What are you currently reading?

[Borislav]

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Hi everybody,
Before 3 day I had a birthday(and actually that was the reason I didn't visit the forum for a few days to celebrate with my family only but this time was different.
The outcome for me is that with many friends is much more inteteresting and the tradition for celebrating with the family won't hold out.

My first post is in this thead exactly because they give me as presents two books -
-Michael Crichton - Prey
-F.Scott Fitzerald - The Great Gatsby.
The first authour turns out to be famous with its novel "Jurasic Park".But both I've never heard since Friday.

My anticiaptions were for Terry Pratchet but I wasn't sure and to the final day everything even where we would gather was tentative.

P.S. Now I am 20 . I have a anniversery

[Cgk]

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Hello Borislav,

happy belated birthday to you! All the best to you.

I'm a fan of Terry Pratchet's Discworld series. I think I have all of the books, but I'm not sure because they are so many! lol

Claudia
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In the land of the ignorant, the biggest fool is king.

[Borislav]

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Hey,
Don't worry Cladia you are not belated, thank you very much!
According to wikipedia The Discworld novels are thirty-eight (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discworld).
I expect to read some book of Terry soon.

Take care

[Enhancer]

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Hey everyone ,

This is indeed an interesting thread.. Only I have to confess, I have never properly read a book ! I know you must be thinking what a weirdo hehe ) Only a while ago I realised if I want to properly know english then I must read tons of stuff. Some say it doesn't help as much as movies but I'm sure it does. Actually, I always prefer a movie or a tv show rather than a book, but now I think both are important for the studying. So, after this enlightenment Ive decided to spend all the money I have saved and order a book and some dictionaries over the net ( apparently they don't sell books in english in my godforsaken town). By the way, our literature teacher has ordered us to read 3 novels from the list she had made. And it has things like Lords of the Rings or Beowolf in there, but fantasy is a bit far from my genre and when I looked at the price, I decided the movie will be enough :) So, what I've ordered is the book called 'Insomnia' by Stephen King. I have no idea if it's even going to grab my attention, but I was relying on my usual preferences, obviously I love King's movies and as they say- the book is always better...so I'm giving it a shot.

[Borislav]

Hi,
Enhancer, the movie are really a good source as long as they are in good language.You have to admit than movies like "How High","Don't be menace" are not the exact movies for studing something :). I mention them because they are one of my favourite.If you are going on about some hillarious movie I recommend you the movies with Lesley Nilson ! They are very bringing about for fun especially and don't load you with unpleasant feelings.

[Enhancer]

Hey Borislav,

No, I meant if there's a book and a movie based on the same book, then I choose the movie...And I don't watch things like How High, I prefer serious genres, and I'm not saying it's nesessary, I mean reading and watching widens the vocabulary and pulls up the speaking skills, don't you agree? I consider it as a part of the program for learning proper english.

[Cgk]

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Hello and welcome Roman,

you are not the only person who never properly read a book. I know quite a few people who never did as well. It is nice to hear that you decided to begin with it. Reading may not help with the pronunciation as movies do, but it broadens the vocabulary and it teaches ways to express oneself eloquently. There is one more thing that no movie can give you: the freedom and ability to imagine the story and its characters before your mind's eye, kind of like a movie in your own head. The characters can look the way you want them to, for example, even if the author describes them, it leaves enough room to picture them as you please. A movie is more comfortable and the story is told much more quickly, therefore a book goes much more into depth and into the character(s) head(s). Usually the books are better for exactly these reasons. Also the movies never really tell the stories the same way as they are told in the books.

I hope you'll enjoy reading Stephen King's Insomnia! I have it as a hard cover and it has been along time since I last held in my hands, lol. Let us know how you like it!

Claudia
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In the land of the ignorant, the biggest fool is king.

[Enhancer]

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Hi Claudia,

I see what you mean, that's what other people have been telling me, a book gives the freedom for imagination. Only, I rarely can imagine something in my head as well as a movie shows me, you know? I somehow how have a little problem with that..I got used to seeing what's actually happening, without creating shapes in my mind heh...

I'll tell if I liked it only it's going to take a while before it gets delivered and even more for me to complete it..So, you say you've got this novel and have you read it? You could share with us your impressions :_)

[Bulone]

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I'm currently reading "how to argue and win everytime" by Gerry Spence. As I haven't in far enough yet, I better hold and not pass any judgment. But still, I kind of think this guy doesn't get to the point in a sense that the writing style is too metaphorical. I felt like saying just get to the point already. lol

Other than that, I think its interesting read. It is interesting to know how he'd cross-examined expert witnesses who has more authority in its own field than him who obviously lack knowledge in that field.

Cheers
Bulone

[Cgk]

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Hello Roman,

I would much rather wait until you finished reading it and hear what you have to say. ;-)

There is one thing I would like to say about Stephen King: He is a great author for English learners because he uses a very modern and simplistic style. I have noticed that so many people read the old classics, which is not a bad thing. But in my opinion, it is better to read contemporary novels rather than the old classics, because the English is more "up to date", not as stilted and ornate, and much more lively. It is still good to read the 19th century stuff, but the English learner needs to be aware that the writing style has collected some dust, if you know what I mean, lol.

Anyway, I think Stephen King is a good choice. I also like how he is able to put the reader into the head of the main character without using complex sentence structures and literary trappings. One negative thing: to me, he always seems like he has great ideas for starting a story, but he rarely seems to know how put a good end to it!

Claudia
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In the land of the ignorant, the biggest fool is king.

[Parallel]

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Hi Borislav

Happy birthday to you! You can bid me the same if you like, because today is mine.

The book you got as a birthday gift from your family called “The Great Gatsby" by Scott F. Fitzgerald is a classic too. We 've read it in class and I caught sight of it again last year when I went through the stock of audio books in our library. It's about the "Roaring Twentys" and quite amusing! But when I compare it with, let’s say Nelson Demille's "Gate House" which I bought as a travel lecture in paperback, you don't should expect too much action but instead some marvelous images about the life-style of those times.

I just finished "Moral disorder" by Margaret Atwood, which has recently been published as an audo book. It’s quite bulky. The story – or better the different storys - are constructed in a funny way, because the person named “Tig” is once described as a married and retired officer of the late Roman Empire, living in Gallia (today France), fearing the Kelts, and then a few chapters later as a kind of farmer somewhere in America, as a member of the so called “flower power generation” during the Sixties.

Margaret Atwood is a real humourist. She depicts these Sixties in such a funny way! It’s hillarious how their four lonely cows brake the fence several times, only to join the next herd. Or how their horse bosses around the sheep in the courtyard and sneaks up the cows and bites them when they try to monopolize the food supplies. How ramshakeled the farm house is and to what ghosts and entities can possibly lead to.

Despite all these things which make you really lough, I’m convinced that the book is ment to be a serious one. It deals in many ways with modern life tendencies, family issues, especially the relationship of two very different minded sisters, and asks a lot of questions.

As for learning English, Atwood’s language is precicse and she really knows how to tell things in a nutshell (not like me). There are so many marvelous expressions that I would like to know them all by heart right now, it drives me up the wall! If I had all the time of the world I would sit down on the spot, listen to the Audio Book and write down the story from the beginning to the end!

But now it’s time to get some sleep!

Urs

[Babo]

hi this is babo . i am new in this forum .i am reading harry potter and it is really an interesting book . i find this book really helpful from reading and vocabulary point of view.
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Never give up trying, if you want to achieve something in life.

[Zaheer]

Dear Claudia,

Thanks for the sharing. At the mement I am reading a Book Written by famous Author Mr. NAPOLEON HILL "Think and Grow Rich" which is very interesting and valuable book.
Personally, I like this book and I would recomment this you Too.

Thanks
Dr. Zaheer
Afghanistan

[Borislav]

Hey Parallel !
Happy birthday to you too.You didn't bid on how years you become.However it is not important how old are you as long as you are becoming more and more wise !It appeals to me to feel mature and smarter although I don't look my ages and wit :D .
Actually my book seems to be shorther version of the book because it is only 114 pages - as many as that ! Just in case I'll see in Internet if the original is more pages.

In a tipical day I read between between 10 and 15 pages but today I slept all day so.. perhaps tomorrow I'll read twice.

[Parallel]

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Hello Borislav

Thank you for your compliment! At least I take it as one, hoping that I really have become a bit wiser after all these years, lol. I’m not twenty anymore, as you might have guessed, but still young enough to take up learning English again in order to make contact with cool people of all around the world!

As for the pages of your book: the same book can have more or less pages, it depends on how it's printed. Personally I usually buy books in paperback, because it's cheaper and neads less place on my bookshelves. And because the left space has become very rare I started to borrow the books at our local library. Since money doesn’t grow on trees that’s a good way to get a lot of pages for almost nothing!

I just tried to find "the Great Gatsby" again, it must be somewhere, I’m sure. But since my books are stored in two or three rows this means quite an effort and so, after a while, I gave it up. That’s why I can't tell you how many pages my edition of it has got - if it is the book you are refferring to anyway... If not, please tell me.

Have a nice evening and enjoy the next double portion!

Urs