What are you reading in general?

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I have that one. The small little hardback, I mean.

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Post by JIkj fjds j »

I read some reviews of the book today and I'm glad to find that the title doesn't reflect the story. Although last night I thought the first two or three pages were almost like the beginning of an old black'n'white movie, (being too tired to read more.)

It was a short series of coincidences that the book now sits on my bookshelf. Having begun reading The One Tree; seeing John Cowley's novel, Little Big, online (while searching for some One Tree info I can't recall - and noticing both books were published in 1982); searching a book shop for it, but returning with the Conrad book instead. The fact that I was about to start reading chapter 4: Nicor of the Deep - and the Conrad book having a similar sounding title - rang a lot of bells.

I'm actually constructing a Coppola Promp Book for my read-through of The One Tree.
Yeah, I guess it must seem a bit OTT, buying a folder; A4 printing paper; paper punch; grommets; selotape and pritstiks. Then the time spent with pens and pencils, scissors and ruler; cutting and pasting; before I even begin reading and taking notes. But, for all the bric-a-bracery and hullabaloo, I'm now able to look closer at the story than ever before.
Whether this will help me understand it better, or just magnify my own personnal memories of living through the early 80's, I've yet to find out.
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Post by Orlion »

Vizidor wrote:I popped into my local Oxfam bookshop to see if they had a fantasy novel I was interested in buying second-hand. They hadn't one in stock. Instead I noticed teh Joseph Conrad book, The Nigger of the 'Narcissus' and other tales.
Ok, maybe not very PC but this is a really neat little 6x4x1 inches, and I reckon a must for any SRD fan worth his salt.

In addition, the book has an introduction by Sir David Bone, who I found to be quite a fascinating real-life character in his own right.
I had an opportunity to get that book, once. Did not take advantage because I did not want to offend, but I've kinda regretted it. Maybe someday I'll order it online.
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"All creation is a huge, ornate, imaginary, and unintended fiction; if it could be deciphered it would yield a single shocking word."
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Post by JIkj fjds j »

Orlion wrote: I had an opportunity to get that book, once. Did not take advantage because I did not want to offend, but I've kinda regretted it. Maybe someday I'll order it online.
If your still uncomfortable with that title, the US did publish an edition under another:
The Children of the Sea. A tale of the forecastle.

Murrin gave a good couple of online book stores.
The Book Depository or Wordery

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Post by Orlion »

Vizidor wrote:
Orlion wrote: I had an opportunity to get that book, once. Did not take advantage because I did not want to offend, but I've kinda regretted it. Maybe someday I'll order it online.
If your still uncomfortable with that title, the US did publish an edition under another:
The Children of the Sea. A tale of the forecastle.

Murrin gave a good couple of online book stores.
The Book Depository or Wordery

_______________
You even did the search for me! Thanks! I'll probably go through the Book Depository, I've had good experiences with them before.
'Tis dream to think that Reason can
Govern the reasoning creature, man.
- Herman Melville

I am Lazarus, come from the dead,
Come back to tell you all, I shall tell you all!

"All creation is a huge, ornate, imaginary, and unintended fiction; if it could be deciphered it would yield a single shocking word."
-John Crowley
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Post by Iolanthe »

Finished the Chaucer book, then read both Mordant's Need books. Downloaded the latest, and last, Terry Pratchett "The Shepherd's Crown" and finished that last night. Not so good at the start but it got better.

Just found out all 36 of Angela Thirkell's Barchester books are available on Kindle and have downloaded the first. I have the books, but many of them are falling apart, nearly all are 2nd hand bookshop books. It will take me some time to get through all these!
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Post by Wosbald »

+JMJ+

Theo-Drama Vol. III: Dramatis Personae: Persons in Christ by H. U. von Balthasar


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Post by Linna Heartbooger »

Wosbald wrote:+JMJ+

Theo-Drama Vol. III: Dramatis Personae: Persons in Christ by H. U. von Balthasar
Huh. That sounds really interesting!

I'm reading.. "A Severe Mercy" by Sheldon Vanauken.
Recommended to me as showing the first commandment real good.
Biographical; high highs and low lows.

Just finished something, but I can't think what..
"People without hope not only don't write novels, but what is more to the point, they don't read them.
They don't take long looks at anything, because they lack the courage.
The way to despair is to refuse to have any kind of experience, and the novel, of course, is a way to have experience."
-Flannery O'Connor

"In spite of much that militates against quietness there are people who still read books. They are the people who keep me going."
-Elisabeth Elliot, Preface, "A Chance to Die: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael"
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Post by Holsety »

Just finished The Case of General Yamashita. It's a book written by one of the members of the defense counsel for a Japanese general accused of war crimes about the two trials - the first a military tribunal, the second in front of the US supreme court. I personally think the author dies a convincing job of defending Yamashita, who was hung, and I admit I'm skeptical of him being a strongly biased source. He does a good job of suggesting bias on the side of the prosecution and military commission overseeing the case. However, I would need to consult other works before being confident of it. I did not read the decisions, attached as appendices, of the 2 supreme court justices who published dissents strongly in favor of the general.

I do find it a bit preachy at certain times, even though it is mostly preachy about very important things (constitution).

Edit: the book was written around 1970.
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Post by Linna Heartbooger »

Holsety!
Holsety wrote:...I do find it a bit preachy at certain times, even though it is mostly preachy about very important things (constitution).

Edit: the book was written around 1970.
trying to think of an intelligent-sounding comment.. but mostly I've just got an ignorant sounding question in mind.

Great to see you around!
"People without hope not only don't write novels, but what is more to the point, they don't read them.
They don't take long looks at anything, because they lack the courage.
The way to despair is to refuse to have any kind of experience, and the novel, of course, is a way to have experience."
-Flannery O'Connor

"In spite of much that militates against quietness there are people who still read books. They are the people who keep me going."
-Elisabeth Elliot, Preface, "A Chance to Die: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael"
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Post by Wosbald »

+JMJ+
Linna Heartlistener wrote:
Wosbald wrote:Theo-Drama Vol. III: Dramatis Personae: Persons in Christ by H. U. von Balthasar
Huh. That sounds really interesting!
Oh, it is, if one really enjoys speculative theology.

——————————————————————
Linna Heartlistener wrote:I'm reading.. "A Severe Mercy" by Sheldon Vanauken.
Recommended to me as showing the first commandment real good.
Biographical; high highs and low lows.
Hope yer enjoying that. (I've never read it.)


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Post by Linna Heartbooger »

Wosbald wrote:+JMJ+
Oh, it is, if one really enjoys speculative theology.
Something with "speculative" and "theology" in the same sentence... is maybe not something that I'm made for.
I do have a keen interest in ecclesiology, though!!
a reviewer on Amazon wrote:Unlike many systematicians who all too often assume that students of systematics already know history (a dangerous assumption, at best), von Balthasar locates his theological discussion of Christology from within the historical controversies of the 4th and 5th centuries.
This totally caught my attention, and makes me super-curious!
Wosbald wrote:
Linna Heartlistener wrote:I'm reading.. "A Severe Mercy" by Sheldon Vanauken...
Hope yer enjoying that. (I've never read it.)
It's amazing! I've slowed down in reading it due to... other things.
But really, maybe I feel a little threatened by it. (or a lot.)

By the way, I am so curious about the "+JMJ+" in your posts... what's it for?
"People without hope not only don't write novels, but what is more to the point, they don't read them.
They don't take long looks at anything, because they lack the courage.
The way to despair is to refuse to have any kind of experience, and the novel, of course, is a way to have experience."
-Flannery O'Connor

"In spite of much that militates against quietness there are people who still read books. They are the people who keep me going."
-Elisabeth Elliot, Preface, "A Chance to Die: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael"
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Post by Wosbald »

+JMJ+
Linna Heartlistener wrote:
Wosbald wrote: Oh, it is, if one really enjoys speculative theology.
Something with "speculative" and "theology" in the same sentence... is maybe not something that I'm made for.
I do have a keen interest in ecclesiology, though!!
My choice of words prolly makes it scarier than intended. I'm opposing speculative theology (or just "Theology") to dogmatic theology (or just "Dogmatics"). The second is "just the facts", whereas the first attempts to synthesize these facts, resolve problematics, draw conclusions and just generally make Dogmatics more (though never fully) palatable to Reason.

Much theology, such as particular ecclesiologies and christologies, would fall under "speculative theology".

———————————————————————
Linna Heartlistener wrote:By the way, I am so curious about the "+JMJ+" in your posts... what's it for?
It's a Catholic thang. "Jesus, Mary, & Joseph"


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Post by Linna Heartbooger »

Wosbald wrote:+JMJ+

My choice of words prolly makes it scarier than intended. I'm opposing speculative theology (or just "Theology") to dogmatic theology (or just "Dogmatics"). The second is "just the facts", whereas the first attempts to synthesize these facts, resolve problematics, draw conclusions and just generally make Dogmatics more (though never fully) palatable to Reason.

Much theology, such as particular ecclesiologies and christologies, would fall under "speculative theology".
Wow. That's really interesting.
Yeah, I just had no idea what the definition of the word "speculative" was for that context. Mmmm, mapping out categories..
Wosbald wrote:It's a Catholic thang. "Jesus, Mary, & Joseph"
Ah! "Jesus, Mary, & Joseph."
Hadn't thought of that.
"People without hope not only don't write novels, but what is more to the point, they don't read them.
They don't take long looks at anything, because they lack the courage.
The way to despair is to refuse to have any kind of experience, and the novel, of course, is a way to have experience."
-Flannery O'Connor

"In spite of much that militates against quietness there are people who still read books. They are the people who keep me going."
-Elisabeth Elliot, Preface, "A Chance to Die: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael"
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Post by Wosbald »

+JMJ+

Theo-Drama Vol. IV: The Action by H. U. von Balthasar


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Post by Orlion »

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
'Tis dream to think that Reason can
Govern the reasoning creature, man.
- Herman Melville

I am Lazarus, come from the dead,
Come back to tell you all, I shall tell you all!

"All creation is a huge, ornate, imaginary, and unintended fiction; if it could be deciphered it would yield a single shocking word."
-John Crowley
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Post by Avatar »

Sharpe's Tiger by Cornwall. Chronologically the first of his Sharpe books, this one is set around the siege of Seringapatam, India, 1799.

Sorta a fallback here...couldn't decide what to read. :D I'll probably do all the India books, then I'll see.

--A
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Post by sgt.null »

another biography of Pink Floyd. in the other room, so you will have to wait on the title.
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Post by Orlion »

Orlion wrote:The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
Yeah, I'm also reading Two Years Eight Months Twenty-Eight Nights by Salman Rushdie..... and Don Quijote... and probably something else... :o
'Tis dream to think that Reason can
Govern the reasoning creature, man.
- Herman Melville

I am Lazarus, come from the dead,
Come back to tell you all, I shall tell you all!

"All creation is a huge, ornate, imaginary, and unintended fiction; if it could be deciphered it would yield a single shocking word."
-John Crowley
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