My shelf (25)
tomboygirl:
if you like funny books-'so long and thanks for all the fish'is fab.i dont remember the author tho!
if you like funny books-'so long and thanks for all the fish'is fab.i dont remember the author tho!
Douglas Adams...'The Hitchhikers guide to the Galaxy'....Anyway I'm off to 'The resturant at the end of the universe'....I'm straving and it's lunch time..All I know is 42.......
tomboygirl: ive read the tom sharpe you mentioned and a bunch of others he wrote,gosh in my teens i think,try wilt.
i dont read so much now,but have recently picked up 20 or so chick lit books.i used to read everything and anything i could lay my hands on cheaply.
i enjoyed the following;the kite runner,khalid hosseini.11 minutes,paulo coelho.the time travelers wife,audrey niffeneggar.phillip pullman'sdark materials trilogy.
to name but a few.
if you like funny books-'so long and thanks for all the fish'is fab.i dont remember the author tho!
i dont read so much now,but have recently picked up 20 or so chick lit books.i used to read everything and anything i could lay my hands on cheaply.
i enjoyed the following;the kite runner,khalid hosseini.11 minutes,paulo coelho.the time travelers wife,audrey niffeneggar.phillip pullman'sdark materials trilogy.
to name but a few.
if you like funny books-'so long and thanks for all the fish'is fab.i dont remember the author tho!
Thank you very much for the guidance – I’ll look for these books in the local library (it’s a Swedish and the Books-in-English shelf there isn’t that long). I’ve suspected that people’d know Tom Sharpe, that it’d a discovery only for me, but still I’m glad that I’m not alone in liking him.
Hi Tulefel,
I have experienced all that you described in your opening post, with a number of books over the years.
One more recent such text is one I came across in a bookshop in amsterdam airport. and one, which when I started, could not put it down. Perfect for flying long haul distances...no interruptions...well, nothing major.
The Philosopher and the Wolf by Mark Rowlands - review
A philosophical study and a fantasy about wolves reveal more about man than beast, argues Keith Ridgway
By Keith Ridgway
Published: 12:18PM GMT 06 Jan 2009
"Perhaps more than any other animal, wolves have featured in the stories we’ve told each other for as long as we’ve had stories to tell. As villains, as anti-heroes, as mysterious benefactors or dark threats: their gracefulness and their violence, their silence and their howl have fascinated. There is a blend of fear and envy in this fascination, and it is the latter that is to the fore in both of these books – one fictional, one not – which portray wolves primarily as heroic, pure, noble creatures that make humans look bad.
Mark Rowlands is a professor of philosophy who lived with a wolf called Brenin for more than a decade. Or, more accurately, Brenin lived with him – trained into a sort of obedience, dragged around the southern United States on drunken rugby weekends, suffering through six months of quarantine before being allowed entry into Ireland, spending a brief time in London, before ending his days in the South of France. Brenin was a well-travelled wolf..... "
Unfortunately. I left that copy in the States, so it's not in my shelf!:(
I have experienced all that you described in your opening post, with a number of books over the years.
One more recent such text is one I came across in a bookshop in amsterdam airport. and one, which when I started, could not put it down. Perfect for flying long haul distances...no interruptions...well, nothing major.
The Philosopher and the Wolf by Mark Rowlands - review
A philosophical study and a fantasy about wolves reveal more about man than beast, argues Keith Ridgway
By Keith Ridgway
Published: 12:18PM GMT 06 Jan 2009
"Perhaps more than any other animal, wolves have featured in the stories we’ve told each other for as long as we’ve had stories to tell. As villains, as anti-heroes, as mysterious benefactors or dark threats: their gracefulness and their violence, their silence and their howl have fascinated. There is a blend of fear and envy in this fascination, and it is the latter that is to the fore in both of these books – one fictional, one not – which portray wolves primarily as heroic, pure, noble creatures that make humans look bad.
Mark Rowlands is a professor of philosophy who lived with a wolf called Brenin for more than a decade. Or, more accurately, Brenin lived with him – trained into a sort of obedience, dragged around the southern United States on drunken rugby weekends, suffering through six months of quarantine before being allowed entry into Ireland, spending a brief time in London, before ending his days in the South of France. Brenin was a well-travelled wolf..... "
Unfortunately. I left that copy in the States, so it's not in my shelf!:(
Phoenix: Douglas Adams...'The Hitchhikers guide to the Galaxy'....Anyway I'm off to 'The resturant at the end of the universe'....I'm straving and it's lunch time..All I know is 42.......
Have heard the name, and somehow I think I saw it in the local library. If I’ve not mistaken, then I will borrow it next time.
By the way, your mentioning about lunch reminded me a scene from Ben Elton’s “Stark” when one of personages has been fed a dead cat instead of a swain.
venere08: Hi Tulefel,
I have experienced all that you described in your opening post, with a number of books over the years.
One more recent such text is one I came across in a bookshop in amsterdam airport. and one, which when I started, could not put it down. Perfect for flying long haul distances...no interruptions...well, nothing major.The Philosopher and the Wolf by Mark Rowlands - review
A philosophical study and a fantasy about wolves reveal more about man than beast, argues Keith Ridgway
By Keith Ridgway
Published: 12:18PM GMT 06 Jan 2009
"Perhaps more than any other animal, wolves have featured in the stories we’ve told each other for as long as we’ve had stories to tell. As villains, as anti-heroes, as mysterious benefactors or dark threats: their gracefulness and their violence, their silence and their howl have fascinated. There is a blend of fear and envy in this fascination, and it is the latter that is to the fore in both of these books – one fictional, one not – which portray wolves primarily as heroic, pure, noble creatures that make humans look bad.
Mark Rowlands is a professor of philosophy who lived with a wolf called Brenin for more than a decade. Or, more accurately, Brenin lived with him – trained into a sort of obedience, dragged around the southern United States on drunken rugby weekends, suffering through six months of quarantine before being allowed entry into Ireland, spending a brief time in London, before ending his days in the South of France. Brenin was a well-travelled wolf..... "
Unfortunately. I left that copy in the States, so it's not in my shelf!:(
I have experienced all that you described in your opening post, with a number of books over the years.
One more recent such text is one I came across in a bookshop in amsterdam airport. and one, which when I started, could not put it down. Perfect for flying long haul distances...no interruptions...well, nothing major.The Philosopher and the Wolf by Mark Rowlands - review
A philosophical study and a fantasy about wolves reveal more about man than beast, argues Keith Ridgway
By Keith Ridgway
Published: 12:18PM GMT 06 Jan 2009
"Perhaps more than any other animal, wolves have featured in the stories we’ve told each other for as long as we’ve had stories to tell. As villains, as anti-heroes, as mysterious benefactors or dark threats: their gracefulness and their violence, their silence and their howl have fascinated. There is a blend of fear and envy in this fascination, and it is the latter that is to the fore in both of these books – one fictional, one not – which portray wolves primarily as heroic, pure, noble creatures that make humans look bad.
Mark Rowlands is a professor of philosophy who lived with a wolf called Brenin for more than a decade. Or, more accurately, Brenin lived with him – trained into a sort of obedience, dragged around the southern United States on drunken rugby weekends, suffering through six months of quarantine before being allowed entry into Ireland, spending a brief time in London, before ending his days in the South of France. Brenin was a well-travelled wolf..... "
Unfortunately. I left that copy in the States, so it's not in my shelf!:(
Hi, Venere!
There was a period in my life when I liked to read about animals, and I’ve read some stories about wolves that on one side were difficult to believe in, and on the other were told with such a confidence than it was difficult to question its authenticity. I can’t mention any author, I’m afraid, it was a long time ago. But I agree with the review: wolves are fascinating animals, at least for me who never met any in the real life.
As to the wolf Brenin… for me wolf is symbol of freedom, it doesn’t feel right that he got to leave that kind of life. That makes indeed the humans look bad. (Not that they need any help to look bad…)
“I left that copy in the States” – sounds quite “sitizen-of-the-world”ish… makes me jealous…
venere08: Hi Tulefel,
I have experienced all that you described in your opening post, with a number of books over the years.
One more recent such text is oneI came across in a bookshop in amsterdam airport....
I have experienced all that you described in your opening post, with a number of books over the years.
One more recent such text is oneI came across in a bookshop in amsterdam airport....
V.. Stop right there. Amsterdam is for coffee shops not book shops...
Phoenix: Douglas Adams...'The Hitchhikers guide to the Galaxy'....Anyway I'm off to 'The resturant at the end of the universe'....I'm straving and it's lunch time..All I know is 42.......
Good book.....
(Corrie Street is on a comm break)...
When I lived in London many moons ago, I had a shelf and had 75 kinder surprise eggs toys on it..I had loads of planes, cars, cartoon fiures (bugs, road runner...) but I lost them somewhere along the way..
I don't keep book's. don't buy as many as I use to. But once I've finished with it, I pass them on..
Talking about books..
For 10 bonus points who was the name of the book end in 'bag-puss'?
One of my eternal favourites is "Cold Comfort Farm" - hysterical and wonderfully satisfying. Read it and you'll forever be obsessed by sukebind.
I also love Nancy Mitford - "Love in a Cold Climate", "Don't Tell Alfred" etc... so funny, so true...
And then there are two books by Kate Seredy; "The Good Master" and "The Singing Tree". Set on a Hungarian farm just before WWI they are an evocation of a better world. My mother and her brother read and loved them during WWII and then I loved them and now my kids love them... and if you haven't read them, you've missed out.
I also love Nancy Mitford - "Love in a Cold Climate", "Don't Tell Alfred" etc... so funny, so true...
And then there are two books by Kate Seredy; "The Good Master" and "The Singing Tree". Set on a Hungarian farm just before WWI they are an evocation of a better world. My mother and her brother read and loved them during WWII and then I loved them and now my kids love them... and if you haven't read them, you've missed out.
wordsmith99: One of my eternal favourites is "Cold Comfort Farm" - hysterical and wonderfully satisfying. Read it and you'll forever be obsessed by sukebind.
I also love Nancy Mitford - "Love in a Cold Climate", "Don't Tell Alfred" etc... so funny, so true...
And then there are two books by Kate Seredy; "The Good Master" and "The Singing Tree". Set on a Hungarian farm just before WWI they are an evocation of a better world. My mother and her brother read and loved them during WWII and then I loved them and now my kids love them... and if you haven't read them, you've missed out.
I also love Nancy Mitford - "Love in a Cold Climate", "Don't Tell Alfred" etc... so funny, so true...
And then there are two books by Kate Seredy; "The Good Master" and "The Singing Tree". Set on a Hungarian farm just before WWI they are an evocation of a better world. My mother and her brother read and loved them during WWII and then I loved them and now my kids love them... and if you haven't read them, you've missed out.
No, I haven’t read them, I even have never heard of the authors’ names. Don’t know why, but I’m prejudiced against female writers. Well… perhaps, I know why. There are many very talented female writers, but it happen that in the middle of all thrilling, that they’ve created themselves, they let their hero or heroine to behave somehow out of character, somehow that only a woman could make up – they go “biddy-ish”. One wants just sigh: “I like your book so much…Why, oh why you did that to me?” Perhaps, I’m just a chauvinist in this question… Male writers have also wick parts in their books… Perhaps I just want women to write better than men.
But I’ll look out for those authors, you made me curious, thank you for sharing.
Lillym: I read all kinds of books.... most favourite Lord of the Rings trilogy. I recently finished reading the Twilight saga books.
I started to read it, in Swedish, when my daughter was a teenager and was reading it. I was curious as I’ve heard a lot of praise for the writer and his work. And of course I wanted to keep even pace with my baby-girl (we’re experiencing a rather bad period in our relationship, and I wanted to have something in common to talk about, something that didn’t belong to everyday stuff). I’ve seen even the first part of the movie… but I’m afraid that it’s not my kettle of fish… I think it has to do with timing: there are books you have to read in a right period of your life, or they will be lost for you.
Tulefel: . There are many very talented female writers, but it happen that in the middle of all thrilling, that they’ve created themselves, they let their hero or heroine to behave somehow out of character, somehow that only a woman could make up – they go “biddy-ish”. One wants just sigh: “I like your book so much…Why, oh why you did that to me?” .
What is that when it's at home?..is it like girly lesbi stuff or she (the writer) uses femlae logic tgan even 9 out of 10 fit nubiles can't understand??
Joking aside..what's 'biddy-ish'???
Phoenix: What is that when it's at home?..is it like girly lesbi stuff or she (the writer) uses femlae logic tgan even 9 out of 10 fit nubiles can't understand??
Joking aside..what's 'biddy-ish'???
Joking aside..what's 'biddy-ish'???
Joking aside, you expressed it almost exactly: “is it like girly lesbi stuff or she (the writer) uses female logic than even 9 out of 10 fit nubiles can't understand”
A little correction: they can’t understand why it was necessary to use that approach, when as example, the heroine who’s doing rather well and tough throughout a crime story that far, suddenly bursts out in sobs. And never stops sobbing ever after… That, and the like, is going “biddy-ish”.
If the real women in the real life cried that much and that often as some writeresses describe, we all have already been swept off the planet with a giant flood wave.
Well as a female writer myself, I'm ASTONISHED that you could write off (if you'll excuse the pun) more than half the world's fiction!
I can only assume you've been reading the wrong books! Biddy-ish indeed! Good gracious, whatever next?
Now when was Scarlet O'Hara ever biddyish? Or Elizabeth Bennet? Or V.I. Warshawski?
I can only assume you've been reading the wrong books! Biddy-ish indeed! Good gracious, whatever next?
Now when was Scarlet O'Hara ever biddyish? Or Elizabeth Bennet? Or V.I. Warshawski?
I´m reading for the umpteenth time The Diary of Virginia Woolf. I love her short stories too. I´ve aways been fascinated with the Bloomsbury Group and the characters in her life.
Diaries are very interesting to read, maybe cos I´m nosey
but they do give a real insight into the writer´s life. The diaries of Simone de Beauvoir are also a fascinating read.
Diaries are very interesting to read, maybe cos I´m nosey
but they do give a real insight into the writer´s life. The diaries of Simone de Beauvoir are also a fascinating read.Sorry, haven’t managed to answer today, will do that when I’d come back. Or should I say: “If I’d come back”? One never can be superstitious enough…
Good night, good people!
Good night, good people!
wordsmith99: Well as a female writer myself, I'm ASTONISHED that you could write off (if you'll excuse the pun) more than half the world's fiction!
I can only assume you've been reading the wrong books! Biddy-ish indeed! Good gracious, whatever next?
Now when was Scarlet O'Hara ever biddyish? Or Elizabeth Bennet? Or V.I. Warshawski?
I can only assume you've been reading the wrong books! Biddy-ish indeed! Good gracious, whatever next?
Now when was Scarlet O'Hara ever biddyish? Or Elizabeth Bennet? Or V.I. Warshawski?
I don’t write off all female writers thought I don’t count quantity – “more than half the world’s fiction” – as sign of quality, but many of them write off themselves. At least from my book shelf. Certainly there was one or another “wrong” book: after dissolving of USSR we’ve experienced waves of all, books also, that poured from the West, and in my perception, the most of it was paper waste; (and sorry to say but a lot of writers were female). The serious writers made it either in Soviet times, or never made it – just got lost in the “flood” of rubbish.
There are female writers whose work I enjoy, but you always would like to read something new, wouldn’t you? I try now and then to read books written by women, and again, sorry to say, but it disappoints me more often than I’d like. But I do read, and I’d like to make more discoveries as I’ve done with Tom Sharpe, so I’m very grateful for any recommendation, and female names are very welcome of course: would be great to change my opinion about the subject.
And no, Scarlet O’Hara wasn’t biddyish, though Margaret Mitchell has one or another moment in that direction as I remember it.
And I wish you all the inspiration with your writing and all the luck with publishing.
JAN_is: I´m reading for the umpteenth time The Diary of Virginia Woolf. I love her short stories too. I´ve aways been fascinated with the Bloomsbury Group and the characters in her life.
Diaries are very interesting to read, maybe cos I´m nosey but they do give a real insight into the writer´s life. The diaries of Simone de Beauvoir are also a fascinating read.
Diaries are very interesting to read, maybe cos I´m nosey but they do give a real insight into the writer´s life. The diaries of Simone de Beauvoir are also a fascinating read.
Virginia Wolf – I’ve heard the name, but I never came across any of her books – will look for them next time I’ll be to the library. Though I have to say that I don’t like diaries or memoires or letters with details of a writer’s (or an actor’s) life, especially when I like what they do professionally. I see it as they shared their talent with me in their work, I can’t demand more: the private life is private.
Once I’ve read a book about Marina Tsvetaeva’s life, a very tragic indeed, and regretted that: since then I can’t read her poetry that I enjoyed so much. I feel pity for her and can’t shake off that feeling… I knew that her life wasn’t a dance on roses and perhaps it’d be enough, it feels like I’ve lost more by learning details about her life, than I could get from her poetry.
I read, read and read. If I don't have a book, I'm reading cereal packets.... I NEED books - I devour them...
I LOVE reading.
I would suggest:
Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach, an inspiring book.
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas - so very simply written, but hard hitting!
For something lighter, try The Discworld Novels by Terry Pratchett. 'The Colour of Magic' is the first. They are satirical fantasy stories - laughing at both the typical fantasy genre (Lord of the Rings etc) and intertwining it with the real world events (think of medieval people who invent cinema or rock music...). VERY funny.
Finally - my favourite book of all time. It MAY be for kids but.... Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. There is a version called the Annotated Alice. You get the two stories, but there are side notes that explain much about the 'meanings' and hidden 'in jokes'. Fascinating!
I LOVE reading.
I would suggest:
Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach, an inspiring book.
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas - so very simply written, but hard hitting!
For something lighter, try The Discworld Novels by Terry Pratchett. 'The Colour of Magic' is the first. They are satirical fantasy stories - laughing at both the typical fantasy genre (Lord of the Rings etc) and intertwining it with the real world events (think of medieval people who invent cinema or rock music...). VERY funny.
Finally - my favourite book of all time. It MAY be for kids but.... Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. There is a version called the Annotated Alice. You get the two stories, but there are side notes that explain much about the 'meanings' and hidden 'in jokes'. Fascinating!
More Threads
Manifesting
Are the ads on here as phony as some of the profiles?
See It All The Time
Democrats destroyed America
Gal / sdarlagg passed away on April 10, 2024
If Our Profiles Were Truly Honest
Iran- Israel war
Keep It Going!
I'm a 53 YEAR'S YUNG MAN that lives back in the 80s
Trump on Trial
More Threads
Report threads that break rules, are offensive, or contain fighting. Staff may not be aware of the forum abuse, and cannot do anything about it unless you tell us about it. click to report forum abuse »
If one of the comments is offensive, please report the comment instead (there is a link in each comment to report it).
If one of the comments is offensive, please report the comment instead (there is a link in each comment to report it).
Stats for this Thread
1,681 Views
24 Comments
in EU Forums
Created: Apr 2010
Last Viewed: just now
Last Commented: May 2010
0 Likes
According to the family legend I started read as 4 years old. Can’t confirm nor can I deny that. I myself remember “Rikki-Tikky-Tavi” of Kipling as my first book, in Russian of course (had to check its spelling in Wiki). I know what it’s about, approksimately, but have never re-read it since then.
But I read.
For the most I lend books at a library. But I also buy books. Aeroflot allowed 20 kg baggage per person (and 5 kg hand baggage). When we were moving to Sweden, we had 13 kg overweight. Books. (I had to hand out a lot of things when packing and choosing what I would take with me, books as well…)
I still read.
There are books that you have to read. Of one or another reason.
There are books you are just happened to read. Again of one or another reason.
And there are books you were lucky to read. And this thread is about these books.
There are books that you started to read without knowing anything about the writer or the subject. And very soon you’ve got the feeling that you are very lucky that in all this endless ocean of rubbish trying to pass as books, you’ve got this. And when it ends you feel emptiness because the book had ended. Your feel rich. You feel drained. You want to keep this book for yourself. You want to share it. You’ve got thoughts from it. And about it. You’ve got arguments. You’ve got words of approval. Or condemnation. You’d like to talk to it. That’s it, to the book, not to its author. You’d like to discuss it with peers. You want hug it. You want to throw it away. It irritates you. Your feel relief because the book has ended and you can do something else. You want this intensity. You want this passion. You want this book on your shelf. You want this book in your hands. You can’t leave it. Just can’t.
“So here goes. Big Guy, Big Entity, Big Being, if you’re up there listening, I suppose you will think what you like. But please forgive me. I need it tonight. I did what I wanted and now I am sorry as hell. We both know the truth: I have sinned, big-time. Tomorrow I’ll have my stuff back. I’ll be bitter and ready to stick it to everyone else. I’ll be the apostate, agnostic, you won’t cross my mind. But like me tonight, accept me one moment before I reject you, as I reject everyone else. If you can forgive infinitely, then forgive this, and have an instant of pity for your ragtag creation, sad Bess Malloy’s boy.”
Scott Turow “Pleading guilty”. I’ve lent it at a library, but I’d like to have my copy on the shelf. I’m in love with it.
“I am sorry as hell” but if you’ve got a book to share, please do.