Books etc.

[Lesser God]

Before this starts, at the beginning of Kurt's journal entry he notes that this girl is not retarded or has downs syndrome. Because other kids in his high school call this girl retarded.

So one day after school i went to her house, alone and invited myself some Twinkies and i sat on her lap and said, "let's fuck", and i touched her tits and she went into her bedroom and got undresses in front of me with the door open and i watched and realized that it was actually happening so i tried to fuck her but didn't know how and asked her if she had ever done this before and she said a lot of time mainly with her cousin.

I got grossed out very heavily with how her vagina smelled and her sweat reeked so i left. My conscience grew to where i couldn't go back to school for a week and when i went back, i got an in-house suspension in the office for skipping. and that day the girl's father came in screaming and accusing someone of taking advantage of his daughter.

They went in the principals office and yelled at each other and they came out with a yearbook and were going to have her pick me out. But she couldn't because i didn't show up for pictures that year.

During lunch the rumors started and by the next day she told my name and everyone was waiting to yell and cuss at me, calling me "the retard fucker"."

- Kurt Cobain's "Journals"

[germuhknee]

Originally Posted by william

The second introductory quote comes from a novel that all readers should have.

This is how Dunces strikes you at first you might be bored, wondering whats going on, but then you give the novel a chance and begin to marvel as its excellence progresses, grows, until youre left flabbergasted, speechless, almost. This surely can not be this good!

Like Don Quixote, "A Confederacy of Dunces" is a novel that shouldn't be tackled unless you're in the mood for it. Is anyone reading these write-ups? To have to sit down are be forced by assignment to read it or to address it simply because one feels one must is to do it a disservice.

I second the motion. And in this "serious" discussion, it's important not to lose sight of the fact that Dunces is a funny book! Knee-slappingly, laugh-out-loud funny. As is Don Quixote: don't be put off by the fact that it is as thick as a telephone directory and was written 400 years ago in Spanish. The scatological humour in Don Quixote is the spiritual ancestor of modern day TV and film classics like Jackass or There's Something About Mary ...

[william]

Warning: This quote contains a spoiler.

If you plan on reading "Mission of Gravity," skip this message. Then again, I'm quite positive that everyone's skipping these posts. Nonetheless, I'm enjoying reflecting on some works I love.

I'm a fan of classic Science Fiction, circa 1930s-1950s. Back then writing was pure and direct. None of the gimmicks nor styles we see today. Titles were also amazing: "The Stars, My Destination" "The Demolished Man" "Lest Darkness Falls"

This quote shows how a Grand Master can sum up the thesis of his work in a simple, elegant paragraph. How a plea can be made, a case, an argument, by weaving elements of a story line and drawing the reader to an ultimate conclusion.

Mission of Gravity, by Hal Clemet is a forgotten classic from that time. Pure SF, the author tells the tale of Humans exploring a Jupiter-like planet, where gravity is measured in the hundred-fold compared to Earths.

There, life is found. Meskinites - caterpillar like beings who possess intelligence and live in a society not unlike that of our Viking forefathers. They sail their ship, the Bree, across thousands of miles, encountering warring tribes and unusual creatures. Gravity rules their world; a place where a pebble dropped an inch lands with the striking force of a bullet.

At the very end of the book, Clement pulls a fast one on us. In one simple, masterful stroke he makes argument that is both compelling and righteous. The Meskinites live in a world dominated by gods and superstitions. Marveling at the achievements of those human beings from an outer world, a great among the Meskinites by the name of Barlennan, ask for minor thing in return for a favor. The Humans offeres an explaination of how something works, but after spending so much time with Humans, Barlennan rejects the initial offer and strikes for a greater prize:

Even I can see it is not just guesswork, or even philosophizing like the learned ones who tell us that Meskin is a bowl... I want to know why the Bree floats, and why the canoe did the same... I want to know why the wind blows down the cleft all the time.. I want to know why we are warmest in winter when we can't see the sun for the longest time. I want to know why a fire glows... I want my children or theirs, if I ever have any to know what makes this radio work, and your tank and someday your rocket. I want to know much - more than I can learn, no doubt, but if I can start my people learning for themselves, the way you must have... [he would be willing to end the life of a nomad and pursue a greater goal]

What he was asking for was the knowledge of the scientific method.

[rossnicoll]

"The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed."




My favourite books.
The Dark Tower series by Stephen King.

[stjoe]

Originally Posted by rossnicoll

"The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed."




My favourite books.
The Dark Tower series by Stephen King.

Worst fucking ending to a series ever. I read the last three books in 4 days and when I finally got to the end I threw the damn book across the room. Stephen King can suck my hairy ass.

EDIT: I forgot to add that after reading the first three books years and years ago it was also my favourite. Just the damn end ruined it for me.

[william]

Originally Posted by stjoe

Worst fucking ending to a series ever. I read the last three books in 4 days and when I finally got to the end I threw the damn book across the room. Stephen King can suck my hairy ass.

King is notorious for weak endings. He builds up to a crescendo and them pffft some supernatural explanation or other unsatisfactory conclusion.

Mind you, I still think hes a great writer. He led the zeitgeist of clear popular writing and was followed by masters such as Grisham and others. I wish he would opt out of supernaturalism and once again compose a great novel such as was glimpsed in The Long Walk, Shawshank, and The Body.

I wait to be blown away by King, to find a novel with an emotional core as he showed in The Stand one which fans and doubters alike will sit back and say give this man a fucking Pultzer and Nobel! I know he has/had it in him.

[benjita]

Originally Posted by JoeB

I FUCKING LOVE THAT BOOK.

Sorry.

But Terry Goodkind is quite the hero amongst my circle of friends. I've read up Temple of the Winds (Book 4), but most of my friends are on the newest one.

If any of you havn't read any of the Sword of Truth books, definitely good stuff.

Damn, only on Temple of the Winds? You got some catching up to do. We're on book 10. Must say though, I read too quickly.

[rossnicoll]

Originally Posted by stjoe

Worst fucking ending to a series ever. I read the last three books in 4 days and when I finally got to the end I threw the damn book across the room. Stephen King can suck my hairy ass.

EDIT: I forgot to add that after reading the first three books years and years ago it was also my favourite. Just the damn end ruined it for me.

Yeah it was a bit shit. but, aside from the last few chapters, the journey was awesome! Mental how he wrote himself, and his accident in to the book.

[stjoe]

I read James Patterson's "Lifeguard" today and I have to say that it was not very good. I was looking for something to read while shopping at Costco the other day and saw it and said, 'what the fuck', and bought it.

Boring story, nothing to keep you hooked, and predictable ending. And wtf is with the 10 different endings? End the book already. I'll read another book tomorrow as I'm off work for 10 days.

[drinkcoke]

Originally Posted by perclissigi

- Running With Scissors - Augusten Burroughs.

Ha, I'm reading one of his other books "Possible Side Effects" right now. Can't remember any good quotes.