aviv chadash

For me, the kindle won't replace books. If there is a book I REALLY want, I'd buy it in book form; nothing beats owning a book and having it on your book shelf to look over and see what you've read! Having a kindle is somewhat like borrowing from the library, except you kind of feel like you semi-own the book! It's convenient, and you can read other stuff on it, also. Like journal articles, etc.

I'm not with you unfortunately! Mine has arrived! I'm so excited! I can now read my book in public places, take that OCD!

Since you have the free time and enthusiasm for learning a new language, why don't you try one with a different alphabet? Like Hebrew, Arabic or Persian (which uses a 'modified'(extended) Arabic script: the Perso-Arabic script). Or perhaps Latin, as interesting texts are in Latin (from the Romans and from the 16th century onwards (apparently)(due to its usage in Academia) and since the Romance languages are derived form Latin, you can see the similarities. Just a thought before you settle on your choices! Somehting relevant: I;ve used the Teach Yourself books, which are quite good, the Hebrew has a few mistakes (I think... though don't quote me!). I also use children's books: I have 'First 1000 words in Hebrew', and there's also an Arabic one.

Thanks for the advice! Thanks Sue. I will get one sone hopefully, as soon as I have some money... Probably the last one you named - Brush up your Grammar - as it's a nice price of £4.99.

thank you Smilerbabe. Thanks Kylie. Thanks Andrea. That's two recommendations for Eats, Shoots and Leaves. Which isn't available through amazon any more (other than the marketplace), but Mind the Gaffe is. The recommendations are all much appreciated. thank you!

Hi Claire. I'm also a slow reader, VERY slow, I've been reading Don Quixote for the last couple of years! That damnable OCD (and work)!

I often find myself thinking 'is it bias or biased?' or 'affect or effect' (and do I use "..." or '...' for a thought!), and I love reading the usage notes in the OED. Does anyone know of any good books concerning english grammar (using the word grammar loosely, I think, but you know what I mean). I found 'Common Errors in English Usage' by Paul Brians. I was looking for something thats not too textbooky, nor too technical, one that you can just open at any section. On a similar subject, does anyone know of any books that help with deducing spelling from the etymology of words, or just on the etymology of words in particular. I found 'Word Origins...And How We Know Them: Etymology for Everyone' by Anatoly Liberman, and 'Damp Squid: The English Language Laid Bare' by Jeremy Butterfield; for this one something that is read continuously from start to finsh, as oppose to something where you can jump to any section is preferable. Wondering if anyone has read these and what they thought, other suggestions welcome! Many thanks!

It reminds me of 'Bob' from Blackadder

As someone else has mentioned, Dawkins is a popular choice for natural selection. If you want different angles, go for Dawkins and perhaps Gould. Maynard Smith is another influential evolutionary biologist. However, it depends on your understanding of biology. I wouldn't recommend you read The Extended Phenotype unless you have some understanding of biology, as it was largely intended by Dawkins for his fellow scientists, and so it makes the assumption of familiarity with various aspects of biology and evolutionary theory. There is obviously disagreement in evolutionary theory, so go for authors that are proponents of different levels of selection (there is overlap). I hope that helps.

I recommend Richard Bentall's Madness Explained: Psychosis and Human Nature. With non-fiction books on mental health issues I think you have to be careful because there is a slight sense of 'them and us' between psychiatrists and psychologists (or more specifically, whether certain mental health issues are hereditary or wheher they're a consequence of envrionmental factors, or both)! I thought this book by Bentall was extremely interesting and fairly balanced. He cites sources to support his points and lays out arguments for all sides. I also recently found out that he has a another book, although the title doesn't suggest that it's as balanced...

Thanks Sue. The second is a little expensive, the first you can't seem to buy new on amazon except through the marketplace (I think). But I'll add them to the list!

Thanks echo. If I can scrape togeather some money I might buy it eventually, but it's a little expensive and I'm Brassic at the moment! Thanks for the suggestions everyone!

I was concerned that I might annoy them, they might think I'm unnecessarily using their time. Did you study the Roman Republic? That would be interesting. I would like to learn all about European history so that I can appreciate sites on my travels.

I'm terribly sorry Kell! I overlooked 'The Gladiator' in the list! Lucky that I didn't start reading it, as it's number 9. No problem Chrissy! It's my fault, I posted in the wrong place. Thanks for all the suggestions. I tried to find recommended reading lists for undergrads of classical studies at a University site but couldn't find any. For the non-fiction book, I think I'll opt for the one you suggested Chrissy. As for the non-fiction, I'll make a note of all of them, I might first go for the Simon Scarrow ones that Kell suggested, as I already have one of the books! Thanks for all the suggestions everyone, I hope I'll get round to reading all of them!

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. Initially I posted in the non-fiction section as I was looking for an historical non-fiction book. I never considered reading fiction books about Roman Britain, but since its one of great interest to me, I'd probably enjoy them! Has any one read a number of these from different authors? As I wouldn't know which one to choose (as I have too many books, the rule is I cannot purchase one until I have completed one, so it has to be well chosen!). I'm sure I have a book titled 'The Gladiator' by Simon Scarrow.

I'm looking for recommendations on any good books to do with Roman Britain. They can cover any time period. The style of writing is not of too much concern, although if it's anything like Tom Holland's that would be a bonus! Any recommendations? Thanks, Aviv!

English, badly. I could read, write and speak a little Hebrew, and less Persian. But haven't had a chance to sit and study recently (too much television to not watch and just flick through the channels, it's time consuming.)

Quite.

It's funny. All that time I spent searchiong for a list of contemporary poets, and I found one (or, at least I think I have) in an indirect way. There's a film on TV, Three men and a Baby, and it's directed by Leonard Nimoy. I recognised the name as being the chap who played Spock, and Wikied him. I found out he writes poetry, and there's a link to a website that lists contemporary poets. I'm forbidden from posting the link , but it's called Hyper Texts. Thanks for the suggestions, I also found out Seamus Heaney won a nobel prize whilst browsing in Waterstone's (I like to look at all the books and imagine what it would be like if I read them all, I think: I want that one, and that one, and that one would be interesting! I think I need to retire to a secluded cottage in Italy and spend my days reading, now I just need a large sum of money to live off of... Anyone want to donate to my charity? ).

I'm reading the penguin classics version. I think it/the author won an award for the translation. Plus he lectures on Spanish literature at Oxford University (a hispanist, apparently); which makes him more than qualified. It also includes notes, for those not well versed in greek myhtology, books of chivalry, literature in general...

I don't think poetry is taught 'properly' in schools, anyhow. I'm only just learning what poetry actually is. I think this may be responsible for the current perception of poetry, as I think it is percieved: "If it doesn't rhyme, what's the point?". I think I'm going on about nothing in particular now...

I'm not as well read as the others here, but I would recommend Emily Dickinson. She writes alot of 'sad' stuff, but deeply meaningful, with a little 'dry humour' thrown in on occasion, especially concerning religious issues. If my poor memory serves...

Thanks for the suggestion. It's difficult to find the names of young poets. Searching Wiki (is an apology necessary for doing this? There always seems to be with science subjects), there isn't any born in the 1980s. I found a couple of names through The Poetry Society website. Would add a link, but I can't find it a second time. It seems that poets are a rare breed nowadays. Is this so? More so than before?

Thanks for the responses. I was thinking of recent poets, those publishing new work within the last few years, perhaps. Geoffrey Hill appears to have recently published works, but I was thinking of 'younger' poets. I'm intrigued to learn the current state of poetry. Once again, many thanks!

Hello! I was wondering if anyone could recommend any modern poets that they feel are particularly good; any that, perhaps, could rival some of the more 'famous' poets of bygone times... Any new poets that have similar styles to Emily Dickinson would be quite interesting.