I take that as a compliment and concur completely with Larry's statement.
Tom Send a noteboard - 03/07/2010 06:48:05 PM
Imagine the horror - people at a site about books actually want to discuss GOOD books, books that actually make you think, rather than cheap, mindless entertainment.
Let me quote from Viktor Pelevin's Holy Book of the Werewolf:
The value of a book lies not in how many people read it. The genius of the Mona Lisa does not depend on how many people pass by it each year. Great books have few readers, because their reading requires effort. But it is precisely from that effort that an aesthetic effect is born. Literary fast food will never provide you with anything like it.
I just read this book a few weeks ago and when I got to this point I nearly posted the quotation. I also thought about putting it in my signature but it is pretty long.
Let me quote from Viktor Pelevin's Holy Book of the Werewolf:
The value of a book lies not in how many people read it. The genius of the Mona Lisa does not depend on how many people pass by it each year. Great books have few readers, because their reading requires effort. But it is precisely from that effort that an aesthetic effect is born. Literary fast food will never provide you with anything like it.
I just read this book a few weeks ago and when I got to this point I nearly posted the quotation. I also thought about putting it in my signature but it is pretty long.
Political correctness is the pettiest form of casuistry.
ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius
Ummaka qinnassa nīk!
*MySmiley*
ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius
Ummaka qinnassa nīk!
*MySmiley*
One simple question:
01/07/2010 11:00:44 PM
- 1595 Views
Lolita *NM*
01/07/2010 11:13:10 PM
- 598 Views
Have you read Pale Fire? *NM*
03/07/2010 12:14:56 AM
- 546 Views
No, I haven't. I have, however, been meaning to read The Stories of Vladimir Nabokov...
03/07/2010 12:36:39 AM
- 977 Views
Re: No, I haven't. I have, however, been meaning to read The Stories of Vladimir Nabokov...
03/07/2010 12:38:22 AM
- 1010 Views
Is it unfinished? I seem to recall that, but I could be mistaken... *NM*
03/07/2010 02:15:07 AM
- 559 Views
Pale Fire is an excellent novel, particularly if you like making fun of Robert Frost.
03/07/2010 06:39:29 PM
- 1013 Views
I've always planned on reading it.
04/07/2010 06:30:31 PM
- 967 Views
I've read all of Pelevin's books other than t, which recently was released.
04/07/2010 06:40:04 PM
- 1006 Views
Sorry. I'm going to have to get back to you on this later.
04/07/2010 07:22:31 PM
- 1077 Views
No problem. I'm stinking drunk and blew up shit to celebrate America's independence.
05/07/2010 05:03:42 AM
- 1111 Views
Paradise Lost *NM*
01/07/2010 11:23:22 PM
- 623 Views
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.
01/07/2010 11:31:52 PM
- 1077 Views
What is it about?
03/07/2010 12:14:27 AM
- 1112 Views
The Aeneid, the Iliad, the Odyssey, and Macbeth come to mind. *NM*
02/07/2010 02:29:13 AM
- 593 Views
I'm amazed by these responses.
02/07/2010 07:10:31 PM
- 1212 Views
I spent most of my time trying to decide...
02/07/2010 07:22:26 PM
- 1157 Views
Well. I mean a book/story that you thought was pretty close to perfection.
02/07/2010 08:02:55 PM
- 1300 Views
You are not excused.
02/07/2010 11:40:16 PM
- 1253 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
- 551 Views
I take that as a compliment and concur completely with Larry's statement.
03/07/2010 06:48:05 PM
- 1084 Views
You make me want to sing
05/07/2010 02:32:37 PM
- 1363 Views
And you make me want to cover my ears
05/07/2010 07:57:12 PM
- 1070 Views
What is yours?
05/07/2010 05:19:23 AM
- 1333 Views
Wraeththu by Storm Constantine is mine.
05/07/2010 07:51:59 AM
- 1174 Views
Easy. The Mahabharatha...
02/07/2010 11:55:27 PM
- 1062 Views
Don't tell Roh.
03/07/2010 12:13:57 AM
- 990 Views
Which one?
03/07/2010 12:59:43 AM
- 1064 Views
Re: Which one?
05/07/2010 05:28:08 PM
- 1148 Views
There's a "proper one"?
06/07/2010 06:03:55 PM
- 995 Views

Re: I sent her Kamala Subramaniam's translation.
09/07/2010 08:20:43 AM
- 1101 Views
Ahhh... One of my favorites...
09/07/2010 05:24:55 PM
- 1423 Views
Re: Parva is not a translation of the MB, though, is it. It's a reinterpretation. Which is fine.
09/07/2010 11:01:43 PM
- 1143 Views
It's spelled "Mahabharata".
03/07/2010 06:51:09 PM
- 1010 Views
That's not how it is pronounced though...
03/07/2010 08:54:27 PM
- 1065 Views
Traditional pronunciation vs. modern pronunciation
03/07/2010 09:47:52 PM
- 1045 Views
I learned Sanskrit for years...
04/07/2010 01:28:34 AM
- 974 Views
However...
04/07/2010 02:31:00 AM
- 1005 Views
See, I was taught that ध produced the sound in "that" and थ the sound in "thought".
04/07/2010 02:44:56 AM
- 1066 Views
Re: I should have read the thread before bothering to give my skimpy response!
09/07/2010 08:26:35 AM
- 1294 Views
American Gods. *NM*
03/07/2010 04:49:18 AM
- 531 Views
I really wanted to enjoy that a lot. It was good, but not amazing, imo.
05/07/2010 05:28:53 PM
- 1047 Views
Shogun
03/07/2010 03:08:04 PM
- 1066 Views
huh. I always felt that...
05/07/2010 10:00:29 PM
- 988 Views
I really liked Tai Pan as well.
06/07/2010 12:37:58 PM
- 1084 Views
I'd have to say Noble House is the most impressive of the three.
06/07/2010 01:30:11 PM
- 1071 Views
A few that come to mind: Doctor Zhivago, Master & Margarita and Brothers Karamazov
03/07/2010 06:53:25 PM
- 1073 Views