So let's rant about books

Nowaysis · 19-11-06 15:38:42

Ker-bump!!

Over the weekend, which I spent at a silent retreat courtesy of my temporary employer, I got the chance to delve into two excellent works of fiction.

The first was Nabokov's Lolita, which I had started reading some time ago, but never really got into properly, that is, I never got very far. The book really had me with the opening sentences:

Nabokov/Humbert wrote:

Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins. My sin, my soul. Lo-lee-ta: the tip of the tongue taking a trip of three steps down the palate to tap, at three, on the teeth.

Beautiful wordmanship, but its beauty also belied the horror I soon experienced, of being sucked into Humbert's psyche. If we were only for a moment to forget that Lolita is but twelve years old when they first meet, it would be very easy to sympathise with Humbert, with his longings and his longwinded descriptions of her physical beauty, and almost with his clandestine ways of satisfying this longing (the couch scene).

Now, all the comments I've seen about this book also mention a large dose of humour in the book. While I have so far (I'm not done with it yet) laughed a couple of time, "Should I marry this Trapp, and strangle her?", I must admit that most of this humour has gone straight by me. Maybe it's the language thing, my command may be impeccable, but some nuances are bound to be lost, no matter how good I claim to be at this most wonderful of languages. Or maybe it's just the way I read books. Humour in writing has to be very obvious for me to catch it, for I have a much too contemplative mindset when I read. I have been weaned to analyse every word and twist of the plot, instead of simply stuffing my face in it, chewing a few times to feel the taste, and then swallowing.

But all of that matters absolutely naught, for this is an awesome work of literature, and should be read by all, no matter your own persuasions, or opinions about the persuasion at hand.

The second book I actually started out on at the retreat. In their book shelf I found to my pleasant, but mild, surprise C.S. Lewis' science fiction works (the library was mostly made up of religious/theological literature and the likes, seeing as the retreat was a Christian one). I started reading Out of the Silent Planet (translated, unfortunately) simply because My mother tried to make me read the Ransom-trilogy many years ago, and thought I'd give it another go (my mother's attempts failed horribly, I only wanted to read Narnia at the time).

At first I was a bit sceptical, the writing seemed to bear the hideous hallmarks of Lewis (my gosh, how surprising) that I discovered when re-reading Narnia at a "mature" age, namely a slightly summaric (summary? adj? adv?) style of storytelling, a somewhat heavy handed narrative, and a sometimes far too present narrator that yanks the reader out of the fiction, at times ruining completely the suspension of disbelief.

Pressing on despite these flaws, however, I was rewarded with a tale of great imaginative powers, and once I hit the philosophical discussion between Ransom and one of the hrossa, Hyoi I think his name was, I was absolutely in love. Now, being no philosopher myself, I really can't tell if the philosophical ponderings presented were on any respectable level, but all the same, it was fascinating; not in the least due to the Malacandrian words Lewis invented for certain phenomena, which made the thought process involved in deciphering the discussion a lot easier, since there were no familiar words, with underlying meanings there to interfere with the message conveyed.

Now I just have to find the time to go buy, and read, the entire trilogy in English.

My that was a long post. Can't you just tell I haven't said a word for three days?

Last edited by Nowaysis (19-11-06 15:44:12)

dyslexius · 19-11-06 17:51:15

Ker-bump yourself.
This is one beautiful posting, Mr. Nowaysis.
All "book reviews" should be so alluring.

--dyslexius

Nowaysis · 19-11-06 18:05:47

You mean to say you actually read that entire gigantoid mass of jumbled words and subclauses stacked one on top of the other and the third until not even Longman himself could find the finite verb? "Impressive, most impressive."

And thank you so much for the kind words. While writing this I realised how much I've missed writing about literature since I stopped studying.

dyslexius · 20-11-06 00:40:22

Of course, I read it all with unbounded enthusiasm. I also read today's post about your ticklish testicles, which, while lacking the exalted literary sensibility of the present posting, was written with equivalent linguistic color and vitality.

--dyslexius

Cate · 04-12-06 07:20:47

I had sunday to myself for once and among other things got a bit of reading done. I read Of Mice and Men by Steinbeck and started Grey Area by Will Self which I just picked up last week.

Siobhan · 15-12-06 05:49:51

nerdy is hot.

just like Miranda.

polarchill · 15-12-06 07:01:13

Siobhan wrote:

nerdy is hot.

The fiancee keeps telling me that.

Siobhan wrote:

just like Miranda.

She never says that. It would be VERY hot if she did, though. *shiver* Sorry, just daydreaming . . .

Siobhan · 15-12-06 13:01:17

lol. are you going to be one of those husbands who keeps trying to get his wife to life women?

i guess you'd be less alone then.

i mean, ididn't mean like there'd be three. i mean, then you'd both be bi. sorry i'm not yet awake.

polarchill · 15-12-06 14:04:15

Siobhan wrote:

lol. are you going to be one of those husbands who keeps trying to get his wife to life women?
i guess you'd be less alone then.
i mean, ididn't mean like there'd be three. i mean, then you'd both be bi. sorry i'm not yet awake.

Cool, who knew that you were all cute and fuzzy-headed when you first woke up?

Hmmmph, as for trying to get her to like women, the subject may have come up a few times (I believe my wording might have been "it would be my best birthday EVER, honey", or something like that, I dunno), but I'm afraid it's just not in her area of interest. To each his/her own.

I'm just grateful for all the things she is; I guess I can't complain too much about the things she isn't. For one thing, she has always given me quite a bit of latitude in taking care of any needs that she doesn't fulfill, which is an amazingly tolerant and loving attitude. I can honestly say I've never known anyone quite like her.

Siobhan · 15-12-06 14:15:13

she sounds wonderful. and so do you.

and ps: you never know what the future holds!

and pps: thanks for being gracious with my earlier semi-lucidity. i was coming back to delete it (!) but you are a quick one, you are. . . .

polarchill · 15-12-06 14:24:28

Polarchill: Ninja Typist

Calenture · 18-12-06 15:54:48

Siobhan wrote:

In the Skin of a Lion is also about subtle eroticism, though it's a much more conventional novel. I've often told people that it has the most erotic two pages of any novel I've read in years -- and that's true IF -- as I said before, you like your eroticism subtle. Oh, how I'd love for some adventurous IFM girls to re-create that scene. Ondaatje's sequel to this book was called The English Patient and was made into a huge movie, but it was In the Skin of a Lion that, to me, was much more cinematic. In a way, I'm glad that it was never made into a film because my own images are the ones that stay with me.
So those are my two offerings to you. I dare someone, some special person, to get the second book and find the two pages that I find the most erotic, ever, and if you do, you'll know more about me and what I like than most people.

I have read that book - and loved it - but don't have it to hand. But when I find it, I shall look for your two pages.

Last edited by Calenture (18-04-09 15:16:50)

Calenture · 18-12-06 15:59:15

p.s. Whatever happened to kronocide? Or is he Burlesque in disguise?

Siobhan · 18-12-06 16:23:46

I love that you've read that book. I don't even remember writing the above post -- some months back, I suppose -- but would love your take if you do re-find the book.

To me, this (or any) forum only reaches a certain level of richness when people take the time to read back -- I so love it when someone posts on an old thread. So "nothing better to do" sounds like a great use of your time!

As for Kronocide, no, he's not Burlesque, but they do share a lot: they're the same age, both are tremendously well-read, are wonderful writers, and extremely kind and thoughtful and sensitive (though manly!) people whose delivery can, at times, be jarring to others. Each of them has, at one time, been enthralled with this forum and each has, over time, chosen to leave. As I would gladly spend a lot of time with these gentlemen, here or in real life, I wish things were different!

annoula · 02-01-07 21:59:49

I read a lovely little book recently...Images were appearing before my eyes..Then i googled it and found out it has already been made a movie...Bummer...

Anyway ...Silk by Alessandro Baricco

...Has the most erotic description of tea drinking...

Blind_Ryan · 10-01-07 15:08:10

The absolute, balls-out best book I've ever read is "Centennial" by James A. Michener. I read it at least 10 times in jail and, to boot, I saw the tv miniseries WAY back when so I was having cool flashbacks.

History lover's dream. If I'm emailed and asked, I might find a way to get it to you for free.

edited with a quote:

They found Jimmy Clark at one of the barracks, and five minutes’ conversation satisfied them that here was a young man of conscience who was revolted almost to the point of losing his sanity by what he had seen at Rattlesnake Buttes, and they got word of his existence to General Wade.

Jimmy Clark’s testimony shocked both the court and the nation. Quietly and with considerable patience General Wade led the nervous young man along, step by painful step, halting the interrogation whenever Jimmy wiped his eyes or tried to control his breath.

“You saw men of your command use their sabers on girl children who were running away?”

“Yessir, cut right through them.”

“You saw men whose names you know discharge their revolvers in the faces of little boys?”

“Yessir, four times.”

“You told us of only two.”

“The other time was when these men were holding two children, and Colonel Skimmerhorn rode up and said, ‘Nits grow into lice,’ and the men shot that pair too.”

“Now, this next question is most important, Private Clark, and before you answer, I want you to remember that you are under oath.”

“Yessir.”

“Did you see men of your command moving among the dead with knives in their hands?”

“I did.”

“What were they doing?”

“Cutting off the breasts of women.”

General Wade took a deep breath and asked solemnly, “You yourself saw soldiers cutting off the breasts of dead women?”

“One of them wasn’t dead, sir.”

Here Clark started to gag, but all he could do was heave, and General Wade directed a corporal to give him a drink of water.

“Did you, with your own eyes, see men of your unit scalp dead Indians?”

“Yessir, they brought the scalps to Denver and held an exhibition, along with the two children.” Seeing that General Wade was puzzled by this revelation, he explained, “In the theater.”

“Theater!” Wade roared. “Sergeant Kennedy, were Indian prisoners exhibited in a public theater?”

“Yessir,” an orderly announced. “At the Apollo Theater. Admission fifteen cents.”

“Oh, my God,” the general exploded, and for that day the hearings were halted.

Next morning when Jimmy Clark appeared to resume his testimony he was not easily recognizable. It was obvious that he had been beaten brutally. His lips were cut and his eyes blackened. One arm hung limp at his side. When he took the stand, General Wade asked, “Private Clark, do you wish to tell this court of inquiry what happened to you since we last saw you?”

“I stumbled, sir.”

“You stumbled?”

“Yessir.”

“Is that all you wish to tell us?”

“Yessir.”

“Stenographer, let the record show that this morning Private Clark appeared with his lips cut, his eyes blackened—both of them—with a heavy welt across his chin and with one arm hanging limp. He stumbled.”

There was a spell of quietness in the courtroom, with only the sound of the scratching pen, and then General Wade spoke. “Only a few questions today. Did you, during the fight, have an opportunity to see the Indian chief known as Lost Eagle.”

“I did, sir.”

“Tell us under what circumstances.”

“It was late in the battle, sir, and this old man came headin’ toward me, and at first I thought he was one of us because he had on an army uniform, but it was old style, and then I saw he was an Indian. He was carryin’ half a flag and around his neck he had a brass medal, about this big.”

“How could you tell it was a medal?”

“Because when he saw me he supposed I was going to shoot him, and he held out his hands like this, with the torn flag in one hand, and he said, ‘It’s a mistake.’ ”

“Did you also see a Cheyenne chief called White Antelope?”

“I did, sir.”

“Tell the court under what circumstances.”

“Me and Ben Willard—he’s a half-breed guide—when we went into the center of the tipis we saw this old man, maybe seventy. You wouldn’t believe it. He just stood there with his arms folded while the soldiers shot at him, and he was singin’.”

“Singing?”

“Yessir, in a strong voice. I asked Ben Willard what he was singin’, and Ben listened and told me, ‘His death chant,’ and the old man chanted, ‘Only the earth and the mountains, nothin’ lives except the earth and the mountains.’ Then three soldiers came at him at once and gunned him down and one ripped off his pants and cut off his balls, and Ben Willard shouted, ‘What in hell are you doin’?” and the man said, ‘Tobacco pouch.’ ”

That floored me right there.

Last edited by Blind_Ryan (10-01-07 15:20:47)

shamFritters · 10-01-07 17:14:15

kronocide wrote:

It may be because whenever I have the time and inclination to read a book these days I have three or four that I must read for some course or other. I've been trying to read both Foucault's Pendulum and Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, but I'm just not getting anywhere. I try to read when I go to bed but by then I'm so tired I fall asleep after 1½ page.

These are two of my all-time favorite books, but forget about reading them at bedtime. They're dense text, and tend toward the dry if you're not paying attention. Plus, when they hit you in the face it's a nasty wake-up!

shamFritters · 10-01-07 17:24:23

Thanks, Cal - it's nice to be back. Although phew - it's a whole day's work just catching up! What was that whole kava thing about?

Calenture · 10-01-07 17:26:18

Oops! Sorry. I inadvertently left you replying to your own post by deleting one of mine.

shamFritters · 10-01-07 17:30:31

how embarassing! Just playing with myself here, I guess

nihpuad · 11-01-07 07:02:22

I haven't posted in this thread recently, but it happens that Santa Claus brought me a metric buttload of books for Christmas, including a new bio of Houdini that's supposed to be great, Apple cofounder Steve Wozniak's memoir (iWoz), Casino Royale (saw the movie; needed the book), Doyle Brunson's classic book on poker, and a "new" novel by long-dead Robert Heinlein (it's actually by Spider Robinson, from an outline and notes left by Heinlein).

I'm sure I'll have stuff to say about all of them, as I get around to reading them, but what motivated me to mention my haul here was something that I encountered in the very first story in another of my gifts, The John Varley Reader: There's a character named Adagio!

polarchill · 11-01-07 07:23:05

nihpuad wrote:

I haven't posted in this thread recently, but it happens that Santa Claus brought me a metric buttload of books for Christmas, including . . .
Casino Royale[/i] (saw the movie; needed the book)

I think you'll be surprised at how faithful the movie was to the book, which hasn't happened since, geez, I think On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

Now, when I say faithful, of course I mean given the fact that they by necessity had to insert a lot of the modern Bondian action scenes and additional sex interests that today's Bond fans expect. Other than that, though, the basic story and characters are left remarkably intact. It's almost akin to taking a nicely built bungalow and constructing a palatial mansion around it. Not easy to do without losing the charm of the original structure, but somehow they pulled it off.

annoula · 11-01-07 07:47:20

I got a huge book as a present for xmas. The latest by Yalom about group therapy theories and techniques.
Why i would need to know all this...I have enough one to one sessions with all my friends. If i was paid I would at last be rich...
Also want to get the rest of Hanif Kureishi, what ever i haven't got that is.If i was a man that is how i would write...if i could write.

The_Elfman · 11-01-07 13:10:58

nihpuad wrote:

Doyle Brunson's classic book on poker

At last another poker player on this site!! I assume your talking about "Super System"? May I also recommend these two books by Dan Harrington. Best I've read on tournament poker.

nihpuad · 12-01-07 06:45:14

polarchill wrote:

I think you'll be surprised at how faithful the movie was to the book...

Actually, I'm counting on that. When I was a kid, I read almost all of the Bond books... but I never got around to Casino Royale. When I heard that the new movie was an attempt to take Bond back to his roots, I started thinking about re-reading te books, and that's how Casino Royale ended up on my holiday wish list.

As for the movies... well, let me tell you a story: When we lived in Korea, my wife and I used to eat at a restaurant called Tomorrow Tiger, which I always thought of as what would happen if a Korean businessman visited the U.S., ate at a Howard Johnson's once, and then tried to recreate it from memory when he got home. They served Western-style dishes, and everything on their menu was really tasty... but none of it actually tasted like what it was supposed to be.

That's sort of how I've always felt about the Bond movies: Really tasty, but no actual resemblance to what they're supposed to be.

I liked Casino Royale (the movie) a lot (though I might've liked it more if it were 15 minutes shorter). One bit of updating has me of two minds: I thought changing the card game to Texas Hold 'Em (I believe it's baccarat in the book, isn't it?) was a bit of egregious pandering to a current fad... but OTOH, I really like poker (see my next post, in reply to Elfman), and I don't know d!ck about baccarat.

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