Ben Posted July 5, 2012 Author Share Posted July 5, 2012 Aha. OK thanks for that. So does that mean in some ways you could for instance describe Wuthering Heights or Great Expectations as Gothic? I've never read Wuthering Heights but I don't think I could define Great Expectations as a Gothic text, although it has got darkness within a character (Magwitch) and creepy settings. I think there could be an argument made for it, but something would stop me from describing it as Gothic. If that makes any sense at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted July 5, 2012 Share Posted July 5, 2012 Hope you don't mind me butting in, but I was intrigued what was meant by Gothic literature too, and just had a look at the OED website. It seems as though their definition is that when it was originally used it tended to mean set in the medieval period, and over time it's become suspense/sensational plots with elements of supernatural or macabre as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted July 5, 2012 Author Share Posted July 5, 2012 (edited) No no, of course we don't mind. What you say makes a lot of sense, actually. When I was studying it for A Level we did Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales which is of course set in a medieval period, and doesn't really contain many of the other elements that we'd suggested fit into the Gothic genre. I suppose a lot of words and meanings change over time, though. Edited July 6, 2012 by Ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vodkafan Posted July 5, 2012 Share Posted July 5, 2012 Yes that makes a lot of sense. For instance the styles of Gothic architecture and Gothic paintings have nothing in common. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted July 6, 2012 Author Share Posted July 6, 2012 So true VF. I'm sure we could find a fair few examples of how words have changed in meaning over time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hanananah Posted July 9, 2012 Share Posted July 9, 2012 Wuthering Heights was on my reading list for A-Level gothic texts but I've never read it so i can't really offer a personal opinion on it but I would think it would be Like you were all saying it's all changed over time, I think because of this the definitions and people's thoughts on Gothic literature has become blurred and no-one's quite sure what fits into it and what doesn't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted July 9, 2012 Author Share Posted July 9, 2012 Spot on. Feel free to start any other fascinating discussions about words or genres in this thread by the way folks.. maybe it'll distract from the fact that I've not got any actual reading news to post. In such a reading drought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted July 17, 2012 Author Share Posted July 17, 2012 Sigh. Well over a week since I've even picked up a book properly other than to flick through a few pages here and there. I really need to try get back a hold on my motivation for reading again, as I've got a review book waiting that I've had for way too long now, and a bunch of other books on the go. Where art thou reading mojo? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted July 21, 2012 Author Share Posted July 21, 2012 HEY GUYS WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO CHEER YOURSELF UP IF YOU'VE NOT READ ANYTHING IN AGES? Buy some books? Oh go on then. The first two I picked up in the Trafford Centre last week and the rest, although they're university books, still put a smile across my face because they arrived in a huge box. It was like Christmas opening up my little box of wonderful goodies. A Storm of Swords (Part 1) by George R. R. Martin. Bereft by Chris Womersley. 'Bartleby and Benito Cereno' by Herman Melville. 'Tell Me A Riddle & Yonnondio' by Tillie Olsen. The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit by Sloan Wilson. 'Microserfs' by Douglas Coupland. The Wide Saragasso Sea by Jean Rhys. Foe by J. M. Coetzee. Shame by Salman Rushdie. The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje. The Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga. Mary Barton by Elizabeth Gaskell. Lady Audley's Secret by Mary Braddon. Felix Holt: The Radical by George Eliot. Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy. The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole. A Sicilian Romance by Ann Radcliffe. The Monk by Matthew Lewis. Zofloya, or The Moor by Charlotte Dacre. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. Book buying spree, woo. Perhaps it'll give me a reading resurgence.. perhaps not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vodkafan Posted July 21, 2012 Share Posted July 21, 2012 That certainly is a spree worthy of certain persons Australian or Finnish who shall remain nameless Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted July 21, 2012 Author Share Posted July 21, 2012 I'm not even close VF my friend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 Great haul, Ben! Maybe your mojo hitched a ride in the box and it has now returned to you. Fingers crossed. That certainly is a spree worthy of certain persons Australian or Finnish who shall remain nameless Oh now, that's not fair. I'm sure Devi and SaraPepperKaka don't buy that many books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted July 22, 2012 Author Share Posted July 22, 2012 Great haul, Ben! Maybe your mojo hitched a ride in the box and it has now returned to you. Fingers crossed. Here's hoping. Oh now, that's not fair. I'm sure Devi and SaraPepperKaka don't buy that many books. Oh no, I'm sure they don't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppyshake Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 HEY GUYS WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO CHEER YOURSELF UP IF YOU'VE NOT READ ANYTHING IN AGES? Buy some books? Oh go on then. The first two I picked up in the Trafford Centre last week and the rest, although they're university books, still put a smile across my face because they arrived in a huge box. It was like Christmas opening up my little box of wonderful goodies. A Storm of Swords (Part 1) by George R. R. Martin. Bereft by Chris Womersley. 'Bartleby and Benito Cereno' by Herman Melville. Very interested 'Tell Me A Riddle & Yonnondio' by Tillie Olsen. The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit by Sloan Wilson. 'Microserfs' by Douglas Coupland. The Wide Saragasso Sea by Jean Rhys. Heard a lot about it .. want to read Foe by J. M. Coetzee. Again .. heard a lot about him and his works but have never read any of them Shame by Salman Rushdie. Never read Rushdie .. must put that right The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje. Seen the film .. does that count? twas excellent The Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga. Mary Barton by Elizabeth Gaskell. Read it but can't really remember it .. wasn't my favourite Gaskell but she's always worth reading Lady Audley's Secret by Mary Braddon. Yes I want to read this mucho Felix Holt: The Radical by George Eliot. One I haven't heard of .. intriguing .. must look it up Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy. Oh .. poor Ben The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole. This is a must isn't it? get shivery thinking about it (just from the title) A Sicilian Romance by Ann Radcliffe. ooh the Gothic novelist .. I have got a copy of The Mysteries of Udolpho but have never made it past the first few chapters .. strange because it was good The Monk by Matthew Lewis. What Neville Longbottom? ah .. another Gothic novel .. sounds good Zofloya, or The Moor by Charlotte Dacre. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. Yes I think we agreed to disagree didn't we Ben? Book buying spree, woo. Perhaps it'll give me a reading resurgence.. perhaps not. What a lovely box to open .. it's the best feeling in the world to be surrounded by newly acquired books even if you do come to hate the sight of them later Hope they kickstart your interest Ben x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timstar Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 I love getting a box of books! That one sounds particularly amazing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted July 22, 2012 Author Share Posted July 22, 2012 (edited) 'Bartleby and Benito Cereno' by Herman Melville. Very interested Likewise, I've been wanting to read some Melville for a while so was glad to see this on my university list. The Wide Saragasso Sea by Jean Rhys. Heard a lot about it .. want to read One of the first one's we study so I'll be getting to this very soon. I know Claire absolutely loved it so that's promising. Foe by J. M. Coetzee. Again .. heard a lot about him and his works but have never read any of them I just about recognise his name so you're doing better than I am. Shame by Salman Rushdie. Never read Rushdie .. must put that right I read Haroun and the Sea of Stories last year and thought it was fantastic, so definitely looking forward to this. The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje. Seen the film .. does that count? twas excellent Well, books are much more often better than the films so this is a good sign. Mary Barton by Elizabeth Gaskell. Read it but can't really remember it .. wasn't my favourite Gaskell but she's always worth reading I read one of her short stories last year, 'The Old Nurse's Story' and enjoyed it so we shall see. Lady Audley's Secret by Mary Braddon. Yes I want to read this mucho This is another one that looks particularly great. Felix Holt: The Radical by George Eliot. One I haven't heard of .. intriguing .. must look it up I have to admit I hadn't heard of this one either, probably one of her more lesser-known novels. Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy. Oh .. poor Ben I reserve judgement until I get around to it. The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole. This is a must isn't it? get shivery thinking about it (just from the title) It's been one of the books I've wanted to read for a while, actually. I imagine it'll be creepy in the same stakes as Dracula. Edited July 22, 2012 by Ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted July 22, 2012 Author Share Posted July 22, 2012 A Sicilian Romance by Ann Radcliffe. ooh the Gothic novelist .. I have got a copy of The Mysteries of Udolpho but have never made it past the first few chapters .. strange because it was good I haven't heard of her but I'm guessing from your comment she's a specialist Gothic writer? The title sounds intriguing I must say. The Monk by Matthew Lewis. What Neville Longbottom? ah .. another Gothic novel .. sounds good I'm not just buying lots of Gothic novels for the fun (oxymoron? ) I have a module in it starting in September, which looks great. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. Yes I think we agreed to disagree didn't we Ben? We did indeed. I already own a copy of this but thought I'd buy a Norton edition for the supplementary essays. What a lovely box to open .. it's the best feeling in the world to be surrounded by newly acquired books even if you do come to hate the sight of them later Hope they kickstart your interest Ben x Here's hoping eh? Depressingly I haven't read one single book this month. At least I've got a lot to get my teeth into. I love getting a box of books! That one sounds particularly amazing Is there anything better? I think not. It sounds great doesn't it? Should do it more often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobblybear Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 Microserfs by Douglas Coupland is the only book on your list that I have read. It's a great read, very quirky and a bit nerdy, if you like that sort of thing (I do). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppyshake Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 I haven't heard of her but I'm guessing from your comment she's a specialist Gothic writer? The title sounds intriguing I must say. Jane Austen introduced me to her In 'Northanger Abbey' she has the characters reading Ann's 'The Mysteries of Udolpho' and it leads to the main character (Catherine) getting all sorts of mad ideas .. she quite literally lets her imagination run riot because she's been reading all these creepy things and starts suspecting people of murder and all sorts. Her friend has read the book but Catherine is in the middle of reading it and she keeps wondering what is beneath the black veil and I always wanted to read it myself to see what actually was behind the blessed thing (because Catherine never does reveal it) but I never got that far. I must try again because this was years ago when I didn't stick at anything for more than five mins (honestly I'm surprised my husband is still here ) The fact that Jane used Ann's book as the main example (they did chat about other books and authors too) has always made me think that Ann must be a gothic heavyweight. I'm not just buying lots of Gothic novels for the fun (oxymoron? ) I have a module in it starting in September, which looks great. There probably won't be many laughs it's true but what a brilliant module. We did indeed. I already own a copy of this but thought I'd buy a Norton edition for the supplementary essays. It's very good of you to overlook it You can never have too many copies of a book you love (do you want mine? lol ) Here's hoping eh? Depressingly I haven't read one single book this month. At least I've got a lot to get my teeth into. Awww .. don't worry though there's plenty of time and you have to study and read so much during term time that your brain probably needs to re-charge. There's plenty there to inspire you though as you say .. some real classics .. quite a few are on the 1001 .. at least nine I think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted July 22, 2012 Author Share Posted July 22, 2012 (edited) Jane Austen introduced me to her . In 'Northanger Abbey' she has the characters reading Ann's 'The Mysteries of Udolpho' and it leads to the main character (Catherine) getting all sorts of mad ideas .. she quite literally lets her imagination run riot because she's been reading all these creepy things and starts suspecting people of murder and all sorts. Her friend has read the book but Catherine is in the middle of reading it and she keeps wondering what is beneath the black veil and I always wanted to read it myself to see what actually was behind the blessed thing (because Catherine never does reveal it) but I never got that far. I must try again because this was years ago when I didn't stick at anything for more than five mins (honestly I'm surprised my husband is still here ) The fact that Jane used Ann's book as the main example (they did chat about other books and authors too) has always made me think that Ann must be a gothic heavyweight. Oh, I see; the wonderful Jane Austen strikes again it seems (well, unless of course Ann Radcliffe's books aren't that great. ) Northanger Abbey is really one of hers I need to get a hold of (unless I have it on my Kindle already.. I can't remember). I've sadly only read Pride and Prejudice but I do intend to read her others and I've heard great things about this one, on here especially. I can see why you'd want to read the book she mentions in the novel though; it'd frustrate me enough that they didn't reveal what's behind the veil, that I'd probably have to go out and buy the book immediately just to know. There probably won't be many laughs it's true but what a brilliant module. I'm really excited for it. That's the one thing about having my reading dictated to me on a university course. Although for the most part I hate reading what I'm told to, it makes me open my mind to different sub-genres and themes that I wouldn't normally look at it. I probably would have constantly put off reading more Shakespeare if it wasn't for last semester, and this time around once again I have some great modules. It's very good of you to overlook it You can never have too many copies of a book you love (do you want mine? lol ) Nice try at giving it away but two copies is enough for me. I actually don't buy more than one copy of a book unless the other is damaged (thankfully has never happened!) or I want to keep one in pristine condition because it's a favourite. This time I thought the background information in the new edition would be helpful for assignments. Awww .. don't worry though there's plenty of time and you have to study and read so much during term time that your brain probably needs to re-charge. There's plenty there to inspire you though as you say .. some real classics .. quite a few are on the 1001 .. at least nine I think Well I always have a month or two at least (.. or usually three or four) where I have a terrible reading month. I can't consistently read lots all-year round even though reading is my favourite pastime. It's probably true what you say about needing a recharge; my brain isn't up to going without rest. As for the 1001 list, it's one I've been contemplating looking at long term. I mean, the type of books I have recently begun trying to make myself read will probably be likely on there without me specifically aiming to complete it as a challenge, but it'd still be an interesting one to look at. Edited July 22, 2012 by Ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted August 2, 2012 Author Share Posted August 2, 2012 (edited) After much deliberation, I've decided simply to take only A Storm of Swords (Part 1) by George R. R. Martin on holiday.. Yeah, right; my only 'tree book' more like. I'm also taking my Kindle which I've spent the best part of today updating and I've got some absolutely marvellous books to read while I'm away. The 'A Song of Ice and Fire' books are going to be my main priority as I now own them all, and I'm halfway through the second book, A Clash of Kings. I'm pretty sure that'll be enough books as they're quite some length, but if I fancy a break from them I'll have numerous other choices at the press of a button. I don't care what anyone says, the Kindle is such a wonderful invention. Here's hoping that with two weeks in the sunshine it can help me end this reading drought. Edited August 2, 2012 by Ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 Sounds like a perfect solution, Ben. I'm the same, I love my Kindle, it's changed my reading life completely, and made for a much lighter car when going on holiday! Have a great time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted August 2, 2012 Author Share Posted August 2, 2012 Sounds like a perfect solution, Ben. I'm the same, I love my Kindle, it's changed my reading life completely, and made for a much lighter car when going on holiday! Have a great time Yeah, last year we were lucky that they never weighed my hand luggage. I'd packed way over the weight because of the amount of books I had decided to take with me, and if they had weighed it, decided I was over, then made me take some out and leave there, there would have been a fight between me and the security people. I'm playing safe this time and going with the sensible, Kindle option. I've got loads of fantastic books on there anyway so lots of options. As I'm sure I'll get fed up with reading Martin's series non-stop, I'm comfortable in the knowledge that I can still read many great books. Thank you very much, I will do my best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timstar Posted August 11, 2012 Share Posted August 11, 2012 I did the same with my holiday, took one tree-book and my kindle, really helped to get so much reading done! Hope you had a great holiday Ben. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julie Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 Ben Have fun on your trip. I hate reading droughts, don't you ? And yes, the Kindle does spoil you rotten. It's made me so lazy, you can prop it in your lap when reading ,and also do other stuff,then just reach down to flip the page. Makes you get kinda lazy about holding onto a book. and yes, it'd definitely fit under the weight limit ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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