Just a history of the book istelf from its earliest form to e-books. Pretty well done with lots of illustrations, but I doubt you'll find it in English. There's probably some kind of equivalent though. I just took up studies again after working for two years, and since it's a cursus geared towards publishing, working in a library or a book shop, I thought it was a necessary read to have some kind of idea of what I was getting myself into.Originally Posted by Drkshadow03
"And the worms, they will climb
The rugged ladder of your spine"
I read volumes of J Krishnamurti
“Those who seek to satisfy the mind of man by hampering it with ceremonies and music and affecting charity and devotion have lost their original nature””
“If water derives lucidity from stillness, how much more the faculties of the mind! The mind of the sage, being in repose, becomes the mirror of the universe, the speculum of all creation.
Let's see...
The Lonesome Gods by Louis L'Amour. 4/5. I definitely liked the setting. This was my first L'Amour novel and I thought old California was a perfect place for the huge, sweeping plot to unfold. As for the plot itself, it was quite enjoyable, even if it was predictable at times.
The Education of a Wandering Man by Louis L'Amour. 4/5. As I thought the "about the author" section of The Lonesome Gods was more interesting than the actual story, I decided to pick up L'Amour's memoirs and read those. The man had an extremely interesting life, and he accumulated a lot of wisdom over the years. Unfortunately, the book comes across as the ramblings of an old man. I give the guy a break because he died soon after writing the first draft, but with some organization the memoirs could've been a far easier read. Still extremely valuable though.
Timeline by Michael Crichton. 2/5. Sci-fi is a pretty hard sell with me, as I'm far more engaged by strong characters than a strange new setting. Timeline's characters are, sadly, very boring. Too bad. I really liked Jurassic Park.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by JK Rowling. 4/5. Read in one day because I forgot a literature project was due. Whoops. Generally, I liked it as an imaginative children's book. On the other hand, I had a hard time liking Harry Potter as a character, considering that he masters just about every skill without even trying, simply because he's Harry Potter. He seems to get everything by entitlement (his powers, his athletic skills, his invisibility cloak, etc.) Can't say there was anything else about the book I didn't like though.
Tales from Watership Down by Richard Adams. 4/5. Well, I love the world of Watership Down so I'm totally biased, but I thought this collection of short stories was amazing. Not quite a sequel, but definitely kept the flavor of the source material.
I'm going to try reading this for September. Was it really that difficult a read?
It wasn't difficult in the sense that reading, say, Milton is difficult - at least in a straightforward translation like that by Coulson. That is, the words were easy. But, to quote Harold Bloom, it's "pernicious" reading. That is, "destructive", you feel as if you are suffering from progressive anaemia as you read. Bloom makes the wonderful comment that it is like "reading Macbeth written by Macbeth." I tried to read it a few decades ago and gave up about half-way, partly because I couldn't stand being dragged through the torture chamber any more. Partly because it does drag a bit after the first few chapters. Anyway, I made it through last month. Maybe it helps to read it in mid-summer when you are feeling strong & rested? I'm now reading Engleby by "Sebastian Faulks", which is kind of "C&P again" in 1970s Britain. Maybe I should try Watership Down next! You can have too much of a bad thing...
La Mujer del Maestro ~ Guillermo Martinez
Fight club ~ Chuck Palahniuk
The picture of Dorian Gray ~ Oscar Wilde
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