Dostoevsky's Notes From Underground. When I first read it in 1972, it was as if someone slapped me on the side of the head, or splashed cold water in my face. It shook me up and made me realize what writing is capable of, what one can do with mere words. It changed my viewpoint, my outlook, and it made me search within. It changed the approach I took toward literature, philosophy, psychology, and religion in general. In short, it changed my life.
Of course this is a wonderful book, matchless in terms of content and style. I have of late finished the Brothers Karamazov and now I am into Notes From Underground.Originally Posted by Jermac
I am really speechless when I am commenting on this book for this book is such a beauty it can transform a person totally
“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.
Swampthing.
__________________
"Personal note: When I was a little kid my mother told me not to stare into the sun. So once when I was six, I did. At first the brightness was overwhelming, but I had seen that before. I kept looking, forcing myself not to blink, and then the brightness began to dissolve. My pupils shrunk to pinholes and everything came into focus and for a moment I understood. The doctors didn't know if my eyes would ever heal."
-Pi
That was rather uncalled for... No need for name calling, you know...
~
"It is not that I am mad; it is only that my head is different from yours.”
~
Hmmm... good question...
I'd have to say Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky because it kind of cemented my interest in reading, which has led me to read many books that I might not have read otherwise.
Also, Raskolnikov ranks among my favourite anti-heroes of all time.
"Etiquette is etiquette. He kills his mother but he can't wear grey trousers."
-James Joyce
15 yeas ago: Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte had the most lasting affect on me.
"Have the strength to force the moment to its crisis".
I think these forums are for Dostoevsky lovers...and not so much literature lovers.
Everything I read here has his name all over it
Wuthering Heights had a huge personal affect on me, and Hamlet, simply because I wasn't a big reader before I picked it up and it was about half a dozen classes above anything I'd seen before.
The Ghost of the Brothers Karamazov is still haunting me.
“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.
Most affect on me....
The IRS instructions for filling out the long form for income tax filing.
I can probably tell my life story with the books I read... many of my life changing moments revolved around books:
The Chronicles of Narnia: First children's book I read that inspired me to take my reading seriously. (and I must say that the movie version of the book is perhaps the best book adaptation I have ever seen)
Valley of the Horses by Jean Auel -- erm... this was how I discovered boys.
Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach -- book that inspired me to do what I was good at... both this book and a creative writing and literature class inspired me to major in English in University.
Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky -- inspired me to look within and see the monster inside myself. Gave my doe-eyed self a good dose of cynicism.
hmmm... actually, I'm pretty due for another life changing experiance... let me see what's next on my reading list... Hmmm... Vanity Fair??
Henry Thoreau's Walden does it for me. His humor, his eye for description, his ability to see the marvelous in mundane, his idea that philosophy is a life well-lived. . . .at my best, I hope to approach these things.
“Oh crap”
-- Hellboy
The Grapes of Wrath
Pride and Prejudice this book got me into reading classics, well I think it was that book it was a while ago. Pretty sure it was an Austen anyway.
Other one was Road to Wigan Pier by Orwell. I suddenly became very aware of the fact people were different from me and I wasn't aware in a good way, I became over vigilant about it. It wasn't that I was unaware beforehand but I never really saw or felt that things like class and race difference had effects on real people lives and that my attitude could affect people for better or worse. It really sank into my conciousness for the first time.
Last edited by Fen; 02-10-2010 at 05:27 PM.
Goethe, the sorrows of young werther
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