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Post by R.I.P. uncle Teddy on Oct 31, 2020 23:29:06 GMT
Isn't Ayn Rand trashy doe? No. Leftists just hate her. Her shit is weird, and shes got some weird sex stuff in her books, but the fountainhead is way more relatable to my life than I'd like to admit.
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Post by R.I.P. uncle Teddy on Oct 31, 2020 23:30:02 GMT
I'll be so excited if you read of human bondage Don. Ive been trying to get someone to read it forever! I'll admit the first bits where hes a kid are kind of boring.
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Post by Don Rumata on Nov 1, 2020 20:29:53 GMT
I'll be so excited if you read of human bondage Don. Ive been trying to get someone to read it forever! I'll admit the first bits where hes a kid are kind of boring. ordered it today mate might take some time until i get to it because i'm currently reading something else but i will eventually www.smilies.4-user.de/include/Trinken/smilie_trink_005.gif
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Post by Don Rumata on Nov 15, 2020 11:05:51 GMT
im 150 pages in R.I.P. uncle Teddy, I love it i really enjoy how easy it is to read while at the same time it's real intimate and also give great insight into the time period the passage where he reads that bible quote about moving mountains and then prays for his club foot to heal, made me 
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Post by R.I.P. uncle Teddy on Nov 15, 2020 23:44:50 GMT
im 150 pages in R.I.P. uncle Teddy , I love it i really enjoy how easy it is to read while at the same time it's real intimate and also give great insight into the time period the passage where he reads that bible quote about moving mountains and then prays for his club foot to heal, made me  Im very glad to hear you like it! It gets better as it goes on IMO. Im trying to get into a faust audiobook, and I haven't been able to really enjoy it so far.
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Post by bladefd on Nov 23, 2020 23:40:07 GMT
Currently reading Eye of the Needle by Ken Follett. It's a ww2 spy thriller of a German spy in Britain. I think he is trying to foil the D-day invasion, but I'm not that far in yet
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Post by Don Rumata on Feb 23, 2021 14:38:22 GMT
I got lazy R.I.P. uncle Teddy, still got like 100 pages to go loved the first third and I think I love the last third. Somehow I just didn't enjoy the whole love story with Mildred. I think he should have named the book 'Diary of a Simp'
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Post by R.I.P. uncle Teddy on Feb 23, 2021 15:12:56 GMT
I got lazy R.I.P. uncle Teddy , still got like 100 pages to go loved the first third and I think I love the last third. Somehow I just didn't enjoy the whole love story with Mildred. I think he should have named the book 'Diary of a Simp' Yeah, everyone hates mildred and rightfully so. I didnt really like the first 1/3rd though. Kind of boring. I like the ending though.
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Post by R.I.P. uncle Teddy on Feb 23, 2021 15:42:05 GMT
I read "tender is the night" by f scott fitzgerald recently. Very good, but mega depressing.
Also the bell jar. Beautifully written, also depressing.
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Post by Don Rumata on Feb 24, 2021 12:34:22 GMT
bought Bell Jar, looking forward to it
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Post by bladefd on Mar 8, 2021 0:31:09 GMT
Looking for a fun book like maybe thriller/adventure/spy/police. Any suggestions?
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Post by tsk on Mar 9, 2021 1:28:54 GMT
Looking for a fun book like maybe thriller/adventure/spy/police. Any suggestions? Any length requirement? The institute by Stephen King is thriller / mystery with a police element. Very fun read
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Post by bladefd on Mar 10, 2021 1:49:42 GMT
Looking for a fun book like maybe thriller/adventure/spy/police. Any suggestions? Any length requirement? The institute by Stephen King is thriller / mystery with a police element. Very fun read Length doesn't matter to me. Well, I just don't like short-stories much (except for Sherlock Holmes, which I love). 'The Institute' synopsis reminds me bit of 'Firestarter' with kids with supernatural abilities hidden in a facility. I will definitely read that next. I like Stephen King, and the way he writes is spectacular. I have only read like 5-6 of his books - I need to read more of his work. I'm way behind but he has written like 100+ books lol
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Post by tsk on Mar 10, 2021 2:12:13 GMT
Any length requirement? The institute by Stephen King is thriller / mystery with a police element. Very fun read Length doesn't matter to me. Well, I just don't like short-stories much (except for Sherlock Holmes, which I love). 'The Institute' synopsis reminds me bit of 'Firestarter' with kids with supernatural abilities hidden in a facility. I will definitely read that next. I like Stephen King, and the way he writes is spectacular. I have only read like 5-6 of his books - I need to read more of his work. I'm way behind but he has written like 100+ books lol yeah i think u will really enjoy this one. let me know if you want some king recs, i've got a couple dozen under my belt and my brother is over 75 lol
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Post by bladefd on Mar 10, 2021 2:59:19 GMT
Length doesn't matter to me. Well, I just don't like short-stories much (except for Sherlock Holmes, which I love). 'The Institute' synopsis reminds me bit of 'Firestarter' with kids with supernatural abilities hidden in a facility. I will definitely read that next. I like Stephen King, and the way he writes is spectacular. I have only read like 5-6 of his books - I need to read more of his work. I'm way behind but he has written like 100+ books lol yeah i think u will really enjoy this one. let me know if you want some king recs, i've got a couple dozen under my belt and my brother is over 75 lol Wow, you guys must be huge Stephen King fans! Stuff I read from him on my goodreads list: Firestarter Cell On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft The Stand Hearts in Atlantis I read couple other books from him, but I don't remember which ones. Nothing like you or your brother though.
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Post by R.I.P. uncle Teddy on Apr 1, 2021 2:58:38 GMT
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Post by R.I.P. uncle Teddy on Apr 2, 2021 23:20:46 GMT
More books- Oryx and Crake-9/10-the scifi is not amazing, but the three main characters are deep and keep you thinking far after the book is finished.
I capture the castle-6-I really liked it, and its very well written but the ending is so abrupt that it was infuriating. It leaves you feeling empty.
The woman in the dunes-7-I really don't know what to think of this book. I think I need to reread it. I liked it, but I can'r decide what to make of it, if that makes sense. Its a good premise, sort of similar to that steven king book where the author is kidnapped. I'm not sure who, if anyone I am supposed to sympathize with.
Bakemonogatari-7.5-I like the anime a lot and was curious about the book. Theyre basically exactly the same. Very good, great character development.
The madness of crowds-4.5-good enough for me to finish, but barely. Its just a generic political diatribe.
Cat's cradle-7-I simultaneously like and loathe vonnegut. Hes more good than bad in this book. Its probably depressingly pertinent to the modern world in terms of apocalyptic fiction.
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Post by bladefd on Apr 30, 2021 0:19:02 GMT
tskFinished 'The Institute' very late last night - early morning rather lol. Often I could not put it down. It's a very well written book and pretty original tbh. I couldn't think of anything similar. Stephen King is a brilliant writer. The events, ideas and world drawn in the book felt so articulate and realistic as if you had entered a different universe. I do wish we could have learned more about the lisped man and his work, but ofc it's a fiction novel lol. I guess that's the sign of a great book - you feel connected to the characters/story/plot and want to learn more about that world. It feels alive and has drawn you in. I have wondered before whether mathematics - probability theory to be exact - can be used to predict the future, at least to a degree of probability. I don't believe you can predict specific events, but maybe certain pieces. There was some discussion of coin flips in the book, but whether such an idea can correlate to actual events is impossible to say. Maybe quantum computing using in conjunction with advanced artificial intelligence in the future could do very complex calculations using algorithms not yet invented that could predict within a certain percentage accounted for error, and just maybe apply to predicting real world events/future. Anyways, that was very good recommendation! 5/5. Now it's time to search for that next book
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Post by tsk on May 3, 2021 15:30:05 GMT
tsk Finished 'The Institute' very late last night - early morning rather lol. Often I could not put it down. It's a very well written book and pretty original tbh. I couldn't think of anything similar. Stephen King is a brilliant writer. The events, ideas and world drawn in the book felt so articulate and realistic as if you had entered a different universe. I do wish we could have learned more about the lisped man and his work, but ofc it's a fiction novel lol. I guess that's the sign of a great book - you feel connected to the characters/story/plot and want to learn more about that world. It feels alive and has drawn you in. I have wondered before whether mathematics - probability theory to be exact - can be used to predict the future, at least to a degree of probability. I don't believe you can predict specific events, but maybe certain pieces. There was some discussion of coin flips in the book, but whether such an idea can correlate to actual events is impossible to say. Maybe quantum computing using in conjunction with advanced artificial intelligence in the future could do very complex calculations using algorithms not yet invented that could predict within a certain percentage accounted for error, and just maybe apply to predicting real world events/future. Anyways, that was very good recommendation! 5/5. Now it's time to search for that next book glad u enjoyed. it felt like a more serious version of some YA books i read in my adolescence that i was fond of.
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Post by R.I.P. uncle Teddy on May 5, 2021 17:59:39 GMT
Don RumataHave you read anything good lately? Did you read the bell jar?
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Post by R.I.P. uncle Teddy on Oct 29, 2022 4:07:06 GMT
Mag's book review dump from the past few years- Steinbeck, East of Eden-8.5/10-Probably the best "literary" book I've read in a while. It has some sort of moral quasi-mysticism in it that I'm not fond of, but its still an amazing book Nabokov, Pale Fire-7/10-Hilarious, and I love the actual poem, but it doesn't exactly have a driving plot. Nabokov, Ada or Ador-5/10- Overwritten, hard to read, pretty bleh. It's like all of Nabokov's worst qualities in one book, but its still Nabokov Three body problem-8/10-Great hard(ish) scifi that has a historical line running through it Dark forest and Death's End (sequels to the 3 body problem)-3/10-Blargh. I finished them because I liked the first so much. They're basically scifi scenarios with no characters or story. Very bad. The Name of the Wind-6.5/10-Good, but parts of it drag on waaaaaay to long The Wise man's fear-7.5/10-Much better overall, but both books are a bit too self inserty for my tastes Hyperion-8/10-Giga chad Scifi book. Acts more like a prequel than a self sustained novel, but is no worse for it. Hyperion Cantos-9/10-One of the best scifis I've ever read. I have certain images seared into my mind from this book. Red Rising series-7/10, with books 1 and 5 being standouts. I'd say 5 is almost a 9/10. They're not very deep, although not too shallow either. Space opera shit with some real meat to it. Jane Eyre-7.5/10-Yeah, its just kind of what you expect I guess. Less than Zero-6.5-the first book of the guy who wrote American Psycho. It runs this weird line where it thinks its shining a light on the nihilistic depravity of the American Rich, but it ends up reflecting more on the nihilistic absurdity of the author. Its not bad, but its hard to take it serious. The Blind Assassin-6/10-Margaret Attwood's villain is a paper thin rich guy??? Who would have thought!? She's almost the anti-Rand. Also, the plot really doesn't make much rational sense. Still vaguely enjoyable. Paradise Lost-8/10-Not quite finished, but its beautiful. Ringworld-5.5/10-Eh. Not bad, not good. Ringworld 2 (I can't remember the actual name)-6/10-Eh. A little better Flowers for Algernon-8/10-Maybe the most depressing book I've ever read. I actually couldn't finish the last little bit. Old Man's war-5/10-Generic scifi. To Say Nothing of the Dog-7.5/10-Very good upbeat romance/comedy/"scifi" The Doomsday books-6.5/10-A lady goes back in time and watches everyone die from the plague. Tropic of Cancer-7/10-Lolwhatisthis? Literally the most disgusting book I've ever read. But then, its randomly very good. Frankestein-6/10-Frankenstein's actions make no sense. The Stand-4.5/10-THAT ENDING WAS SO FUCKING STUPID. It was a good book before that point. There are actually a ton of other books I read or started, but these are the ones I remember. Don Rumata
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Post by Don Rumata on Nov 15, 2022 15:04:49 GMT
Reading 'Geschichte des modernen China: Von der Qing-Dynastie bis zur Gegenwart'
its super fascinating and interesting.
my knowledge on Chinese history was very limited before
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Post by R.I.P. uncle Teddy on Nov 15, 2022 19:53:15 GMT
Reading 'Geschichte des modernen China: Von der Qing-Dynastie bis zur Gegenwart' its super fascinating and interesting. my knowledge on Chinese history was very limited before Chinese history is fascinating, especially in a couple periods like from the Song to the mongols. Post Mongol China is a little depressing and boring though. They became such a stagnant society, whereas the Song probably had the most advanced technology on Earth outside of some of Europe's militaries.
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Post by R.I.P. uncle Teddy on Nov 17, 2022 23:53:15 GMT
Don RumataI've been trying to find the best translation of the Iliad. I'm assuming if you've read it, it was in German, but on the off chance you have any thoughts I'd like to hear them. I tried it once a few years ago and the writing style killed me, so I'm assuming I need to find the write one.
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Post by Don Rumata on Nov 18, 2022 7:27:49 GMT
Reading 'Geschichte des modernen China: Von der Qing-Dynastie bis zur Gegenwart' its super fascinating and interesting. my knowledge on Chinese history was very limited before Chinese history is fascinating, especially in a couple periods like from the Song to the mongols. Post Mongol China is a little depressing and boring though. They became such a stagnant society, whereas the Song probably had the most advanced technology on Earth outside of some of Europe's militaries.  , it is a depressing but not boring imo it's fascinating how the institutions, policies, traditions and so on evolve and help to understand the current status i'm currently reading modern history, meaning from the end of Ming dynasty on Don't know much about the previous dynasties. But isn't Tang dynasty considered to be China's prime?
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Post by Don Rumata on Nov 18, 2022 7:34:05 GMT
Don Rumata I've been trying to find the best translation of the Iliad. I'm assuming if you've read it, it was in German, but on the off chance you have any thoughts I'd like to hear them. I tried it once a few years ago and the writing style killed me, so I'm assuming I need to find the write one. Maybe check out a audio book? I listened to Odyssey as a audio book and this was a door opener for me.  , it was in German. It's worth to look a bit into the translations. If you struggle with a out-dated style, just choose a modern adaption. There is no such thing as a "original", don't let any snob tell you otherwise... In German, there is a amazing audio book adaptation with a legendary voice that makes it so fun to listen to.
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Post by R.I.P. uncle Teddy on Nov 18, 2022 21:16:27 GMT
Chinese history is fascinating, especially in a couple periods like from the Song to the mongols. Post Mongol China is a little depressing and boring though. They became such a stagnant society, whereas the Song probably had the most advanced technology on Earth outside of some of Europe's militaries.  , it is a depressing but not boring imo it's fascinating how the institutions, policies, traditions and so on evolve and help to understand the current status i'm currently reading modern history, meaning from the end of Ming dynasty on Don't know much about the previous dynasties. But isn't Tang dynasty considered to be China's prime? I think "prime" is kind of up for interpretation as far as Chinese goes. For example, I know a lot of Chinese Maoists admire the psycho Qing emperor. The most prosperous era relative to its neighbors was the Song though. That's when all their important inventions like gun powder and movable type were made
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Post by R.I.P. uncle Teddy on Nov 18, 2022 21:17:43 GMT
Don Rumata I've been trying to find the best translation of the Iliad. I'm assuming if you've read it, it was in German, but on the off chance you have any thoughts I'd like to hear them. I tried it once a few years ago and the writing style killed me, so I'm assuming I need to find the write one. Maybe check out a audio book? I listened to Odyssey as a audio book and this was a door opener for me.  , it was in German. It's worth to look a bit into the translations. If you struggle with a out-dated style, just choose a modern adaption. There is no such thing as a "original", don't let any snob tell you otherwise... In German, there is a amazing audio book adaptation with a legendary voice that makes it so fun to listen to. Yeah, I've been doing it by audiobook. 75% of my "reading" is by audiobook tbh.
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Post by bladefd on Dec 14, 2022 21:27:39 GMT
Read several Stephen King novels this year:
-Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption 5/5 -The Gunslinger 3.5/5 -11/22/63 5/5
I didn't like Gunslinger very much for some reason. 11/22/63 was amazing - even better than the show. Although, I saw the show several years ago so probably forgot parts of it.
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Post by bladefd on Jan 9, 2023 18:51:13 GMT
tsk Plz suggest a few Stephen King books. Any length, any genre. Just not one of his horror books. Thanks friend.
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