The Great Books Thread

[Harri]

I was inspired by Volty's sad lack of teh interwebs.

I'm an avid reader. I can read almost every genre except romance. I believe there is a book out there for everybody.

What are your favorite books? What book(s) would you suggest others read?

[GoDM1N]

Im 12, shes 24. Shes my mom, I'm her son. The story of Tuna.

No really, read voltys sig.

[VoltySquirrel]

Im 12, shes 24. Shes my mom, I'm her son. The story of Tuna.

I'd read it.
OT: I don't get to read much, but when I do, I strive to read meaningful books, like Great Gatsby or 1984. Total classics. I actually read some of the harlequin romance novels for the sheer badness. It's the book equivalent of Plan 9 from Outer Space. I don't do that in public, though. Gotta dodge 'dem gay jokes.

[Harri]

Moving on to book suggestions. :3

[Sirnak]

I study literature at university. I guess I therefore have my place in this topic.

Great Books? Hard to say. I like many books and I've studied many interesting ones. I would have one particular for Critsandvich, though: L'étranger (literally translated to The Stranger). It's a novel written by Albert Camus telling the story of a man that fucking doesn't give a shit about anything and doesn't understand why society gives a shit about so many things. For exemple, he didn't cry when his mother was buried in front of him. According to him, he "didn't feel happy, but still didn't feel the need to cry". It's a subtle reading though, but, YES, it is the book that gave its name to the Spy gun L'étranger, which is why I propose this book to the community... I tell you, some guy at Valve made quite a nice analysis of this book to come up with the symbolism behind the name of this Spy gun...

Lots of subjects to think about in this book. And there's sex. And guns. And Mexicans. And a lawyer that yells "OBJECTION!" Best quote related to Camus' L'étranger:

"Objection! You can't possibly say that this man is a murderer based on the sole fact that he didn't cry at his mother's funeral!"

It's a subtle reading ( also much more intelligent than how I present it). Try it out if you wanna see TF2's surprising intelligent side. o.o

And YES, it's short. -.-

[VoltySquirrel]

I study literature at university. I guess I therefore have my place in this topic.

Great Books? Hard to say. I like many books and I've studied many interesting ones. I would have one particular for Critsandvich, though: L'étranger (literally translated to The Stranger). It's a novel written by Albert Camus telling the story of a man that fucking doesn't give a shit about anything and doesn't understand why society gives a shit about so many things. For exemple, he didn't cry when his mother was buried in front of him. According to him, he "didn't feel happy, but still didn't feel the need to cry". It's a subtle reading though, but, YES, it is the book that gave its name to the Spy gun L'étranger, which is why I propose this book to the community... I tell you, some guy at Valve made quite a nice analysis of this book to come up with the symbolism behind the name of this Spy gun...

Lots of subjects to think about in this book. And there's sex. And guns. And Mexicans. And a lawyer that yells "OBJECTION!" Best quote related to Camus' L'étranger:

"Objection! You can't possibly say that this man is a murderer based on the sole fact that he didn't cry at his mother's funeral!"

It's a subtle reading. Try it out if you wanna see TF2's surprising intelligent side. o.o

Okay.

[Harri]

I study literature at university. I guess I therefore have my place in this topic.

Great Books? Hard to say. I like many books and I've studied many interesting ones. I would have one particular for Critsandvich, though: L'étranger (literally translated to The Stranger). It's a novel written by Albert Camus telling the story of a man that fucking doesn't give a shit about anything and doesn't understand why society gives a shit about so many things. For exemple, he didn't cry when his mother was buried in front of him. According to him, he "didn't feel happy, but still didn't feel the need to cry". It's a subtle reading though, but, YES, it is the book that gave its name to the Spy gun L'étranger, which is why I propose this book to the community... I tell you, some guy at Valve made quite a nice analysis of this book to come up with the symbolism behind the name of this Spy gun...

Lots of subjects to think about in this book. And there's sex. And guns. And Mexicans. And a lawyer that yells "OBJECTION!" Best quote related to Camus' L'étranger:

"Objection! You can't possibly say that this man is a murderer based on the sole fact that he didn't cry at his mother's funeral!"

It's a subtle reading ( also much more intelligent than how I present it). Try it out if you wanna see TF2's surprising intelligent side. o.o

And YES, it's short. -.-

Read it. Camus is one of the reasons I function as a person. Also The Plague. My mind has been formed by Camus, Kafka, Marx, Wilde, Simone De Beauvoir, Virginia Woolf, Emily Dickinson, and Margaret Atwood. Many more too. Holy Shit LOOK AT THE CONVERSATIONS WE CAN HAVE NOW!
/breath

I knew there was a reason I should love you Sirnak. My undergrad was Literature. Any particular area of literature that you fancy?

[VoltySquirrel]

I study literature at university. I guess I therefore have my place in this topic.

Great Books? Hard to say. I like many books and I've studied many interesting ones. I would have one particular for Critsandvich, though: L'étranger (literally translated to The Stranger). It's a novel written by Albert Camus telling the story of a man that fucking doesn't give a shit about anything and doesn't understand why society gives a shit about so many things. For exemple, he didn't cry when his mother was buried in front of him. According to him, he "didn't feel happy, but still didn't feel the need to cry". It's a subtle reading though, but, YES, it is the book that gave its name to the Spy gun L'étranger, which is why I propose this book to the community... I tell you, some guy at Valve made quite a nice analysis of this book to come up with the symbolism behind the name of this Spy gun...

Lots of subjects to think about in this book. And there's sex. And guns. And Mexicans. And a lawyer that yells "OBJECTION!" Best quote related to Camus' L'étranger:

"Objection! You can't possibly say that this man is a murderer based on the sole fact that he didn't cry at his mother's funeral!"

It's a subtle reading ( also much more intelligent than how I present it). Try it out if you wanna see TF2's surprising intelligent side. o.o

And YES, it's short. -.-

Read it. Camus is one of the reasons I function as a person. Also The Plague. My mind has been formed by Camus, Kafka, Marx, Wilde, Simone De Beauvoir, Virginia Woolf, Emily Dickinson, and Margaret Atwood. Many more too. Holy Shit LOOK AT THE CONVERSATIONS WE CAN HAVE NOW!
/breath

I knew there was a reason I should love you Sirnak. My undergrad was Literature. Any particular area of literature that you fancy?

Porn.

[Maringue]

The Stranger is an awesome book, The Fall is also a masterpiece. Both books are under 150 pages if I remember (yes, too lazy to go over to my bookshelf and check). Also, both are great reads while you are stoned.

I'll throw in a few.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: yes, it's actually a book, and it fucking kicks ass.
The Seven Pillars of Wisdom: it's the book that the real Laurence of Arabia wrote, kind of a tome, but good.
The Brothers K: because I can't spell Karamazov or whoever you spell that shit. (Edit, Firefox spellcheck saves my ass!)
Tolstoy's Dream: nice and short for a Russian, but also awesome
Slaughter house 5: just read it
One Flew Over the Coo-coos nest: better than the movie, by a lot
The Little Prince: an amazing kids book for adults that you can also bang out while stoned.

I'll probably think of some more later, but it's bedtime.

[Sirnak]

Read it. Camus is one of the reasons I function as a person. Also The Plague. My mind has been formed by Camus, Kafka, Marx, Wilde, Simone De Beauvoir, Virginia Woolf, Emily Dickinson, and Margaret Atwood. Many more too. Holy Shit LOOK AT THE CONVERSATIONS WE CAN HAVE NOW!
/breath

I knew there was a reason I should love you Sirnak. My undergrad was Literature. Any particular area of literature that you fancy?

Undegrad? Sorry, I don't understand that word. Is it related to studies? My English knowledge fails me once again.

I'm not fancy of any kind of literature. I just enjoy intelligent and well-thought works.

Also, to your disappointment I believe, I despise Virginia Woolf's work. It's quite cunning and intelligent, but I don't like the no-stories concept of her books. I recognize she's talented, but I still despise her work. I said something in class during a debate about literature when talking about Woolfe's work : " If you must be a cultivated individual with a brillant writing mind to write a story that tells nothing, maybe you must be an ignorant to be a good storyteller."

I do need to read more books though instead of just STUDYING them. Your literature knowledge is certainly as far from mine as Zclipse's TF2 skills are to mine.

Kafka is the next writer I'd like to attack. I know much about his work, but never actually read anything of it.

I'm intrigued about your suggestions, Maringue. I think I'll add some of them to my "To read anytime soon" list!

[VoltySquirrel]

Also, to your disappointment I believe, I despise Virginia Woolf's work. It's quite cunning and intelligent, but I don't like the no-stories concept of her books. I recognize she's talented, but I still despise her work. I said something in class during a debate about literature when talking about Woolfe's work : " If you must be a cultivated individual with a brillant writing mind to write a story that tells nothing, maybe you must be an ignorant to be a good storyteller."

This convo is way over my head, but stories about nothing are often the best. Seinfeld is a good example. Sure, that's a sitcom, but look at how far they got with nothing. I probably just contributed nothing to this conversation, but I felt like typing.

[Mike808]

flowers for algernon

[fingerman]

You guys should read this one:

[GoDM1N]

You guys should read this one:

i lol'ed

[Maringue]

I'm with you on Virginia Wolfe, I couldn't stand that book. Well, actually I could stand it better than Maya Angelou's "I know Why the Caged Bird Sings". That this was horrible and she should have stuck with poetry.

[Harri]

I'm with you on Virginia Wolfe, I couldn't stand that book. Well, actually I could stand it better than Maya Angelou's "I know Why the Caged Bird Sings". That this was horrible and she should have stuck with poetry.

You can't stand any of Woolf's books?

On a side note, I just renewed my wow subscription. I feel like a sad excuse for a person.


Edit: And now I'm watching glee to further my sense of self-depletion.

[Ackybur]

Stephan king, George r r Martin, and Jim butcher.

[Dèx]

You really like to make fun of our little tuna family Godm1n? huh?

[Harri]

You really like to make fun of our little tuna family Godm1n? huh?

He's sad and lonely. I can adopt him. He could be your older brother. :3

[Toaster]

I was thinking about making this thread for the longest time, thanks for bringing my dreams to fruition, Harri.

My reading all started in grade 1 when I read my first book, Camp Zombie. It wasn't only the beginning of my love for books, but for zombies as well. Through out elementary I read most if not all the Goose bumps books, later moved up into harry potter once i was in high school. To date I've read Cadillac Beach (which I loved), World War Z, Metro 2033 (yes, there is also a novel), the Dune series and everything I can get my hands on by Jim Butcher.


JIM BUTCHER, FUCK YEAH!

[Sirnak]

I was thinking about making this thread for the longest time, thanks for bringing my dreams to fruition, Harri.

My reading all started in grade 1 when I read my first book, Camp Zombie. It wasn't only the beginning of my love for books, but for zombies as well. Through out elementary I read most if not all the Goose bumps books, later moved up into harry potter once i was in high school. To date I've read Cadillac Beach (which I loved), World War Z, Metro 2033 (yes, there is also a novel), the Dune series and everything I can get my hands on by Jim Butcher.


JIM BUTCHER, FUCK YEAH!

World War Z? Sounds somewhat familiar... What is it about, dear Québécois bro? :3

[GoDM1N]

[duck]

farenheit 451, messed up book about burning shit and killing each other
lord of the flies, messed up book about kids killing each other
the great gatsby, messed up book about socialites killing each other
of mice and men, messed up book about farm workers killing each other
so ya

[Toaster]

I was thinking about making this thread for the longest time, thanks for bringing my dreams to fruition, Harri.

My reading all started in grade 1 when I read my first book, Camp Zombie. It wasn't only the beginning of my love for books, but for zombies as well. Through out elementary I read most if not all the Goose bumps books, later moved up into harry potter once i was in high school. To date I've read Cadillac Beach (which I loved), World War Z, Metro 2033 (yes, there is also a novel), the Dune series and everything I can get my hands on by Jim Butcher.


JIM BUTCHER, FUCK YEAH!

World War Z? Sounds somewhat familiar... What is it about, dear Québécois bro? :3

It's about the catacombs in italy and france spawning zombies out of them. It's not really a story, was more of someone interviewing several people during the war against zombies. The time line is pretty vague through out the book. It's well written and pretty amusing if you're into that kind of roll play science fiction. I found it a little hard to follow since peoples odd European dialect is added in English (same goes for metro 2033 but to the extreme, I couldn't even read some of the shit that was in there).

[Toaster]

farenheit 451, messed up book about burning shit and killing each other
lord of the flies, messed up book about kids killing each other
the great gatsby, messed up book about socialites killing each other
of mice and men, messed up book about farm workers killing each other
so ya

Replace farenheit 451 with The Outsiders and you have every book I was forced to read in high school >:(

[duck]

ok,
outsiders, a messed up book about teenagers killing each other

[stanley]

bram stokers dracula is pretty much the only i book i enjoyed reading for school

[Mad Anthony]

Discworld series by terry pratchet

[Maringue]

For trashy beach reading, I like to go with some good old fashion Dragon Lance novels. My good friend calls them man porn, which I totally agree with. They are the male version of trashy romance novels, although I would argue that they are a higher quality of writing.

[Toaster]

I just renewed my wow subscription.

I wonder if I still have friends who play WoW =S

probably not worth the $15 to find out

[Maringue]

I'm with you on Virginia Wolfe, I couldn't stand that book. Well, actually I could stand it better than Maya Angelou's "I know Why the Caged Bird Sings". That this was horrible and she should have stuck with poetry.

You can't stand any of Woolf's books?

I forget which one we had to read for a class in collage, but it was terrible. It must have been that book about nothing, because that's what I felt like it was about. Henceforth, I chose not to read any more of her works.

[Echoplex]

Oddly, Russian lit is one of the only things that can hold my attention for a lengthy period of time
Crime and Punishment is my favorite classic, other favorites are later stuff like Invitation to a Beheading by Nabokov, Envy by Yuri Olesha
Great Gatsby, A Tale of Two Cities, and Ender's game are some other ones

Some of my favorites from more recent stuff are Rant by Chuck Palahniuk and I recently read House of Leaves by Mark Danielewski. House of Leaves is trippy but the story is excellent...

Wikipedia:
"The format and structure of the novel is unconventional, with unusual page layout and style, making it ergodic literature. It contains copious footnotes, many of which contain footnotes themselves, and some of which reference books that do not exist. Some pages contain only a few words or lines of text, arranged in strange ways to mirror the events in the story, often creating both an agoraphobic and a claustrophobic effect. The novel is also distinctive for its multiple narrators, who interact with each other throughout the story in disorienting and elaborate ways."

[Toaster]

Oh and I also read all the series of unfortunate events, those were really good reads!

Edit: I can't remember when though, it was probably before high school.. back when I was still a noob

[duck]

Oh and I also read all the series of unfortunate events, those were really good reads!

Edit: I can't remember when though, it was probably before high school.. back when I was still a noob

well i read the outsiders in middle school and the others i was forced to read in high school (im only in my sophmore year :O )

[Harri]

Oh and I also read all the series of unfortunate events, those were really good reads!

Edit: I can't remember when though, it was probably before high school.. back when I was still a noob

well i read the outsiders in middle school and the others i was forced to read in high school (im only in my sophmore year :O )

Good EASY Reads-

Song of the Lioness Series
Night Watch+
Howl's Moving Castle


Or
Chuck Palahniuk
Amy Tan
Jhumpa Lahiri (My favorite and I met her too)
Margaret Atwood

[Ackybur]

I was thinking about making this thread for the longest time, thanks for bringing my dreams to fruition, Harri.

My reading all started in grade 1 when I read my first book, Camp Zombie. It wasn't only the beginning of my love for books, but for zombies as well. Through out elementary I read most if not all the Goose bumps books, later moved up into harry potter once i was in high school. To date I've read Cadillac Beach (which I loved), World War Z, Metro 2033 (yes, there is also a novel), the Dune series and everything I can get my hands on by Jim Butcher.


JIM BUTCHER, FUCK YEAH!

Jim Butcher is amazing toaster. We'll get married next week and talk about the next dresden book coming out.

[Toaster]

I'll bring some meat sauce

[Ackybur]

I'll bring some meat sauce

that's dirty