Archived threads in /lit/ - Literature - 334. page

>>9887962
Existential dread is really easy to overcome.
Whenever I need to judge what I'm doing or decide what to do, I ask myself:
>What would an old guy in a miserable, ugly, poorly maintained retirement home who never sees his family and friends and will die all alone choose to do I he were me?

Now it's simply a matter of keeping the activities that Mr. Senior Self does to a minimum.

Example:
>Sit inside all day to browse 4chan
>Meh, probably something an old person would do
>Go out into town?
>I never see depressed old people in town so it must be a good decision to go

Tl;dr: do the opposite of what a lonely senior citizen in a retirement home would do. Also, read the Greeks.

(1/2)

File: 120730024420-european-getaways-jura-switzerland-horizontal-large-gallery.jpg (175KB, 980x552px) Image search: [Google]

175KB, 980x552px

>>9888001
Wow almost got double trips

To illustrate my point, let me tell you of a man who is in his 90s who lives in rural France. He's repeatedly said that he dreaded the idea of going to a retirement home because he would have nothing to do there: "I would probably die pretty soon after arriving at the retirement home." So instead he still lives at home, taking care of his chickens, rabbits and the vegetables in his garden. He constantly engages with his community and mows the grass in his huge lawn with a sickle like a boss. How many people in their 90s can say they regularly use a sickle or even could? Heck, how many people in their 90s can say they live at home?

Give yourself mountains to climb, OP: a garden to work in, a park to walk through, a room to clean, a flower to water, a cafe to frequent, a language to learn, etc.

(2/2)

>>9887962
The Conspiracy Against the Human Race by Thomas Ligotti

write first edit later

File: 1449850823462.gif (2MB, 250x250px) Image search: [Google]

2MB, 250x250px

>>9887958

>>9887902
anything wroten by a women :D

>>9887910
hehe lol

My diary, desu

File: 1502603178950.jpg (5KB, 250x174px) Image search: [Google]

5KB, 250x174px

>>9887813
What the fuck is this shit? This is a literature board, son.

>>9887885
By fantasy standards this is trash as well.

>>https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=YA+BOOK+REVIEW

On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin

>>9887853
Already read that one but thank you for getting it out of the way so soon. It's probably the comfiest reading experience I've ever had. How does Voyage of the Beagle compare?

>>9887809
The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins.
Put aside the fedora meme, Dawkins is an impressive biologist with a gift for explaining concepts in a simple yet efficient way. He isn't an embarrassment unless he attempts to venture into the humanities.

if it doesn't comment on the discourses of power which exist in present day america it's worthless

any pretension for deepness is wrongheaded

thinking in aesthetic terms rather than understanding the current class conflict and power dynamics and working to destabilize it is immoral

so, go ahead, OP, go ahead and make your little book, but keep account of this How good a book is is not dependent or reprimanded or landed on discussing race relations but on quality of story, character and creation of an intriguing aesthetical experience

>>9887787
The problem i have with this premise is that it's entirely action. Like, cheap, thriller, hollywood level action. Not my cup of tea. But you seem to be writing for a plebeian audience, so good luck to you.

Imo short stories don't have to be deep, literary, recursive / multi-layered experiences a la Borges, but they do have to be thoughtful and written in a charming style. See Julio Cortazar and Lydia Davis--look for their flash fiction. Cronopios and Famas

>>9887787
In essence, you're describing asceticism. And it's okay to do as long as its engaging. It might be a bit unrewarding when it comes to prose, but I do enjoy it when it comes to poetry:

Today was a mild day for so late in February.
Spring sang early by a windy tributary,
and played away the cold decay of December.
There was a green leaf applause for all to remember:

All the red-breasted robins chirping wildly,
in hopes of calling new love blindly.
And all of the dogs who's lonely, friendly barking
echo into the falling curtain of night.

Then in my house seat I preside
by the window open wide,
as a distant rushing wind
and bellowing train blend
into a calming sort of static.

I watch the street with vague intent,
hoping to notice nothing at present,
while a cool air gently plays
with my hair and brightness
of my marijuana cigarette.

>>9887710
Yes, especially long series. Like the Hornblower, Aubrey/Maturin, Bolitho, and good ol' Sharpe's Rifles. Some of the very latter I have since putchased used, however.

also general kierkegaard-thread

Honestly, I think you should give a try to Kierkegaard's works, as his style is not as unnecessary complicated as Heidegger, for example. Even though it can be hard sometimes, I can not belive that someone could explain you better what he intended. The struggle is not to understand the language, but to analyze the situation he gives you, to compare it to reality, as the main interest of his philosophy is the human being.

>>9887772
as i said i read through his main works when i was younger, i also read some pages of Either/Or again, so iam very familiar with his works, but i want to dig deeper in various interpretations of hid works like the Adonro one.

He seems pseudy, but at least he's a good christian boy and makes nice music

>>9887534
Can someone give me a run down of his endorsed ideas? I love his music but I don't know that much about him as a thinker?

File: SNNEhMN.png (509KB, 854x480px) Image search: [Google]

509KB, 854x480px

>>9887534

I tried reading through it, but didn't really get me the first time, I might try reading it again though. I was sort of looking for the same sort of experience that the Book of Five Rings gave, detailing the attitudes of how a warrior should think, and act, and stuff like that.
Also, at least in my version of the book, I didn't like the huge introduction at the beginning, like I get they are trying to provide a background, and give some insight into the times of when the book was written, but if I was so interested in that, I would research that instead. Just give me the basic jist of Sun Tzu, maybe some recommended further reading, and that's it.
I do think it is worth reading eventually, but right now it was just a huge turn-off for me.

Classical Chinese is terse by nature. It's meant to be read along side commentary. I'd recommend the John Minford translation for those who want to read in English.

https://www.amazon.com/Art-War-Strike-Chaos-Penguin/dp/0143037528

Full of clichés. Do not read.

>>9887470
>Does YA literature hold a purpose?
Not quite sure what you mean. It's a genre that youngsters read.
>Is any of it good?
I enjoyed a few good ya books in my early teens. Stuff like "Holes", "Refugee boy", and "Harry Potter". I don't think I would appreciate them now though.
>Should literature be bound by age?
Yes. 10 year olds who read "Moby Dick" are doing it in vain, and adults should try to steer away from YA desu.

meh

It was my first introduction to Kerouac. Not sure if I'd recommend it to anyone who doesn't already embody the book's personality.

Maybe I didn't 'get' it?

That book is comfy as fuck. It's best to read it with zero expectations.

Why does there have to be a purpose?

>>9887511
Well specific song lyrics in lieu of regular speech suggest their is some meaning behind them - heard a theory that it's actually the wraith of Himself and Hal is just assuming it to be Orin but not entirely sold.

LMAO PO MO THIS IS WATER LETS CRAM MORE CULTURAL REFERENCES IN THERE!!!!!!

infinite jest is essentially ready player one but for pseud fanboys of the western canon instead of video games

Accelerarionism, you fucking idiot. It's literally the most popular modern philosophy.

You mean nothing to me to me to me to me to me

scary stuff.
assuage me.

I am greek

>>9887044
I am Greek

Call yourself "The Greek," then publishers will think you are some sort of underworld standover heavy that will kneecap them if they don't publish you.