Literature (40)

After a comment by someone who does at times (like a lot of us) skim through the e-pages and miss a bit, thought I would put up something here. I have problems with computers even though I have been using them since 1971. I do tend to "glance" at the pages, much to my professional detriment over the years. I pick out the bits and pieces and at times seem to "lose the plot."

Professionally, I made it a habit to print out what I have written or need to read and then sat back and read it word for word before going any further. I tend to not do that so much on a computer.

The comment was "I don't generally read fiction" And this was just after I had made a post regarding a biographical publication.

I have always been a reader and enjoy many, many types and styles of writing. While Giles was a great explorer, his books left me asleep at a very early time. Beadell on the otherhand kept me awake on many nights. Madigan, who did Antartica with Mawson and later the Simpson Desert under his guidance (Simpson Desert was named by him for his patron) has taken me 5 years to get halfway through.

And if you hand me a Phantom comic, it is gone in 10 minutes.

Nunn has done some good fictionalisation on Australia history. I have enjoyed her novels. Until she decided that they were driving Land Rovers at the time of the Darwin bombings (first one built was 1948).

Met an author (Barry Smith) recently who told me a bit about the problems of fiction writing where real events are included. He had given one of his books to friends of his, a Melbourne Bishop. He was polite in saying that he thought it would not sell because it was too far from the truth.

No Labor Member would have been allowed in the Club at that time. "No way would the Bishop and the PM meet at the Melbourne Club."

His wife (okay, they were Anglican) later told him that he had really enjoyed the book.

I actually put up this Thread not because I consider myself "well-read" but consider myself "widely-read." And from that, when I do read something in a fiction or non-fiction and something in it gets my attention, I do look a bit further.

RobP is very often introducing his Bhuddist knowledge into a few threads. I respect RobP for having his belief. Which is why after reading about travels in Tibet early in the 20th Century, I did look into more of Tibet's history as it was not really the same as I had heard, read or seen on media befoe.

But without reading something which went against my existing knowledge I had, no way would I have looked further.

I have found that many fictional books do have a regard to "history." This leads me to explore, thankful for Google for that.

I have over the years tried to find some of the history of Russia and the Phillipines. Very few books written are available in English.

The Russians deleted much of the Tzarist history, the Phillipines deleted a lot of stuff before Admiral Dewey (something about the Spanish Rule).

I agree I also only read none fiction, like Time, Newsweek, and um the fashion sections cooking of the womens mags ..what Mags do you like Serene?