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Re: Ah Cliff, I bow to thee StormCrow Send a noteboard - 01/10/2010 03:18:58 AM

I totally didn't go to the same school you did (probably), but I know this Cliff fellow. He was quite the popular guy in school; not bad for a total bookworm.


Not unless you went to High School in the illustrious state of SC. Some of the worst public education in the country. I'm almost certain this is how I could get good grades with Cliff's help.

I don't read much and I'm going to leave out quite a few, but my favorites:

Western: Candide, Notre Dame de Paris, Jungle Book, Gargantua and Pantagruel, Don Quixote, The Inferno, Beowulf, Canterbury Tales, Tale of Two Cities, The Periodic Table (to my shock, it wasn't about Chemistry), The Prince, Return of the Native, 1984, Animal Farm, Common Sense, Wealth of Nations, Democracy in America, Leviathan, Social Contract, Tom Sawyer/Huck Finn, works by Homer, Virgil, Poe, Verne, Moliere


I dig most of those. What is the Periodic Table about, if not Chemistry? I've not heard of that one. Like seeing another Twain fan there.

Eastern (not as many favorites here): The Analects, Tale of Genji, Midnight's Children, Ramayana, Journey to the West, Camel Xiangzi, Muqaddimah (actually, this might technically be Western, but w/e)


I have read basically nothing out of the east, so I'll have to take your word for this.

If you had to suggest just one, which would it be and why? (please not, "because it's good" )

Hmm, I really like several of them, they're good in different ways. I will say though:

Western: Candide. I love the story-telling; it moves very rapidly and everything is done quite comically. And yet, there is a satire to it if you choose to read it on that level (it's not necessary though). Next in line would be Notre Dame de Paris, probably.

Eastern: Hmm, tough to choose. Midnight's Children is nice, but kind of topical. I'd probably go with Journey to the West or Camel Xiangzi since they deal with larger themes and give you a better idea of creative thinking in Eastern works. It's pretty different from Western ideas. Ramayana is pretty cool as well.


May have to check these out too.

What have you staunchly refused to read that might be considered a classic?

Well, not refused, but I could never get through Hesse's Siddartha

Why don't you want to read it?

It was really boring for me. I could not get past the first few chapters. I don't really know.. it just wasn't for me.


I've not heard of this one either. Doesn't sound promising!
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The Classics - general discussion / survey - 30/09/2010 03:52:53 PM 1686 Views
My own answers. - 30/09/2010 04:38:33 PM 1287 Views
I'm trying to read a bit of Shakespeare at the moment - 30/09/2010 07:20:02 PM 1197 Views
Re: I'm trying to read a bit of Shakespeare at the moment - 30/09/2010 09:14:23 PM 1203 Views
Get a copy with annotations! - 30/09/2010 10:56:12 PM 1133 Views
Re: My own answers. - 30/09/2010 09:02:08 PM 1326 Views
Powdered Soup! - 30/09/2010 09:23:51 PM 1306 Views
Re: Powdered Soup! - 30/09/2010 09:34:06 PM 1536 Views
Re: Powdered Soup! - 30/09/2010 10:07:20 PM 1249 Views
Re: Powdered Soup! - 30/09/2010 10:10:32 PM 1378 Views
They are much, much worse than powder soup. - 30/09/2010 09:50:07 PM 1129 Views
Well, since they're made of paper... - 30/09/2010 10:09:41 PM 1210 Views
Re: My own answers. - 30/09/2010 11:35:36 PM 1271 Views
Cliff's notes - 05/10/2010 08:05:56 PM 1317 Views
Re: Cliff's notes - 05/10/2010 09:21:06 PM 1490 Views
Re: Cliff's notes - 06/10/2010 01:40:38 AM 1317 Views
It's cool. - 06/10/2010 04:42:13 PM 1369 Views
A classic is really any book with enduring value. - 30/09/2010 05:33:35 PM 1245 Views
Re: A classic is really any book with enduring value. - 30/09/2010 06:46:02 PM 1258 Views
Re: A classic is really any book with enduring value. - 30/09/2010 10:57:23 PM 1309 Views
Re: A classic is really any book with enduring value. - 30/09/2010 11:39:16 PM 1089 Views
Camilla, that's just because you're an atheist. - 01/10/2010 09:37:34 PM 1139 Views
Yes. - 01/10/2010 09:51:32 PM 1143 Views
Re: A classic is really any book with enduring value. - 01/10/2010 12:20:51 AM 1316 Views
I really need to read Kundera. I've heard nothing but praise for Unbearable Lightness. *NM* - 30/09/2010 08:46:18 PM 669 Views
I could post you over a copy to borrow. - 30/09/2010 08:58:08 PM 1066 Views
It is good. *NM* - 30/09/2010 09:34:47 PM 523 Views
totally problematic classics - 30/09/2010 08:07:22 PM 1263 Views
Re: totally problematic classics - 30/09/2010 09:26:46 PM 1159 Views
I study them, apparently. - 30/09/2010 08:44:40 PM 1339 Views
I wish I could do that. - 30/09/2010 09:49:57 PM 1242 Views
Less fun than you'd think. - 30/09/2010 10:52:10 PM 1106 Views
Good survey. - 30/09/2010 10:23:18 PM 1311 Views
Agreed. edited - 30/09/2010 10:37:48 PM 1273 Views
But but but Milton is beautiful - 30/09/2010 10:46:06 PM 1188 Views
Sometimes. - 30/09/2010 10:47:28 PM 1231 Views
Maybe I was unclear. - 30/09/2010 10:55:22 PM 1222 Views
Re: Maybe I was unclear. - 30/09/2010 10:57:41 PM 1100 Views
I'm glad you approve on the whole. - 30/09/2010 11:12:00 PM 1303 Views
I generally do. - 30/09/2010 11:19:05 PM 1221 Views
Excellent. Might as well include a Hooft poem anyway, in case anyone's interested... - 30/09/2010 11:40:24 PM 1382 Views
Re: Excellent. Might as well include a Hooft poem anyway, in case anyone's interested... - 30/09/2010 11:43:20 PM 1245 Views
Dickens - 01/10/2010 02:42:42 PM 1203 Views
Re: I generally do. - 30/09/2010 11:54:11 PM 1281 Views
Oh, and link to the Flecker poem: - 30/09/2010 11:42:30 PM 1120 Views
Re: Good survey. - 01/10/2010 02:52:27 AM 1389 Views
My classics - 30/09/2010 10:54:56 PM 1177 Views
Re: My classics - 01/10/2010 03:01:24 AM 1274 Views
Ah Cliff, I bow to thee - 30/09/2010 11:30:41 PM 1350 Views
Re: Ah Cliff, I bow to thee - 01/10/2010 03:18:58 AM 1211 Views
Re: Ah Cliff, I bow to thee - 01/10/2010 05:20:10 AM 1270 Views
Re: Ah Cliff, I bow to thee - 01/10/2010 02:05:35 PM 1237 Views
Re: Ah Cliff, I bow to thee - 02/10/2010 04:07:10 AM 1228 Views
Ha, we weren't that far off after all. - 04/10/2010 08:11:39 PM 1152 Views
I will not list 300+ books here, I promise - 01/10/2010 12:36:17 AM 1336 Views
O'Connor is wonderful. But I am not sure many can appreciate her. - 01/10/2010 02:50:54 AM 1014 Views
I agree, thus the "confound" part in there - 01/10/2010 02:53:26 AM 1083 Views
I figured as much. - 01/10/2010 03:08:26 AM 1111 Views
I expected you to have quite a few as well. - 01/10/2010 03:25:06 AM 1196 Views
Re: I will not list 300+ books here, I promise - 02/10/2010 11:23:37 AM 1253 Views
Criminy, I thought I was done with essay questions years ago. - 01/10/2010 01:39:56 AM 1221 Views
Glad to bring back the school days. - 01/10/2010 01:49:48 PM 1277 Views
Re: Glad to bring back the school days. - 02/10/2010 05:32:47 AM 1067 Views
not sure but I don't believe in instant classics - 02/10/2010 05:22:07 AM 1263 Views
the bf and I are going to do a "Paradise Lost" book club... - 02/10/2010 08:29:38 AM 1382 Views
Mm, Doré's engravings are gorgeous. - 02/10/2010 11:40:48 AM 1255 Views
Re: Mm, Doré's engravings are gorgeous. - 02/10/2010 09:42:37 PM 1245 Views

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