Books The BOOK thread

That story destroyed part of me when I was a kid. Just flat out ruined.

Steinbeck is a favorite of mine (just finished "The Long Valley" today. When I travel, my favorite conversation starter upon meeting someone over there is "Recommend me 3 books that are a must read from your country". This of course comes back to me to pick out 3 books from the states. The first one I always recommend is "The Grapes of Wrath". There are obviously other greats to pick from, but I worry they lose too much in translation (how could you possibly translate Huck Finn talking with Jim). Hemingway might be a bit spartan, and Faulkner sort of requires a reasonable understanding of the South.

Whatever. Steinbeck = great lit. For a brawling good fun read I strongly recommend "Cannery Row". For more of that Depression era anger, "In Dubious Battle". For the ammoral, man-adrift malaise there's "The Winter of Discontent".

A fundamentally weird thing about his writing though is that he's got these 2 styles. 1 very American, stylized gritty realism which I really like. Then there's more of a sort of parable/fairy tale style of telling that's totally different and not as great for me ("The Moon is Down", "Tortilla Flat", "The Virgin Saint Katy".
 
Redjazz said:
You might like Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster (1997) by Jon Krakauer. Krakauer abstains from the morbid to focus on the mistakes made. He is especially scathing of the commercial agencies, their willingness to escort (at up to 65,000 dollars a pop) rich Jack and Jills-wth gourmet picnicking and their own personal sherpa slaves- up the hill irrespective of experience and condition. Appropriately he doesn't treat the high-altitude climber with the reverential awe and veneration that quite frequently marks works of this kind.
To summit Everest requires physical endurance and mental fortitude and while Krakauer lauds these qualities, he rightly points out that the motivations behind what are essentially personal crusades are inspired not to much by nobility of purpose as the selfish need to quell some personal fixation. The mountain isn't there as an affront to mankind; it will not be vanquished because some fella plants his feet atop of it.
I was at Everest Base Camp a few years ago. It doubles as both a perma-village and a dump for discarded equipment\gear from all previous climbs. I can confirm, first-hand, the deleterious impact that thin air has on body and mind. I recall staggering around trying to educate my feet to work in a manner that resembled walking but finding the effort a difficult one. At 5000m, I felt like a drunk with a severe hangover suffering through a bad flu. I also recall not being able to sleep; in fact for the 3 or 4 days I was above 4000m, I can't recall sleeping at all. Low oxygen levels makes it difficult to pitch your breathing to slumber mode.
Like Krakauer, I can appreciate the endurance needed to push for the summit. But with high altitude climbs there are uncontrollable elements, quite apart from the technical aspects of climbing, such as the uncertain impact of oxygen deprivation and freakish weather systems that renders the word 'tragic' a misnomer when applied to climbing accidents
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I've read a lot of Krakauer's stuff and a ton on Everest, but never Into Thin Air, although I do know the story well.

One of the more underrated books on Everest I've read is 'High Crimes: The Fate of Everest in an Age of Greed'. I'd highly recommend it - it's in a similar vein to Into Thin Air but delves a bit more into the dark side of mountaineering as the title suggests - in an age of greed and when it's more about money than sport.
 
Been reading a lot less lately, what with moving base to the US and all. More settled now and picked up Ender's game last week. Was left quite unimpressed and bored with it. Do not for the life of me see why this is rated so highly.

Was in the mood for something more classic, so finally started 'The Brothers Karamazov'. Liking it so far. I love Dostoevsky's simplified style. I know I'm going to enjoy this.
 
The_Red_Hope said:
Been reading a lot less lately, what with moving base to the US and all. More settled now and picked up Ender's game last week. Was left quite unimpressed and bored with it. Do not for the life of me see why this is rated so highly.

Was in the mood for something more classic, so finally started 'The Brothers Karamazov'. Liking it so far. I love Dostoevsky's simplified style. I know I'm going to enjoy this.
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Funny that. I was about to pick up "Enders Game" right after I finished my current book (The Russian Civil War), but you may have saved me the trouble.

Also, "The Brothers Karamazov" is my favorite book and have reread it a couple of times with different translations. Which translation do you have?
 
Heardy said:
Finished this earlier today.

Incredible book, and despite the film being one of my favourites, the book is far superior - largely as it includes the best parts of Part II also.

The character of "The Don" in both Vito and Michael Corleone is given a far greater sense of menace in the book, and the side / backing stories that feature in the book help fill the story out.

Johnny Fontane features heavily which was good, but also good to learn a little more about Fredo's relationship with the rest of the Corleone family.

Thoroughly enjoyable read, and genuinely disappointed i've finished it in many senses. No idea if "The Don" or "Omerta" by Puzo are any good, but it's a shame that Puzo never penned a sequel that followed the events in Vegas.

Anybody read "The Godfather Returns" by Mark Winegardner? It's effectively a sequel, but never sure about a sequel penned by a different author. No idea if it follows the direction Puzo would have wanted - saying that i'm guessing part of his vision is the films given that he had a huge input on the script / screenplay.
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BBC News - Godfather prequel novel announced

Looking forward to reading this.
 
Heardy said:
I've been reading CJ Sansom lately.

Really enjoyed Dissolution, Dark Fire, and Sovereign. Picked them up on the back of reading POTE and World Without End.

I picked up Dissolution as it was set in the period of World Without End, and i liked the idea of learning a little about the dissolution of the monestaries. Shardlake is a character that you really sympathise with and want to help fight his corner.

Thought the introduction of Jack Barak in the second and third of the series was a good move, and like the interaction between the characters. I hope Barak features in the next ones.

I will probably pick up Revelation and Heartstone next time in Waterstones, but i've picked up The Godfather on Poppers advice.

I'm only 100 pages in, but so far it's brilliant - whilst you know where the story is going from the film, the detail so far is great, and look forward to grabbing 40 minutes with it at lunch.
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Reading Heartstone at the moment, read the other 4, Shardlake is a brilliant character. Been looking at Heresy by SJ Parris as a next book. Set during Elizabeth 1's reign. However also want to read POTE.
 
TheGame said:
Reading Heartstone at the moment, read the other 4, Shardlake is a brilliant character. Been looking at Heresy by SJ Parris as a next book. Set during Elizabeth 1's reign. However also want to read POTE.
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Not heard of Heresy - let us know if you read it and it's worth picking up.

Still not gotten round to picking up Heartstone, been real busy with work and haven't found time to start a new book, but it will hopefully be as good as Dissolution, Dark Fire and Sovereign (think Dissolution was my favourite, although it is very hard to call).

I thoroughly recommend POTE, although it's pretty long. My dad borrowed it off of me but couldn't break the first 100 pages and never picked it up again, but I urge you to soldier through the initial stages, and you will be in for a treat.
 
Best book? Very tough question.

I'm swaying towards the Brothers Karamazov, but 1984 will always be in the back of mind because it's that powerful a novel.

But feck it, Lord of the Rings for sheer enjoyment and epic scale.
 
AdZzUtd said:
Best book? Very tough question.

I'm swaying towards the Brothers Karamazov, but 1984 will always be in the back of mind because it's that powerful a novel.

But feck it, Lord of the Rings for sheer enjoyment and epic scale.
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Yeah, one of my favs, in fact I don't think I've read a better book. Have you read The Trial by Kafka? I'm going to start reading again...soon.
 
Spoony Youngblood said:
Yeah, one of my favs, in fact I don't think I've read a better book. Have you read The Trial by Kafka? I'm going to start reading again...soon.
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I tried Kafka, perhaps I was too young at the time but I just didn't appreciate nor comprehend it, so I stopped. I understand the premise of it however, which does appeal to me now. So yeah, I'm reading it once my exams and revision are done with.

The Brothers Karamazov is undoubtedly one of the finest novels ever. I'm a mix of Fyodor and Ivan I reckon.
 
AdZzUtd said:
I tried Kafka, perhaps I was too young at the time but I just didn't appreciate nor comprehend it, so I stopped. I understand the premise of it however, which does appeal to me now. So yeah, I'm reading it once my exams and revision are done with.

The Brothers Karamazov is undoubtedly one of the finest novels ever. I'm a mix of Fyodor and Ivan I reckon.
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I'm Ivan mixed with Mitya's spirit/aggression...minus the pursuit of money. And Gurushenka's a babe.
 
Spoony Youngblood said:
I'm Ivan mixed with Mitya's spirit/aggression...minus the pursuit of money. And Gurushenka's a babe.
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Nice. Gurushenka is a minx for sure.

I think my favourite character however was the elder (forgot his name shamefully) and the Father Karamazov. Such a drunken manipulator and hard-hearted bastard, brilliant.
 
AdZzUtd said:
Nice. Gurushenka is a minx for sure.

I think my favourite character however was the elder (forgot his name shamefully) and the Father Karamazov. Such a drunken manipulator and hard-hearted bastard, brilliant.
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Zosima? and the father was called Fyodor Pavlovich was he not?
 
Spoony Youngblood said:
Zosima? and the father was called Fyodor Pavlovich was he not?
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Yeah that's right, I think Fyodor Pavlovich is the father because his full name is the brothers name combined isn't it? I'm making it more confusing because I've forgotten.
 
God, I would've loved to have read Dostoyevsky's proposed sequel, in which Alyosha 'goes out into the world'.
 
I read this when I was about 9, cried my eyes out over it...

jennie.jpg
 
Spoony Youngblood said:
I think it's 'Fyodor Pavlovich Karamazov'.
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Yeah, in which case I was confused because I meant i'm a mix of Dmitri and Ivan (the two older brothers) - Dmitri is called Dmitri Fyodorovitch Karamazov so that's why I'm confused.

Infact, I'm still confused about Aloysha, who is also Aloyshenka and Aleksey and about 10 other names.

Mainly, the philosophical and theological debates throughout, aswell as the general insight into life is the driving force behind my love of the book.

Also, the Devil is quite important in the novel I think. Always popping up here and there, especially from the monks and elders.

EDIT: I don't mean the actual devil, but rather he's just mentioned alot.
 
AdZzUtd said:
Yeah, in which case I was confused because I meant i'm a mix of Dmitri and Ivan (the two older brothers) - Dmitri is called Dmitri Fyodorovitch Karamazov so that's why I'm confused.

Infact, I'm still confused about Aloysha, who is also Aloyshenka and Aleksey and about 10 other names.

Mainly, the philosophical and theological debates throughout, aswell as the general insight into life is the driving force behind my love of the book.

Also, the Devil is quite important in the novel I think. Always popping up here and there, especially from the monks and elders.
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Yeah I was wondering why you'd see yourself as their father! Dimitri = Mitya. Aloysha = Aloyshenka and Aleksey and 'about 10 other names'.
 
Spoony Youngblood said:
Yeah I was wondering why you'd see yourself as their father! Dimitri = Mitya. Aloysha = Aloyshenka and Aleksey and 'about 10 other names'.
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Yeah :lol: I had to clear that up or else I'd see myself as some manipulative drunkard! That's right, when Aloysha is bit by the boy the way Dostoyevsky unravels the story and the reason behind why the boy did what he did is fantastic I thought, not to mention what happens subsequently.

So much to say about this novel it's unreal.
 
AdZzUtd said:
Yeah :lol: I had to clear that up or else I'd see myself as some manipulative drunkard! That's right, when Aloysha is bit by the boy the way Dostoyevsky unravels the story and the reason behind why the boy did what he did is fantastic I thought, not to mention what happens subsequently.

So much to say about this novel it's unreal.
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Yep...he was also a bum! Have you read Crime and Punishment?
 
Spoony Youngblood said:
Yep...he was also a bum! Have you read Crime and Punishment?
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I started Crime and Punishment when I was about 17 and just didn't have the attention span for it. It's upstairs on my 'need to read desperately list.'

How does it compare to the Idiot and The Brothers Karamazov?
 
AdZzUtd said:
I started Crime and Punishment when I was about 17 and just didn't have the attention span for it. It's upstairs on my 'need to read desperately list.'

How does it compare to the Idiot and The Brothers Karamazov?
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Not read the Idiot but it's probably his most accessible book. You should definitely read it. What's the Idiot like?
 
Crime and Punishment, and The Brothers Karamazov are much better novels than my favourite (The Idiot). I've really enjoyed RN Morris' 'St Petersburg' series of books, which feature Porfiry Petrovich, the Investigating Magistrate from Crime and Punishment:

Amazon.co.uk: Advanced Search - R. N. Morris: Books
 
Which translation of The Brothers Karamazov is the best?

I have the following available on the online store:

Constance Garnett or David Mcduf
 
Spoony Youngblood said:
Not read the Idiot but it's probably his most accessible book. You should definitely read it. What's the Idiot like?
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I liked it very much, you can access it online I think. The style is very direct and he's unforgiving on you in how he expresses himself and he's unforgiving in his assessment of himself and his life. I think you'd enjoy it, Lev basically struggles with everything about society and himself. I read it before the Brothers Karamazov as a prelude really, which didn't work because the Brothers is simply epic whereas the Idiot is just fantastic.
 
wr8_utd said:
Which translation of The Brothers Karamazov is the best?

I have the following available on the online store:

Constance Garnett or David Mcduf
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Dont bother with that. For every Russian book get Richard Pevear. Him and his wife (I think it's his wife who does the translations with him) do a fantastic job. I've read other translations and they jsut dont match up.

I've read crime & punishment, brothers karamazov, dr. zhivago, master & the margarita, notes from the underground by him and they were all amazing. I want to read his version of Tolstoy now.

Richard Pevear - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 
Spoony Youngblood said:
Yeah, one of my favs, in fact I don't think I've read a better book. Have you read The Trial by Kafka? I'm going to start reading again...soon.
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I wish the trial wasn't my first kafka book. at the time i found it frustrating but i've read more kafka since and loved it. some of his short stories are brilliant. the castle is pretty good too.
 
mehro said:
Dont bother with that. For every Russian book get Richard Pevear. Him and his wife (I think it's his wife who does the translations with him) do a fantastic job. I've read other translations and they jsut dont match up.

I've read crime & punishment, brothers karamazov, dr. zhivago, master & the margarita, notes from the underground by him and they were all amazing. I want to read his version of Tolstoy now.

Richard Pevear - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Seconded! I enjoyed the Pevear and Volokhonsky translation the most, and that was on my 3rd reading (the first 2 were Constance Garnett and the last was a pathetic attempt at trying to translate myself).

You seem to know your lyks. How was Dr. Zhivago anyway? I've had it on the shelf for years and never tackled it.
 
AdZzUtd said:
I started Crime and Punishment when I was about 17 and just didn't have the attention span for it. It's upstairs on my 'need to read desperately list.'

How does it compare to the Idiot and The Brothers Karamazov?
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Crime and Punishment was magnificent. Not as sweeping as the BK as it doesn't cover the whole gamut of that wacky family, but it's a great and tense focus on an individual. It's amazing. I've even got the Classics Illustrated comic.
 
Ellroy beats seven kinds of shit out of Dostoevsky when it comes to crime novels.
 
brad-dyrak said:
Seconded! I enjoyed the Pevear and Volokhonsky translation the most, and that was on my 3rd reading (the first 2 were Constance Garnett and the last was a pathetic attempt at trying to translate myself).

You seem to know your lyks. How was Dr. Zhivago anyway? I've had it on the shelf for years and never tackled it.
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I love it. Read it several times.
 
mehro said:
I wish the trial wasn't my first kafka book. at the time i found it frustrating but i've read more kafka since and loved it. some of his short stories are brilliant. the castle is pretty good too.
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Have you seen Welles' adaptation of The Trial? I love Kafa's work but then again I live absurdity. Oh and I'd like to read In the Penal Colony, have you read it? And yeah The Castle is pretty good....

AdZzUtd said:
I liked it very much, you can access it online I think. The style is very direct and he's unforgiving on you in how he expresses himself and he's unforgiving in his assessment of himself and his life. I think you'd enjoy it, Lev basically struggles with everything about society and himself. I read it before the Brothers Karamazov as a prelude really, which didn't work because the Brothers is simply epic whereas the Idiot is just fantastic.
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I'll stick it on my reading list.
 
Spoony Youngblood said:
Have you seen Welles' adaptation of The Trial? I love Kafa's work but then again I live absurdity. Oh and I'd like to read In the Penal Colony, have you read it? And yeah The Castle is pretty good....




I'll stick it on my reading list.
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Havent seen the movie. I cant imagine how anyone could transfer that to screen. Is it good? And yeah, In the penal colony is great.
 
Heardy said:
Not heard of Heresy - let us know if you read it and it's worth picking up.

Still not gotten round to picking up Heartstone, been real busy with work and haven't found time to start a new book, but it will hopefully be as good as Dissolution, Dark Fire and Sovereign (think Dissolution was my favourite, although it is very hard to call).

I thoroughly recommend POTE, although it's pretty long. My dad borrowed it off of me but couldn't break the first 100 pages and never picked it up again, but I urge you to soldier through the initial stages, and you will be in for a treat.
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Just finished Heartstone, brilliant read. I definitely recommend it. Interesting storyline with some twists. Shardlake is an amazing character, hope Sansom writes some more.

Started Heresy, written in the same style as the Shardlake novels from the point of view of a central person and focused mainly in a city, in this case seems it's Oxford. Still early but looking interesting at the moment. Will let you know how it turns out.
 
mehro said:
Havent seen the movie. I cant imagine how anyone could transfer that to screen. Is it good? And yeah, In the penal colony is great.
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The film is good.... that said, I thought Welles rushed the last third of the movie. But yeah, well worth a watch.
 
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