Comment from: Izzy [Visitor]
Izzy

Game of Thrones. Books or TV, either one.

04/13/12 @ 17:08
Comment from: diana [Member]

Ooooh. I’ve heard of that, Izzy. Which do you recommend first?

d

04/13/12 @ 17:25
Comment from: Jam [Visitor]
Jam

Twilight is misogynist drivel, which is why you shouldn’t read it. It’s also narrated by the most annoying narrator of all time. I literally cannot read paragraphs of it at once, let alone whole freakin’ chapters. Jenn enjoyed it the first time through though… but it was kinda was meh the second time she said. I don’t think the whole “OMG MEN MAKE MY LIFE COMPLETE” is really gonna fly with you, though… or the whole “this makes me nostalgic for middle school angst”

If you wanna go for chick YA, try _the Hunger Games_ maybe? same annoying-age-bracket female narrator, but the world is far more interesting and the narrator isn’t suicidally in love with a statue that stalks her. *shrug*

leaving Twilight aside…

I think all literary types end up in the same boat as you because “literature” is such a HUGE category. I’ve read a lot of the books you haven’t, and haven’t read a lot of the books you have. My list of “I really ought to read this eventuallysoonmaybe” is pretty long. It depends on what teachers you got growing up and what kinds of stories and authors you were drawn to at different stages in your life. As long as you keep going and keep appreciating literature, you’re doing all right I guess.

Huck Finn is a good kid’s book I think–middle to high school, when you’ve got the critical thinking going but can still feel yourself in the narrator’s shoes more vividly. idk. I enjoyed it most my junior year of high school. The other Twain stuff was way over my head at that point.

also, popular culture can go eff itself (don’t own a TV…). I do like Doctor Who, though. the reboot is much more fun than the original series… es… but if you do want to watch some original docs, I would recommend the 3rd doc. He’s my favourite. and I think cousin Susan had a crush on the 5th doc?

the best episode to watch for the uninitiated might be “Blink” – a David Tennant episode (10th doc; from the reboot). It’s one of the best episodes ever, though, so you might be disappointed with the rest of them after that :/

04/13/12 @ 18:56
Comment from: Aunt Bann [Visitor]
Aunt Bann

I’ve read a number of those you mentioned, and some of them more than once. As an English major during my Master’s work, I was required to read many books that most people probably aren’t interested in reading. (I probably have some of them, up in the attic.)

Another good source of good reading is the Reader’s Digest Condensed Book selections. (In fact, this month’s Digest magazine has the condensed-condensed version of the sinking of the Titanic. The condensed version ((which came out in one of their quarterly books)) was published in 1985,) Even if you have read it before, it is well worth the re-read!

Take care, read to your heart’s content, keep on blogging, and come home when your term there is up. I miss you!!!

04/13/12 @ 22:01
Comment from: diana [Member]

Ah yes. Hunger Games. I actually have this series. Another friend whose opinion I also respect recommended I read it, too. Added. Thanks! :)

d

04/13/12 @ 22:44
Comment from: Hinermad [Visitor]
Hinermad

Diana,

I second the A Game of Thrones recommendation. Keep in mind the book series, A Song of Ice and Fire, is expected to run to seven books and the fifth one was only published last summer (after a six year hiatus) so don’t plan on finishing it soon. I introduced the series to Linda and she blew through the available five books in about four months. These are full-blown fantasy works; they range in length from 298k to 424k words.

The HBO series is more condensed, as you might expect, but still excellent. The first season condensed the first book into ten episodes. The second season just started broadcast a few weeks ago. While it retains the A Game of Thrones title for branding purposes, it’s covering events of the second book. Think of the series as the Reader’s Digest condensation for the MTV generation.

I have to go along with Jam’s assessment of popular culture, at least as it’s presented on television. I think you get a better taste of what’s going on in the world from the internet if you know where to look. I can’t really recommend where to look though. I don’t follow such things much any more.

Dave

04/14/12 @ 08:47
Comment from: diana [Member]

Awesome. :) Game of Thrones is recommended by at least three people I respect and admire. If time allows, I’ll read the books first, then watch the series, since no one recommends one over the other.

I’m going with averages here. Most books are better than the movies that arise from them.

Thanks! :D

d

04/14/12 @ 13:01
Comment from: Hinermad [Visitor]
Hinermad

Diana,

I’d say the books of A Song of Ice and Fire are more complete, so I think the course you’ve plotted is wise. It’s also easier to get started on sooner, since I don’t imagine you get HBO in Izmir.

Dave

04/15/12 @ 14:21
Comment from: Damon [Visitor]
Damon

Interesting comment from Jam about ‘Twilight’ (i.e., “misogynist drivel"). I happen to agree.

My Raki view (which, admittedly, is offered as one who has never raised a daughter) is that the ‘Twilight’ series sends a terrible message to pre-teen girls.

Read at least the first book (I did). My interpretation is, “if I am a young and angst-ridden girl, a bad boy will help me find my identity. It won’t matter if he hurts me, because he didn’t mean it and it’s not his fault. It is just his nature…not his CHOICE. I should have expected this, and should not be surprised when it happens again.”

I don’t think so.

06/06/12 @ 14:01


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