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Post by Deleted on May 20, 2011 16:44:56 GMT 2
A bewitched life by H.P. Blavatsky, but those were mainly booklets that you can finish in one session Yeah, but at least you found her ..well her book..let me be short then! ;D I happen to search Blavatsky's books since I was 19 and didn't find any. Here many readings have happened too since I last posted, mainly modernist and postmodernist poetry, and of course Theatre of Absurd dramas. And the literary criticism that comes with it for my studies; I said I will not bore with these , but I really enjoyed and still enjoy them. And it's good to discover authors you've ignored before, that is why and how I fell for Ted Hughes's poetry. And although read many years back D.H. Lawrence novels, only now found his poetry and I am impressed in the best way by it. Besides that, been reading the most important baroque plays in Spanish theatre (Lope de Vega, Tirso de Molina, Calderon de la Barca..that sort ). Bought a week ago Carlos Ruiz Zafon's ''Shadow of the wind'' but didn't have time to finish it..yet I started it , so it might be the perfect thing to relax now after such a week and day. Still on books topic, I have 2 new ''temptations'' here : an anthology of Australian literature and Marcus Clarke's For the Term of His Natural Life..and it's not booklets I talk about ;D The anthology is pretty generous in pages. As it should considering its purpose. And..I am pretty excited: next week there's a big bookfair I go at by tradition each year, and I hope to find a few books also .
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Post by nordenstam on May 22, 2011 12:20:39 GMT 2
Oh, Nordis, You are really reading a very interesting literature! : ) Wish I could speak Finnish. So many interesting books! But anyway I will have to study Finnish... and Norwegian. Next year is my my Bc. thesis year and I finally found a teacher for leading my work - it was hard to find someone for such theme as no one is studied in it. But there's one religionist who is specialized in mythology - his branch is Egyptian religion and myths but he of course studies all mythology. I came to him and he agreed to lead my work It's gonna be on Sámi Shamanism As I want to write on Sámis also my Mgr., Dr... etc... I need to get to the origins - which means learning the nearest languages As Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish - and if possible Sámi Currently I am reading "Unseen Academicals" by Terry Pratchett and also some school stuff - "Introduction to Synagogical Lithurgy"
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Post by Bartbär on Jul 10, 2011 19:18:27 GMT 2
nordenstam: good luck!!! Whenever that thesis gets published, please do share! Such an interesting topic and I wish you much luck and success! Given the recently increased hours for which my girlfriend has been having to work, I have had that much more time to get some reading at the library done. Lately I've been reading quite intensively books on astronomy and physics. The one that has spellbound me the most is Carl Sagan's "Cosmos". I practically read half the book yesterday, and today I should be able to finish the last 100 pages in no time at all if I get the rest of my things done first. To those who have not read it, I highly recommend it. Carl Sagan has a way of saying things that really makes you think about your place within the universe. How insignificantly significant we are as intelligent beings. How we live on such a very very very miniscule part of the known universe, a tiny dot in space that has been home to every war, oppression, enslavement, yet also every remarkable revelation in science, literature, art, etc. As far as science has been able to tell, we are the only planet to house intelligent life (although that is not to dismiss the possibility of intelligent life elsewhere). So although we are indeed a part of the tiniest dot in the scheme of the universe, we should also feel profound in that in all these dots ours was one of the ones (so far, the ONLY known one) to evolve into a brilliant planet bursting with life, and that amongst this life, we are the ones who emerged intelligent. With an ability to use language and reason and critical thinking, which also means we have the ability to make gross mistakes, be blinded by perception, or engrossed in harmful ideologies or mind-sets. Aside from this aspect of our place in the universe, Sagan also gives a wonderful account of the history of science and its progression. He makes his case against the mystic pseudoscience of astrology, but in a manner that is not harmful or vindictive. He also brings in accounts of thinkers from thousands of years ago who also doubted the existence of any astrological truth, as well as those who even doubted the existence of a God, sometimes in a time where such a thought was heretical and punishable by death. His wonderful mix between history, astronomy, physics, and even biology really makes this such a fascinating book! The only problems I've had with it is that I'm not a physicist, nor a biologist, nor an astronomer, and whenever he introduces equations into the book he presents them in a way that makes me feel as if I should know them. That's not his fault though, I probably SHOULD know them, they seem simple enough, but my history of math study has been rare and unsatisfactory, so it is no wonder all those equations go over my head... On that note I also bought and started reading another one of his books: Dragons of Eden. This book is more focused on the evolution of human intelligence, at least as far as I have read. Great book as well, but I will have to discuss this one further when I actually finish it. The thing I admire most about Carl Sagan is that despite his staunch position in science over pseudoscience, he never attacks anything in a way that is malicious, and he never attacks anything just for the fun of it. Instead he has a good deal of understanding for both sides of the equation, and this clearly shows in his writing. Although I happen to agree with him on the absurdity of astrology, even someone who doesn't could easily be able to read his words without getting offended or feeling personally attacked. Just as one is supposed to, Sagan attacks the ideas, and not the persons who hold them. But enough ranting, if anyone else is interested in this book, please pick it up! Or if you have already read it by chance, let me know what you thought.
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Post by maris on Jul 23, 2011 14:06:08 GMT 2
Today the books came in I ordered, it's part 1 and 2 of the Strain trilogy written by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan. Already read the first part but somehow the book just vanished from my possesion almost 2 years ago; So now I re-ordered it.
What I like about this book that it's not your average vampire book like Twillight it's called I think. This has way more depth in it and in the story there are lots of twists in it. Never been a huge fan of vampire movies or books but I finished reading the first part in only 2 days.
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Post by crazymedic on Aug 12, 2011 17:35:25 GMT 2
I am almost finished reading The Heroin Diaries by Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue. How that guy is still alive is beyond me. It's disturbing :eek:
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Post by Esteban on Aug 17, 2011 18:03:39 GMT 2
The last book that I've read is The Land Of White Lilies By Grigory Petrov.As I want to learn something about Finnish development,this is the second time I read the book because it provides more and more hope and makes people determined to struggle.In addition I have many things to learn from that book.Learning what Johan Wilhelm Snelman did and who he is are very precious for me.He hadn't given up and finally combined all people in Finland.I think that he is a social and cultural hero . I want to mention an additional information here.Our great leader Atatürk had ordered educational staff to make students read The Land Of White Lilies.
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seana
Clansman
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Post by seana on Aug 18, 2011 15:19:41 GMT 2
Currently reading: "The grammar of the finnish language" . I even don't understand the german sentences in this book
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2011 9:11:59 GMT 2
Last book read was For the Term of His Natural Life by Marcus Clarke. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/For_the_Term_of_His_Natural_Life It was recommended to me, its plot grew on me progressively so that when I started reading it I just knew it will be an important piece in my thesis. So I am just glad that I've read it and discovered a true gem, a book that deserves more appreciation in my opinion. And again some piles of books stare at me, begging to be read.. ;D Must obey, cannot resist, it's the call....
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Post by swordmaiden on Aug 23, 2011 5:49:15 GMT 2
I read Egil's Saga. It is an interesting saga indeed.
I am almost done with reading Wolfram von Eschenbach's Parzeval. Its not bad, but he kind of goes off on tangents. I still like Cretien de Troyes' version better, although he never finished it. Maybe I will finish it for him, hehe.
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Post by Heer E. Tik on Oct 19, 2011 20:36:14 GMT 2
"Old Norse Religion in Long-Term Perspectives: Origins, Changes & Interactions" (various authors, from Vagar till Midgard research series 2006)
"Mythic Images and Shamanism: Perspectives on Kalevala Poetry" (Anna-Leena Siikala, Studia Fennica 2003)
Solid worthwhile research. I love my library...
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Post by Heer E. Tik on Oct 19, 2011 20:44:55 GMT 2
I read Egil's Saga. It is an interesting saga indeed. I am almost done with reading Wolfram von Eschenbach's Parzeval. Its not bad, but he kind of goes off on tangents. I still like Cretien de Troyes' version better, although he never finished it. Maybe I will finish it for him, hehe. Nice taste with Egils saga Folks say that Snorri may have written it, as it seems to be in same aristrocratic political vein as Heimskringla, but there is no proof and it remains a favorite pet hypothesis for many. Yet tantalizingly plausible. It is interesting how much the saga scribe's own way of narration impacts the saga focus. This one is geopolitical, concerned with power play dynamics, big socially significant hero at its center -- but same saga could have resembled more a horror thriller, for instance, with all the crazy supernatural stuff going on in the background (background of this saga, but a different scribe may have chosen that for the main focus!) Interesting to be conscious of how narrative voice impacts our perception of events. As for Parzival, Wagner's Parsifal is my favorite version of all Another instance of how same story can live in so many retellings, yet all are equally legit because their narratives contain what their narrators choose to focus on, what matters more to them.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2011 14:58:20 GMT 2
@heer: in a couple of weeks I'll be having an encounter with the Wife of Bath and company at uni. Currently reading with much interest The Commonwealth of Thieves (The Sydney Experiment) by Tom Keneally en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Keneally ...helps me with some researches, but I feel I'd have read this even without this interest. Otherwise there's so much to go through, that I lost number..
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Post by Heer E. Tik on Oct 23, 2011 7:17:30 GMT 2
Tiina, I prefer the Miller and the Franklin. "Here comes Noel's flood..." A reading a day keeps Bieber away
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Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2011 7:54:34 GMT 2
Tiina, I prefer the Miller and the Franklin. "Here comes Noel's flood..." A reading a day keeps Bieber away Hmm..I was mistaken then, somehow was sure the Wife was.. Miller is killer! ;D What did you just say?
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Post by Nordis on Nov 2, 2011 11:31:35 GMT 2
Damn you people are fast readers. Since my last post I've read only Led Zeppelin biography "Hammer of the gods" and Bram Stocker's Dracula which I just finished. I guess I'm heading for Homer and Plato next, maybe I'll post again next summer or so
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