books to read

[Mark Renton]

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I'm actually reading this. Back in highschool last may we analized "Eveline" and I was pretty interested in the whole idea of paralisis and ephiphany, definetly blew my mind. However, now that I'm reading it on my own I find it pretty hard to understand, like link the different stories and hidden meanings of the single novels. I'm actually starting "The boarding house", I hope things get clearer, still amazing writing techniques though. Anyone can share his idea on this?

[close]

Weirdly this was the last book I read. The stories aren't meant to have any discerning linkage. Sure, the book is a resounding delineation of dublin's characters, but really, there's not meant to be any parallels drawn between the short stories...at least I think anyway.

As for the bold text - what?

Haha yeah, maybe I'm just too curious and I forced myself to see links even though there weren't, my bad. I was looking for further explanation in the following stories, just my fault.
Bold text: paralisis and ephiphany are two of Joyce's main features to express the personalities of people from Ireland and Dublin in general. For what I can remember from what I studied those people hate their state of life and want to escape their reality, but can't because of their weak personality.
E.g. in "Eveline" she wants to live her life abroad with her boyfriend but can't sail with him because she's paralised, like a weak animal, and tortured in her mind with the promise she made to her mother to keep the family together.
One the other hand epiphany is the trivial gesture (somehow similar to the "madeleine" of Proust) that marks the impossibility of the change; it's given by a sound, a memory and whatnot, something absolutely trivial but really important for the character. In Eveline this is given by the sound of an organ or something, that reminds her the night her mother died.

This is just my two cents, really. I hope this helped to understand the bold text.

[fulfillthedream]

My cousin got me into this book called Shantaram. Its about an Australian man who is in prison and escapes as a fugitive to India and the book describes his adventures and relationships he develops there. It's a long ass read (i've been on and off with this one for a while between school stuff) but it's written really deep and poetically. It's pretty epic, almost like a long movie. I am kind of glad I have not finished it because this novel is some how still always involved in my life. I think a skateboarder would really dig the adventures and stories in this book.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shantaram_%28novel%29

[Smurph]

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Expand Quote

I'm actually reading this. Back in highschool last may we analized "Eveline" and I was pretty interested in the whole idea of paralisis and ephiphany, definetly blew my mind. However, now that I'm reading it on my own I find it pretty hard to understand, like link the different stories and hidden meanings of the single novels. I'm actually starting "The boarding house", I hope things get clearer, still amazing writing techniques though. Anyone can share his idea on this?

[close]

Weirdly this was the last book I read. The stories aren't meant to have any discerning linkage. Sure, the book is a resounding delineation of dublin's characters, but really, there's not meant to be any parallels drawn between the short stories...at least I think anyway.

As for the bold text - what?

[close]

Haha yeah, maybe I'm just too curious and I forced myself to see links even though there weren't, my bad. I was looking for further explanation in the following stories, just my fault.
Bold text: paralisis and ephiphany are two of Joyce's main features to express the personalities of people from Ireland and Dublin in general. For what I can remember from what I studied those people hate their state of life and want to escape their reality, but can't because of their weak personality.
E.g. in "Eveline" she wants to live her life abroad with her boyfriend but can't sail with him because she's paralised, like a weak animal, and tortured in her mind with the promise she made to her mother to keep the family together.
One the other hand epiphany is the trivial gesture (somehow similar to the "madeleine" of Proust) that marks the impossibility of the change; it's given by a sound, a memory and whatnot, something absolutely trivial but really important for the character. In Eveline this is given by the sound of an organ or something, that reminds her the night her mother died.

This is just my two cents, really. I hope this helped to understand the bold text.

Wait wait, not being a smartass but Eveline isn't paralysed - her muscles function...are you sure you haven't mixed up your terms? - if you mean "paralysis", it probably must be accompanied by another word or else it doesn't really transpose to literature.

As for "epiphany", in the grand scheme of things, yes, yes this is endemic in many of the stories in the collection.

Edit - just to give you a semi-local insight to the Eveline story... Ireland had inadmissable poverty and hardship and by virtue, emigration was rife. Thing is, with Ireland historically being quite a closed, conservative place; when somebody left, they left for good...and they NEVER returned. Essentially the undertone to many works is the struggle to decide between family, friends, custom, religion and adventure, freedom, liberty, work...

A really prolific example of this is in Brian Friel's - Philadelphia Here I Come...very well recommended.

[oyolar]

He means paralysis as in inaction. Obviously not physically paralyzed, but perhaps psychically, emotionally, metaphysically--which is a huge aspect of Joyce's novels. An inability of the characters, for whatever reason, to make changes that they know are necessary.

Along with Nietzsche, I'm reading this. Trying to finish both before my classes start.

[Mark Renton]

He means paralysis as in inaction. Obviously not physically paralyzed, but perhaps psychically, emotionally, metaphysically--which is a huge aspect of Joyce's novels. An inability of the characters, for whatever reason, to make changes that they know are necessary.

This is what I meant.

[Smurph]

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He means paralysis as in inaction. Obviously not physically paralyzed, but perhaps psychically, emotionally, metaphysically--which is a huge aspect of Joyce's novels. An inability of the characters, for whatever reason, to make changes that they know are necessary.

[close]

This is what I meant.

Cool, I understand...and sorry to be pedantic.

I'm actually reading this now:



It's too early in the book to give a resolute opinion.

[GISM]

Just finished this
Apparently it's a revamped version with extra content to better match the movie... Should've gotten the original. It has a behind the scenes type thing on the process of getting the movie made so that was cool. Watched Blade Runner right after.

Going to start 1984 or The Gangs of New York, the actual historical accounts of what the movie is based on.

[happenstance]

If you are interested in the effects American foreign policy has on its citizens then I recommend "Blowback" by Chalmers Johnson. It is an amazing read. I am just finishing up his new book, so if you have read "Blowback" (though it isn't really necessary to read it first, I just think it is a better introduction to Johnson), I would read "Dismantling the Empire." It explores the effects of maintaining the cost of the American Empire and the power of the military industrial complex over American foreign policy.

[Rumpleforeskin]

Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas

[yobzobbler]

Just finished this. Its unpleasant and pretty archaic but ultimately highly rewarding.

...Archaic?  It was written in '85... it's not Shakespeare here.

An "archaic" western would be something like Shane or John Wayne's early movies. Westerns today are wholly different from the clear-cut good/evil lines they drew back then.

[svilleantigo]

I'm actually reading this now:



It's too early in the book to give a resolute opinion.

Heycool, me too. Found a copy at the Salvation Army thrift store for 50 cents.

[Tarquin]

Incredible storyteller.

[kilgore.]

unfuckwithable

[Tarquin]

Half way through that now. So far I completely agree.

[Buddy G]

journey to the end of the night is amazing, and so is everything Ballard wrote.

i just read Crash, well overdue.

are you guys into Houellebecq?

[VictoriousOG]

Started The Green Mile the other night. My first S. King book.

[Joust Ostrich]

Is Robinson Crusoe worth reading?  I just found it, read a chapter. Debating if it's worth the time investment.  I'd appreciate your feedback.

[sametelt]

are you guys into Houellebecq?

Got the Elementary Particles lined up. Think I'll start reading it this week.

[dolphinstyle.]

Is Robinson Crusoe worth reading?  I just found it, read a chapter. Debating if it's worth the time investment.  I'd appreciate your feedback.

I finished it the other day. Had an on and off relationship with it, I needed 2 months for the first 200 pages but finished the rest pretty quickly. Why? I don't know but it's definitely worth reading, sometimes it's kinda boring, however,  the sections where he builds his shit are pretty cool. All in all: go ahead

Started Hermann Hesse's Steppenwolf

[buttpirate]

a third of the way through, pretty interesting even with all the freudian/jungian theory going over my head

[Joust Ostrich]

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Is Robinson Crusoe worth reading?  I just found it, read a chapter. Debating if it's worth the time investment.  I'd appreciate your feedback.

[close]

I finished it the other day. Had an on and off relationship with it, I needed 2 months for the first 200 pages but finished the rest pretty quick. Why? I don't know but it's definitely worth reading, sometimes it's kinda boring, however,  the sections where he builds his shit are pretty cool. All in all: go ahead

Started Hermann Hesse's Steppenwolf

Cool, thank you.  Will proceed.

[Sarah Jessica ParkFootage]

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Just finished this. Its unpleasant and pretty archaic but ultimately highly rewarding.

[close]

...Archaic?  It was written in '85... it's not Shakespeare here.

An "archaic" western would be something like Shane or John Wayne's early movies. Westerns today are wholly different from the clear-cut good/evil lines they drew back then.

I just meant the language is pretty archaic, especially with some of the dialogue which works for the novel but could act as a barrier for some people, I've just begun watching Deadwood and can't really get down with all the Effing, Blinding and Pussying that goes on. I'm presuming its fairly historically accurate but hearing "motherfucking" in the context of the 1870s seems so jarring.

[penguin meat]

"Eaarth"
For anyone who's into global, economic, environmental, climate stuff.  It's really fact heavy and hard to read if you aren't interested though.

[Joust Ostrich]

I really like this graphic from Hardtimes.  I like Bukowski, but I've only read a couple books.  I think all the little dipshits that are so into him have tainted me.

[sven thorkel]

I'm halfway through it. I've slept on this one for awhile now, but if there's any Jared Diamond book to start on, it's this one. He's an excellent curator of information. This book explains the history of the world better than any other book (at least in my opinion) and it isn't even that boring. If you're under stimulated and in thirst of knowledge, I highly recommend Guns, Germs, and Steel.   

[David]

 
borrowed a copy of The Red and The Black by Stendhal

[Monty Burns]

Finished the first 4 books , they are really cool . First one was abit hard to read since I saw the HBO series first . But it was
good to read it since it filled in alot of missing stuff . The books are really well written and interesting . Only negative thing is when
you want to keep reading about the POV charecter you like the best but someone you dont care enough about shows up





Watched  Seven afew days ago , got inspired to read some of the books on John Does book list ( not in a weird psycho way ) .


Love this thread , so many new books to read . Just reading through all these pages you could have a really amazing bookshelf

[Smurph]

Watched  Seven afew days ago , got inspired to read some of the books on John Does book list ( not in a weird psycho way ) .

Hmmm...

You know this is a really really really really really long poem, right? Apparently, if one is to assess the Trinity; "Inferno"  is the most accessible to readers whilst "Purgatoria" and "Paradiso" are tantamount to a switch flip 50-50 up el-toro. I think a supposed masterpiece like that can only truly be appreciated with a very fine-tuned knowledge of theology and philosophy. I would absolutely love to have the wisdom to be able to appreciate a work like this.

[grimcity]

Recently finished "White Flag of the Dead" (had some good reviews on Apple)... it's a zombiepocalypse book and though it could have used some better editing, it was a fucking great read. Just found out it's the first of a series, about to snag them.

Read The Zombie Autopsies but it was horrible.

[oyolar]

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Watched  Seven afew days ago , got inspired to read some of the books on John Does book list ( not in a weird psycho way ) .

[close]

Hmmm...

You know this is a really really really really really long poem, right? Apparently, if one is to assess the Trinity; "Inferno"  is the most accessible to readers whilst "Purgatoria" and "Paradiso" are tantamount to a switch flip 50-50 up el-toro. I think a supposed masterpiece like that can only truly be appreciated with a very fine-tuned knowledge of theology and philosophy. I would absolutely love to have the wisdom to be able to appreciate a work like this.

I've read the entire thing. "Purgatorio" and "Paradiso" are pretty difficult to get through. It's because hearing people get punished ("Inferno") is just a lot more interesting. Simple as that. You do need a lot of theological and linguistic knowledge (Dante wrote each section in different forms of Italian in an attempt to reflect each ares i.e. "Inferno" is really low brow Italian while "Paradiso" is in a very high-brow Italian that Dante invented to attempt to illustrate perfection in imperfect human language), but the copy I have has a lot of notes per book that helps explain a lot of the theological/historical/metaphysical aspects of the book.