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Book Recommendations

Discussion in 'Entertainment and Technology' started by Sartoris, May 22, 2013.

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  1. Sartoris

    Sartoris
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    I apologise if there are already other threads similar to this, but my intention is just to create a general, all-purpose thread for anyone to ask about specific books, authors or [in certain cases] editions that we're interested in getting into. Figure EC's community is large and diverse enough that someone may be familiar with any given work and can give useful information to help us decide on possible, future reading material. :slight_smile:

    That being said.... After going to Barnes and Noble and browsing their selections yesterday, I was wondering if anyone could recommend particular translations/editions of any of Sophocles' plays? From my brief researching, the Bagg/Scully ones seem promising, but I don't know if they could be considered go-to ones or not.
     
    #1 Sartoris, May 22, 2013
  2. caughtbywitness

    caughtbywitness
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    Muahaha, this is where I come into my own. I have run a book forum for nearly 4 years and love books, mainly fictitious YA books but a mixture of a few odd things. Gimme a shout if you have anything in mind. I can't help with that niche however, I know very little about plays, sorry!
     
    #2 caughtbywitness, May 22, 2013
  3. BuzzFledderjohn

    BuzzFledderjohn Guest

    I'm reading Something Happened by Joseph Heller at the moment.

    It's about an ordinary office worker digging deep into his life and his family and I can't make it sound interesting but it's one of the most pleasurable reads I've ever had. (He also wrote Catch-22 but I think I like this more.)
     
    #3 BuzzFledderjohn, May 22, 2013
  4. Sartoris

    Sartoris
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    caught: That's fine, afterall the purpose of this thread is just to put questions out there in case anyone can assisst. Hopefully I can use your advice further on down the line [as I'm in one of those annoying periods where there's too much I want to read.] :lol:

    Buzz: I've actually been curious about Something Happened for a long time, think it was after I'd read a review that Vonnegut did for it and was included in his book Palm Sunday. However, I actually haven't read Heller's work yet, despite having a copy of Catch-22 gathering dust....
     
    #4 Sartoris, May 22, 2013
  5. BuzzFledderjohn

    BuzzFledderjohn Guest

    I was struggling to decide wether I should read Something Happened or Big Sur by Jack Kerouac and it was the very same Vonnegut review that pushed me over to Something Happened.

    If you like Vonnegut you'll most likely like Heller.
     
    #5 BuzzFledderjohn, May 22, 2013
  6. JPC

    JPC Guest

    I can't say I'm in any way familiar with Sophocles' plays. However, I would highly recommend reading a book called 'Purple Hibiscus' by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. I read it recently and thought it was fantastic.
     
    #6 JPC, May 22, 2013
  7. Sartoris

    Sartoris
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    Buzz: Kind of funny I still remember that review, 'cause aside from that fact, I can't remember anything he actually said in it [it's been several years....] But that's good to know, hopefully I'll get around to my copy of Catch in the future and continue from there.
     
    #7 Sartoris, May 22, 2013
  8. Allecto

    Allecto
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    I loved that book! Seconding the recommendation.
     
    #8 Allecto, May 22, 2013
  9. alwayshope11

    alwayshope11
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    Game of thrones ❤
     
    #9 alwayshope11, May 23, 2013
  10. Aussie792

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    Not sure about Sophocles plays, but I'd recommend Tolstoy's War and Peace and Anna Karenina to read sometime, they're great books, and really in depth.
     
    #10 Aussie792, May 23, 2013
  11. Sartoris

    Sartoris
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    Just want to clarify, I was intending more for people to ask about books, authors, etc. they were interested in reading and to get input from any members of the community familiar with them.
     
    #11 Sartoris, May 23, 2013
  12. Valkyrimon

    Valkyrimon
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    I just have to recommend the Skulduggery Pleasant series. They're my favourite books ever and are really good fun, as well as having great characters and story. I love a saga. :slight_smile:
     
    #12 Valkyrimon, May 23, 2013
  13. ForgottenRose

    ForgottenRose Guest

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    As of recently:
    Hush,Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick AND
    The Picture Of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde
     
    #13 ForgottenRose, May 23, 2013
  14. Candace

    Candace
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    Robert Jordan books! :grin: there's literally 15-18 books in his series and each is around 700-800 pages. Judging by that, you'll be entertained for a while.
     
    #14 Candace, May 24, 2013
  15. bethpurple

    bethpurple
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    My favorite author is Ursula K. Le Guin - I recommend The Dispossessed, A Fisherman of the Inland Sea, and The Birthday of the World.

    I've read just about everything she's written - I'd love to hear some recommendations for what I should try next, if you're familiar with her writing.
     
    #15 bethpurple, May 26, 2013
  16. Spurned

    Spurned Guest

    My overall favourite series of books is Harry Potter, but coming up close to that is The Mediator Series by Meg Cabot. 6 books but certainly a good read. The Twilight books are good also, but obviously the movies gave them a bad name. :icon_sad:

    I've also been told The Perks of Being a Wallflower is hilarious and really great. I bought my copy on sale in Waterstones a few months ago, though my Mum and neighbour (who I refer to as Aunty) have read it before me since I was partway through a book on the kindle. But, my Mum took my Kindle so I think I'll start on it sometime.

    I'm really not good with picking genres, I just pick what has an attractive front cover and an inviting blurb. :grin:
     
    #16 Spurned, May 26, 2013
  17. Sartoris

    Sartoris
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    Probably won't get around to him for some time [since I'm trying to finish with one book, continue with another and I've already checked out a third from the library :lol:] but in keeping with my earlier inquiry, I've been interested in reading plays again and in particular with getting back to Shakespeare.

    As of now I've read or read in part: Hamlet, Henry V, Macbeth, Richard III and Romeo & Juliet. I've thought about rereading Macbeth since I loved that one back in high school, but wanted to know if anyone would suggest any of the others I've not read yet to get into?
     
    #17 Sartoris, May 27, 2013
  18. Candace

    Candace
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    That's how I am as well! If the cover looks good, then I will buy it hahaha. :grin:
     
    #18 Candace, May 28, 2013
  19. Sartoris

    Sartoris
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    If anyone here has read it, is there a particular English translation of Ovid's Metamorphoses you could recommend?

    I'm especially interested in either the Oxford Classics edition or the one by Allen Mandelbaum. From the sound of the latter, I'm leaning towards that [if I can get a copy,] though I have concerns about it's being relatively looser than other translations even if it's more lyrical.

    And on a semi-related note, are there any particular works I should look into if I'm interested in Greco-Roman mythology? Whether classical or more modern.
     
    #19 Sartoris, Jun 9, 2013
  20. Sartoris

    Sartoris
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    Not sure if I will, but feel like getting Zola another shot in the near future. Tried reading Germinal back in high school but never came close to finishing it, mainly due to the length [though being an older, public domain translation probably didn't help much.]

    Thinking of trying that out again, since my library has the, I believe, latest, Oxford World Classics edition. Would anyone who's read that edition recommend it?
     
    #20 Sartoris, Dec 6, 2013
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