Prazzie is not currently reading any books.
I’m female, from South Africa. I’ve been a DailyLit member since March 13, 2009.
Books
- Wikipedia Tour: Psychology finished
- Famous Modern Ghost Stories finished
- Wikipedia Tour: Masterpieces of Western Art finished
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3 Short Reads by Edgar Allan Poe finished
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The Curious Case of Benjamin Button finished
- On the Origin of Species suspended
- Le Mystère de la Chambre Jaune suspended
- Who is Mark Twain? suspended
- Paradise Lost suspended
- Leaves of Grass suspended
- 1632 suspended
- Les Fleurs du Mal suspended
- 2BRO2B suspended
Posts
Paradise Lost - Very difficult language
I've tried to read this book several times in the past, but always fell asleep after about four pages. References to this work crop up all the time, however, so I decided that I would finally try to get through it with the 5 minutes a day DailyLit method. I'm on the fourth installment and I have to say, I am not sure what's going on. I read the SparkNotes guide while reading the book, but even that doesn't help much. The sentences are long and run into each other - did Milton have a problem with regular fullstops? The many references to Greek places and myths are tedious and pretentious, as I feel they distract from the story and only to show Milton's familiarity with ancient literature and history.
I'll soldier on, but I often find myself reading a sentence automatically, with no idea what it is that I am reading. What I really need is a line by line translation in no-fuss modern English!
Reader Challenges - 6 Word Autobiography
Born, still breathing, not dead yet.
Famous Modern Ghost Stories - Famous Modern Ghost Stories
Finished 'Shadows'. It was much better than the first, in the sense that I wanted to know what happened next, but once again, the abrupt ending that another reader also complained of left me cold.
3 Short Reads by Edgar Allan Poe - Ok, but not that great
Usually Poe is far better, but then again, they're pretty good for such short stories. I was glad when 'Masque' was over and relieved to see 'The Raven'.
3 Short Reads by Edgar Allan Poe - Odd selection
'The tell-tale heart' was enjoyable in a campfire story kind of way. Another reviewer suggests these stories should be "read out loud" and I agree that this particular story would benefit, particularly if the storyteller makes for a convincing madman.
'The Masque of the Red Death' did not appeal at all. I found it a bit silly what with all the coloured chambers and the masked figure. I felt it was very dated and pointless.
'The Raven' is one of my favourite poems and I was happy to see it in the final installment of the 3 Short Reads.
Famous Modern Ghost Stories - Famous Modern Ghost Stories
I am still busy reading this collection. I just finished 'The Willows'. While it is very well written, I found it rather dull and the slow pace bored me. I did not find this tale particularly scary, although I think it is supposed to evoke a mood of unease, rather than fear. The abrupt ending annoyed me, I couldn't believe that was it. 'The Shadows on the Wall' is next, maybe that will be more suited to my tastes.