Culture

[TuneGirl]

Tancred-Thanks for recommending "The Razor's Edge" I am looking forward to a quiet weekend with a good book!

[Brodie]

The Razor's Edge is a good book but not the best....lets not forget about writers like Hunter S. Thompson, Kurt Vonnegut, Anthony Burgess, Dalton Trumbo, and Dante should be at the top of just about everyone's literary memory. <P>But The Razor's Edge is a good book...<P>And why not keep with like the feng shui (if that is how you spell it) of the whole thing, and while reading it listen to AC/DC's Razor's Edge...

[tancred]

A.S. Byatt's Possesion is pretty amazing as well. I prefer Chaucer to Dante.

[dkm32]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by tancred:<BR><STRONG>You should see the new armor! Close to two grand worth of finery. I shall post a pic soon. </STRONG><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Love the garb, too! You can come to my party anytime!!!

[tancred]

Do I have to make clothes for the age of Strauss? I have been looking for an excuse to make a great coat. Maybe I have seen too many films with Peter Cushing chasing the bad guys while wearing one, but the coats are too cool!

[dkm32]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by tancred:<BR><STRONG>Do I have to make clothes for the age of Strauss? I have been looking for an excuse to make a great coat. Maybe I have seen too many films with Peter Cushing chasing the bad guys while wearing one, but the coats are too cool! </STRONG><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>While I do admit that the way guys dressed in the 1800's is sexy

[Brodie]

You perfer Chaucer to Dante?<P>Tisk tisk tisk.<P>Dante's great, especially if you read him all at one time. Breaking him up into chapters is just stoopud.<P>Inferno's a Masterpiece of literature...End of story.<P><BR>-Brodie<BR>PS Yay we're up to 100!!!

[tancred]

Perhaps you have heard of the Canterbury Tales, taken by some in the know as a masterpiece of literature as well. I love Dante but not as much as Chaucer.<BR>For a great read get Lombardo's translation of the Illiad. It is a thing of beauty!

[Brodie]

I have read the Canterbury Tales and they just don't float my boat....<P>Now the Illiad I have to agree with you on. One of the best pieces of acient work ever. In my honest opinion is even better than the Odyssey.<P><BR>-Brodie

[TuneGirl]

Brodie,<BR>Tried to get through the Iliad and the Odyssey-required reading for my high school. I have to admit the most dishonest thing I've ever done was that I ended up reading the Cliff Notes version instead-it was hard for me to get through the prose. Hard to top that as a true life crime story...

[tancred]

I know. That's why I recommend Lombardo's translation. It is almost like reading a script from a great film.

[Nonamel]

Try reading The Grapes of Wrath or The Lord of the Flies (by Steinbeck and ?). Those two make any other look good.

[BenMurphy6]

hey! those are two of my favorites!

[Brodie]

J. R. R. Tolkien is the other one.<P>I don't particularily care for either one of those. I mean sure they are decent books and all but they are not great ones.<P>Now Player Piano by Kurt Vonnegut, Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo, Earthly Powers by Anthony Burgess, and The Divine Comedy by Dante. Those my friend are books. Those are among the greatest ever written.<P>Some great short stories are Welcome to the Monkey House (the best ever in my opinion) by Kurt Vonnegut and The Masque of the Red Death and The Black Cat by Edgar Allan Poe.<P>So many great stories. Too many to list...<P><BR>-Brodie

[BenMurphy6]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR> I mean sure they are decent books and all but they are not great ones. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>yeah, brodie. because they certainly aren't two of the most influential books of the century.

[tancred]

It's funny you mention Tolkien. Once at Oxford there was a gathering of writers. All the hoy-poloy were there - including Tolkien and James Joyce. They were asked to take turns reading their newest works. Of course, Tolkien started something from what would be the Two Towers. As he started Joyce said " Aw Christ! Not another elf story..." There was much laughter at the little man's joke.<BR>The kicker: Joyce is a titan in Literature ( undeservedly so - but that's my opinion) but I feel that Tolkien will be read long after old cloth-eye is forgotten.<BR>Just the two cents of <BR>Tanc

[priya978]

I've never read Grapes of wrath, I've read part of Of Mice and Men, very good book, but then I had to return it. I've also seen the film.

[Brodie]

Two of the most influential books of our time? There have been numerous books better than those two. I'm gonna have to agree with the quote by James Joyce (another great author...right up there with good ol Billy Bard in my opinion) because all that Tolkien is known for are those elf stories. Few people can name any short stories he ever wrote or even any other books of his at that. The Lord of the Ring series is all he is known for. And in my humble opinion they aren't that good. More over they just keep going and going and sort of die down then they keep at a dead level and then it ends.<P>And the only reason that most of the youth knows about it nowadays is because of those movies that are coming out. But I truly can't wait to see the battle scene over that one Tower. When those guys have that head chopping contest...oh that will be so great....if they can show it.<P><BR>-Brodie<p>[ 10-27-2002: Message edited by: Brodie ]

[tancred]

Tolkien wrote many stories in Anglo Saxon which he taught at Oxford. he served in the Trenches at the Somme. Joyce sat around complaining and being a hypochondriac. He borrowed money from people and never repaid them. He was an angry ,little, caustic man. He was a good writer but I don't think he deserves the adulation he is given. As someone who is part Irish, give me McCourt anyday for the real Irish Experience. <BR>Tolkein's true legacy is the influence he exerted for nearly fifty years on popular culture while Joyce is just atool proffessors use to agitate their students.

[Brodie]

You know the sad part Tanc? I agree with you on everything. Joyce for what he has done with his life, does not deserve the recognition her recieves. About the opposite can be said about Tolkien, he deserves much admiration for what he has done with his life but recieving very little in comparison. But do keep in mind that I don't care about background (nor do many people) when it comes to stories. As long as the story is told well I could careless. Heck I wouldn't min dif a Canadian told a story about Korean War as long as its told right. And I don't care if a Thelogian wrote a sotry called "The Heretics guide to Religon" as long as its told right. So in that respect Joyce deserves much acclaim. Whereas Tolkien is a good story teller but not up to the standards of such greats as Anthony Burgess, Dalton Trumbo, Edagr Allan Poe, James Joyce, Dante, Virgil, Homer, Arthur C. Clarke, Kurt Vonnegut, William Shakepeare, and many others. Those who can tell a story get the acclaimation they deserve....most of the time...<P><BR>-Brodie