Best book I've ever read by far.

I'm torn about reading Brave New World, from what I've heard it's similar in theme but apparently it also involves genetic manipulation and eugenics for the myopic power structure to persist (whereas in 1984 it was supported purely by brainwashing). That bothers me mostly because it takes out what touched me the most about 1984- which is that it all seriously could happen. And worst of all it would work.

quote:

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Originally posted by Bugger:
I read 1984 over July 4th vacation.
Holy.
****.

Best book I've ever read by far.

I'm torn about reading Brave New World, from what I've heard it's similar in theme but apparently it also involves genetic manipulation and eugenics for the myopic power structure to persist (whereas in 1984 it was supported purely by brainwashing). That bothers me mostly because it takes out what touched me the most about 1984- which is that it all seriously could happen. And worst of all it would work.

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--Evil

quote:

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Originally posted by Bugger:
I read 1984 over July 4th vacation.
Holy.
****.

Best book I've ever read by far.

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You might want to follow that up with a read of Animal Farm. (I did a google for "Animal Farm PDF" and found the whole thing online, free.)

I just finished that book and must say it was quite good.

quote:

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Originally posted by BoltBait:
You might want to follow that up with a read of Animal Farm. (I did a google for "Animal Farm PDF" and found the whole thing online, free.)

I just finished that book and must say it was quite good.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Bugger:
I read Animal Farm when I was twelve.

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Orientalism by Edward Said. You wont regret it I promise.

quote:

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Originally posted by Bugger:
I read Animal Farm when I was twelve.

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Sure, but, did you get as much out of it as you would now?

EDIT: I also highly recommend Lord of the Flies.

quote:

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Originally posted by BoltBait:
Sure, but, did you get as much out of it as you would now?

EDIT: I also highly recommend Lord of the Flies.

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Bolt, you've recommended basically my entire Grade 12 English reading list.

quote:

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Originally posted by Volcanon:
Bolt, you've recommended basically my entire Grade 12 English reading list.

I recommend reading the Canterbury Tales in it's Old English form. Now that's what I call mastery of the language.

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I'm sure I've missed a few...

I also recommend Catch 22.

As for Canterbury Tales, I couldn't get through it.

quote:

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Originally posted by Volcanon:
Bolt, you've recommended basically my entire Grade 12 English reading list.

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__________________
There's no need to fear, UNDERDOG is here!

All your Gruul Nodorogs are belong to me. Trade them to me, please!

Report rules violations.

quote:

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Originally posted by nderdog:
Okay, am I the only one very disappointed to hear that Eoin Colfer has written a new Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy book? Wasn't it bad enough to have Brian Herbert screw with his father's Dune universe?

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I was surprised. I'll reserve judgement until I've read it.

I just finished Bernard Cornwell's The Burning Land, and loved it (of course). Picking up The Gathering Storm (part one of the three-part Robert Jordan/Brian Sanderson end to the Wheel of Time series) later today. I doubt it'll amount to much, especially since it's been so long since I read the last book in the series, but I'll be glad to have started finishing it--finally.

Beyond that, I'm slowly deciding on my serious reading.

__________________
"I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each.
I do not think they will sing to me."
-T.S. Eliot

The only path to victory in the “war on terror” is the moral high ground. Sadly, it's buried beneath the rubble of your nation.

__________________
Stages of Death: Anger, Denial, Barganing, Depression, Acceptance, Burial, Decay, Haunting, Revenge, Evil Laugh

quote:

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Originally posted by Battle_of_Twits:
I'm attempting to delve into Plato's Republic. Wish me luck.

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If you have questions/problems, feel free to ask me. I've taught it before, and I have a fancy new master's degree in philosophy.

__________________
"I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each.
I do not think they will sing to me."
-T.S. Eliot

The only path to victory in the “war on terror” is the moral high ground. Sadly, it's buried beneath the rubble of your nation.

quote:

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Originally posted by nderdog:
Okay, am I the only one very disappointed to hear that Eoin Colfer has written a new Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy book? Wasn't it bad enough to have Brian Herbert screw with his father's Dune universe?

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No, you're not.
I refuse to read or ackgnowledge the existence of a Hitchhiker's book not written by Douglas himself (actually, what the hell is Eoin going to be able to do with the plot anyway? Arthur's dead). Nobody, and I do mean nobody can do those books justice except the master himself.
If anyone comes after the Dirk Gently series (which I enjoyed more than Hitchhiker's, and highly reccommend to anyone who hasn't read them already), though, it will be over my cold dead body.

quote:

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Originally posted by Bugger:
Cool.

Anybody read Choke? I heard that's good (and lighter reading than 1984 etc.)

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you either love Palahniuk's books, or you despise him. The way he besets the mood on the entire world is like having your face wrapped in a damp, see-through cloth. I got "chuck-tired" after the 6th book I read (Snuff: a story revolving around three men in a gangbang lineup for some washed out porn star), because his books are technically the same atmosphere. At one point I even get numb from the atrocities Chuck cooks up, which is actually what makes the novels so interesting in the first place.

I think Choke is among the better books, and it's been filmed terribly well. Odd but true: I've always imagined the character to be a Sam Rockwell, and there you are: Sam Rockwell is casted for Choke. Coincidence? HA!

Apropos, I'm in love with the Fountainhead (Ayn Rand): it's a work of art. I was baffled that I was able to relate to the characters even when the book was written nearly 70 years ago. This book changed - or more accurately, affirmed - my view of the professional world and the position of the free spirit of an artist (architect in this case) in relation to the demands of people with money: the theme of staying true to yourself and be original forever vs. giving in to the demands and having short-lived success. I think it's paramount that every artist who has experienced this struggle should have a stab at this book.

Just bought The Gather Storm today (Wheel of Time) and halfway through...it's like more has been accomplished in half a novel than in the last 3.

I am literally in love with the characters and the story, but Jordan really screwed over a bunch of the fans with the last few books. It could EASILY have been one novel with less fluff and other garbage.

But I am upset that this "short sequence" of novels is what was supposed to be one super long book, is going to take ~3 years to come out now.

Yay.

quote:

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Originally posted by JesusChristMD:
I own choke. I liked it. A little weird, but in a funny way.

Just bought The Gather Storm today (Wheel of Time) and halfway through...it's like more has been accomplished in half a novel than in the last 3.

I am literally in love with the characters and the story, but Jordan really screwed over a bunch of the fans with the last few books. It could EASILY have been one novel with less fluff and other garbage.

But I am upset that this "short sequence" of novels is what was supposed to be one super long book, is going to take ~3 years to come out now.

Yay.

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I had a similar reaction to the last few books when I first read them (at least that they were somewhat drawn out and at times almost tedious), but when I reread them this past year I really enjoyed them.

Any comments on how Sanderson compares to Jordan?

-Caitiri

quote:

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Originally posted by JesusChristMD:
I own choke. I liked it. A little weird, but in a funny way.

Just bought The Gather Storm today (Wheel of Time) and halfway through...it's like more has been accomplished in half a novel than in the last 3.

I am literally in love with the characters and the story, but Jordan really screwed over a bunch of the fans with the last few books. It could EASILY have been one novel with less fluff and other garbage.

But I am upset that this "short sequence" of novels is what was supposed to be one super long book, is going to take ~3 years to come out now.

Yay.

---

quote:

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Originally posted by Keaner:
I stopped reading the series around book 7. I'm going to pick it up again when the series is finally done. The only question I have is, didn't Jordan die in 2007? Has the style changed at all in the last 2 books or were they pre written before he died?

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Yes, Robert Jordan died before completing the series. He has always said that he knows everything that is going to happen (to the point that he could have written the final scene back in the 80s), and he left behind extensive notes regarding the completion of the series. His wife chose Sanderson to complete the series in Jordan's stead, using the notes Jordan left behind. Jordan said that there would be only one more novel, no matter how long, but I believe Sanderson has chosen to divide it into three separate novels, the first of which (The Gathering Storm) just came out.

quote:

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Originally posted by JesusChristMD:
Comparing the two...well, Sanderson seems much more direct. But I really enjoy his dialogue, and as I've said...the first half of this book has been absolutely fantastic. Tons of stuff happening, intrigues, really well done.

And I'm not saying I didn't enjoy the last couple. There was just a ton of stuff there that didn't really matter in the grand scheme of Tarmon Gaidon coming.

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I guess I'm trying to get at a delineation between the plot and Sanderson's style. I'm curious how much of it being more direct and there being more stuff happening is due to his interpretation and delivery and how much is simply Jordan's notes and progression of the story. I'm glad you're enjoying it though; I'm sure I'll get to reading it in the next few months.

-Caitiri

Anybody else read this series? It's absolutely phenomenal fantasy writing, and my buddy just laid this theory of his on me the other day that blew the whole sub-plot wide open for me. Whether it's true or not we will have to see, but damn, it would explain a lot.

LOOK HOW COOL I AM! I KILL OFF EVERY CHARACTER WHO MATTERS IN THE STORY! HARR HARR HARR HARR

I don't mind some death, but it's like...it serves no real purpose half the time.

He gets a lot of credit for killing characters but I'm of the opinion that character deaths should mean something and drive the story foward. Not just happen because people think it's cool.