Thread: Books that are must reads before you die ?

'Germinal" Emile Zola, this book will blow your mind about mankind, and the animal/atavistic behavior we tend to display in dire situations, the indifference of fellow man, our own natures, the conflicts that all of these things create which makes the human condition so precarious.

"Neuromancer" by William Gibson. So you thought "The Matrix" was original, try he wrote this in the late 70's 80's about neural networks, and such, and the loss fo god through technology, take that Carl Sagan.

The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer ( In the original Middle english "Wan that April, in the droucht of March") no other classic made me realize the amazing interplay of vocabulary, colloquialisms, and politics can play in literature.

The Odyssey Homer Who's more wily the Odysseus? The cunning, the crafty, a true man's man. Great story of the ancient world, did I mention its the oldest Epic, outside of Virgil's Anneid or Jason and the Argonauts.

The Iliad Homer Well it's a battle, and Troy looses...hehe and it doesn't contain Brad Pitt showing off his body yay!

Complete Works of Oscar Wilde To me the most prolific writer of his time, "The Soul of man Under Socialism" or Dorian Grey, or De Profundis? Such works cannot be duplicated, a true genius.

Before Night Falls Arnaldo Arenas, ok so he's gay and living in post communistic Cuba and dies of Aids, but whoever though such amazingly beautiful views of humanity could be had by such a colorful and tragic life?


Ulysses James Joyce, Leopold Bloom the modern hero, well he sure is, life is hard folks, truly outstanding writing, stream of consciousness, and epic format, amazing, Joyce the most brilliant writer of all time. Heck if you dont get the Annotated Notes your F'd trying to decipher the text.


The Crying of Lot 49, Thomas Pychon, he was a Simpsons character folks, and a true recluse, the work is profound, about the loss of god, conspiracy theories, and all things that replace god, and loss of faith.

I could on for days.... but I wont bore you I have plenty of books Ilove

David

Aargh.

From my list i forgot Jaroslav Hasek: Svejk.
How could i ?

Originally Posted by Sirshavesalot

The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer ( In the original Middle english "Wan that April, in the droucht of March") no other classic made me realize the amazing interplay of vocabulary, colloquialisms, and politics can play in literature.

I have an edition with the original printed on the left and a modern English version on the right. I would read the original, switch to the modern and then re-read the original. Eventually I could stumble along in the original for some time before needing to peek at the translation. "Amazing interplay" is a good observation. Some of the tales are side-splittingly funny.

The Odyssey Homer Who's more wily the Odysseus? The cunning, the crafty, a true man's man. Great story of the ancient world, did I mention its the oldest Epic, outside of Virgil's Anneid or Jason and the Argonauts.

I have read several translations but was surprised that my favorite is a prose translation by T.E. Lawrence ("of Arabia" fame). In his introduction he claims to be uniquely qualified to translate this as he has actually killed people with weapons identical to the ones in the poem! His translation, although prose, was quite "poetic" in a way.

And I believe it is several centuries (maybe a millennium) older than Virgil!

TexasBob

Chaucer is absolutely funny especially the summoner's tale ( with Allison) and the full moon ( literally and figuratively as well as the fart...hehe) the best part to note is who is telling their story to whom, and who's story they've followed, meaning the had an axe to grind with certain members of the traveling party and their actions, etc...

Yes, Virgil is in Latin, meaning it definitely came after Homer, I just meant to say, people sometimes reference Virgil as being an old text and Homer is even older then that. Virgil is Italy's Homer Ulysses is Odysseus in Latin, basically.

Some other works I love:

Theodore Dreiser's 'Sister Carrie" this story almost makes A Requiem for a Dream seem pleasant, and Angela's Ashes like a romantic comedy. Hell I think "The Jungle" seems nice to what happens in this story, but absolutely stark in its reality of the time and human nature under certain circumstances.

Very utilitarian book

"Book of Coral Propagation" by Anthony Calfo, and 'Corals" by Eric Bourneman, as I keep a coral reef, these books are invaluable.

cheers
David

Everything by Dostoevsky, in this order.

The Idiot
Insulted and Humiliated
Brothers Kar
Crime and Punish
The Possessed
The rest

I really like a good fantasy book now and then, and I think The Wizarrd of Earthsea is a classic. I also really enjoyed Wizard's First Rule.

The only book of reasonable length that I sacrificed an evening of sleep to read was The Painted Bird by Jerzy Kosinski. I am aware of the criticisms surrounding the book, but it's a flat-out good read. period.

I thoroughly enjoy this version! I'd hate to die not having read it, or have it read to me

this is going to be a link to another site, but it is an amazingly wonderful site that if no one here has discovered it, you are missing out. visit the link for the books, and peruse around for yourself :-)


Link to list of books :-)


Bigger list


let me know if y'all agree :-)

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

I thoroughly enjoy this version! I'd hate to die not having read it, or have it read to me

I try to avoid books that exploit women and poor defenseless animals. Too much sex and violence in it too.


........before you start the flames guys.... I'm kidding..... it's my favorite book... really.