Hey, there’s been a bunch of new users so I figured it might be a good idea to make this thread. Feel free to post your introductions, as well as any links to socials (only if you want to!) such as storygraph, goodreads, or bookwrym etc. I am hopeful to set up a bookwrym instance eventually but its still very much in early early early development.
Also be aware that there are alternative UI front ends, as seen from here. https://literature.cafe/post/315847
Hi! I’m still deciding how much anonymity I want to keep on the Fediverse, so for the moment I will not link other social. I will just say I’m a European woman a bit over 30. I’m so glad I ended up here, I have been looking for a community where I could talk about books! I love books and talking about them, getting recommendations and sharing impressions!
I like reading in original language, so I have been learning German. My goal is to read Goethe in original, but for the moment Duerenmatt is the furthest I have gotten. I strive to read as many diverse books as possible, I have been trying to read at least a book from each Literature Nobel Prize winner, but sci-fi and fantasy are my bread and butter. Asimov is what prompted me to become a scientist!
That is more than OK, please stay as private as much as you want to. Your identity is yours, and thankfully with the fediverse it’s something entirely new you can start from scratch which is one thing I love about it :)
What’s been your favorite so far if you don’t mind me asking?
Restricting to Nobel Prizes, I think Hesse. He has such a sweet way with words that crosses language boundaries. Narcissus and Goldmund was the book I read of his, when I was still a teen. I loved it.
On the other hand, there is quite a list of authors that, in my very personal opinion, should have won but didn’t.
Non-controversial: David Foster Wallace. A representation of the void of contemporary society.
Very controversial: d’Annunzio. Similar incredibly powerful words to Hesse, unfortunately he had to decide to support the fascist government. If you are able to distinguish form and content, his form is like nothing else I have met. But the content is often horrible: he is the hedonistic Übermensch, incredibly self-centered and misogynistic. I don’t know if that’s why he never won it, honestly, but seems likely.
I know nothing about nobel prize people, as I primarily stick to picture books. Nor do I follow European politics, as I’m a freedom loving American.
Who is David Wallace, and what fascist government did he support?
Sorry, my comment wasn’t clear, so I edited a couple of new lines in.
David Foster Wallace was an American writer that didn’t support any fascist government that I know of. His writing is apolitical, as far as I know.
D’Annunzio was an Italian writer and poet that explicitly supported Mussolini’s fascist government. D’Annunzio lead some really bold (and somewhat stupid) military undertaking during WWII.