The SYM Book Club

Georgi · Post by **Georgi** » Mon Mar 18, 2002 8:17 pm

So if people concur that Jurgen is a good starting place, should we set a date by which we should read it (and try to stop this thread disappearing like the last one)?

@Tammy Night of the Hunter is well worth keeping an eye out for - the movie, that is... I haven't read the book

Uhhh... you mean you're not named after that grunt in Unreal Tournament?

I see Sleepy's point about fantasy, but the subject of fantasy fiction is something that crops up regularly round here, and I think the book club could provide motivation to read some of these books that are mentioned over and again.

Tamerlane · Post by **Tamerlane** » Mon Mar 18, 2002 8:21 pm

Originally posted by Georgi
@Tammy Night of the Hunter is well worth keeping an eye out for - the movie, that is... I haven't read the book Uhhh... you mean you're not named after that grunt in Unreal Tournament?

Someone said that before, can't remember who exactly.

Yes I'm also afraid of this thread being lost in the infinite abyss that they call SYM. I should make a concentrated effort to go to the video store soon.

Tamerlane · Post by **Tamerlane** » Thu Mar 21, 2002 4:44 am

Originally posted by Georgi
So if people concur that Jurgen is a good starting place, should we set a date by which we should read it (and try to stop this thread disappearing like the last one)?

Well people shall we get underway and discover the beauty within Jurgen?

Mysteria · Post by **Mysteria** » Thu Mar 21, 2002 5:52 am

On my way to load that "Jurgen" down

so I should get started on it soon.

Tamerlane · Post by **Tamerlane** » Thu Mar 21, 2002 5:54 am

Yes, we finally have some progress.

Mysteria · Post by **Mysteria** » Fri Mar 22, 2002 12:53 pm

I started reading and it's good so far

... but somehow I get the impression that I'm the only one reading

*looks around for the others*

Gwalchmai · Post by **Gwalchmai** » Fri Mar 22, 2002 1:52 pm

Originally posted by Georgi
So if people concur that Jurgen is a good starting place, should we set a date by which we should read it (and try to stop this thread disappearing like the last one)?

How about April 5th? Is that too far away? I want to be sure that slow readers (ie me) have plenty of time. Plus some people might be busy over the Easter weekend.

Mysteria · Post by **Mysteria** » Fri Mar 22, 2002 3:17 pm

any date is fine with me

Gwalchmai · Post by **Gwalchmai** » Fri Mar 22, 2002 3:26 pm

Originally posted by Mysteria
any date is fine with me

I used to think that too, back before I married....

Tamerlane · Post by **Tamerlane** » Sat Mar 23, 2002 12:31 am

Originally posted by Mysteria
I started reading and it's good so far

... but somehow I get the impression that I'm the only one reading

*looks around for the others*

It sure takes me back to my Eng Lit days. Thats not to say I don't find it enjoyable.

EDIT- April 5th sounds ok with me.

Mysteria · Post by **Mysteria** » Fri Apr 05, 2002 4:00 am

April 5th and here I am

So, did you finish reading?

I did and I'm still trying to decide what to say about this whole thing.

What exactly do you want to discuss anyway? Story, character, writing style?

I think it's a very strange story and I get the impression that there is supposed to be a deeper meaning to this whole thing that escapes me.

Anyway, I think this Jurgen fellow is pretty convinced in by himself and he just doesn't see that he's failing his life all over again. What shall I say? I don't think he's a monstrous clever fellow, I think he's rather pathetic. The whole time he's looking for something he can't find when he already had it. Now, I'm still hesitating if what he is looking for is still his first love, or if he's actually looking for his wife.

I get the impression that I'll never be a good critic. *sigh*

Anyway, I launched myself, so now it's your turn.

Tamerlane · Post by **Tamerlane** » Fri Apr 05, 2002 4:09 am

5th lol, I thought it was the 6th!

I'll get back to you in half a day. Not long to go.

Mysteria · Post by **Mysteria** » Fri Apr 05, 2002 7:42 am

No problem

With the time zones and all, I didn't really expect to see somebody else post in here so soon.

Weasel · Post by **Weasel** » Fri Apr 05, 2002 10:58 am

Another Writer

Dan Simmons

fable · Post by **fable** » Fri Apr 05, 2002 4:28 pm

I think it's a very strange story and I get the impression that there is supposed to be a deeper meaning to this whole thing that escapes me.

No deeper meaning, at all. This is Cabell: he shunned italicized literature frought with Significant Statements.

Jurgen is a wonderful character study of a figure with very pronounced and interesting qualities, both positive and negative. Of course, along the way, Cabell skewers a lot of human and social foibles, and has his own fun.

Tamerlane · Post by **Tamerlane** » Fri Apr 05, 2002 9:34 pm

What a little gem that was

I guess that Jurgen would of caused some controversy with quotes like these.

For with the devils Jurgen got on garrulously. The religion of Hell is patriotism, and the government is an enlightened democracy. This contented the devils, and Jurgen had learned long ago never to fall out with either of these codes, without which, as the devils were fond of observing, Hell would not be what it is.

Grandfather Satan

. Somehow reminds me of Twain...

If I must do an impromptu analysis. I would have to agree that Jurgen is looking for his first love. As opposed to finding Dame Lisa. The amount of marriages he goes through is evident of that enough.

Cabell skewers a lot of human and social foibles, and has his own fun.

He sure did

. Its a shame the book did not come with an introduction. Would of liked to of learnt of Cabell's past and ultimately his inspirations for writing this novel.

Mysteria · Post by **Mysteria** » Sat Apr 06, 2002 2:46 am

Originally posted by fable

No deeper meaning, at all. This is Cabell: he shunned italicized literature frought with Significant Statements. Jurgen is a wonderful character study of a figure with very pronounced and interesting qualities, both positive and negative. Of course, along the way, Cabell skewers a lot of human and social foibles, and has his own fun.

Good to hear.

If he only wanted to have some fun, well, he quite managed to do that.

The various women are just great. I get the impression that they are all a bit naive, guess that's the only sort of women able to put up with somenody like Jurgen and his inflated ego

fable · Post by **fable** » Sat Apr 06, 2002 9:11 am

Originally posted by Mysteria

Good to hear. If he only wanted to have some fun, well, he quite managed to do that.

The various women are just great. I get the impression that they are all a bit naive, guess that's the only sort of women able to put up with somenody like Jurgen and his inflated ego

Certainly not sexually naive, though.

And I never felt that hamadryad was naive. She seems the wisest of them all, having correctly estimated Jurgen's character, and loving him in spite of his foibles. She's the only one of his liaisons who seems to possess a great deal of humanity. Not surprisingly, she's the only one whom he actually feels anything serious for.

Beldin · Post by **Beldin** » Tue Apr 09, 2002 1:23 am

Beldins No. 400

Hi @all....

I'm not sure if this belongs in THIS thread, but since it's book-related I think I'll post it in here.

Yesterday I received my copy of Terry Pratchetts "Last Hero"....I opended the package and guess WHO stares in my face ?

A guy on mountaintop, dual wielding a cane and a sword....and it even says "Fable" on the cover - right beside the picture....

And a few pages into the book I found the final proof for it - I'll post the pictures, so you can draw your own conclusions...

SO...that's it for my 400th post - I thought I'd bring you all something exiting...now you just wait for my 1000 post....I'll relly get a sensation for you then... :cool

No worries,

Beldin

Beldin · Post by **Beldin** » Tue Apr 09, 2002 1:26 am

No.401

And here's the last evidence....

No worries,

Beldin