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Ask HN: What are the best unknown books you have read?

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Re: Ask HN: What are the best unknown books you have read?

#161

Post by jonnycomputer »

yesenadam wrote: post #118
jonnycomputer wrote: post #60

The Structure and Confirmation of Evolutionary Theory by Elisabeth Lloyd has had an outsized effect on my thinking, even though I do not work in that field. https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691000466/th...

I decided to investigate feminist philosophers of science a few years ago, since I'd heard they write postmodern garbage, and randomly picked Elisabeth Lloyd first. I ended up reading everything I could get my hands on, all her books, papers, talks, webpages. Totally admirable. She is awesome, and responds to critics with tireless patience. 'Feminist science' as she does it is just good science. A lot of it points ou…

You know, I haven't read anything else by her than the book I mentioned; however it surprises me none that she would address feminist issues in science in a rigorous and fair-minded way. Maybe, someday when I have time again, I'll pick up and read her other stuff!

Re: Ask HN: What are the best unknown books you have read?

#162

Post by mellosouls »

kragen wrote: post #160
mellosouls wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Here's how it starts off, be warned: On my naming day when I come 12 I gone front spear and kilt a wyld boar he parbly ben the las wyld pig on the Bundel Downs any how there hadnt ben none for a long time befor him nor I aint looking to see none agen. He dint make the groun shake nor nothing like that when he come on to my spear he wernt all that big plus he lookit poorly. He done the reqwyrt he ternt and stood and c…

This is how we speak today, to the ear of a speaker of Anglo-Saxon or, here in Argentina, Latin. Only more so.

Yes. I guess that's what he was aiming at.

Re: Ask HN: What are the best unknown books you have read?

#163

Post by mellosouls »

kkwteh wrote: post #113
mellosouls wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Here's how it starts off, be warned: On my naming day when I come 12 I gone front spear and kilt a wyld boar he parbly ben the las wyld pig on the Bundel Downs any how there hadnt ben none for a long time befor him nor I aint looking to see none agen. He dint make the groun shake nor nothing like that when he come on to my spear he wernt all that big plus he lookit poorly. He done the reqwyrt he ternt and stood and c…

Reminds me a bit of Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy, which is an incredible book.

One of my favourites too, although I wouldn't link them apart from the darkness and poetic beauty of the language.

Re: Ask HN: What are the best unknown books you have read?

#164

Post by mellosouls »

dri_ft wrote: post #121
mellosouls wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Here's how it starts off, be warned: On my naming day when I come 12 I gone front spear and kilt a wyld boar he parbly ben the las wyld pig on the Bundel Downs any how there hadnt ben none for a long time befor him nor I aint looking to see none agen. He dint make the groun shake nor nothing like that when he come on to my spear he wernt all that big plus he lookit poorly. He done the reqwyrt he ternt and stood and c…

But it's surprising how quickly you settle into it, honestly.

Agree completely, but I know several people who have struggled or just given up because it never clicked.

Re: Ask HN: What are the best unknown books you have read?

#165

Post by mellosouls »

rrgmitchell wrote: post #130
mellosouls wrote: post #8

Riddley Walker by Russell Hoban is not unknown but not hugely popular. Post apocalyptic novel written in a made up language (think Clockwork Orange). Poetic and deeply moving account of a boy's journey through a world where scientific knowledge has devolved to primitive ritual and incantation; and his dawning realisation that we lost everything . I've never read anything else like it. https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/R…

Riddley Walker is a stunningly good novel. I've read it twice and I'd read it again. Many years ago there was a dramatisation of it at the Edinburgh Festival, very powerful. One bit that sticks in my memory is when Riddley stumbles on the overgrown ruins of what must be the M25 motorway that encircled London. And he cries: "O what we ben wonce! And what we come to now!"

Yes, exactly! That's my favourite part, his realisation of the magnitude of the loss, it's completely devastating.

Re: Ask HN: What are the best unknown books you have read?

#166

Post by mellosouls »

atombender wrote: post #127
mellosouls wrote: post #8

Riddley Walker by Russell Hoban is not unknown but not hugely popular. Post apocalyptic novel written in a made up language (think Clockwork Orange). Poetic and deeply moving account of a boy's journey through a world where scientific knowledge has devolved to primitive ritual and incantation; and his dawning realisation that we lost everything . I've never read anything else like it. https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/R…

Riddley Walker was probably also a big influence on Iain M. Banks' Feersum Endjinn [1]. Most of the chapters are narrated by Bascule, a simple-minded (but certainly not stupid) young man who writes phonetically: Woak up. Got dresd. Had brekfast. Spoke wif Ergates thi ant who sed itz juss been wurk wurk wurk 4 u lately master Bascule, Y dont u ½ a holiday? The novel is a bit out of character for Banks, and reminds me…

I've never read that but can completely see it from your quote, thank you.

Re: Ask HN: What are the best unknown books you have read?

#167

Post by laserDinosaur »

vikingcaffiene wrote: post #52

House of Leaves. I've literally never read anything like it.

I never finished House of Leaves. I found the house aspects of the story really interesting, but all the parts outside it (the tattoo artist guy) I found insufferably boring. Does it ever actually have any point to his side of the story? It felt like half the book was a waste of time, but maybe it pays off in the end?

Re: Ask HN: What are the best unknown books you have read?

#170

Post by withparadox2 »

benatkin wrote: post #169

Lila by Robert Pirsig. Everyone knows about Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (ZMM). Lila is not as well known, but it's fun to read if you really enjoyed ZMM. https://www.amazon.com/Lila-Inquiry-Robert-M-Pirsig/dp/05532...

Does it talk about the same thing as ZMM?
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