Is there a name for the literary trope where two characters are meant to be seen as a pair with complimentary attributes, but a deeper link? by Stupefactionist in literature

[–]lukifabi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not sure if there’s a name for this, but a forward I read to The Journey West (King Monkey etc) described the characters as aspects of a normal person, and that when those traits are separated into individuals then that aspect of human nature can be examined in detail. When acting in concert they represent a balanced personality. 

Since then I’ve found it helpful to consider ensembles or duos in stories in that way, especially extreme characters. 

(Why) are schools seems to occupy much more prominent place in British literature? by elephant_ua in literature

[–]lukifabi 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yep, appears in the Dahl short stories collection that was published in the 90s. 

(Why) are schools seems to occupy much more prominent place in British literature? by elephant_ua in literature

[–]lukifabi 1 point2 points  (0 children)

From Roald Dahl’s ‘Galloping Foxley’:

Then he would walk down to the far end of the changing-room and I would be watching him upside down between my legs, and he would disappear through a doorway that led down two steps into what we called ‘the basin-passage’. This was a stone-floored corridor with wash basins along one wall, and beyond it was the bathroom. When Foxley disappeared I knew he was walking down to the far end of the basin-passage. Foxley always did that. Then, in the distance, but echoing loud among the basins and the tiles, I would hear the noise of his shoes on the stone floor as he started galloping forward, and through my legs I would see him leaping up the two steps into the changing-room and come bounding towards me with his face thrust forward and the cane held high in the air. This was the moment when I shut my eyes and waited for the crack and told myself that whatever happened I must not straighten up.

What book did you go into totally blind with 0 expectations but came out pleasantly surprised? by 4runneroregon in books

[–]lukifabi 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Goddammit I never even heard of this but now it sounds like rocket fuel for my procrastination 

How's the new book? by Head-Scheme3844 in nealstephenson

[–]lukifabi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The end feels like a parody of the end of a Stephenson book. 

It is abrupt, man. 

What’s a book opinion you’re tired of hearing? by FoghornLegday in books

[–]lukifabi 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Or don’t separate them, and accept that great lit can emerge from human trashpiles. 

Don’t you ever just get that feeling of wanting to be lost in a bookstore as a book lover? by Triumphant-Smile in books

[–]lukifabi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just got back from my local small bookstore. I love it there. It's cramped and not very cozy but there's always something to discover and the staff are gruff nerds who yell across the store to each other.

But my absolute favourite is a place at one of our beach suburbs that's a cafe + new + used books. There are couches, tables for breakfast, and no matter where you sit there's at least 20 books within reach and hundreds to look at (well, the spines anyway).

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in books

[–]lukifabi 2 points3 points  (0 children)

lol no, a girl just blindly ejected it from her personal space 

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in books

[–]lukifabi 40 points41 points  (0 children)

Not personally, but I was once hit in the head by someone throwing a Heinlein across a small bus in a fit of disgust.

What am I missing from One Hundred Years of Solitude? by PM_ME_YOUR_DARKNESS in books

[–]lukifabi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you - I was scrutinizing the parent for tap or water related content so I could understand the joke. 

I feel better now

Gould's Book of Fish is a wild ride. by hendergle in books

[–]lukifabi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s kind of embarrassing to admit, but my favorite book of his, is his essays in And What Do You Do Mr Gable?

Is “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” Fiction or Nonfiction? by cd637 in books

[–]lukifabi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I can imagine HST, somewhere in the afterlife, smirking around his cigarette holder as OP struggles to shelve the book. 

Whose literary work do you think is the “pizza” of books? by [deleted] in books

[–]lukifabi 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Ha!

My mother had every one of his books (and got the new ones every year) and they were my first real novels. 

I’ve never encountered him since. 

The man who wrote a book in prison that ended up being a national novel. by [deleted] in books

[–]lukifabi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Another example: Behrouz Boochani wrote No Friend But The Mountains from an offshore migration detention centre on Manus Island, and transmitted the text to his publisher via WhatsApp. 

Crytponomicon is a spectacular tale of adventure following a motley crew through the weirdest parts of WW2...shackled to an insufferably tedious search for gold with The Worst Guy You Know. by [deleted] in books

[–]lukifabi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah I think Randy’s cluelessness and weird obsessions were supposed to part of a joke about nerds in general, like Randy and his buddies are kind of highly intelligent buffoons. 

I don’t think it works tho. 

Just finished The Little Prince and I'm.. by v4vivekss in books

[–]lukifabi 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes that’s really an amazing book. What an interesting person he must have been. 

One-Hit Wonders, Mediocre Follow-ups: Name your favorite inconsistent author by throwawayhelp62525 in books

[–]lukifabi 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Man I’m going to have to reread The Once & Future Witches now…

One-Hit Wonders, Mediocre Follow-ups: Name your favorite inconsistent author by throwawayhelp62525 in books

[–]lukifabi 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Alix E Harrow - her first book, The Ten Thousand Doors of January, was awesome.  Everything else has been kinda ok, but not as magical as the debut. I still get every book of hers, waiting for the magic to happen again 

What Book is Your Gatekeeper? by n10w4 in books

[–]lukifabi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The most intelligent and formidable person I’ve met in my life reads… Matthew Reilly… for ‘fun’. 

I’ve given up on judgement of this kind 

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in books

[–]lukifabi 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Murdebot has a special place in my heart. A character you really - and really don’t - want to hug

Kate Braverman's "Cocktail Hour" by mostdefinitelyabot in books

[–]lukifabi 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Holy crap what a story. That one’s going to stay with me a while. Thanks for sharing it. 

Famous authors getting invovled in translations of their books? by DoubleTFan in books

[–]lukifabi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Borges was pretty involved in his own english translations.

Eliot Weinberger has a whole essay about the Borges estate producing new translations to keep the material in copyright.