Angury

I feel the same way. I think he is a good writer and his plots sound very interesting on the surface, but as I have tried to read more and more of his work I just feel like I'm not really getting anywhere. I can't get into the depths of his characters, and a lot of the time I finish his books feeling like nothing has really changed for me as a reader. Kudos to him for his Crash Course Videos though. I find them easy to watch and have learnt so much about topics that I never realised held any interest for me. It's a great way to encourage learning for learning's sake and not for the acquisition of grades.

Interesting take on the BBC Adaptation. I didn't really notice the scenes that were left out from the book as I felt the cinematic nature of the series, particularly the locations and the background music made up for a lot of the story that was missing. I felt that as the audience we weren't left feeling overwhelmed with the different character arcs as they were woven in between the chapters in the book, but that the important plot points were left in and we were expected to draw our own conclusions about the characters and their relationships. I haven't heard of the older version, I will certainly look it up.

I'm glad that I have managed to persuade some of you to check out her works. I really hope more people come across her work as time goes on - I was really quite lucky as I stumbled across her name accidentally whilst on Goodreads and have since become a big fan. Just to give an example of her writing, below is one of her more popular short stories entitled 'The Thirteenth Woman:' In a town of twelve women there was a thirteenth. No one admitted she lived there, no mail came for her, no one spoke of her, no one asked after her, no one sold bread to her, no one bought anything from her, no one returned her glance, no one knocked on her door, the rain did not fall on her, the sun never shone on her, the day never dawned for her, the night never fell for her; for her the weeks did not pass, the years did not roll by; her house was unencumbered, her garden unattended, her path not trod upon, her bed not slept in, her food not eaten, her clothes not worn; and in spite of all this she continued to live in the town without resenting what it did to her. What I find particularly interesting about this short story is how it is really just composed of two sentences. If you look at the second sentence, it is full of commas and semi-colons - it almost feels as if the words are running into each other. In one of her interviews, Lydia Davis stated that after writing this piece she believed that the story revolved around quite a young woman and conveyed that feeling of being invisible at that age. It is this type of enduring yet common day emotion that I feel Davis captures particularly well, in such simple yet almost poetic sentences. I myself feel inspired to pick up the pen and write every time I read some of her works. Rarely have I come across an author who has encouraged me to do just that - a lot of the time I read a writers work and feel like I will never be able to write that well. Her work has taught me how powerful a word can be if it is used correctly - that we don't all need to have struggled through life's difficulties in order to be a good writer, but that ideas can be found from all around us, and the most mundane chores that make up our day to day lives can have a deep and insightful message when put upon paper.

One of the most original writers out there and the winner of the 2013 Man Booker International Prize, Lydia Davis has been described as 'the master of a literary form largely of her own invention.' Her short stories, some of which are only one sentence long, capture those small moments in our day to day lives that most of us would just walk by. I am always fascinated by how Davis can play with words, being able to jolt us out of our dreamlike states in just a few sentences. I don't think I've ever read a writer like her. I was curious whether there would be other fellow Davis fans out there, or even better, people who I have encouraged to read her work.

I just finished reading Notes from the Underground and my thoughts about Dostoevsky have completely changed based on this tiny book. Is it bad that I can relate to the narrator? He is far from likeable, yet I feel he reveals some of our innermost vices that we try to hide from society. The second part of the book in particular is a raw illustration of humanity - all of its hatreds and disgusts laid out to bare. If anyone is considering giving Dostoevsky's works a go, I would highly recommend beginning with Notes from the Underground. It really has changed my opinion of him.

This tome has quite a reputation, and one which I'm sure many of us have wanted to conquer. I imagine this book is on many people's to-read lists on this forum. I finally decided to give this a go a few weeks ago, as I had exams coming up, and when I revise I always try to find a nice novel to read alongside as a relaxing break. Tolstoy has a gift in creating complex characters. The entire story creates a beautiful arc of human life; from our desires of wealth and status to our internal agonies that we battle everyday. I always tried to avoid this novel because I assumed it would be far too dense for me. On the contrary, I think it is a story that anyone can read and relate to. Even though many of the characters reside within the aristocratic circle, we can all empathise with their hopes and their dreams, as they are dragged through their turmoils during such a chaotic time in Russian history. I liked the fact that the story was set in reality, yet was a story of fiction and creativity. Tolstoys essay in his Epilogue, and indeed his writings throughout the chapters left me with a lot of thoughts to dwell on: how much of an impact do our own actions and feelings have upon those around us, and ultimately on our society as a whole? Who is ultimately responsible for history? For all the battles, all the deaths, all the families torn apart and the lives taken so early? We are often quick to land judgement on the politicians of the day, but I think it would be a far more fruitful exercise to look within ourselves. I would love to hear other peoples thoughts; I think this is the type of book where readers can take away their own meaning based upon their unique life experiences. Also, I have just watched the recent (2016) BBC Adaptation of this novel, and I would highly recommend it. It is incredibly cinematic, with some beautiful locations shot and an incredible array of dresses and ballgowns, and ultimately I feel it stays true to the novel.

Oh wow, that's exactly the area I want to go into. I am doing a little placement in a forensics unit this summer to get a feel for it - I can't wait. Have you read any books around Psychiatry, or specifically Forensics? I haven't managed to find many books in this area that aren't merely textbooks.

Great to see so much interest. I've noticed that Psychology books in particular tend to make it to the Bestsellers List for Non-Fiction more often than any other medical genre (except perhaps Neuroscience). Ah yes, I used to frequent that forum quite often, but stopped after a while because I found some of the posts on there quite sad. I will definitely have another look though - do they have a section for literature etc? And how interesting that you're a mental health nurse! Do you enjoy it? I am currently studying medicine, and am hoping to specialise in Forensic Psychiatry. My Psychiatry placement was one of my most enjoyable placements I have to say. Ah yes, I've heard quite a lot about Daniel Dennett. I've got the same book, but as with yourself, I have yet to read it. I've watched a couple of his lectures and debates online, and have to admit some of his topics go over my head which is why I haven't delved into any of his works yet. He does seem to be quite popular though. How did you find studying Psychology at University? Did you study any of the 'old-school' Psychiatrists such as Jung and Freud? Here in the UK you can study Psychology at school, but recently they have changed the curriculum, so that instead of studying Freud and psychoanalysis, it is almost purely biological, which I think is a big pity but also reflects the changes in our society (again, also a big pity in my opinion).

I began reading some books on Psychology & Psychiatry a year ago with a general interest in mental health, and since then my bookshelf has grown enormously. I started off with some very modern books, such as 'Cracked: Why Psychiatry is doing more harm than good' by James Davies, and then gradually began to focus on more classical authors such as Jung and RD Laing. I have found Laing to be particularly interesting, and my copy of his book 'The Divided Self' is filled with notes and sentences underlined. More recently, I just finished a book by Carl Jung this evening called 'Analytical Psychology' which covers his five lectures at the Tavistock Clinic, London in 1935, followed by some lively discussions. Admittedly not as enticing as Laing's work, I still found his lectures to be filled with insights that I hope to take with me far after I have turned the last page. I also recently obtained a copy of Freud's 'Interpretation of Dreams', but have as yet left it unopened as I have heard so many friends talk about his work being 'dreary' and 'difficult to follow.' I do plan to delve into his work at some point though, particularly when you think about the impact such theories have had on modern day Psychology. I was hoping that by creating this thread, I would be able to start a discussion about Psychology, Psychiatry and Mental Health in general, and hopefully exchange some ideas and works that we have found particularly interesting. Does anyone else have an interest in this area?

I have started to read more non-fiction over the past few years. Particularly books around mental health including Psychiatry, Psychology and Anthropology.. More recently I've started to delve into books about Philosophy which I've found have given me a lot to think about and really changed my perspective on a lot of things. I've never read a biography or autobiography though, but I recently bought the Autobiography of Bertrand Russell, so I look forward to seeing how I react to such styles of writing. Have you found these books on writing helpful?

I am curious to hear other people's thoughts on this novel. From its description, I didn't think this book would appeal to me, but I decided to give it a go. I wrongly assumed it was just another love story, but it is so so much more than that. It is a tale of what happens when we allow our fantasies to go too far; when we dwell so long within our steepled palaces inside our minds, that the whole world not only continues to pass us by, but often takes advantage of our delusions along the way. I think this novel has a lesson for us all, and for me personally, it really highlighted the lost art of staying in the moment and accepting your blessings. It is so much easier to live in a world of fantasy, yet so much more rewarding to breathe in reality.

Hey Simon! How exciting, I'm from Cardiff as well. Do you visit the Buddhist Centre in Cardiff out of interest? Anyway, happy to see you here - it's always great to see budding authors lurking around. Hope you have a great time across these forums and I look forward to hearing more from you.

I used to be a huge advocate for eBooks, both due to my extensive reading lists as well as my status as a student, which meant that I would be constantly moving across the country and dragging a cartload of books behind me. With my Kindle, this was no longer an issue. I could buy as many books as I liked, without the worry of how I would carry them. As someone who travels extensively, a Kindle was a life-changer. However, my difficulty with my Kindle came in its very ability to carry so many different kinds of books. As soon as I became bored of one book, I would instantly switch to another. I used to do this so often, that I would rarely manage to finish a whole book, so impulsive was my personality. So I once again returned to the paper novel. And so far, it has been a release. I have managed to finish so many novels that have been withering on my to-read shelf. Not only that, but in an odd way, I am able to truly immerse myself into a paper novel in a way that I cannot do with a Kindle. I'm not sure why - perhaps a Kindle just takes some getting used to. There is something about having the feel and texture of a paper book within your palms that cannot be described (at least by me). Plus, as an eager book collector, I am no longer satisfied with an eBook, but require a physical copy (preferably with a nicely illustrated cover) to relish upon my bookshelf - especially if it is a book I adore. Having said all that, I don't think I could ever turn against my Kindle. It is my saviour during my travels. To quote the infamous Stephen Fry, 'Books are no more threatened by Kindle than stairs by elevators.' I agree with this (and a lot of other very interesting points that you raised).

Very interesting, thanks for posting your review. I completely forgot about this conversation about love, and actually miss it. I feel like I've developed different opinions on the topic since I last posted a year ago. Oh, how we mature.

Oh, yes I have 'No Exit and Three Other Plays' as well. Great to hear some positive reviews, I will definitely give his plays a go. Yes, I have read Camus as well - I believe I wrote a review on here a while back about his work. I loved The Stranger, his simplistic writing style makes it so easy to follow, and yet the ideas they contain can be so profound. For some reason however, I seemed to be more drawn towards Sartre than Camus, I'm not sure why - I suspect it may be due to the style more than anything else. You have just reminded me of the Camus books I have on my to-read list though!

I'm going to be a bit controversial and say that I think it's a sweet idea. It's a nice way of remembering Pratchett and linking both the sciences and the humanities together, as well as acknowledging the influence of the Discworld series on our lives.

I have always had an interest in philosophy, but have been very apprehensive about picking up a book because of the reputation it has garnered of being difficult to understand. This is what I love about Sartre's work. It is written so simply, that you can follow his line of thought and go away questioning yourself and the world around you. In particular, it was his novel Nausea that really made me stop and think. I am now thinking about reading some of his plays, especially his most famous No Exit. Are there any Sartre fans out there, and if so, which of his works would you say you enjoyed most?

I am a big fan of antique bookshelves: http://static.admagazine.ru/resize_cache_imm/iblock/22e/ff92/610x809_Quality97_650x863_Quality97_ZPRGXXLIB04.jpg http://static.squarespace.com/static/50269d2fc4aaa8accee4c061/51310515e4b01ea6767b95a5/5131052ae4b01ea6767bb3c8/1340159579006/antique-leather-books.jpg/1000w https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/99/e2/5f/99e25f0fcd7dd9efc490d501dbb4e3f3.jpg https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/af/05/68/af0568adc0220da0c47f74b41e4f7553.jpg Someday when I get my own house, I plan to have a beautiful library filled with wooden bookshelves, a fireplace and a cosy armchair.

How do you decide which book to read next out of your pile? My TBR list is getting so big now that I am beginning to have this problem.

This wasn't a book I was planning to read, given its popularity through the infamous Hollywood adaptions - I assumed it was just a generic horror story and therefore never even thought about it. But a friend of mine encouraged me to read it, saying it was so much more. Man, what a story. I don't even know where to begin. I have to echo the thoughts of a previous comment - I cannot believe how young Shelley was when she wrote this masterpiece. Although it takes a while to get going, I found the writing so exquisite that it felt like a gift picking up the novel and reading just a few sentences. The chapter where the creature describes his plight, as he tried to integrate with humanity really struck me. After finishing that chapter I had to put the book down and just breathe. On the other hand, as a scientist I found the story to contain a lot of heavy meaning and warning that are still relevant today. In particular, this idea of having an almost obsession with the life sciences, believing that they will bring us the answer to all of our problems can be a very dangerous path to tread. I believe this novel conveys a strong life lesson that no matter how far our quest for knowledge may take us, we must always take into account the responsibility of our findings. I find it interesting that the subtitle of this novel is 'The Modern Prometheus' - Prometheus being the Greek God who brought knowledge to humanity and was subsequently punished through eternal torment. In the same way, Frankensteins' quest to learn more and more about the human body, and to ultimately create a human, leads to his eventual downfall. I have always believed that stories can be a sort of seat belt for the sciences, reminding it of its morals and its servitude to society, and not just for the mere obsessions of the mad scientist and his greed. I would like to hope that this novel still sends out those ripples in this modern age of technology.

I was unable to find a current thread about this novel, so felt I should start one having just finished this book today. This is a book that has popped up time and again every time I have searched for a new book to read. However, it was only after Marquez's death in 2014 that I decided to add this book to my ever-widening to-read list. I have heard the novel's genre described as 'magic realism' of which I am not too familiar, and was therefore a little apprehensive about beginning this book. However, it seems to have received rave reviews, so I decided to start it a few days ago. It was certainly an enjoyable read, and a step outside of my comfort zone. I'm not sure whether it is a book that will stay with me, but I can see why it has captured so many peoples imaginations. In a way, it shows humanity in its most raw form - it strips away the layers of etiquette, culture and society that I guess I am so used to in other novels. It is pure in its illustrations of human emotion and relationships, and I guess for me that's what made it stand out.

I just finished reading this book today - my first book of 2016, and what a book to begin the new year with. I was gripped from the first few pages. Tolstoy's characters are so well created, with incredible depth and perception. The novel has it all: romance, philosophy, religion, politics and society. Yet these concepts are so beautifully intertwined with the characters lives, that after finishing the novel you feel like you have been through a tremendous journey yourself. Having finished, and so enjoyed this novel, I am seriously considering giving War and Peace a go - something that I never dared touch for fear of it going over my head. It would be great to hear if someone has read both novels, and what their opinion has been of each.

I am currently half way through Anna Karenina. I wasn't actually expecting to enjoy it that much - it was just a novel that someone had kindly bought for me - but I've been hooked. I'm aiming to finish it by the end of the weekend before I am back at uni.

I've read two of Dosteovskys novels now - Crime and Punishment & The Brothers Karamazov. I have to go against general opinion and say that I found it difficult to enjoy these novels. The writing was nothing out of the ordinary, and I felt like I didn't get much out of the stories. I feel like I'm really missing something, given the reputation of all of these works - perhaps these are novels I need to come back to when I have had a bit more 'life experience.' I feel like this describes his books best - they feel more like essays about philosophy and psychology than they do a story. And of course I love novels to have these types of nuggets stored inside them - but I'd rather have to go digging for them inside a well-written and in-depth story arc. I'd love to hear more peoples views on his work, as I feel quite bad having a negative view of such a prolific writer.

Has anyone read this beautifully written novel? I'd love to hear other peoples' opinions on it. Personally, I couldn't put it down - I finished it all in one sitting. Despite being so melodramatic, I feel it really captures the moment when one becomes so consumed by a desire, that everything else just becomes dull in comparison. There are so many enchanting passages woven throughout the story, I would really recommend this to anyone who has been considering giving it a go - it's only about a hundred pages long, and I can almost guarantee that it will capture your attention. Has anyone read anything else by Goethe? After becoming encapsulated within his writing, I feel like I must read everything he has ever written.