What is the most significant book you have ever read?

[patlajan]

One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich - Alexander Solzhenitsyn

[xBaron Dants]

Originally posted by jahannam "Kikcore" by Hovannes Toumanian.
I was probably 7 when i read it.
and my life has never been the same! lol
i'm serious.

akh, don't get me started on Kikor....akh, what a story.

But as an armenian, Raffi's Khent had the biggest impact on me.


Non-armenian litterature, I'd have to say Tolstoy's "the death of Ivan Ilyich". But I still have a looooot of reading to do...

[omniscient]

This is not a book, but it is literature that is significant to Armenians.

My Willam Saroyan saying hanging in my room:

"I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia. See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing , and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia".

[anileve]

Novels
"Martin Eden" by Jack London
"Lion Woman's Legacy" by Arlene Avakian
"The Sun also Rises" by Hemingway,
"Crime and Punishment" by Dostoevsky
"Alliye Parusa" by AC Grin


As far as more of a dense literature I'd have to say "The End of History and Last Man" by Francis Fukuyama.

"The Prince" by Machiavelli


I didn't like Anna Karenina Tigran. She started irritating me towards the end. All the endless pity she had for herself became quite annoying. I understand that the Novel served as a breakthrough for the traditional female image of those times due to her unconventional behavior. However, self pity, possessiveness and inability to take charge of her life, basically portrayed women as weak minded and unable to handle the hardship of being the creators of their own destiny and standing up against the preconceived roles they have to play to fit into the frames of what society perceived as acceptable.

[Anonymouse]

I have to say I dislike Fukuyama, in that his work is pretty much indicative of established academia. He is one of the long list of court historians whom I'm skeptical about.

By the way I think it is a general opinion that Dostoevsky is indeed one of the best out there.

Another great work to read is "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand. Of course nothing really reaches the simplicity of the little prince. Simple yet sublime, touches up on something little, yet so enduring. If you haven't read that I suggest you do so. I have my own personal copy sitting on the shelf.

[anileve]

First I want to read “The Myth of Nations” as soon as I have some time, which should keep my interest going. And also I need to start working on Hillary’s book, being that she’s my roles model (hopefully she runs for the President. Now that should be a real achievement for women).

Why such pessimistic view of Fukuyama’s work? His brief layout of the history is quite and accurate although subjective, and he is able to maintain reader’s interest, unlike many other historical and political works of similar nature. There is a great excerpt in his book pertaining to communism, by Andrey Nuikin (have you heard of him?), I found it brilliant. It goes:

“ It is 1981. Communism: Communism is the abundance of material and cultural blessings. All of the city transportation is electrified, and harmful enterprises are removed eyond the city limits…We are on the Moon, we are walking by the flower bushes and fruit trees.. So how many years does that make it that we have been eating pineapples on the Moon? If only we could someday eat our fill of tomatoes here on earth!”

I love it!

[Anonymouse]

Well, I'm sure Fukuyama does wonders, spreading the dominant view of what history 'ought to be'. It's okay, no worries.

I have my favorite historians and you have yorns.

[Arvestaked]

I have read The Little Prince many times between the ages of 10 and 20 (it's been a couple of years since I read it). Everytime you read it, you get something new out of it. It is an absolutely remarkable piece of literature. So beautiful, with and innocence and a wisdom that has remained unrivaled.

[Anonymouse]

That's why its important to read it once a year, since each time something new is revealed. You have to constantly go back to it.

[anileve]

Proper nourishment of the ego shall cause it to double in size and guaranteed to win some free coupons for “ass kissing reward” from the generic Mouse of a Human being.

I think you've won some Arvestaked.