Greetings from literarycompass

I'm looking forward to the discussions here!

Welcome! I hope you enjoy your time here.


What types of books do you enjoy reading?

I used to be a huge fantasy/sci-fi reader, but I don't read much of those genres anymore, unless it's an older classic I may have missed. Then I spent some time immersing myself in mysteries and westerns so I could talk to my eighth grade students about them with more confidence. I have such limited time to read, I spend most of my time now reading the "great books," trying to understand the world a little better. I am also interested in reading Catholic literature.

How about you?

Welcome to the forum!. You will find more than your fill here. Not much of a sci-fi person, though what would you recommend?

Here are two of the best:

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
Dune by Frank Herbert

I have been trying to catch up on all the classics of literature, AND keep up with new literary and popular fiction, AND research for my own historical novels -- and am always behind. Do you feel that way too, I wonder? Especially with Don Quixote not being exactly a quick read... Your tastes certainly sound broad. What's next on your list, in the great books variety? How many books are you currently reading?
Linda Collison/Star-Crossed

Yes, I often feel that there are so many books and so little time. But I recently came across this quote by one of my literary heroes, Mortimer Adler, that helps me when I get anxious to hurry through the book I am currently reading:

It's not now many books you get through, it's how many books get through you.

I have recently discovered the joys of unabridged audio books, and that's how I'm able to "read" Don Quixote at the same time that I'm reading How to Think about the Great Ideas. I listen to Don Quixote in the car on my way to school and it puts me in a great frame of mind for teaching.

I myself have given up trying to keep up with new books. I have been burned on so many new titles that have turned out to be duds, that I am pretty much sticking to the great books. Take, for example, The World is Flat, by Thomas Friedman. Many people were raving about this book, so I checked it out from the library, and was very disappointed in it. Occasionally, however, something new will really grab me, like Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrel by Susanna Clarke, or Father Elijah by Michael O'Brien, for instance; but for the most part I am reading a list I compiled from several great books lists.

I am very much a fan of the Britannica Great Books of Western Civilization and the Great Ideas Program. I know that people have criticized those programs for being too Euro-centric and male-dominated, and to some degree those criticisms are valid, but I have other lists that help to fill any gaps. I've been reading off of my self-compiled list for several years now and have yet to really be disappointed.

Next on my list is Aristotle, and then I think maybe some Plutarch or Montaigne. I also have a bunch of audio books lined up for when I finish Don Quixote.

Your book Star-Crossed looks interesting. I'm a huge fan of the Aubrey/Maturin series by Patrick O'Brian, and reading about your book reminded me of that series.

Hi!

I see you enjoy blogspot, too--I'll have to check out your blog. As you say, there are more great books out there than time!

Actually, it's been a long time since I had the change to visit HERE, but I hope to more often, and I look forward to hearing about what you're reading