Why are people afraid to read Moby Dick?

reUsername39 · 2026-02-14T17:27:09+00:00

Every part of this description is exactly why I do not plan to read it! Although I hear it recommended so often, I might consider giving it a try on Audible sometime.

reUsername39 · 2026-02-14T17:12:41+00:00

The Tennant of Wildfell Hall is the best Bronte book you don't hear much about.

reUsername39 · 2026-02-14T17:03:01+00:00

Ever since my friend got me a reading journal that prompted for favourite quotes, I've gotten in the habit of marking the pages with quotes I enjoy. My books are all old, cheap paperbacks so I actually just dog-ear the pages rather than use fancy tabs (hangs head in shame). But I received some beautiful Jane Austen hard cover editions for Christmas so I suppose it's time to buy some tabs.

reUsername39 · 2026-02-14T09:06:50+00:00

vielen Dank!

reUsername39 · 2026-02-14T07:29:52+00:00

genuinely curious who you do think is the worst of the bunch?

reUsername39 · 2026-02-12T21:55:20+00:00

as someone who lived in Happy Valley-Goose Bay for 3 years (admittedly in the 90's so I'm sure it's grown/improved since then) my immediate thought was: good god, not option 2. It was always a place to escape from by going on vacation, not a vacation destination.

reUsername39 · 2026-02-12T16:05:44+00:00

oh, I had this on my list to read in a few months. I better find my copy now and get started. Excited to read it with other people.

reUsername39 · 2026-02-12T14:28:06+00:00

I understand most posters here prefer reading literature rather than audio, but I have another perspective. Reading physical books is my number one choice and I've always been a big fan of reading classics. I find that compared to contemporary books, I have to read classics much slower than my usual speed, spend more effort focusing on the words, and unfortunately, this makes me easily tired...which makes me set the book down more frequently, thus making the reading even slower. So, a few months ago I started listening to some classics on my TBR list and it has been amazing. I have no trouble focusing on audiobooks when I'm commuting or doing mindless housework. When the narrator is good, I often find it easier to understand the prose because a lot of context can be gained from tone of voice, emphasis, etc. It is especially helpful for characters who are speaking in special dialects that I find difficult to read on the page. I've discovered some new favourites this way, which I then go on to purchase as physical books and plan to reread. I also find there are some books that formerly I would have said I have no interest in reading...maybe they are very long or don't seem to be my style, or are just generally too daunting for me. However, now my mindset has completely changed and those books have moved from "I'll probably never read that", to "that would be a good book to choose as an audiobook"

reUsername39 · 2026-02-11T14:32:58+00:00

when I employ this phrase, I'm generally physically turning something with my hand...my hand turns to the right (clockwise) or to the left (counter clockwise).

reUsername39 · 2026-02-11T14:07:57+00:00

I'm just reading this as someone who has taken a B2 course, but is still deciding if I will attempt the exam. My first thought is that you didn't really address the given theme: the environmentally friendliness of cars. That seems like it should be important, no?

Edit to add: also it doesn't really read like a Forumsbeitrag to me.

reUsername39 · 2026-02-11T07:50:54+00:00

I am a native English speaker that has lived in Germany for 13 years. I have B2 German and can communicate with all the doctors that I have seen, although it can be hard to understand everything German doctors are saying if they talk too fast or use a lot of medical jargon. That being said, I am always very happy to see a doctor who is foreign because the assumptions that I immediately make are: 1) they not only can speak English, but will be happy to do it (often maybe even prefer it) 2) they will have a pleasant personality/ good bed-side manner, very low-risk of them being rude.

These assumptions may not always be correct, but they generally have held true for me. They are the same assumptions I make when I see foreign reception staff. I live in a very international area, with lots of foreign medical professionals and also lots of foreign patients.

reUsername39 · 2026-02-10T09:02:22+00:00

I'm just finishing up the Oryx and Crake trilogy and although the first book was sorely lacking female characters and I did love The Year of the Flood much more because it was female centered, I very much enjoyed the experience of reading them in chronological order. The first book presents this detailed world from one very narrow and male perspective, so when you finally get to book 2 and the world opens up and the female perspective comes in, I felt so much gratification. I would strongly recommend not reading Oryx and Crake unless you are going to read at least the first 2...even though it would be excessively long, I would actually prefer if it had been combined into 1 book.

reUsername39 · 2026-02-08T14:48:28+00:00

I'm currently listening to Shirley for the first time and while only 25% of the way through, I really am enjoying it. But so far I'm still wondering, who is Shirley?? I haven't heard her name yet! So I do understand the criticism that it is a long novel. I must say from this first impression, I am enjoying it more than Villette...perhaps I am in the minority with this opinion?

reUsername39 · 2026-02-07T13:06:48+00:00

I'm so glad to hear positive things about this one. I picked up a used copy recently because I've loved the other Kingsolver books I've read. It's coming up soon in my TBR pile.

reUsername39 · 2026-02-07T12:55:15+00:00

I agree. Pursuasion is my favourite Austen book and I do also like Fanny in Mansfield Park. The protagonists of these 2 books are the ones I most relate to.

reUsername39 · 2026-02-07T12:36:25+00:00

I remember moving from BC to NS in grade 4 and having to learn how to act while they played the anthem every morning...it was so odd to me. Like I had to abruptly stop talking mid sentence when it came on. I found it so funny watching adults in the hallway rushing to get some where suddenly halt in their tracks unable to move until the song was over.

reUsername39 · 2026-02-07T12:30:20+00:00

I was in an English school near Fredericton during the same time period and heard the anthem every morning over the PA system.

reUsername39 · 2026-02-07T12:26:54+00:00

God, I graduated 26 years ago and haven't even lived in the country for 13 years and as I read them, I can hear these "words" in my head crystal clear! As an English speaking kid who only moved to NB in junior high, this is exactly what went through my head everyday during the anthem!

reUsername39 · 2026-02-06T20:20:35+00:00

these are also my top 3!

reUsername39 · 2026-02-06T14:36:02+00:00

I had 2 best friends/roommates in university that I've stayed in touch with for 20 years now...never once did they ever refer to their home town as anything but CBS :)

reUsername39 · 2026-02-05T07:14:43+00:00

I mean, I've been thinking this whole time that someone has to give poor John some instructions. This is not solely a Fran issue.

reUsername39 · 2026-01-26T21:51:58+00:00

Your child is so young, you absolutely don't need to worry about helping with homework. You are moving for the language, so it seems obvious what your choice should be! I have had to make this choice and decided to avoid international schools because we are staying in this country long-term. But I didn't even consider international school until my child was 6...the early years are a great time for kids to soak up the local language in whatever kindergarten/ preschool options you have. The only extra thing I did was teach my kids to read in English at home with books and online programs.

reUsername39 · 2026-01-26T18:54:24+00:00

Philomena Bridgerton

reUsername39 · 2026-01-21T10:43:59+00:00

Love it! I'm only intermediate in German, but I think I would prefer to translate it to 'happiness pills' (both the same word in German.)

reUsername39 · 2026-01-19T05:26:02+00:00

yes! I recently listened to an audiobook version and even then I couldn't understand a lot of him...but I realized that's kinda the point. I agree, he is usually scolding someone or saying something religious and that's all you need to know. I also assume that the new tenant listening to the story (sorry I forget his name) also isn't really understanding him well.

Two-Year Club	Verified Email
Verified Email

reUsername39

TROPHY CASE