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[xoopx]

Originally posted by Puffin@Feb 21 2005, 06:47 PM
I'm reading Pride and Prejudice for English class... I hate it :angry:
And Det Forsömte For?r for Danish class... Boooooooring

there's nothing better than BORING and CRAPPY books to put people off reading for life.
in fact id say 80% of books out there are garbage. especially the ones "for women" god they SUCK.
once you've read some -amazing- books, all the average ones are like... pffff... and the bad ones are worthy of nothing better than toilet paper.

[gildedgirth]

For those that recommended European authors, do you know if any of them have books translated in English?

I enjoy reading books from other countries, and would love to check out some of these recommendations.

[Mardi-Gras]

Mervyn Peake - but I have to say that, my Doctorate was on Peake - and for modern writers, Clive Barker and Iain Banks.

Not sure about an earlier comment about Tolkein being the first to write "true fantasy". That's a damaging nonsense.

And as Terry Pratchett said: "If you're fifteen, and you don't think Lord of the Rings are the best books ever written, there's something wrong with you. If you're fifty, and you still think Lord of the Rings are the best books ever, there's definitely something wrong with you".

[Calamity]

Glad to see I'm not the only person here who doesn't think that Tolkien is the cat's meow. I tried reading his works years ago (before this annoyingly insane LotR fad came about) and I thought it was drivel then so I don't see that changing anytime soon.

For far better fantasy go read some Dragonlance (perferably anything done by Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis).

[Sebatianos]

@Calamity
Well Tolkien was a master of the language and he was the master of the mithology. But to create a modern mith of the old age...
Well I loved his Sillmarilion (especially the begining of the book where he explains how and why the world was created - according to him).
Otherwise his books aren't bad, but if they weren't the ones to actually start this genre I guess no one would really think of him as such an icon. It's this movies that have really destroyed the final thing that was positive about the book - at least people were reading. But I must say that the language in the book is really rich. Richer then in any other fantasy book I've read so far.

@gildedgirth
I believe that most of these authors were translated (or even wrote in English - there are some countries in Europe that have English as the native language - like England :bleh: ), but I'm not sure if it would be easy to get a copy.

@xoopx
I agree that forcing people to read generally causes them to dislike reading itself. But I must say, that without being forced to do so I'd never pick up Ghoete's Life of young Werther (I'm not quite sure about the English translation of the title). I hated every page of that book - it seemed so disgustingly sweet and romantic - but I realised it's a really good book and I still find myself reflecting on some parts of it.

[troop18546]

Your posts are getting a bit out of hand from the questions, but - I dont mind, feel free to discuss writers too. k:

[Stroggy]

Originally posted by Sebatianos@Feb 22 2005, 07:53 PM
so I'd never pick up Ghoete's Life of young Werther (I'm not quite sure about the English translation of the title). I hated every page of that book - it seemed so disgustingly sweet and romantic

you're absolutely right, i have to learn it for dutch.

You should bear in mind the book belongs to the Romantic style
Well he does kill himself at the end (y)

[Robster]

@Mardi
I agree Peake was a brilliant writer particularly the gormenghast trilogy, brilliant.

I always prefer to read more classics rather than modern books, lots of hstorical stuff, Trotsky etc.

[Lizard]

Originally posted by Robster@Feb 22 2005, 08:33 PM
@Mardi
I agree Peake was a brilliant writer particularly the gormenghast trilogy, brilliant.

I always prefer to read more classics rather than modern books, lots of hstorical stuff, Trotsky etc.

I prefer modern books.I think lot of classics are too old and mean something different to us and something diferent to people who read them in their epoche.
But of course some classics are simply ageless...

[Strobe]

hm, let me think....

neil stephenson (snow crash)
william gibson (neuromancer)
douglas adams (hitchhiker's guide through the galaxy)
r.a. salvatore (icewind dale trilogy)
wolfgang hohlbein (der greif)

that would be my top five writers!