LOL, Not many of us admit to reading trash... I try to balane the cheap novels with some substance; for cheap, I read Vince Flynn and Daniel Silva novels, for substance, I like Shelby Foote and law commentaries.
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Originally posted by minalpharetta: LOL, Not many of us admit to reading trash... I try to balane the cheap novels with some substance; for cheap, I read Vince Flynn and Daniel Silva novels, for substance, I like Shelby Foote and law commentaries.
Books are the same as cigars to me: life is too short to put up with bad ones. I give everything 50 pages -- if it sucks, I move on to something else. Unless I HAVE to read it, in which case I tell the professor it's a waste of time.
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Corio, ...Solitude was the fisrt Marquez book I read; is the starting point for most in that genre. I like that book a lot.
I am in the midst of a retro-fest at the moment: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is open on my nightstand at the moment. I have also been looking for some Richard Brautigan stuff I have not read.
_____________________________________ The journey of a thousand miles sometimes ends very, very badly.
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Posts: 1467 | Location: Bugtussle, MS | Registered: August 24, 2006
Corio--My primary field is the Eighteenth Century and I'm currently teaching a course on Restoration and Eighteenth-Century Comedy (the filthiest comedies in the English language ). Last semester I filled in on Shakespeare which I do whenever I am asked to do so.
I've always taught courses on fiction, and in the last couple of years I have moved my introduction to fiction course to an online format, which is working well.
Finally, over the past few years I have been reading widely in language and I have created a course called "A User's Guide for Speakers of English." Last year I taught the course in a classroom, and it worked well. This year I have moved it to an online format, and I think it is even better because I can link students to so many sites (experts reading Anglo Saxon, Chaucer, etc.)
Posts: 779 | Location: Connecticut | Registered: September 06, 2002
I just finished Winston Churchill's "History of the EnglishSpeaking Peoples. Churchill is very readable even after all these years.
For fiction I would recommend any of the Harry Turtledove alternate history series. Well written, good chatacter development, attnention to historical details in a fiction setting.
For recent non fictiuon I just read Dr Marc Sageman's Understanding the Global Jihad. he explodes some of the myths of common wisdom.
Good people sleep at night knowing there are rough men ready to do violence on their behalf
Posts: 1702 | Location: Connecticut | Registered: November 19, 2004
I've been curious about Wallace's collected essays as well, but started with Infinite Jest--mostly because it's been recommended to me so many times, and from so many different sources, that I didn't figure I could fight it any more. Like W.G. Sebald a few years back, I'm starting to feel like I'm the only one who hasn't read Wallace.
I'll admit to reading some fluff, too. I've read all of John Irving's novels (except for Until I Find You), and have discovered other worthwhile authors through Irving's work--like Robertson Davies. His Deptford Trilogy is one of my all time favorites.
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The world Julian wanted to preserve and restore is gone...the barbarians are at the gate. Yet when they breach the wall, they will find nothing of value to seize, only empty relics. The spirit of what we were has fled.
-Gore Vidal, "Julian"
Posts: 522 | Location: St. Albans, WV | Registered: February 03, 2004
Originally posted by MeanWillieGreen: Corio, ...Solitude was the fisrt Marquez book I read; is the starting point for most in that genre. I like that book a lot.
I am in the midst of a retro-fest at the moment: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is open on my nightstand at the moment. I have also been looking for some Richard Brautigan stuff I have not read.
Want to give me a brief summary about that Zen book...
Barnes and Noble online just says it's about a "quest for truth". I'm curious because I saw it in the philosophy section at my local book store, and since one of my majors is philosophy I'm interested, I just dont have time to read another book for pleasure right now.
All my local book stores have horrible philosophy sections. Anyone else interested in philosophy notice that. OK, If I go to a book store I expect to see more then one of Nietzche's books. He's a major writer! I guess it really wouldn't bother anyone unless your a nerd like me . For me it's like going to a steakhouse and them not serving beef.
"Think for a moment about whether it is ethical to throw a living creature into boiling water before sucking it down with a cup of melted butter"
Originally posted by Don Charles: Corio--My primary field is the Eighteenth Century and I'm currently teaching a course on Restoration and Eighteenth-Century Comedy (the filthiest comedies in the English language ). Last semester I filled in on Shakespeare which I do whenever I am asked to do so.
I've always taught courses on fiction, and in the last couple of years I have moved my introduction to fiction course to an online format, which is working well.
Finally, over the past few years I have been reading widely in language and I have created a course called "A User's Guide for Speakers of English." Last year I taught the course in a classroom, and it worked well. This year I have moved it to an online format, and I think it is even better because I can link students to so many sites (experts reading Anglo Saxon, Chaucer, etc.)
Pretty cool, Don. I have a close friend who is a Samuel Johnson specialist. We don't talk much about SJ, however, because my area is twentieth c. American. I am currently studying early American (Bradford, Mather, Bradstreet, etc.), but I think I would be happier looking at some of those filthy comedies.
______________________________ It's stay away from Malaysia for fear of vampires year!
"The word Fascism has now no meaning except insofar as it signifies 'something not desirable'." -- George Orwell, "Politics and the English Language," 1946
High Post Count = Manliness and Importance
#2 Most Friendly Guy, Connoisseur of All Things Fine, Elitist Ass, and One of the Two Biggest Douchebags in the Forums
I've been curious about Wallace's collected essays as well, but started with Infinite Jest--mostly because it's been recommended to me so many times, and from so many different sources, that I didn't figure I could fight it any more. Like W.G. Sebald a few years back, I'm starting to feel like I'm the only one who hasn't read Wallace.
I read Broom of the System and it just didn't turn my crank. But the essays are a lot of fun.
Have you read anything by William T. Vollmann?
______________________________ It's stay away from Malaysia for fear of vampires year!
"The word Fascism has now no meaning except insofar as it signifies 'something not desirable'." -- George Orwell, "Politics and the English Language," 1946
High Post Count = Manliness and Importance
#2 Most Friendly Guy, Connoisseur of All Things Fine, Elitist Ass, and One of the Two Biggest Douchebags in the Forums
Coriolanus, Your an english professor too? It's nice to have a few around here. Have any Russian favorites? I've been eating Russian literature up lately.
"Think for a moment about whether it is ethical to throw a living creature into boiling water before sucking it down with a cup of melted butter"
Originally posted by jms2788: Coriolanus, Your an english professor too? It's nice to have a few around here. Have any Russian favorites? I've been eating Russian literature up lately.
Not yet. Still working on it.
I like Turgenev. Fathers and Sons is one of my favorites. I also like the Sportsman's Sketches.
______________________________ It's stay away from Malaysia for fear of vampires year!
"The word Fascism has now no meaning except insofar as it signifies 'something not desirable'." -- George Orwell, "Politics and the English Language," 1946
High Post Count = Manliness and Importance
#2 Most Friendly Guy, Connoisseur of All Things Fine, Elitist Ass, and One of the Two Biggest Douchebags in the Forums
Any particular translator I should look for with Turgenev's books? With some books it's not a big deal, but with Dostoevsky I've found it to be significant.
"Think for a moment about whether it is ethical to throw a living creature into boiling water before sucking it down with a cup of melted butter"
For Fathers and Sons, I have the Garnett/Allen translation. For the Sketches I have the Freeborn translation.
I do not know Russian so I would not know the difference, but these probably lean toward the traditional side (a good thing, in my opinion). I have read some "contemporary" editions of Anton Chekhov's work (he is probably my all-time favorite Russian author) that are ridiculous.
______________________________ It's stay away from Malaysia for fear of vampires year!
"The word Fascism has now no meaning except insofar as it signifies 'something not desirable'." -- George Orwell, "Politics and the English Language," 1946
High Post Count = Manliness and Importance
#2 Most Friendly Guy, Connoisseur of All Things Fine, Elitist Ass, and One of the Two Biggest Douchebags in the Forums
Yea I wish I knew Russian...and French...and German,that would be nice. I found with Dostoevsky some of the older versions use the word "spiteful" instead of "wicked". IMO it makes a difference, but I could be wrong. I think wicked is more accurate. To me it gives a totally different feeling to the underground man.
"Think for a moment about whether it is ethical to throw a living creature into boiling water before sucking it down with a cup of melted butter"
I haven't read anything by William T. Vollman yet, but I have Argall on my list of books I'd like to read in the near future. I'm curious to see how Vollman handles 17th century prose.
Early American prose? Now we're talking. Read much Royall Tyler or William Byrd? Byrd's travel narratives are wonderfully entertaining.
I agree with you on the Garnett translations, especially for Chekhov. They were always Hemingway's favorites, too (there's a celebrity endorsement).
___________
The world Julian wanted to preserve and restore is gone...the barbarians are at the gate. Yet when they breach the wall, they will find nothing of value to seize, only empty relics. The spirit of what we were has fled.
-Gore Vidal, "Julian"
Posts: 522 | Location: St. Albans, WV | Registered: February 03, 2004
Early American prose? Now we're talking. Read much Royall Tyler or William Byrd? Byrd's travel narratives are wonderfully entertaining.
I'm looking at Byrd right now. Kind of dry. Other than the reports about all the tail he and his boys get/try to get/take via rape, not much happens.
______________________________ It's stay away from Malaysia for fear of vampires year!
"The word Fascism has now no meaning except insofar as it signifies 'something not desirable'." -- George Orwell, "Politics and the English Language," 1946
High Post Count = Manliness and Importance
#2 Most Friendly Guy, Connoisseur of All Things Fine, Elitist Ass, and One of the Two Biggest Douchebags in the Forums
). Last semester I filled in on Shakespeare which I do whenever I am asked to do so. 
