Hey!! Let's get some action going! What are we reading?

[Patricia1066]

@colombus
thanks for the link to Jeff Inlo's new book. I will be reading this soon, looking forward to it.

[beppe]

Originally Posted by kennyc

Canadian? Is that a literary term?

If you take it literally no, but if you mix it with Ginger Ale or even better with Vermouth, add few drops of Bitters and stir it with ice than it becomes very enjoyable.

Literally speaking the author of Life of Pi is indeed Canadian,although born Spanish.

Among Canadian authors I strongly recommend Mordecai Richler.

[beppe]

Originally Posted by Ea

Probably not more than "English", "German", "American", "Scandinavian", or "French" - but I have a very good idea what those terms signify (at least to myself)

Hi Ea!
tell me and let's see if we sinc

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by Sparrow

I had kidney stones years ago and you have my full sympathies - they're agony. Thank heavens for ice-cold pain relieving suppositories! Luckily mine came out naturally, it's an interesting sensation feeling bits of rock working their way down your tubes.
Hope you're recuperating ok, and able to catch up with your reading.

I had kidney stones once, but they weren't mine and I had to give them back.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by beppe

If you take it literally no, but if you mix it with Ginger Ale or even better with Vermouth, add few drops of Bitters and stir it with ice than it becomes very enjoyable.

Literally speaking the author of Life of Pi is indeed Canadian,although born Spanish.

Among Canadian authors I strongly recommend Mordecai Richler.

[Ea]

Originally Posted by beppe

Hi Ea!
tell me and let's see if we sinc

Well, I think my opinion is quite coloured by my own view point (being danish).

English: English literature has a certain lightness, 'sharpness' and elegance, a certain low-key, dry humour that tends to show up in the unlikeliest places. Even if the story is a drama, there's always a certain sense of lightness of touch to the way it's told.

American: Again the humour; it's slightly absurd and rather physical. A tendency to wrestle directly with difficult issues.

French: The language. A tendency to floridness, while still sounding rather intellectual. Sometimes they are rather intellectual. The french do that very well. (caveat: I haven't read many French authors).

German: Again, the language. A tendency to somewhat long, complicated sentences. Intellectual, but more sombre than the French. The humour can be very absurd and decidedly strange.

Scandinavian: Gloomy, moody, dark, scary dramatics, interspersed with black humour. Or sometimes a very light, gently ironic humour. I think it may very well depend on the time of year that it was written (summer or winter). Though Scandinavian writing tend towards darkness and gloominess overall in my opinion. Even the humour.

[beppe]

Originally Posted by Ea

Well, I think my opinion is quite coloured by my own view point (being danish).

English: English literature has a certain lightness, 'sharpness' and elegance, a certain low-key, dry humour that tends to show up in the unlikeliest places. Even if the story is a drama, there's always a certain sense of lightness of touch to the way it's told.

American: Again the humour; it's slightly absurd and rather physical. A tendency to wrestle directly with difficult issues.

French: The language. A tendency to floridness, while still sounding rather intellectual. Sometimes they are rather intellectual. The french do that very well. (caveat: I haven't read many French authors).

German: Again, the language. A tendency to somewhat long, complicated sentences. Intellectual, but more sombre than the French. The humour can be very absurd and decidedly strange.

Scandinavian: Gloomy, moody, dark, scary dramatics, interspersed with black humour. Or sometimes a very light, gently ironic humour. I think it may very well depend on the time of year that it was written (summer or winter). Though Scandinavian writing tend towards darkness and gloominess overall in my opinion. Even the humour.

Very good. At this very epidermic level I can agree to all that you wrote, even about the Scandinavians. Let me try some cliches:

English: understatement.
American: direct
French: turgid?
German: profound?

Scandinavian: Let me add Rohal Dahl to the bunch, although he looks more British by your standard.

After Andersen, Baroness Karen von Blixen-Finecke wrote absolute masterpieces. Her soul looks free as a bird. So you do not score with her. Although originally she wrote in English, n'est pas?
Not so Peter Høeg with Smilla that starts so well and then it becomes a James Bond thing. But the beginning is just wonderful.

I read and liked the books of Sigrid Undset and there I see all your points.

Nowadays, the Scandinavian crime books are really very interesting.
Sjöwall and Wahlöö started with their beautiful stories of Martin Beck. I see some of your elements there.
Then the trilogy of Stieg Larsson outscores everyone else. The penmanship and the tension it creates with his Swedish aplomb is just outstanding.
Henning Mankell is also very good.

They all look detached (and I would use this as a cliche) but I see and recognize your points. Thanks a lot.

I forgot Axel Munthe. I read him when I was a kid. I do not remember enough to project his novel The Story of San Michele on your paradigms, I remember that I liked it very much.

[Ea]

Originally Posted by beppe

Very good. At this very epidermic level I can agree to all that you wrote, even about the Scandinavian. Let me try some cliches:

English: understatement.
American: direct
French: turgid?
German: profound?

Scandinavian: Let me add Rohal Dahl to the bunch, although he looks more British by your standard.

After Andersen, Baroness Karen von Blixen-Finecke wrote absolute masterpieces. Her soul looks free as a bird. So you do not score with her. Although originally she wrote in English, n'est pas?
Not so Peter Høeg with Smilla that starts so well and then it becomes a James Bond thing. But the beginning is just wonderful.

I read and liked the books of Sigrid Undset and there I see all your points.

Nowadays, the Scandinavian crime books are really very interesting.
Sjöwall and Wahlöö started with their beautiful stories of Martin Beck. I see some of your elements there.
Then the trilogy of Stieg Larsson outscores everyone else. The penmanship and the tension it creates with his Swedish aplomb is just outstanding.
Henning Mankell is also very good.

They all look detached (and I would use this as a cliche) but I see and recognize your points. Thanks a lot.

Cliché is a good word for what I tried to say

Roald Dahl is all British as far as I'm concerned. I don't even think he's translated into Danish (or Swedish or Norwegian?). I admit I've barely heard of him except I've noticed the name a few times and wondered whether I should have known No, give me Astrid Lindgren. She is the most famous and widely-read Scandinavian children's author, without ecxeption.

Karen Blixen is certainly something else and very international. A soul as free as a bird as you say. She wrote her first book in English and published it in USA precisely because she felt (and it was justified) that the Danish public (and literary critics) at that time wouldn't have understood what she was aiming at. Her African memoir published a few years later became very popular though.

I understand what you mean about Scandinavian crime fiction - but I think my points were more about the more literary writers, especially those I were 'subjected' to in school. I can recommend Herman Bang, and, if he's available in English; Johannes V. Jensen - he had a profound influence on language and writing in his time. I never read 'Smilla' (read another of his books and didn't like it - terribly pretentious), and it may be a long while until I read Stieg Larsson's 'Millenium' trilogy - it's too famous. It'll have to wait. I'm a little odd about that

[beppe]

@Ea
Thank you so much for the suggestions. I will follow them somehow.
Astrid Lindgren is the one of Pippi Longstokings. Neat. We still watch her in the house.

Rohald Dahl was certainly born in Wales but to me he is actually Norwegian and it shows, not so much in his children works but in his short stories, that are among the best ever written. I dare say diabolic. Triple recommendation there.
Of course these are very personal considerations based on what I know about Norwegians.

Stieg Larsson's 'Millenium' before becoming famous was just what it was then. Absolutely worthwhile. I also tend to step back from that kind of fame.

Well, thanks a lot for the nice conversation. As the French say A+

[mikemck]

Originally Posted by beppe

Hi Mikemck,
I hope you are feeling better!
I have read very little of Life of Pi. So far it looks very ... Canadian. Gentle and smooth. I'll be more precise when I read more. Take care now.

I am feeling better. Thank You, everyone! I am looking forward to reading your thoughts, Beppe, as this book really struck a cord with me.

Cheers

[Ea]

Originally Posted by beppe

@Ea
Thank you so much for the suggestions. I will follow them somehow.
Astrid Lindgren is the one of Pippi Longstokings. Neat. We still watch her in the house.

If possible, you should pay attention to "The Brothers Lionhart", which is very special, or "Ronja the Robber's Daughter".

Originally Posted by beppe

Stieg Larsson's 'Millenium' before becoming famous was just what it was then. Absolutely worthwhile. I also tend to step back from that kind of fame.

Of course it is/was. It just make me feel stuck. I've never seen Titanic for example.

Originally Posted by beppe

Well, thanks a lot for the nice conversation. As the French say A+

Thank you. Same to you

[pholy]

Originally Posted by kennyc

Canadian? Is that a literary term?

Some of us think it's a way of life...

I read Life of Pi back when I was recovering from my first (and so far, only) heart attack. I found it very cheering, which I much needed at the time. Very much a sense of life goes on, no matter how oddly.

pholy

[Ea]

Originally Posted by pholy

Some of us think it's a way of life...

I read Life of Pi back when I was recovering from my first (and so far, only) heart attack. I found it very cheering, which I much needed at the time.

You just bumped that book a good few notches up my to-read list

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by beppe

I moved The History of Western Philosophy by Bertrand Russel to the back burner.

Great book. I may re-read it sometime in the future when I'm feeling ambitious. It's not the easiest one of his books to get into. I find collections of his short essays to be much more accessible.

Originally Posted by beppe

I started The Life of Pi. Recommended by my wife as bizarre, funny and captivating.

Originally Posted by mikemck

beppe, what are you impressions of "Life of Pi" so far? Loved it the first time I read it, and I am thinking about a reread soon.

Originally Posted by pholy

I read Life of Pi back when I was recovering from my first (and so far, only) heart attack. I found it very cheering, which I much needed at the time. Very much a sense of life goes on, no matter how oddly.

Originally Posted by Ea

You just bumped that book a good few notches up my to-read list

And placed it on mine. beppe, the Wikipedia article to which you linked make the book look interesting indeed. I just added it to my wish list on Amazon. Thanks, everyone!

[kennyc]

I seem to be reading almost all pbooks these days....either books that are not available as ebooks or pbooks I already have...

Mostly Science and Science essays Loren Eiseley, Best American Science Writing...etc.