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Fiction suggestions needed for Jan./Feb. discussion

Assist us in selecting our upcoming FICTION book for group discussion in this forum. A minimum of 5 posts is required to participate here!
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DWill

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Re: Fiction suggestions needed for Jan./Feb. discussion

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I haven't kept up with this thread, but there've been some good suggestions for reads. If Pilgrim's Progress were selected, I'd recommend an abridged version, but if possible in the original English. The book in my opinion isn't likely to have much sparkle in "translation." No need to read all of what Bunyan wrote, though, to get a perfectly adequate idea of it. Both Twain (HF) and Dickens are good ideas, too. HF is, of course, the novel most often thought of as that mythical "greatest American novel," and I love it (all except the ending). I missed this Brothers K suggestion of Dawn's. I assume it's not Dostoevsky's book. I'd rather read the Russian's again, I think! Dawn has been a gentle evangelist in the forums, so I don't take offense at her "religion basher" remark. She doesn't necessarily have to be so nice all the time, and let's face it, she's not off the mark.

I'd vote for Huckleberry if it was up for vote.
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Re: Fiction suggestions needed for Jan./Feb. discussion

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Bleak House is a book that has always been on my "to read" list but I've always been a bit put off, who knows why? I would consider that motivation...sounds good!
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Re: Fiction suggestions needed for Jan./Feb. discussion

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Dawn, no need to apologize. I'm happy that you will be joining us in the next fiction discussion. :)

Out of all the suggestions, there are three that have received the most positve feedback. Those are:

"Pilgrim's Progress"

"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn"

"Bleak House"

These three novels will be in the poll. All three are good choices.
DWill wrote:If Pilgrim's Progress were selected, I'd recommend an abridged version, but if possible in the original English.
Many members are in agreement that the original English version should be selected. I have not been able to find an abridged copy written in the original English. The unabridged book is a little over 400 pages. DWill, do you know of a good abridged copy? And, are you suggesting an abridged copy due to it's length? If the language is difficult, an abridged copy may be a good alternative, that's if one exists in the Old English. Sometimes I feel that if a read the abridged copy of a novel, I haven't actually read the novel. I feel like I'm cheating.

What are people's thoughts on an abridged copy?
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oblivion

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Re: Fiction suggestions needed for Jan./Feb. discussion

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I'm afraid I don't really care for abridged copies. I always have the feeling I'm missing something and would prefer to be able to make the decision myself.
Gods and spirits are parasitic--Pascal Boyer

Religion is the only force in the world that lets a person have his prejudice or hatred and feel good about it --S C Hitchcock

Believe those who are seeking the truth. Doubt those who find it. --André Gide

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stahrwe

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Re: Fiction suggestions needed for Jan./Feb. discussion

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An abridged copy is like colorization or reformatting a movie to fit the screen, it isn't the original. Anytime you edit something it is changed.
n=Infinity
Sum n = -1/12
n=1

where n are natural numbers.
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DWill

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Re: Fiction suggestions needed for Jan./Feb. discussion

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stahrwe wrote:An abridged copy is like colorization or reformatting a movie to fit the screen, it isn't the original. Anytime you edit something it is changed.
I just think there's no way anyone's going to like to read 400 pp. of John Bunyan--I certainly wouldn't! I think the colorization metaphor applies more to needless modernization of language. However, this is a non-issue, because there is no language barrier here. By 1678, we're into Modern English. All that needs to be done to make the text friendly to 21st century readers is to regularize spelling, as in this excerpt:

As I walked through the wilderness of this world, I lighted on a certain place where was a den, and laid me down in that place to sleep; and as I slept, I dreamed a dream. I dreamed, and behold, I saw a man clothed with rags, standing in a certain place, with his face from his own house, a book in his hand, and a great burden upon his back. Isa. 64:6; Luke 14:33; Psalm 38:4. I looked and saw him open the book, and read therein; and as he read, he wept and trembled; and not being able longer to contain, he brake out with a lamentable cry, saying, "What shall I do?" Acts 2:37; 16:30; Habak 1:2,3.

So verily I say unto you, an abridged version of this book would be more than sufficient.
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stahrwe

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Re: Fiction suggestions needed for Jan./Feb. discussion

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DWill wrote:
stahrwe wrote:An abridged copy is like colorization or reformatting a movie to fit the screen, it isn't the original. Anytime you edit something it is changed.
I just think there's no way anyone's going to like to read 400 pp. of John Bunyan--I certainly wouldn't! I think the colorization metaphor applies more to needless modernization of language. However, this is a non-issue, because there is no language barrier here. By 1678, we're into Modern English. All that needs to be done to make the text friendly to 21st century readers is to regularize spelling, as in this excerpt:

As I walked through the wilderness of this world, I lighted on a certain place where was a den, and laid me down in that place to sleep; and as I slept, I dreamed a dream. I dreamed, and behold, I saw a man clothed with rags, standing in a certain place, with his face from his own house, a book in his hand, and a great burden upon his back. Isa. 64:6; Luke 14:33; Psalm 38:4. I looked and saw him open the book, and read therein; and as he read, he wept and trembled; and not being able longer to contain, he brake out with a lamentable cry, saying, "What shall I do?" Acts 2:37; 16:30; Habak 1:2,3.

So verily I say unto you, an abridged version of this book would be more than sufficient.
OK, here's my solution. We agree on an unabridged copy and DWill can read every other word or maybe 2 of every thee words.
n=Infinity
Sum n = -1/12
n=1

where n are natural numbers.
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