Introduce Yourself here and say Hi.

Hey! My name is Antonia. I'm happy to meet you all!

Hi everyone. :wave: I am a newbie here too. Just joined. I am retired so I have, at long last, time for "recreational" reading. :cool: Currently I am reading a biography of Albert Einstein, finishing Pullman's Dark Materials trilogy i.e. The Amber Telescope and starting Don Quixote. I am definitely an eclectic reader.;)

Hi everyone!
=] It's so good to be here!
For anyone who's interested I'm currently reading Flowers in the Attic by Virginia Andrews on a friend's recommendation. I enjoy books that make me cry and I am a huge Thomas Hardy fan =] Hi!

Hello everyone:wave:

Missed this place.

I joined this site in the hopes of tracing the origin and author of an older "I am Canadian" poem, if one might call it that. Can anyone assist me with this?

Thank you in advance!

Richarda



I am a Canadian.
I am the Primitive Hunter who first crossed the Bering Istmuth from Asia.
I came seeking game and never knew what I had really found.
I am the lonely explorer who ventured the edges of a new world.
I am the people of coast and plain whose history was forgotten before the invention of history.
I am the Norsemen who sailed beyond Iceland at the time of the Crusades. The men who returned home, not with Saracen plunder, but with stories of a land past the sea.
I am the Renaissance Navigators who came in search of Gold and Empire and who discovered a deeper more difficult wealth.
I am the Priests and peasants uprooted from the old world and replanted in the new as a pledge and a hope.
I am the strip farmers, the trappers, the traders, who pushed back the curtain on this green and untried continent.
I am the men who roamed and mapped and settled. The men who left their sons to the future. And the men who left only their graves.
I am the steady men who sowed and reaped, who built lasting foundations.
I am the impatient men who fought with guns and pens and politics for self determination.
I am the indomitable men who wouldn't be stopped as they hammered together a nation.
I have walked this land, ridden,driven, flown and paddled, across her millions and more millions of miles.
I have blasted her rocks, channeled her waterways, survived her snows.
I have run my hands over her face, searching out the strengths beauties and moods of my country, She is rich, wild, potent.
I came from all the world, and come yet.
I came for freedom, and brought freedom with me.
I came in hope, and brought fulfillment.
I came to exploit and stayed to develop.
I gave myself in barter, for what I sought in measure, as I have made CANADA what she is. She has formed me to her own needs. Her breadth and openness have infused me. Have given me a firmer
step and a further look.
I am not an average Canadian. There are no average Canadians, and this is my country’s glory. It is the surest measure of her freedom to be a nation of individuals. People who are Canadian by nature rather than by decree.
I am a Canadian, and am deeply myself. For this privilege I give thanks to my country. May she never falter. And may she never swagger. May she realize her potential without losing her character. May she have peace, and may she give it. May it always be a proud thing to say. I am a Canadian.

Hi - I'm Carly . . .

I originally came in here because you had JM Coetzee's 'Slow Man' up for January's discussion.

Our group at the High Park Library in Toronto is discussing this one on the second Wednesday in July.

Haven't read any of it yet.

I'll look 'round and see what else you are discussing.

Nice to meet y'all.

I read it. Welcome.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LeGyare

Hi!

I'm actually not "new" in that sense since I joined about a month ago...I only just activated my account so I can post though. However, prior to and during that month, I read many of the posts of fellow users. Intimidated by the sheer intellect of some, tickled by the humour of others, and disgusted by the dogged stupidity of yet others, I am glad to be a part of this forum.

I also wonder whether anyone wil read this welcome message.

BTW, I'm from Ghana in West Africa. Glad to meet you all.

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I'm new. Sorry for the double post (below) , the website was lagging and I clicked refresh after editing my post a little bit. I didn't have the patience.

I've just joined this website. I enjoy playing music, I play the mandolin, guitar, piano, and will soon begin learning the cello. I also enjoy art (I can sketch and am learning to paint). My favourite artists include: David Burliuk, Salvador Dali, Edward Burtynksy, Picasso, and anonymous Inuit artists. My favourite authors include: Graham Greene, Neil Gaiman, Joseph Conrad, W.G. Sebald, Karl Marx & Friedrich Engels (Oh no!), Ernest Hemingway, Albert Camus, Lloyd Alexander, and Marcus Sedgwick (new favourite). I like poetry, including William Blake and Robert Frost. I'm Canadian as you can tell by the "favoUrite".

My guilty pleasure: Harry Potter!

Greeting to everyone:

This is Khalid from Afghanistan.My hobbies are reading the books of any type,but most preferably I would rather read philosophical type of books.

Here I am gald to have been logged in this site.I look forward to listen good and pleasent things from you guys.

Love,
Khalid

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Pensive

Hello everybody, It's nice that we are getting so many new forum members who share with us their precious views. There should be a place to introduce yourself and say hi; and this is it. :D

Come on and tell us about yourself. :D What are your hobbies? What are your favourite books? And also share with us everything else you would like to tell us about yourself.

Have a nice time browing the wonderful world of books and book-worms! :)

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Greetings from sunny Spain,

Just joined this forum as well and am very excited about the whole thing. I found this site by looking for reading lists and was very happy to discover that there were so many people from so many backgrounds meeting here to talk about literature.

I've already joined the book club and am looking forward to reading new books as well as other people's comments and points of view.

As for my reading tastes I consider myself as an eclectic reader and am always keen to read new author, genre and style etc. I just wish I had more time...

Well, I look forward to "reading" all of you.

Hasta pronto :)

HELLO
I think I found what I'm looking for.

A big HELLO and WELCOME to all the new members! Great to have you here :)

Hi there! I just joined a few days ago, but have been looking for an appropriate avatar :) I'm so glad I found this site! I found it looking for notes and summaries on some of my favourite books.

I am currently reading 1984 by George Orwell and am loving it!

I can't wait to get stuck into this website and it's people and culture!

Hello Everyone!

This being my first post I thought I should introduce myself to fellow litrature lovers. Being probably one of the youngest members here I admit that I have not alot to say about myself as I've barely started my life. But here goes.

My name is Tammy; short not for Tamara nor Tamsin. It originates from the Hebrew language...meaning the dry fruit; 'dates'. I like to think of my self as sweet.

I am a high school student in my last year studying too many subjects for my own good. Going on soon to study English Lit, Drama and possibly Geography for my A levels pretty soon. People who know me would describe me as outgoing, fun-loving and bright. But those close to me would know that I have a subtle, secret side that some would call "crazy". I am in constant search of a deeper companionship that what I have with most people now.

I am mostly English, though I am not proud to be; having read some on the history of English conquers. I would consider myself as nothing more patriotic than a proud Londoner...loving the experience of such a multi-cultural and diverse society that I am constantly exposed to.

I come from a working class background, single parent family with 4 children. But have not always been so. I have had a hard childhood, which I would rather not go in to. Both my parents have had a youth of being politically active which is probably were I get my wide insight into the world; although they wouldn't be seen within 10 yards of eachother. People are sometimes scared of me, being so young and having so many bursting ideas that I sometimes have to refrain from blurting out; for fear of assasination. < Okay, maybe thats slightly extreme.

I have strong feelings about the coruption of the world, and reading novels is my mental and emotional escape from that reality. Each night I confide in a diary, which someday (long after I no longer exist) will hopefully be read by many and open eyes on unexplainable situations and experiences. Many that I have yet to write. I am a big lover of Shakespeare; having studied throughout my school years the following: Romeo & Juliet, Macbeth, Twelth Night, A Midsummer Nights Dream and Othello. My favourate all time book would have to be "The Grapes of Wrath", by John Steinbeck. It was a real eye-opener and I would reccomend it to any individual that is able to be fundamentally and emotionally involved with a book. At the moment for my Enlglish Lit GCSE I'm studying "Of Mice and Men", also by Steinbeck. Another book that I have read twice over now just to get the impact is "1984", by George Owell. I must admit that it is one of the greatest books ever written and had me cracking smiles, raising eyebrows and even weeping tears; it was so distressing. Probably because I read it first when I was just 14 years old and then a year later I read it again, this time able to understand much more; the impact on me was shocking. I've taken an interest to George Orwell and have read the famous "Animal Farm" too. My Geography teacher recommended I read his book about materialistic consumption by men; "Keep The Aspidistra Flying". One of my ideas about the future revolves around the Orwellian type world, which I believe will be empowered by Facebook as Big Brother. Call me crazy if you must, we all have our opinions.

I love almost all types of music, and love to have it playing in the background when doing various activities...including writing. I am a proud lover of Reggae, Drum & Base (although not some of the silly new stuff), Jazz and The Blues catch my heart occasionally, Garage but mostly I am in love with Salsa music and any Middle Eastern music I can heavily relate to. I cannot play any instrument, but wished that I could play the accoustic guitar, it being one of my favourate instruments; I fall in love with anyone who can play it well and tend to listen to them intentley for hours on end.

In a few years time I'm looking to go on a mad one to loads of different countries around the world; unplanned. Thats if I can get the cash! We only live once and I want to make the most of life. If anyone has any reccomendations for countries they have been to that is naturally beautiful and were I can observe a real culture rather than a tourism culture I would be very greatful. I would also be very interested in any fictional books or poems recommened.

Sorry for the essay about myself, but I am a very deep, elaborated person; forgive me. Thanks for taking the time to read it. Peace.

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"...someday - the armies of bitterness will all be going the same way. And they'll all walk together, and there'll be a dead terror from it."

("The Grapes of Wrath", John Steinbeck, Chapter 9, pg. 111)