vinay87
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Posts posted by vinay87
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Just finished Lew Wallace - Ben Hur. Deciding what the first book for 2011 should be.
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That's about it for this year. I've gotten a better idea of how to make my TBR list. I haven't read many books this year, but quality wise, I've read some pretty wonderful stories and I'm proud of myself!
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I'm glad to end this reading year with a review of Lew Wallace - Ben Hur.
I'd be surprised to learn someone has heard of this book first and then the movie. The movie, starring Charlton Heston is a family favourite and I've watched it so many times that it's embedded strongly in memory. I've always wanted to read this book but I hadn't come across it till quite recently. Having finished it, I can clearly say that though the movie has changed a lot from the book, it is a wonderful portrayal of the story.
That being said, read Ben Hur. It is a classic that is as timeless as the story of Jesus. It's a wonderful story to read to children by the fireplace if the stories of Christmas begin to sound monotonous. It's an even better story to share with your loved ones if you want to see how an ordinary man interprets the coming of the Messaiah in his own fashion.
The constant question will daunt every reader, even if you know what's eventually going to happen.
The story, as everyone must know, is about a Judean prince Judah Ben Hur. After his childhood friend betrays him, he is condemned to the galleys for life and his mother and sister are whisked away to Roman prisons. Surviving three years in the galleys, a feat that makes everyone gape in surprise, he saves a Roman and is adopted. The story builds, not to the unique chariot race as the movie makes us believe, but to the story of the Christ. In the movie, we see Jesus as a passing figure, whispers come to us of his doings. But in the book, we have a better perspective of the many questions that must've troubled Ben Hur. Is the King of the Jews the redeemer in the sense that he will be more powerful than the Caesars? Or, as Balthasar believes, is he King over the Heavens instead of the puny earth that mortals walk upon?
Of course we know the answer now, but read the book to look through the eyes of Judah Ben Hur and be thrust right into the tumultuous times of the coming of Jesus.
10/10
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haha yes James I have! I got a tad confused since I don't frequent BCF as such. I hope to remedy that soon! Coming here keeps me reading loads.
Merry Christmas and a belated Diwali to you and your family too!
Edit: Currently reading Lew Wallace - Ben Hur. I'm loving the book a LOT so expect a long winded review!
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Finished about 50 pages of Lew Wallace's Ben Hur. So farm I'm mesmerized by his style of writing and how well the descriptions are written.
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I have to settle for translated too, I'm afraid. I "studied" French for two years in school which doesn't count for much. I hope I'll have the time to learn the language some day. But before that I should probably learn a few more languages from my own country for once
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The Jebel es Zubleh is a mountain fifty miles and more in length, and so narrow that its tracery on the map gives it a likeness to a caterpillar crawling from the south to the north.
Ben Hur - Lew Wallace
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Hmm there are a few.
The first is a short story by H H Munro "Saki" called "The Storyteller". Reading it I realised how much fun a non-conventional story could be and I began writing around the same time so it was a huge inspiration that dictated what I'd be writing in my life.
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. I was in a bad state when reading this book and it helped me get through it and it made me realise that there's some truth to being able to achieve a dream, no matter how radical it may be.
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Having completed yet another of his books, I have become mesmerised with his style of telling a story. I can see why Arthur C. Clarke said "The reason Verne is still read by millions today is simply because he was one of the greatest storytellers who ever lived."
I had an illustrated comic adaptation of A Journey To The Centre of the Earth so naturally, after having read it nearly two dozen times in my childhood, I leapt at the chance to buy the novel when I came across it by accident. Needless to say, it was just as amazing as ever.
Later I read Around the World in 80 Days in a sitting, proving to myself that no matter what Jules Verne wrote, I will not be able to put it down. I had no idea of the truth behind that until a few days ago when I found The Mysterious Island.
Usually people just hear about A Journey to the Centre of the Earth or Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea or Around the world in 80 days when they think about Jules Verne but I think The Mysterious Island is the greatest story of his that I have read so far. My review of it in my TBR thread should only extoll the book further.
So who else loves this storyteller hereabouts?
I'm looking for a good version of In Search of the Castaways, which seems to be out of print. Has anyone read that and 20,000 Leagues?
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Just finished reading Pearl S. Buck - The Story Bible Part 2 : The New Testament.
Not much to say here, compared to the previous part, this one seems a bit too religious. I'm not saying that's a bad thing but I was very impressed with how I could read the first part as a long story compared to this which I took more than a month to read.
Still 10/10 though for having retold one of my most favourite stories.
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I recommend the Modern Classics Library editions of his books to both of you
The covers are delectably beautiful and the translation is just mindblowing. -
Jules Verne - The Mysterious Island
This book is the last part in a series of novels by Jules Verne. First in the series is Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and the second is In Search of the Castaways. I have read neither of those two and it didn't really take much away by means of enjoyment. I do recommend others read those first, because well, Jules Verne said so!
Now for the review.
This book is amazing. I am a fan of the Robinson Crusoe story. I love the idea of a man stranded on an island for a few years and trying to cope with nature and trying to escape his plight. This book takes the idea and multiplies it by five.
Five men and a dog escape their confines as prisoners of war, using an air balloon. But alas, Fate had something else in store for them as a storm lashes against them and forces them to throw away all their supplies and land on a desert isle near a large island. Wasting no time in trying to cope with nature, the five men set themselves to trying to make their life more comfortable, for the island seemed bountiful with her gifts.
But as time passes, they come to wonder if they really are alone upon the island. And if the island is indeed inhabited, is the unseen master of the island a friend, or perhaps foe?
The story is gripping as it is entertaining, a story to tell children by the fireside, a story to read when you are trapped home because of the winter cold. And as always, Verne is entertaining beyond belief. More than anything, you will be astounded at how much there is to learn from a story such as this.
The characters you will come to love and cheer for. Just as the "colonists" of Lincoln Island believe, you too will believe that their leader, the intelligent and resourceful Engineer Cyrus Smith, is capable of anything. After all, he seems to have an answer to everything. Joined by his companions, the reported Gideon Spilett, the sailor Bonadventure Pencroff, the slave Neb and the teenage boy Herbert, the engineer tries to master the island and to best the hand of Fate. Reading this book, you will be awestruck by the sheer depth of this story and also spellbound by the fact that though Destiny has one thing in mind, you can always save yourself by remaining calm and by working together.
The story is one I will read again and again, for as all of Jules Verne's stories, it doesn't loose any of its magic with reading. Indeed, it seems to be able to pull more rabbits out of its hat with every thought.
I highly recommend the Modern Classic Library version since it supplies a translation by mr Jordan Stump who has excelled (if you can't read French of course) and also reproductions of the original illustrations by Jules Férat.
11/10
I am glad to be ending my reading year with such a fine work of classic literature.
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Just finished The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne. I can safely say I'm going to read every thing he has ever written. The man is the best storyteller who has ever existed.
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"Are we rising?"
The Mysterious Island — Jules Verne
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I don't plan my reading. I do try to preplan what books I buy but as any book lover will tell you, that's just impossible. All those books lying on shelves in stores looking so unloved, it's like going to an orphanage with a mindset that you'll only help kids with red hair.
I do try to read more classics though. It's not that I believe that everything great lies in the words of our ancestors, well not entirely that, but I also believe that many of the issues that we face today have cropped up from time to time in the past as well. I love a good story so I try to read the oldest stories first. I mean, they've survived so long so that must mean that there was a reason for it.
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hmm
Realistically or ideally?
I never finish my TBR so...
I'll name 10 books.
1. Victor Hugo - Les Misérables (Yes, a reread)
2. J R R Tolkien - The Silmarillion (Reread)
3. Charles Dickens - The Pickwick Papers (At least one Dickens before I die)
4. Fyodor Doestovsky - The Idiot
5. Alexandre Dumas - The Three Musketeers & the rest of the D'Arthagnan Romances (Provided I can find them!)
6. Dante - The Divine Comedy
7. Milton - Paradise Lost
8. Sir Thomas Malory - Le Mort d'Arthur
9. Leo Tolstoy - War and Peace (I refuse to die till I read this)
10. Walt Whitman - Leaves of Grass
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I bought 2 books on Friday. One was The Mysterious Island — Jules Verne and the other was The Phantom of the Opera — Gaston Leroux.
I started reading The Mysterious Island. The translation is wonderful and I'm considering buying the Modern Classic Library version of all his books. I'm starting to love everything Jules Verne has written.
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I put my classics up front, but it's only to impress myself. I love to see the classics at the forefront.
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I've always wondered what to say when someone asks me if I have a role model. I really don't have an answer to that question. There are a few people I do admire though I know only a little about them, which is why I don't try to come up with a definite answer to that question: essentially, every human being is flawed.
The people I admire:
1. Christopher Reeve : In the broader sense of the moniker, he was Superman.
2. Robert Jordan : I love the way he has dedicated most of his books to his wife; it's so clear to even a complete stranger like me that he absolutely adored her.
3. Mel Blanc : The voice actor who was called "The Man of a Thousand Voices". It's magical how he survived his accident and woke up to say "What's up Doc?" The very idea of a man who loved children as much as Blanc did is just endearing.
4. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi : A lot of my friends hate, loathe and detest the man for what he is. They point at his "experiments" of sleeping naked next to women to see if he really had conquered his lust, they say he was narrow-minded, resulting in the huge war between India and Pakistan that has not ended to this day, they say that he was just a stubborn old man. All I see is that non-violence is just the best solution to all the world's problems. And one man moved the nation I live in.
5. J D Salinger : I haven't read any of his books. But the way he has stayed out of the limelight is just spectacular. I know some fans demand to be able to see him, but the fact that a man can reject all that fame brought him is amazing.
Fictional? Well, just one springs to mind.
Jean Valjean. If you need to know why, just read Les Mis.
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Haven't read them either but after watching New Moon, if I had the choice between reading the books and lying on a bed of nails, having water torture and getting my toenails yanked out slowly I'd probably choose the latter. I rolled my eyes so much during the movie that I'm lucky the wind didn't change.
LOL!!! You win a cookie for that post.
I haven't read any of the Twilight books and all I've seen of the movies is the part where Edward sparkles in sunlight and that just ruined it for me. I can't for the life of me understand why Meyer thinks a vampire would sparkle in sunlight. If she wanted a character with fangs who did sparkle, she should have invented a new word, not try and defame Lestat, Armand and Dracula. Those are the real vampires. Anne Rice must have joined a demonic cult after the publication of the Twilight series, the Throw-A-Hex-On-Vampire-Defaming-Meyer cult. And don't get me started on how Bram Stoker is rolling over in his grave. He would have risen from the dead to become Nosferatu, but I think after realizing that instead of howling away in terror, fangirls would run towards him, he'd rather rest in limbo forever.
I am with Stephanie on this one. Just can't understand what the appeal is.
I know several people who can't stomach the idea of Fantasy itself. It takes a different taste, I guess. But then again, I also know a few people who love fantasy but can't stand Tolkien.
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Looking forward after your post to reading Hawthorne. I have the one you are reading, The Scarlet Letter, and a book of short stories by him, all given to me by my sister.
I have a wonderfully old collection of all his novels and a few of his stories. I also own a separate copy of The House of the Seven Gables and Tanglewood Tales For Boys And Girls. The latter is a wonderful collection of Greek Mythology retold. The name has bogged me but what's in a name?
I'll be sure to review the book once I'm done with it.
On topic: I've been a lazy person today. Didn't read anything since I skipped my morning walk and I have written nothing in a looooong time! Shame on me!
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Completed 65 pages of The House of the Seven Gables. Hawthorne's writing is magical, he has been going on about a house for nearly 40 pages and I was left wanting more.
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@peacefield:
I'm pretty sure I'll return to Dickens pretty soon. As any writer should know, he's the epitome of English literature and no reading lifetime is complete without his books tossed in the list. I do need a few more years, or I need to control the way my eyes move, I've noticed I read a lot slower while walking and that's why I understand better. But the drawback being if the story isn't engrossing enough, I just pay attention to the road instead of reading. (Roads are pretty empty at 5:30AM so don't worry
)I did not know that there actually is a House of Seven Gables at Salem! Oh wait, dumb me, Hawthorne actually did mention him seeing the house while he lived there.
Another thing to see when I visit the States then! I can't wait.
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I buy books by authors because of my OCD of buying books but I read whatever I feel like reading. My favourite book is Les Mis but I've never read The Hunchback of Notre Dame. The only author I'm close to reading the entire works of is Robert Jordan.
Your Book Awards 2010
in General Book Discussions
Posted · Edited by vinay87
Your favourite read of the year?
The Mysterious Island - Jules Verne
Your favourite author of the year?
Jules Verne
Your most read author of the year?
Jules Verne
Your favourite book cover of the year?
Lew Wallace - Ben Hur (Wordsworth edition featuring The Chariot Race by Alexander von Wagner)
The book you abandoned (if there was more than one, then the one you read the least of)?
Charles Dickens - A Tale of Two Cities (50 pages)
The book that most disappointed you?
Carlo Collodi - Pinocchio
The funniest book you read this year?
N/A
Your favourite literary character this year?
Rand al'Thor in The Towers of Midnight - Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
Your favourite children's book this year?
L. Frank Baum - The Wizard of Oz
Your favourite non-fiction book this year?
Christopher Reeve - Still Me
Your favourite biography this year?
Christopher Reeve - Still Me
Your favourite collection of short stories this year?
Rabindranath Tagore - The Hungry Stones and Other Stories
Your favourite poetry collection this year?
Samuel Taylor Coleridge - Selected Poetry
Your favourite illustrated book of the year?
Antoine de Saint Exupéry - The Little Prince