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Post by drawnsword on Sept 1, 2017 17:07:01 GMT -6
Lately finished reading; Drifter vol.2 The Wake tpb Judge Dredd Day of Chaos: Fourth Faction tpb The Bad Habits of Jesus: Showing Us the Way to Live Right in a World Gone Wrong by Leonard Sweet Just started, Sacred Marriage: What If God Designed Marriage to Make Us Holy More Than to Make Us Happy? by Gary L. Thomas and still reading; Bandersnatch: C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and the Creative Collaboration of the Inklings Rei Hamon- Artist of the New Zealand Bush his life and his drawings Finding Church: What If There Really Is Something More? by Wayne Jacobsen
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Post by tolencual on Sept 18, 2017 9:01:07 GMT -6
Update on Reading: I did finish "Hero", meaning that I'm now caught up with the Drizzt series! I'll be excited for whatever comes next in the series, though Salvatore hasn't announced anything about it yet. I also finished "Measure of a Man", and I'm planning on re-reading "The Wise Man's Fear" by Patrick Rothfuss, since I re-read "The Name of the Wind" last year. I also purchased The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit, and I'm planning on finally reading those, like I said I'd do for several years now. Lately my nose has been buried in an A+ certification text book, so all my fun reading is on hold for now while I'm doing this. I passed the 220-901 exam last month, so I'm already halfway there!
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Post by _ on Sept 18, 2017 14:25:18 GMT -6
Consider my like a triple like!
Your post essentially summed up the fantasy that I love, which is pretty exclusively Salvatore, Tolkien, and Rothfuss. I was just reading a bit of The Wise Man's Fear last week for life inspiration.
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Post by Deepfriar on Sept 18, 2017 17:23:15 GMT -6
I've been looking for a good book to read, maybe something faith-based. I checked out this book at Books-A-Million the other day: It's Not What You Think: Why Christianity Is About So Much More Than Going to Heaven When You Die by Jefferson BethkeAnyone heard of Bethke? He apparently became quasi-famous on YouTube with his why he hates religion but loves Jesus video. Here, let me find it.. Guy is definitely passionate, I'll give him that. What do you guys think? I haven't watched the video in a while though, I had seen it before and don't remember exactly everything he says but I remember agreeing with at least some and maybe a lot of it. I don't know a lot about him, though. Anyone heard of Jefferson Bethke?
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Post by tolencual on Sept 19, 2017 9:24:08 GMT -6
summed up the fantasy that I love, which is pretty exclusively Salvatore, Tolkien, and Rothfuss. I was just reading a bit of The Wise Awesome! At some point I intend to finish the rest of the Sundering series, of which I only read the first because it concerned Drizzt, but from what I understand the rest of the five books detail the Sundering event as a whole and it's very good material. The challenge would be that I would need to read the preceding books about Erevis Cale (two trilogies), Ferideh (two long books before that one) and Elminster (a great deal of books), so that will take me a while.
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Post by _ on Sept 21, 2017 7:45:51 GMT -6
Dang! I haven't heard of the Sundering actually. That sounds like an arduous reading campaign with tremendous literary/story value.
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Post by tolencual on Sept 22, 2017 10:44:32 GMT -6
Dang! I haven't heard of the Sundering actually. That sounds like an arduous reading campaign with tremendous literary/story value. Yeah, from what I've read about it, one doesn't necessarily need to have read all of the preceding books of these characters, but based on the reviews I've read, it certainly helps with the context. Just like The Companions is a continuation of the story of Drizzt, The Adversary is technically the third book in the series about Ferideh, and The Herald is part of the story of Elminster. Only The Reaver and The Sentinel feature brand new characters.
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Post by _ on Sept 22, 2017 15:42:05 GMT -6
Yeah! Sweet. Yeah, I feel like there's a decent amount of related stories and characters in the various fantasy worlds ... pretty neat if they keep story lines etc. relatively coherent.
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Post by _ on Nov 24, 2017 23:19:05 GMT -6
Short fantasy books with protagonist on a mission recommendations?
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Post by _ on Jul 26, 2018 11:21:09 GMT -6
I finished Paul Farmer's 'Pathology of Power: Health, Human Rights, and the New War on the Poor' a few days ago.
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Post by avjr on Jul 26, 2018 17:55:28 GMT -6
Right now, I am reading a manga called My Hero Academia Vigilantes. It’s a spin-off series of MHA. When it comes to manga, I finish reading it fast, and then I go back reading a book I need to catch up. Such as Mark Salomon’s Simplicity. I love that man. He is a great singer and a podcaster. I will go back to his book after Benjamin Sledge’s Dwarf Planet: A Practical Guide Through Depression. I am learning to cope with it. I will also read Blaise Pascal’s Pensées. I got that book at AudioFeed. Hehe. I love reading books. Especially the Bible. The more I read it, it helps me to understand God better. Thanks with the help of the Holy Spirit. 🙏🏾
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Post by _ on Sept 1, 2018 10:35:56 GMT -6
Edwin Castro Rodriguez - Tomorrow, my child, everything will be different Leonel Rugama - Ramps and ramps and ramps
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Post by Borndead on Sept 2, 2018 11:49:02 GMT -6
At the moment I´m reading "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu and C.S. Lewis - "Mere christianity" and I´m trying to read the Bible as much as I can.
I´m also waiting for "R. Michael Cook - Still Not" to arrive from Nordic Missions, I did pre-order it but postage messed something up so I have to wait a while longer. I really enjoyed Cook´s first book "Ketuvium" it gave a lot of background info about the lyrics and thought process of the writing.
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Post by pravoslavac on Oct 10, 2018 22:25:36 GMT -6
Just finished John A. Keel's "The Big Breakthrough," another collection of posthumously-released writings recently released, some of which were magazine articles from the late 1960s and onward.
Some of you will recognize his name as the author of "The Mothman Prophecies." (Terrible movie, but great book)
The former book mentioned above details much of the high strangeness he experienced in his investigations. These include tantalizing third-party conversations with someone or an entity called "Apol," of which he noted the similarity with Apollyon / Abbadon.
Keel seemed very conversant with demonology and in his investigations with what seemed to be guileless "contactees," he would recognize the names given that were from ancient Greek, mythology, demonology, etc.
Keel declared himself an atheist, but would veer into Scripture occasionally to attempt to make sense of a lot of things that just didn't make sense.
If you accept what he says as true, then something is out there manipulating (or attempting to manipulate) mankind, leaving all sorts of strange but inexplicable clues, or perhaps more ominously, diversions.
Fascinating stuff and he spent a lot of time in West Virginia, which in the 1960s seemed to be quite the UFO hotspot. One of the wild things that happened to him more than once was that during his travels, he'd pick a motel completely at random and at the desk, there would already be at least several nonsensical messages left for him.
The late Father Seraphim Rose, one of the greatest Russian Orthodox priests of the last century was familiar with Keel's writings and quoted one or two of Keel's warnings in his own books.
Investigating all of this, I am left with an overall impression that salvation may be far more a serious business than many might suspect. Perhaps those who'd foolishly delved into the occult, black magic and then later repented might be most aware. Dare I say, the "Christmas Christian," a term I'll borrow from a friend, is likely unaware or less aware as there's just no reference point or personal experience.
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Post by anfauglith on Nov 3, 2018 3:14:27 GMT -6
Started Patrick Rothfuss`"The name of the wind" some days ago. I now read it in turns with Albert Vigoleis Thelen's "The island of the second sight", which I read since beginning of may.
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Post by barabbas on Nov 25, 2018 22:07:23 GMT -6
Tolkien: History of Middle Earth, Vol. 4: The Shaping of Middle Earth
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Post by _ on Nov 26, 2018 10:50:21 GMT -6
Tolkien: History of Middle Earth, Vol. 4: The Shaping of Middle Earth Tell us cool things you learn! I've been reading Beowulf, Invisible City by Italiano Calvino, some Ezekiel/Isaiah (reading a chronological ordered section of the Bible), and listening to The Two Towers on audiotape. anfauglith how is The Name of the wind?
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Post by anfauglith on Nov 26, 2018 11:01:18 GMT -6
how is The Name of the wind? I like it so far, even if I have a few points. In modern fantasy novels it seems to be obligatory to insert elements in the story that take away the "fairy tale-ish" element and make them more realistic. Also in "The name of the wind". It is a matter of taste, but I am no big fan of that. For me a good fantasy tale needs to be a kind of mixture of epic literature and fairy tale. That doesn't mean that the story has to be dull, I think. I enjoy realistic elements in sci-fi-literature, but not in fantasy. And on some points I think the author is overdrawing with the main character. But nevertheless, I enjoy reading it so far.
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Post by _ on Nov 26, 2018 14:41:02 GMT -6
Interesting to read your thoughts
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Post by tolencual on Nov 27, 2018 12:15:14 GMT -6
Reading update: I actually stopped my re-read through Rothfuss's "The Wise Man's Fear" earlier this year, on account of the move... and the baby...
So I plan on finishing that. I also read the first chapter of The Hobbit several months ago, planning to go through with reading the LOTR books after all this time. I've been playing more games than reading lately, I suppose I should change that.
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Post by anfauglith on Dec 28, 2018 10:29:10 GMT -6
After finishing "The name of the wind" I'll start this tonight. I am curious. Having my points of critic with "The name of..." I am nevertheless curious how the story will continue.
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Post by anfauglith on Mar 22, 2019 8:57:20 GMT -6
I'll have "The wise man's fear" finished in a view days... locking for recommendations now... Can anybody recommend a horror novel? Not in the sense of blood, murder, cannibalism and stuff... more the psychological stuff... ghosts, mystery, paranormal... I was thinking about reading some Shirley Jackson (read "The haunting of hill house" 20 years ago and just loved it!), but I think I'd prefare something more recent. Any ideas?
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Post by _ on Mar 23, 2019 8:00:59 GMT -6
I'll have "The wise man's fear" finished in a view days Same
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Post by anfauglith on Mar 23, 2019 9:27:19 GMT -6
Same Did you like it? I kinda did. Even though I have my points of critizism. Concerning my next book I was thinking about reading Dan Simmons' "Seasons of Horror". But I have not decided whether I should buy it.
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Post by _ on Mar 23, 2019 10:17:47 GMT -6
I like it so far, even if I have a few points. In modern fantasy novels it seems to be obligatory to insert elements in the story that take away the "fairy tale-ish" element and make them more realistic. Also in "The name of the wind". It is a matter of taste, but I am no big fan of that. For me a good fantasy tale needs to be a kind of mixture of epic literature and fairy tale. That doesn't mean that the story has to be dull, I think. I enjoy realistic elements in sci-fi-literature, but not in fantasy. And on some points I think the author is overdrawing with the main character. But nevertheless, I enjoy reading it so far. I'd like to hear more of your thoughts (if you feel like typing them out, no worries if not) on the obligatory realism and the overdrawing on Kvothe. Did you like it? I kinda did. Even though I have my points of critizism. This is my third time going through the book. I go back and forth on the speed of the plot and the ... disjointedness? I do enjoy it a lot. What were your thoughts? I know nothing about horror books or movies. // I will say that I recently read the LOTR trilogy and ... it's just so deep and epic that it has been a little difficult to find something that can compare.
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Post by anfauglith on Mar 25, 2019 10:52:00 GMT -6
I'd like to hear more of your thoughts (if you feel like typing them out, no worries if not) on the obligatory realism and the overdrawing on Kvothe. I`ll try my best putting down my thoughts in english... it is hard because it is not my mother tongue. I guess my "problem" with that points I have in critic of Rothfuss' book is rooted in my personal view on fantasy novels. For me the purpose of fantasy literature is to stimulate my imagination, to widen in some way my ways of thinking, by seeing a world that is not like ours, persons that are not bound to our earthly limitations and laws of behaviour. And yes, I like it when heroism comes in a story. Not heroism like in cliches and fascist propaganda (in the worst), but for example in the sense like the hobbits in LotR show it. I also like dark places and also evil creatures (not for the purpose of glorifiying evil, but to see good face up to it). So... I didn't like too much, when Kvothe shares his bed stories. In the end I didn't like the topic of sex coming up in fantasy novel at all. You may say that I cling on bad old school fantasy cliches. But that is not it. Once again, I also do not enjoy stories full of dull cliches etc. But a fantasy novel for me must have elements of epic stories like the Illiad or in the Nibelungs, and on the other hand I need this fairy-taleish element for I think that "fairy tales" in the wider sense can bring comfort to the reader for showing a world that doesn't exist that way and it has a way of transporting truths that can't be transported in for example crime literature or so. I also did not enjoy the fact, that (for the puropose of enhancing this terrible post modern "realism") the characters do things like having a piss in the woods or so... that might be a great way for giving readers who are inclined to realism the feeling of "Great, these people are just normal people! Realistic!". But for people like me who are looking for the myth in the story etc. it is just annoying. Even though I like the charakter of Kvothe, I do think that it does not make sense that he is at one hand obviously highly intelligent, but on the other hand he often acts like a morron and has thoughts like a fool. But that is just my oppinion, and after all I like the character.
Aaaah... another thing concerning "realism". I was dissapointed when the "dracus" (I do not know if it has that name in the english version?) appears and is just an animal, though a rare one. Kvothe also is saying something like "It is not different to a cow. A very large cow.". For me that is outrageous! Dragons a very powerful symbolic animals for me. You can't just declare them beeing "nothing more than a huge cow". That might be a fresh and liberating thing for people, who don't like fantasy novels but nevertheless decide to read one... but for me it is, like I said, outrageous. For me Dragons are among other things a symbol for very dark and destructive energies inside the human mind... turning them into a cow deeply banalizes the whole thing.
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Post by nocturnaliridescence on Mar 25, 2019 20:07:57 GMT -6
I've never read the story you're talking about anfauglith, but I definitely agree with the general points you're making.
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Post by _ on Mar 28, 2019 16:30:39 GMT -6
I`ll try my best putting down my thoughts in english... it is hard because it is not my mother tongue. Dude, you killed it (you might know this is slang for 'you did it really well'). And I know your comment was specifically in reference to writing, not reading, but we'd love to read more of your posts on TBL and if you ever want clarification on anything we write, please don't hesitate to let us know. I guess my "problem" with that points I have in critic of Rothfuss' book is rooted in my personal view on fantasy novels. I guess in the end, at least for folks like us (i.e., not professional literature critics), that is what it comes down to: personal views on what should be vs. what shouldn't be, what is interesting vs. what is not interesting, etc. to stimulate my imagination, to widen in some way my ways of thinking, by seeing a world that is not like ours, persons that are not bound to our earthly limitations and laws of behaviour. Super well-said. I really enjoy fantasy and its significant impact on what, or perhaps rather how, i comport myself in this world; however, I have not sat down to flesh out the way by which fantasy accomplishes this end, and I think your words will help me in future reflection. I do, however, feel that Rothfuss' story does this for me -- but I'll not expound on that now, or before I respond to some other parts of your post. I also like dark places and also evil creatures (not for the purpose of glorifiying evil, but to see good face up to it). Amen! But a fantasy novel for me must have elements of epic stories like the Illiad or in the Nibelungs, and on the other hand I need this fairy-taleish element for I think that "fairy tales" in the wider sense can bring comfort to the reader for showing a world that doesn't exist that way and it has a way of transporting truths that can't be transported in for example crime literature or so. Could you please clarify the difference between the elements of epic stories and the fairy-taleish elements, perhaps with an example of the latter? As for the whole sex part, I totally see where you are coming from and I feel more similarly to you than different. I am by NO MEANS an expert or even an experienced hobbyist on fantasy literature; that being said, I do think a lot of fantasy include sex scenes -- perhaps the vast majority of these are "lesser fantasy" literature, meaning not "high fantasy" like Lord of the Rings? I dont remember if the Iliad has sex scenes but I do remember his house full of suiters (maybe it was sexualized though...I digress). I also did not enjoy the fact, that (for the purpose of enhancing this terrible post modern "realism") the characters do things like having a piss in the woods or so... that might be a great way for giving readers who are inclined to realism the feeling of "Great, these people are just normal people! Realistic!". But for people like me who are looking for the myth in the story etc. it is just annoying. This is a great point that would probably be quite a good divider of readers: as you've said, those who like the realism vs. those who do not. I remember thinking when I was younger and reading Harry Potter, 'how come they never have to go to the bathroom', but as I now think about reading Middle-Earth tales, for example, it would seem absurd to include such a thing. In terms of these literary examples, I do think Rothfuss' story is more Harry Potter type fantasy and less LOTR type fantasy (I could include more thoughts about this if people care but I do not currently feel like it.) ven though I like the character of Kvothe, I do think that it does not make sense that he is at one hand obviously highly intelligent, but on the other hand he often acts like a morron and has thoughts like a fool. But that is just my opinion, and after all I like the character. Yeah, point taken. In contrast, I think I like his fallibility. Aaaah... another thing concerning "realism". I was dissapointed when the "dracus" (I do not know if it has that name in the english version?) appears and is just an animal, though a rare one. Kvothe also is saying something like "It is not different to a cow. A very large cow.". For me that is outrageous! Dragons a very powerful symbolic animals for me. You can't just declare them beeing "nothing more than a huge cow". That might be a fresh and liberating thing for people, who don't like fantasy novels but nevertheless decide to read one... but for me it is, like I said, outrageous. For me Dragons are among other things a symbol for very dark and destructive energies inside the human mind... turning them into a cow deeply banalizes the whole thing DUDE! You're killing it: that's a great point and one to which I do not feel the need to add much. One of my dislikes in the story regards the timeline and much text is spent on different plot points. I bring this up because I thought the whole dracus thing took far too long -- I think each of the three or four times I read The Name Of The Wind my interest falters for the dracus part. I've never read the story you're talking about anfauglith, but I definitely agree with the general points you're making. NI, which stories/books have you enjoyed?
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Post by _ on Mar 28, 2019 16:32:58 GMT -6
Anyone read The Aeneid of Virgil?
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Post by nocturnaliridescence on Mar 28, 2019 18:47:59 GMT -6
NI, which stories/books have you enjoyed? I actually don't read a lot of stories. Most of the things I read these days are nonfiction. Blogs / research / reference works about the Bible, religions, history, a bit of science and psychological stuff, etc. When I did read more fiction, I remember liking Harry Potter (JK Rowling) and Age of Fire (EE Knight). I remember, in school, reading Homer's epics, and Beowulf (at least part of Beowulf, can't remember if we got around to the whole thing). I found those interesting.
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