Anyone want to discuss

[apstudent]

I have read the following books in the past year:

Crime and Punishment
1984
Their Eyes Were Watching God
Brave New World
Frankenstein
Metamorphosis
Hamlet

If anyone feels like engaging in a nonpolitical debate(please try hard at this, the only discussion threads I have ever started on this site have been closed due to this), I am open to any kind of discussion. I am a little rusty on some of the books, but they will come with discussion.

[fayefaye]

it's because of ur sig.

[apstudent]

Thanks, but I have never read a book by that name before. I will try to find it though. I love it when intellectuals get together and can discuss literature without letting personal political feelings get in the way. It really makes ya warm inside.

[fayefaye]

yes, but intellectuals discuss ideas. only idiots tiptoe around ideas and issues in favour of lukewarm social discussion. let's all ignore the social problems of the world and hope they get better of their own accord, shall we?

[apstudent]

I completely agree that the issues need to be discussed. But, there are websites for that. The Admin of this website really wants to keep this a non-political site. So, I guess we follow his rules.

[fayefaye]

okie dokie. but u do seem to .. provoke politics.

[apstudent]

I know, it is a weakness of mine. But, the sig stays, mostly because so many people hate it.

[apstudent]

OK, back to literature. Does anyone want to discuss?

[sloegin]

Sure, let's see what you have to say about Crime and Punishment.

[Isagel]

Interesting selection.

I haven´t heard about Their eyes where watching God, but I followed the discussion in the thread. Think I have to read it. Is this a well known book in USA?

I really love 1984 and Brave new world. It seems like a lot of peolpe read those and Fahrenheit 451 at the same time. Read as a critique if todays society as well they are a true education...

As for Crime and punishment...I tried. I will try again.
I have a theory about that book. Here comes the theory:
In my apartment I have an antique Remington typewriter. If you want to use it you have to really hit the keys. H *BAM* A *BAM*R*BAM* D*BAM* ....After a couple of words your fingertips are sore and you are sweating. I think he used that one to write the book. Because that is how it feels to read. At least to me. Evry single syllable feels heavy and makes my poor brain ache.
But I´m not giving up.
Yet.

Metamorphosis I read as a teenager. I loved it. Right now I´m reading a book with selections of poetry/prose by Kafka, and his letters to his father.

As for Hamlet there´s a lot of discussion about that play in the Shakespeare thread. A friend and I used to read Hamlet loud, taking turns to practice our english. I´m afraid I did a very bad Hamlet. But I love the play. I prefer A midsummer nights dream, though.

[sloegin]

Isagel,
All typewriters are that way. Computers spoil people. My Hermes isn't bad. The typewriter wasn't around at that time. How far have you gotten? Perhaps try The Idiot first.

[Isagel]

Actually the typewriter was around at 1866, when he wrote it. :p Stenoghrapers were more popular though.

In 1714, the last year of her reign, Queen Anne granted a patent to Henry Mill. Around 1850 there was working typewriters. Remington had a working model by 1878. So I guess he couldn´t have used mine. Pity. Seemed like a reasonable explanation :) .

I don´t really remember how far I got. Not more than 50 pages or so. But it was several years ago. I´ll try again. I think I liked the small part I read. It was just a very heavy read.

[sloegin]

I was going off the Remington model. I'm still not buying that he used one.

[fayefaye]

Originally posted by apstudent
I know, it is a weakness of mine. But, the sig stays, mostly because so many people hate it.
lol. i actually respect that. (despite being someone who hates it)

[DumbLikeAPoet]

Originally posted by fayefaye
it's because of ur sig.

Sorry but what is the matter with his sig. You can PM me if you care to explain.

Jonus

[Jay]

Apstudent (or whoever), who has written (or wrote? a little out of grammar today) Their Eyes Were Watching God? Too lazy to go and find out :o.

What's the thing with your signature? I've seen a lot more stupid ones (not saying your is). Everyone has a right to pick and use a signature s/he likes and I'd deffend everyone as long as the signature doesn't insult anyone, which I can't see happening in this case... So:
LET THE GUY HAVE HIS SIGNATURE people. But sorry Ap, can't help, I don't do praying.

[J. Wellington Wells]

I'm fairly certain that Zora Neale Hurston wrote "Their Eyes Were Watching God". I can't offer any other intelligent comments, however, since I only read it once and years ago.

The Metamorphosis, now... I haven't read it since high school, and I was translating it from German at the time, so my memories are fuzzy, but... I remember thinking that the story highlighted the hypocrasy of Samsa's family and and his alienation from them (of course, alienation is a pretty safe bet whenever Kafka's concerned). After all, wasn't Samsa basically supporting his family prior to his unfortunate transformation? And yet, in his hour of direst need they simply lock him in a room and throw things at him if he gets out. But these are vague ideas... maybe I should try reading it again in my native tongue.

And, since many seem compelled to comment on apstudent's signature, let me say that I think she/he is absolutely right. By no means do I agree with the present conflict - at the very least it has been disastrous for America's reputation - but I have nothing but the highest respect and admiration for the men and women of our armed forces, for the simple reason that they are all much braver than I am. That is the real tragedy of this war - we are sacrificing some of our best and brightest for highly uncertain gains.

[Shea]

Zora Neale Hurston wrote Their Eyes were watching God. It's been a while since I read it, but I remember likeing it.

I did not like 1984. Good writing style, but I didn't like the story.

In comparison, I liked the story Frankenstien, but I did not like the writing, the style made for a choppy story-line. I didn't like Victor as a character though, what a whimp!

Hamlet is my favorite Shakespearean play, but that's not saying a whole lot because I'm only familiar with 3. (I'm taking my Shakespeare class next semester.) You ought to try reading "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead" though the name of the playwrite escapes me at the moment. It's rather comical!

[=Monkey_King=]

Its really hard to read Dostoevsky so dont be so discouraged :D
I assure you NONE of the characters in his novels are "normal" people

:D

[Jay]

Thanks guys for the author.

[piquant]

So... Crime and Punishment.

This happens to be one book that I feel thoroughly ambivalent about. I was really into it the whole way through, being a dostoyevsky fan, but when I got to the end I was completely crushed. I felt like he completely faked me out. The ending didn't seem true to the characters at all. Were any of you wounded by the ending?

[sloegin]

I enjoyed the ending. It made me all misty eyed.

[=Monkey_King=]

IMHO most of the Dostoevsky endings are not that good, but his storyline is excellent.

[Koa]

Isagel- maybe it's that heaviness that makes Crime and Punishment great? Of course you're allowed to feel it's hard to read, but you made me thing about heaviness, I can almost agree but yet I love it. I literally swallowed it the first time I read it, I did nothing but reading for 5 days. The second time it took me 2 weeks, I was feeling it more slow, maybe because I had expectations on it...
And I found it funny you quoted stenographes... I can't remember C&P wasn't one of those, but Dost. used stenographers a lot...infact he married one his stenographer (maybe you knew that and you were hinting?;))

Yes I didn't like the end much either. Too moralistic, too semplicistic at times (even if it has powerful stuff like that kind of apocalypitic dream)... As he said at the end, he planned to write a follower on Raskolnikov's redemption, but he never did. Maybe it's lucky he didn't ;)

As for The Metamorphosis, I hate it. I never managed to read much of it, the subject disgusts me so much (I hate insects, they make me go hysterical), I even tried to read it in German so that I understood less and don't get disgusted, but after 5 lines I was sick already, I guess the effort in understanding made me think about it more... And I don't like how Kafka writes, but I don't like most German writers, I think that's something in the German word structure that makes every sentence feel so verbose...
(sorry about the rant)

[Robert E Lee]

I'll discuss literature with you if you can explain logically how what Bush has done is a protection of our freedom.

Your signature is about as confrontational on a literature message board as a "heil hitler" signature would be on a judaic studies discussion form.

[Koa]

LOL @ Rob Lee...

I think there should be 'freedom of signature' (as a product of freedom of speech ;)) but that signature does irritate me a lot as well...I'm always about to complain about it but that will lead to political fighting and that's the last thing I want, especially here.

[fayefaye]

Actually, I don't like it, but I'm past the point where I'd want apstudent to change it. In answer to Jonus' question, the reason people dislike it is because it sounds as though apstudent is spreading the sort of propaganda we've all heard about and that most dislike. But whilst I wouldn't admit it, keeping a signature like that regardless of the fact most dislike it, and maybe even BECAUSE so many disagree is EXACTLY the sort of pig-headed thing I would do if I had completely different political beliefs (take it as a compliment, ap)

But having read more of apstudent's posts I now realise it's not really a reflection of propaganda, but of his actual beliefs. Beliefs are sacred things, I wouldn't expect or want people to change them for anything, so I wouldn't want apstudent to change his signature anymore either. I'm over it.

*whoa, if you write the word beliefs a lot it begins to look really weird. actually, I'm not even sure the word can exist in plural like that. :) :) :) *

[Koa]

I think I once heard 'belief' exists only in singular... but I might be very wrong.

Belief(s???;)) are ok faye, but WHY show them as a flag? Especially knowing that not anyone has the same belief... that's a sort of propaganda anyway! Lots of people believe in what they make a propaganda of!

Shall I change my signature too, with propaganda of the opposite side?

[fayefaye]

I LOVE your new sig koa. I think it's BRILLIANT. I don't mind ap's sig anymore, I just ignore it. Of course, it would help if it wasn't all in capitals.

[IWilKikU]

I agree with Koa! How dare someone go against the grain and reflect their belief(s) when everybody dissagrees with them! All those rabble rousers should go to hell! Like Martin Luther and the prodestant reformers! OOh, and the revolutionary founders of the country of America! And dont even get me started on those crazy civil rights "heros" like MLK Jr. and Medger Evers! Oh and womens lib! My God! which kitchen cow decided that she should wear shoes and get a job and [shudder] VOTE! Think of what a great place the world would be if everyone just conformed to your views! I vote Koa for dictator of this web site and THE WORLD!!!

[imthefoolonthehill]

I don't care about signitures... if you want, you can write, Imthefoolonthehill is an idiot. lol... I will tell you what I think of you, though... :-D

[fayefaye]

When I completely run out of ideas I'll stick that on there. :)

[Koa]

Originally posted by fayefaye
I LOVE your new sig koa. I think it's BRILLIANT.

I think it's brilliant too...that's why I stole it from wherever I read it. :D


Think of what a great place the world would be if everyone just conformed to your views!

Think of how great the world will be if we should go and slaughter someone everytime an idiot feels like doing it...

[nicholasburrus]

What is Hamlet

[fayefaye]

Originally posted by Koa


Think of how great the world will be if we should go and slaughter someone everytime an idiot feels like doing it...

lol. Who wrote what you quoted, anyway? nic, hamlet is a very well known play by shakespeare.

[Koa]

Originally posted by fayefaye
lol. Who wrote what you quoted, anyway?

I actually have no idea....:confused:

[fayefaye]

oh. ok.

[Stanislaw]

In some other post I heard that it was from catch 22.

I think slavic authors are fairly odd. My favorite being stanislaw lem. Some of his works are odd. I would bet that many of you have heard of at least on of his books.

The book solaris, the movie was based off it.

[Koa]

Err... never heard of any of that, Stan...
(too bad, since I'm a slavic-lover...)

[IWilKikU]

Think of how great the world would be if everyone conformed to your views!
I said that. It was meant to be a humourous, satyrical rebutal to Koa saying

Belief(s???) are ok faye, but WHY show them as a flag? Especially knowing that not anyone has the same belief... that's a sort of propaganda anyway! Lots of people believe in what they make a propaganda of!
I just think that everyone should be able to speak their mind. Especially in a signiture that helps other users understand a little bit about who the other users are. Even if they dont conform to your political views. Also, what the hell is wrong with praying for the people that our beef-headed retard government has sent to Iraq? I am as opposed to this retarded war as anyone else that you'll meet, but if our fathers, brothers, sons, daughters HAVE to be over there amid bullets flying, you better f**king believe I'll be praying for them. And anyone who is going to try and deny me that can go to hell!

Anyways, I don't even remember what this thread was about originally, but I'm sure it doesn't matter as it will be shut down soon because we can't keep from jumping down someone's throat for his signiture.

[Stanislaw]

Err... never heard of any of that, Stan...

That is too bad, You should look in the library or used bookstore for a copy, it is really great stuff.

[MacBeth]

What's your view on Hamlet's sanity?

[crisaor]

He's sane, allright.

[IWilKikU]

wwwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay out of left field

[crisaor]

A home run, probably.

[Munro]

Originally posted by Shea \ You ought to try reading "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead" though the name of the playwrite escapes me at the moment. It's rather comical! [/B]

Tom Stoppard wrote "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead", among many other ingenious plays, and I look forward very much to seeing him speak at Town Hall this Sunday! I'm so excited, one of the greatest living playwrights of our time a bus ride away...

Sorry for the delay of this reply, but I only noticed this post just now.