What classic books are you reading?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around classic literature, with participants sharing their current reads, favorite authors, and recommendations across various genres, including novels, fantasy, and science fiction. The scope includes personal reflections on reading preferences and experiences with different literary styles and historical contexts.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant enjoys reading classical literature as a break from scientific texts and lists authors such as Virginia Woolf, the Bronte sisters, and Dostoevsky.
  • Another participant mentions a Russian book but does not recall the title, indicating a lack of specificity in their recommendation.
  • A participant is currently reading "Musashi" and plans to read "How to Win Friends and Influence People," expressing enjoyment of martial arts literature.
  • Discussion includes a humorous exchange about differing summer schedules, with one participant mentioning James Michener's "The Source" and a preference for whodunnits by Dan Brown.
  • Several participants recommend classic novels such as "Great Expectations," "For Whom the Bell Tolls," and "Lord of the Rings," with one expressing that the latter spoiled the fantasy genre for them.
  • Pushkin's "Eugene Onegin" is highlighted as a favorite by one participant, alongside other classics like "Faust" and "Divine Comedy."
  • Participants discuss their fondness for the Dragonlance series, with specific characters and titles mentioned, as well as other fantasy authors like Tolkien and Terry Brooks.
  • One participant lists a variety of novels they have read, including works by Umberto Eco, Dostoevsky, and Kafka, suggesting a preference for literary fiction over genre fiction.
  • Another participant expresses a strong preference for "Moby Dick" and mentions other works by Melville, contrasting their enjoyment of the book with adaptations.
  • Isaac Asimov's works, particularly the Foundation and Robot series, are recommended for their brilliance in science fiction.
  • A participant shares their recent read, "Crabwalk" by Günter Grass, discussing its themes related to history and neo-Nazism.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a variety of preferences and recommendations, with no clear consensus on a single favorite or definitive list of classic literature. Disagreements arise regarding the impact of certain works on the genre, particularly in fantasy literature.

Contextual Notes

Some recommendations are based on personal taste and may not align with broader literary critiques. The discussion reflects a range of literary interests, from classic novels to genre fiction, without resolving differing opinions on the merits of specific works.

  • #31
Evo said:
You have the smilies! I just sent the ones we need back to you.

Tsunami, we will all have you to thank if chroot can add them. :biggrin:
:cool: I emailed you back. :cool: I liked the old 'cool' smilie, too. Not that I don't like this one... They just have kind of different looks to go with their coolosity. (coolosity? :rolleyes:) :smile: :biggrin:
 
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  • #32
Evo said:
Cragwolf, have you read The Metamorphosis or In the Penal Colony by Kafka? They're a couple of short stories.

I've read The Metamorphosis, not sure about the other one. It's been a while since I've read fiction, and much of my fiction is still at my parent's place, what, 10 years since I moved out? :smile:
 
  • #33
Evo said:
I liked Raistlin, even though he was evil & twisted he had a few nice moments.


You ARE my mom! He was the only one that actually did ANYTHING in the series. And they relied on him for everything.
 
  • #34
cragwolf said:
I've read The Metamorphosis, not sure about the other one. It's been a while since I've read fiction, and much of my fiction is still at my parent's place, what, 10 years since I moved out? :smile:
Well, unless you are a real die hard Kafka fan, you may not enjoy In the Penal Colony. It's a bit much, but very good.

Amazon.com reviews "Perhaps the best of these is "In the Penal Colony." It reads like Michel Foucault's "Discipline And Punish" on acid. It is almost like a satire on what Hegel liked to refer to as the "slaughterhouse of history." The story is at once terrifying and grotesquely comical."

I actually saw the movie version of "The Castle" before reading it. I was so angry. Just when I thought I would finally get some answers as to what was going on, when the land surveyor is chasing after the sled that is going to the Castle... :mad:
 
  • #35
I adore Tom Robbins. What an imagination! Who else could come up with a description like:
"Her hair was as straight and red as ironed ketchup."
:biggrin:

Still Life with Woodpecker is definitely the best of his novels.
 

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