Top six books for you

Teacher · Nov 25, 2009

Originally Posted by CDFS

I don't think I've read a Heinlein novel, but I never get why actions/thoughts of characters in books or movies are equated with the thoughts of the writer, except when the writer is Steven Seagal, of course.

It's pretty common for writers to do this on purpose, but it's applied/assumed too often. Writers will often do the opposite: have characters do and say one thing in a way to show the writer's disagreement with that action/idea.

RJman · Nov 25, 2009

Originally Posted by Teacher

It's pretty common for writers to do this on purpose, but it's applied/assumed too often. Writers will often do the opposite: have characters do and say one thing in a way to show the writer's disagreement with that action/idea.

Death of teh Author FTW!

AntiHero84 · Nov 25, 2009

Originally Posted by Teacher

It's pretty common for writers to do this on purpose, but it's applied/assumed too often. Writers will often do the opposite: have characters do and say one thing in a way to show the writer's disagreement with that action/idea.

I had this trouble while reading Rabbit, Run. It was difficult to tease out exactly what Updike was trying to communicate. Especially since Rabbit was such a **** to begin with.

lawyerdad · Nov 25, 2009

Originally Posted by AntiHero84

I had this trouble while reading Rabbit, Run. It was difficult to tease out exactly what Updike was trying to communicate. Especially since Rabbit was such a **** to begin with.

Well, that can be another reading trap. Writers aren't always trying to communicate a particular idea or polemic. Sometimes, they are simply trying to portray a particular character's experience, illustrate the complexity of a situation, or just have some fun. Sometimes, what the author wants to communicate is ambiguity, confusion, or ambivalence.

I always friggin' hated that middle school excercise of having to write a short essay demonstrating that the "theme" of Novel X is one of the four or six off-the-shelf themes (man v. man, man v. self, man v. nature, . . .) that supposedly exist. Teacher, F___ you and your ilk.

Teacher · Nov 25, 2009

Originally Posted by lawyerdad

I always friggin' hated that middle school excercise of having to write a short essay demonstrating that the "theme" of Novel X is one of the four or six off-the-shelf themes (man v. man, man v. self, man v. nature, . . .) that supposedly exist. Teacher, F___ you and your ilk.

One must walk before one runs, and these themes are mere starting points to paths that will lead you to abstract analysis. Come, lawyerdad...come over to the dark side.

Teacher · Nov 25, 2009

Originally Posted by lawyerdad

Well, that can be another reading trap. Writers aren't always trying to communicate a particular idea or polemic. Sometimes, they are simply trying to portray a particular character's experience, illustrate the complexity of a situation, or just have some fun. Sometimes, what the author wants to communicate is ambiguity, confusion, or ambivalence.

Speaking of which, read the preface to Huck Finn.

lawyerdad · Nov 25, 2009

Originally Posted by Teacher

Speaking of which, read the preface to Huck Finn.

I have, but don't remember it. I'll do so again, thanks. (Obviously, Huck Finn came to mind as folks were discussing the whole attributing-viewpoints-expressed-in-the-book-to-the-author thing.)

Teacher · Nov 25, 2009

Originally Posted by lawyerdad

I have, but don't remember it.

"PERSONS attempting to find a motive in this narrative will be prosecuted; persons attempting to find a moral in it will be banished; persons attempting to find a plot in it will be shot."

Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens),
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

lawyerdad · Nov 25, 2009

Originally Posted by Teacher

"PERSONS attempting to find a motive in this narrative will be prosecuted; persons attempting to find a moral in it will be banished; persons attempting to find a plot in it will be shot."

Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens),
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Muchos gracias.

dfagdfsh · Nov 25, 2009

yo that IT gang bang wa sfucking terrifying. theres a line like 'she couldn't tell if it was ***** or blood'

Milhouse · Nov 25, 2009

Originally Posted by Teacher

It's pretty common for writers to do this on purpose, but it's applied/assumed too often. Writers will often do the opposite: have characters do and say one thing in a way to show the writer's disagreement with that action/idea.

It is definitely assumed too often. A bad habit from high school. . .

I remember watching an interview with Benecio Del Toro. He said after "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" he had trouble finding work because everyone assumed he was like Dr Gonzo in real life.

I remember reading an interview with a singer. He said that people always find deep meaning in his songs, but the reality is that he writes the music first and then tries to match words to the music. Thus, all the lyrics are meaningless.

emptym · Nov 25, 2009

I'm very predictable: The Bible Aristotle's Ethics Thomas's Summa Lonergan's Method Dostoyevski's Brothers Karamazov Shakespeare's Hamet or Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching or the Bagavad Gita or Ignatius' Spiritual Exercises or Plato's Republic

JonHecht · Nov 25, 2009

Have you read the whole Summa? If so, then that is an impressive feat.

Jerome · Nov 25, 2009

Some of the most influential ones to my life were/are:

Odyssey (Homeros)

Yi Jing (several mythical rulers like Fu Xi and King Wen + Duke of Zhou)

Daodejing (Laozi)

Thus Spake Zarathustra (Nietzsche)

A Rebours (Huysmans)

The Case of Charles Dexter Ward (Lovecraft)

Just off the top of my head...p.s. unfortunately I also peaked at the earlier posts now and e.g. Aristotles Nicomachean Ethic was also very influential to me...but I won't change it now...another good one is e.g. the Enchiridion by (after) Epictetus...etc.

Egdon Heath · Nov 25, 2009

"What six books are the most powerful, meaningful books you have experienced? These need to be books that you would read over and over, study thoroughly and enjoy."
Am curious about all the mentions of American Psycho. Didn't read it, saw the film. Must have been stronger in print. Books from my list have all been mentioned, except A Fan's Notes by Exxley.

Top six books for you

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