read any good books lately...

Currently reading this:



A nice surprise, short stories from an in between wars author from the following of Proust.

Edited by andu - August 03 2007 at 09:54

Vompatti wrote: I've almost finished "All Quiet on the Western Front." Great book.

If you liked "All Quiet on the Western Front", read "The Black Obelisk" and "Spark of Life" by the same author. "The Black Obelisk" is a black comedy settled in Germany during the time of inflation in the 1920s. "Spark of Life" is a really moving and sometimes brutal story about people who try to survive in a concentration camp; the main character refuses to be called by his name while being there and only wants to be called by his number, which is 509.

BaldFriede wrote: Vompatti wrote: I've almost finished "All Quiet on the Western Front." Great book.  If you liked "All Quiet on the Western Front", read "The Black Obelisk" and "Spark of Life" by the same author. "The Black Obelisk" is a black comedy settled in Germany during the time of inflation in the 1920s. "Spark of Life" is a really moving and sometimes brutal story about people who try to survive in a concentration camp; the main character refuses to be called by his name while being there and only wants to be called by his number, which is 509.

TheProgtologist wrote: BaldFriede wrote: Vompatti wrote: I've almost finished "All Quiet on the Western Front." Great book.  If you liked "All Quiet on the Western Front", read "The Black Obelisk" and "Spark of Life" by the same author. "The Black Obelisk" is a black comedy settled in Germany during the time of inflation in the 1920s. "Spark of Life" is a really moving and sometimes brutal story about people who try to survive in a concentration camp; the main character refuses to be called by his name while being there and only wants to be called by his number, which is 509.   Thanks for the recommendation Friede.I loved All Quite on the Western Front but have never read anything else by Remarque.I am going to look for them in my local Barnes&Noble the next time I go book shopping.   Out of the two,which one is the better book,in your opinion?   Spark of Life sounds very interesting.

"Spark of Life" is the more haunting one; you will never forget the images. However, the black humour of "The Black Obelisk" is not to be underrated (the "Black Obelisk" referred to is a tombstone that just can't be sold; it finds a very fitting place in the end though). But go for "Spark of Life" first.

Geck0 wrote: Is idea of the Black Obelisk a similar to the Bottled Imp idea by R.L. Stevenson?

No similarities at all. "The Black Obelisk" is just a tombstone that won't sell. There are some interesting characters in that novel; for example a woman that can extract nails out of the wall with her ass.

BaldFriede wrote: Geck0 wrote: Is idea of the Black Obelisk a similar to the Bottled Imp idea by R.L. Stevenson? No similarities at all. "The Black Obelisk" is just a tombstone that won't sell. There are some interesting characters in that novel; for example a woman that can extract nails out of the wall with her ass.

^^ I do seam to have this uncanny ability to temporarily kill this thread off by recommending books which no-one else is interested in....

I'm currently reading The Unbearable Lightness of Being

Ricochet wrote: I will now read a conversations book between Ernesto Sabato and Jorge Luis Borges.

Great line-up!

Got this yesterday because of Friede's recommendation.A disturbing yet totally engrossing book.I started reading last night and literally could not put it down.What a great character Remarque created with Prisoner 509.

Edited by TheProgtologist - August 06 2007 at 08:25