What Books Are on Your Reading List?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around participants sharing their current reading lists, focusing on a mix of fiction and nonfiction, while excluding textbooks. The conversation includes various literary genres, personal preferences, and reflections on specific works.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants are reading classic literature, such as "The Count of Monte Cristo" and "Don Quixote," while expressing their long-standing interest in these works.
  • One participant mentions dissatisfaction with "Don Quixote," suggesting it may be boring, while others share their mixed feelings about classic literature.
  • Several participants highlight their interest in nonfiction, with titles like "The Rebel Sell" and "Betrayal of Trust" being discussed.
  • There are mentions of various authors and works, including Dostoevsky's "Crime and Punishment," with differing opinions on its merit compared to "The Brothers Karamazov."
  • Some participants express a preference for reading textbooks or nonfiction over fiction, while others share their enjoyment of specific fiction series, such as "Wheel of Time."
  • One participant notes their struggle with attention span, leading to reading multiple books simultaneously, including "Don Quixote" and magazines.
  • There are references to personal experiences with reading, including the impact of cultural events on reading choices, such as a Cervantes festival in Guanajuato.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a variety of preferences and opinions on the books they are reading, with no clear consensus on the value of specific titles or genres. Disagreement exists regarding the enjoyment of "Don Quixote" and the merits of different classic novels.

Contextual Notes

Some participants mention their reading habits, such as a tendency to read nonfiction or textbooks, which may influence their engagement with fiction. Additionally, there are references to personal circumstances affecting reading time and choices.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in diverse literary recommendations, discussions on classic and contemporary literature, and insights into personal reading habits may find this thread valuable.

  • #31
What about C.S. Lewis? Anybody like his writings? I've read the Narnia books and the Space Trilogy. I got to say, I really enjoyed them.
 
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  • #32
Lord of the rings is definitely much better than all the potter books put together. I think J.K. Rowling is losing her touch, the 5th and 6th books were sub-standard compared to the earlier ones.
 
  • #33
shramana said:
Lord of the rings is definitely much better than all the potter books put together. I think J.K. Rowling is losing her touch, the 5th and 6th books were sub-standard compared to the earlier ones.

I wouldn't know since, as I have said, I have only read one of them, but I'd guess this may be because the series was stretched out too far. I've seen it happen in other series as well. Sometimes, there just shouldn't be a 5th book. Again, this is only a guess.
 
  • #34
shramana said:
the 5th and 6th books were sub-standard compared to the earlier ones.
what! ok, the 5th was kind of crap-ola, but the 6th was one of my favorites! and there have to be at least 7, you can't end the series before harry graduates.
 
  • #35
The 4th one was my favourite, there was a lot more action in that one.
 
  • #36
G01 said:
What about C.S. Lewis? Anybody like his writings? I've read the Narnia books and the Space Trilogy. I got to say, I really enjoyed them.

The Witch, the Lion, and the Wardrobe was good each after that degraded to the point that the last was only good for toliet paper.

I am not sure why the Harry Potter books are always being held up to Tolkien. They are just different, I think both should be on the required reading list.
 
  • #37
Integral said:
The Witch, the Lion, and the Wardrobe was good each after that degraded to the point that the last was only good for toliet paper.

I am not sure why the Harry Potter books are always being held up to Tolkien. They are just different, I think both should be on the required reading list.

I agree with both points. I also think that the Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud should also be a part of the required reading list.
 
  • #38
G01 said:
blasphemer!:biggrin:
Fool of a Took rather! :biggrin:
Tolkien rules.
 
  • #39
siddharth said:
I agree with both points. I also think that the Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud should also be a part of the required reading list.

I have never heard of this trilogy, I'm sorry to say! What is it about?

arunbg said:
Fool of a Took rather! :biggrin:
Tolkien rules.

Amen Brother!:approve:
 
  • #40
I've neither read Tolkien nor Rowling.

Does that make me a double-blasphemer? :rolleyes:
 
  • #41
it makes you a poor, lost soul, forever to roam in some sort of neither hellish (tolkien) nor heavenly (rowling) limbo.
 
  • #42
moe darklight said:
it makes you a poor, lost soul forever to roam in some sort of neither hellish (tolkien) nor heavenly (rowling) limbo.
Yeah, it's called Earth. :-p
 
  • #43
neutrino said:
Yeah, it's called Earth. :-p

:smile: uh oh
 
  • #44
I've read both Tolkien and Rowling, and didn't like either. Can I be a double-Heretic? :biggrin:
 
  • #45
A Brief History of Progress. I'm 3/4 done and think it's fantastic! :approve:
 
  • #46
i m reading PF. hehe
 
  • #47
Smurf said:
I've read both Tolkien and Rowling, and didn't like either. Can I be a double-Heretic? :biggrin:

Why not! BLASPHEMER!:biggrin:
 
  • #48
Grishom - The last one I read was "a painted house" , Crichton - The last one I read was "prey"
 
  • #49
The God Delusion
A Short History of Progress
Ever Wonder Why


I recommend them all, very good!
 
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  • #50
G01 said:
What about C.S. Lewis? Anybody like his writings? I've read the Narnia books and the Space Trilogy. I got to say, I really enjoyed them.

I like C.S. Lewis. The Screwtape Letters is an especially good book.
 
  • #51
Greg Bernhardt said:
The God Dellusion
A Short History of Progress
Ever Wonder Why


I recommend them all, very good!

I concur on the first.

I just finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and still reading the one by Garrett >_>
 
  • #52
Math Is Hard said:
I like C.S. Lewis. The Screwtape Letters is an especially good book.

Looks like a nice pickup read for a long flight.
 
  • #54
I have "the Emperor's New Mind" and have not yet started it. I like Penrose's take on things, though.
 
  • #55
Greg Bernhardt said:
Looks like a nice pickup read for a long flight.

It would definitely serve well for that. It's a pretty entertaining read with some food for thought mixed in.
 
  • #56
I just bought a volume of all of Flannery O'Connor's short stories. Anyone ever read any of them? I definitely recommend them for good, shorter reads.
 
  • #57
I picked up a volume containing four of Wells' novels from the library...my foray into SF.
 
  • #58
I'm reading...

The China Fantasy by some guy that's coming off as really bias.
 
  • #59
Tipping point by Malcolm Gladwell
Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk
On War by Carl Von Clausewitz
A book of five rings by Miyamoto Musashi
 
  • #60
The Decision to Use the Atomic Bomb: Gar Alperovitz

The revisionists bible, so awe inspiringly detailed: with accounts from the men who made the decisions, so achingly well researched that it's impossible to doubt it's credibility in what was the US's darkest hour.

Why they really did it, not why you think they did. If you believe, like I did, that it was to save lives then prepare for a real shock.

And Shield of Thunder: David Gemmel, the story of Troy in 3 books.

Totally gripping, and for a fantasy impressively researched, plus it was his last work before he died. :frown:
 

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