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Dust off a seat and discuss a good book here...you do read, right?

Waiting for Godot

14 years ago

So, this is full blown Theatre of the Absurd status. haha  In fact, from what I gather, it's the epitome of absurdist literature, and I can honestly say that I'm not impressed.  Haha  Nah, it's actually pretty good.  It is exactly as you'd expect it to be - comepletely without meaning.  Not the work itself, as that's lush with symbolism and literary goodies, but rather the interpretations themselves all lead to a meaningless existence.  There really isn't much that I can say about this play that wouldn't give anything away.

Throughout the whole thing, there are only like 5 characters, and it's about two homeless guys who are waiting for someone named Godot.  That's pretty much all I have to say.  It's a play about waiting, and the things they do to pass the time.  Or, rather, it's not about the things they do, but that they do things.  It's hard to explain.  What they do isn't nearly as significant as why they do them.

Anyone read it?  It's pretty short.

Waiting for Godot

14 years ago
It's been a while since I read Waiting for Godot. Did you get there from Stoppard? I mean, into the whole Theatre of the Absurd thing.

Have you read Rhinoceros? I think that's probably my favorite absurdist play. According to WIkipedia, Durrenmatt is an absurdist, too. I really liked Die Physiker, but I don't know that I think it's all that similar to Godot or Rhinoceros.

Oh, speaking of things named Beckett, I really like the Anouilh play Becket. Also The Lark.

Waiting for Godot

14 years ago

Nah, I think the first existential book I read was SlaughterHouse-Five, which quickly became one of my favorite book.  Then I read Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, and finally Godot.  Good stuff.

I haven't read it, but I'll give it a shot.  I'm still finishing up A Confederacy of Dunces for a class, and then I've still got some other novel to read before classes get out, but I don't think he's told us what that is - probably King Lear.  Also, I've heard of the Lark.  Someone recommended it to me a while back, but I don't remember who or when.

Waiting for Godot

14 years ago
I liked Slaughterhouse 5 but I wouldn't say that it might be one of my favorite books. Vonnegut is HILARIOUS though.

Waiting for Godot

14 years ago
not to hijack but after looking back on your (now locked) SH5 thread, I totally see what you were trying to say when you were attempting to describe it. The format of the book is rather indescribable.

Waiting for Godot

14 years ago

Cool, I haven't read any of his other books, but my friends tell me he's the shit. haha  I really like it because it seems like everly little detail has some significance, like, there's a part in the book where he talks about some license plate number, which doesn't seem to matter if you don't pay attention, but I remember that it described something.  Haha, I don't really remember what it said, but I know there was lots of parts like that. 

That, and also the whole Tralfamadorian concept of time and space is one that I had when I was a little kid, haha.  It was just fun to read, through and through.  But yeah, I'll check out some more Vonnegut one of these days - probably One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

 

Waiting for Godot

14 years ago
^Absolutely incredible.

Waiting for Godot

14 years ago
Cuckoo's Nest is by Ken Kesey.

Waiting for Godot

14 years ago
haha, well whoever it's by, it's a great book. I downloaded it as an e-book awhile ago and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Waiting for Godot

14 years ago

Haha, yeah, you're right.  I must've mixed it up with something else.  Cuckoo's Nest is about crazy people, right?  I was probably thinking about Cat's Cradle, which, I'm sure, is in no way related to Cuckoo's Nest, haha.  I dunno.  That was the Vonnegut book that I was looking at reading, but I guess Cuckoo's Nest is close behind in my list of things to read then, too. haha

Waiting for Godot

14 years ago
It's about a criminal who pretends to be crazy so he can go to a mental institution instead of to jail because he thinks it will be easier.

Waiting for Godot

14 years ago

Yeah, that sounds familiar.  Sounds pretty badass.  I've just got to finish Confederacy before anything else.  Haha, here's a small part of the dialog that made me laugh:

 

"The human desire for food and sex are relatively equal.  If there are armed rapes, then why should there not be armed hotdog thefts!?  I see nothing unusual in the matter."

"You're full of bullshit."

"I!? The incident is sociologically valid! The blame rests upon our society! The youth crazed by suggestive television programs and lascivious periodicals had apparently been consorting with some rather conventional adolescent females, who refused to participate in his imaginative sexual program. His unfulfilled physical desires therefore ... See Moresought sublimation in food! I, unfortunately, was the victim of all this. We may thank God this boy has turned to food for an outlet, had he not, I might've been raped right there on the spot."

Waiting for Godot

14 years ago

It's weird that it says "see more" there, haha.