Bit of a late introduction...

[Panflute]

...but I only discovered this board, just now. Well, I'm Iain, I'm from The Netherlands, and I only recently started reading again. I stopped reading for a long while in my high school period (which is about to end), because I was in that little phase where I don't do things just because people want me to do them (I'm refering to the countless book reports you have to do in high school).

Last autumn I slowly picked up reading again (for the first time I really only focussed on 'adult literature', or however you want to call it -come to think of it, it has kind of a dirty tone to it, oh well), and since the beginning of this year, I'm hooked on all kinds of books. For the first time, I also got into English/American literature, and currently occupy myself with reading the works of the great Charles Dickens. Other English/American authors I like are Hemingway and Poe.

As for Dutch, I'm into the older literature, as well. Multatuli, in my opinion the best writer my little country has yet produced, Bordewijk, and Nescio are some of my favourites, and I can highly recommend them to anyone who can find their translated works.

I also have a limited knowledge of the German and French languages, and I do my best to read some of the literature available in those languages, as well. I must say, however, that I not uncommonly use translations. This way, I've been able to enjoy the works of Balzac, Goethe, and Baudelaire, to name a few.

Well, that's it, for now. I apologize if this little introduction lacks structure, but typing isn't very pleasant at times, due to the fact that I recently broke my finger.

[jane-charlotte]

Welcome Panflute. Have you read Great Expectations yet? That one is great and gothic. Dickens is interesting--his sense of humour rather macabre at times, but a good read nonetheless.

[Niamh]

better late than never! welcome to lit net!

[Panflute]

Welcome Panflute. Have you read Great Expectations yet? That one is great and gothic. Dickens is interesting--his sense of humour rather macabre at times, but a good read nonetheless.

Yeah, it actually was the first Dickens book I've read. At times, it wasn't what you'd call a particularly 'pleasant read', but the philosophical nature of the book still makes it brilliant. I can also appreciate that it's not the perfect happy story, with a morally flawless protagonist, etc. All in all I'd rate it as a memorable masterpiece.

As for his humour; I really appreciate it. It's cynical towards the hypocrite culture of the time, and it's very similar to a Dutch writer called Multatuli. I like it.

[jane-charlotte]

I agree. His careful thought in GE testifies to the book's power--it lays bare the vain expectations and assumptions of society. And you are right regarding his humour. Dickins demonstrates fully his skepticism of progress and the great expectations of the period--all with a subtle biting tone (pr at least that is how I read it)--Miss Havisham in particular. I have never read Multatuli but will look into it. Thanks!

[Panflute]

Yeah, Multatuli is great, and writes much like Dickens (which is no coincidence; I saw the book case in his birth house, which is now a museum, and there were quite a lot of Dickens's books in it; they also wrote in roughly the same age). However, if you're unfamiliar with Dutch history, his books might be quite boring.

[Nightshade]

hello

[Panflute]

hello

Hi.