FabSwingers.com forum: Literature

By *anjoPaterson1971 OP Man
over a year ago

Glasgow

I noticed with some considerable pleasure that there appear to be some very cultured people on the forum having read the poetry thread. Following on from that thread I was just wondering what is the favourite book of the forum users? For me it's Too Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, I first read it in 4th year at school and I must have read it another 30 times since then. I love the moral of the story, the characters and the amazing way that the author through her writing can transport me back to that particular period of time in the deep south of the US. Does anyone else have a book like this?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Anything by Marquis de Sade

Pmsl!

On a serious note though, I have many books in my collection that are just fantastic and there's too many to write down.

Reading keeps me sane

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I do enjoy a dip into my complete works of Shakespeare. There's something for every mood from Midsummer Nights Dream to The Tempest.

The Merchant of Venice ...happy memories from school...

The quality of mercy is not strain'd,

It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven

Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest;

It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:

'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes

The throned monarch better than his crown;

His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,

The attribute to awe and majesty,

Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;

But mercy is above this sceptred sway;

It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,

It is an attribute to God himself;

And earthly power doth then show likest God's

When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew,

Though justice be thy plea, consider this,

That, in the course of justice, none of us

Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy;

And that same prayer doth teach us all to render

The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much

To mitigate the justice of thy plea;

Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice

Must needs give sentence 'gainst the merchant there.

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By *anjoPaterson1971 OP Man
over a year ago

Glasgow

"I do enjoy a dip into my complete works of Shakespeare. There's something for every mood from Midsummer Nights Dream to The Tempest.

The Merchant of Venice ...happy memories from school...

The quality of mercy is not strain'd,

It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven

Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest;

It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:

'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes

The throned monarch better than his crown;

His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,

The attribute to awe and majesty,

Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;

But mercy is above this sceptred sway;

It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,

It is an attribute to God himself;

And earthly power doth then show likest God's

When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew,

Though justice be thy plea, consider this,

That, in the course of justice, none of us

Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy;

And that same prayer doth teach us all to render

The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much

To mitigate the justice of thy plea;

Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice

Must needs give sentence 'gainst the merchant there."

Absolutely blown away by this one, The Bard being quoted on such a forum...so fantastic! My favourite quote from Shakespeare? Othello "To mourn a mischief that is past and gone is the next way to draw new mischief on"

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By *oobsandballsMan
over a year ago

st andrews

I'm a Terry Pratchett fan so his Discworld books are like home to me

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By *anjoPaterson1971 OP Man
over a year ago

Glasgow

"I'm a Terry Pratchett fan so his Discworld books are like home to me

I've heard so many people rave about the Discworld series...I must check them out some time

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By *oobsandballsMan
over a year ago

st andrews

They're great, I would suggest as it's almost Christmas you start with Hogfather

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By *inkyBrianMan
over a year ago

glasgow

"Anything by Marquis de Sade

Pmsl!

You should check out some Nexus publications, i get the feeling that you may like some

lol

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Frankenstein. Probably like many, I picked it up years ago expecting it to be about 'the monster' but it wasn't a tale about that at all. Romance, morality, religion and friendship. Great read.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Choosing a favourite book would be like choosing a favourite child! I've read and enjoyed a lot of Angela Carter & Ali Smith though. Brilliant with form and story, both.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

When I want a serious half hour with my thoughts its The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran. When I want a wee giggle its Marian Keyes.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Thoms Firbank's "I Bought a Mountain" great description of fitting into a community whilst beibg different.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I'm a Terry Pratchett fan so his Discworld books are like home to me

I've read all the classics mum had in her bookshelf over & over again & they are great.

But nothing makes me laugh, let's me de-stress & cheers me up like a bit of Nanny Ogg & Granny Weatherwax and their "headology"

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By *oobsandballsMan
over a year ago

st andrews

"I'm a Terry Pratchett fan so his Discworld books are like home to me

I've read all the classics mum had in her bookshelf over & over again & they are great.

But nothing makes me laugh, let's me de-stress & cheers me up like a bit of Nanny Ogg & Granny Weatherwax and their "headology"

To me, Maggie Smith is Granny Weatherwax. I think of Minerva McGonagall as a distant relative

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Papillon by Henri Charriere.

Regardless of how much of his tales are true or not,he certainly lived an extraordinary life and was a born storyteller.

His style of writing flows effortlessly from pen to page,the use of distinctive words and phrases of his era transports the reader to his word so vividly at times it felt like I was there myself!

It's quite a long book but captures the imagination so well I could hardly put it down and read it within a week which is hardcore reading for me!

I must have read it 10 plus times over the years and it's enthralling appeal never falters,in fact I haven't read it for a couple of years now so think I'll have another bash at it very soon!

His other book (Banco) about his adventures after his escape from penal is definitely worth a read as well.

To summarize I'll say that Papillon is my favourite read of all time,a tale of survival,hope,freedom and the strength and resilience of the human spirit

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By *ary_ArgyllMan
over a year ago

Argyll

Hard to say a favorite by I enjoyed Sbastian Faulks Birdsong and Human Traces is excellent, on a lighter note also early Alastair Reynolds SF but not so keen on later works. Ian M Banks excluding a couple of titles.

May be we should start a Fab Bookclub?

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By *ary_ArgyllMan
over a year ago

Argyll

Oh well that seems to have killed this thread!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Oh well that seems to have killed this thread!"

I would be up for a book club..

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By *ary_ArgyllMan
over a year ago

Argyll

Would it have to be virtual or could we all meet up somewhere? Wonder how many would be interested?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Ewan Morrison's books are very good. Especially 'Swung', which is about a couple exploring swinging in Glasgow.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Love the viz stories can't wait to see what they fat slags and sid the sexist will get up to next the dirty wee rascals

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By *lba couple1Couple
over a year ago

glasgow

Don't need a list , if I'm horny I read adult sex, if I'm mysterious then I read a thriller, if I'm really desperate I read a romance xxxx

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Would it have to be virtual or could we all meet up somewhere? Wonder how many would be interested?"

Distance would probably make it difficult to meet up I guess...depends on the interest.So far its you and me so we just need a phone box somewhere.

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By *ary_ArgyllMan
over a year ago

Argyll

Yes not sure this is going to work - whatever happened to virtual reality -it was supposed to make things like this so easy

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By *andACouple
over a year ago

glasgow

Just finished The Gulag Archipelago (the abridged version)

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Good shout on The Prophet, very simple book but special.

For me though its between,

On the Road-Jack Kerouac

Fear&Loathing in Las Vegas-H.S.Thompson

The Great Gatsby - F.S.Fitzgerald

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

The Godfather by Mario Puzo

Most of you will have seen the film but the book is even better ??

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