You said, "The Count of Monte Cristo is my favorite."
Mine to, loved that book! While I have enjoyed other books on my list very much, that one would be the one I picked as the very best.
Good luck with your reading and never give up. I read "The Heart of Darkness", and did not get it. But I have read some articles and a couple of commentaries on it, and will try reading it again to see if I can get it the second time.
I am not sure if I have read "Second Foundation". I read the "Foundation Trilogy", not sure if that is what you meant.
The only Ayn Rand I have read is "Anthem", though I have both "Fountainhead" and "Atlas Shrugged" on my shelf waiting to be read.
I found "Dr. Zivago" difficult as well, and I was in my late thirties when I read it. A lot of that comes from the fact that for all the Russian names, there is a nickname and both are used intermixed, sometimes both in the same sentence. I found a real good way of reading books by the Russian authors is to buy Clift Notes, and refer to the list of characters as you go. Didn't do that for Dr. Zivago, but did that for Anna Karenina, and both Dostoyevsky's. I will use that method when tackling War and Peace. I used Clift Notes when reading "Paradise Lost" to great benefit.
Good fantasy? I have really enjoyed anything by David Eddings. Also one of my favorite is "Mordant's Need" by Stephen R Donaldson, a two book series "A Mirror of Her Dreams" and "A Man Rides Through" are the two titles. Also love his book of short stories, "A Daughter of Regals". Another good series is "The Rift War Saga" by Raymond E. Fiest. All of those stand out in my mind for great fantasy.
Curious as to which of your favorites I have read? Other than "Watership Down"? Which others do we have in common that you have liked?
I know that is not what you meant. You want to know where I go to school. I don't. I have never spent an hour in a college classroom. And now, as I just turned 41 a couple of days ago, I have neither the time, the money, or the energy to pursue a college degree.
So, I am making one up for myself. I don't have any delusions that what I am doing is in any way as valuable as a real college degree, but, it is still valuable to me. The learning I have done these past couple of years! The learning I have ahead of me!
I do not claim to understand everything I have read. In fact, there is much I readily admit to not understanding. But I do learn from all of it. What I don't understand today, often times comes a bit clearer as I read something else. Reading book X will help me understand a bit better book Y, while not entirely getting book X.
I figure when I get through with The Harvard Classics, and the Shelf of Fiction, that I should have nearly the equivalent to a B.A degree in General Studies. Again, not worth a hill of beans in the job market, but completely worth it to me.
As to where I get the time to read all those books? I work at a phone support job, where we are either slammed one call after another, or get 5 to 10 minutes between calls. Then I am usually reading one of The Harvard Classics (on line). When at home, after attending to the wife and kids, I usually read two or three hours a night, when I get the chance. I watch very little television. I also have one of The Harvard Classics in the "throne room", and get five or ten pages a day done in that. So in all probability I have two or three books being read at the same time, and probably average about two hours a day total reading time. Hope this helps.
Thank you for looking. Stop by for a chat now and then.
All three are good,but I would go with either "Jane Eyre" or "Ethan Frome", with probably a very slight nod to Jane.
Both Jane and Ethan are GREAT books. Bovary, is a classic, and I understand why it is, but I enjoyed Jane and Ethane much more.
So, I would try and get both of those read, and see if you can't squeeze Bovary in before the end of September as well. And then come back and let me know what you thought of all three books. You may have very different opinions of all three. And that would be entirely ok.
What are you majoring in? Good luck, and remember one thing. Just because a professor says it, does not make it true. Search out meaning and truth for yourself, don't rely on ANYBODY to tell you what you should think. Examine each issue and using logic and all available facts, come to the most logical and reasoned conclusion possible. Be yourself, and think for yourself.
All the books I have ever read? No, this is a list of book I have read in roughly the last five years.
When I was a wee lad, I read tons and tons of books. Westerns, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and blood and guts books.
This list marks my departure from reading pure fiction, to a more heavy fare. I am reading now more for education, to learn something, than for pure pleasure. Though I still enjoy reading very much, if not more now. This list is a record of my course work, if you will, in my obtaining a college degree. I won't actually have one when finished, but it will still be an education, and you can never go wrong by educating yourself.
Thanks for the interest. What have you read? Love to discuss books!
I liked that story as well. I have always liked good short stories. But my favorite book from Hawthorne, so far, is The House of the Seven Gables.
What other Hawthorne books have you read? The only other thing I have read is The Scarlet Letter. But I have all his books. Which one would you recommend reading next?
It does not look like it, as this is what it says in the introduction to the volume
The translation by E. W. Lane used here has been the standard English version for general reading for eighty years. The translations of “‘Ali Baba” and “‘Ala-ed-Din” are by S. Lane-Poole
It appears the the Sir Richard Burton translation did not appear until 1884 (source Wikipedia) and the Havard Classics were put together in 1909, and as far as I know, has never been updated, just reprinted. So, probably they went with the "established" translation that was there at the time, with Burton's not becoming the defacto translation until later.
I am keeping the same list, and was wondering if I can copy the style you created here? I was struggling to find a way to do the list elegantly, and you have done it. Also, how do you get spaces and bolding in the list? I have not figured that out yet.
Hope you enjoy completing this list as much as I am.
I looked everywhere but at the bottom of the screen to find the formatting help. I never scrolled that far down.
And thanks for letting me clone your lists. I cloned this one, and the Harvard Classics one as well. I endorsed you on my profile, hope that doesn't hurt your reputation around here. :)
Thank you for the suggestions. I will look them up, and put them on my list of books I want to read.
Of course, reading is learning. Thinking about the what I have read is learning. Pitting two competing ideas, from two different books, to see which idea is most practical, is learning.
Again, thank you for the suggestions. I truly do appreciate them.
It's hard to say what my favorite book has been that I have read. There have been so few that I didn't like.
Probably it would be "The Count of Monte Cristo" by Alexandre Dumas, in the Classic section.
In autobiography it is a tie between "Nothing Venture, Nothing Win: His Autobiography" by Sir Edmund Hillary, and "Yeager: An Autobiography" by General Chuck Yeager and Leo Janos. Two ordinary men, doing extraordinary things. "Life is so Good " by George Dawson and Richard Glaubman is also absolutely terrific.
I have enjoyed all the biographies I have read (as well as all the autobiographies), so trying to choose a favorite there is hard.
All of the history books I have read have been real good. Hard to pick a favorite. Looking at my collection, it should be obvious that I am interested in NASA and Aerospace history, as well as Arctic and Antarctic exploration.
Again, I am nearly forty years old. I have a very dubious high school education. I have no college at all. Most of the books on this list were read in the last 2 years. I am reading to learn first, pleasure second. There isn't really any particular thought process behind which books I am reading. I am following my whims and moods, as well as grabbing books as they are available.
Thanks for looking over my list. I love books, and talking about books.
These are in the list of books I actually have on hand, in other words, own. Did you see the list of books I have read?
I started a reading jag about an year and half ago. I am nearly forty years old, and never went to college. I decided that I didn't have the time, energy, or money to go to school, so I am doing what I consider the next best thing; read.
What am I reading? Everything, is the easy answer. Classics, History, Biographies, and such. Won't have a sheep skin on the wall when I am done, but I should have one heck of a library.
nyybella,
Thank you. Please feel free to copy it, as I did your formatting for The Harvard Classic's list.
Regards,
Bill Masom
spinmedown16
You said, "The Count of Monte Cristo is my favorite."
Mine to, loved that book! While I have enjoyed other books on my list very much, that one would be the one I picked as the very best.
Good luck with your reading and never give up. I read "The Heart of Darkness", and did not get it. But I have read some articles and a couple of commentaries on it, and will try reading it again to see if I can get it the second time.
Bill Masom
spinmedown16,
I am not sure if I have read "Second Foundation". I read the "Foundation Trilogy", not sure if that is what you meant.
The only Ayn Rand I have read is "Anthem", though I have both "Fountainhead" and "Atlas Shrugged" on my shelf waiting to be read.
I found "Dr. Zivago" difficult as well, and I was in my late thirties when I read it. A lot of that comes from the fact that for all the Russian names, there is a nickname and both are used intermixed, sometimes both in the same sentence. I found a real good way of reading books by the Russian authors is to buy Clift Notes, and refer to the list of characters as you go. Didn't do that for Dr. Zivago, but did that for Anna Karenina, and both Dostoyevsky's. I will use that method when tackling War and Peace. I used Clift Notes when reading "Paradise Lost" to great benefit.
Good fantasy? I have really enjoyed anything by David Eddings. Also one of my favorite is "Mordant's Need" by Stephen R Donaldson, a two book series "A Mirror of Her Dreams" and "A Man Rides Through" are the two titles. Also love his book of short stories, "A Daughter of Regals". Another good series is "The Rift War Saga" by Raymond E. Fiest. All of those stand out in my mind for great fantasy.
Curious as to which of your favorites I have read? Other than "Watership Down"? Which others do we have in common that you have liked?
Hope this helps.
Bill Masom
I usually study while laying on my bed.
LOL
I know that is not what you meant. You want to know where I go to school. I don't. I have never spent an hour in a college classroom. And now, as I just turned 41 a couple of days ago, I have neither the time, the money, or the energy to pursue a college degree.
So, I am making one up for myself. I don't have any delusions that what I am doing is in any way as valuable as a real college degree, but, it is still valuable to me. The learning I have done these past couple of years! The learning I have ahead of me!
I do not claim to understand everything I have read. In fact, there is much I readily admit to not understanding. But I do learn from all of it. What I don't understand today, often times comes a bit clearer as I read something else. Reading book X will help me understand a bit better book Y, while not entirely getting book X.
I figure when I get through with The Harvard Classics, and the Shelf of Fiction, that I should have nearly the equivalent to a B.A degree in General Studies. Again, not worth a hill of beans in the job market, but completely worth it to me.
As to where I get the time to read all those books? I work at a phone support job, where we are either slammed one call after another, or get 5 to 10 minutes between calls. Then I am usually reading one of The Harvard Classics (on line). When at home, after attending to the wife and kids, I usually read two or three hours a night, when I get the chance. I watch very little television. I also have one of The Harvard Classics in the "throne room", and get five or ten pages a day done in that. So in all probability I have two or three books being read at the same time, and probably average about two hours a day total reading time. Hope this helps.
Thank you for looking. Stop by for a chat now and then.
Bill Masom
Which of those three would I recommend?
All three are good,but I would go with either "Jane Eyre" or "Ethan Frome", with probably a very slight nod to Jane.
Both Jane and Ethan are GREAT books. Bovary, is a classic, and I understand why it is, but I enjoyed Jane and Ethane much more.
So, I would try and get both of those read, and see if you can't squeeze Bovary in before the end of September as well. And then come back and let me know what you thought of all three books. You may have very different opinions of all three. And that would be entirely ok.
What are you majoring in? Good luck, and remember one thing. Just because a professor says it, does not make it true. Search out meaning and truth for yourself, don't rely on ANYBODY to tell you what you should think. Examine each issue and using logic and all available facts, come to the most logical and reasoned conclusion possible. Be yourself, and think for yourself.
Bill Masom
That's all, what???
All the books I have ever read? No, this is a list of book I have read in roughly the last five years.
When I was a wee lad, I read tons and tons of books. Westerns, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and blood and guts books.
This list marks my departure from reading pure fiction, to a more heavy fare. I am reading now more for education, to learn something, than for pure pleasure. Though I still enjoy reading very much, if not more now. This list is a record of my course work, if you will, in my obtaining a college degree. I won't actually have one when finished, but it will still be an education, and you can never go wrong by educating yourself.
Thanks for the interest. What have you read? Love to discuss books!
Bill Masom
I liked that story as well. I have always liked good short stories. But my favorite book from Hawthorne, so far, is The House of the Seven Gables.
What other Hawthorne books have you read? The only other thing I have read is The Scarlet Letter. But I have all his books. Which one would you recommend reading next?
Thanks for stopping by and looking.
Bill Masom
Johnny,
I have 16 Harvard Classics, and 2 Harvard Classic Shelf of Fiction book in my personal collection.
Look at my Books I Own list to see all the titles I have. Some of the works listed here, I have either read as stand alone books, or on-line.
Bill Masom
Johnny,
It does not look like it, as this is what it says in the introduction to the volume
The translation by E. W. Lane used here has been the standard English version for general reading for eighty years. The translations of “‘Ali Baba” and “‘Ala-ed-Din” are by S. Lane-Poole
You can read the complete introduction here
http://bartelby.com/16/1001.html
It appears the the Sir Richard Burton translation did not appear until 1884 (source Wikipedia) and the Havard Classics were put together in 1909, and as far as I know, has never been updated, just reprinted. So, probably they went with the "established" translation that was there at the time, with Burton's not becoming the defacto translation until later.
Hope this helps
Bill Masom
nyybella,
I am keeping the same list, and was wondering if I can copy the style you created here? I was struggling to find a way to do the list elegantly, and you have done it. Also, how do you get spaces and bolding in the list? I have not figured that out yet.
Hope you enjoy completing this list as much as I am.
Regards,
bmasom
Thanks nyybella,
I looked everywhere but at the bottom of the screen to find the formatting help. I never scrolled that far down.
And thanks for letting me clone your lists. I cloned this one, and the Harvard Classics one as well. I endorsed you on my profile, hope that doesn't hurt your reputation around here. :)
Happy reading! And again, thanks.
bmasom
Ellee,
Thank you for the suggestions. I will look them up, and put them on my list of books I want to read.
Of course, reading is learning. Thinking about the what I have read is learning. Pitting two competing ideas, from two different books, to see which idea is most practical, is learning.
Again, thank you for the suggestions. I truly do appreciate them.
Bill Masom
professor,
It's hard to say what my favorite book has been that I have read. There have been so few that I didn't like.
Probably it would be "The Count of Monte Cristo" by Alexandre Dumas, in the Classic section.
In autobiography it is a tie between "Nothing Venture, Nothing Win: His Autobiography" by Sir Edmund Hillary, and "Yeager: An Autobiography" by General Chuck Yeager and Leo Janos. Two ordinary men, doing extraordinary things. "Life is so Good " by George Dawson and Richard Glaubman is also absolutely terrific.
I have enjoyed all the biographies I have read (as well as all the autobiographies), so trying to choose a favorite there is hard.
All of the history books I have read have been real good. Hard to pick a favorite. Looking at my collection, it should be obvious that I am interested in NASA and Aerospace history, as well as Arctic and Antarctic exploration.
Again, I am nearly forty years old. I have a very dubious high school education. I have no college at all. Most of the books on this list were read in the last 2 years. I am reading to learn first, pleasure second. There isn't really any particular thought process behind which books I am reading. I am following my whims and moods, as well as grabbing books as they are available.
Thanks for looking over my list. I love books, and talking about books.
Bill Masom
Professor,
Thanks for the recommendations.
These are in the list of books I actually have on hand, in other words, own. Did you see the list of books I have read?
I started a reading jag about an year and half ago. I am nearly forty years old, and never went to college. I decided that I didn't have the time, energy, or money to go to school, so I am doing what I consider the next best thing; read.
What am I reading? Everything, is the easy answer. Classics, History, Biographies, and such. Won't have a sheep skin on the wall when I am done, but I should have one heck of a library.
Bill Masom