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Feb 10, 2010 22:48

Hello. Here are my top 15 as of today in no particular order ( Read more... )

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yes installmentplan February 11 2010, 14:57:41 UTC
I can get behind this.

Did any of these make you think differently about the way a book should be written? If not, which of these would you recommend beyond a shadow of a doubt (can be up to three).

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Re: yes fuzzycactus February 11 2010, 22:32:04 UTC
I would definitely recommend Nadja by Breton. Especially to people who have even a passing interest in art. I read it in about 4 hours, mostly while sitting outside and it gave an enormous appreciation for everything beautiful and strange. Breton is very careful in the details he chooses and makes the reader believe that it's this detail, rather than some greater meaning, that is the most important thing. His "real world" was so incredibly magical that completely ordinary things after I read this book seemed significant and beautiful ( ... )

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psychedeliceyes February 12 2010, 21:35:29 UTC
Survival in Auschwitz sounds interesting. Can you sell me on it?

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fuzzycactus February 15 2010, 08:41:49 UTC
I think the thing that separates Survival in Auschwitz from other Holocaust accounts is that the focus isn't on the atrocities committed at the camp. Levi's main question in the book is "what does it mean to be human". In fact, the original title of the book (in Italian) is Se questo è un uomo (If this is man). All members of the camp, no matter what position they're in, are forced to give up a piece of their humanity until one wonders whether or not what remains can be called human. I think in many accounts Auschwitz exists outside of any moral or ethical bounds. Levi attempts to understand whether or not we are still human if we have no ethics or morals and think only of survival ( ... )

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Yes psychedeliceyes February 17 2010, 03:11:08 UTC
Not only was your reply nice and thorough, you've added something exciting to my reading list. Definite yes.

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Yes! subitoburrito February 15 2010, 23:54:10 UTC
Great Camus and Levi choices.

Will you tell me a little about Nadja by André Breton? I recognize the name from Surrealism, but I know nothing about it.

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Re: Yes! fuzzycactus February 17 2010, 03:49:58 UTC
Sorry for not answering your question sooner; it's the middle of midterm hell for us college students ( ... )

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subitoburrito February 18 2010, 00:17:19 UTC
Never fear, I'm feeling the brunt of college right now too.

I'm excited that the writing is complimented with illustrations. I've recently gotten interested in graphic novels, so I enjoy exploring the relationship between an author’s words and the presented visual elements. There are so many horrible examples where illustrations are thrown in as afterthoughts and do nothing to add to the story. I think I’ll have to pick this one up for myself and take a look.

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bkworm9 February 22 2010, 14:49:48 UTC
God of Small Things is a book I've always felt like I should read, but never really have the desire to. Sell me on it?

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fuzzycactus February 22 2010, 20:23:27 UTC
I think God of Small Things is one of those books that either work for people or they don't. Roy has a unique style and uses language in a somewhat unusual manner. For me, that's what makes the book awesome. One of the reviews on the back of my copy says that Roy invents an entirely new language and I definitely think this is true. She makes the language do what she wants. As I was reading it, I was reminded strongly of T.S. Eliot - there was a kind of eloquence and simplicity throughout the book ( ... )

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yes rose_onlyolder May 18 2010, 19:49:42 UTC
If only for the fact that I have literally not read a thing on your top 15 list. I find that refreshing. Here's my list, is the same true for you?

http://community.livejournal.com/booklisters/109182.html

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