I'm looking for good books to read published on or before 1910.
Suggestions?
Hugo, Dostoevsky, Verne, Wells, Twain...
Dickens' Our Mutual Friend.
Melville's Pierre.
Quote from: merithyn on December 14, 2011, 12:18:26 PM
I'm looking for good books to read published on or before 1910.
Suggestions?
What about the Good Book itself? :)
Anything by Dickens and the Sherlock Holmes novels are an easy way in. Start reading A Christmas Carol now for a little seasonal cheer :)
Quote from: Barrister on December 14, 2011, 12:27:28 PM
Quote from: merithyn on December 14, 2011, 12:18:26 PM
I'm looking for good books to read published on or before 1910.
Suggestions?
What about the Good Book itself? :)
Good fiction choice there. :lol:
Kipling. Kim I found boring but his short stories are great.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tenant_of_Wildfell_Hall
Quote from: Admiral Yi on December 14, 2011, 12:35:07 PM
Kipling. Kim I found boring but his short stories are great.
I like his jingoist poems. His just-so stories are pretty fun. Or at least when I read them. That was a quite a bit ago.
I've already read my way through most of Jane Austen's books, multiple Sherlock Holmes novels, Kipling's The Jungle Book, and am now on The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne.
I love Jane Austen and Sherlock Holmes (though I cringe at the constant mention of Holmes' drug addiction). The Jungle Book was cute and light, which I expected. Are most of Kipling's like that? I am entirely bored with Verne. He seems to love to get into the scientific specifics far more than I'm interested in, with entire chapters being about some scientific way to figure something out. I'll plod through the rest of this book, but I'm not thinking I'll dive into anything else of his soon.
Dickens is definitely on my list. I've read Great Expectations several times and A Christmas Carol, too. I'd like to try something different of his.
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall sounds interesting. May put that high on my list.
You might enjoy Dracula and Frankenstein.
Moby Dick was rather dense, but still a good read as well.
Would you consider some Russian authors?
George Eliot is good, Middlemarch is probably the one to start with.
Have you considered Thomas Hardy? He can be heavy going but is usually rewarding.
For lighter stuff there are Trollope's Barsetshire Chronicles, the CofE in the 1860s.........lots of fun :bowler:
Quote from: Barrister on December 14, 2011, 01:03:38 PM
You might enjoy Dracula and Frankenstein.
I've read both, and enjoyed them both.
Quote
Moby Dick was rather dense, but still a good read as well.
Would you consider some Russian authors?
Read Moby Dick in college. Not something I'd do again by choice, though it wasn't really awful, just, as you say, incredibly dense.
Russian authors would be lovely if I can find the translations. :)
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on December 14, 2011, 01:06:13 PM
George Eliot is good, Middlemarch is probably the one to start with.
Have you considered Thomas Hardy? He can be heavy going but is usually rewarding.
For lighter stuff there are Trollope's Barsetshire Chronicles, the CofE in the 1860s.........lots of fun :bowler:
Add these to my list. I did read the Vicker of Wakefield a couple of weeks ago, which I thought was fun, especially since I've watched the modern TV show of that title. :D
Quote from: merithyn on December 14, 2011, 01:23:42 PM
Russian authors would be lovely if I can find the translations. :)
I loved this book:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fphoto.goodreads.com%2Fbooks%2F1309286108l%2F28381.jpg&hash=946f58d47d116d23abebea0719efaa89cde92646)
So wonderfully absurd.
Moby Dick. Nostromo if you don't mind a crappy ending.
Quote from: merithyn on December 14, 2011, 12:58:49 PM
The Jungle Book was cute and light, which I expected. Are most of Kipling's like that?
Yes.
Quote from: merithyn on December 14, 2011, 12:58:49 PM
The Jungle Book was cute and light, which I expected. Are most of Kipling's like that?
Heh, when I read the Jungle Book (I dunno if it is the first or second - anyway, the one with Mowgli in it), I was struck by how un-Disney it was - for example one story was all about how stealing a bit of treasure from a forgotten hoard leads to a trail of betrayal and murder (The King's Ankus). Another, about how Mowgli manages to kill a huge pack of wild dogs by leading them into a trap - an enormous nest of wild bees, which stings the lot of them to a horrible death.
However, if you really want a falvour of 19th century children's literature that is truly not all cute and light, I recommend E. Thompson Seton's
Wild Animals I Have Known. Deeply traumatizing, particularly the short story
Lobo. But quite good.
Quote from: merithyn on December 14, 2011, 01:23:42 PM
Russian authors would be lovely if I can find the translations. :)
Most of the great Russian works are easy to find in Penguins classics.. I'm partial to Dostoyevsky myself. Highly recommend Crime and Punishment.
Quote from: merithyn on December 14, 2011, 01:23:42 PM
Would you consider some Russian authors?
When you mentioned "before 1910" for some reason I assumed you were looking for free material for a Kindle or similar e-reader. Was I right?
Project Gutenberg appears to have numerous translations available - though not Jo's Crime and Punishment.
Edit: huh - it does. But the English translation is cateloged under the Russian title.
Apocalypse Now.
Oscar Wilde "The Picture of Dorian Gray".
I didn't realize she was probably looking for "free" material...I'm so old when people say books, i think of...well, you know, books. ;)
Quote from: merithyn on December 14, 2011, 12:18:26 PM
I'm looking for good books to read published on or before 1910.
Suggestions?
I'd recommend 'The Pickwick Papers' by Dickens. It's his first novel and very much a mid-way point between writing a 'novel' and a serialised stories. So it's rather episodic, but a very enjoyable and fun picaresque story - it's also got one of the best of Dickens's Christmas scenes.
Wilkie Collins was an influence on Dickens's later work, especially the more coherent and controlled plots. A lot of Collins's books aren't that great but they're mostly fun. 'The Woman in White' and 'The Moonstone' though are simply superb. The rest of his books less-so - even the next best two 'No Name' and 'Armadale' aren't that great and are a bit ridiculous.
I love Thackeray's 'Vanity Fair'. It's really interesting because as well as the humour and poignancy that he manages very well it's got, for my money, the most compelling female character in Victorian literature. The orphan Becky Sharp who uses all of her natural advantages to get ahead. Thackeray's rather strait-jacketed by the morality at the time - there's a remarkable chapter where he describes Becky as a sort-of mermaid, beautiful above water but beneath all writhing sea-monster - but you can't shake the feeling that he's more on her side. I think, generally, the reader is.
I'd second George Eliot. For my money the single greatest English novelist, I think she's second only to Shakespeare as an English writer. A really interesting woman too.
Thomas Hardy's great - my family live in the heart of his 'Wessex' they live in 'Weatherbury' of 'Far From the Madding Crowd' and the nearest town is 'Casterbridge' of 'The Mayor of Casterbridge'. I don't think he's heavy-going in terms of writing, it's not that dense, but it takes an emotional toll. But I think he's a great writer. 'Tess of the d'Urbervilles' is probably a good starting point.
Maybe try some Conrad if you've not before? 'Heart of Darkness' is a great short novel. 'The Secret Agent' is still, for my money, the best novel on terrorism. Those are the only two of his I've read.
There are a fair few good BBC adaptations too. I particularly recommend the Barsetshire Chronicles - starring Alan Rickman - and their version of Bleak House.
If you're just into Victoriana I hear the Sarah Waters novels are good and personally enjoyed 'Quincunx' a lot.
Quote from: Josephus on December 14, 2011, 01:53:03 PM
Most of the great Russian works are easy to find in Penguins classics.. I'm partial to Dostoyevsky myself. Highly recommend Crime and Punishment.
I've given up on Penguin cause they print so damn close to the spine.
Oh and on the Russians and French I love Tolstoy and Hugo. 'Les Miserables' is the only book that's made me cry and 'War and Peace' is probably the most all-consuming novel I've ever read. I also really enjoy Stendhal. Chekhov's short stories are wonderful too - and, occassionally, magnificently surreal. Zola's well worth reading too, 'Therese Raquin' and the Rougon-Macquart novels I've read have been great.
I think I read Dostoyevsky too late to get the most out of him, but I still enjoyed him a lot. I've no idea on Balzac, Flaubert or Dumas though I want to read all of them at some point. If you do let me know how you find them.
Balzac??!?
Quote from: Sheilbh on December 14, 2011, 02:49:37 PM
Quote from: merithyn on December 14, 2011, 12:18:26 PM
I'm looking for good books to read published on or before 1910.
Suggestions?
.....
Thomas Hardy's great - my family live in the heart of his 'Wessex' they live in 'Weatherbury' of 'Far From the Madding Crowd' and the nearest town is 'Casterbridge' of 'The Mayor of Casterbridge'. I don't think he's heavy-going in terms of writing, it's not that dense, but it takes an emotional toll. But I think he's a great writer. 'Tess of the d'Urbervilles' is probably a good starting point.
.....
Seconded, though it helps to know the landscape; spending a day in January or February travelling over the downs really brings to life some of the scenes of destitution and plain hard work some of the characters experienced.
Almost anything translated by Pevear and Volokhonsky is worth reading. Gogol's wrote some of my favorite short stories of all time, and the Vintage Classics edition is really, really worth it.
Melville is the greatest novelist in the English Language, and Moby-Dick is up there with Hamlet for greatest work of fiction in English. No substitutes.
Quote from: Barrister on December 14, 2011, 01:57:55 PM
When you mentioned "before 1910" for some reason I assumed you were looking for free material for a Kindle or similar e-reader. Was I right?
Project Gutenberg appears to have numerous translations available - though not Jo's Crime and Punishment.
Edit: huh - it does. But the English translation is cateloged under the Russian title.
Actually, no. I listen to books on tape while at work. librivox.org has a ton of public domain books read by volunteers on their website that I can tap into while at the office. I figured this was a great way for me to catch up on a number of the older classics that I missed, and I knew several of you would have great suggestions. Not all of the books mentioned will be there, but enough are to make it worth asking.
Quote from: Martinus on December 14, 2011, 02:32:03 PM
Oscar Wilde "The Picture of Dorian Gray".
Read that last year, actually.
Quote from: Ideologue on December 14, 2011, 02:06:21 PM
Apocalypse Now.
:yeahright:
Quote from: Sheilbh on December 14, 2011, 02:49:37 PM
Quote from: merithyn on December 14, 2011, 12:18:26 PM
I'm looking for good books to read published on or before 1910.
Suggestions?
I'd recommend 'The Pickwick Papers' by Dickens. It's his first novel and very much a mid-way point between writing a 'novel' and a serialised stories. So it's rather episodic, but a very enjoyable and fun picaresque story - it's also got one of the best of Dickens's Christmas scenes.
Wilkie Collins was an influence on Dickens's later work, especially the more coherent and controlled plots. A lot of Collins's books aren't that great but they're mostly fun. 'The Woman in White' and 'The Moonstone' though are simply superb. The rest of his books less-so - even the next best two 'No Name' and 'Armadale' aren't that great and are a bit ridiculous.
I love Thackeray's 'Vanity Fair'. It's really interesting because as well as the humour and poignancy that he manages very well it's got, for my money, the most compelling female character in Victorian literature. The orphan Becky Sharp who uses all of her natural advantages to get ahead. Thackeray's rather strait-jacketed by the morality at the time - there's a remarkable chapter where he describes Becky as a sort-of mermaid, beautiful above water but beneath all writhing sea-monster - but you can't shake the feeling that he's more on her side. I think, generally, the reader is.
I'd second George Eliot. For my money the single greatest English novelist, I think she's second only to Shakespeare as an English writer. A really interesting woman too.
Thomas Hardy's great - my family live in the heart of his 'Wessex' they live in 'Weatherbury' of 'Far From the Madding Crowd' and the nearest town is 'Casterbridge' of 'The Mayor of Casterbridge'. I don't think he's heavy-going in terms of writing, it's not that dense, but it takes an emotional toll. But I think he's a great writer. 'Tess of the d'Urbervilles' is probably a good starting point.
Maybe try some Conrad if you've not before? 'Heart of Darkness' is a great short novel. 'The Secret Agent' is still, for my money, the best novel on terrorism. Those are the only two of his I've read.
There are a fair few good BBC adaptations too. I particularly recommend the Barsetshire Chronicles - starring Alan Rickman - and their version of Bleak House.
If you're just into Victoriana I hear the Sarah Waters novels are good and personally enjoyed 'Quincunx' a lot.
Great suggestions! Thank you. :)
Heart of Darkness was written in 1903. It's a fine book.
Quote from: Sheilbh on December 14, 2011, 02:49:37 PM
If you're just into Victoriana I hear the Sarah Waters novels are good and personally enjoyed 'Quincunx' a lot.
Ever read "Betrayals" by the same authour as "The Quincunx"?
It's really, really good - a scathing satire on literary theory (and much else) and very funny to boot. Totally twisted self-referential work.
Here's a somewhat-ambivalent review:
http://wrongquestions.blogspot.com/2006/06/betrayals-by-charles-palliser.html
The Pickwick Papers is a good read, apart from anything else it details a risque time that preceded Victorian Britain, so it can be quite surprising. I would regard Dickens (1812-1870) as a creator of Victorian Britain rather than a mere chronicler of the period. His books describe the world of coaches, not railways, of violence rather than respectability.............and so on..........taken together they are a huge criticism of the old (Georgian) way of doing things. Bleak House, for example, is a brilliant attack on England's Court of Chancery, a court which was reformed during his life and ultimately abolished after his death.
On a more frivolous level than the Court of Chancery, I think Dickens is probably the single greatest influence on what makes a 'traditional Christmas'. But you're entirely right, I think his sentimentalism which is easily attacked is actually just a standing rebuke to that Georgian indifference you get in a lot of Georgian literature and, presumably, culture.
One of my courses is on equity and trust law, formerly of the Court of Chancery. A lot of the principles were established in 19th century cases and reading the judgements is very enjoyable and always puts me in mind of Dickens. We were also all recommended 'Bleak House' in our first lecture :lol:
Edit: Thinking of the Georgians, I'm sure you've read her Meri, but Jane Austen really is brilliant.
Quote from: Sheilbh on December 14, 2011, 06:25:20 PM
On a more frivolous level than the Court of Chancery, I think Dickens is probably the single greatest influence on what makes a 'traditional Christmas'. But you're entirely right, I think his sentimentalism which is easily attacked is actually just a standing rebuke to that Georgian indifference you get in a lot of Georgian literature and, presumably, culture.
One of my courses is on equity and trust law, formerly of the Court of Chancery. A lot of the principles were established in 19th century cases and reading the judgements is very enjoyable and always puts me in mind of Dickens. We were also all recommended 'Bleak House' in our first lecture :lol:
Edit: Thinking of the Georgians, I'm sure you've read her Meri, but Jane Austen really is brilliant.
"Bleak House" gets cited in Canadian cases on occasion ...
http://www.canlii.org/eliisa/highlight.do?text=%22bleak+house%22&language=en&searchTitle=Search+all+CanLII+Databases&path=/en/on/onsc/doc/2009/2009canlii68472/2009canlii68472.html
Not 19th century, and you've probably already read it, but it is from before 1910--Gulliver's Travels.
Quote from: merithyn on December 14, 2011, 12:58:49 PM
I've already read my way through most of Jane Austen's books, multiple Sherlock Holmes novels, Kipling's The Jungle Book, and am now on The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne.
I love Jane Austen and Sherlock Holmes (though I cringe at the constant mention of Holmes' drug addiction). The Jungle Book was cute and light, which I expected. Are most of Kipling's like that? I am entirely bored with Verne. He seems to love to get into the scientific specifics far more than I'm interested in, with entire chapters being about some scientific way to figure something out. I'll plod through the rest of this book, but I'm not thinking I'll dive into anything else of his soon.
Dickens is definitely on my list. I've read Great Expectations several times and A Christmas Carol, too. I'd like to try something different of his.
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall sounds interesting. May put that high on my list.
The only way to read Sherlock Holmes is using
The Annotated Sherlock Holmes by Bering-Gould. http://www.amazon.com/Annotated-Sherlock-Holmes-Fifty-Six-Complete/dp/0517481022/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1323913882&sr=8-7
Don't get the disappointing newer version. Get the original green-covered version. It's quite reasonable at used prices, and is just a great read, with all the annotations, the illustrations, and whatnot. Trust me - this is a sure thing.
We have that. :bowler:
Probably hard to read it while you work though.
FWIW, I'm starting to read A Christmas Carol now. Never read Dickens, managed to get by without it, but am thinking of getting into him more. I read Dan Simmon's Drood which is sort of about Dickens.
The free market. :lmfao: :lmfao: :lmfao:
Chekhov. Dumas. Turgenev. Stendahl.
Le Comte de Monte Cristo.
Revenge with panache. What else do you need?
Quote from: Zoupa on December 14, 2011, 10:00:11 PM
Le Comte de Monte Cristo.
Revenge with panache. What else do you need?
True. An awesome read even today.
Personally, I recommend Shelley's
Frankenstein. More than a horror story, an indictment on the hubris of science without ethics at the advent of the Industrial Revolution. Very topical, albeit more of a late 18th century work.
Quote from: Zoupa on December 14, 2011, 10:00:11 PM
Le Comte de Monte Cristo.
Revenge with panache. What else do you need?
Maybe some maple syrup? :huh:
Quote from: Barrister on December 14, 2011, 12:27:28 PM
Quote from: merithyn on December 14, 2011, 12:18:26 PM
I'm looking for good books to read published on or before 1910.
Suggestions?
What about the Good Book itself? :)
It's neither 19th century nor certainly "best" but fiction alright.
Hunger - Knut Hamsun
Jude The Obscure - Thomas Hardy
Frankenstein, A Modern Prometheus - Mary Shelley
Portrait of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde
The Count Of Monte Cristo - Alexnadre Dumas
Quote from: Martinus on December 15, 2011, 02:24:59 AM
Quote from: Barrister on December 14, 2011, 12:27:28 PM
Quote from: merithyn on December 14, 2011, 12:18:26 PM
I'm looking for good books to read published on or before 1910.
Suggestions?
What about the Good Book itself? :)
It's neither 19th century nor certainly "best" but fiction alright.
It has the drunk incest scene with Lot and his daughters... not the best written sex scene but surely not the worst.
Quote from: BuddhaRhubarb on December 15, 2011, 02:26:19 AM
Hunger - Knut Hamsun
A great book, by my second-favorite Nazi-collaborationist author. :) I forgot it was written in the 1800s.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 15, 2011, 02:14:34 AM
True. An awesome read even today.
Personally, I recommend Shelley's Frankenstein. More than a horror story, an indictment on the hubris of science without ethics at the advent of the Industrial Revolution. Very topical, albeit more of a late 18th century work.
Oddly, I never thought of Frankenstein as a horror story. I love the book, and every time I read it I get something new from it.
I read the Comte de Monte Cristo to the boys when they were little, but it may be worth reading again. :hmm:
Quote from: Sheilbh on December 14, 2011, 02:49:37 PM
I'd recommend 'The Pickwick Papers' by Dickens. It's his first novel and very much a mid-way point between writing a 'novel' and a serialised stories. So it's rather episodic, but a very enjoyable and fun picaresque story - it's also got one of the best of Dickens's Christmas scenes.
Wilkie Collins was an influence on Dickens's later work, especially the more coherent and controlled plots. A lot of Collins's books aren't that great but they're mostly fun. 'The Woman in White' and 'The Moonstone' though are simply superb. The rest of his books less-so - even the next best two 'No Name' and 'Armadale' aren't that great and are a bit ridiculous.
I love Thackeray's 'Vanity Fair'. It's really interesting because as well as the humour and poignancy that he manages very well it's got, for my money, the most compelling female character in Victorian literature. The orphan Becky Sharp who uses all of her natural advantages to get ahead. Thackeray's rather strait-jacketed by the morality at the time - there's a remarkable chapter where he describes Becky as a sort-of mermaid, beautiful above water but beneath all writhing sea-monster - but you can't shake the feeling that he's more on her side. I think, generally, the reader is.
I'd second George Eliot. For my money the single greatest English novelist, I think she's second only to Shakespeare as an English writer. A really interesting woman too.
Thomas Hardy's great - my family live in the heart of his 'Wessex' they live in 'Weatherbury' of 'Far From the Madding Crowd' and the nearest town is 'Casterbridge' of 'The Mayor of Casterbridge'. I don't think he's heavy-going in terms of writing, it's not that dense, but it takes an emotional toll. But I think he's a great writer. 'Tess of the d'Urbervilles' is probably a good starting point.
Maybe try some Conrad if you've not before? 'Heart of Darkness' is a great short novel. 'The Secret Agent' is still, for my money, the best novel on terrorism. Those are the only two of his I've read.
There are a fair few good BBC adaptations too. I particularly recommend the Barsetshire Chronicles - starring Alan Rickman - and their version of Bleak House.
If you're just into Victoriana I hear the Sarah Waters novels are good and personally enjoyed 'Quincunx' a lot.
Agree with most of this - Vanity Fair is probably my favourite 19th Century novel, although Middlemarsh runs it close.
However, be careful with Elliot - go for something short like Silas Marner rather than Daniel Deronda. I'd avoid Pickwick Papers as well. I don't think it's that great myself, Bleak House or a Tale of Two Cities are vastly superior.
Hardy is OK if you don't mind pages of descriptions of scenery.
Quote from: merithyn on December 15, 2011, 08:01:54 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 15, 2011, 02:14:34 AM
True. An awesome read even today.
Personally, I recommend Shelley's Frankenstein. More than a horror story, an indictment on the hubris of science without ethics at the advent of the Industrial Revolution. Very topical, albeit more of a late 18th century work.
Oddly, I never thought of Frankenstein as a horror story.
The unchecked pursuit of science without considering its moral ramifications is horror.
I still like Poe. Shit was a blast in school.
Plus I liked her song 'Angry Johnny'.
L'affaire Clemenceau by Dumas, Junior.
Wasn't Cyrano written in the 19th?
I also vote for A Tale of Two Cities.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 15, 2011, 08:46:41 AM
Quote from: merithyn on December 15, 2011, 08:01:54 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 15, 2011, 02:14:34 AM
True. An awesome read even today.
Personally, I recommend Shelley's Frankenstein. More than a horror story, an indictment on the hubris of science without ethics at the advent of the Industrial Revolution. Very topical, albeit more of a late 18th century work.
Oddly, I never thought of Frankenstein as a horror story.
The unchecked pursuit of science without considering its moral ramifications is horror.
Raising people from the dead is bad? Whatever.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on December 14, 2011, 12:35:07 PM
Kipling. Kim I found boring but his short stories are great.
I like his poems.
Quote from: Martinus on December 15, 2011, 02:24:59 AM
It's neither 19th century nor certainly "best" but fiction alright.
Having read a substantial portion of the Koran, I have much greater respect now for the literary merits of the Bible. At least it has some damn narrative going for it.
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on December 15, 2011, 10:25:49 AM
Having read a substantial portion of the Koran, I have much greater respect now for the literary merits of the Bible. At least it has some damn narrative going for it.
Translation matters I think.
I've read, in numerous books by both religious and secular writers that the Koran in Arabic is absolutely astonishing. It uses a sort of poetic form I believe and is, as literature, extraordinary.
Quote from: Ed Anger on December 15, 2011, 08:50:49 AM
I still like Poe. Shit was a blast in school.
Plus I liked her song 'Angry Johnny'.
Didn't even think of Poe. QUite enjoyed reading his stuff.
Quote from: Sheilbh on December 15, 2011, 10:27:57 AM
I've read, in numerous books by both religious and secular writers that the Koran in Arabic is absolutely astonishing. It uses a sort of poetic form I believe and is, as literature, extraordinary.
Meh. The great Arabic poets are still great in translation. Why does that not apply to the Koran?
Quote from: Gups on December 15, 2011, 08:36:37 AM
Agree with most of this - Vanity Fair is probably my favourite 19th Century novel, although Middlemarsh runs it close.
However, be careful with Elliot - go for something short like Silas Marner rather than Daniel Deronda. I'd avoid Pickwick Papers as well. I don't think it's that great myself, Bleak House or a Tale of Two Cities are vastly superior.
Hardy is OK if you don't mind pages of descriptions of scenery.
I read Vanity Fair in college, though I remember very little of it. I think it's one I'd like to read again. I gave up on Verne and moved on to Middlemarch. So far it's pretty good. Very typical of the time. I've already read Silas Marner, and I think once is enough for that.
Some authors require a lot more mental attention than I have while working. The beauty of Jane Austen, Sherlock Holmes, etc. is that I can pay attention to it while still getting things done. The more dense, difficult books are a bit harder. Middlemarch seems to suit so far.
And Hardy's descriptions are actually pretty cool when listening to the book. It makes it much easier to picture the places - or to tune it out when doing something a bit more tricky with my work.
Thanks for all of the suggestions, everyone. You've plumped my list up quite a bit. :)
Quote from: Valmy on December 15, 2011, 10:32:45 AM
Meh. The great Arabic poets are still great in translation. Why does that not apply to the Koran?
I think translators are perhaps a bit prissier because they're translating a holy text not a poem - this happens with other scripture translations in my view, such as the Ramayana. It's great because of the story I think it'd be better if someone translated it for the story.
In addition the Koran is an oral book, really. From what I can tell it's not a book for silent read so much as reciting. Again my understanding is that it's what it does to Arabic and how it plays with the language out-loud that makes it special. There's always something lost when an oral tradition's written down.
As I say there's enough writers who are Arabic speakers and religious or not who say the Koran is remarkable as a work of literature for me to believe it.
Quote from: Sheilbh on December 15, 2011, 12:40:12 PM
As I say there's enough writers who are Arabic speakers and religious or not who say the Koran is remarkable as a work of literature for me to believe it.
It is so central to the cultural pride and prestige of Arabic and Arabs in general excuse me for being a bit skeptical about their objectivity. American rave about the genius of our Constitution as well.
Besides everybody knows Persian is superior for poetry :P
It doesn't remind me of poetry. It reminds me of a collection of sermons. :zzz
Quote from: Sheilbh on December 15, 2011, 12:40:12 PM
Quote from: Valmy on December 15, 2011, 10:32:45 AM
Meh. The great Arabic poets are still great in translation. Why does that not apply to the Koran?
I think translators are perhaps a bit prissier because they're translating a holy text not a poem - this happens with other scripture translations in my view, such as the Ramayana. It's great because of the story I think it'd be better if someone translated it for the story.
In addition the Koran is an oral book, really. From what I can tell it's not a book for silent read so much as reciting. Again my understanding is that it's what it does to Arabic and how it plays with the language out-loud that makes it special. There's always something lost when an oral tradition's written down.
Ovid agrees.
On the subject of Dickens:
Quote
Charles Dickens: Six things he gave the modern world
With the 200th birthday of Charles Dickens quickly approaching, and an entire series of events planned, what is the lasting legacy of his work and his causes?
Charles Dickens is one of the most important writers of the 19th Century. But his influence goes far beyond just literature. Many of his phrases, characters and ideas have engrained themselves in modern culture.
Two centuries on, what are the things still seen today that Dickens first offered us in his writing?
.......
rest of article here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/mobile/magazine-16184487 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/mobile/magazine-16184487)
Meri, you might also like Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K Jerome. First of all it is rather funny. Secondly, it is a surprisingly modern book as the three men are normal middle class blokes with jobs and a bit of spare cash..........ie they are just like us. When I was younger I thought it was pretty lightweight stuff, but I really enjoyed a recent reread.
Quote from: garbon on December 14, 2011, 12:35:20 PM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tenant_of_Wildfell_Hall
Great call. :thumbsup:
Quote from: merithyn on December 14, 2011, 12:18:26 PM
I'm looking for good books to read published on or before 1910.
Suggestions?
Salgary, hands down.
Lovecraft? No, he published later in the 20th century.
Quote from: Ender on December 21, 2011, 10:46:07 PM
Quote from: merithyn on December 14, 2011, 12:18:26 PM
I'm looking for good books to read published on or before 1910.
Suggestions?
Salgary, hands down.
Things that you make up don't count.
Quote from: Habbaku on December 21, 2011, 10:52:00 PM
Quote from: Ender on December 21, 2011, 10:46:07 PM
Quote from: merithyn on December 14, 2011, 12:18:26 PM
I'm looking for good books to read published on or before 1910.
Suggestions?
Salgary, hands down.
Things that you make up don't count.
Emilio Salgari, italian writter, 1862-1911.
Sandokan, Il Corsaro Nero (The Black Corsair), Capitan Tempesta (Captain Storm), etc.