What are you reading...

[Dan]

Originally posted by ckBejug Have you read Cat's Cradle or Galapagos?

Nope, but Kurt Vonnegut is one of my favourite authors, so I expect to be reading all his works once I'm done with the 30 other books that I'm supposed to read by the end of March.. LOL

I'm reading bits and pieces of Nietzsche right now, in between classes, on the bus, etc. It's not a required reading, but you know, sometimes i feel that amidst all that rush of reading required books, I wanna read something *I* choose. as dumb as it may sound... people tell me that i should read my required books instead, to save the time.. but i donno..

Russian lit.. ahhhh. i tried reading War and Peace in English, and not being familiar with the whole Russian system of names and all that, keloukhes tartsav LMAO!! after the first page, i put the book down.. LOL. pretty impressive, huh? i've read Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground. Short and nice. I've read Tolstoy's short stories, OK but kinda boring... I have lost my previous interest in Russian literature after reading Tolstoy. But I want to read Anna Karenina very much indeed.. I dont know.. My mom has read all those in Russian.. YIKES!!

[ckBejug]

Originally posted by Dan Nope, but Kurt Vonnegut is one of my favourite authors, so I expect to be reading all his works once I'm done with the 30 other books that I'm supposed to read by the end of March.. LOL

I'm reading bits and pieces of Nietzsche right now, in between classes, on the bus, etc. It's not a required reading, but you know, sometimes i feel that amidst all that rush of reading required books, I wanna read something *I* choose. as dumb as it may sound... people tell me that i should read my required books instead, to save the time.. but i donno..

Russian lit.. ahhhh. i tried reading War and Peace in English, and not being familiar with the whole Russian system of names and all that, keloukhes tartsav LMAO!! after the first page, i put the book down.. LOL. pretty impressive, huh? i've read Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground. Short and nice. I've read Tolstoy's short stories, OK but kinda boring... I have lost my previous interest in Russian literature after reading Tolstoy. But I want to read Anna Karenina very much indeed.. I dont know.. My mom has read all those in Russian.. YIKES!!

Now worries, I always read instead of studying. Although I don't know how that works for you, since you're 'studying' IS reading. Oufhhh too much reading!

Impressive that she read it in Russian. I wish! Perhaps the names would be easier that way? Confusing. It's like a weeder program, if you tire of it too easily then you don't deserve to get the full extent of the awesome book because you couldn't manage to hold on? Who knows? lol.

As for Anna Karenina, shhhhhhhhh, don't tell anyone, she kills herself.

[felizitation]

Originally posted by jahannam (...)
therefore, I wasn't "criticizing" you when I said "I'm ASSUMING she doesn't read Neitzsche"... because Neitzsche is not merely an author, he's a phenomena. and understanding his words takes more than just "i've read Thus Spoke Zarathustra twice"...

I guess every body reads Nietzsche in the West side of the world. Jan should be right in a certain extent.

I've never read Nietsche (yet). What's the purpose of the "Zarathustra" book ? what concepts are dealt with in ?

[ckBejug]

Originally posted by felizitation I guess every body reads Nietzsche in the West side of the world. Jan should be right in a certain extent.

I've never read Nietsche (yet). What's the purpose of the "Zarathustra" book ? what concepts are dealt with in ?

It is the only book written by Nietzche that has characters and a plot line. Even so, his philosophies are still dripping off every page of the book. Basically Zarathustra IS Nietzche. He is speaking through one of his characters...

The novel opens with Zarathustra coming out from his cave in the mountains after ten years of solitude. He is filled with wisdom and love, and wants to teach this to humanity.

If you want a glimpse...

Zarathustra's Prologue:

WHEN Zarathustra was thirty years old, he left his home and the lake of his home, and went into the mountains. There he enjoyed his spirit and his solitude, and for ten years did not weary of it. But finally he had a change of heart - and rising one morning with the dawn, he went before the sun, and spoke thus to it:

"Oh great star! What would your happiness be if you did not have us to shine for?

"For ten years you have climbed here to my cave: you would have become weary of shining and of the journey, had it not been for me, my eagle, and my serpent.

"But we waited for you every morning, took from you your overflow, and blessed you for it.

"Behold! I am weary of my wisdom, like the bee that has gathered too much honey; I need hands outstretched to take it from me. I wish to spread it and bestow it, until the wise have once more become joyous in their folly, and the poor happy in their riches.

"For that I must descend into the depths, as you do in the evening when you go below the sea and bring light also to the underworld, you superabundant star!

"Like you, I must descend - as the men, to whom I shall go, call it.

"So bless me then, you tranquil eye that can behold even the greatest happiness without envy!

"Bless the cup that is about to overflow, that the water may flow golden out of it, and carry everywhere the reflection of your bliss!

"Behold! This cup wants to become empty again, and Zarathustra wants to be a man again.

Thus began Zarathustra's descent.

[Dan]

I must say it has a very weird beginning.. but Nietzsche is weird.. haha.. that shouldn't be news.

[ckBejug]

Originally posted by Dan I must say it has a very weird beginning.. but Nietzsche is weird.. haha.. that shouldn't be news.

Weird is better than normal. Isn't it?

[Dan]

Originally posted by ckBejug Weird is better than normal. Isn't it?

Definitely. But he's naturally weird. I mean, some writers try so hard to "sound" weird, but you know it's artificial. The reason Nietzsche's writings are so powerful is that they are naturally weird. LOL.

[sSsflamesSs]

Originally posted by loseyourname He makes up an entirely new language in parts of the book and you're worried about Russian? I didn't say it was an easy read.

Loser, it's NOT an entirely new language - it's Russian. Believe me, I'd know. But still, it's one thing to see Russian words in Russian letters, and a whole different story when you see Russian words in English letters. The same goes for any language.

I was just wondering how someone that didn't know Russian would be able to comprehend the majority of what was happening, since you can't even understand the meanings of the words by reading them in context. I don't know, just a thought.

[dusken]

Originally posted by sSsflamesSs Loser, it's NOT an entirely new language - it's Russian. Believe me, I'd know. But still, it's one thing to see Russian words in Russian letters, and a whole different story when you see Russian words in English letters. The same goes for any language.

I was just wondering how someone that didn't know Russian would be able to comprehend the majority of what was happening, since you can't even understand the meanings of the words by reading them in context. I don't know, just a thought.

Most of it is Russian. If you are truly interested you can find ACO glossaries on the internet that tell you the origin. Some are, in fact, invented. And, none of this takes away from the fact that it is a fantastic book. I understood it just fine.

[sSsflamesSs]

Originally posted by dusken Most of it is Russian. If you are truly interested you can find ACO glossaries on the internet that tell you the origin. Some are, in fact, invented. And, none of this takes away from the fact that it is a fantastic book. I understood it just fine.

If you say so. I didn't get a chance to finish the book but I will.

Look at you, Mr./Ms. "Look, but don't care". You already have 5 posts going for you, haha. Sorry, I couldn't help myself.