Books discussion

[Coaxke]

I'm reading 'Grimm's Complete Fairytales' (english) by the Brothers Grimm.

After that I'm going to read 'No Country for Old Men' then I will hopefully get to read a book called 'D-Day', which is a collection of interviews of various soldiers and their retellings.

[Ardent]

...then I will hopefully get to read a book called 'D-Day', which is a collection of interviews of various soldiers and their retellings.

I've read something called 'The longest day' that was pretty much the same. An interesting book with some funny and many not so funny stories from the first day of the landing.

[Thanatos]

I'm reading 'Grimm's Complete Fairytales' (english) by the Brothers Grimm

Hmm, I guess it would be better to read them in German. But thats maybe only because they were read to me like that when I was a little child.

As supposed, I've finished "V for Vendetta" in one session. This graphic novel definately deepens my respect for Mr. Moore, who did a fantastic story together with Mr. Lloyd.

However, I have to start something new right away, and I think it will be Tolstoi's "The Death of Ivan Ilyich".

[Coaxke]

I'm reading 'Grimm's Complete Fairytales' (english) by the Brothers Grimm

Hmm, I guess it would be better to read them in German.

I definitely would if I knew the language.

I really want to read a novel called 'Invisible Monsters' but I can't find it.

[Turuk]

However, I have to start something new right away, and I think it will be Tolstoi's "The Death of Ivan Ilyich".

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, mainly for the view it takes on the obsession with social status and then death, but let me know what you think of it. The latter half of the book tends to drag on a bit.

[Thanatos]

However, I have to start something new right away, and I think it will be Tolstoi's "The Death of Ivan Ilyich".

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, mainly for the view it takes on the obsession with social status and then death, but let me know what you think of it. The latter half of the book tends to drag on a bit.

Well, I finished it already some days ago, it's not a long read after all.
It's really good as far as I can tell by now. I will still have to read it again this weekend because I decided to write an extensive review about it for my site. Maybe I can say something more detailed then. As for now, I don't consider the last half dragging at all.

[Shibamage]

Um. Hello ^^

I haven't started yet, but I'm soon going to be reading Hamlet, if that couns.

[Vendanna]

I was enjoying the art of war of sun-tzu (the book not the old game)

apart of that I also read finally brisingr the third book of the series (sapphira and eldest being the two previous books) and probably I'll end reading some of h.p. lovecraft cicles again.

[Charlotte]

I am not reading one book, being the book addict I am, I am reading seven books at the moment:

Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe, a story about Robinson Crusoe and his 28 years of living on a small island, it was this one book that made all these 'cast-away' books so popular.
War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells, a story about aliens from Mars that want to conquer the world, sounds not very original but it was on of the very first book to come with the very idea of all.
Hitch-hiker's guide to the galaxy (Mostly Harmless) by Douglas Adams, science fiction comedy, and a brilliant one at it.
Utopia by sir Thomas Moore, this was the first philosophical book that was about Utopia, it talks about a society where everything is good and perfect, it was this book that was the very start for the philosophical debate (one that is still running vividly nowadays) whether or not a perfect place exists.
Possessing Genius by Carolyn Abraham, about Albert Einsteins brain after its death, is way more interesting than it sounds
Call of the Ctulu and other weird stories by H.P. Lovecraft, many short stories classified as 'weird' or 'horror', he, H.P. Lovecraft, is often used by modern horror writers as an example and/or inspiration source (for example, Stephen King had H.P. Lovecraft as an example during the writing of his 'Dark Tower' series)
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens, his most favourite book, about the life of David Copperfield, it takes place in England during the Victorian time and gives a good picture of how it was during that time (and it is a brilliant story too)

[Thanatos]

Welcome to the forums, Charlotte.

Nice selection, have read most of them in the past.
Maybe you'll find some more interesting title's in this thread.
I know from personal experience that book addicts need new "food" regulary.

[Turuk]

Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe, a story about Robinson Crusoe and his 28 years of living on a small island, it was this one book that made all these 'cast-away' books so popular.

Charlotte, if you enjoy RC by Defoe, I would recommend reading Captain Singleton if you have not yet. An excellent book.

[Ardent]

Utopia by sir Thomas Moore ... loved this one. It was better still, because I had borrowed one that was printed something like 1965. The nice touch of this edition was the socialist forword, about how Moore was showing a perfect society even back than and how every right thinking human should see his socialist/communist feelings and thoughts .
This was rather interesting, when modern people I suppose wouldn't in most cases like such an Utopia at all.
The utopia it portraits might have been an utopia for a peasant in the past (enough food, education etc.), but even then still, I had the feeling that even Moore didn't meant it as an 'utopia' in todays meaning of a perfect state. For me it was more of a show giving me creeps - like taking some right ideas and pushing them up to the point where they become wrong...

[Charlotte]

...The nice touch of this edition was the socialist forword, about how Moore was showing a perfect society even back than and how every right thinking human should see his socialist/communist feelings and thoughts ...

The funny part of the book is that sir Thomas Moore himself never believed that such an place could exists.
The very name Utopia is already implying this, it comes from the Greek words Au (good) - Topos (place), alias the good-place, but it can also be read as Ou (not) Topos (place), the not-place.
Besides, the story is told by (if you translate his name) sir Nonsenso, he talks of a country where the main river is called 'no-water', the main capital is called 'Air Castle' and so on.

And thanks for the suggestion, Turuk, I am indeed enjoying the book and have included your suggestion to my 'yet-to-buy' list .

[Thanatos]

The very name Utopia is already implying this, it comes from the Greek words Au (good) - Topos (place), alias the good-place, but it can also be read as Ou (not) Topos (place), the not-place.

Just curious, because I'm interested in Ancient Greek: While I know the translation of "ou" I didn't hear about the "au" one and I don't find it in my Ancient Greek dictonary. Could you give some reference on that?

[Charlotte]

My pardon, I made a mistake while typing, it is not AU that means good, it is EU that means good, this should probably clear it up a little