Active Users:554 Time:19/03/2026 01:04:49 AM
Then you need to read more. *shrug* Ghavrel Send a noteboard - 02/07/2010 11:23:24 PM
Excuse me for being a bitch, but are there any non-literary snobs on this site?


Since I excused you for being a bitch, you're going to have to excuse me for being an asshole.

Seriously, though, the reason I put up those books is because those are masterpieces of writing, not because that's all I read. I'm reading the New Jedi Order series right now, for crying out loud. The fact of the matter is that truly great works of literature are rare. Sci-fi and Fantasy haven't been around long enough to have a lot of them. Lord of the Rings, for sure, is a tour de force.

Besides, none of the works listed above are remotely obscure. They're all established (and accessible) masterpieces of Western Lit (except Zen). It's not as though people are saying "Well, hmmm, yes, the plebs just can't understand the eloquent phrasing of Ulysses."

I love reading fantasy, but with few exceptions it isn't nearly as high quality as what's been listed above. And the question was about writing that "blew you away." Why shouldn't the greats be listed? Until this post nobody has even so much as suggested that fantasy/sci-fi is inferior to the classics. Your post comes off as pretty insecure, frankly.
"We feel safe when we read what we recognise, what does not challenge our way of thinking.... a steady acceptance of pre-arranged patterns leads to the inability to question what we are told."
~Camilla

Ghavrel is Ghavrel is Ghavrel

*MySmiley*

This message last edited by Ghavrel on 02/07/2010 at 11:25:18 PM
Reply to message
One simple question: - 01/07/2010 11:00:44 PM 1846 Views
Lolita *NM* - 01/07/2010 11:13:10 PM 750 Views
Paradise Lost *NM* - 01/07/2010 11:23:22 PM 812 Views
I have the most beautiful copy of Paradise Lost. - 03/07/2010 12:11:40 AM 1344 Views
I only have the cheap paperback from my grad school years - 03/07/2010 12:19:07 AM 1310 Views
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. - 01/07/2010 11:31:52 PM 1334 Views
What is it about? - 03/07/2010 12:14:27 AM 1356 Views
Zen and maintaining motorcycles. *NM* - 03/07/2010 03:44:44 AM 705 Views
*NM* - 03/07/2010 09:39:43 AM 650 Views
The Aeneid, the Iliad, the Odyssey, and Macbeth come to mind. *NM* - 02/07/2010 02:29:13 AM 741 Views
I really didn't like Macbeth. - 03/07/2010 12:12:15 AM 1334 Views
It's so wonderfully quotable. - 03/07/2010 12:32:39 AM 1248 Views
I'm amazed by these responses. - 02/07/2010 07:10:31 PM 1501 Views
I spent most of my time trying to decide... - 02/07/2010 07:22:26 PM 1424 Views
Same *NM* - 05/07/2010 10:36:59 AM 702 Views
I was a bit too. - 02/07/2010 08:03:29 PM 1395 Views
Well, I know you are, dear. - 05/07/2010 07:45:29 AM 1427 Views
I'm usually in your camp. - 02/07/2010 11:13:35 PM 1325 Views
Fair enough. *NM* - 05/07/2010 07:45:51 AM 671 Views
Then you need to read more. *shrug* - 02/07/2010 11:23:24 PM 1407 Views
RE: insecure - 05/07/2010 07:49:42 AM 1452 Views
You are not excused. - 02/07/2010 11:40:16 PM 1551 Views
Wow. That read enough like Tom that I had to check to make sure it was you. *NM* - 02/07/2010 11:57:26 PM 702 Views
Yeah, it did kinda read like that - 03/07/2010 12:00:17 AM 1465 Views
I take that as a compliment and concur completely with Larry's statement. - 03/07/2010 06:48:05 PM 1339 Views
Heh. I suspected you would. Nice quote. *NM* - 03/07/2010 09:50:55 PM 718 Views
Asking me who I am? Are you kidding? *NM* - 05/07/2010 07:50:53 AM 702 Views
Were you above? - 05/07/2010 08:21:15 AM 1405 Views
You make me want to sing - 05/07/2010 02:32:37 PM 1779 Views
And you make me want to cover my ears - 05/07/2010 07:57:12 PM 1339 Views
Not sure why you're saying that.. - 05/07/2010 08:16:05 PM 1658 Views
I just don't ever want to hear you sing - 05/07/2010 08:36:51 PM 1318 Views
I'm a literary snob? Really? Cool! - 03/07/2010 12:23:55 AM 1314 Views
Fair enough. *NM* - 05/07/2010 07:51:21 AM 641 Views
What is yours? - 05/07/2010 05:19:23 AM 1764 Views
Wraeththu by Storm Constantine is mine. - 05/07/2010 07:51:59 AM 1437 Views
I will read that one day. When I can find it. *NM* - 05/07/2010 11:09:32 PM 666 Views
You should. It's excellent. *NM* - 07/07/2010 06:14:40 AM 628 Views
Re: I'm not excusing you. You're incredibly mean right now. - 09/07/2010 08:33:02 AM 1324 Views
There are many but - 02/07/2010 08:33:44 PM 1446 Views
Re: There are many but - 03/07/2010 12:12:33 AM 1201 Views
Easy. The Mahabharatha... - 02/07/2010 11:55:27 PM 1348 Views
Don't tell Roh. - 03/07/2010 12:13:57 AM 1296 Views
Which one? - 03/07/2010 12:59:43 AM 1314 Views
Re: Which one? - 05/07/2010 05:28:08 PM 1432 Views
There's a "proper one"? - 06/07/2010 06:03:55 PM 1263 Views
It is big. - 08/07/2010 12:14:24 AM 1323 Views
Re: I sent her Kamala Subramaniam's translation. - 09/07/2010 08:20:43 AM 1350 Views
Ahhh... One of my favorites... - 09/07/2010 05:24:55 PM 1683 Views
It's spelled "Mahabharata". - 03/07/2010 06:51:09 PM 1302 Views
That's not how it is pronounced though... - 03/07/2010 08:54:27 PM 1334 Views
Traditional pronunciation vs. modern pronunciation - 03/07/2010 09:47:52 PM 1329 Views
I learned Sanskrit for years... - 04/07/2010 01:28:34 AM 1229 Views
However... - 04/07/2010 02:31:00 AM 1239 Views
Re: Ew. *NM* - 09/07/2010 08:57:03 AM 672 Views
Re: I should have read the thread before bothering to give my skimpy response! - 09/07/2010 08:26:35 AM 1603 Views
Re: Actually, I think those two letter would get an "hh". *NM* - 09/07/2010 08:25:57 AM 670 Views
Re: Yes, but at no point is that war a good thing. - 09/07/2010 08:24:57 AM 1534 Views
American Gods. *NM* - 03/07/2010 04:49:18 AM 684 Views
I really wanted to enjoy that a lot. It was good, but not amazing, imo. - 05/07/2010 05:28:53 PM 1282 Views
Totally agree. Great concept that fell short. *NM* - 06/07/2010 02:46:55 AM 630 Views
Shogun - 03/07/2010 03:08:04 PM 1307 Views
I've been tempted a few times. - 05/07/2010 05:29:18 PM 1444 Views
huh. I always felt that... - 05/07/2010 10:00:29 PM 1223 Views
I really liked Tai Pan as well. - 06/07/2010 12:37:58 PM 1322 Views
I'd have to say Noble House is the most impressive of the three. - 06/07/2010 01:30:11 PM 1344 Views
A few that come to mind: Doctor Zhivago, Master & Margarita and Brothers Karamazov - 03/07/2010 06:53:25 PM 1321 Views
I've only read Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky. - 05/07/2010 05:30:45 PM 1295 Views
It's one of the weaker ones of his "famous" novels. - 06/07/2010 08:08:27 PM 1311 Views
I was somewhat disappointed by the Picture of Dorian Gray - 07/07/2010 05:33:31 AM 1269 Views
To Kill a Mockingbird - 05/07/2010 02:30:44 PM 1592 Views
It is excellent. - 05/07/2010 05:31:21 PM 1240 Views
Catch-22 *NM* - 06/07/2010 02:27:57 AM 887 Views
+1 *NM* - 06/07/2010 06:07:59 PM 615 Views
A few years ago I would have thought you crazy for this. - 08/07/2010 12:15:02 AM 1214 Views
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius - 06/07/2010 06:09:12 PM 1271 Views
Hm. - 08/07/2010 12:15:27 AM 1358 Views

Reply to Message