Archived threads in /lit/ - Literature - 1535. page
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Best translations of the Tao Te Ching?
I've seen a lot, and they usually have one of two problems: either they're inaccurate because they're written by some white hippie who doesn't know the first thing about ancient Chinese, or they're illegible because they're written by a scholar.
I like the Derek Lin one because it's accurate and the Ron Hogan one because it's fun, but I would REALLY like to find a readable one with translators notes, especially in a pdf or epub format so that I can just tap links as I'm reading.
Also...
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i get what you're saying about the mitchell but i still like it because he is a good poet.
there's no such thing as a great translation. the best we can do is read several.
as a side note, i've heard to reach the highest levels of tai chi, you HAVE to learn chinese.
>>7379789
>illegible because they're written by a scholar
Huh? Why would that make it illegible?
I just use the Waley one. Probably the broadest impact on Western understanding of it.
How can i write a rape scene?
Is there any example of a good scene of that kind that i can check? My protagonist gets beaten, raped, humiliated, nearly castrated and mindbroken, and i want to make it as terrible as it sounds, not some disgusting fucked up fetish fuel. Is this even possible? Should i just imply the rape like a pussy and not write it? Its supposed to have a lot to do with his psychological trauma afterwards on the story, so i thought i should write it, but at the same time i dont want it to feel edgy or forced.
Help me anons, or just tell me if you...
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>>7379733
>>>gif
make sure you keep it light. Maybe have a comic relief character like Giz the Munchkin say things like 'He's gonna feel that in the morning'. Hope this helps
Be careful. How important is this rape scene for your story? Sometimes, looking away and letting the reader's imagination fill in the blanks is the best choice, but it's up to you. Watch Irreversible. And I don't think mind break can happen like it does in them doujins. Research your subject. This is something where treading in people's toes is a very bad idea. Be careful.
>reading classics with historical footnotes
>reading classics in any form but the original manuscript
>>7379632
>>7379632
But that is my favourite
>my favorite book is Catcher in the rye
damn, Sam Hyde is hot
>>7379601
>unironically reading books
>>7379611
This.
What does /lit/ think of Michael Moorcock?
>>7379550
His last name describes op's thirst for male genitalia
>>7379550
I'd've changed my name desu.
Authors in bad ass hats thread.
>>7379564
>>/b/
Last year I read Donna Tartt's The Secret History. Although I found the book quite flawed and the narrative just too over the top for me to enjoy it, there was one thing which I liked: the setting. It had that sort of "Autumn-in-Vermont" kinda feel. I don't know how to explain it quite correctly, but think of those 13 states which were colonies in the East Coast, add up some England-y feel and you probably know what I mean.
Do you have any books to recommend which have such setting? Bonus points if it is inside an university or educational institution,...
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>>7379527
'Death is the mother of beauty,' said Henry.
'And what is beauty?'
'Terror.'
'Well said,' said Julian. 'Beauty is rarely soft or consolatory. Quite the contrary. Genuine beauty is always quite alarming.'
I looked at Camilla, her face bright in the sun, and thought of that line from the Iliad I love so much, about Pallas Athene and the terrible eyes shining.
'And if beauty is terror,' said Julian, 'then what is desire? We think we...
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>>7379559
*whistles teakettle
Come on guys, I know you can recommend me something good. I'm counting on you.
Is he the right-wing Camus?
>>7379524
what is his most redpilled book? he looks like someone who could BTFO jews
>>7379524
Meaning what exactly?
He get a non-philosophy degree? His method for dealing with existentialism is to recommit to the church and state?
Dude... Jews, lmao...
Are there any worthwhile literary works in Dutch?
De avonden
Max Havelaar
Snikken en grimlachjes
Belcampo
Bordewijk
>>7379438
Everything by Nescio.
What does /lit/ think of this dude?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jR89dGBPJbQ
he's pretty ok. very superficial however and acts a little too much for my taste.
Couldn't even finish the video.
>>7379382
I kinda agree. I can't really say he's any better or worse than other "booktubers" because god knows I can't even get through one of their videos before I get bored either of their presentation or material.
On the whole, I think video reviews of books are difficult to pull off just by the nature of the format. Most reviewers will give a brief summary of the plot, give some long-winded or blathering opinion about how they "felt" about it and call this "insight" or "analysis,"...
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Hey bois, just finished reading The Brothers Karamazov and subsequently finished with Dostoevsky.
Which of the Russians should I tackle next? I've read quite a few of Tolstoy's short stories but nothing substantial. I was also thinking of getting some books by Gogol for Christmas.
Also Russian /lit/ general I guess.
>>7379348
I would recommend going with Gogol, Tolstoy, and Pushkin. Then go and read Petersburg by Andrei Bely.
>>7379369
Nice one cheers, anon
What are the major works I read for each? Reading everything by Dost was quite a marathon, probably just gonna cherry pick the best ones for now
>>7379348
Gogol is the comfy master
Who /prolificreader/ here?
>tfw I read 27 pages today
>>7379315
such a /prolificreader/, I envy you.
>>7379320
Thank you.
>He thinks 27 pages a day is prolific
I read the Bible, Old and New Testament (Douay-Rheims), in 2 days. Then I read immediately re-read it for a closer reading over the course of a week.
I started reading Dostoyevsky's 'Demons', and I already like it. For the most part, I find it humorous, considering how much the characters so far remind me of modern-day hipsters, Tumblrinas, and edgy contrarians. Stepan is like a Tumblrina - unknown, unimportant, but he has a victim complex and thinks he's "exiled" due to his edgy 'progressive' views (which he mainly holds just because he likes to play the part of an exiled philosopher), despite his stay at the provincial town being self-imposed.
I love when Varvara and Stepan...
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>>7379312
I'm glad to see some love for this book. It's possibly my second favorite Dostoevsky. Yes, it does get better and it gets crazy. I hope you continue to enjoy it.
>>7379372
Which is your favorite, then? I've read The Brothers Karamazov, but I'm already enjoying The Demons much more. I want to read The Idiot, some day too.
>>7379473
My favorite is the Brothers Karamazov. Nothing can top that for me. Just a fantastic work.
what is 'start with the greeks'
what does it mean
what works come under 'the greeks'
who are 'the greeks'
what does one read after 'the greeks'
Sticky
>>7379292
It' a general guide or suggestion. They started so much, it's all up to you where you'd like to start with them. Homer, the playwrights, pre or post Socratic philosophy, the historians, the myths. Do what you want. I would only suggest skipping the Christians.
>>7379292
I consider the greeks part of a group of texts that form the foundation of western literature, which consists of The Illiad, The Odyssey, The Epic of Gilgamesh and The Bible. These are the 4 major works anyone who wants to get into literature should get acquainted with with, in my opinion.
Do you read young adult litterature?
All the time and with great enthusiasm. But not that.
>>7379251
That's some poor bait quality, try harder next time.
>>7379258
I'm not even trolling, I have a lot of YA stuff in my bookshelf.
Is Freud worth reading if you treat his work more like philosophy than psychology? I don't mind unverifiable bullshit so long as it doesn't pretend to be science.
>>7379179
>I don't mind unverifiable bullshit so long as it doesn't pretend to be science.
Then don't read Freud.
He's worth reading because he wrote thousands of pages of literary theory.
