Archived threads in /lit/ - Literature - 812. page

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I'm about 210 pages in and I think I'm done with it. Not because it's a little difficult to follow, I appreciate that, and consider it the best quality. I don't really like the "zany" storyline and situations, and I thought the prose would be better. Reminds me of a better written, disjointed Vonnegut. Just not something I enjoy. Are Pynchons other works much different?

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Books for knowing you're better than everyone for majoring in math?

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If you replace reading /lit/ with reading books, you will read significantly more. You're wasting your read words per day on the same "what's the best translation of Homer?" threads we get everyday. Cut down to 30 minutes a day.

I am reading the equivalent of a novella per day by replacing my words per day with authors instead of arguing with people who have not even read the books we are arguing. I am more knowledgeable and well-read than I ever was. If you read a book per week, you can only hope to read roughly 3000 more books in your life. Would you rather that than yet another "is a kindle worth it and where could I get ebooks?" thread?

Close this window right now and do it.

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I've just realized something. Hang with me a minute guys, it's /lit/.

A well-known area of the text of Finnegans Wake is the whole business about "The Ondt and the Gracehoper". This section is identified by name in the table of contents, and the important bit is on (Penguin's) 414: a one-hundred letter thunderword is given (husstenhasten) and the above phrase is invoked. "Esaup" clues us in that it's to do with Aesop's fable of the ant and the grasshopper, but now the latter is a Christian wish, or something.

Just stay with me a minute.

Rear Admiral Grace Hopper (pic related) is now a famous early computer scientist, who is known for having /made the first compilers/ and for literally, /literally/ de-bugging early computers by picking a moth out of the guts, which is popularly where the phrases "bug/debug" come from. An ant is itself a sort of bug, and both Joyce and Hopper demonstrate themselves to be modern masters of language...

My only point is to point out this connection, and also to suggest that Joyce anticipates modern technology in a very happy way, in this case. In this, I am simply echoing McLuhan, who uses Joyce's thunders in "War and Peace in the Global Village", which despite being aware of, I have not actually read. It may happen that McLuhan mentions what I've just brought up, but if so, I was unaware of it at the time of writing the above. McLuhan instead compares "thunder 9" to "car and plane", and uses Finnegans Wake to describe technology.

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Is it worth the read?

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‘You inquired just now what was the matter here. The matter is simply this. Yonder person, who was drinking with a friend in the coffee room when I took my seat there for half an hour before going to bed, (for I have just come off a journey, and preferred stopping here tonight, to going home at this hour, where I was not expected until tomorrow,) chose to express himself in very disrespectful, and insolently familiar terms, of a young lady, whom I recognised from his description and other circumstances, and whom I have the honour to know. As he spoke loud enough to be overheard by the other guests who were present, I informed him most civilly that he was mistaken in his conjectures, which were of an offensive nature, and requested him to forbear. He did so for a little time, but as he chose to renew his conversation when leaving the room, in a more offensive strain than before, I could not refrain from making after him, and facilitating his departure by a kick, which reduced him to the posture in which you saw him just now. I am the best judge of my own affairs, I take it,’ said the young man, who had certainly not quite recovered from his recent heat; ‘if anybody here thinks proper to make this quarrel his own, I have not the smallest earthly objection, I do assure him.’

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I have started a collection of rare, old books for my own personal pleasures (for decoration, leisure, historical value, preservation...), and I seek advice from anons willing to share their experiences and tips for purchasing as well as searching for rare books at discount prices, both online and in the real world. I mostly collect philosophical, historical, religious works of European authors, but I also am open to other subjects and literary styles such as poetry.

I tried a few book sales, but I find these to be a waste of time as the books there are almost always of no value to myself. Unfortunately, one seldom stumbles upon fortuitous findings with the advent of the Internet.

Picture not really related.

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Post library cards.

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Perhaps it is meaning which exists and you that do not

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Hey guys, my dad's birthday is coming up and wanted to get him a few good books without asking him about it.
He's basically read every pre-2000 scifi and fantasy novel out there so the wiki isn't much help and not sure he's read much super new stuff.
Was wondering if any of these authors or series' are any good if any of you have read them. I haven't read anything by them but they caught my eye on the trip round the store earlier, seem good.

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What are your thoughts on The Philosophy of New Music?

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i would like to get into philosophy
should i start with greeks or is it just le funny maymay ? if greeks are really the case with whose works should i start ??

Picture unrelated

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How do I overcome nihilism? This is a serious question, please state your opinion if you have one and help me. I've been down this road for a time now I wan't to reverse it. I wan't to feel human again and enjoy life. Also recommend books that are somewhat antinihilistic.

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Anyone know where I could find a copy or a pdf of The Human Age, or just The Childermass? Are Amazon sellers reliable?