Marius..mmmm.

Ciaan · Post by **Ciaan** » Thu Apr 04, 2002 12:23 pm

HHmmm... I basically read sci-fi or fantasy, or classic stuff.
Does religion count as fantasy? I'm reading "The Screwtape Letters" by C.S. Lewis, and I'd like to state that his blatantly Christian books are *much* better than his thinly-disguised Christian books (having become fed up with Narnia even as a small child, I'm amazed that I like this so much). The book is a set of letters written by one demon to his protege, telling him how to lead Christians astray, so it may be considered fantasy by some, but really it's a religious tract. Or you could go with something like Gilgamesh, or the Iliad. I can recommend some good translations of Gilgamesh. Unless, since it's an English class, it's supposed to be stuff originally in English? Then pick someone like Oscar Wilde. Or Henry James. Or you could read Strangers In Paradise by Terry Moore (hey, it's not sci-fi or fantasy... Did the teacher say comics didn't count?) If nothing else works, there's always Shakespeare.....
And that's my first-thing-of-the-day ramble.

Indigodazed · Post by **Indigodazed** » Thu Apr 04, 2002 1:50 pm

Well, if you're going to read Oscar Wilde, it's necessary to read The Importance of Being Earnest. What a wonderfully hilarious story. And, if it has to be a classic, Maurice by E M Forrester is lovely and rather slashy as well.

Ravenine · Post by **Ravenine** » Thu Apr 04, 2002 4:32 pm

well, you could read francesca lia block, cos she doesn't write fantasy/sci-fi, but she's pretty new, and not many people have heard of her. plus most of her books and stories have something wonderful in them about homosexuality, and your english teacher sounds pretty uptight. that really sucks. sorry about that. i don't got no more.

Lashana · Post by **Lashana** » Thu Apr 04, 2002 8:04 pm

Accually, she's not at all homophobic, just insane. It really makes no sense because she let last semester's class do fantsy and sci-fi (my friends did Douglas Adams and David Eddings). And Anne Rice is allowable but not Robert Hienlien. *shrug* Go figure. And one of my friends accualy is doing a comic (the Fushigi Yuugi manga to be precise). I think that is in part due to Ms. Kolybaba not understanding quite what is meant by the term "graffic novel" ^_^;;. Anyways, I think I'm going to be able to convince her to let me do the Gormenghast Trilogy...I mean they don't keep it in the fantasy section at the bookstore...

14thDomino · Post by **14thDomino** » Thu Apr 04, 2002 10:01 pm

Fancesca Lia Block's not that new... 'Weetzie Bat' came out in 89.

Hmm... Good authors that are not sci-fi or fiction. I confess, you've ruled out most of my reading material. How about Amy Tan? Or Gail Tsukiyama. They're good, but rather rambling and they focus on just about the whole life of a person or two. Don't know if that's what you want.

OH! Read 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower.' Wonderful, amazing book that may have been mentioned already, but I haven't gone through the whole thread.

About HP... I know people take it as a point of pride to not have read them, but there is a reason that they're so freakishly popular. And it's not because they're frightening slashable... O.o it's because they're frighteningly enchanting. Really, they are. I want to go to Hogwarts.

Sometime later I'll go analyze my book collection and perhaps find something better for you. Off the top of my head, I suggest the author of 'High Fidelity.' That was a good book, and he also did one called whose title I can't exactly remember, called 'Story of a Boy' or something that was very good, as well. *shrug*

Ryan

Ciaan · Post by **Ciaan** » Thu Apr 04, 2002 10:22 pm

On 2002-04-04 22:01, 14thDomino wrote:

OH! Read 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower.' Wonderful, amazing book that may have been mentioned already, but I haven't gone through the whole thread.

That book was wonderful. So sad.... Oh yes, it was awesome.

Tirtzah · Post by **Tirtzah** » Fri Apr 05, 2002 12:36 pm

re: Harry Potter. Yeah, seriously, I know a lot of the time there are popular things that are just horrible but they become popular anyway ::coughcoughBrintneySpearscoughcough::. But in this case the reason Harry Potter is popular is cause they're actually really good, and funny. I don't know anyone who's read them who doesn't love them. ::shrug::

Anyway books... hmm Catch 22 was my favorite book that I read in high school, it's really funny, though all bizzare and non-linear.

Ravenine · Post by **Ravenine** » Sat Apr 06, 2002 4:45 pm

i only meant that francesca lia block is newer than most authors. that and most people haven't heard of her. oh well. you gotta put your behind in the past.

Phyrbyrd · Post by **Phyrbyrd** » Mon Apr 15, 2002 4:39 pm

OK, this english teacher of yours sounds like a bitch. How about Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman? It doesn't look like sci-fi or fantasy to me, (or rather, I can excuse it as something other than sci-fi or fantasy if I try) and it's one cool book.

Alison · Post by **Alison** » Thu Apr 18, 2002 5:04 pm

If you're gonna read Gormengast (which you should) I'd recommend only doing the first two, as the third is completely different in style and tone.
Also, props for having actually found it, I had to try three bookstores, and that was right after the miniseries!

Akkue · Post by **Akkue** » Fri Oct 25, 2002 11:49 pm

fantasy: The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley, Not: Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut Jr (for the cynic in all of us), or Rebecca by Daphne DuMarier *should be able to spell french last names but can't* so i'm only a second year.... The whole reason why i read Rebecca was because Daphne Dumarier was mentioned in 10 Things I Hate About You and that is one of the best movies in existance. I'm really glad I did, though, it's such a good book!!! Those are probably my three favorite books... OOH! and Naked by David Sedaris... and Harry Potter.....

Akkue · Post by **Akkue** » Sat Oct 26, 2002 1:48 am

*realizes she just added to a post that hadn't been added to since march* erm, excuse me...

Werechick · Post by **Werechick** » Sun Oct 27, 2002 11:48 am

Tirtzah wrote:Oooh Christian Bale. I <3 him. Though I love Ewan too. Ack, I'm all conflicted. Maybe if they get one to play Remus and one to play Sirus? Oooh that would probably be more than my slashy heart could take. ^^

Yay for slashy subtext! (Think about it... Remus *is* a man eating beast once a month... 0,o)

LivingInTheRed · Post by **LivingInTheRed** » Tue Oct 29, 2002 4:08 pm

Zan, is the the church of ziggy *stardust*??? Sorry, randomness there....
Anyone see christian in Newsies? anyone?