Crime and Punishment is one of my favorite novels. It is easily the most "modern" classic I have ever read. Just be prepared to experience some intense emotions.
I haven't read War and Peace, but it is sitting on my book shelf. I picked up the Garnett (original) translation for a few dollars, but really, I should look into a newer translation. I think I'm going to read Anna Karenina first, as I have a more recent translation of that.
With respect to The Master and Margarita, I would definitely recommend investing in a newer edition. The Ginsburg version is purely functional. My recommendation is the Burgin/O'Connor translation with annotations. It's a significant step up from the Ginsburg translation and it really helps to elucidate the satirical aspect of the novel.
I'm really looking forward to Crime and Punishment. Not so much War and Peace though due to the stigma surrounding its intense difficulty. Out of interest, why does a more recent translation matter?
Thank you for the Master and Margarita recommendation, I'll bear it in mind when I get around to buying a copy. You seem to know a good deal about books = ]
A more recent translation is, well, more recent. The Garnett translations are from around WWI. To be fair, the Garnett translations are not nearly as unwieldly as the Ginsburg translations. Still, modern translations often "sound" better and also include features such as annotations or, at the very least, informative end notes. It is worth bearing in mind that a new translation generally goes hand-in-hand with the latest scholarship.
A more recent translation is, well, more recent. The Garnett translations are from around WWI. To be fair, the Garnett translations are not nearly as unwieldly as the Ginsburg translations. Still, modern translations often "sound" better and also include features such as annotations or, at the very least, informative end notes. It is worth bearing in mind that a new translation generally goes hand-in-hand with the latest scholarship.
Oh, I had no idea you were referring to translations as old as that! Yeah, modern translations are incredibly useful for notes, as I found out with my copy of Don Quixote. I never would have enjoyed the book as much as I did without all the annotations in it.
A more recent translation is, well, more recent. The Garnett translations are from around WWI. To be fair, the Garnett translations are not nearly as unwieldly as the Ginsburg translations. Still, modern translations often "sound" better and also include features such as annotations or, at the very least, informative end notes. It is worth bearing in mind that a new translation generally goes hand-in-hand with the latest scholarship.
Oh, I had no idea you were referring to translations as old as that! Yeah, modern translations are incredibly useful for notes, as I found out with my copy of Don Quixote. I never would have enjoyed the book as much as I did without all the annotations in it.
Haha yeah. I bring them up because they are in the public domain and, therefore, you are likely to come across them quite often. Books featuring her translations are quite a bit cheaper, but as I've already said, I think the newer ones are worth the price of admission (in most cases).
Yes, that's very true. I'm unsure what translation of War and Peace I've got as it's still at the parent's house after I recently moved out. Not that I plan on reading it anytime soon lol.
Gonna finish Kafka's The Castle and then maybe jump back into The Wheel of Time series in preparation for the next one to be released in paperback. Although I do have Dune so maybe I'll get through that first...I dunno. And I'll definitely pick up Kafka on the Shore and Master and Margarita soon, thanks to your recommendations.
At the moment I'm reading a fantastic Science Fiction by Peter F. Hamilton - 'The Reality Dysfunction'. One of the best I've read next to the Lost Fleet series, definitely going to read more in the series.
about halfway through Star Wars: Survivors Quest. Not the best timothy Zahn written in a galaxy far far away, but by no means the worst star was book ive read.
after that, got big collection of Philip K. Dick books to devour, then the new hitchikers guide,, new bernard cornwell book about the vickings (another one just came out have to get that one as well!) hungers games to read and maybe twilight. if i can stomach it. and if no one tells anyone...
Yes, that's very true. I'm unsure what translation of War and Peace I've got as it's still at the parent's house after I recently moved out. Not that I plan on reading it anytime soon lol.
Gonna finish Kafka's The Castle and then maybe jump back into The Wheel of Time series in preparation for the next one to be released in paperback. Although I do have Dune so maybe I'll get through that first...I dunno. And I'll definitely pick up Kafka on the Shore and Master and Margarita soon, thanks to your recommendations.
I've read Kafka's novel The Trial, his novella The Metamorphosis, and a collection of his short stories. I'm really partial to the short stories, although The Trial and The Metamorphosis certainly serve as recommendable nightmare fodder.
I haven't read anything from the Wheel of Time series (yet).
My sister tried to get into Jonathon Strange and Mr. Norrell but found it rather difficult...or dull. I can't remember what her reasons were. I thought it sounded awesome. Opinions so far?
Koroviev said:
agent_orange420 said:
about halfway through Star Wars: Survivors Quest. Not the best timothy Zahn written in a galaxy far far away, but by no means the worst star was book ive read.
after that, got big collection of Philip K. Dick books to devour, then the new hitchikers guide,, new bernard cornwell book about the vickings (another one just came out have to get that one as well!) hungers games to read and maybe twilight. if i can stomach it. and if no one tells anyone...
Great book and great author. I think A Scanner Darkly is probably my favourite Dick novel though. It's probably the book I've reread the most (about 3 times) and I rarely ever reread books unless I've been blown away completely.
On the subject of Philip K. Dick, I have an interesting story.
While on the train home from London with my girlfriend, we were sitting at a table seat opposite a guy aged roughly 45-50 years old. I was doing some research on HP Lovecraft for an essay and, as such, was reading a critical theory book written by him. The guy opposite us struck up a conversation about Lovecraft with me and eventually he asked me this:
"Who is the best Sci-Fi author?" Without hesitation I told him "Philip K. Dick." He smiled, and for the next hour and a half we discussed the merits of various Dick books. Somewhere in the conversation, the guy asked where I went to university and when I said "Winchester" he replied with "My best friend's daughter goes there." Offhandedly, I asked who she was, not expecting it to be anyone I knew (especially since Winchester has around 6000 students).
As it turns out, the girl was my housemate at the time and a very good friend. In awe of this Dick-style coincidence, we chatted some more and just before I got off at my stop, the guy asked for my address so he could send me some old Dick novels that he needed to get rid of. I gave it to him but never really expected anything to come from this exchange.
A week later however, 6 books arrived with a letter from the guy giving his various opinions on each novel he'd sent me. I never saw or heard from him again.
Just goes to show how a shared interest can lead to something amazing, something that causes you to go: "huh, that's pretty cool."
So yeah, just thought I'd throw that out there lol.
EDIT:
Koroviev said:
I've read Kafka's novel The Trial, his novella The Metamorphosis, and a collection of his short stories. I'm really partial to the short stories, although The Trial and The Metamorphosis certainly serve as recommendable nightmare fodder.
I haven't read anything from the Wheel of Time series (yet).
Yeah I recently finished [The Metamorphosis and other short stories[/i]. I have to say that I wasn't massively blown away by The Metamorphosis but it could have something to do with the huge amount of hype surrounding it. I just felt a little let down by it. Amongst that collection though, my favourite has to be the short story [A Report to an Academy[/i], a 10 page piece of brilliance about an ape recounting his change from ape behaviour to human behaviour at a scientific conference. It's amazing and I loved it so much more than Kafka's widely regarded "best work".
I haven't read a book since I was 12, 10 years ago. I like to think JRPGs have been my substitute for books. Though I have read very small portions of books for my research project, Michel Chion's Audio-Vision: Sound On Screen.
Great book and great author. I think A Scanner Darkly is probably my favourite Dick novel though. It's probably the book I've reread the most (about 3 times) and I rarely ever reread books unless I've been blown away completely.
On the subject of Philip K. Dick, I have an interesting story.
While on the train home from London with my girlfriend, we were sitting at a table seat opposite a guy aged roughly 45-50 years old. I was doing some research on HP Lovecraft for an essay and, as such, was reading a critical theory book written by him. The guy opposite us struck up a conversation about Lovecraft with me and eventually he asked me this:
"Who is the best Sci-Fi author?" Without hesitation I told him "Philip K. Dick." He smiled, and for the next hour and a half we discussed the merits of various Dick books. Somewhere in the conversation, the guy asked where I went to university and when I said "Winchester" he replied with "My best friend's daughter goes there." Offhandedly, I asked who she was, not expecting it to be anyone I knew (especially since Winchester has around 6000 students).
As it turns out, the girl was my housemate at the time and a very good friend. In awe of this Dick-style coincidence, we chatted some more and just before I got off at my stop, the guy asked for my address so he could send me some old Dick novels that he needed to get rid of. I gave it to him but never really expected anything to come from this exchange.
A week later however, 6 books arrived with a letter from the guy giving his various opinions on each novel he'd sent me. I never saw or heard from him again.
Just goes to show how a shared interest can lead to something amazing, something that causes you to go: "huh, that's pretty cool."
So yeah, just thought I'd throw that out there lol.
EDIT:
Koroviev said:
I've read Kafka's novel The Trial, his novella The Metamorphosis, and a collection of his short stories. I'm really partial to the short stories, although The Trial and The Metamorphosis certainly serve as recommendable nightmare fodder.
I haven't read anything from the Wheel of Time series (yet).
Yeah I recently finished [The Metamorphosis and other short stories[/i]. I have to say that I wasn't massively blown away by The Metamorphosis but it could have something to do with the huge amount of hype surrounding it. I just felt a little let down by it. Amongst that collection though, my favourite has to be the short story [A Report to an Academy[/i], a 10 page piece of brilliance about an ape recounting his change from ape behaviour to human behaviour at a scientific conference. It's amazing and I loved it so much more than Kafka's widely regarded "best work".
Wow, that's pretty neat. I've been meaning to read A Scanner Darkly, it just hasn't shown up at the used bookstore yet. I read the first chapter on Amazon and it was great. I'll look into picking it up from my school's library once I'm finished with Woman in the Dunes (almost!).
Lonesome Dove - Larry McMurtry - Epic western about a cattle drive by two grizzled ex-Texas Rangers
Wellington: The Iron Duke - Richard Holmes - Excellent biography of the Duke of Wellington
Current Book
A Week In December - Sebastian Faulks - Thought provoking and clever social commentary on modern Britain
Next Book
Tail-End Charlies: The Last Battles of the Bomber War 1944-45 - John Nichol - Account of the last few bomber raids of WWII along with the shocking treatmen of bomber crews post-war and their status as social pariahs.
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