let's read and discuss something. anything

[David]

can we?

[[deleted user]]

Anything in particular on your mind?

[David]

not really, i've read The Stranger and The Fall by Camus, and I'm looking for more. I'm probably gonna start reading 'Notes From The Underground' with a Russian Literature group shortly but I'm interested in starting something else as well. Maybe you know the genre better, do you have any suggestions?

[[deleted user]]

To be honest I've only started reading fictional existentialism recently (I just finished Crime and Punishment and couldn't recommend it more, particularly if your into Nietzsche will-to-power type stuff). I'm more familiar with philosophical tracts like Existentialism is a Humanism and Being and Nothingness.

However, I have read Nausea and fell in love immediately. How was The Stranger? It's high on my to-read list.

[Aloha]

No Exit

[David]

The Stranger was great, looking forward to crime and punishment as well. I've heard enough about nausea that it's probably time to snag a copy asap. Another one I enjoyed that certainly has existential undertones and was very recently written is 'Apathy and Other Small Victories'. It's hilarious, and one of few fairly new books I was thoroughly impressed with.

[[deleted user]]

Aloha wrote: "No Exit"

Great suggestion! If you haven't seen it you can watch the play on youtube too. It's grainy, but amazing.

[David]

I'll order the book and create a new topic for anyone wanting to read it tomorrow. We can start some time in the next week or so.

[[deleted user]]

David wrote: "I'll order the book and create a new topic for anyone wanting to read it tomorrow. We can start some time in the next week or so."

Love it!

[David]

is this just a play script or is it a novel? I want to read it either way, I just want to make sure I'm not missing it in novel format if one was written. This is why no topic has been created yet to read it.

[Feliks]

Its a play.

Quick read. why not add in some other existentialist stage plays? they often come in compilation volumes.

[David]

Sounds like a plan, any suggestions on a particular collection?

[Jimmy]

Three Plays by Eugene Ionesco.

[Feliks]

Good rec there by Jimmy. Exactly what I had in mind. Ionesco!

Also this:
'Caligula' - Camus

I've found 'No Exit', 'Bald Soprano' (Ionesco), and 'Caligula' all in one book.

[Feliks]

Good rec there by Jimmy. Exactly what I had in mind. Ionesco!

Also this:
'Caligula' - Camus

I've found 'No Exit', 'Bald Soprano' (Ionesco), and 'Caligula' all in one book.

Look at this:
Caligula and Three Other Plays
'Caligula', 'The Misunderstanding', 'State of Siege', and 'The Just Assassins'.

Another choice is 'The Balcony' by Jean Genet.

[Jimmy]

I'd recommend just getting started with one play. We'll never get anywhere unless we do that first. It's been like a week since your first post.

[Aloha]

Jimmy wrote: "I'd recommend just getting started with one play. We'll never get anywhere unless we do that first. It's been like a week since your first post."

No exit.

[Littlevision]

I have been leaning towards absurdist literature lately, so I am very interested in reading Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead or something similar -- short because I am in a Lit class right now and have a lot on my plate. I finished Waiting for Godot last month and loved it, so should I not have time to involve myself I recommend that one for your enjoyment anyway.

[David]

I'm with jimmy, no exit. I'll order the play and we'll start any reccomendations on particular translations?

[Feliks]

don't worry about translations for god's sake

[Feliks]

Relation of My Imprisonment

[Jimmy]

I've ordered the play as well. It's been quite a few years since I've read it.

[Littlevision]

No Exit, Sartre, then? I think I have it, I'll have to look.

[David]

I'll have the book wednesday, sorry i've been slacking. Job got pretty crazy. I've never done this before, how do we divide up the reading? Or should we just knock it out to completion then discuss?

[Jimmy]

For me, I don't care for divides. It's not that long. Just read and comment. I'd start a separate thread. Sometimes people jump on threads many months later.

[David]

Will do, thanks.

[Feliks]

I suggest finding some on-line discussion questions, using them as a lanyard on the helm. Why re-invent the wheel?

[David]

Sounds like a plan, i'm very new to this.

[David]

So for the sake of not spoiling the book, should i give a timeframe for the read then start posting questions?

[Feliks]

Find the study questions first. They're often naturally divided into breaks. Make sure everyone is at the same stage, no stragglers..ask a few questions..generate grok..then move on. You can do this easily with a short play like this.

Since I've already read it, if you want me to issue questions so you can enjoy the read..let me know.

I think in particular the entire question of 'whether women can be existentialist?' is a good topic.

[David]

I'd gladly hand you the reigns.

[Feliks]

I'll pipe up intermittently with some 'prompts', maybe.., but I don't have attention-span for keeping track of 'reading progress'...