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What books do you consider must reads? (beehaw.org)

submitted 2 months ago* (last edited 1 month ago) by Alice@beehaw.org to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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So basically I was unschooled, and the amount of books I've read in my life is embarrassingly low. It was never emforced like in a school, and with my family's religious hangups, I never tried getting into new things because I never knew what would be deemed "offensive".

But I'm always interested when I hear people talk about both storycraft and also literary criticism, so I want to take an earnest stab at getting into books.

No real criteria, I don't know what I like so I can't tell you what I'm looking for, other than it needs to be in English or have an English translation. Just wanna know what y'all think would make good or important reading.

ETA holy shit thanks for all the suggestions! Definitely gonna make a list

ETA if I reply extremely late it's because it took me this long to get a library card in my new locale.

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[–] Quintus@lemmy.ml 4 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

Books are not meant to entertain. If you "realize" when you are over 30 that books are only for entertainment, then you are simply put, a lazy person.

Classics never outdate. They will forever remain as the must-reads for people who want to expand their knowledge and perception of the world because they come from a time where information was not as easily exchangeable as it was today. The only way to share ideas effectively and permanently was writing books.

You have no right to downlook on classics. Reading a classic book that has proven it's value long ago will forever be more beneficial to a person than an author's silly book that is written with the sole purpose of entertainment.

Reading 1984 WILL make a person clever.

Of course, you can always say some stuff like "damn who hurt you" and leave the discussion if you wish. Don't make ignorant comments if you don't know what you are speaking about.

lmao.