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 Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2009 11:48 am
Since this guild has been lacking a book discussion thread since its inception, I've decided to create one.
Please only use this space to write about novels that you are reading or are planning to read. This area is NOT for the following: newspapers, magazines, manga/comics, textbooks, reference books. I would prefer that you only write about books that you are reading for leisure, but if there is something you feel you really must share about an assigned book, it is permitted.
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Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2009 12:02 pm
I typically read literature, particularly British literature written before the turn of the twentieth century. I have a penchant for the Gothic, Romantic, and children's literature. I do, however, read modern works on occasion, if the subject matter interests me.
Most recently, I finished the second book in Frank Beddor's Looking-glass Wars trilogy, Seeing Redd. The premise of this series is that Wonderland does exist, and Alice had escaped to England through a portal after her mother, the queen of Wonderland, was killed by her wicked aunt. Eventually, she is able to find a way to return to Wonderland and wage war against her aunt for Wonderland's throne.
While I rather enjoyed the first book, the sequel was a bit lacking. In its nearly four-hundred pages, very little happens. It does not help matters that Beddor, a screenwriter by trade, writes in a manner reminiscent of Jerry Bruckheimer summer blockbusters. He spends more time describing the various ways that things explode than he does on characterization. Needless to say, I'm only reading the third book because I want to know what happens in the end. It was an inventive idea, but he steered it in the wrong direction, I think.
Currently, I am back to reading literature, specifically Matthew Lewis' classic, The Monk. I am only 2/3 of the way through currently, but it has been absolutely enthralling to watch Ambrosio's descent into sin. I shall write more when I have finished.
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Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 9:41 pm
I just finished The Monk maybe an hour ago...it did not disappoint. The last chapter is some of the best writing I've seen in an English novel written in the eighteenth century. The dialogue between Ambrosio and his betrayers reminded me both of Paradise Lost and Faust, and the ending was quite appropriate. My only complaint with the novel is that the good characters have little personality in comparison to the villains. Oh well. I highly recommend it, in any case.
I shall be starting George MacDonald's The Princess and the Goblin tomorrow, and as it's a children's book, I'm sure I'll be done in a day or two, provided I have sufficient time to read.
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Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 12:11 am
tinuviel_nyx I just finished The Monk maybe an hour ago...it did not disappoint. The last chapter is some of the best writing I've seen in an English novel written in the eighteenth century. The dialogue between Ambrosio and his betrayers reminded me both of Paradise Lost and Faust, and the ending was quite appropriate. My only complaint with the novel is that the good characters have little personality in comparison to the villains. Oh well. I highly recommend it, in any case. I shall be starting George MacDonald's The Princess and the Goblin tomorrow, and as it's a children's book, I'm sure I'll be done in a day or two, provided I have sufficient time to read. That's realism, honey. The villains are almost always more interesting people than the heroes.
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Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 12:50 am
I read horror novels. Mainly Richard Laymon and Dean Koontz. I'm yet to read a Richard Laymon novel that I haven't enjoyed.
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Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 12:57 am
I'll read pretty much anything that catches my eye, or if something's recommended to me. Just today, I went and bought Wicked, by Gregory Maguire. I've yet to start, but I rather enjoyed his book What-The-Dickens, so I'm looking forward to it.
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Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 1:27 am
Torzeh I'll read pretty much anything that catches my eye, or if something's recommended to me. Just today, I went and bought Wicked, by Gregory Maguire. I've yet to start, but I rather enjoyed his book What-The-Dickens, so I'm looking forward to it. I hadn't heard of that one, but I read another of his books, I think it was called Lost. His style is pretty hard to mistake and his characters seem to have profound difficulty with sincerely polite conversation. No where in either of those books do the characters have one that reads as such.
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Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 7:51 am
Torzeh I'll read pretty much anything that catches my eye, or if something's recommended to me. Just today, I went and bought Wicked, by Gregory Maguire. I've yet to start, but I rather enjoyed his book What-The-Dickens, so I'm looking forward to it. I read Wicked after Josh had recommended it. If you are familiar with Baum's Oz books, the details Maguire incorporates from the original books will keep you delighted. However, he also takes a good deal from the MGM misrepresentation, such as Elphaba's skin colour. I don't know that I agree with Josh about the dialogue issue, though. Then again, most of the novels I read were written prior to the twentieth century, so maybe I don't notice the distance in conversation as much as those more familiar with modern works.
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Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 8:07 pm
I read pretty much any genre, but I especially like mysteries and classic literature. I absolutely love Edgar Allan Poe's works.
I can't quite remember the name of the last book I read... It was a collection of 19th century literature, I know that much. But right now, I'm reading a philosophical book called Finding Darwin's God by Kenneth Miller, my second cousin. It's a very interesting book, I think, though I admit it is a bit of a hard read because I'm not very well-versed about philosophy.
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Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 10:14 pm
Well, most of what I used to read was science fiction or fantasy, but my tastes in literature seem to have changed greatly. Though I still don't read nearly as often as I used to, I find it for more enjoyable to read various books on Spirituality. Presently, I'm working on two books from two completely different areas of the world.
The first book of the twain that I've started is The Psychology of Buddhist Tantra, which is basically about the darker aspects of Buddhism that many people don't know of and how it pertains to the changes that it can cause in the human psyche. The author, Rob Preece, also discusses the mindset that is needed to even attempt to practice it and touches base on the dangers that can come from practice by those who are ill-prepared to do so. The following is an excerpt from the book on that particular subject: Rob Preece Several years ago, in Italy, I was part of a group of Western students participating in a program of teaching and initiations given by a high Tibetan lama. There was an almost tangible energy of excitement in the atmosphere, and several young Englishmen seemed particularly enthralled and captivated by the power of what was happening. I began to notice however that they had intense mood swings. While they had great inspiration and enthusiasm for the Dharma teaching, they seemed to have great difficulty relating to more worldly demands, particularly with respect to how they were going to live and work. They took part in the empowerment into some particularly powerful tantric practices, and appeared to become highly charged by the energy generated. However, they high they felt seemed disconnected from reality. Some weeks later, back in England, I received a phone call from a relative of one of these young Englishmen asking if I knew of anywhere that would help him, as he had gone into a psychosis. This did not surprise me, and I was aware that few mental hospitals would grasp the peculiarity of his experience. This sad tale demonstrates how important it is to have a clear sense of identity, a stable ego, before starting to practice Tantra. It also confirms my belief that some people would benefit from a psychotherapeutic experience before becoming involved so intensively in Tantra. As such, I took a break from reading this book for a time to gather myself and make sure that I know not only who I am, but the things I stand for as a clear sense of identity. Soon, however, I will resume my readings of Preece's work.
The other book that I am currently reading is The Poetic Edda as translated by Henry Adams Bellows. The Poetic Edda isn't exactly an informative book like Rob Preece's, but it is ancient mythology, and one that I am very interested in. This is actually the first half of the Edda, but it is also the most important one of the two parts that belong within it: It contains the Voluspo, which is the Norse creation myth; and the Hovamol, which is the Nordic equivalent to the Book of Proverbs in the Bible. However, unlike Proverbs, the Hovamol is much easier to understand and work with.
There is another book that I have and intend to read, but it is one that will be saved for after The Poetic Edda. The second book is The Prose Edda, as written by Snorri Sturluson. I do not know who translated that book, but it is a continuation of the Germanic mythos that The Poetic Edda works through.
If it seems that I am a bit vague on some things regarding these books, you'll have to forgive me. I'm still working my way through them and don't entirely remember them as of yet. I will be able to discuss them further as I read them.
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Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 12:01 am
I always forget to underline book titles. I'm surprised that everyone has.
Well, I have not read a book... in a long time. I have time.. but I fill my free time completely up with the internet. I've went from bookworm to computer nerd.
I used to have a book in progress at all times. When I was about to finish a book, I'd go get another in fear that I would finish the book and have no other book available. I'm not sure what happened to me.
I can't remember the last book I read, honestly. sad
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Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 12:04 am
In the last few weeks i have been reading books on metaphysics.
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Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 12:06 am
Spenelli I always forget to underline book titles. I'm surprised that everyone has. Well, I have not read a book... in a long time. I have time.. but I fill my free time completely up with the internet. I've went from bookworm to computer nerd. I used to have a book in progress at all times. When I was about to finish a book, I'd go get another in fear that I would finish the book and have no other book available. I'm not sure what happened to me. I can't remember the last book I read, honestly. sad Actually, we all used quotes. Sara went in and edited.
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Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 12:09 am
Matasoga Spenelli I always forget to underline book titles. I'm surprised that everyone has. Well, I have not read a book... in a long time. I have time.. but I fill my free time completely up with the internet. I've went from bookworm to computer nerd. I used to have a book in progress at all times. When I was about to finish a book, I'd go get another in fear that I would finish the book and have no other book available. I'm not sure what happened to me. I can't remember the last book I read, honestly. sad Actually, we all used quotes. Sara went in and edited. Heh, I hadn't even noticed....
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