Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) discussion

I have a question I’m hoping someone here can help me with. I belong to a couple of groups that require me to post links to my reviews in their forums. The only thing I know how to do is copy and paste the link, which then posts the review in its entirety. How do I copy just the link and post it by itself? Anyone? Thanks

I assume you're using the blog link text in the box on the right of the review?
you can just copy/paste the text in the address bar
e.g. in the case of your review for One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Oh I see
That must be something I can only see on a computer
I only use my iPad and phone.
Hmmmm well I’ll keep doing what I’m doing and see if anyone complains
By the way thanks for picking Cuckoo as the example. That’s probably my most personal review and one of my all time fave reads.

BAM wrote: "Oh I see
That must be something I can only see on a computer
I only use my iPad and phone...."

The GR IOS app has many limitations. When I use my iPad, I use my browser for Goodreads instead of the app.

Katy wrote: "BAM wrote: "Oh I see
That must be something I can only see on a computer
I only use my iPad and phone...."

The GR IOS app has many limitations. When I use my iPad, I use my browser for Goodreads ..."

Same here. I use my iPhone to access goodreads but never use the app.

I'd say go ahead and start reading Dan. Personally I don't think it is nearly as good as The Count of Monte Cristo, but almost on par with Les Misérables. IMO Hugo is a bit more longwinded.

I agree. Hugo is quite the political pundit. Very socio-economic
But Les Mis is a top five read for me. I cry every time I read it. Or see it. Or hear it
I think Hunchback is prob my least fave, but I had a bad audio version. Don’t do that

Hi...haven't been checking in to this group for a while but what are the July reads? cheers

New: Giovanni's Room
Old: Demons
Short Ten Days in a Mad-House
Revisit: All Quiet on the Western Front
Quarterly: The Once and Future King

This thread is generally kept up to date with the newest books:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

What's an omnibus?

An omnibus is when multiple complete books are published in one volume.

This happens a lot with trilogies where they might do one volume with the whole series.

Thank you! I had never heard of that

You don't see it as often in paper formats anymore since the average book length has increased. If you have 3 books that are each 300-400 pages, an omnibus would run around 1,000 pages.

But for shorter works, they're still floating around. The New York Trilogy, for instance, is easier to find in omnibus format than in individual volumes.

They're really popular in e-book format, though, since those don't have the same size limitations as physical volumes.

Oh ok good to know. I learned a new word today. So something like the Forsyte Sage is an omnibus?

Yes. It's the first 3 books in the Forsyte Chronicles series.

If you look in your local library, you can find many omnibuses. For example, I bought an 847-page, Book-of-the-Month Club E.M. Forster omnibus consisting of A Room With a View, Howard's End, and Maurice, at a library book sale. Barnes and Noble has several omnibuses in their hardcover collectors editions, including Jane Austen: Seven Novels, which I bought last year. They usually cost around $25.00 USD.

As Melanti said in message #114, omnibuses are especially popular in e-book format, where you can often score a classic author's complete works for a pittance.

Where can I see what you have chosen for September? (I found the current and the nominations, but not the coming month). Thanks

Idit wrote: "Where can I see what you have chosen for September? (I found the current and the nominations, but not the coming month). Thanks"

On the Group Home Page or on our bookshelf Idit.

Idit wrote: "Where can I see what you have chosen for September? (I found the current and the nominations, but not the coming month). Thanks"

https://www.goodreads.com/group/books...

You can find this link on the group's main page near the top to the right of the display for current reads.

If you go to the Group Home page, to the right of the Currently Reading section is a box called Upcoming. It will show two of next month's books and if you click on More Upcoming Books it will show you a list of September's books.

Thank you all. I was looking from a phone - so couldn’t see. But the link helped

Yes, not everything shows up on the phone app. Glad Aubrey helped you out with the link

Idit wrote: "Thank you all. I was looking from a phone - so couldn’t see. But the link helped"

I'm on my iPad, so sorry Idit! Yes. It was nice that Aubrey helped you but it was also nice of Aprilleigh and I to offer our help as well, so you're welcome! 😊

Absolutely Loretta!
That’s why I thanked you all :)

Idit wrote: "Absolutely Loretta!
That’s why I thanked you all :)"

I know! 😊

What's the group policy on "necroposting" or "threadcromancy"--in other words, resurrecting an old book discussion thread? Should I use the "currently reading" thread instead?

Necroposting/threadcromancy in old group reads is encouraged.

We're big fans of zombies around here.

(You can use the "currently reading thread" if you want -- to say you're reading something or other. But for any real discussion we encourage using the dedicated threads.)

OMG! I love those words! That’s awesome

yea..

Melanti wrote: "An omnibus is when multiple complete books are published in one volume.

This happens a lot with trilogies where they might do one volume with the whole series."


There are many omnibuses to be found in Science Fiction publishing, particularly Star Trek novels, where the texts included are all concerned with a certain theme. For instance the Captain's Table is a collection of novels where a well-known Captain of a premier Starship tells a "backstory". The Captain's Table Omnibus. Also, there is an omnibus concerned with Klingon culture Day of Honor Omnibus. I also own a leather bound omnibus of the six texts which comprise the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

Oh yes! I have a couple of Star Wars now that you mention it

The lists for the next month's reads used to have first publication date and # of pages. I don't see that anywhere for October.

Vicki wrote: "The lists for the next month's reads used to have first publication date and # of pages. I don't see that anywhere for October."

Those show up in the nomination summaries & on the polls.

Katy wrote: "Vicki wrote: "The lists for the next month's reads used to have first publication date and # of pages. I don't see that anywhere for October."

Those show up in the nomination summaries & on the po..."

Thanks, found them in the archives.

I was interested in the long quarter read of The Arabian Nights. I went through a link journey: Group Link, GR book link to Amazon link which had an audio version available, yay! But the Amazon linked version is 340 pages.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01...
Is that right? If its wrongly linked through GR then do you know if there is an audio version of the right one.
Audible has many versions but none that seem 1000 pages.

Most versions you get that are single volume are abridged (including the one we'll use for the group read), and it's really likely that everyone's editions are going to have a slightly different selections of the stories.

At a guess, is what you're looking at for the Audible edition translated by Andrew Lang?

Don't get that one. That's going to be the kid-friendly version. The Arabian Nights is NOT kid friendly.

No Andrew Lang, got it. How many individual stories should be in the version the group is reading?

How about this one?
https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Arabia...
Looks like it goes with this:
https://smile.amazon.com/Arabian-Nigh...
But they are not linked.

Looks like 29ish stories in the Modern Library version, though some of those stories have multiple parts, which are usually their own mini-story.

The one you just linked to, though, is a bit odd. I googled a few lines and the only results I got are other results also only crediting Rhied. None name a translator. I'm not sure what translation it is (it might be an adaptation of the Scott translation?), but I'm not impressed. It's disappointingly PG.

For comparison, here's the same passage in a couple of different translations. Don't worry, these aren't spoilers. Just trying to limit how much space I'm taking up...

Haddawy (modern translation): (view spoiler)[
When Sit al-Husn heard his words, she laughed and said, "By God, my little lord, you have made me happy and put my heart at ease. Take me and hold me in your lap." She had no trousers on, so Badr al-Din also took off his trousers and, taking from his belt the purse containing the thousand dinars he had received from the Jew, he wrapped it in his trousers and laid them under the mattress. Then taking off his turban, which he laid over the wrapping cloth on the seat, he remained only in his shirt and skullcap and stood hesitating. O my love, you are keeping me waiting. Quench my desire with your love and let me enjoy your loveliness!" Then she recited these verses: [removed poem here]
[break here for dawn]

Badr al-Din Hasan and Sit al-Husn embrace, and he took her virginity and consummated the marriage. Then she placed one arm under his neck and the other under his shoulder, and with neck on neck and cheek on cheek they went to sleep, as if they seemed to say: [removed poem here]
(hide spoiler)]

Burton: (view spoiler)[
When the Lady of Beauty heard these words she smiled and rejoiced and laughed a pleasant laugh. Then she whispered him, “By the Lord thou hast quenched a fire which tortured me and now, by Allah, O my little dark-haired darling, take me to thee and press me to thy bosom!” Then she began singing:-- [poem removed]

Then she stripped off her outer gear and she threw open her chemise from the neck downwards and showed her parts genital and all the rondure of her hips. When Badr al-Din saw the glorious sight his desires were roused, and he arose and doffed her clothes, and wrapping up in his bag-trousers the purse of gold which he had taken from the Jew and which contained the thousand dinars, he laid it under the edge of the bedding. Then he took off his turban and set it upon the settle atop of his other clothes, remaining in his skull-cap and fine shirt of blue silk laced with gold. Whereupon the Lady of Beauty drew him to her and he did likewise. Then he took her to his embrace and set her legs round his waist and point-blanked that cannon placed where it battereth down the bulwark of maidenhead and layeth it waste. And he found her a pearl unpierced and unthridden and a filly by all men save himself unridden; and he abated her virginity and had joyance of her youth in his virility and presently he withdrew sword from sheath; and then returned to the fray right eath; and when the battle and the siege had finished, some fifteen assaults he had furnished and she conceived by him that very night. Then he laid his hand under her head and she did the same and they embraced and fell asleep in each other’s arms, as a certain poet said of such lovers in these couplets:-- [removed poem here]
(hide spoiler)]

Lane: This particular set of stories seems to be missing.

Payne: (view spoiler)[
When the Lady of Beauty heard this, she smiled and rejoiced and laughed softly. Then she said to him, "Thou hast quenched the fire of my heart, so, by Allah, take me and press me to thy bosom." Now she was without clothes; so she threw open the veil in which she was wrapped and showed her hidden charms. At this sight, desire stirred in Bedreddin, and he rose and put off his clothes. The purse of a thousand dinars he had received of the Jew he wrapped in his trousers and laid them under the mattress; then took off his turban and hung it on the settle, remaining in a skull-cap and shirt of fine silk, laced with gold. With this arose the Lady of Beauty and drew him to her, and he did the like with her. Then he took her to his embrace and pointing the engine that batters down the fortress of virginity, stormed the citadel and found her an unpierced pearl and a filly that none but he had ridden. So he took her maidenhead and enjoyed her dower of youth; nor did he stint to return to the assault till he had furnished fifteen courses, and she conceived by him. Then he laid his hand under her head and she did the like, and they embraced and fell asleep in each other's arms, whilst the tongue of the case spoke the words of the poet: [removed poem here]
(hide spoiler)]

Lyons (Modern translation):(view spoiler)[
When Sitt al-Husn heard this from Hasan, she smiled with joy and laughed gently. 'By God,' she said, 'you have quenched my fire so I ask you to take me and crush me to your breast.
She was without any outer clothing and when she now raised her shift up to her neck, her private parts and her buttocks were revealed. At this sight, Hasan's passion was roused, and getting up, he stripped off his clothes. He took the purse of gold with the thousand dinars that he had got from the Jew and wrapped it in his trousers, placing it under the end of the mattress, and he took off his turban and set it on a chair, leaving him only wearing a fine shirt embroidered with gold. At that, Sitt al-Husn went up to him and drew him to her as he drew her to him. He embraced her and placed her legs around his waist. He then set the charge, fired the cannon and demolished the fortress. He found his bride an unbored pearl and a mare that no one else had ridden, so he took her maidenhead and enjoyed her youth. Then he withdrew from her and after a restorative pause, he returned fifteen times, as a result of which she conceived.
When he had finished, he put his hand beneath her head and she did the same to him, after which they embraced and fell asleep in each others arms. This was as the poet has described: [removed poem here]
(hide spoiler)]

Scott: (view spoiler)[
At this discourse the vizier's daughter (who was more like one dead than alive when she came into the bride-chamber) put on a gay air, which made her so handsome, that Buddir ad Deen was charmed with her graces.

"I did not expect," said she, "to meet with so pleasing a surprise; and I had condemned myself to live unhappy all my days. But my good fortune is so much the greater, that I possess in you a man worthy of my tenderest affection."

Buddir ad Deen, overjoyed to see himself possessor of so many charms, retired with his bride, and laid his vesture aside, with the bag that he had from the Jew; which, notwithstanding all the money he had dispersed, was still full.
(hide spoiler)]

Now compare the same passage one you've linked:
Unknown Translation: (view spoiler)[
"At this discourse, the daughter of the vizier regained an air of cheerfulness, which added so much to her beauty that Bedreddin Hassan was quite charmed with her. "I did not expect so agreeable a surprise," said she; "I considered myself condemned to pass the rest of my days in misery, but my happiness is so much greater in being united to a man so worthy of my affection." Bedreddin Hassan was delighted to find himself in possession of so beautiful a spouse. He undressed, putting his clothes on a chair, together with the purse which the Jew had given him, and which was still full, notwithstanding all the gold he had taken from it.
(hide spoiler)]

Same passage, but while Burton talks about fillies unridden by any man other than himself, and metaphors of cannons and swords and laying siege to cities, etc, the edition you've linked only barely implies that they have sex by showing him undressing in this paragraph and calling them lovers in the next.

Gorgeous research thank you. I liked the Burton best.
How about this version?
https://smile.amazon.com/Arabian-Nigh...

I know that says Burton on the cover, but the look inside says it's Lang.

Good catch! Weird.

Thanks Melanti..

There is a course in Coursera/Futurelearn I am not sure. named world literature which has Goethe /Homer/Arabian nights/and two or three other such works.
And in the Arabian nights part they discuss about various translations.And some mordern interpretations.
I will see if I can get the link.

I think, in the video they speak about western fascination with Arabian nights and the inclusion of new tales of the french translator who translated the volumes first.
..and that Haddawy tried to put together the volumes without the western additions to it.

If I remember it right, the stories we all are most familiar with..Sindbad/Aladdin etc were actually not part of the persian/arabian collection of stories..and many were written/rather told by different persons and then they were modified as the tales went through different people and places...

Since then I have been wanting to read the Haddawy translation.

It was also said that though the western people highly value arabian nights ..its not a middle eastern classic..or even a highly regarded literature..it was something of the bestseller kind of thind..

Yep! I do recommend Haddawy. There are huge differences in the translations since they had agendas beyond the stories themselves. But let's hold off on this conversation until the group read next week.

🙃

Which Anthony Trollope would you recommend as a first read book?

I read Barchester Towers first and thought it was excellent!

The Warden is the first book in the series by Trollope, and Barchester Towers is the second book, and more interesting than The Warden. Barchester Towers has a wider variety of characters too.

Thanks,Darren and Rosemary.
:)