Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) discussion

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Free itty bitty (24 pp) Whispersync ebook/audiobook classic this month - How to Live on 24 Hours a Day, by Arnold Bennett, published in 1910:



http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008...

A short, yet (according to reviews) both humorous and oddly still relevant, little book on time management. Anybody resolved to "get organized!" this New Year? :-)

Thanks, looks interesting.
Have a great New Year Reading!

MK wrote: "Free itty bitty (24 pp) Whispersync ebook/audiobook classic this month - How to Live on 24 Hours a Day, by Arnold Bennett, published in 1910 ..."


This little book is delightful. Chapters VII "Controlling the Mind", and VIII "The Reflective Mood" inspired me to download free kindle titles from authors -

· Epictetus
· Marcus Aurelius
· Blaise Pascal
· Ralph Waldo Emerson

It also suggested La Bruyere, but I could find a free English translation of Les Caractères, so I skipped that one for now.

@MK - I just watched an interview between a cleric and an intellectual discussing Blaise Pascal. I want to watch a movie by Eric Rohmer "My Night at Mauds" which is supposed to touch on Pascal's writings. This interview was interesting in the discussion, to what extent Pascal's thoughts had impacted the two people.

If you Hachette movie, I'd love to hear how you liked it. Mr. Bennett now just sent me in search of "Aurora Leigh", by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. He says even if you think you can't read poetry, after reading Hazlitt' s essay on poetry, try reading Aurora Leigh.

watch the*, not Hatchette :-p. Tripped up by the autocorrect!

MK wrote: "In search of "Aurora Leigh", by Elizabeth Barrett Browning."

Poetry is wonderful. I have not read Elizabeth Barrett Browning but would like to. I look forward to reading what you think of "Aurora Leigh."

Once I see the movie, I will definitely let you know how I liked it. :)

I've never been able to read poetry. I'm looking forward to stretching my mental muscle in this way. but not until after I listen to the recommended Hazlitt essay, "On Poetry In General".

MK wrote: "watch the*, not Hatchette :-p. Tripped up by the autocorrect!"

:0)

Tytti wrote on different thread: "But if I ever get married, the wedding waltz will be from that movie. http://yle.fi/elavaarkisto/artikkelit... "

That is gorgeous. I'm assuming it's a love song? Kansa's voice is beautiful.

Yes, it's a wedding waltz, made for the movie. Lyrics are quite simple really. And we have some good singers, always had. He's not my favourite but he has some popular songs.

"I looked deep in to your eyes for a long time, for a long time I looked, I looked and thought
Maybe one day we will be married, maybe one day you will be on my side

I looked deep in to your eyes for a long time, for a long time I looked, I looked and thought
"Poverty", sorrows, mutual joy we will share,
Before we disappear into oblivion"
A rough translation.

Tytti wrote: "'I looked deep in to your eyes for a long time, for a long time I looked . . . '"

Wow, that's beautiful. -Thank you.

Oh . . .

Tytti wrote: "He's not my favourite."

If you don't mind my asking, what are some of your favorites?

A friend of mine, who is Sami, once sent me a link to this song by Sofia Jannok. It's not classic or opera (both of which I love as well as other types of music) but it's lovely.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tU-np8...

Daisy wrote: "Oh . . .

Tytti wrote: "He's not my favourite."

If you don't mind my asking, what are some of your favorites?"

Heh, well he does have a bit of a reputation (though not that bad)... And he is of an (much) older generation, more of a schlager singer. But he has at least one 1970s hit that they still play at nightclubs.

I don't really have a favourites but for example I liked Nightwish when Tarja Turunen was their vocalist.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9Fyi... One of their earlier hits
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VgLK... Phantom of the Opera

And then there are many bands with great (Finnish) lyrics and some older singers from 1940s to 60s. It depends on my mood what I like to listen to.

I haven't heard of her, but even though it's Sami it's still very Swedish sounding. :D But of course I can't understand anything.

Tytti wrote: "Nightwish when Tarja Turunen was their vocalist."

She has a strong and beautiful voice. I'd never heard of Nightwish. The countryside in the background of "Sleeping Sun" is gorgeous. I'd love to go trekking through those places.

Here is one of my favorites:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vf42IP...

and another one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?hl=en-GB...

and another one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scBE1K...

Okay, I'll stop.

Daisy wrote: "She has a strong and beautiful voice. I'd never heard of Nightwish. The countryside in the background of "Sleeping Sun" is gorgeous. I'd love to go trekking through those places."

They are pretty well known, I think especially in South America, it seems... They have toured in all continents and now have a different singer. And the video is probably filmed in eastern Finland because they are from there. But that's the kind of nature we have all over: lakes and forests, some hills here and there. Less trees and bigger hills in Lapland.

And now you made me get lost in Youtube. :-D But as I said, for many of us lyrics are important. Finnish is quite poetic language if you have a way with words but they are probably gibberish to those who don't know the language. And I guess many Finns like hard rock and metal music more than other countries, so our favourite songs probably don't translate that well. I've been trying to find some nice song, but can't, or find too many. :-) Well, Apocalyptica plays Metallica with four cellos, there's something different. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbToz...

But the Red Army Choir singing Finlandia at the Senate's Square in 1993 in front of 70,000 people is quite nice, too. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHb4Q... (The first song.) Many Russian songs have been translated to Finnish, I guess we like similar music. Leningrad Cowboys is a Finnish band that has also appeared in Kaurismäki movies. And when you combine those two ensembles you get something... awesome... or weird.

I know Kidjo (she's actually performed with the Cowboys and the Red Army Choir) but maybe it's more "dancing music" to me. (I like different music for listening, dancing, singing...) and I've been to an opera a couple of times (10 euros for a student).

Tytti wrote: "Apocalyptica plays Metallica with four cellos."

I just looooove this. I'm going to look into their music much more.

The Red Army Choir and Leningrad Cowboys is great. I've sent the link to a couple friends that I know will like it. My favorite was the beginning of the piece with Finlandia. I enjoy chorales, particularly classical, and have a fondness for military bands and/or fanfare music too. :)

10 euros is a good price for a ticket. Attending opera can be restrictively expensive. The Metropolitan Opera out of New York broadcasts productions simultaneously in theatres. I looked up Finland for the schedule and cities (curious) but couldn't read the site. Duh.

I just came across this in my sci fi / fantasy group. Seemed like a fun link for a classics group:

Can You Guess The Classic Novel From Its First Sentence?


I only knew one for sure! (I didn't try stab in the dark guesses). Obviously, I need to read more classics. I guess I'm in the right place :-p

Hi Tytti,

Just this morning, thanks to recommendation from a friend, I discovered Nine Treasures. Not sure about the lyrics. Are you familiar with this group? I thought you might like them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIHEub...

MK wrote: "how you liked it."

The evening before last I finished watching "My Night at Maud's." Unfortunately, I think that some of the references to Pascal passed me by. I'm not that well read on Pascal but the movie was endearing. Éric Rohmer is capable of putting such charm in his films, his themes and characters. I just love the movies made by Rohmer.

Daisy wrote: "Are you familiar with this group? I thought you might like them."

Hah, no, I haven't heard from them but they do sound a bit Finnish. But I also prefer to understand at least a bit about the lyrics.

I sometimes get lost in YouTube listening to music and these are some I usually end up listening.

Don Huonot - "Good night and (good) morning"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKqX5...
translated lyrics http://lyricstranslate.com/en/hyvaeae...
Or some of their other songs like "Saint" (with Finnish and English lyrics): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snve3...
Or live in a festival: "Hatemonger (stirrer)" / "Come as you are"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6qR7...

CMX - "Powers and peoples"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUWgP...

Ultra Bra - "Creeper" (the plant)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYWjA...
(Warning: filmed at a Finnish summer cottage, so there is drinking, smoking, swearing, naked people and same sex kissing but nothing that can't be shown to Finnish kids. :D)

One more from UB - "I will protect you from everything"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nd8M2...
(With an orchestra, and all their clothes on... :-P)

Daisy wrote: "...The evening before last I finished watching "My Night at Maud's." Unfortunately, I think that some of the references to Pascal passed me by. I'm not that well read on..."

Thanks for returning to let me know, Daisy! I've not read Pascal either (although I did download some last month, when I was reading How to Live on 24 Hours a Day, by Bennett), so I'll have to leave this recommend on the bucket list, for the time being ;-).

MK wrote: "Free itty bitty (24 pp) Whispersync ebook/audiobook classic this month - How to Live on 24 Hours a Day, by Arnold Bennett, published in 1910:

..."

This one ^^^^ was still free, as of this morning, but here is a new ebook/audio book Whispersync classic that is available for free download:

- A Little Princess, by Frances Hodgson Burnett


I'm not sure if this is the 'official' "Free This Month" Whispersync, as Amazon still lists Bennett's How to Live on 24 Hours a Day at that link, but regardless, the A Little Princess pair are free right now :-).

Now if I could just find the time to read/listen ... lol

Tytti wrote: "some I usually end up listening"

Thank you for sharing these links. It was fun listening to all of this music. UB is just awesome! I love, love, love UB!!

Tytti wrote: "translated lyrics"

Oh, I want to mention that these lyrics (Good Night and (Good) Morning) are nice. I have been able to find translated lyrics into French and English for Ultra Bra also. :)

MK wrote: "pair are free right now"

Have you read The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett?

I think just an abridged version when I was a kid, perhaps. Someday, I think I'll read the full novel :-).

MK wrote: "when I was a kid"

Yeah, I've given reading this one a thought too. I think that similar to my experience with Anne of Green Gables, this was another one I missed when I was a kid. My mom had me reading Shakespeare and Tolkien when I was pretty little and I think I missed many of the youth reads. (Not complaining mind you.) Never read Nancy Drew either and I'm a huge fan of mysteries.

Daisy wrote: "MK wrote: "when I was a kid"

Yeah, I've given reading this one a thought too. I think that similar to my experience with Anne of Green Gables, this was another one I missed when I was ..."

I think it was Connie who just read Anne of Green Gables for January challenge ... had me wanting to read them, too! Those I know I missed, for sure. My January challenge book, The Forgotten Garden, couldn't help but remind me of The Secret Garden. The author, Kate Morton, acknowledged that was a favorite book when she was a kid. Ms. Morton inserted Frances as a guest at a garden party, in her novel :-).

I read so many Nancy Drew, and Bosbsey Twins, and some Hardy Boys, too, when I was a kid. Was thinking just recently that it would be fun to reread some of them. AFTER Madeleine l'Engle, and Ruth Chew ^_^.

Shoot, I'd like to reread some Littles, Encyclopedia Brown, and Pippi Longstocking, too :)

Daisy wrote: "UB is just awesome! I love, love, love UB!!"

They took some time to getting used to, their style borrowed from the political left wing music from the 1960s and '70s. The mother of one of the men used to sing them. I think they were at their cottage... And some lyrics were written by a future Minister of Labour.

Tyttti wrote: "music from the 1960s and '70s"

Interesting info. It would make sense, being drawn to them, given I'm a child of the 60s and 70s.

MK wrote: "it would be fun to reread some of them."

It must be different to reread all of these as an adult and have the added experience of a second reading.

Daisy wrote: "It must be different to reread all of these as an adult and have the added experience of a second reading."

So far, I've only reread one title, but I smiled most of the time. Can't really remember my reaction when I was little, so can't compare.

For those curious about poetry: I just read Glyn Maxwell's On Poetry, and I found it almost literally jaw-dropping.

I never thought of a defense of poetry like his.

Shelley
http://dustbowlstory.wordpress.com

Shelley wrote: "For those curious about poetry: I just read Glyn Maxwell's On Poetry, and I found it almost literally jaw-dropping.

I never thought of a defense of poetry like his.

Shelley
http://dustbowlstory.w..."

That looks like a wonderful book, Shelley! I really struggle with poetry. I added it to my tbr :)

Shelley wrote: "I found it almost literally jaw-dropping."

This is really nice. Thank you.

@ MK

A friend of mine, a young friend, loaned me Thea Stilton and the Dancing Shadows by Thea Stilton. She's read many of the books in this series. At school she is reading Around the World in 80 Days. Since I've recently finished reading this we were able to discuss this book too. :)

Fun! :)

Daisy wrote: "Have you read The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett?"


Haha ... this book just got voted a group read in one of my groups, so I guess I'll try to read it .... sometime soon. Ish. :-p

MK wrote: "just got voted a group read in one of my groups"

Aahhh, that's funny.

We have way too many books that I want to read! And several of them are really long ones too. I am going to have to skip some of them this month -- I do think I'll do the Hitchhikers this month and then start on Moby Dick.

So many books, so little time!!!!

Kathy wrote: "We have way too many books that I want to read! And several of them are really long ones too. I am going to have to skip some of them this month -- I do think I'll do the Hitchhikers this month and..."

I hear ya! I'm skipping David Copperfield due to length, and focusing on digging myself out of the book feast I grabbed too many titles from ;-).

I love that line, "book feast"
Awesome!

Kathy wrote: "I love that line, "book feast"
Awesome!"

Heh ... (have you SEEN my 'currently reading' list? Who reads 36 books at the same time ;-). My husband may have me committed soon *snerk* Good thing it's been hockey and football season! Except ... football ended ... )

MK wrote: " Good thing it's been hockey and football season! Except ... football ended ... )"

Well hockey won't for a while. And for me it's gonna be 2.5 weeks of Winter Olympics.

I'm counting on it, Tytti! I need to catch up, somehow ;-). Although, spouse IS worried that a Bruins player will be missing tonight's game because he'll be off carrying the flag for Slovenia (? I think it was Slovenia) in the opening ceremonies ;-), .

MK wrote: "I'm counting on it, Tytti! I need to catch up, somehow ;-). Although, spouse IS worried that a Bruins player will be missing tonight's game because he'll be off carrying the flag for Slovenia (? I ..."

Zdeno Zhara? He's from Slovakia. (Slovenia has only one NHL player.) AFAIK all NHL players will be flown there in charter planes on Sunday.
Edit: Oh, I guess he will miss it then. Usually the pick one that's already there. But I guess it's more important to them now (because of what happened in Czechoslovakia), like it was for Finland in 1912. Finns wanted to walk as their own nation but as a part of the Russian Empire had to walk behind the Russian flag. So Finns stayed back a bit and walked behind a unofficial sign.

Tytti wrote: "MK wrote: "I'm counting on it, Tytti! I need to catch up, somehow ;-). Although, spouse IS worried that a Bruins player will be missing tonight's game because he'll be off carrying the flag for Slo..."

I'm bad with names, so can't recall. But I'll ask him in just a little while. I'll get back to you on that ;-)