MobileRead September 2015 Book Club Vote

[caleb72]

Originally Posted by Hamlet53

I did not vote for Mein Kampf during the nomination process or in this ongoing balloting for two reasons. One reason is pretty much what Issybird has stated. This group is probably just not the place to discuss it. My second reason is that having at one time attempted to read it I was unable to finish it not because of the point of view, but because it was just crap writing.

This was actually my main concern too, but I decided that maybe I could wade through it. I have a feeling in this group most of the discussion will end up being how terribly it's written.

I did vote for it in the end. I tend not to shy away from things that outrage me and becoming familiar with the message might help me recognise it when it is spoken again.

I won't be sad if it loses the vote, though.

[caleb72]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Am I the only one who sees the irony in calling for a book to be banned when the very subject here is "banned books"? To my mind, "Mein Kampf" is the natural winner in this list, because it has far more justification to be banned than everything else in the list combined.

I find layers of irony in the reaction - but yes.

[sun surfer]

Of interest, Mein Kampf will become public domain in Germany at the beginning of 2016 and the outright ban will end with the publication of a scholarly edition of the book filled with critical analysis, raising its page count from the original 700 to over 2,000 and will be not only sold but also distributed to schools. Some object but The Central Council of Jews in Germany are in support.

[bfisher]

I'm surprised that it's still in copyright, since Hitler "wrote" it in 1924 when he was in the German equivalent of Club Fed after the beer hall putsch. It was published in 1925-26; is there a 90 year copyright period in Germany?

A Hitler literary estate is a creepy thought. On the other hand, I suppose that it meant that Neo-Nazis were not able to have unlimited opportunity to distribute it since it was not PD.

[sun surfer]

Germany are life plus 70 and with year lumps that'd put Hitler the author as public domain in 2016. The state of Bavaria have the rights.

[bfisher]

Candide is on this list, if anyone out there is hesitating about voting for it

https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/...n-to-in-school

[bfisher]

Just finished reading One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich. It was a wonderful book, and an easy read - only 159 pages.

[CRussel]

Last call for The Golden Compass. After all, we should all have read Candide in our youth (at least I can't imagine getting through school without it), but I'll bet most of you haven't read Philip Pullman's highly readable and controversial Dark Materials trilogy, of which Golden Compass is the first. And yes, it is more pages than Candide, but it's hardly a long book at well under 400 pages. And IME, it goes fast. Plus there's a superb audio version for those who wish to read it that way.

[bfisher]

I've always wondered about Pullman's Dark Materials trilogy versus C.S. Lewis Narnia books. I've read neither, although I understood that the Narnia books were meant to be understood as a Christian metaphor. The only Lewis book I've "read" is a narration by John Cleese of The Screwtape Letters - I enjoyed that, although I'm not sure how much of that was due to Cleese or to Lewis. Likewise, I've heard that the Dark Materials books have encountered a lot of opposition from organized religion, which I supposed is where the banned/supressed aspect comes in.

Can anyone who has read both series comment on how they compare, both as fantasies and ideologically?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by CRussel

Last call for The Golden Compass. After all, we should all have read Candide in our youth (at least I can't imagine getting through school without it), but I'll bet most of you haven't read Philip Pullman's highly readable and controversial Dark Materials trilogy, of which Golden Compass is the first. And yes, it is more pages than Candide, but it's hardly a long book at well under 400 pages. And IME, it goes fast. Plus there's a superb audio version for those who wish to read it that way.

I've read The Golden Compass and not Candide.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by bfisher

I've always wondered about Pullman's Dark Materials trilogy versus C.S. Lewis Narnia books. I've read neither, although I understood that the Narnia books were meant to be understood as a Christian metaphor. The only Lewis book I've "read" is a narration by John Cleese of The Screwtape Letters - I enjoyed that, although I'm not sure how much of that was due to Cleese or to Lewis. Likewise, I've heard that the Dark Materials books have encountered a lot of opposition from organized religion, which I supposed is where the banned/supressed aspect comes in.

Can anyone who has read both series comment on how they compare, both as fantasies and ideologically?

They're very different. Both are good, but in different ways.

The Narnia books are definitely children's books and, although written as a Christian allegory, that probably won't be obvious to their intended readership.

The Pullman books are nominally "young adult", but entirely suited to an adult readership, to my mind. The theme against organised religion is overt in the plot.

Both are very enjoyable, but for an adult reader I'd recommend Pullman.

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by bfisher

I've always wondered about Pullman's Dark Materials trilogy versus C.S. Lewis Narnia books. I've read neither, although I understood that the Narnia books were meant to be understood as a Christian metaphor. The only Lewis book I've "read" is a narration by John Cleese of The Screwtape Letters - I enjoyed that, although I'm not sure how much of that was due to Cleese or to Lewis. Likewise, I've heard that the Dark Materials books have encountered a lot of opposition from organized religion, which I supposed is where the banned/supressed aspect comes in.

Can anyone who has read both series comment on how they compare, both as fantasies and ideologically?

I never much enjoyed the Narnia books, probably because I tried to read them too late in my reading life (mid-teens). Also, they're written in a much earlier fantasy style. The Pullman Dark Materials trilogy is more modern (written in 1996), and definitely spans the range from YA to full Adult. It is certainly not "Christian".

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by CRussel

I never much enjoyed the Narnia books, probably because I tried to read them too late in my reading life (mid-teens). Also, they're written in a much earlier fantasy style. The Pullman Dark Materials trilogy is more modern (written in 1996), and definitely spans the range from YA to full Adult. It is certainly not "Christian".

It's anti-Christian, or rather anti-organised-church. It makes the point that spiritual enlightenment comes from personal experience, not through other people telling you what you should think or believe.

[din155]

I want to read The Golden Compass, Candide does not interest me this month. Just a few more votes for The Golden Compass .

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by HarryT

It's anti-Christian, or rather anti-organised-church. It makes the point that spiritual enlightenment comes from personal experience, not through other people telling you what you should think or believe.

I would say "anti-organized church", more than anti-christian. But yes, I agree.