The Tale Of Genji. Though I think Ulysses is actually better, somehow I'm more fond of Genji.
The Tale Of Genji. Though I think Ulysses is actually better, somehow I'm more fond of Genji.
Originally Posted by Lykren
I've long wanted to read Genji.
Did you use the Royall Tyler translation?
Vladimir: (sententious.) To every man his little cross. (He sighs.) Till he dies. (Afterthought.) And is forgotten.
I read the Waley translation for the first half, then switched to the Tyler. I infinitely preferred the latter.
Last edited by Lykren; 10-10-2012 at 06:32 PM. Reason: typo
I read or tried reading most of the books listed here; my current favorite, tho, because I try to read it once a year, is something called Savannah Blue, by William "Rollerball Murder" Harrison.
I've read Heart of Darkness & Ulysses several times but along w/ the unabridged audiobook. Joyce I think was meant to be heard as much as read. I've read The Tempest & the KJV Holy Bible several times the same way.
No American troops were harmed during the Watergate cover-up.
Either the Sound and the Fury or Anna Karenina.
One of my favourite fiction books is Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson's "The Illuminatus! Trilogy". It's probably not to everyone's taste, and it's hardly sterling prose, but I certainly enjoyed reading it. women sexual health
Last edited by leylaS; 10-20-2012 at 06:26 PM.
Hello I'm new, but I'd like to add my favorite books.
Lolita is number one of all time. For me it's the only book I can pick up and open at random, and the prose automatically elevates me. I treat it like the box of Jumanji.
I also have a special relationship with The Kreutzer Sonata, being that I suffer from Othello syndrome. I get Pozdnyshev.
100 Years of Solitude.
Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao was pretty amazing.
Anna karenina
ANGELS AND DEMONS and The Alchemist are my all time favourites ever
The Complete Sherlock Holmes. I've reread that many more times than any other. I'm getting way too old for anything else to catch up unless I succeed in my plan to live to 206.
"...when you have eliminated the impossible whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth..."
The Brothers Karamazov
Dostoevsky gives me more than any scientist.
Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world. - Albert Einstein
Truman Capote's In Cold Blood is a distant second.
I also very much enjoyed To Kill A Mockingbird by Lee
Read it, it is a remarkable work, the character of Genii in particular has at once an ultra modern and timeless feel, much like Achilles. Tyler translation is the way to go. Also Heian aristocratic society is simply fascinating, and the book provides a great introduction to a society which is alien, yet possesses many of the traits of a modern post 1960's society which I previously had thought to be solely modern mores.
Yeah, aside from the literary aspect, I'm also fascinated by the culture of the time and Japanese culture in general so I feel I'll be getting a lot out of it from a literary and historical aspect. Just gotta finish the 30 odd un-started books on my shelf and I think I'll start the 1200+ page trip!
Vladimir: (sententious.) To every man his little cross. (He sighs.) Till he dies. (Afterthought.) And is forgotten.
Anyway, as for a favourite book, I think it'd be near impossible to choose one, so I'll do a top 5:
Walt Whitman - Leaves of Grass (Pretty much started my love for poetry and haven't looked back since)
Jorge Luis Borges - The Aleph and Other Stories (could have easily been Ficciones or Dreamtigers)
Shakespeare - Julius Caesar (The Shakespeare play that sticks with me the most for whatever reason.)
Collected Poems of Rainer Maria Rilke trans. Edward Snow (Utterly stunning)
Samuel Beckett -Waiting for Godot (I find everything in this work. Pathos, humour, wit, tragedy, memorable characters, the sharpest dialogue, wordplay)
Runners up:
Cormac McCarthy - Suttree (Don't have a novel yet, and this would probably be my favourite novel)
Vladimir Nabokov - Pale Fire (I'll eat up anything Nab writes, but this would be the one I'm most impressed with)
Collected Poems of W.B. Yeats (probably the poet I come back to the most)
James Joyce - Dubliners (Beautifully written short story cycle, full of wry humour and tender sadness)
Alexander Dumas - Count of Monte Cristo (I know Dumas isn't the greatest writer, but for pure and utter sheer joy whilst reading, this holds a special place in my heart. Also, along with Voltaire, was one of my first entries into the world of Classics and helped me discover even greater authors)
Special mention: The Book Of Disquiet by Fernando Pessoa. This is already a near all time favourite, the only reason I left it out was that I haven't actually finished yet. Still gotta bit left but it's such an incredibly beautiful book that has moved me in ways very few other works have.
Vladimir: (sententious.) To every man his little cross. (He sighs.) Till he dies. (Afterthought.) And is forgotten.
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