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Harry B

Harry B

has 30 followers and is following 28 people

Notre vie est un voyage
Dans l'hiver et dans la Nuit,
Nous cherchons notre passage
Dans le Ciel où rien ne luit.

(Lied van de Zwitsere Garde, 1793)

Uit: Reis naar het einde van de nacht - Louis-Ferdinand Céline

"He did not know how wide a country, arid and precipitous, must be crossed before the traveller... more »
  • So, New Zealand
  • member since October 11, 2008

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Harry B’s last login was 4 days ago. show recent activity »

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Public Notes

  • madeleine s

    madeleine s says

    dear Harry I saw your site on Shelfar and I am impressed. I certainly am goiing to read a lot of books you are reading

    posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )
  • Max Contreras

    Max Contreras says

    Really awesome to hear from you!
    I actually had my first birthday in the Netherlands. (My father took my mom and me over there while he got a Master's Degree in Hydraulics).

    I am currently not teaching at night. Haven't for about a year now. I guess I have no excuses to write my first novel now. I am actually developing that project, I'll let you know how that goes when there's anything interesting to tell.

    Favorite philosophers? Hard one. I really find myself gravitating the most towards Aristotle and David Hume. I tend to agree with Epicurus too.

    As far as Hyperion Cantos' end... Obviously can't tell you any details. Let's just say that the book's ending that has brought me the closest to tears is the one you're reading.

    Hope you have the best of luck settling down in the Netherlands. Hope to hear from you again sometime soon.

    Best regards,
    Max

    posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )
  • Max Contreras

    Max Contreras says

    Hello from the Dominican Republic

    We haven't been in touch for a while! I hope everything is well and good in New Zealand.
    What do you think of Dan Simmons' Hyperion series? It is one of my all-time faves. Don't worry, you can say it sucks and I won't be offended... :P

    Best regards,
    Maximo

    posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )
  • Kristel

    Kristel says

    Welcome to the group, 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die. There is a general explanation of the group under guidelines and the book(s) of the month that the group is reading are pinned to the top. I hope you will be able to enjoy the group and perhaps join in one or more of the monthly reads. We will be picking a new book soon. Usually occurs around this time. We will be choosing from authors whose last names start with L.

    posted 2 years ago. ( send a note )
  • maydayeve

    maydayeve says

    Hi Harry, I like your avatar, is this a painting of sorts? Looks cool and relaxing..

    posted 2 years ago. ( send a note )
  • nina d

    nina d says

    Thanks so much for the reading suggestions.

    As I put in one of my posts, Good Omens....was good;D I'm not giving anything away
    because it happens right away in the book. It starts with a demon and human helpers starting to kick off the end off the world by placing the anti-christ in an appropriate home. Instead, they misplace the anti-christ. I laugh everytime I think of it. So the demon and a angel from heaven try to find him, working together just like the USA and Russia might work together, so that the BIG GUYS don't find out about the screw up. Granted, there are a few slow parts, but there are some very funny ideas in the book.

    Nina

    posted 2 years ago. ( send a note )
  • Ed Lynskey

    Ed Lynskey says

    Many thanks for the friend add, Harry. I hope you find lots of good reads. Have a great week!

    Ed Lynskey
    PELHAM FELL HERE
    THE BLUE CHEER
    THE DIRT-BROWN DERBY
    “It makes me want to read more.”-James Crumley

    posted 3 years ago. ( send a note )
  • Koy D

    Koy D says

    Cool :D
    Just gotta love swimmin :P
    I'm doing great thanks :D
    Yup, you getting ready for new years mate? hehe Can't believe another year's over again and we welcoming another one aye? haha
    Books... Fantasy, Fiction, some Classics, SciFi... ow and Nicholas Sparks' books as well...
    Happy New Year to you too mate :D
    Dean

    posted 3 years ago. ( send a note )
  • Koy D

    Koy D says

    hey there :D
    whats up?
    thx for aceptin

    posted 3 years ago. ( send a note )
  • Koy D

    Koy D says

    hey there :D
    whats up?
    thx for aceptin

    posted 3 years ago. ( send a note )
  • Max Contreras

    Max Contreras says

    Hey, Harry

    Sorry for the belated response. Things have been a bit hectic these last few days here at work before we take a holiday break.

    It's funny that you mention you're from the Netherlands. I lived there back when I was months old. My father went to study hydraulics over there (he's an engineer), and took my mother and I with him. I had my very first birthday over there, with a nice windmill cake. Of course, I remember nothing of that experience. At least it's a good excuse to plan a visit sometime in the not so near future.

    Thanks for the book recommendation. I am aware that there is also a film based on White Oleander. Have you seen it? I have not, and probably will avoid doing so until I get a chance to check the book out.

    I read Brave New World many years ago. I enjoyed it as well. I wouldn't say it's one of my favorite books ever, but it did entertain, I can say that much.

    If you're looking for great SF reads and have yet to read Dan Simmons' Hyperion Cantos I seriously recommend you read that quartet. I think it was amazing.

    Well, I've mentioned a few books I think are worth looking at since we first got in contact.
    Whatever you read next, I hope you enjoy the holidays and that 2009 is agreat year for you and your loved ones.

    'till next time,
    Max

    posted 3 years ago. ( send a note )
  • Simon m

    Simon m says

    Hi Harry,
    If you're looking for unusual SF utopias/dytopias, check out The Unlimited Dream Company by J G Ballard - then go on to read everything by J G Ballard.

    posted 3 years ago. ( send a note )
  • Beleza

    Beleza says

    Thanks for the offer. I don't do too much of my own cooking, I rent a room and while it includes kitchen priveleges, it is not the same as having your own kitchen. I try to get by with purchased wheat free products, which you can find a lot of in NY. I can eat wheat occasionally but not whole wheat products.

    posted 3 years ago. ( send a note )
  • Max Contreras

    Max Contreras says

    Hello, Harry

    I don't know if you've had Dominican friends before, but I've never (to my knowledge) met a New Zelander!

    Thanks for your recommendations. I will look into the books you mentioned when I get the chance.

    A series of books we have in common is the Sword of Truth series. A friend of mine lent me the first three, and I really liked them. At least I appreciate the fact that Goodkind attempts to avoid clichés in his stories.

    Whenever you complete your SF project, I would love to check it out. I am writing something myself, but it's going to be in spanish.

    Hope you finish enjoying White Oleander and the rest of your readings!

    Bext wishes,
    Max

    posted 3 years ago. ( send a note )
  • Beleza

    Beleza says

    Unfortunately I am allergic to wheat so I can only have one once in a great while.

    posted 3 years ago. ( send a note )
  • Beleza

    Beleza says

    Thanks for accepting. Yes I love New York! I wouldn't live anywhere else, and I have so I know what I am talking about. Hot & Krusty has the best bagels! IMO

    posted 3 years ago. ( send a note )
  • Max Contreras

    Max Contreras says

    Hello, man

    I'm glad you accepted me. As far as fantasy is concerned, I think it is more difficult to write good, original fantasy than writing sci-fi. Since the focus isn't on cool technology or predicting how future societies may be organized, characters and their motivations have to be very, very strong to captivate readers. I also feel good fantasy works tend to be written in series. Perhaps most fantasy authors that find a great idea want to exploit them for all they’re worth.

    My favorite fantasy series is (predictably) The Lord of the Rings. Well written, fun (although things slow down a lot at times for some readers) and incredibly deep.

    Other books I have really liked include:
    Vlad Taltos books, by Steven Brust. I think those, though a bit shallow, are quite fun to read. Try Jhereg, the first book, to see if it’s your cup of tea.

    Guy Gavriel Kay’s Fionavar Tapestry series was a very well written series. There are some scenes, like one where there’s a car crash, that I really love. And then there’s Galadan, a character that I found quite fascinating.

    Kay also wrote a book called Tigana, which was a nice read as well.

    Tad William’s Memory, Sorrow and Thorn series was interesting. Quite well written. The story itself is typical fantasy fare, as I said, it’s hard coming up with a completely original idea in this genre.

    I really, really enjoyed The Dragonlance Legends (Time of the Twins, War of the Twins, Test of the Twins) trilogy, by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, the second Dragonlance trilogy. I really hate the kender, don’t find him funny at all, but like everyone else, I love Raistlin and Lord Soth.

    I read The Eye of the World, the first book in Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series. I liked the book a lot, but that series has received so much criticism that I haven’t been encouraged to keep reading. I will someday, that´s for sure. I’m sorry the author could not live to complete it, though.

    The Prydain Chronicles, by Lloyd Alexander I enjoyed in general. Not brilliant or earth-shattering, but an entertaining read nonetheless.

    I’ve also read two series that have been critically acclaimed, but which I did not find particularly engaging. One of them was Gene Wolfe’s Book of the New Sun quartet. Brilliantly written, but the language and the story structure were way too confusing for me. Wolfe can write, I’ll concede him that much, but the fact that he’s not on the bestseller lists indicates he’s not too much fun to read unless you have a huge vocabulary and lots of patience.

    The other series, also well thought of, which I didn’t fall in love with is Stephen Donaldson The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, the Unbeliever. Covenant is interesting as a character, an anti-hero (he even rapes a girl in the book) but the book lacked the spark I require to love a book.

    Finally, other fantasy stuff I have started reading include Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy, Roger Zelazny’s First Chronicles of Amber, Fritz Leiber’s Fafhrd and Gray Mouser books and Michael Moorcock’s Elric books. I have not read enough of them to have an informed opinion about them, but when I do, I’ll be more than happy to share them with you.

    Best regards,
    Max

    posted 3 years ago. ( send a note )
  • paikea

    paikea says

    Hi Harry - sorry about the lateness of my reply - my laptop has been out of commission for months and i've been using my husband's laptop, which is not optimal

    as to Brave New World - i read it so long ago - for a class in college - not my cup of tea, if i remember correctly - i found it a bit of a slog, not at all enjoyable to read, and the lead was a bit too "messianic" for me - but i never tell people not to read a book, unless it is utterly without merit - so, please read it and form your own opinion - it is relatively short, so if you find you hated it, you won't have lost much time:) - p.s. i noticed you read Neil Gaiman's American Gods (one of my favorite books is Good Omens)

    posted 3 years ago. ( send a note )
  • Brandy U

    Brandy U says

    Hey Harry...I have to tell you that in the end, I would consider Brave New World worth reading, and this is in part due to its status as a classic. It's a fairly quick and entertaining read; the main thing that put me off, really, is the thinly veiled advocacy of religion (which is not exactly my thing, if you happen to notice some of the other books on my shelf). Of course, just because I've personally read a far share of books that seem to also do this, it's not to say that those who do it well or first should be discounted (as a general statement). So, yeah, I'd say give it a shot....;-)

    posted 3 years ago. ( send a note )