"It was curious to think that the sky was the same for everybody, in Eurasia or Eastasia as well as here. And the people under the sky were also very much the same—everywhere, all over the world, hundreds or thousands of millions of people just like this, people ignorant of one another's existence, held apart by walls of hatred and lies, and yet almost exactly the same—people who had never learned to think but were storing up in their hearts and bellies and muscles the power that would one day overturn the world." 1984 by George Orwell, Chap 10

I finished 1984 last night. It was really good.

It was a moving piece, I knew that it would be when I started it. I just didn't think it'd be this stirring, I was thinking about it all night long. I really enjoyed some of the arguments for and against self-reality and consciousness that were presented by O'Brian and Smith during Smith's re-training process. Really thought-provoking stuff there, and I suggest everyone read it right now.

I really liked the fact that it never got preachy and overbearing, never felt like some sort of propaganda churned out by those in power. As things tend to do.

So, that's one more classic-novel-notch in my belt. I'm trying to break last summer's record of reading 20 books.

********
Just for my own amusement (and to help me keep track of where my mind has been lately)... These are some of the books on my list:


Catch-22, Joseph Heller
Slaughterhouse Five, Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee
The Sun Also Rises, Ernest Hemingway
Native Son, Richard Wright
The Age of Innocence, Edith Wharton
The Hobbit, J. R. R. Tolkien
Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury
Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier
A Stranger in a Strange Land, Robert Heinlein
The Old Man and the Sea, Ernest Hemmingway
The World According to Garp, John Irving
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Ken Kesey
Exodus, Leon Uris
2001 : A Space Odyssey, Arthur C. Clarke
Under the Volcano, Malcolm Lowry
Roots, Alex Haley
The Way of All Flesh, Samuel Butler
Deliverance, James Dickey
The Secret Agent, Joseph Conrad

Any other suggestions would be great!

Comments:

That was supposed to be Atlas Shrugged not srugged... believe me it isn't over your head... you're a smart cookie. It's a rattling good yarn that makes you think as well

Morning Matt What you will discover is the more you read, the better you're writing will become. What I always do is have a dictionary handy and look up words that I do not know. It will definitly be a plus when you take your Composition classes in college Primarily read non-fiction now. Enjoyed "Cuckoo's Nest," have a hard time with Vonnegut, like F. Scott Fitzgerald ("Great Gatsby" ROCKS!), Stephen King, Nathaniel Hawthorne ("Scarlet Letter") and would like to read "A Clockwork Orange" and "Deliverance." Never read "1984" but I am sure it would be interesting philosophically. You should check out the movie version of "Mockingbird;" excellent!! So many classics, so little time...enjoy

Also, Hunt up what you can of the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers Comic Books, they are out in coffeetable books, buy them Used, if not wet or Moldy. Excellent fun! Twisted Humor! Stephy

comment by thestephymore on June 29, 2008 3:16 AM ()

I'll give them a try. Thanks, Stephy

reply by mattguru18 on June 30, 2008 9:32 AM ()

Howard Zinn's "Peoples History of the United States" Helped me question what I was taught. It's now in it's fifth edition or so. John Gardener's "Grendl" Beowulf from the monster's point of view; purely for fun. You'll love the Dragon's attitude! Probably most fun is "ShrinkLits: Seventy of the World's Towering Classics Cut Down to Size" by Maurice Sagoff. Lots of Heavy Literature reduced to poetic form, maintaining the integrity of the plots & characters. Funny! I howled! Enjoy. If they never let you read "Gilgamesh", now is the time! John Gardner translated it, but there are newer translations. Have a wonderful Summer, kiddo. Love & hugs and keep in touch!

comment by thestephymore on June 29, 2008 3:11 AM ()

People's history of the United States sounds like an interesting book. I'll definitely check that one out. The "Grendl" book also sounds like something I'd enjoy reading.
Thanks for the recommendations

reply by mattguru18 on June 30, 2008 9:36 AM ()

Of Human Bondage-William Somerset Maugham. This a great, yet incredibly sad book about the dissapointments in life and the way that they are dealt with.
Still Life With Woodpecker- Tom Robbins. A novel concerning the love affair between an environmentalist princess and an outlaw. As with most of Robbins' books, it encompasses a broad range of topics, from aliens and redheads to consumerism, the building of bombs, romance, royalty, the moon, and a pack of Camel cigarrettes.

If you read nothing else this summer try for "Still Life..." if for no other reason then to read a book with these words in it

“Now tequila may be the favoured beverage of outlaws but that doesn't mean it gives them preferential treatment. In fact, tequila probably has betrayed as many outlaws as has the central nervous system and dissatisfied wives. Tequila, scorpion honey, harsh dew of the doglands, essence of Aztec, crema de cacti; tequila, oily and thermal like the sun in solution; tequila, liquid geometry of passion; Tequila, the buzzard god who copulates in midair with the ascending souls of dying virgins; tequila, firebug in the house of good taste; O tequila, savage water of sorcery, what confusion and mischief your sly, rebellious drops do generate!” - actually if you can get any book by Tom Robbins you will have a great time,lots of fun reading it, and actually learn a thing or two

comment by ducky on June 28, 2008 5:32 PM ()

I'll pick up "Still life" -- sounds like a book that is worth reading. I loved the quote from it. Thanks for the recommendations!

reply by mattguru18 on June 30, 2008 9:38 AM ()

A fine list. Atlas Srugged, by Ayn Rand is the book that reignited the world's love affair with laissez faire capitalism, and inspired Reagan and Thatcher to their excesses. It is so sad that Rand's excellent ideas should have been so perverted over the last couple of decades

comment by clovis on June 28, 2008 4:52 PM ()

That was supposed to be Atlas Shrugged not srugged... believe me it isn't over your head... you're a smart cookie. It's a rattling good yarn that makes you think as well.

reply by clovis on July 1, 2008 12:54 AM ()

The book sounds like it might be a tad over my head.
I'll give it a try though. Thanks for the recommendation.

reply by mattguru18 on June 30, 2008 9:40 AM ()

comment by itsjustme on June 28, 2008 4:22 PM ()

The kite runner is a great book.
I read it last summer.

reply by mattguru18 on June 30, 2008 9:42 AM ()

comment by elfie33 on June 28, 2008 3:19 PM ()

Stephen King rocks. He's an amazing writer.
I'm looking forward to reading To Kill A Mockingbird a lot. This is a book that I've been meaning to read for the past two years but never got around to it. I want to see the film after I finish the book. Thanks for your recommendations, Elfie! I appreciate it.

reply by mattguru18 on June 30, 2008 9:46 AM ()

I still want you to read "Gone With The Wind" to see if you change your mind!

comment by greatmartin on June 28, 2008 3:06 PM ()

Still on that!
It's a LONG novel, Martin.
I'll put it on next summer's reading list...::promise::

reply by mattguru18 on June 30, 2008 9:53 AM ()

comment by lunarhunk on June 28, 2008 2:56 PM ()

Thanks

reply by mattguru18 on June 30, 2008 9:49 AM ()