Well, to be free of knowledge of a greater existence could be construed as better, to live life shallow and imbued with a sense of dull monotony yet safety, albeit waiting for eventual termination. Perhaps? I disagree, however it is a far superior ending to any 'happy ending'.
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I was talking more about the clues dotted around the book, and in particular the part about the terminology of IngSoc that alludes to it not lasting all that long into the future.
But yeah, 1984 confirmed to have one of the most developed endings ever. |
Really? I never got that, I thought Orwell meant to symbolise that such a corrupt and sprawling mass would never end, it would merely stagnate as more and more officials join the Inner Sanctum, allowing old ones to be terminated.
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Read the afterword on doublespeak and that, notice what tense Orwell uses.
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Been reading The World God Only Knows.
Shit be tight. |
I have but I'll re-read it, I'm interested in your viewpoint since it brings hopefulness into the novel. Thanks for pointing this out for me WoF.
EDIT: Ok, I read it, and I believe you are wrong, the story was written in the past tense ans since there is no frame story, he writes the essay in the same tense for sake of ease. INGSOC, I suppose, in retrospect could not fall, since it controls the past, it can control the future. Also it is obvious the Proles are to stupid to rebel. |
I picked up The Road this afternoon and read it in one sitting.
I love weekends. |
I'm reading a comedy by Barry Pain - The Eliza Stories. I think that it's very funny. It's supposed to be a sort of diary of the lead character's, so what you've got is a collection of little stories. I find it quite difficult to stop reading it when I start, but I need to limit myself so that I don't progress through it too quickly.
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i read this epic story called prisoner from birth
i definitely reccomend it |
http://mvmsreader.pbworks.com/f/chin-kee.jpg
American Born Chinese, a graphic novel by Gene Luen Yang. It was actually ages ago that I read it, but it's really, really good. |
I started The Colour of Magic today. I'm really enjoying it so far. I want to keep reading it, which is good because I have to write a piece of work about it that is due in 2 weeks.
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I want to go to your school.
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We have to read a novel of our own choice and do a piece of work around it. I don't think any schools are awesome enough make reading Discworld mandatory.
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I'm reading stranger in a strange land right now. I find it pretty standard fare in terms of the whole "abandoned alien learns about human culture" thing goes. But I'm not too far in, the alien has some pretty cool powers so far Just make things disappear if it wanted them to! and I like Harshaw's character.
Also the cover claims it's supposed to be one of the best science fiction novels ever written so I suppose it was one of the first of its kind regarding the whole alien getting into human culture thing. |
We had to read Lord of the Flies and Inspector Calls when we were doing our English GCSE (that sounds so weird past-tense after three years). LotF is fantastic but Inspector Calls I find less enjoyment reading, although the black and white film is good.
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Inspector Calls was incredible, but you have to see it as a play (although the film you're talking about with Alastair Sim is good, but I felt something was missing in that because of some of the alterations the film makers made). Of course it's not as entertaining to read in literature form, because the visual element (which is essential to a play) is missing. Priestly really conveyed an important point well with that play.
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Indeed, I have a friend whose very right wing who insists it's a load of bollocks. But we really do have to help everyone if we are to function as a successful community.
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I once knew a person who considered herself as what I call a dithering pussyfooter (in terms of political beliefs). Fundamentally, her reason for disliking An Inspector Calls was the fact that Goole "wasn't very kind to the family". She got on my nerves more than the lunatic right-wing people I've known.
That play had a real effect on me when I was an adolescent, especially since I had been developing my own ideas about socialism. I loved the way Priestly rips into the bourgeoisie and the whole idea of the class system. |
I do to, I am firmly a socialist and I believe capitalism will not work now or ever unless it reforms. How could a country survive without the benefit system, and if it wasn't for free NHS care, I would have had a 'retarded' arm since the age of three due to an accident, thank god I don't live in America where my family wouldn't have been able to pay the insurance.
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How thankful?
Sorry, had to be said. |
DANCE WITH DRAGONS
DANCE WITH DRAGONS DANCE WITH DRAGONS DANCE WITH DRAGONS DANCE WITH DRAGONS SIX YEARS MARTIN SIX YEARS THIS BETTER BE GOOD |
Does anyone know if Love and Peace is worth buying?
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It's a bit of a headache though. Only recommended if you have a real passion for history. |
Sorry War and Peace is what I meant, but I do like history. Is it fictitious though?
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Fictional characters, real setting.
I've not read it myself, but I've heard after the halfway point it goes really deep into the philosophy of history and the nature of, well, war and peace. Apparently that disrupts the flow of the plot, but it's also why the novel is so well regarded amongst literature and history buffs. It's a very advanced text though. |
I might get it, probably not until Christmas though. Financial trouble be a bitch.
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Picked up A Dance With Dragons yesterday. Pretty good so far.
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I read Neuromancer.
I can see why it's a cult classic. I mean I can see why it's a cult classic, rather than being loved by everybody. I liked it though. It would make a darned good movie. |
Going Postal.
It's really good so far. It has potential to get better and I'm expecting it to follow through. I'm probably going to read The Light Fantastic after this. |
Going Postal is easily one of the best.
Not too keen on any of them pre-Guards Guards though. |
I didn't like Going Postal. It started off well enough, but after building up the importance of the post office and the piles of mail therein, it burns down and there are no consequences and the matters are never raised again
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I liked Going Postal, though I prefer Thud, Colour of Magic-Light Fantastic, The Last Continent, and Monstrous Regiment.
To be honest though, I think he blew away all his Discworld stuff with Nation, but I haven't read Unseen Academicals or anything else new. |
Unseen Academicals was pretty good, it was quite cinematic. It's got Orcs in it. It also features an excruciating scene where a man wipes a lemon slice over knife cuts in his face.
Not so sure about the football pseudoreligion though. |
I've been slowly getting back into manga recently. My mate lent me a couple of volumes of Bleach and i'm loving them so far. I've missed the manga artstyle :3
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Urgh Bleach.
Urgh. |
Unseed Academicals started well, but didn't maintain the energy. I really liked A Hat Full Of Sky, though.
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Just started reading All The Pretty Horses, by Cormac McCarthy. I just can't put it down.
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Just finished Kevin J Anderson's Terra Incognita Trilogy.
Avoid that shit like the plague. The ending made me so fucking mad. |
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