07 Oct 08
Originally posted by SeitseThe Americans are better educated than the Dutch?
This is about literature, but perhaps this demonstrates how concentrated in themselves some Americans are:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/11/26/world/main530872.shtml
It is a misconception that the U.S. education system kicks ass. All the following countries' education systems are ranked ahead of the U.S.
1. South Korea
2. Japan
3. Finland ([b ...[text shortened]... b... would you consider yourselves, culture-wise, representatives of the majority of Americans?
07 Oct 08
Originally posted by Bosse de NageWell, if you put it that way, sci-fi could be anything.
Any writer attempting to get to grips with modern (ir)reality has to deal with the technologies, hard and soft, that define the possibilities of human existence today -- science fiction by default.
(A novel about a tennis player would be science fiction).
The only other operative genre currently is fantasy -- John Grisham being a prime example.
Is "In the city of shy hunters" sci-fi for you? If no, is it worth reading?
07 Oct 08
Originally posted by PalynkaPerhaps a ranking of reading levels of non-mainstream literature per country would help?
But this only goes to show that the mainstream is insular. What about the rest?
Without that, we're only speculating for the fun of it.
Which we are doing, of course. Isn't it fun?
07 Oct 08
Originally posted by SeitseIt's defined by a disease: definitely science fiction.
Well, if you put it that way, sci-fi could be anything.
Is "In the city of shy hunters" sci-fi for you? If no, is it worth reading?
Compare science-fiction writer Samuel L. Delany's gay-coming-of-age book The Movement of Light on Water.
(My point really is that the only label that counts is 'fiction'.)
07 Oct 08
Originally posted by Bosse de NageYup, I get it, boundaries between genres are blurry and for you they should be demolished.
It's defined by a disease: definitely science fiction.
Compare science-fiction writer Samuel L. Delany's gay-coming-of-age book The Movement of Light on Water.
(My point really is that the only label that counts is 'fiction'.)
07 Oct 08
1 edit
Originally posted by Bosse de NageHe's probably good, just not my cup of tea. Perhaps it's hard to be unbiased as I don't like his personality too much and sometimes in Portugal it seems as if he's the only living Portuguese author worth reading.
I don't know, is he? I've only read one book, 'Baltasar & Blimunda', which I enjoyed very much. I didn't realise he was a Nobel Laureate until I browsed the Montreal webzine that Seitse put up in the Hipster Handbook thread ...
Edit: I remember you not being much of a Coetzee fan. Something similar?
07 Oct 08
Originally posted by PalynkaProbably.
He's probably good, just not my cup of tea. Perhaps it's hard to be unbiased as I don't like his personality too much and sometimes in Portugal it seems as if he's the only living Portuguese author worth reading.
Edit: I remember you not being much of a Coetzee fan. Something similar?
What other living Portuguese authors are worth reading.
07 Oct 08
Originally posted by Bosse de NageI just realized that this is the Memorial do Convento. What a strange translation. đ
I don't know, is he? I've only read one book, 'Baltasar & Blimunda', which I enjoyed very much. I didn't realise he was a Nobel Laureate until I browsed the Montreal webzine that Seitse put up in the Hipster Handbook thread ...
It's actually the book I like the best from him.