What Are You Reading?

[Jaye Jang]

"The Black Book of Secrets" by F.E. Higgins

[Bella Sophia]

I read a lot of different genres, but I need to read up on some goth literature... so I'm reading this giant book full of all of Edgar Allen Poe's stories. (currently reading the fall of the house of usher)

Does anyone have anymore suggestions?

[dark_dragon_of_ice]

I recommend the magic schoolbus.

[Bella Sophia]

o.o OH yes. Very goth.

[Godslayer Jillian]

Originally Posted by Bella Sophia

goth literature

No such thing.

[dark_dragon_of_ice]

Originally Posted by Godslayer Jillian

No such thing.

Thank the spaghetti monster someone said that.

[Bella Sophia]

I disagree.

[Godslayer Jillian]

Well, you'd be wrong. There's gothic literature, not goth literature which implies you're making a link between this campy music subculture and a literary form.
Now, this is just not splitting hairs. Gothic literature is bullshit. I can respect William Faulkner (who is the big talented guy in gothic literature, not Poe), but Gothic Literature is, simply put, plain old superfluous bullshit.
Gothic literature was the big thing in the nineteenth century. Every materialistic bourgeois wanted to read the new edition of Varney the Vampire. Gothic Literature was very detailed, but so was Transcendentalist literature which wasn't to please the masses. The only reason Edgar Allan Poe wrote horror fiction was because he had to make the living, and that was what everyone wanted. It's an insult to remember Edgar Allan Poe as a horror fiction writer and the epitome of gothic literature. He should be remembered because of his incomparable rhythm. He should be remembered for beginning the detective stories. He should be remember for being a proto-science fiction writer. Never because he wrote the occasional story that gave the standard Victorian a pleasant, well-known, done-to-death (no pun intended) chill down their conformist spine.
Edgar Allan Poe had more to do with Herman Melville than with Bram Stoker.

[Bella Sophia]

Gothic, it's what I meant. Sorry if I left off the "ic" at that end.

[Godslayer Jillian]

Yeah, but still. In any case, I just wanted to get that out. Gothic literature annoys me.

[Bella Sophia]

Ah, okie. I couldn't tell you whether it annoys me or not. I haven't read enough. Other than Poe, I've read Frankenstein. *shrugs* Oh well.

[Tam Li Hua]

Stephen King's The Stand. I'm trying to get through it so I can finish the Dark Tower series. I'm about half-way through, but I'm not sure I'm going to make it! ;___;

[Jaye Jang]

Bella Sophia,

Gothic would include Bram Stoker's Dracula, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, "Turn of the Screw"; poems by Lord Byron; anything by Ambrose Bierce.

Goth lit would include Poe, H.P. Lovecraft, Neil Gaiman, Zenna Henderson, anything on ghosts/haunted houses (Hans Holzer is a good place to start). Goth mangas and graphics are also good to check out, like Neil Gaiman's "Sandman" series, "Gloom Cookie" and "Bizenghast" (think I spelled it right) work, too. Good luck.

(Many moons ago, I worked in a library).

[Romantic Raven]

I finally finished reading "Beowulf" (translated, of course, though it probably wouldn't hurt to learn a bit of Old English). Right now I'm reading "The Canterbury Tales" (the original version), though I'm thinking of switching to the Modern English translation if I ever intend to finish it.

[Darklight689]

Beowulf is great. I always loved that story i need some ideas on some good books i read all the harry potter books, almost finished with the anne rice books. Hopefully i can find a good writer on the same level as they are. If anyone knows of one would be helpful.

[tickingstitch]

Everyone loves Poe

[viscus]

I just picked up Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. It's rather amusing.

[gothicusmaximus]

[quote=Godslayer Jillian]Gothic literature is bullshit. I can respect William Faulkner (who is the big talented guy in gothic literature, not Poe)[/gothic]

You can't say that. You can believe that Faulker is more talented than anyone who ever wrote a gothic novel, but you can't call Faulkner 'the big talented guy in gothic literature' because his 'southern gothic' genre isn't so much a contribution of the 'gothic' literary tradition as a permutation on the form- saying that is tantamount to saying that Authur Miller is the 'big talented' greek tragedian because he experimented with elements of that style.

Originally Posted by Godslayer Jillian

but Gothic Literature is, simply put, plain old superfluous bullshit. Gothic literature was the big thing in the nineteenth century. Every materialistic bourgeois wanted to read the new edition of Varney the Vampire. Gothic Literature was very detailed, but so was Transcendentalist literature which wasn't to please the masses.

Why is it that popularity or accessibility reduces the value of a novel? Of course there were awful entries into the catalogue of gothic fiction, but those that are still read and celebrated today- Wutering Heights, Frankenstein, A Turn of the Screw, Bleak House, even Dracula- are generally accomplished works. Varney, at any rate, doesn't constitute grounds on which to condemn the whole genre, as it's more a penny dreadful than a truly literary composition.

Originally Posted by Godslayer Jillian

The only reason Edgar Allan Poe wrote horror fiction was because he had to make the living, and that was what everyone wanted. It's an insult to remember Edgar Allan Poe as a horror fiction writer and the epitome of gothic literature.

By that logic, we shouldn't acknowledge Shakespeare's sonnets because he wrote them for money, often after being hired by others and handed a topic about which he didn't care.

Originally Posted by Godslayer Jillian

He should be remembered because of his incomparable rhythm. He should be remembered for beginning the detective stories. He should be
remember for being a proto-science fiction writer. Never because he wrote the occasional story that gave the standard Victorian a pleasant, well-known, done-to-death (no pun intended) chill down their conformist spine.

Since when is Poe's other work ignored? I don't believe the adventures of August Dupin were any less popular than his other tales, and they're certainly equally regarded today. Regardless, once again, the popularity of a composition's genre doesn't cheapen that work- by this rationale, No Country For Old Men shouldn't be an Oscar nominee because there are so many Westerns.

[Godslayer Jillian]

Originally Posted by gothicusmaximus

Why is it that popularity or accessibility reduces the value of a novel?

It doesn't, but gothic literature almost in its entirety sucks, and was only sold because it was popular.

Of course there were awful entries into the catalogue of gothic fiction, but those that are still read and celebrated today- Wutering Heights, Frankenstein, A Turn of the Screw, Bleak House, even Dracula- are generally accomplished works.

Yeah, and FOX sucks, but it has the Simpsons and Family Guy. For those few examples I should judge the overall body of it?

Varney, at any rate, doesn't constitute grounds on which to condemn the whole genre

But most gothic literature resembles Varney and Dracula rather than Wuthering Heights.

By that logic, we shouldn't acknowledge Shakespeare's sonnets because he wrote them for money

Actually yeah. Shakespeare had talent, but he didn't say much to the world rather than he was just getting a salary.

Since when is Poe's other work ignored? I don't believe the adventures of August Dupin were any less popular than his other tales, and they're certainly equally regarded today.

Really? Let's make a poll about which story people feel is more "Poe"tic of Poe's stories: The Pit and the Pendulum, or The Murders in La Rue Morgue?

Regardless, once again, the popularity of a composition's genre doesn't cheapen that work

No, it doesn't, but when did I say it does?

[gothicusmaximus]

Heh, I realized how badly I botched quoting you in the last post. Busy and tired as I was, I closed a quote tag with [/gothic]. I rule.

Originally Posted by Godslayer Jillian

It doesn't, but gothic literature almost in its entirety sucks, and was only sold because it was popular.

Dude, unpopular things don't sell. Everything sells because it's popular. Some things can be popular for reasons which are less 'legitimate' in your eyes than those for which other things are popular, but things don't sell for reasons beyond popularity.

Originally Posted by Godslayer Jillian

] Yeah, and FOX sucks, but it has the Simpsons and Family Guy. For those few examples I should judge the overall body of it?

TV Stations versus Literary Genre's is a weird analogy, but, well, if you live in a Nielsen Household, you don't just help out Family Guy and the Simpsons when you tune in, you help out Fox as a whole. Besides, what about motherfucking House?

Originally Posted by Godslayer Jillian

But most gothic literature resembles Varney and Dracula rather than Wuthering Heights.

Most contributions to all genres suck. Most science fiction is shit like "SPACE MARINE", not I, Robot or The Stars My Destination. Most Fantasy is "DRAGONMOOR", not The Lord of the Rings. Most books suck, period.

Originally Posted by Godslayer Jillian

Actually yeah. Shakespeare had talent, but he didn't say much to the world rather than he was just getting a salary.

Are you saying that Shakespeare's works as a whole didn't say much to the world? Or just that his sonnets have little little literary value? I don't agree with either statement, and if you maintain one or both of those beliefs I have to ask that you elaborate as to why you do.

Originally Posted by Godslayer Jillian

Really? Let's make a poll about which story people feel is more "Poe"tic of Poe's stories: The Pit and the Pendulum, or The Murders in La Rue Morgue?

I'd say it would depend on who we'd survey. The layperson would probably have more familiariy with the former if he knew of Poe at all, but I can't imagine anyone with an interest in literature neglecting the importance of his August Dupin tales. I'd actually be very interested to conduct this experiment, posting the poll to forums which attract different userbases perhaps?

Originally Posted by Jillian

No, it doesn't, but when did I say it does?

The way you called gothic literature 'well-known' and 'done to death' seemed a bit contemptuous of popular things, but I might have misconstrued you.

We're not fighting, btw. I do <3 you, Jillian.

[Alkonost13]

Let's read "Master & Margarita" by M. Bulgakov. It's a gothic book too!

[Cyberbat]

American Gods by Neil Gaiman.

Brilliant. Just brilliant.

[Luna]

Right now I´m reading Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. It´s not as dark as I had hoped it would be, at least not yet.. But it´s still very hard to let go of. I could stay up night and day reading it.

[Ashlyea]

Right now I´m reading Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. It´s not as dark as I had hoped it would be, at least not yet.. But it´s still very hard to let go of. I could stay up night and day reading it.

Hm, I just picked Twilight up yesterday, (now nearly done with it) and I'm wondering now if it belongs in the trash. It's not anything new, and doesn't get exciting until near the very end. Then, things don't seem to connect to the rest of the story.

[BlkGothGrl]

Originally Posted by Cyberbat

American Gods by Neil Gaiman.

Brilliant. Just brilliant.

Hell yes. That book is one good time indeed.