November / Philosophical Novel Poll

[bigben]

Let's learn a real lesson and read Huckleberry Finn as adults.

[NickAdams]

I really wanted to nominate that, but I didn't think anyone else would acutally vote for it. Now it is going to be a tou.gh call on what I should vote for when the poll comes out.

I wouldn't vote for it, but I would read it if it won. I have a copy on my shelf along with On the Virtues of Selfishness. It would be a month of Rand.

I disagree with Kaufmann, and agree with Bloom. I think the symbolism doesn't work, it's just "too much", so it isn't a good summary.

I always disagree with the use of "too" in reference to a work. "Too" much or "too" little seems to be more of a criticism on the writers competence rather than the work. Who knows better than the author. Works should be taken on their own terms. Unless you are "swerving".

But, anyway, it's an advanced work and perhaps not a good choice as many will not know Nietzsche thoroughly.

Lit-net's members may suprise you.

Yes, but whether it can be considered good literature or not is another question.

I have not read it, so I can't answer that, but I appreciate Faulkner, so even a "bad" novel is worth read, at least for me.

Let's learn a real lesson and read Huckleberry Finn as adults.

I would be up for that.

[Dark Muse]

I'd like to nominate Steppenwolf by Herman Hesse

Oh dear, this is going to be a hard vote, that makes the 3rd book that has been nominated that I really want to read

[Jozanny]

Yes, thatis true; we read it last year (I was thinking it was the year before).

Nominations so far:

1. Thus Spake Zarathustra

2. The Fall by Camus

3. Jacques the Fatalist by Diderot

4. As I Lay Dying byWilliam Faulkner

5. Nausea - Jean Paul Sartre

6. Steppenwolf by Herman Hesse

7. Atlas Shrugged

Well, I was going to pitch Foucault's Pendulum just to be a pain, but I realized I don't want to read it a fourth time even if JBI's assertion that Eco was faulting Borges offers me a new perspective on a novel I don't much like as a novel, so let me nominate Borges then, The Book of Sand.

Lit Net can give me some fake motivation, and I can buy or borrow it by November.

I would pass on a few of these selections, but maybe on some I might not and surprise the lot of you!

[rimbaud]

I'd like to nominate Steppenwolf by Herman Hesse

I am currently reading The Steppenwolf
so whatever we choose it would be a good one, def there are some good choices

[mal4mac]

Let's learn a real lesson and read Huckleberry Finn as adults.

That's next but one on my reading list. So why not? All novels must surely have some philosophy, implict or explicit, in them. So why not read Huck Finn with an eye to finding the "philosophy" within it?

Why don't people say which one's they've already read and would want to read again? That might help other people decide what might be worth reading. For me these are:

Nausea - Jean Paul Sartre
Steppenwolf - Herman Hesse

I've read some Camus, and can't imagine anything by him not being worth reading. I've not read "the Fall", though.

I've read most of Nietzsche, including "Zarathustra", but would not recommend reading "Zarathustra".

Has "Atlas Shrugged" ever been recommended by one serious critic? It has the reputation in the UK of being a cult book for Extreme Republican Americans. I've never known anyone who has actually read it in the UK, or has ever wanted to.

“Rand could not write her way out of a paper bag.” - Harold Bloom

Diderot and Faulkner look v. interesting...

[Desolation]

I'd like to nominate Candide by Voltaire.

[Scheherazade]

Let's learn a real lesson and read Huckleberry Finn as adults.

You need to have at least 50 posts to be able to nominate, Bigben.


Nominations so far:

1. Thus Spake Zarathustra

2. The Fall by Camus

3. Jacques the Fatalist by Diderot

4. As I Lay Dying byWilliam Faulkner

5. Nausea - Jean Paul Sartre

6. Steppenwolf by Herman Hesse

7. Atlas Shrugged [/QUOTE]

8. The Book of Sand by Borges

9. Candide by Voltaire.

[NickAdams]

You need to have at least 50 posts to be able to nominate, Bigben.


Nominations so far:

1. Thus Spake Zarathustra

2. The Fall by Camus

3. Jacques the Fatalist by Diderot

4. As I Lay Dying byWilliam Faulkner

5. Nausea - Jean Paul Sartre

6. Steppenwolf by Herman Hesse

7. Atlas Shrugged [/QUOTE]

8. The Book of Sand by Borges

9. Candide by Voltaire.

I've always wanted to read Quote.

[Janine]

Sorry, I deleted my post...someone already pointed out that we read The Name of the Rose. a few years back. Jozanny, it's a really good book; hope you still pursue it. You can probably find the discussion thread if you run it through the 'search'.

Oh wow, I have read three of those books: Candid, Atlas Shrugged, and Steppenwolf; I can astest that they are all very good reads....at least in my opinion. I read them years ago...so to re-read one of those would be great. But the other choices interest me, also. It's a good list!

[Scheherazade]

I've always wanted to read Quote.

I am afraid it won't be possible, Nick. "[/QUOTE]" is the end of the "QUOTE", you see.

[Jozanny]

Sorry, I deleted my post...someone already pointed out that we read The Name of the Rose. a few years back. Jozanny, it's a really good book; hope you still pursue it. You can probably find the discussion thread if you run it through the 'search'.

Thank you Janine. It is actually a reread, if you missed my earlier post, for a critical essay on Lampedusa. If the book thread discussion is worth stealing when I get there, (and I am far far away from *there*) then Sche can kick my tush as needed when the time comes. For me to have anything worthwhile to say about Italian modernism might startle the aging scholars who do not like my resistance to Jamesian revisionism through James's homosexuality.

(Certain British academics stick in my craw, but I'll leave it there.)


PS: I don't want to say which texts I'd join in for so as not to influence the vote, but there are a few.

[mal4mac]

7. Atlash Shrugged

Is that by the Marquis de Sade?

[Scheherazade]

Sorry, I deleted my post...someone already pointed out that we read The Name of the Rose. a few years back. Jozanny, it's a really good book; hope you still pursue it. You can probably find the discussion thread if you run it through the 'search'.

There is no need to do a search as all the Book Club reading are listed here.

[Jozanny]

Ach, I went to look up my library hours, because I am in the mood, and discovered this , so the academic network, or buying, appears to be my only option until this is resolved, and my university is relocating its library. I wonder if anyone in this country remembers it has disabled individuals who want to live like everyone else! (stamps foot)