What are you reading right now?

lucifer_sam · 12-10-2009, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoathsomePete

That's kind of funny because I'm the exact opposite. I had to read Crime and Punishment in my senior year of AP English and I pretty much hated it from start to finish, but I had read Gogol's short works years before that and found myself really enjoying it. Gogal and Sergei Lukyanenko are the only two Russian authors that I've found so far that don't put me to sleep.

oh no i enjoyed Diary of a Madman quite a bit, it was wonderful. Dead Souls was just something i couldn't latch onto -- insurpassably boring, very predictable and not many themes worth considering. i've read Dostoevsky before so i'm very familiar with his style of prose, i've been told The Brothers Karamazov is his best work.

if you're in need of notable Russian authors, you should give Nabokov a try. Lolita is probably my current favorite book.

adidasss · 12-11-2009, 10:34 AM

I wouldn't really classify Lolita as Russian literature, it was written in English and is set in America. Great novel, but I'd say an American one.

lucifer_sam · 12-11-2009, 10:50 AM

i agree, that's why i never called it a piece of Russian literature.

LoathsomePete · 12-11-2009, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by storymilo

I read the first page of that at a bookstore once..... took quite a while!

However I plan on conquering it eventually

Haha I remember reading the first page as I was walking to the counter at the bookstore and thinking "oh god what am I getting myself into..." If you're unfamiliar with the terminology some of the newer editions have a glossary in the back, however I like the one in the picture I posted because it fits perfectly in the breast pocket of one of my winter jackets.

It wasn't until my 3rd read through that I fully understood it, but the trick is to read it while doing a Scottish accent, that should help you understand the flow and the general concept of what's being said. That said, good luck with Begbie and Spud's chapters...

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucifer_sam

oh no i enjoyed Diary of a Madman quite a bit, it was wonderful. Dead Souls was just something i couldn't latch onto -- insurpassably boring, very predictable and not many themes worth considering. i've read Dostoevsky before so i'm very familiar with his style of prose, i've been told The Brothers Karamazov is his best work.

if you're in need of notable Russian authors, you should give Nabokov a try. Lolita is probably my current favorite book.

Lolita has been on my list of books to read for yonks now, however I don't feel like buying it and it's always out of the library. I may just bite the bullet and purchase it on like half.com or something and save some money because it is a book that I really want to read.

adidasss · 12-11-2009, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucifer_sam

i agree, that's why i never called it a piece of Russian literature.

Why would he care what nationality Nabokov is if it has nothing to do with his writing? All of the great Russian authors and their greatest works are inextricably connected to Russia. Maybe that could be said of some of Nabokov's earlier writings but definitely not Lolita... *shrug*

NumberNineDream · 12-11-2009, 02:46 PM

Still Lolita is a must.
(... and agreeing on all the points that were made, as I still can't see what you're arguing about)

Anyway, reading a second time Alice in Wonderland. I had read an e-book version, and surely didn't get most of the story, as now rereading it I was quite surprised by the many things I wrongly understood.

Plus this one is similar to the original book, with more poems (that the e-book version) and the original illustrations.

LoathsomePete · 12-11-2009, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NumberNineDream

Still Lolita is a must.
(... and agreeing on all the points that were made, as I still can't see what you're arguing about)

Anyway, reading a second time Alice in Wonderland. I had read an e-book version, and surely didn't get most of the story, as now rereading it I was quite surprised by the many things I wrongly understood.

Plus this one is similar to the original book, with more poems (that the e-book version) and the original illustrations.

That's been one of my favorite books for quite some time now. When I was off work with my fractured foot I use to stop by the pub near my house for a quick pint and I would read that.

adidasss · 12-11-2009, 04:42 PM

I really enjoyed that too, read it this summer. I've never read anything that so perfectly encapsulated what it was like to be a child. He had an amazing understanding of children. Never got around to Through the looking glass and I was meaning to read it so I can read Alice in Sunderland...

I've moved on to The complete short stories of Phillip K. ****. Great stuff so far.

Akira · 12-13-2009, 08:48 AM

Re-reading this in preparation for the sequel next week:

NSW · 12-13-2009, 09:58 AM

Reading it for book club, though I do actually enjoy Dean Koontz, so I'm hoping it's decent.

12-11-2009, 10:34 AM	#2142 (permalink)
adidasss Slavic gay sauce Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Abu Dhabi Posts: 7,993	I wouldn't really classify Lolita as Russian literature, it was written in English and is set in America. Great novel, but I'd say an American one. __________________ “Think of what a paradise this world would be if men were kind and wise.” - Kurt Vonnegut, Cat's Cradle. Last.fm

12-11-2009, 10:50 AM	#2143 (permalink)
lucifer_sam Unrepentant Ass-Mod Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 3,921	i agree, that's why i never called it a piece of Russian literature. __________________ first.am

12-11-2009, 02:46 PM	#2146 (permalink)
NumberNineDream Blue Bleezin' Blind Drunk Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: The land of the largest wine glass (aka Lebanon) Posts: 2,200	Still Lolita is a must. (... and agreeing on all the points that were made, as I still can't see what you're arguing about) Anyway, reading a second time Alice in Wonderland. I had read an e-book version, and surely didn't get most of the story, as now rereading it I was quite surprised by the many things I wrongly understood. Plus this one is similar to the original book, with more poems (that the e-book version) and the original illustrations. __________________ Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats?Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats?Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats?Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats?Do bats eat cats?Do bats eat cats?Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats?Do bats eat cats?Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats? Welcome to the Black Lodge

12-11-2009, 04:42 PM	#2148 (permalink)
adidasss Slavic gay sauce Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Abu Dhabi Posts: 7,993	I really enjoyed that too, read it this summer. I've never read anything that so perfectly encapsulated what it was like to be a child. He had an amazing understanding of children. Never got around to Through the looking glass and I was meaning to read it so I can read Alice in Sunderland... I've moved on to The complete short stories of Phillip K. ****. Great stuff so far. __________________ “Think of what a paradise this world would be if men were kind and wise.” - Kurt Vonnegut, Cat's Cradle. Last.fm

12-13-2009, 09:58 AM	#2150 (permalink)
NSW Bigger and Better Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Texas girl living in the UK Posts: 2,596	Reading it for book club, though I do actually enjoy Dean Koontz, so I'm hoping it's decent. __________________ Hi. Last edited by NSW; 12-13-2009 at 10:06 AM.