Books

[doomjockey]

I'm sorry for you doomjockey, that you dislike Shakespeare. I can only blame incompetent overbearing teachers for not instilling a love of his works in you. I often hear people say they dislike his works, and without fail, when I inquire as to the 'why?' the answer is invariably. their teachers force fed them the same old, and in MY opinion, wrong interpretation of the works. A prime example, I feel, is Hamlet. How many professors tell their students that Hamlet was insane, and absolutely refuse to accept another interpretation of Hamlet's actions. If you don't want to read it, check out the movie Hamlet with Mel Gibson as Hamlet. I feel that he portrays Hamlet as it should be, not insane, not crazy, but merely ACTING as if he were insane to fool his peers. Case in point: Hamlet: "But come: Here, as before, never, so help you mercy. How strange or odd soe'er I bear myself, as I perchance hereafter shall think meet to put an antic disposition on." (Language interpretation: don't tell anyone, but I think it's necessary to play crazy)

 

 

As for seeing enactments of Shakespeare's plays....I had the opportunity to see A Midsummernight's Dream, King Lear and one of my favorites Twelfth Night or What You Will.

 

 

*sigh* I've had this discussion numerous times and it's starting to sound condescending through mere repetition. I should start adding a small disclaimer every time I voice that particular opinion.

 

Here we go: Please don't feel sorry for me, I've read every one of Shakespeare's plays (more than once) and most of his sonnets; I've seen most ably performed; I'm, dare I say, intelligent enough to grasp his rather obvious attempts to be clever, humorous, and sometimes downright nasty to his audience. I still hold no particular love for his plays and I'm about sick of everyone assuming some thing's wrong with me for having a different opinion. I wouldn't blame my thoughts on my teachers. On the contrary, many helped me understand the words and, eventually, why I still didn't like them. "...instilling a love of his works..."? Why in the world should I love his works simply because I've read and understand them? Don't get me wrong: I appreciate him in the framework of classic literature, but there's no divine order that says I must like his work. Similarly, no edict which proclaims I don't like it because I don't understand it. I think it's plain hubris to assume as much.

And I still wouldn't recommend Shakespeare's plays precisely because they are plays meant to be viewed. Likewise, I wouldn't prescribe the script of Citizen Kane or Planescape: Torment. Both are well written, but not at all meant to be experienced through a bland read.

 

For reading, more people should do it for enjoyment. Maybe it won't make you an overnight genius but it might cut down on the people who somehow forget they have a spell check button.

[Carah]

I read anything. Right now I'm reading a book called "The Mastery Of Love". It's based on Toltec Religion, and you would find it in self help section. It's about the fear-based beliefs and assumptions we have that lead to suffering, and the loss of love in our relationships. Another book that goes with the previous mentioned is "The Four Agreements". If your a person who has difficulty coping with the real world, addictions, or dealing with people. This is a book to look into. The next book I want to read is called "The Eagle", and it takes place back to the Arthurian era. If I'm not mistaken it's more history based then fiction.

 

Also, there is nothing sexier than a guy reading a book. :happy:

[Lisnpuppy]

Carah-----I completely agree with you. Guys that read are super sexy!!

 

 

 

I love to read. My Mother taught me early and due to health issues that kept me out of school a great deal when young, books became my first and best friends.

I will read just about anything but of course have gavitated to fantasy. I read the Hobbit in 2nd grade. I love the Dragonriders of Pern series by Anne MacCaffery to this day! Every major fantasy author probably. Though of course we all have our favorites. I also loved Marion Zimmer Bradley very much. I identified with strong-willed women.

 

I will read all the time. I read in bed, when I eat, in the bath....ha gotta be careful there!

I read so fast that I usually can put away 1-2 books a week depending on the topic. I will read everything from cheesy romance to bios to history.

 

My last few books include:

 

latest Harry Dresden book Small Favor by Jim Butcher

Anne Bishop's latest called Tangled Webs

a compilation book called Physics, Astronomy and Mathmatics which is articles from Einstein to Hawkins.

I also recently read a book about linguistics called The Power of Babel

 

I think books are a wonderful way to learn. To me they were (and are still also) a means of escape. I love them more than tv or movies (though I would have killed for Harry Potter like movies when I was a child)

and I will give up any other luxury and a few necessities to buy them. I have them strung all over the house as I can not bear to give some of them up.

 

Books were also a way for me to experience places, people and ideas that I could not have otherwise living where I do. With being so sick as a child they really got me through rough times and I hope to be able to instill my love of reading to my daughter.

 

I feel sad for people who can not read well and those people usually hate to read. They do not know what they are missing.

[Tamujiin]

I read books all kinds of books, Comic books, magazines, Novels, novellas, short storie collections, and just about anything else with words.

i also like reading penthouse forums. :biggrin:

 

Seriously books are the bomb kiddies, i like reading books because my imagination is normally way better than the movie. I fricken hate anything that was like shakespere though because it was all "Hereth uponeth thy crestedeth breastes i giveth thee my swordeth". I didnt learn how to read 17th century english literature, so i would rather enjoy it in a more free style form, perhaps a movie.

 

I read a book once called the way of the warrior, it was a what if, type book, about if the vikings had invaded northumbria ( northern UK, back then ), it was pretty graphic. And then i have read all of steven kings horror, and some are ifie, some i like better as a book some as a movie some as both and some i would like to see a movie, like Rose Madder, About a women being abused by her husband and leaves him and then well she gets really mad, anyway.................read the book.

[Chesto]

With reference to a couple of the above posts... i read books.

[Lisnpuppy]

With reference to a couple of the above posts... i read books.

 

Careful Chesto.......we may not be able to control ourselves for long!

Wouldn't want you to have a heart attack or something! ha ha

[Iapetus]

I have to say, I like me a good book every now and then.

Of course, by "now and then" I mean just a bit under 2/3rds of every waking moment.

Fantasy and Science Fiction tend to populate my bookshelves, like a small country filled to the borders with a teeming mass of space-monsters and dragons. And humorous things seeping from the humor books. Perhaps one day the various sects will be separated, with Terry Pratchett books acting as a sort of blending-point between the two.

Of course, the Lovecraft books are in their own little section. This goes without saying.

[Dragonblade86]

I haven't read a book in a while actually, the last book i read was Salem's Lot by Stephen King.

 

My fav books of all time are the lotr trillogy by J. R. R. Tolkien and the Dark Tower series by Stephen King. I was thinking about trying to find the Stargate book (original Stargate film not the books based on the series, although i might look into those aswell) and the dune series as that was recommended to me by a friend.

[dezdimona]

I used to read alot,now my time is spent writeing...go figure!

[Skolhamarr]

Normally I chose to read more historical a counts, on battle, subject from long ago. Lately I have been interested in more fantasy like the Eragon series,The Last Wish, which is what the Witcher RPG is based off of. I am pleases with both, hardly ever you find that. Baudolino,very interesting book, start out historical fiction, then goes into catholic dogma mix in mythical creatures, the sacking of Constantinople "3rd Crusade" ends up some where in India, its one heck of wild read.

 

Normal reading

Born Fighting: How Scot-Irish shaped America

The Teutonic Order, a military history

Byzantine Empire

Holy Roman Empire

Conquest: Cortes, Montezuma, and the Fall of Old Mexico

The Order of the Death's Head: The Story of Hitler's SS

The Kalmar Union is an interest, really have not found a book on it.

 

Then there is Jimmy Buffet ...