How to read more books - Page 4

DNSB · 07-28-2019, 11:09 PM

The problem for me is that as I've grown older, I find Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) was all too correct when he wrote: “The test of any good fiction is that you should care something for the characters; the good to succeed, the bad to fail. The trouble with most fiction is that you want them all to land in hell together, as quickly as possible.”

lumpynose · 07-29-2019, 02:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DNSB

The problem for me is that as I've grown older, I find Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) was all too correct when he wrote: “The test of any good fiction is that you should care something for the characters; the good to succeed, the bad to fail. The trouble with most fiction is that you want them all to land in hell together, as quickly as possible.”

Exactly.

What bugs me is that I can tell when the author is doing a good job with it but I'll be damned if I can tell how they do it/what they're doing to succeed at it.

leebase · 07-29-2019, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DNSB

The problem for me is that as I've grown older, I find Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) was all too correct when he wrote: “The test of any good fiction is that you should care something for the characters; the good to succeed, the bad to fail. The trouble with most fiction is that you want them all to land in hell together, as quickly as possible.”

Sorry, not sorry, for this segue....but your thoughts brought this to mind. "The Boys" on Prime Video....I can't stand ANY of the characters. Who makes a super hero show where ALL the superheroes are terrible people. Well, one isn't. But still....ugh!

Timboli · 07-29-2019, 03:09 PM

Yep, the world is in a weird situation right now.

Lots of terrible stuff going on, and that is echoed in our entertainment.

Seems the idea of being entertained to feel happy, has to a large degree disappeared in many quarters, which is one of the reasons I like reading Alexander McCall Smith now and then, to break things up. Bad things still happen in his books, but he focuses more on the good in people ... and he is often good naturedly funny.

But what can I say, I also choose to read C.J. Box and Val McDermid and some others, who regularly have terrible things happening in their fiction. What a junkie I am.

Seems to me we are turning into a world of voyeurs, and on the face of it, that does not seem good, does not promise a nice and peaceful enlightened future.

leebase · 07-29-2019, 03:15 PM

I love terrible things in my entertainment. Fighting, violence, betrayal, crime, terrorism...you name it. There just has to be a good guy or gal, hope redemption, purpose.

I haven’t decided if I’m going to finish watch I or not

DiapDealer · 07-29-2019, 03:21 PM

The future has always looked bleak to many based on current trends--since time began. And yet here we are... plugging along, finding diamonds in the rough.

JSWolf · 07-29-2019, 03:29 PM

To read more books, get off Mobileread. Turn off the TV. Get off social media. get a flip phone. And go read.

Timboli · 07-29-2019, 04:04 PM

To be sure, things happen in cycles.

Just depends on whether you are one of the lucky ones ... just ask the Romans ... and those who lived in Atlantis, and all those who have suffered genocide, slavery or terrible natural disasters.

Who knows, we may even be next.

So its not like bad things have always been happening, but don't worry they are all far away, never gonna impact us. So no cause for concern.

Everything has a development trajectory. The trick is recognizing the signs, and maybe being able to do something about it.

EDIT
Some concerns belong to a period of time, and get echoed every generation ... others are ongoing ... no doubt building to a climax.

Timboli · 07-29-2019, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

To read more books, get off Mobileread. Turn off the TV. Get off social media. get a flip phone. And go read.

If you followed your own advice, you would not be here saying that.

Ha ha ha ha ha.

j.p.s · 07-29-2019, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timboli

If you followed your own advice, you would not be here saying that.

Ha ha ha ha ha.

Maybe he is OK with the amount of reading he is doing.

Timboli · 07-30-2019, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j.p.s

Maybe he is OK with the amount of reading he is doing.

I seriously doubt that.

Wouldn't we all like to fit in more ... if we could, if it was feasible in the grand scheme of things ... before we pass out or pass on?

P.S. A suggestion of reading by Flip phone. Surely that is the act of a desperate person ... ha ha ha ha.

issybird · 07-30-2019, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timboli

P.S. A suggestion of reading by Flip phone. Surely that is the act of a desperate person ... ha ha ha ha.

You misunderstood him, so you can hold the laughter.

Timboli · 07-31-2019, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by issybird

You misunderstood him, so you can hold the laughter.

LOL. You think so.

If the shoe fits ....

P.S. It's not me that has done the misunderstanding my dear.

JSWolf · 07-31-2019, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timboli

If you followed your own advice, you would not be here saying that.

Ha ha ha ha ha.

Oh and get rid of the game console as well.

JSWolf · 07-31-2019, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timboli

P.S. A suggestion of reading by Flip phone. Surely that is the act of a desperate person ... ha ha ha ha.

The flip phone is not to read with. It's so you can have a mobile phone without all the distractions of a smart phone and still have a phone in case you need to make an actual phone call.

And also, no reading on a tablet. You need to read either a pBook, or an eBook using a Reader. a tablet is also a distraction.

07-29-2019, 04:04 PM	#53
Timboli Fanatic Posts: 570 Karma: 1959510 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: AUS Device: Kindles & Samsung Tablet	To be sure, things happen in cycles. Just depends on whether you are one of the lucky ones ... just ask the Romans ... and those who lived in Atlantis, and all those who have suffered genocide, slavery or terrible natural disasters. Who knows, we may even be next. So its not like bad things have always been happening, but don't worry they are all far away, never gonna impact us. So no cause for concern. Everything has a development trajectory. The trick is recognizing the signs, and maybe being able to do something about it. EDIT Some concerns belong to a period of time, and get echoed every generation ... others are ongoing ... no doubt building to a climax. Last edited by Timboli; 07-29-2019 at 04:42 PM.

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07-28-2019, 11:09 PM	#46
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 35,219 Karma: 145277352 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Forma, Clara HD, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	The problem for me is that as I've grown older, I find Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) was all too correct when he wrote: “The test of any good fiction is that you should care something for the characters; the good to succeed, the bad to fail. The trouble with most fiction is that you want them all to land in hell together, as quickly as possible.”

07-29-2019, 03:09 PM	#49
Timboli Fanatic Posts: 570 Karma: 1959510 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: AUS Device: Kindles & Samsung Tablet	Yep, the world is in a weird situation right now. Lots of terrible stuff going on, and that is echoed in our entertainment. Seems the idea of being entertained to feel happy, has to a large degree disappeared in many quarters, which is one of the reasons I like reading Alexander McCall Smith now and then, to break things up. Bad things still happen in his books, but he focuses more on the good in people ... and he is often good naturedly funny. But what can I say, I also choose to read C.J. Box and Val McDermid and some others, who regularly have terrible things happening in their fiction. What a junkie I am. Seems to me we are turning into a world of voyeurs, and on the face of it, that does not seem good, does not promise a nice and peaceful enlightened future.

07-29-2019, 03:15 PM	#50
leebase Karma Kameleon Posts: 2,929 Karma: 26616647 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: iPad Mini, iPhone X, Kindle Fire Tab HD 8, Walmart Onn	I love terrible things in my entertainment. Fighting, violence, betrayal, crime, terrorism...you name it. There just has to be a good guy or gal, hope redemption, purpose. I haven’t decided if I’m going to finish watch I or not

07-29-2019, 03:21 PM	#51
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 27,539 Karma: 193191846 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	The future has always looked bleak to many based on current trends--since time began. And yet here we are... plugging along, finding diamonds in the rough.

07-29-2019, 03:29 PM	#52
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,845 Karma: 128597114 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	To read more books, get off Mobileread. Turn off the TV. Get off social media. get a flip phone. And go read.

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