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Ask HN: What are some great books that are relatively unknown in the US?

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Re: Ask HN: What are some great books that are relatively unknown in the US?

#141

Post by kamaal »

akashakya wrote: post #97

Vachana Sahitya[1] is less known outside I guess. Vachana Sahitya is a form of rhythmic writing in Kannada that evolved in the 11th century CE as a part of the Sharana movement, a revolt against all the social evils of the traditionalistic society that time. Subject varying from their revolutionary ideas regarding human rights, society, democracy, god, and life. It's not actually a book, more like Haiku maybe. [1] ht…

Good choice, but if you don't know Kannada then you have read it in English. And the charm goes away in translation.

Re: Ask HN: What are some great books that are relatively unknown in the US?

#142

Post by kamaal »

Arun2009 wrote: post #53

If by "great" you mean influential, then definitely India's epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata would fit the bill IMO. Wikipedia has this to say about Mahabharata: > The Mahābhārata is the longest epic poem known and has been described as "the longest poem ever written".[7][8] Its longest version consists of over 100,000 śloka or over 200,000 individual verse lines (each shloka is a couplet), and long prose pass…

Both the books are quite famous in the US. Thanks to our H1-B/Green Card and US passport diaspora brethren.

I wouldn't call them less famous or less known.

Re: Ask HN: What are some great books that are relatively unknown in the US?

#143

Post by stevekemp »

neom wrote: post #80

Americans don't have moomins. Moomins are awesome. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moomins / https://www.moomin.com/en/blog/friendship-love-central-messa...

I grew up in the UK and watched the (Japanese) cartoon series. Nowadays I find myself living in Finland, and Moomins are everywhere (no surprise I guess!)

Re: Ask HN: What are some great books that are relatively unknown in the US?

#144

Post by stevekemp »

rixrax wrote: post #31

The Egyptian[1]. [1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Egyptian

That was an surprising thing to see listed here. A couple of years ago my Finnish wife gave me a copy, and she later followed up with "The Adventurer", & "The Wanderer" (each in their English translations).

They were fascinating reads, although I was a little disappointed at how hapless the main character was. He bumbles around while stuff keeps happening "nearby", I guess that's kinda the point. It is all about the journey.

Re: Ask HN: What are some great books that are relatively unknown in the US?

#145

Post by jackgolding »

zawerf wrote: post #27

The "Four Great Classic Novels" from 14th-18th century China: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classic_Chinese_Novels Specifically: Water Margin Romance of the Three Kingdoms Journey to the West Dream of the Red Chamber They are referenced in everything in asian media and there a bajillion tv/movie adaptations of them but they are relatively unknown in the west.

There is a recent Journey to the West Movie, which is very well made!

Re: Ask HN: What are some great books that are relatively unknown in the US?

#146

Post by [deleted] »

_jgdh wrote: post #120
Arun2009 wrote: post #53

If by "great" you mean influential, then definitely India's epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata would fit the bill IMO. Wikipedia has this to say about Mahabharata: > The Mahābhārata is the longest epic poem known and has been described as "the longest poem ever written".[7][8] Its longest version consists of over 100,000 śloka or over 200,000 individual verse lines (each shloka is a couplet), and long prose pass…

But if by “great” you mean a lot of fun to read, then I’m skeptical. I grew up with these stories since my mother and grandmother told them as bedtime stories. As I learned to read I picked up the comic book versions (known as Amar Chitra Katha) and later the novels. As far as the stories themselves go, they’re pretty drab. The plot is predictable, dialogue is meh, characters (apart from 2) are more like caricatures…

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: What are some great books that are relatively unknown in the US?

#147

Post by eb0la »

ddebernardy wrote: post #88
gjkood wrote: post #36

Some great comics/graphic novels that are relatively unknown in the US Asterix comics [1] Tintin comics [2] Yes, I know Spielberg's Tintin animated movie is well known but I doubt most people in the US have heard of the entire series of Tintin comics. I couldn't devour these fast enough when I was growing up. [1] https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3... [2] https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no…

It's not just those two. Most French/Belgian comics [1] are unknown in the US. There have been tons of talented newcomers since the 1990s, and some cursory Googling suggests me that most are not translated to English yet. (Some are available in German.) [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franco-Belgian_comics

There was magazine, called Heavy Metal, that published in the US european comics from the french Metal Hurlant magazine (Moebius, Enki Bilal, Corben, Milo Manara...).

Re: Ask HN: What are some great books that are relatively unknown in the US?

#148

Post by vram22 »

nojvek wrote: post #136
vram22 wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The drawings / illustrations in Asterix and Tintin comics are just great. I like them almost more than the stories or characters, especially for the Asterix ones. The drawings of scenery are very evocative, and expressions on the faces of the people in the comics seem very realistic, despite being drawn with just a few lines, relatively speaking. Another great point about Asterix comics (so I read), is that they were…

I grew up on Tin Tin comics. They were available in my school library in Nairobi. That stuff was crack. Such adventures! Really made it fun to read.

Yes, crazy kinds of adventures. Things or issues that seem impossible to solve, yet they (Tintin, Captain Haddock and Professor Calculus) come out of them successfully most of the time, not to mention Thomson and Thompson :)

Re: Ask HN: What are some great books that are relatively unknown in the US?

#149

Post by vram22 »

aresant wrote: post #128
vram22 wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Moebius You mean the Moebius of the Moebius strip?

No, Moebius as in Jean Giraud Great primer http://www.tcj.com/jean-moebius-giraud-1938-2012/ Great collection of his awe inspiring art and a short film https://www.rabbleboy.com/the-amazing-art-of-moebius-jean-gi... And if you're looking for something outrageously creative and courageously insane go buy a copy of "the incal" which is his graphic novel collaboration with Alejandro Jodorowsky

Thanks, will check those out.

Re: Ask HN: What are some great books that are relatively unknown in the US?

#150

Post by eb0la »

ddebernardy wrote: post #88
gjkood wrote: post #36

Some great comics/graphic novels that are relatively unknown in the US Asterix comics [1] Tintin comics [2] Yes, I know Spielberg's Tintin animated movie is well known but I doubt most people in the US have heard of the entire series of Tintin comics. I couldn't devour these fast enough when I was growing up. [1] https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3... [2] https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no…

It's not just those two. Most French/Belgian comics [1] are unknown in the US. There have been tons of talented newcomers since the 1990s, and some cursory Googling suggests me that most are not translated to English yet. (Some are available in German.) [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franco-Belgian_comics

I really enjoyed as a kid the Gaston Lagaffe and Spirou written and drawn by Andren Franquin https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andr%C3%A9_Franquin

He also authored a black humor series for adults really worth reading.

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