|
What is the last good book you read? (pg. 7)
|
View this Thread in Original format
| MrJiveBoJingles |
| quote: | Originally posted by Lira
...unless I’m reading a philosophical novel of some sort (reason why Dostoevsky’s “Notes from the Underground” is among my favourite books), I’d rather watch a film (or a play) instead. That’s why I don’t read fiction as often as I read non-fiction: Most of the time, when I read a book, I feel like someone’s telling me a story, whereas a film makes me feel I’m really an eye-witness. It's much more powerful. Seeing na actor crying is far more real to me than just reading about that a character is in tears. |
Yeah, this is mostly true. Films / plays and novels are suited to different kinds of stories. Generalization:
Films and plays are best at depicting action and dramatic sequences of events, while books are best at exploring the mind of an individual with regard to psychology, philosophy, and motivation.
Books are generally poor at "action," because in the end you just have words on a page plus the very limited imagination of your readers. Films are generally poor at exploring individual psychology in any depth, because ultimately you're limited to external visuals and sounds unless you have voiceovers broadcasting the thoughts of the characters (but lots of moviegoers find that annoying). Films let you give a level of visual and audio detail that would be impossible or tedious in a book, while books let you go into a psychological depth that wouldn't play well on the big screen.
The novelist John Fowles wrote an essay about this, and his basic point was that movies are taking over things that books didn't do very effectively in the first place, like depicting visuals and "action." Another effect of this is that people who would have read books to get their dose of action-packed stories (had they been born before the twentieth century) are watching movies instead. |
|
|
| pkcRAISTLIN |
| quote: | Originally posted by Krypton
Consider how one such as myself thinks. I am an analytical thinker. I don't really have an understanding of metaphors or abstract literary messages. |
that's not what he was saying. fiction is a wonderful method of passing commentary on very real-life situations, where you're not burdened by truth.
for instance, i think battlestar galactica and law & order have made more profound commentaries on iraq than a most of the news "highlights". |
|
|
| smakmagik |
Rohinton Mistry - A Fine Balance
The best book I have ever come across. |
|
|
| Lira |
| quote: | Originally posted by lücid
i had mine first. |
But mine is more rebellious!!! :toothless
(Kay, I'll find something else :p) |
|
|
| nefardec |
currently reading this:
 |
|
|
| daydreamer |
| Blackwater : The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army |
|
|
| Lebezniatnikov |
| quote: | Originally posted by Lira
Although I agree with you, unless I’m reading a philosophical novel of some sort (reason why Dostoevsky’s “Notes from the Underground” is among my favourite books), I’d rather watch a film (or a play) instead. That’s why I don’t read fiction as often as I read non-fiction: Most of the time, when I read a book, I feel like someone’s telling me a story, whereas a film makes me feel I’m really an eye-witness. It's much more powerful. Seeing na actor crying is far more real to me than just reading about that a character is in tears.
So, my criticism regarding most novels, is not that they don’t depict reality. They often do. Well, I’m at work now, and I don’t think I can summarise my ideas as quickly as I would like to but, do you know what I mean? |
It makes sense but I don't agree. :p
I feel more in touch with the characters in a novel than those in a movie, probably because the length of the movie hardly allows for an introduction to a character's state of mind and set of emotions the way a book can do in just a few pages. Movies to me are like abridged versions of novels, with all of the social commentary and psychology cut out in favor of the action stuff. Some movies of course strike this balance better than others, but for the most part I will take a truly good book over a truly good film any day. |
|
|
| Esiotrat |
Dan Brown - Angels & Demons.
Also, I read American Psycho while I was incredibly sick with a painful stomach ailment. Not a good move, but a good book. |
|
|
| UWM |
Awesome.
I've been trying to read a lot lately. I don't know why. Also 1984, Fahrenheit 451, Life of Pi and Breakfast of Champions in the past 2 weeks. |
|
|
| iammesol |
| Stephen Colbert - I Am America (And So Can You!) |
|
|
| shapes |
| quote: | Originally posted by iammesol
1984 by George Orwell.  |
I tried to read that, but the beginning was so boring I left it in my bag for 2 months and returned it to the library. I couldn't get passed the beginning :wtf:
But...Blowback by Chalmers Johnson |
|
|
| barbina |
I just read Wicked and The Red Tent by Anita Diamant.
Loved both of them.
 |
|
|
|
|
