NSW

Are We All Nazis? by Hans Askenasy

Fantastic book. Written in 1978, however the information is still relevant today. It basically explores the theory that given the right conditions, any of us are likely to act in a manner inconsistant with our normal beliefs. It gives the reader a glimpse of the day to day life of the "monsters" at the forefront of the Nazi's regime, and argues that they weren't really monsters at all, but normal people like you and I. It also links these arguments with the Yale psychologist Stanley Milgram and his "famous" behavioural experiments, which I'd recommend looking up if you're not familiar.

At any rate, it makes the reader really ponder how they would act in a similar situation. It's a thin book, but I've had to stop reading it mid-way through in order to absorb it.

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Hi.

Circe

After finishing A Game Of Thrones (yes, I do watch the show but I'd only recently gotten round to buying the first book in the series) I've followed a recommendation of someone I probably shouldn't trust and have picked up Dubliners by James Joyce. Supposedly it's not as much of an absolute nightmare to read as Ulysses was, so I might actually be able to appreciate it rather than spending my time trying to keep up with what on earth is meant to be happening.

James

I'm writing my dissertation on magical realism so I am studying One Hundred Years of Solitude, The Tin Drum and Midnight's Children. I've been trying to get through Midnight's Children for about two weeks now and I am struggling, really not enjoying it in the slightest.

Engine

Dissertation must mean something quite different in Scotland than it does in the US. Here, doctoral students spend years writing a dissertation in order to earn their PhD degree (Doctor of Philosophy).
Speaking of Scotland, I've gotten back to this tome:



You Scots fucking rule.

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Like an arrow,
I was only passing through.

Sansa Stark

Reading this right now. The male protagonist really kinda pisses me off but I'm enjoying it anyway

James

It does mean that, but at a high school level if you take Advanced Higher English you write a dissertation. Basically just a 5000 word essay where you look at two or three books of your choice in more depth than an average essay. No where near on the same level as a PhD, but they call it a dissertation and it's worth 40% of my grade.
Also, of course we rule!

corkontheocean

I'm re-reading A Breath of Snow and Ashes, book 6 of the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. Highly recommended!

Tuittu

Room by Emma Donoghue.
It's a little bit (or maybe a bit more) pressing but also very very cute. I couldn't stop reading it and I totally recommend it!

SashQ

The Book Thief by Mark Zusak
About a young foster girl living outside of Munich in Nazi Germany. Funny and sad.

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"If I told you that a flower bloomed in a dark room, would you trust it?"

Camarasaur8

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Hands down the funniest book I've ever read.

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Sunrise doesn't last all morning...A cloudburst doesn't last all day...