puts together some lovely combinations of words. I like the "bronze sleep" for death in battle.

Heh. I love the Iliad, and in fact I remember that particular line about "bronze sleep."

Mercutio · 06-01-2005, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spock

Curious; what class are you reading this for?

British Lit...11th grade.

We've been cramming at the end of the year now. Somehow our class got a few weeks behind. Hence the read-fifteen-chapters-in-a-few-days which I don't mind at all (but most of my classmates do).

Things Fall Apart is one of the summer reading books for next year's class.

Did I like Tess/Hardy? Well...It was good writing. I don't agree with all of Hardy's opinions/things he was pushing/critique. Some of it, though, yes (Victorian Christian morality was too harsh or hypocritical sometimes. Just look at Angel. He had rejected his brothers' and father's Victorian Christianity but was obviously still influenced by it. It said that it's ok for a man to sleep around with whoever he pleases but every woman is expected to be a virgin at her marriage. Secondly, the artisan who went around painting "Thy damnation slumbereth not" and such was too harsh. Yes. Thy damnation slumbereth not. But where is the Christian love? I also wouldn't go as far as Hardy to say that this harsh Christian morality was the entire cause of Tess's downfall and that she was a sacrifice to this morality. Clever bit with Stonehenge tho.)

I actually didn't find it too depressing. The end was a little melodromatic/soap-opera-ish with _____'s murder however.

I haven't read any other Hardy to be able to compare.

Eoca · 06-08-2005, 09:40 PM

I've read Hardy's Jude the Obscure, and it was more muddled in it's preaching but with a rather melodramatic ending.

Right now I'm reading L. Sprague de Camp's Least Darkness Fall, a classic transmited-through-time book. It's very good, with the hero trying to bring 20th century influences to late-era Rome. The social background is really cool, with the religeous bickering particulary entertaining.

Next up is Catch-22. My brother just lent it to me, and he is very enthusiastic about it. He said it is very good and funny and is lending it to everyone. This is high praise you should all take his word for it.

Mercutio · 06-09-2005, 04:26 PM

Because of sun-star's mention of it I am now 100 pages into The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy.

sun-star · 06-09-2005, 04:31 PM

Cool, but you know I'll feel all responsible now if you hate it

Last Child of Ungoliant · 06-09-2005, 04:34 PM

i prefer lawrence to hardy, and as such, am currently readin the
'Seven Pillars of Wisdom'

Mercutio · 06-09-2005, 10:40 PM

So far I prefer it to Tess. But I'm only up to the point where the Mayor gets mad at his 2nd in command (what's the guys name? something Scottish?) briefly for being thought of better than the mayor himself. If you recall that.... It's soon after they get married, or rather re-married. And right after Mrs. Susan's set-up meeting of 2nd in command and Elizabeth Jane (I do remember her name!)

EarthBound · 06-14-2005, 06:55 AM

OK, I posted this already in another thread, but I think I goofed (put it in the wrong spot).

Richard Bach's "Illusions" (also wrote Jonathan Livingston Seagull).

Excellent book!

Beren3000 · 06-15-2005, 02:56 AM

I'm currently rereading the Silmarillion; plus, I've picked up The Works of John Keats. Good poetry!

Last Child of Ungoliant · 06-15-2005, 08:30 AM

i read a book called holes, interesting twist at the end, i think

Rosie Gamgee · 06-15-2005, 09:32 AM

Just picked up Ireland (Delaney). Looks to be really cool, if a bit long.

Just finished 1776 (McCullough) and Blink (Uh... Malcolm Somebody). Both Fantastic (capital 'F')!

Mercutio · 06-15-2005, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Last Child of Ungoliant

i read a book called holes, interesting twist at the end, i think

They made a fairly decent movie out of it. I assume your talking about the Newberry book...with the kid named Zero?

Rosie--I was just at a book store and looked at 1776. Is it a good read?

Currently starting "Love and Freindship" and "A History of England..." by Jane Austen. That is...a teenage Jane Austen.

Last Child of Ungoliant · 06-16-2005, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mercutio

They made a fairly decent movie out of it. I assume your talking about the Newberry book...with the kid named Zero?

the very same,

durinsbane2244 · 06-17-2005, 08:04 PM

I am currently reading The Keys to the Kingdom.

PLEASE GO TO MY THREAD IF YOU HAVE READ IT!

Mercutio · 06-17-2005, 10:10 PM

I have now finished the Mayor of Casterbridge, by Thomas Hardy. I thoroughly enjoyed it, appropriately teared up at the end, and am now in need of a "Thomas Hardy's Mayor of Casterbridge: Themes, Symbolism, Etc., That You are to Lazy to Think About for Yourself".

I've just read Jane Austen's "Love and Freindship," "Lesley Castle," and "History of England...". They were written when she was a teenager, are humorous, and show a ready wit.

Rosie Gamgee · 06-22-2005, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mercutio

Rosie--I was just at a book store and looked at 1776. Is it a good read?

It was good. My only complaint would be that in places the grammer seems a little... off. Other than that, it was great. It reads more like a novel or a contiuous narrative than a collection of facts or a text-book. I really liked it.

Akallabeth · 06-26-2005, 02:15 PM

My virtuous summer reading: War and Peace. Wish me luck!
It's actually really catching thus far. I love Russian literature.

Artanis · 06-27-2005, 04:29 AM

I've just finished 'Life of Pi', by Yann Martel. It was a good book, with an unexpected ending. An ending that makes you want to read the book once again. Recommended.

Falagar · 06-27-2005, 11:41 AM

Ayn Rand - Atlas Shrugged

Aristotles - The Nicean Ethics (or similar)

R. Scott Bakker - The Darkness That Comes Before

06-09-2005, 04:26 PM	#285
Mercutio Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Narnia Posts: 1,656	Because of sun-star's mention of it I am now 100 pages into The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy. __________________ Mike nodded. A sombre nod. The nod Napoleon might have given if somebody had met him in 1812 and said, "So, you're back from Moscow, eh?". Interested in C.S. Lewis? Visit the forum dedicated to one of Tolkien's greatest contemporaries.

06-09-2005, 04:31 PM	#286
sun-star Lady of Letters Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Either Oxford or Kent, England Posts: 2,476	Cool, but you know I'll feel all responsible now if you hate it __________________ And all the time the waves, the waves, the waves Chase, intersect and flatten on the sand As they have done for centuries, as they will For centuries to come, when not a soul Is left to picnic on the blazing rocks, When England is not England, when mankind Has blown himself to pieces. Still the sea, Consolingly disastrous, will return While the strange starfish, hugely magnified, Waits in the jewelled basin of a pool.

06-09-2005, 10:40 PM	#288
Mercutio Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Narnia Posts: 1,656	So far I prefer it to Tess. But I'm only up to the point where the Mayor gets mad at his 2nd in command (what's the guys name? something Scottish?) briefly for being thought of better than the mayor himself. If you recall that.... It's soon after they get married, or rather re-married. And right after Mrs. Susan's set-up meeting of 2nd in command and Elizabeth Jane (I do remember her name!) __________________ Mike nodded. A sombre nod. The nod Napoleon might have given if somebody had met him in 1812 and said, "So, you're back from Moscow, eh?". Interested in C.S. Lewis? Visit the forum dedicated to one of Tolkien's greatest contemporaries.

06-14-2005, 06:55 AM	#289
EarthBound Lady Tipple & Queen of Blessed Thistle Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: I've been told it's all in my head Posts: 916	OK, I posted this already in another thread, but I think I goofed (put it in the wrong spot). Richard Bach's "Illusions" (also wrote Jonathan Livingston Seagull). Excellent book! __________________ Beer + Pizza = N'uff said Happy to be here The HACBR has been alerted to my postingsâ€¦..Hobbits Against Constant Beer References Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. --Ben Franklin I want my Mooter T-Shirt!

06-15-2005, 09:32 AM	#292
Rosie Gamgee The Lovely Hobbit-Lass Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Bounded in a nut-shell Posts: 1,593	Just picked up Ireland (Delaney). Looks to be really cool, if a bit long. Just finished 1776 (McCullough) and Blink (Uh... Malcolm Somebody). Both Fantastic (capital 'F')! __________________ It's New Years Day, just like the day before; Same old skies of grey, same empty bottles on the floor. Another year's gone by, and I was thinking once again, How can I take this losing hand and somehow win? Just give me One Good Year To get my feet back on the ground. I've been chasing grace; Grace ain't so easily found One bad hand can devil a man, chase him and carry him down. I've got to get out of here, just give me One Good Year!

06-08-2005, 09:40 PM	#284
Eoca Sapling Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 5	I've read Hardy's Jude the Obscure, and it was more muddled in it's preaching but with a rather melodramatic ending. Right now I'm reading L. Sprague de Camp's Least Darkness Fall, a classic transmited-through-time book. It's very good, with the hero trying to bring 20th century influences to late-era Rome. The social background is really cool, with the religeous bickering particulary entertaining. Next up is Catch-22. My brother just lent it to me, and he is very enthusiastic about it. He said it is very good and funny and is lending it to everyone. This is high praise you should all take his word for it.

06-09-2005, 04:34 PM	#287
Last Child of Ungoliant The Intermittent One Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: here and there Posts: 4,671	i prefer lawrence to hardy, and as such, am currently readin the 'Seven Pillars of Wisdom'

06-15-2005, 02:56 AM	#290
Beren3000 FÃ«anorophobic Join Date: May 2004 Location: Between the pages of a book Posts: 1,417	I'm currently rereading the Silmarillion; plus, I've picked up The Works of John Keats. Good poetry!

06-15-2005, 08:30 AM	#291
Last Child of Ungoliant The Intermittent One Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: here and there Posts: 4,671	i read a book called holes, interesting twist at the end, i think

06-17-2005, 08:04 PM	#295
durinsbane2244 Dreamweaver Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: The Misty Mountains, where the spirits go... Posts: 3,560	I am currently reading The Keys to the Kingdom. PLEASE GO TO MY THREAD IF YOU HAVE READ IT! __________________ Lord, what fools these mortals be! ---------------- We are the music-makers, And we are the dreamers of dreams, Wandering by lone sea-breakers, And sitting by desolate streams; World-losers and world-forsakers, On whom the pale moon gleams: Yet we are the movers and shakers Of the world for ever, it seems. ---------------- Shanti, shanti, shantih...

06-17-2005, 10:10 PM	#296
Mercutio Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Narnia Posts: 1,656	I have now finished the Mayor of Casterbridge, by Thomas Hardy. I thoroughly enjoyed it, appropriately teared up at the end, and am now in need of a "Thomas Hardy's Mayor of Casterbridge: Themes, Symbolism, Etc., That You are to Lazy to Think About for Yourself". I've just read Jane Austen's "Love and Freindship," "Lesley Castle," and "History of England...". They were written when she was a teenager, are humorous, and show a ready wit. __________________ Mike nodded. A sombre nod. The nod Napoleon might have given if somebody had met him in 1812 and said, "So, you're back from Moscow, eh?". Interested in C.S. Lewis? Visit the forum dedicated to one of Tolkien's greatest contemporaries.

06-26-2005, 02:15 PM	#298
Akallabeth Sapling Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: teeny little town... Posts: 14	My virtuous summer reading: War and Peace. Wish me luck! It's actually really catching thus far. I love Russian literature.

06-27-2005, 04:29 AM	#299
Artanis Greatest Elven woman of Aman Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Having way too much fun with FÃ«anor's 7 Posts: 4,285	I've just finished 'Life of Pi', by Yann Martel. It was a good book, with an unexpected ending. An ending that makes you want to read the book once again. Recommended. __________________ --Life is hard, and then we die.

06-27-2005, 11:41 AM	#300
Falagar Death of Mooters and [Entmoot] Internal Affairs Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Oslo, Norway Posts: 2,870	Ayn Rand - Atlas Shrugged Aristotles - The Nicean Ethics (or similar) R. Scott Bakker - The Darkness That Comes Before __________________ FÃ«anor - Innocence incarnated Still, AikanÃ¡ro 'till the Last battle.

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