Ask MetaFilter posts tagged with literature

"Like the cast of a Fellini movie."

zoomorphic — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 11:51:12 -0800

How do I meet other bookish people in New York City? I’ve finally accepted the fact that I’ll eventually need to attend grad school in English to satisfy my curiosity and bookish ambitions (and to lead a more enriched life paying off my debts) but I’m going stir-crazy in the meantime. I want to meet people who genuinely care about literature and magazine journalism, though not necessarily Mary Wilkie-types. I meet great people who seem to like reading, in terms of whatever they tote around on the subway, but I think they find me a tad pretentious. Then I feel like a jerk and try to curb that side of my personality as much as I can, but I’d also like to meet my own kind who won’t judge me for getting worked up about James Wood’s new lit crit tome.

Right, I know that “Book clubs” are the way to go, but I’ve been to about four since moving to Brooklyn and they struck me as glorified social gatherings in which the members caught up with friends they only see once a month. I didn’t want to be a schoolmarm about it, but conversation seemed to only peripherally pertain to the reading itself. And I know I’m being a hypocrite, because I want friends who will talk about books as much I want to talk about books themselves, but no one seemed especially rigorous in their desire to discuss the material.

I know Chicago has a great program where lay folk can sign up to take a class lead by a professor (I think last year they had Ulysses), and I’d love something similar. Popular bars, good book festivals, and any local blogs that list literary events would be much appreciated.

___________

serazin — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 23:06:15 -0800

Why do novelists use "________" in place of a character's name? Most recently, I noticed this convention in The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, but I've for sure seen this used elsewhere as well.

Is this supposed to make the novel feel more "real" - as if the author is protecting the identity of some particularly heinous or vulnerable character? That makes no sense to me since I've never read a non-fiction book or essay where there was a blank (or first letter only) instead of a name.

Am I missing something obvious?

What is a good career for an underemployed librarian with Aspergers?

gtaylor — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:35:35 -0800

What is a good career move for a 40ish guy with an MA in literature, an MSIS in general library work, and a work history that does not reflect his real skills because recently diagnosed Aspergers was holding him back a lot? My very intelligent husband has an MA in Literature and an MSIS in general library work. He is nearly 40, and was last month diagnosed with Aspergers. That, combined with that library hirings are shrinking in his area, has generally been a major obstacle in his finding work that was as good as he is (he's often ended up as a bookstore clerk). He is also in a very rural area where his opportunities to improve his technical skills are being interfered with by possibly senile parents (which is another problem entirely). He wants to do meaningful work in a team environment. He has broad knowledge of classical music, 20th century literature and narrative development in animation and comics, and pulp novels. (Yeah, none of those are big job grabbers, I know.)

He is very much the slightly bewildered Oxford don type from Wodehouse, except that when he is in his element he is _extremely_ capable. He has not built up a very good social network, done internships, etc, because of Aspergers noise, and even now that he knows more about his trouble, has not been very successful reaching out to past professors, mentors, etc (he has a lifetime of unseen obstacles to come to grips with). He is seeing a psychologist and going for State vocational training but is in general having something of a professional crisis. For various reasons it is very important that he find a fairly decent job soon, although I also lean to his getting his PhD and teaching hipster media courses. He also showed a latent, incredible ability to pick up 3D Studio computer animation (he learned more in two weeks than my brother's biz partner did in two years, no exag) but is lukewarm about a career in making cartoons (versus watching them, which he is very into).

Suggestions?

How to appreciate Richard Ford ?

nicolin — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 09:06:40 -0800

I'm reading Richard Ford's A multitude of sins short stories collection, and I find it rather dull... (less powerful Raymond carver to me) but it seems that he's considered as a "master of the short story" (Esquire), "one of the country's best writers" (San Francisco chronicle)... Could you give me elements to modify my judgement ?

Translations with High Style

scarylarry — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 06:52:12 -0800

I'm looking for some particularly good translations (into English) of world literature, from *any* place, period, or genre. I am interested in expanding my reading of literatures from around the world, but I am tired of stale, wooden translations. Becoming multi-lingual in order to read these works in the original is on the to-do list, but not feasible anytime soon.

So I am on the hunt for great translations of world literature into English. I am happy to read anything, so long as the translation manages to be lively whilst retaining the sense of the original.

I don't require that translations work over-hard to wring the text of its peculiar local flavors (drastically 'updated' diction in the classics, or French farmers speaking in cockney accents, to name two instances, have turned me off translations in the past), but I realize that it's a balancing act. I just want to clarify that I'm not afraid of the 'foreignness' of world lit (in fact, that's the main draw), but rather I am sick of how stilted a lot of translations sound.

In short, I am very interested to find translations that display a high degree of stylistic elegance, while maintaining an allegiance to the sense of the original.

Thank you all so much.

a minute=60 sec; a moment = ?

hadjiboy — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 02:23:48 -0800

How long is a moment? I would like to know if a moment can be measured, and if it can, what would be the maximum length.

Call me fish meal.

Darth Fedor — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 21:03:13 -0800

What is the closet thing to MetaFilter, but about books and/or writing? I don't have anyone to talk to about the books I'm reading. It is no fun to finish 'Tree of Smoke,' read the B.R. Myers review of it, and have no one to yell about it to. I just read the first part of 'The Sound and the Fury' and no one was around to witness my brain turning inside out. After reading 'Moby Dick,' my heart was fairly screaming "DUDE! DID YOU SEE THAT WHOLE CHAPTER ABOUT SPERM?! OH MY GOD! HE TOUCHED ANOTHER DUDE'S HAND IN A VAT OF SPERM!" But there were no dudes there to hold hands with me when I needed it.

I'd like to share my own writing with other people, so they can tell me to quit, and quick, before I make a fool out of myself and my family. The writing websites I have found have been, how shall I say, full of very bad writers.

I refuse to believe that all folks who enjoy books whose emphases are on diction, style, theme, plot, etc. are all, by dint of it, above talking about it on the internet.

I am a GoodReads member, but nearly everyone on there confuses the word 'review' with the word 'synopsis.' Or, more appropriate to the level of erudition inherent, 'book report.' There are many folks who write wonderful cogent stuff, but you have to dig to find them. And anyway, discussion is limited to comments on reviews.

Short of finding actual flesh and blood friends, is there nowhere on this wide and desolate internet to rap about books? (And I don't mean rap like Snoop Dogg raps.)

(I mean rap like Dr. Dre does.)

Is it worth the time to read the complete works of Shakespeare?

schrodycat — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 12:34:31 -0800

Is it worth the time and effort to read the complete works of Shakespeare? Sitting in my "books to read" pile is a second-hand copy of the complete works of Will Shakespeare. Help me decide if I should commit the time (probably a year for me) to read it. Have you read his complete works yourself? Was it a life-changing experience? Or would a re-read of only the most famous half-dozen works suffice?

Like most English speakers, I was force-fed a few of his plays and sonnets in secondary school, and have seen a few movie and stage adaptations, but have never really plunged into the deep end of the pool.

What is the purpose of Fortinbras in Hamlet?

Kattullus — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 11:42:23 -0800

I've never really known what to make of Fortinbras in Hamlet. Do you know of any good explanations of his purpose in the play? I read Eric Rauchway's Blessed Among Nations and found a reference to the article "Hamlet and Fortinbras" by William Witherle Lawrence which, according to Rauchway, went a long way towards explaining the problem of Fortinbras. So I went to the local library, dug out the right PMLA volume and read the article. While it traced the origins of the Fortinbras character in previous incarnations of the Hamlet tale it didn't provide a satisfying answer as to what purpose Fortinbras serves in the play. Are there any good articles or books out there about Fortinbras and his role in the play?

My only idea is that it's a reference to James coming from Scotland, England's northern neighbor, to assume the throne of England. The royal line dies out in Hamlet and the same happened in England with the death of Queen Elizabeth. Fortinbras, being from Norway, Denmark's northern neighbor, ascends to the throne of Denmark. It seems to fit in with other such Jacobean ass-kissing in Shakespeare's corpus, e.g. Macbeth.

Which version of Journey to the West should I buy?

KirkJobSluder — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:55:42 -0800

Which version of Journey to the West should I buy? After seeing Hewlett's production design for Monkey I want to dip into the source material. Digging around I see a fair number of translations but the reviews don't really offer much description beyond "great read." I'm looking for an adaptation/translation that captures most of the original epic for an adult reader, without being an attempt at scholarly word-for-word translation. Ideally, I'd like a dead-tree format that I can take to the coffehouse.

Kate Chopin's "The Awakening"

madmamasmith — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:43:24 -0800

I am trying to get a better understanding of Kate Chopin's "The Awakening" **Spoiler Alert** I see it as a woman's discovery of her freedom and independence. The main character forsakes her role as wife and mother in late 19th century society and pursues her own happiness. I don’t really understand the juxtaposition of the men in the story. Her husband ,who she escapes, is not violent or demanding and reacts to her leaving rather well by my standards; showing there was little emotional investment in their relationship. Women cant initiate divorce yet I suppose, but Edna does the next best thing by moving out. The object of her affection, Robert, refuses to be with her even though she has left her husband (because he "loves" her).But Alcee Arobin has no problem being private or public with Edna. So what do all these different male characters represent? Please let me know your ideas, Thanks!!

Trying to recall literary example containing a comparison of Marian aspects

dicetumbler — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 10:17:05 -0800

I'm trying to recall where I read of (most likely fictional) characters comparing their "favorite" Virgin Mary. I think it was meant as a humorous response to the diverse characterizations of the figure in various Marian cults before the Reformation. I believe one character says something to the effect of, Our Lady of [?] is well-known, but the Mary of [?] is the kindest. Or something to that effect. Can anyone help me?

A Supposedly Good List

nushustu — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 11:49:15 -0800

I'm looking for a list of good but little-known books by David Foster Wallace. The list is by Wallace, not the books. About ten years ago I read an interview online w/ David Foster Wallace. He listed a bunch of books all written in the last 30-or-so years that were mostly overlooked but really good (according to DFW.) This list included works by Denis Johnson (Angels), and David Markson (Wittgenstein's Mistress.) I think it also included either Omensetter's Luck or The Tunnel, by William Gass.

Obviously, my Google-fu has failed me. Any help would be appreciated. Also, feel free to throw in the MeFi-obligatory DFW's da bomb/DFW sux post...

Yet another grad school advice question

fictionalcara — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:26:42 -0800

How does an aspiring graduate student in English traverse the confusion of the graduate school application process? I am four years removed from my undergraduate career (University of Washington, English, 3.39 overall GPA, closer to 3.6 major GPA) with a bit of a complicated history. I was an all-college honors student, one of the only humanities recipients of an undergraduate research grant from the Mary Gates Foundation and 3.85 overall GPA holder until near the end of my junior year when, according to the un-funniest Hollywood script, things fell apart. I dropped out of the extra honors workload both at the all-college level and within the English Department and barely managed to squeak through my senior year with poor grades to make it to commencement, knowing I had to complete one class within my major the summer after commencement in order to finish the requirements for my degree. As you may guess, I never finished the last class and instead silently drifted away from the University with horrible guilt and disappointment.

Fast-forward 3 years later, after having worked one-too-many restaurant jobs and flitting about with little true responsibility, I woke up and began to rediscover my first true love for academics. I was finally ready to confront my old undergraduate demons and just finish once and for all. Despite having moved to CA, I discovered that I need only take any transferable English course at my local community college in order to satisfy the last remining requirement for my degree. Last semester I did just that, and now I finally have my piece of paper! In addition, my preparation for the graduate school application process has included:

- Refreshing my 7 years of Spanish
- Beginning French (if I am able to start grad school in the Fall of '09 I will have completed two full years of college French)
- Studying for the GRE
- Studying for the GRE Subject Test in Literature (Norton Anthologies, reading some of the Big Names)
- Taking two undergraduate level English courses at UCLA starting in a few weeks, in hopes of showing promising and current university-level work, plus two letters of recommendation

When I originally went to college I wanted to teach. The longer I was in school (before the break-down), the more I realized that I wanted to mold college-aged minds. Truthfully I would like to teach literature at a small, liberal arts university, but since the process of that coming to be is potentially very far off, at this point I am happy with the idea of getting my masters and then considering the possibility of teaching at a community college first.

Ideally I would like to go somewhere that will allow for teaching experience and offer as much funding as possible. From what I can tell, the Cal State system which is local and convenient to me does not fit that mold. However what are the chances that I would be competitive (depending on test scores and recommendations, I realize) as an applicant to higher programs, either masters or doctorate level? The maze of offerings is positively dizzying. Some offer only terminal masters, with or without funding, some offer only doctoral level programs straight from a BA with or without funding, some are big names and others are not, but I need to find ones that are appropriate for me. I am afraid to be so clueless as to apply to schools that are either way out of my league, or overlook the smaller name hidden gem that would have been perfect for me, had I only known about it.

My question is, how do I know where I need to go considering my experience and aspirations? Given my academic record and current status, where should I be concentrating my attentions? Short of manually looking at the website of every degree-granting institution, how do I find the right fit?

If it helps, my interest lies in 19th and 20th century American Literature and Culture, Gender Studies, Transnational Studies and Cinema Studies (my undergraduate research combined women silent film stars, transnational dialogues within literature, popular culture and advertisements with 19th and early 20th century feminist literature).

Personal experiences are also very welcome: fictionalcara@gmail.com

Creep me out, literally

nougat — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 07:31:05 -0800

Recommend some books/collections of short stories or even poetry I would like if I am looking for some disturbing reads. I mean the kind of horror/thriller/sci-fi/fantasy/creepy stories that stick in your head for days after you read them causing you to think about them over and over or leave you too scared to turn off your bedroom lights and go to sleep. I really like stuff by Shirley Jackson, Neil Gaiman, Robert McCammon etc. Lately I have been really enjoying stuff by Joe Hill and Darren Shan. Joe Hill's endings to his short stories leaves a bit to be desired at times but I enjoy his writing style for the most part. Something along the lines of "House of Leaves" type creepy would be good.

Please no Stephen King or Dean Koontz recs. I've read all that stuff.
Looking for more obscure/independant less NYT bestsellers stuff.

I like really, really disturbing, creepy stuff. Especially a good story that leaves you scared to turn out the lights and go to bed. :)
Poetry in this genre is especially appreciated. But I really need more books to read.
I've already looked here and have read most of those books recommended there. Thanks

Help me identify a long lost short story!

jujube — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 22:15:33 -0800

What is the title of this short story? Author? Any hints? About a boy and his younger brother (more detailed description of the story follows) I think it must be a fairly "classic" short story because I read it as a school assignment, and it was in an anthology of short stories along with stories like The Lottery, The A&P, etc.

The story is narrated by the older brother. He has a younger brother who hero worships him, to the extent that the younger brother at one point breaks his arm because the older brother tells him that he could fly if he jumped off the roof or something like that. And then something happens, and the younger brother no longer worships the narrator. Can't remember what it was that happens, can't remember the title or the author.

Ring a bell, anyone? I've recently become enamored of short stories, and would love to read it again. And plus, I remember crying when I read it the 1st time over 20 years ago, and am curious to know how my jaded old self would related to the story.

Vacation Reading Recommendations?

Otis — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 07:43:35 -0800

Can you all help me with some summer vacation reading recommendations? I trust your tastes implicitly. Helpful guidelines inside. Planning a nice quiet summer vacation this year with lots of downtime for reading. I seem to be at a loss for what to take. My all time favorite vacation book was John Kennedy Toole's A Confederacy of Dunces. Also like Douglas Coupland and Michael Chabon. Hunter S. Thompson. John Fante. (Not really looking to depress myself on my vaction though.) Guess I'm looking for some good dark, black humor that I can dive into easily. Thanks in advance.

A little lost...

Defenestrator — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:15:47 -0800

What does one do with a degree in literature? I just graduated with a degree in literature. I have no doubt that I picked a major that suited me and stimulated me in all the ways that matter.

Now that I have been handed my piece of paper and sent out into the real world however, I'm not sure what to do. What are my options with my degree? I can't exactly work at the English Factory.

I am looking for specific accounts from literature majors or those who have known literature majors, although all responses are welcome.

What did you/they do straight after college? 5 years later? 10 years later?

Thank you all very much in advance.

Start in the Red Chamber?

BadMiker — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 07:17:41 -0800

I want to take the opportunity of an upcoming holiday to take on some challenging reading, I'd really like to try some classical oriental literature but I dont really know where to start. It has to be portable (single paperback volume) suitably annotated and, importantly, readable! I've been recommended The Dream of the Red Chamber but I dont which edition to get or if this is a good choice. Any suggestions would be welcome!

We'll always have Helen

Wolof — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 05:13:03 -0800

Looking for stories of a man seeking to reclaim a strayed mistress. The more archetypical (possibly Biblical), the better. I thank you.

Literary question

Afroblanco — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 21:04:53 -0800

In Madame Bovary, who is the truer romantic? Emma, for her unending quest for the romantic ideal? Or Bovary himself, for refusing to believe anything bad about his wife?

What religion is Nadir Khan?

MrMerlot — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 11:31:26 -0800

In Salmon Rushdie's Midnight's Children, is the character of Nadir Khan a muslim or a hindu?

Star Wars did a pretty good job at this too...

Navelgazer — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 22:30:51 -0800

A question about creating literary mythologies and the antagonistic forces within them. I'm working on a couple of different stories at the moment, which are both ostensibly set in the "real world," but which both also peel back a layer to an either mystical/invented theological level (for one of them) or a cabal-type political level (for the other one) pulling the strings behind them. In both cases, for obvious reasons, the mythology behind these worlds is part and parcel with the origins and motivations behind the antagonists.

I know the tenets of story design quite well, and am a super-nerd for structure and all of the things that can be done with it, but I just can't quite find the rhyme or reason (if there is any) to how one properly sets up a comprehensive, yet finite, world which also defines the villain within it, and yet doesn't fall into over-exposition about the elements of that world (particularly once the pieces should all be in place and things should keep moving along without bringing in extra elements.)

Some examples of what works for me and doesn't:

Lord of the Rings: There are peaceful parts of Middle Earth, and evil parts, and the only place for the One Ring, the most evil of artifacts, to be destroyed, is in the most evil and dangerous part of Middle Earth where it was created. Thus the story takes the Hero deeper and deeper into danger as he moves along: Brilliant

Harry Potter: At once a world of magic, but more importantly a political world, where pure-blood supremacists fight against the egalitarians, all portrayed well within the microcosm of Hogwarts, with boundaries slowly ever-expanding to the greater, and similar, world outside its walls: also brilliant

Battlestar Galactica: Small group of survivors from different planets with different religious readings and different philosophies having to try to work together against a common outside force, which they don't understand: Very nice. The readings of the scriptures of the Lords of Kobol, and the Cylon monotheism, however, have never had a clear backbone and may be used to fit whatever is necessary, so not as nice.

His Dark Materials: Works like gangbusters at first, when it sets up the Daemons and the politics at Oxford and with the church essentially trying to destroy puberty, and then runs off the rails as it continues to introduce new elements (like the land of the dead and all that entails) in the final installment.

What I'm asking for is not how to create something unique - if I can't do that then I have no business writing to begin with - but rather what common elements and Meta-ideas I need to be looking into in order to create a functional world.

what makes a good bookstore

MrMerlot — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 06:40:34 -0800

What specific qualities make for a truly good bookstore other than the content on the shelves?

Books like "The a Monster at the End of This Book"?

The corpse in the library — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:28:34 -0800

Can you recommend any children's books along the lines of The Monster at the End of This Book? I'm looking for funny books, for kids, where the characters know they're in books. (This is to entertain two goofy kids, ages five and two.)