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Michal

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Hmm, Lord of the Flies sounds great too from what I read, tell us later how it was Michal and if it is recommended.

Even it was written in 1954 it is still actual. Clear-sightedness and intelligence are just staying somewhere in the background and it is hard to establish democracy and order when majority doesn't want it. This book is not just about bunch of kids but about human nature at all. It is a conjunction or overlapping (depends on your point of view, mine is obvious :p) of moral and political philosophy. I recommend this book to everyone.

Michal said:
My next goal is Oscar Wilde: The Picture of Dorian Gray.

Well, I just bought very interesting Slovak book, word-for-word translation is Tractor-drivers and faggots. I will count how many times is Australia mentioned there and I will inform you. But I promise Oscar Wilde will be my next book. :)
 

Michal

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Did any of you read something from this list?

Truman Capote: Breakfast at Tiffany's
Thomas Mann: Death in Venice
Rainer Maria Rilke: The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge
Richard Brautigan: Trout Fishing in America
Francis Scott Fitzgerald: The Great Gatsby
Graham Greene: The Power and the Glory
Peter Handke: Short Letter, Long Farewell
Joseph Nostromo: Nostromo
Norman Mailer: The Executioner's Song
Edward Morgan Forster: A Room with a View
Ray Bradbury: The Golden Apples of the Sun
Günter Wilhelm Grass: Cat and Mouse

I want to read some fiction and non-fiction books in next 3 months and I can't decide between these fiction ones I posted above. I know I can google them but any recommendation from this community would be highly appreciated. :)
 

Hammoudi

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I just read the Great Gatsby from that list, and that was about 10 years ago for high school.

I have to say that it was one of the few American books that I liked. Catcher in the Rye is one that I think is overrated. I like books that play around a central theme, and the Great Gatsby is one.

However, I am reading one of the weirdest books ever, Nadja by Breton. It was so confusing and without a theme that I almost gave up on it, but it started getting clear. I guess that is expected from a surrealist author.
 

interista

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Francis Scott Fitzgerald: The Great Gatsby

Günter Wilhelm Grass: Cat and Mouse

I would say read Great Gatsby
 

Michal

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Catcher in the Rye is one that I think is overrated.

I don't think so, I liked that book very much (I read it during my high-school years :D).

Thank you for your advice, there are some non-fiction books I would like to read in near future:

Paul Johnson: A History of the English People
Justine Faure: L'ami américain. La Tchécoslovaquie, enjeu de la diplomatie américaine 1943-1968
(I have Czech edition of this book and it seems it is not possible to read it in English)
Mark Kurlansky: 1968: The Year that Rocked the World
Henry Kissinger: Diplomacy
John Gray: False Dawn

and some books written by Slovak and Czech authors
 

Waleed

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Michal I am glad you liked liked Lord of the Flies. It is a superb book.

As for your fiction list I havent read any of the books on it but I have read Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury and several Graham Greene novels.

I am currently in the middle of trying to sort myself out of the Ayn Rand's masterpiece "Atlas Shrugged". It is an extremely long book which takes a while to actually grasp the concept behind the plot line.

Anyways I plan an going through some H.G. Wells novels once Im done with this one.
 

Michal

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I am currently in the middle of trying to sort myself out of the Ayn Rand's masterpiece "Atlas Shrugged". It is an extremely long book which takes a while to actually grasp the concept behind the plot line.

If you like these extremely long books I recommend you James Joyce: Ulysses. Too bad I decided to read this book when I was younger and unprepared for "chef d'oeuvre" like it. 1000 pages to describe one ordinary day (16 June 1904). It is really something and I want to read it again in the future (hopefully better prepared).

Anyways I plan an going through some H.G. Wells novels once Im done with this one.

Today I read something about this author and it is the next name on my list.
 

Waleed

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I have sworn off James Joyce. I was forced to read The Portrait of and Artist as a Young Man in one of my uni courses. Not only was it possibly the most difficult books to read and understand but it was about the most mundane bullshit ever.

I believe it is a prequel of sorts to Ulysses.
 

BlueBacchus

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I am reading Madame Bovary right now.
My fourth book in 3 weeks.
Read Balzac's "Wrong Side of Paris", Dumas' "The Knight of Maison-Rouge" and Stendhal's "The Red and Black". After I have finished Bovary (2 days most) I shall read either more Balzac, Hugo or most likely Emile Zola (either Nana or Germinal). I am in my 19th century French literature mood right now. :D
 

Stefan

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Reading The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski. Excellent so far. The Witcher is a great character. Can't wait for the pc game based on this book to be released.
 

Fabio

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"Lord of the Flies" - we've just been given that to study, it better be good! :eek:

We also got recommended "1984" for future reading and "The Wasp Factory".
 

Michal

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Picture of Dorian Gray

Quite interesting reading, you mentioned specific language of Oscar Wilde but I read only Slovak edition of this book so I can't comment that. Wilde was a playwright and sometimes I had a feeling I am reading drama and not a novel. Hedonism, aestheticism and homoeroticism (but this one only indirectly, when 2 other characters "fought" for Dorian's attention) - you will find these 3 elements/themes when you decide to read it.

E-books readers can get this book here.
 

Michal

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F. Scott Fitzgerald: The Great Gatsby

Short melancholic novel about a life of the cream of society (author had never reached that status so that's probably a ground for melancholy). It hardly attracts serious readers (at least in my opinion) so you should read it only if you have nothing better to do. Or maybe it is just my fault and I missed something hidden...
 

Inter101

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"Lord of the Flies" - we've just been given that to study, it better be good! :eek:

We also got recommended "1984" for future reading and "The Wasp Factory".

Grade 10?
 

Inter101

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Did anyone here read a book called "Mother Russia" by Bernice Rubens? Classic.



Michal said:
If you like these extremely long books I recommend you James Joyce: Ulysses. Too bad I decided to read this book when I was younger and unprepared for "chef d'oeuvre" like it. 1000 pages to describe one ordinary day (16 June 1904). It is really something and I want to read it again in the future (hopefully better prepared).
1 day!! The must described every second like its an hour. is it good? whats the genre?
 

Michal

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1 day!! The must described every second like its an hour. is it good? whats the genre?

More about this book here, or you should just google it. There are many allusions and other stuff that prolong it (so it doesn't describe every second or so).
 

BlueBacchus

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Anglo-American authors for the most part are overrated and copycats of Continental writers (mostly German and French).
They are always 15-20 years behind the major movements (except in the case of Sir Walter Scott).
Speaking of Joyce, he criticized Zola for his themes and his describtions, but sure enough ends up doing many thing similar to him.
Ah typical of Anglo-American writers.
 

Waleed

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"Lord of the Flies" - we've just been given that to study, it better be good! :eek:

We also got recommended "1984" for future reading and "The Wasp Factory".

1984 is a solid book.
 

Khalifa

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I finally finished reading Franz Kafka's, The Trial. Very Good!
 
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