GammaGlobulin Posted September 5, 2021 Share Posted September 5, 2021 What about one of the first novels in China? Dream of the Red Chamber. In fact, this was really the first novel in China. Fantastically wonderful novel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post zzaa09 Posted September 5, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted September 5, 2021 The written word, regardless of form or presentation, is a healthy as it's ever been. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thaibeachlovers Posted September 6, 2021 Share Posted September 6, 2021 8 hours ago, biervoormij said: I read real slow but when I stopped working I decided to try and read 50 books in a year. I have read at least 50 for the past 7 years. Currently I am at 40 for this year but am sure I will make it over 50 by the end of the year. I am glad a number of the authors that I really enjoy don't think that the novel is dead and keep writing. Good for you. I have hundreds of books bought over the years to read "when I retired", but the dark side ( the internet ) has seduced me, and I read few. If I can resist the pull of darkness, I will endeavor to put aside at least 2 afternoons a week to read. I can only hope. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterw42 Posted September 6, 2021 Share Posted September 6, 2021 At some point in time, the population consumed cave paintings, as that was the only form of media available. Then came clay tablets, scrolls, printing press, digital etc. evolution of media. The content is still available its just in a different media nowadays I used to read a couple of books a week, nowadays I still consume the content but its usually in the form of an audio book, someone reads it to me. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post ScotlandtheBrave Posted September 6, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted September 6, 2021 I do love to read every day, and I have a kindle but actually prefer holding a book in my hands. A good friend transferred thousands of books to my kindle for free. Then I found the Kinokuniya bookshop in Siam Paragon in Bangkok and now when I make my twice yearly trips to Bangkok from Pattaya for hospital appointment I always go there and stock up on books at a great price. In my condo building we have a collection of books in bookcases in an open area that anyone can access and I always put my books there after I have read them. Good to share and not waste them. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Jingthing Posted September 6, 2021 Author Popular Post Share Posted September 6, 2021 (edited) 3 hours ago, Peterw42 said: At some point in time, the population consumed cave paintings, as that was the only form of media available. Then came clay tablets, scrolls, printing press, digital etc. evolution of media. The content is still available its just in a different media nowadays I used to read a couple of books a week, nowadays I still consume the content but its usually in the form of an audio book, someone reads it to me. The question really isn't about delivery format in any way. It's about content. A novel is still a novel whether it's in book, ebook, or audio format. Obviously some people are still writing novels and some people are still "reading" them in some way. But I strongly feel that novels are in decline as far as their cultural importance and impact. I think over time that trend will continue with no hope of reversal. Sure most probably students will continue to be forced to read novels in academic settings. But I think even that will decline. But what percentage of them will continue to read them voluntarily? I think fewer and fewer. It seems to me appreciating novels has already become rather a quaint activity and in some sense an activity of a shrinking intellectual elite. I should clarify that I'm talking about novels with at least some literary merit. Edited September 6, 2021 by Jingthing 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Pedrogaz Posted September 6, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted September 6, 2021 Shocking, shameful result, in my opinion. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Skallywag Posted September 6, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted September 6, 2021 I am a bit ashamed of myself as I used to read almost every evening/night time. Last time I read a novel was on a bus trip to Bangkok Now I download TV series, movies, and watch the free TV channels at my condo, which is as good as the cable I used to buy in the US at $50 a month 2 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kinnock Posted September 6, 2021 Share Posted September 6, 2021 9 minutes ago, Pedrogaz said: Shocking, shameful result, in my opinion. Surprising, yes, but why 'shameful'? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GammaGlobulin Posted September 6, 2021 Share Posted September 6, 2021 14 hours ago, papa al said: ... have a crate of books to swap with someone. Fiction & non-. Pattaya. Any First Editions? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post n00dle Posted September 6, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted September 6, 2021 Two to three novels a week, all on ebook. I can't recall the last time I read a paperback or hardcover. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kinnock Posted September 6, 2021 Share Posted September 6, 2021 I was surprised that my honest response was 0 in 2021, as I would say I was an avid reader using my Kindle. But the reason is that I used to take at least one long-haul flight every week for my work, and as I'd seen all the movies I would lose myself in a novel. But I've not been on any flights this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GammaGlobulin Posted September 6, 2021 Share Posted September 6, 2021 2 hours ago, Jingthing said: The question really isn't about delivery format in any way. It's about content. A novel is still a novel whether it's in book, ebook, or audio format. Obviously some people are still writing novels and some people are still "reading" them in some way. But I strongly feel that novels are in decline as far as their cultural importance and impact. I think over time that trend will continue with no hope of reversal. Sure most probably students will continue to be forced to read novels in academic settings. But I think even that will decline. But what percentage of them will continue to read them voluntarily? I think fewer and fewer. It seems to me appreciating novels has already become rather a quaint activity and in some sense an activity of a shrinking intellectual elite. I should clarify that I'm talking about novels with at least some literary merit. Is our intellect shrinking, did you say? What about the Flynn Effect? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skallywag Posted September 6, 2021 Share Posted September 6, 2021 2 minutes ago, Kinnock said: Surprising, yes, but why 'shameful'? Millennials and Gen Z people will not/ do not have the same grasp on vocabulary and history if they do not read. Reading also reduces stress and keeps your brain healthy in some ways I believe. So if you do not partake in something easy and educational that is good for you that would be "shameful" ? Is my take 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jingthing Posted September 6, 2021 Author Share Posted September 6, 2021 3 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said: Is our intellect shrinking, did you say? What about the Flynn Effect? I didn't say that but could be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kinnock Posted September 6, 2021 Share Posted September 6, 2021 2 minutes ago, Skallywag said: Millennials and Gen Z people will not/ do not have the same grasp on vocabulary and history if they do not read. Reading also reduces stress and keeps your brain healthy in some ways I believe. So if you do not partake in something easy and educational that is good for you that would be "shameful" ? Is my take I see .... fair point. Although I think grammar and proper sentence construction is dead anyway, thanks to messaging apps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chainsaw Posted September 6, 2021 Share Posted September 6, 2021 13 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said: That is an interesting point. There was a time when I enjoyed James Patterson books, and then he outsourced his writing to co-authors.. I read lots of great Reacher books. After the last one I am not sure I will buy another one again. Same with Baldacci. The last book which I read was horrible, after many good books. At least Stephen Leather still writes great novels. Agree with you about the last Reacher book. Lee Child co-wrote it with his brother. Big mistake! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katipo Posted September 6, 2021 Share Posted September 6, 2021 I read novels and non-fiction. There are so many good books out there. I had to disconnect my Kindle for 6 months and I am still not through my backlog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saltire Posted September 6, 2021 Share Posted September 6, 2021 Ashamed to say I have gone from a daily reader to a zero vote, gradually over the last 5 years or so. Before I moved here from Cambodia I used to read about a book a month. I always used to read (Kindle on IPad) for an hour or so when I went to bed but I'm married now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will B Good Posted September 6, 2021 Share Posted September 6, 2021 (edited) 10 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said: What about the novel, as a form, and when the novel first became an art form? Henry Fielding? Who does not love Tom Jones? What about Fanny Hill? How has the novel changed since the days of Fanny Hill? I remember looking at Fanny by Gaslight as a kid, but went for a Harold Robbins instead Edited September 6, 2021 by Will B Good 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardColeman Posted September 6, 2021 Share Posted September 6, 2021 About 20 this year so far. I read when I walk to the town everyday and sit or on the loo - what else you going to do ? Look at the same piece of path 365 and stare at the sink taps ? 32 pages a day walking and loo = near 1000 a month = 2-3 books ish read when you have basically the ability to do nothing else ! I do not see that as a bad thing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GammaGlobulin Posted September 6, 2021 Share Posted September 6, 2021 1 minute ago, Will B Good said: I remember considering Fanny by Gaslight as a kid, but went for a Harold Robbins instead Sinclair Lewis is better than Lewis Sinclair, by any light. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Denim Posted September 6, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted September 6, 2021 14 hours ago, Jingthing said: I truly think you have a very inaccurate and narrow opinion about novels. I read some novels but not that many. Problem is that if people know you like reading they try to dump garbage novels like ' The Da Vinci Code ' or ' The Beach ' on you and expect you to read and rave about them. I have read all Conrads works and Mark Twains but as a rule I prefer first hand eye witness history books. The Plague by Albert Camus was very good and of course , currently topical , but I don't have a copy here to re read. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisKC Posted September 6, 2021 Share Posted September 6, 2021 I think the "real" book novel has died somewhat but I read PDF books having downloaded from Internet. Also I listen to Audio books - does that count? For example, recently I have been into the Audio version of "The Hobbit" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denim Posted September 6, 2021 Share Posted September 6, 2021 8 minutes ago, RichardColeman said: I walk to the town everyday and sit or on the loo - what else you going to do ? I used to use dead time like that to study languages. Have a dozen words written down on a scrap of paper and memorize them whilst walking , working or pooing. Very effective method. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will B Good Posted September 6, 2021 Share Posted September 6, 2021 I ended up in a village Isan for two months and, this is true, read War and Peace on an iPhone 4 (not the epilogues though). (Just incase anyone ever wondered how boring green as far as the eye can see, can be). 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GammaGlobulin Posted September 6, 2021 Share Posted September 6, 2021 (edited) Anyone here up for a reading of the novel: Giles Goat-Boy? Or, are novels dead? "a black comedy to offend everyone" The pun was probably intended. Not all novels are dead, maybe. Edited September 6, 2021 by GammaGlobulin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post AhFarangJa Posted September 6, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted September 6, 2021 I read all the time. I did have a Kindle many years ago when they first came out. However, it did not feel the same as holding a proper book. I used to find myself having to go back and re read several pages as the information did not sink in the same. Of course maybe it was just my age..... 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmarshall Posted September 6, 2021 Share Posted September 6, 2021 Although I read a lot of literature when I was younger, nowadays I in English I only read non-fiction. However, in my Thai studies I am just finishing ครอบครัวที่ลัก ("Shoplifters") by Hirokazu Koreeda, translated from the Japanese into Thai. Very enjoyable. Learned a lot of Thai vernacular. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spidermike007 Posted September 6, 2021 Share Posted September 6, 2021 Both fiction and non fiction will last as long as mankind has an open mind, and maintains it's curiosity. I do have friends who refuse to read books. And my heart goes out to them. Literacy is an amazing and beautiful thing. There is way more than a lifetime of wonderful stuff to read out there. Since I have discovered both Library Genesis - http://libgen.rs and Z Library, https://en.book4you.org I have downloaded hundreds of books, magazines, etc. Amazing. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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