Classics and the Western Canon discussion

Happy New Year! Last year, members of this group interpreted dreams with Dr Freud, visited Iceland’s Independent People with Halldor Laxness, explored ethics with Baruch Spinoza, wandered in the labyrinths of Jorge Borges, and toured Europe with the American expats of Henry James. What will we read in 2025?

Based on the Random Book Generator (RBG)/moderators, the choices for the first poll are:
Gilgamesh: A New Translation of the Ancient Epic by Anonymous
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals by David Hume
Paradise Regained and Samson Agonistes by John Milton

The next few days are available if anyone wants to discuss the possibilities. Voting will take place next week.

Interesting selection, with a lot of variety.

I'm hesitating between Gilgamesh and Hemingway for my vote. I'm sure I've never read Gilgamesh before, except for maybe a few exerpts when I was a student. And I remember reading a few novels by Hemingway, but it was more than 20 years ago, so my memory is very foggy... I think I liked his writing style?

Also, Sense and Sensibility is not my favourite Jane Austen, I far prefer Pride and Prejudice or Mansfield Park. I feel like Sense and Sensibility is heavy handed compared to those other novels (even if "heavy handed" seems wrong when I'm talking about Jane Austen!).

Milton looks interesting but I've never read Paradise Lost, and I'd like to start with his best known work before tackling something else.

And Hume... well, I'm not a fan of non-fiction... too serious for me!

As usual, marvelous options!

I love the myth of Gilgamesh, it always leaves me reflecting a lot about mortality and the human desire to defeat it. And there is also a powerful goddess, and an arrogant king, and words from an ancient language (like Utnapishtim)... It is a whole package for me!

Another philosophic masterpiece would also be a good choice for me, David Hume has been on my "to-read" list for centuries...

I have read "Sense and Sensibility" and "The sun also rises" a few years ago. So they are not my priority right now.

And just like La_mariane, as I have never read "Paradise Lost", I would rather start Milton with this one.

So, basically I am considering Gilgamesh and "...Principles of Morals".

The poll will open for voting at 12 am PST on Jan. 15. Here’s the link: https://www.goodreads.com/poll/list/1...

Thanks for letting us know about the upcoming poll. I'm most interested in Gilgamesh (it's been a long time and was already considering a deep dive into the ancients this year), and Hemingway.

I hope I don't miss the voting day! :)

Olde American Spirit wrote: "Thanks for letting us know about the upcoming poll. I'm most interested in Gilgamesh (it's been a long time and was already considering a deep dive into the ancients this year), and Hemingway.

I ..."

Happy New Year! You didn’t miss the time to vote. The poll is open through Tuesday Jan 21: https://www.goodreads.com/poll/list/1...

I picked up a copy of Sophus Helle's new-ish translation of Gilgamesh and found a rather ringing endorsement on the first page of the translator's introduction:

"Gilgamesh is tremendous! I hold it to be the greatest thing a person can experience." -- Rainer Maria Rilke

There’s still time to vote for our next read. The poll is open through COB Tuesday Jan. 21: https://www.goodreads.com/poll/list/1...

It seems we are going to read Gilgamesh, an excellent choice! I have already ordered my version of this book. I have found one in Portuguese, with plenty of notes and comments. People say that this is a very "academical" version. I was very tempted to buy another one from the same publisher, a beautifully illustrated one (and hardcover!) - but then it would not come with all the comments and I will definitely need the notes more than the illustrations. :)

Yes, Gilgamesh is the runaway winner of the poll. The Hume and Milton reads were tied as first runners-up so they will carryover to the next poll. The detailed results are posted in the comments of the poll: https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/3...

Tamara will moderate the read. She plans to post translation and schedule information on Feb. 5, and the discussion will begin on Feb. 12.

Monica wrote: "It seems we are going to read Gilgamesh, an excellent choice! I have already ordered my version of this book. I have found one in Portuguese, with plenty of notes and comments. People say that this..."

Monica, it will be interesting to compare the variations between the Portuguese you read and the English translations. I, too, am looking forward to the discussion.

I am not only delighted that we will read the Epic of Gilgamesh together, but also thrilled that Tamara will be moderating the discussion.

Thank you, Emil. That's very kind of you. But I assure you any one of the moderators would have done a fine job with it. I just grabbed it before anyone else could!

Why certainly! I've participated in enough readings in this group to take that for granted. Hopefully, my enthusiasm isn't misunderstood.

Emil wrote: "Why certainly! I've participated in enough readings in this group to take that for granted. Hopefully, my enthusiasm isn't misunderstood."

Not misunderstood at all, Emil. I just wanted to clarify in case there are newcomers to the group.

A couple of years ago I participated in a group discussion on the "nature of evil." Although we could have started with the Genesis (or some other source) we chose a selection of the topics from The Great Courses (available from many public libraries). Two lectures some of us reviewed from "Why Evil Exists" were "The Nature and Origins of Evil" and "Enuma Elish--Evil as a Cosmic Battle." While I know our focus here will be, as always, on the "original" written text, some with access to these lectures might find them of informative background interest as we share this foundational myth. But please do discuss and analyze from the text itself, judiciously using such overlays and focusing on the text as it has come to us through the ages.

Hi there, I plan on hopping on the Gilgamesh read.

I've got a small logistical question: are we locked into this particular English translation or is any other decent translation fair game?

Hi Kristian, glad you're joining us.
You're free to use whichever translation you want. I'll be suggesting a couple of translation options on Wednesday. And I'll be inviting folks to tell us which translation they plan to use.
It might be interesting to compare how the different translations approach the poem.