No, but looks interesting though....

Quote from Manick

Recently, I have become interested in reading novels that contain more philosophical and propositional aspects than those of fiction--for instance, reading a novel of a famous professor or political candidate. While reading these I find that I am more satisfied with the time spent and the knowledge gained.

I don't really like political books, I feel they are way to biased and don't deliver a truthful information... When I'm reading one I feel as if I'm beeing brainwashed.
And most of them try to give proof by using something like this: "The research n°19821491b conducted by X-labs proves that I'm correct". And I have a hard time trusting them with just that. If I did, now I would think that Ben Laden actually works for the CIA and is having a secret relationship with Paris Hilton...

Well, you have to decide what's biased and what's not. It may possibly even give you a better sense of what is biased in the future. For instance, it's helped me pick out things on cnn, fox news, and other news sources/sites which are biased (or not newsworthy). Politically (this was just one of the types of novels I was talking about), I think it's important to understand and try to figure out where a candidate for congress or whatever is coming from, so that you can know whether they're full of **** or not.

deleted

I wonder how it feels to read Dostoevsky in English and how does his style actually transfer into another language. Because I know there are certain Russian authors who are basically untranslatable into English, like Pushkin. I mean there are translations, but they do not carry the genious of the original. Same can apply to any language.

Don't waste your time or time will waste you.

for manick

                   Stewart/Colbert 2008!!

for gediminas

            russian translates into other languages exactly as other langauages translate into others. 

                       I myself think translated versions of books that rely heavely on the plot work fine. But funny stuff ( terry pratchett for example ) and all thips of poems don't survive translation. 

I love to read, but just like TofuQueen I really don't have the time. I just finished some novel I can't remember the name of. This happens quite often. The last book before that one I picked up at the airport. I think it was called Good Omens and it was a fun read.

The HP books are something we have parties and cosplay for...
A great series is Jean Auel's (sp?) Earth's Childrens series - Clan of the Cave Bear and such. I used to be a rabid Anne Rice fan. Up until baby, though, all I was reading were scientific papers. The last one I read was called Differential regulation of symmetry genes and the evolution of floral morphologies, but I don't really know much about plants so I found Comparative studies on limb morphogenesis in mice and bats: a functional genetic approach towards a molecular understanding of diversity in organ formation, to be a much better read.

Does this qualify me as a nerd or am I still only at dork status?

Oh - and to the Russians - I hope to God that Tolstoy is better untranslated because The Death of Ivan Ilyich almost caused my own death.

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v470/heardtheowl/lovesweat.jpg[/img]

Reading is great! Too bad most translated books are usually abridged so you lose out on alot of the author's original intent... don't get me wrong! There are great books out there that are very nicely translated, I'm just saying it's a shame some things just can't make it past the language barrier...kind of like anime/manga sometimes. You just need it to be in the original language to understand some of the subtleties.

I really like to read, and I read fast! YeY. Too bad it makes me burn through manga really fast too. I'm like that for anime too, some of my friends dislike subtitles because they say they can't focus on reading and watching at the same time, but I just like...I don't know, just like kind of absorb it without really paying attention? Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Like you kind of unconsciously read and process things?

I've read tons of books, probably more books than manga. I'm mostly a sci-fi and fantasy reader as well. My favorite author is probably Mercedes Lackey.

If you want a list of authors I remember reading 2 or more books from, here it is:

Piers Anthony
Robert Asprin
Lynne Reid Banks
Anne Bishop
Patricia Briggs
Terry Brooks
Dan Brown
Lois McMaster Bujold
Jacqueline Carey
C.J. Cherryh
Dawn Cook
Rick Cook
John Dalmas
Charles Dickens
David Drake
Raymond E. Feist
Alan Dean Foster
Peter Garrison
Elizabeth Haydon
Robin Hobb
James P. Hogan
Brian Jacques
Gregory J. Keyes
Mercedes Lackey
C.S. Lewis
Jane Lindskold
Holly Lisle
Anne McCaffrey
Robin McKinley
L.E. Modesitt
Elizabeth Moon
Andre Norton
Tamora Pierce
Terry Pratchett
John Ringo
J.K. Rowling
Fred Saberhagen
R.A. Salvatore
Neal Stephenson
R.L. Stine
S.M. Stirling
J.R.R. Tolkien
David Weber
Lauren Weisberger
Steve White

I'm probably missing a lot more authors, but these are the ones I remember. I can't say that I recommend them to people though, because I'm not that confident in my tastes. 😐

Quote from FuN!

I really like to read, and I read fast! YeY. Too bad it makes me burn through manga really fast too. I'm like that for anime too, some of my friends dislike subtitles because they say they can't focus on reading and watching at the same time, but I just like...I don't know, just like kind of absorb it without really paying attention? Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Like you kind of unconsciously read and process things?

Yep, I know exactly what you mean. I have been known to go get something from the kitchen while watching anime/dorama, and then have a moment of shock - "Wha-? Oooh right, I have to be able to see the screen to actually understand what they're saying..."
🤣 Mostly I don't even think about having to read the subs.

"[English] not only borrows words from other languages; it has on occasion chased other languages down dark alley-ways, clubbed them unconscious and rifled their pockets for new vocabulary."
-James Nicoll, can.general, March 21, 1992

I like frustratedguy's style. I too am mainly a sci-fi fantasy reader so I second his choices.

Piers Anthony, Robert Asprin, and Terry Pratchett are good, funny reads. They don't take themselves too seriously, especially Piers Anthony's Xanth series.

A couple additions of myown would include: Terry Goodkind (Sword of Truth series) and George R. R. Martin (Song of Ice & Fire series)

As for western comics, only thing I can think of off the top of my head is "The Walking Dead".

Stay away from Robert Jordan (Wheel of Time) if you like the story feature called CHARACTER DEVELPOMENT. (IMHO)

Quote from FuN!

I really like to read, and I read fast! YeY. Too bad it makes me burn through manga really fast too. I'm like that for anime too, some of my friends dislike subtitles because they say they can't focus on reading and watching at the same time, but I just like...I don't know, just like kind of absorb it without really paying attention? Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Like you kind of unconsciously read and process things?

Soul brother!
kidding aside, really know what you mean. I can't understand people that have problems reading while sitting in a car or something like that. I even read while walking sometimes.

I think i started this thread or something so i might be repeating myself here.

   I'm just reading the last Robert Jordan (Wheel of Time) book and it really isn't a good book. 

      Just a tip for those epic fantasy fans: Steven Ericson, and as MAD said George R. R. Martin. 

I just read a really good Neil Gaiman book. He is a famous comic book auther ( sandman ) and also wrote good omens with terry pratchet. I just read american gods, and its sort of like terry pratchets small gods in real america. But it is a serious adult book, really loved it.

Quote from bully_jesus

Soul brother!
kidding aside, really know what you mean. I can't understand people that have problems reading while sitting in a car or something like that. I even read while walking sometimes.

I know! I don't understand how people have problems reading in cars or planes or trains or boats...or moving things? I guess it's motion sickness? But the people I know who get it say it's only from reading otherwise they don't feel sick or headachey.

I really liked reading books based on Magic: The Gathering...but some of the stories aren't very big on character development 😢

Quote from FuN!

I don't understand how people have problems reading in cars or planes or trains or boats...or moving things? I guess it's motion sickness? But the people I know who get it say it's only from reading otherwise they don't feel sick or headachey.

Didn't bother me when I was younger, but I do get headaches & generally just feel "icky" if I do anything in the car that requires me to focus on something inside the car for long - reading, looking at maps, playing a game, etc. It sucks. 😢

"[English] not only borrows words from other languages; it has on occasion chased other languages down dark alley-ways, clubbed them unconscious and rifled their pockets for new vocabulary."
-James Nicoll, can.general, March 21, 1992