The novel that's had the biggest impact on you - Page 6

pbradley · 04.28.2007, 03:05 AM

I know A Separate Peace in high school impacted but only in the "I hate this fucking novel so damn much" kind of way.

As for Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, I read that years after it was released (snagged my brother's copy) so I wasn't aware of any trend around the book. However, I thought the "Quality before subjective/objective distinction" was an interesting concept and influenced my own metaphysical theories (although not as far as he takes it).

afterthefact · 04.28.2007, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RdTv

No no no, nothing against the authors, I love them all, obviously because they were impressionable to me. My post, although a bit dramatic, was trying to point out that I wish I had been more diverse in my reading material, much like I am in music, but hey you have to start in the shallow end when you learn to swim right?

You don't have to. Reading is over-rated. Just watch TV and movies. Oh, and also, buy your clothes at Abercrombie

afterthefact · 04.28.2007, 09:12 AM

All kidding aside, I have very little patience for a novel. It truly may have something to do with watching a lot of TV as a child; this probably killed my attention span. As much of a creative mind as I (like to think I) have, I can't get through an entire novel. It has to either be something serious (i.e. a biography, or like this cool book I read about the number zero), or a book written by a comedian. I've read Al Franken's "Oh, The Things I Know!" too many times. I think I like these because I can put them down anytime I want. I like a lot of poetry as well, which is a pretty new thing for me, since I used take pride in my mocking of the entire idea of poetry. But I think this is once again linked to my lack of an attention span, since they are usually pretty short. Unlike this post

screamingskull · 04.28.2007, 10:51 AM

and

luxinterior · 04.28.2007, 12:21 PM

I know where my loyalties lie.

musicfallinglikesnow · 04.28.2007, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atari 2600

an Elmore Leonard

Elmore Leonard! Have you read Charles Willeford?

musicfallinglikesnow · 04.28.2007, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atari 2600

Crime & Punishment is the greatest work of fiction by any author, ever.

I modestly think "The Brothers Karamazov" is deeper.

noumenal · 04.28.2007, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by demonrail666

I don't want to start a whole thread on this, but just a sort of related question. Has anyone here ever actually managed to finish Don DeLillo's Underworld?

I've read the book. It's not that long and it's an easy read. But I wasn't blown away by it. There are many many better books out there for the effort.

demonrail666 · 04.28.2007, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noumenal

I've read the book. It's not that long and it's an easy read. But I wasn't blown away by it. There are many many better books out there for the effort.

I take my hat off to you sir.

Sonic Youth 37 · 04.28.2007, 08:40 PM

Hmm, novel with the biggest impact. Either 1984 or the Picture of Dorian Gray

k-krack · 04.28.2007, 11:26 PM

All Orwell, especially 1984. This one books has had such a n impact on me and my idealisms...

All the Calvin & Hobbes comics I read from such a young age, possibly lead me into my interest (obsession) over human psychology, philosophy, etc.

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (Really recent, but it made me, and continues to make me question what is right and what is wrong, what is real and what is fake... and most of all, what will die, what is just "kipple"...)

k-krack · 04.28.2007, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by screamingskull

Fuck, YES! I must spread rep. That story can move me to tears, it fucks me up.

LifeDistortion · 04.28.2007, 11:57 PM

I attended the Los Angeles Festival of Books today at the UCLA campus and I saw Ray Bradbury's presentation this afternoon. I would say "Farenheti 451" had a great impact on me, its one of my favorite novels, and this afternoon seeing Bradbury in person was such a treat. He did not read any of his work but instead talked more about influcences, things that influcenced his writing and his experiances early on as a writer. As a unpublished writer myself I found his stories insightful and entertaining. I was throughly impressed with him this afternoon, and experiance I will not soon forget.

chuck norris · 04.29.2007, 05:00 AM

chuck norris · 04.29.2007, 05:01 AM

chuck norris · 04.29.2007, 05:04 AM

chuck norris · 04.29.2007, 05:40 AM

Tokolosh · 04.29.2007, 06:35 AM

!@#$%! · 04.29.2007, 10:34 AM

since people have been posting non-novel stuff, i'm going to say that this is the book that has had the greatest influence upon me:

i have an older edition with nietzsche's picture on the cover. why was this the most influential book for me? it was a great cleanser-- it help me get rid of the poisons of christian and communist morality (instilled upbringing & education), and the many inner conflicts they had created. i had always been struggling with these things but this book allowed me to make a clear break. it saved me, in this sense.

--
a warning for fools: no, nietzsche wasn't a nazi, if you think so it's because you haven't bothered to read him.

musicfallinglikesnow · 04.29.2007, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by !@#$%!

a warning for fools: no, nietzsche wasn't a nazi, if you think so it's because you haven't bothered to read him.

That's right, he was a beautiful soul. Reading "Thus spoke Zarathustra" almost killed me. He was a giant.

04.28.2007, 03:05 AM	#101
pbradley invito al cielo Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: SoKo Posts: 10,621	I know A Separate Peace in high school impacted but only in the "I hate this fucking novel so damn much" kind of way. As for Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, I read that years after it was released (snagged my brother's copy) so I wasn't aware of any trend around the book. However, I thought the "Quality before subjective/objective distinction" was an interesting concept and influenced my own metaphysical theories (although not as far as he takes it).
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04.28.2007, 09:12 AM	#103
afterthefact invito al cielo Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 3,886	All kidding aside, I have very little patience for a novel. It truly may have something to do with watching a lot of TV as a child; this probably killed my attention span. As much of a creative mind as I (like to think I) have, I can't get through an entire novel. It has to either be something serious (i.e. a biography, or like this cool book I read about the number zero), or a book written by a comedian. I've read Al Franken's "Oh, The Things I Know!" too many times. I think I like these because I can put them down anytime I want. I like a lot of poetry as well, which is a pretty new thing for me, since I used take pride in my mocking of the entire idea of poetry. But I think this is once again linked to my lack of an attention span, since they are usually pretty short. Unlike this post __________________ "She hated people who thought too much. At that moment, she struck me as an appropriate representative for almost all mankind." - Kurt Vonnegut Cat's Cradle
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04.28.2007, 10:51 AM	#104
screamingskull invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: england Posts: 5,580	and
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04.28.2007, 12:21 PM	#105
luxinterior invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Missouri, land of the free and home of the brave Posts: 2,351	I know where my loyalties lie. __________________ "I sweat like a fucking nun on Sunday...I don't even know what that means." - Sebastian Bach
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04.28.2007, 08:40 PM	#110
Sonic Youth 37 invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: if there is a bright spot in the universe, the farthest point from it Posts: 9,443	Hmm, novel with the biggest impact. Either 1984 or the Picture of Dorian Gray __________________ "One: Where's the fife? and Two: Gimme the fife."
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04.28.2007, 11:26 PM	#111
k-krack invito al cielo Join Date: May 2006 Location: On Posts: 7,380	All Orwell, especially 1984. This one books has had such a n impact on me and my idealisms... All the Calvin & Hobbes comics I read from such a young age, possibly lead me into my interest (obsession) over human psychology, philosophy, etc. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (Really recent, but it made me, and continues to make me question what is right and what is wrong, what is real and what is fake... and most of all, what will die, what is just "kipple"...) __________________ sandwich klub 4 men. Danny is a C.H.U.D.
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04.28.2007, 11:57 PM	#113
LifeDistortion expwy. to yr skull Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: CA Posts: 2,457	I attended the Los Angeles Festival of Books today at the UCLA campus and I saw Ray Bradbury's presentation this afternoon. I would say "Farenheti 451" had a great impact on me, its one of my favorite novels, and this afternoon seeing Bradbury in person was such a treat. He did not read any of his work but instead talked more about influcences, things that influcenced his writing and his experiances early on as a writer. As a unpublished writer myself I found his stories insightful and entertaining. I was throughly impressed with him this afternoon, and experiance I will not soon forget.
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04.29.2007, 05:00 AM	#114
chuck norris bad moon rising Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 141
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04.29.2007, 05:01 AM	#115
chuck norris bad moon rising Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 141
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04.29.2007, 05:04 AM	#116
chuck norris bad moon rising Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 141
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04.29.2007, 05:40 AM	#117
chuck norris bad moon rising Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 141
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04.29.2007, 06:35 AM	#118
Tokolosh invito al cielo Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Plaza de Toros Posts: 6,731
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04.29.2007, 10:34 AM	#119
!@#$%! invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: mars attacks Posts: 42,564	since people have been posting non-novel stuff, i'm going to say that this is the book that has had the greatest influence upon me: i have an older edition with nietzsche's picture on the cover. why was this the most influential book for me? it was a great cleanser-- it help me get rid of the poisons of christian and communist morality (instilled upbringing & education), and the many inner conflicts they had created. i had always been struggling with these things but this book allowed me to make a clear break. it saved me, in this sense. -- a warning for fools: no, nietzsche wasn't a nazi, if you think so it's because you haven't bothered to read him.
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|