Comments on: On favorite books

by: Ben

Fri, 16 May 2008 19:07:44 +0000

Mmm, I love classes and experiences like that. :) That’s one of the reasons I sort of want to stick around Provo for a while — or if I move, make sure I move to a cultural center of some sort.

by: Sean

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 05:53:55 +0000

It was a live play, not a film. It was during my freshman year, 1991, so it’s been, um, a while. I don’t recall exactly where it was, other than that it was on campus, but it wasn’t a major production (like at DeJong). That makes it all the more amazing to me that it impressed me so. I was very left-brained at the time, and I had some great experiences with art and creativity that year. Seeing this play was one; taking Music 101 from Prof. David Randall was another; taking Humanities 101 was another - that’s where I first discovered great classical music. That year broadened my horizons and interests quite a bit.

by: Ben

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 04:13:51 +0000

Carly: Then we’ll be friends. :) I still haven’t read Les Mis, I’m afraid, but I still love the story (which I know from the movie and from shreds of the musical). And I don’t think it’s a problem to list books as favorites when you’ve read them only once. Sometimes it only takes once. :) (And yes, Bianca’s still the lead dramaturg for NPP. In fact, she’s the one who mentioned the script submission deadline at the show I went to in August that got me started on all this.)

Donna: While I understand the need to focus on writing, isn’t it useful, though, to take breaks for reading? Not necessarily long breaks, but it seems to make a difference.

George: Yes, I highly recommend it. You’d better start reading it. :P

E: It’s their loss if they don’t understand. :)

Sean: Cool, I need to read it. Do you know which version of BK you saw? Was it at International Cinema?

e: Amen! I don’t know how they pull it off so successfully — and across so many of the arts — but you described it perfectly — gorgeous, brilliant, enormous, and deep. That’s exactly it. Mmm.

by: e

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 03:25:19 +0000

Russian authors are my favorite, too. The summer I first discovered Dostoevsky and Tolstoy, I spent the entirety of it shut up in my room devouring their books. And secretly, when no one else was around I read the Russian names aloud, falling in love with the Russian language as well . . . which, of course meant that I needed needed *needed* to study it. The same goes for Russian classical music and ballet– gorgeous, brilliant, enormous and deep, and absolutely accessible to the soul.

by: Sean

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 03:49:48 +0000

By the way, The Holy Secret has references to The Brothers Karamazov in it. I remember seeing BK in the theater at BYU my freshman year. I was profoundly moved - it was one of my first experiences with great art.

by: E.

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 21:25:46 +0000

My dad and I were just talking Karamazov last night—the book is top of the list for the both of us.

Although, when I was asked the favorite book question just last Sunday, I only got a funny look and a “What?” after declaring Dostoevsky my love.

by: George

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 08:00:52 +0000

Wow- you read my mind. I’m part of a law school forum and last week I was reading a thread titled “what books you’re reading the summer before you start law school” and The Brothers Karamazov came up #1 on several peoples lists. I asked what the fuss was and they all said it was great. So you highly recommend it eh? Hmm.. now I’ll REALLY have to consider it.

by: Donna

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 04:01:03 +0000

The Brothers Karamazov was one of my son’s favorite books after taking Grigg’s Pen and the Sword class. My new son in law is reading it in Russian. I have not read it yet.

When it comes to books, I am in the moment, kind of love the one you are with.

Since my flash drive died and crashed my thesis, I have had little time to read, while rewriting my thesis. I do get scripture in and I am reading Pollyanna for the first time. I am reading it with my nine year old daughter. I think the glad game is influencing me.

Perhaps after the next two weeks of intense thesis writing, I will then be in a space to read more, and enjoy long walks in the sunshine. The Brothers Karamazov might be a great summer read. But first…light reading. Natural light is best for my eyes.

by: Carly

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 03:55:48 +0000

Ben, we should be friends. Because you just listed some of my all-time favorite books (except I haven’t read Don Quixote and you didn’t mention Les Miserables). I sometimes feel bad that I list some of these books as my favorites when I have only read some of them once (P&P and Jane Eyre excepting—I don’t know how many times I’ve read those… I am currently on page 100 of P&P again). Anyhow, Brothers of K. is so profound–and yet it is the honesty with which his characters confront life’s complexities that I love most. I should read it again. Thank you for the suggestion :).

ps. I used to know a girl in the New Play Project (Bianca)–does she still do it??