Recommend me some good books

symphonica7 · Post by **symphonica7** » 13 years ago

Wow....I need to catch up on some serous reading...I could be reading right now...but instead I'm on the forum posting about reading. Brilliant.

liberavieve · Post by **liberavieve** » 13 years ago

symphonica7 wrote:Wow....I need to catch up on some serous reading...I could be reading right now...but instead I'm on the forum posting about reading. Brilliant.

Agreed. One of the things I'm most looking forward to after graduation is being able to read for pleasure again. Right now, I've got such thrilling works open as— well, actually, they don't seem so bad. And they aren't. It's just that something grows far less enjoyable when it's being read for thesis fodder. Novels, these books are not.

symphonica7 · Post by **symphonica7** » 13 years ago

liberavieve wrote:
symphonica7 wrote:Wow....I need to catch up on some serous reading...I could be reading right now...but instead I'm on the forum posting about reading. Brilliant.
Agreed. One of the things I'm most looking forward to after graduation is being able to read for pleasure again. Right now, I've got such thrilling works open as— well, actually, they don't seem so bad. And they aren't. It's just that something grows far less enjoyable when it's being read for thesis fodder. Novels, these books are not.

I feel you on that....LOL. The last book I read from cover to cover was probably 7 years ago..........seriously, not cool....it was "The Giver" great book by the way. What is your major???

liberavieve · Post by **liberavieve** » 13 years ago

symphonica7 wrote:I feel you on that....LOL. The last book I read from cover to cover was probably 7 years ago..........seriously, not cool....it was "The Giver" great book by the way. What is your major???

Seven years is a long time, but The Giver is so fantastic a book that I could understand not wanting to read anything after that, for fear that it would fall flat.

I'm doing an undergrad course in Social Anthropology. Now that I'm a bit more specialised and am working on a paper of my own, I'm finding my reading a bit more interesting (The Child in the Educative Process, How High Should Boys Sing?, Frogs and Snails and Feminist Tales!); but before—? I shudder to think. Awful, awful stuff, a lot of it. And thousands of pages weekly. If I'm completely honest, I burnt out halfway through my first year.

If only my work post-graduation could be lounging in bed and reading novels all day!

Rebecca (: · Post by **Rebecca (:** » 13 years ago

liberavieve wrote:
symphonica7 wrote:I feel you on that....LOL. The last book I read from cover to cover was probably 7 years ago..........seriously, not cool....it was "The Giver" great book by the way. What is your major???
Seven years is a long time, but The Giver is so fantastic a book that I could understand not wanting to read anything after that, for fear that it would fall flat.

That's how I am with the Harry Potter series. I haven't been able to finish a single book after I read them a few years ago.
I've tried but nothing keeps me interested anymore. I've always had troubles reading, because I can't stay focused for more than a page, but I really do enjoy it!

symphonica7 · Post by **symphonica7** » 13 years ago

Rebecca (: wrote:
liberavieve wrote:
symphonica7 wrote:I feel you on that....LOL. The last book I read from cover to cover was probably 7 years ago..........seriously, not cool....it was "The Giver" great book by the way. What is your major???
Seven years is a long time, but The Giver is so fantastic a book that I could understand not wanting to read anything after that, for fear that it would fall flat.
That's how I am with the Harry Potter series. I haven't been able to finish a single book after I read them a few years ago.
I've tried but nothing keeps me interested anymore. I've always had troubles reading, because I can't stay focused for more than a page, but I really do enjoy it!

Touche my friend, touche...."The Giver" left an impression on me, I still feel 7 years later...

Harry Potter sounds interesting, but I'm going to finish catching up on the movies first!!!!

symphonica7 · Post by **symphonica7** » 13 years ago

I'm doing an undergrad course in Social Anthropology. Now that I'm a bit more specialised and am working on a paper of my own, I'm finding my reading a bit more interesting (The Child in the Educative Process, How High Should Boys Sing?, Frogs and Snails and Feminist Tales!); but before—? I shudder to think. Awful, awful stuff, a lot of it. And thousands of pages weekly. I'm I'm completely honest, I burnt out halfway through my first year.

If only my work post-graduation could be lounging in bed and reading novels all day!
_________________

Nice....I've always found the subject of Sociology intriguing....but it's way too much for my brain to handle at the moment...and my mind. LOL. Nah, but that's really cool...very interesting..so have you come closer to a conclusion on any of those subjects yet???

Yorkie · Post by **Yorkie** » 13 years ago

symphonica7 wrote:
liberavieve wrote:
symphonica7 wrote:Wow....I need to catch up on some serous reading...I could be reading right now...but instead I'm on the forum posting about reading. Brilliant.
Agreed. One of the things I'm most looking forward to after graduation is being able to read for pleasure again. Right now, I've got such thrilling works open as— well, actually, they don't seem so bad. And they aren't. It's just that something grows far less enjoyable when it's being read for thesis fodder. Novels, these books are not.
I feel you on that....LOL. The last book I read from cover to cover was probably 7 years ago..........seriously, not cool....it was "The Giver" great book by the way. What is your major???

Given the subject matter of previous books I was left wondering about 'The Giver'. Thankfully it looks like an interesting kids book - 1984 meets Logan's Run.

Yorkie · Post by **Yorkie** » 13 years ago

liberavieve wrote: I'm doing an undergrad course in Social Anthropology. Now that I'm a bit more specialised and am working on a paper of my own, I'm finding my reading a bit more interesting (The Child in the Educative Process, How High Should Boys Sing?, Frogs and Snails and Feminist Tales!);!

Your friends at CTCC really hate that one:

http://www.ctcc.org.uk/books.htm

http://www.ctcc.org.uk/Website%20article%2000.pdf

http://www.ctcc.org.uk/musical.htm

liberavieve · Post by **liberavieve** » 13 years ago

Yorkie wrote:Your friends at CTCC really hate that one.

I noticed that. And I still can't be entirely sure as to why.

Yorkie · Post by **Yorkie** » 13 years ago

liberavieve wrote:
Yorkie wrote:Your friends at CTCC really hate that one.
I noticed that. And I still can't be entirely sure as to why.

Well, from what I read it was because the author approached the subject matter with a pre-formed agenda (the opposite of theirs) - that there is no difference between a girls and boys voice when singing. In support of that claim he quoted a couple of previous studies in to that matter which the author claimed supported his/her position.

However, in other pieces (quoted above), CTCC members looked at that research and pointed out the flaws in the methodology and also in the mis-reporting of the conclusions. They hold that even the flawed studies, when examined in the correct statistical way, prove that people can detect a difference between girl and boy choristers.

So, they dislike the authors belief, writing style and misuse of research.

liberavieve · Post by **liberavieve** » 13 years ago

Yorkie wrote:...the author approached the subject matter with a pre-formed agenda (the opposite of theirs) - that there is no difference between a girls and boys voice when singing.

I can understand why the CTCC would take issue with that particular agenda—what group wouldn't snarl at a thesis diametrically opposite its own?—but having read the book through now, I don't think that that is Ashley's agenda. Not at all, actually. He certainly does have an agenda—namely, that the old thought that 'boys won't sing for fear of sounding like girls' doesn't quite explain boys' real reluctance to sing—but proving the equality of boys' and girls' treble voices is not it.

Yorkie wrote:However, in other pieces (quoted above), CTCC members looked at that research and pointed out the flaws in the methodology and also in the mis-reporting of the conclusions. They hold that even the flawed studies, when examined in the correct statistical way, prove that people can detect a difference between girl and boy choristers.

This is what Mark Twain meant by 'lies, damned lies and statistics.' I've read quite a handful of voice-related studies now, some prepared directly in relation to chorister voices, some not; and I think I've seen all of them cited in other sources in such ways as to reach completely different conclusions. If Ashley is guilty of this (which he might very well be), then so are the CTCC and every other group who have cited any of this research. It's just how statistics go, and that is by no means restricted to the discussion of voice.

Yorkie wrote:So, they dislike the authors belief, writing style and misuse of research.

Well, I can't argue with them on the writing style front; first-person narrative just doesn't often work well in texts like these, and it doesn't work for this book. I'd be throttled for submitting something like that.

Murkskis · Post by **Murkskis** » 13 years ago

Interesting topic. And actually endless ...
I mean you will never know your last book of the life

the theme of war was mentioned-
A good book about war was written by Erich Maria Remarque (German Writer) - 'All Quiet on the Western Front'. I have read it even several times. Realistic, informative, moving, kind of melancholic and sad. Still despite the war theme- very human and points out some bright spots even at the darkest times.

Astrid Lindgren (Swedish writer) and 'The Brothers Lionheart'- long time has passed since I read this one. Just loved it when I was a teenager.

Only many years later I found out she was inspired by a few names she found on a stone in a cemetery and she created such a fantasy story out of a few names. The story tells a lot about true friendship and brotherhood. Idealistic at some point, but very nice. Seemingly Lindgren valued courage very highly. As I have read some more of her books - i.e. 'Ronia the Robber's Daughter' -another lovely and fictional story. IMHO - the main theme there is relations, and friendship that starts between ... enemies

and develops to the positive side.
*Ha-ha* and 'Karlsson-on-the-Roof'- a wonderful story that is full of sparkling humour and leading to a thought - the best cure against loneliness is to find some friends... Preferably with ability to fly somehow

Alexandre Dumas (French writer) 'The Three Musketeers' - excellent book ! Historical. It sells you war and duelling as an adventure and fun thing. You can take some 'lessons on loyalty' of this book

Gerald Durrell (British ! At last

And he is from South London !!!!!! At least lived there for a while. Cool

Did you know that? ) If you have a terrible day- try to read a book of his and you will feel much better- I assure you ! He writes about nature and so many different animals so energetically and passionately. His work as animal collector included a lot of travelling in exotic countries. I admire his skills of storytelling, communication and sense of humour.
He has written a bunch of books, 'My Family and Other Animals' 'Birds, Beasts, and Relatives' and 'The Garden of the Gods' etc. I especially like 'The Bafut Beagles' and 'Three Singles to Adventure'

And of course I like the popular stuff as LoTR, Harry Potter, Dan Brown and many more.

BrightEyes · Post by **BrightEyes** » 13 years ago

Murkskis wrote:Alexandre Dumas (French writer) 'The Three Musketeers' - excellent book ! Historical. It sells you war and duelling as an adventure and fun thing. You can take some 'lessons on loyalty' of this book

Hey Murkskis

I've always liked the Three Musketeers movies, particularly the pair of films directed by Richard Lester in the 1970's that starred Michael York. So I suspect the book must be very good as well.

On a similar note, I've always liked "Les Miserables" both the musical and the film adaptations, so I've wanted to read this one too.

I thought of two other books that are absolutely fantastic by Dan Simmons. So if you guys like a darn good scare...

1. "Summer of Night" - this is similar to "It" by Stephen King, but I thought it was just as good if not better. A group of kids confront and battle evil over their summer vacation.

2. "The Terror" - about Sir John Franklin's 1847 expedition to the Arctic to search for a Northwest Passage. Very frightening explanation for the disappearance of every soul on two Royal Navy ships "The Erebus" and "The Terror".

maartendas · Post by **maartendas** » 13 years ago

BrightEyes wrote:
2. "The Terror" - about Sir John Franklin's 1847 expedition to the Arctic to search for a Northwest Passage. Very frightening explanation for the disappearance of every soul on two Royal Navy ships "The Erebus" and "The Terror".

Do you know who wrote it? Sounds interesting.