hemingway:
I always thought he was overrated. His Farewell to Arms I never liked and thought it was boring. I read it twice. It's the one where the guy has been sexually wounded in the war and he whines a lot. I loved and admired The Old Man and the Sea, but by then I had written H. off. Recently however I read For Whom the Bell Tolls and now am rereading it and am able to accept H. as a genius.
This is my first post to the Café. Anybody interested in reading?

I like the 49 short stories. Anyway in "Farewell to arms' there is a passage when he is hit by a shell on the Isonzo front, sees his body from above, and then reenters it. This is the experience that probably brought him to suicide. Also "Across the river and into the trees" is a good book. The phrase was pronounced by Stonewall Jackson when hit in the American Civil War (or war between the States, if you like this better).
Tullio

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I've not heard of "across the river...". I'll have to check it out.

Lately I have been reading mostly "page turners" or suspense thrillers,
mostly crimes. I can't help myself from reading further. I am retired and this is the first time in my life that I have been so engrossed in reading. No more like a student just reading classics or literature. Now it's just for fun. And it is. My delicious surprise.

hemingway:
I always thought he was overrated. His Farewell to Arms I never liked and thought it was boring. I read it twice. It's the one where the guy has been sexually wounded in the war and he whines a lot. I loved and admired The Old Man and the Sea, but by then I had written H. off. Recently however I read For Whom the Bell Tolls and now am rereading it and am able to accept H. as a genius.
This is my first post to the Café. Anybody interested in reading?

Hi Merle,

I am an avid reader. I mainly read science fiction and fantasy, but will pretty much read anything if I hear it is good. Saying that I have never read any Hemmingway, although it is on my list.

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Reality Internet Personality

I haven't read much sci-fi but recently I read a new book called "the martian" which was very good. The only negative was that perhaps some people might be put off by the extensive technical details. It's about a stranded crew member on mars and how he struggles to survive. Very good even with all the technical stuff.

In my opinion, what puts me off with some sci-fi is that it is so removed from reality. "The Martian" was not like that. Could you suggest any sci-fi relating to astronomy/planetary travel that has a sense of realism to it?

I don't read book much these days....
I think the first book that I read that I remember was 'The Voyage of the Luna 1' or something like that.
Never delved into the classics. I watch the movies, I guess.

BTW, Welcome to the cafe, Merle.

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"Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting." Alan Dean Foster

I haven't read much sci-fi but recently I read a new book called "the martian" which was very good. The only negative was that perhaps some people might be put off by the extensive technical details. It's about a stranded crew member on mars and how he struggles to survive. Very good even with all the technical stuff.

In my opinion, what puts me off with some sci-fi is that it is so removed from reality. "The Martian" was not like that. Could you suggest any sci-fi relating to astronomy/planetary travel that has a sense of realism to it?

Hi Merle - lovely to meet you :) If you enjoy a smile with it, you could try the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams - a trilogy of erm... five books I think :)

Hi kitty person and the leopard.

Can you tell me a bit about 'Hitchhikers'?

I haven't had much luck with humor in books, I find it rare to find
fiction really humorous although when they are good they are usually really good.

I haven't read much sci-fi but recently I read a new book called "the martian" which was very good. The only negative was that perhaps some people might be put off by the extensive technical details. It's about a stranded crew member on mars and how he struggles to survive. Very good even with all the technical stuff.

In my opinion, what puts me off with some sci-fi is that it is so removed from reality. "The Martian" was not like that. Could you suggest any sci-fi relating to astronomy/planetary travel that has a sense of realism to it?

You want to start with the greats, Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clark.

I'm going to get hold of a copy of The Martian. It looks good.

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Reality Internet Personality

Yes Isaac Asimov is a great place to start. Currently re-reading his whole "Empire" stories. Most think it started with Foundation but the robot stories were the actual start.

With today's technology & research into robotics, just wonder will the day arrive that mankind sees a "Telepathic Daneel"?

Hi kitty person and the leopard.

Can you tell me a bit about 'Hitchhikers'?

I haven't had much luck with humor in books, I find it rare to find
fiction really humorous although when they are good they are usually really good.

Ahem :) cheetah :))))))))) will also answer to annie and anniet :)

English author - so not sure how much exposure you've had to our literary types :) Don't want to spoil the stories for you should you decide to read them but I WILL say that the answer to life the universe and everything is now known to millions worldwide as... :)

This is what wiki has to say

The trilogy of books, in order are:
The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
Life, the Universe and Everything
So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish
Mostly Harmless

Douglas Adams was planning on extending his "trilogy" with another book, but sadly died (think he was only 49. It was a sad day - also for many Doctor Who fans, as he wrote occasionally for the series). With the permission of his widow, a sixth called: "And another thing..." has been written by Eoin Colfer. I have yet to read it. If you want to know more, just ask. Be happy to tap out the first couple of paragraphs for you... actually I might do that anyway... will be back :)

EDIT: Ah. No I won't. The person I lent the whole series to has not returned them :( Thank you for helping me remind myself that I must get them back :) Sorry :)

I like biographical books and science fiction.

Just read a great book by Roger Mudd: The Place to Be: The Glory Days of Television News.

Most recent sci-fi book I read was Stranger in a Strange Land, by Robert Heinlein. Can you grok it?

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The mind is a weird and mysterious place

Thanks everybody. Seems like this is a hot spot for sci-fi.

I looked up grok and hitchhikers on Wikipedia and am being educated.

Sorry to the Cheetah and hello to the fat frog creature (politically correct?).

I am definitely going to look closely at Asimov and Clark starting with what wiki has to say.

Thanks everybody. Seems like this is a hot spot for sci-fi.

I looked up grok and hitchhikers on Wikipedia and am being educated.

Sorry to the Cheetah and hello to the fat frog creature (politically correct?).

I am definitely going to look closely at Asimov and Clark starting with what wiki has to say.

Start with Asimov's early Robot stories, then as you get into the "Foundation" series, it will make reading them more interesting.

Hmm, wonder if mankind will ever come across a "Hari Seldon"?

You have a slight resemblance to Phantom of the Opera. Has anyone ever told you that stranger?

You have a slight resemblance to Phantom of the Opera. Has anyone ever told you that stranger?

That's what I get for changing my avatar again :-(

Got a better one, but don't want all the women drooling & men cursing :-)

Ho, Ho, Ho. Borderline Big Fella.:-)

Ho, Ho, Ho. Borderline Big Fella.:-)

Never thought that of myself at all. However, as a man, we have to listen to women correct?

If not, we're in trouble (& with what I've been told this year... find myself listening more :-))

Edit:

Also, try some of Heinlein's & Pohl's early stuff.

Edit 2:

Just remembered. Try E.E. "Doc" Smith's "Lensman" series. I found them quite good.

Tullio:
I apologize, the book I was talking about was not 'Farewell' but rather 'The Sun Also Rises'. It was a long time ago and my memory is not too good. I still do not understand why it is rated so highly. I remember vaguely starting to read "Farewell to Arms" and it was much more interesting than "Farewell"; which reminds me to get back to 'Farewell'. Thanks for jogging my memory. Grazie.

Now I remember more clearly. There was something about the copy I had that was difficult to read as though it had been translated from another language and it did not read clearly in English.

I like the 49 short stories. Anyway in "Farewell to arms' there is a passage when he is hit by a shell on the Isonzo front, sees his body from above, and then reenters it. This is the experience that probably brought him to suicide. Also "Across the river and into the trees" is a good book. The phrase was pronounced by Stonewall Jackson when hit in the American Civil War (or war between the States, if you like this better).
Tullio[quote]

Hi merle, And welcome to the boards.
I mostly read Sci Fi myself but have delved into the classics. The two I immensly enjoyed were Les Miserables by Victor Hugo and War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy. One day I want to read Dr. Zhivago.

I grew up reading the greats of sci-fi, Asimov,Sturgeon,Heinlien,EE DOC Smith, Lienster,Pohl, Etc. etc.

I have found that the newer authors tell some wonderfull stoys also. David Drake, David Weber, John Dalmas, John Ringo, William C Dietz,and many others.

I like comedy in sci fi. I like Spider Robinsons Callahans Crosstime Saloon series of books. If you like puns good or bad hes tops. Another author I like is John De Chancie's books. His Star Rigger triology is a page turner. Its a good read even without the humor.

again welcome to the boards.

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Old James