Book recommendations
- Thread starter ILPPendant
- Start date
Recommended Videos
The series became officially too much for me when he was slaughtering peace-loving hippies. I had some moments earlier on though which made me go 'eh?', like the very long sm-section in the first book, the objectivism that was shoved down my throat and things like the chicken that was not a chicken. Mr. Goodkind also seems to have mastered the mysterious powers of the 'Deus Ex Machina', since Richard basically gains powers or 'instinctively' knows how to do something whenever there's the need for him to do so.Merteg said:
I could go on forever though, but the books just didn't work for me, apart from the first.
Honestly, do people even bother to read the OP? He meant books on Drama, the subject, not just any book that you guys like to read! Bloody hell. Anyway...
As it happens though, I'd recommend Arthur Miller's The Crucible. I had a small role in this at school last year and it was one of the best plays I've ever seen or heard about. I played Francis Nurse, a farmer, but the play as a whole is written about the Salem Witch Trials and the idiocy of the authorities in dealing with the apparent 'witchcraft' in Salem. However, it was also written as a metaphor for the ongoing McCarthyism attitude to Communism that was going on when Miller wrote the play, and his own experiences being questioned about his possible links to Communist writers back then.
Failing that, try one of the following:
- Journey's End.
- Playhouse Creatures (if you can find it).
- Anything by Shakespeare.
I understand Shakespeare is a bit obvious, but honestly, he's the greatest playwright ever for a reason. At least, in my own personal opinion. Really though, it's down to you, and what you think she'll like best. You know your sister better than we do, after all.
EDIT: It appears I don't take my own advice, since I missed out on reading one of your own comments, OP. I see you're already familiar with The Crucible. Let me just say now then that I am very jealous, since although I acted in it I'd love to see the play from an outside point of view. I'd also like to see the film version with Daniel Day Lewis and Winona Ryder, for that matter...
Drama is a very worthwhile subject and is by no means a waste of an A-Level. A waste is General Studies, which I was forced to do by my school. Drama is a great subject, and I don't see why you think it's a waste. I wanted to do Drama myelf, sadly my school didn't offer it as an option, and I'm involved in the Theatre Group at university. As I said, it's by no means a waste.ILPPendant said:
As it happens though, I'd recommend Arthur Miller's The Crucible. I had a small role in this at school last year and it was one of the best plays I've ever seen or heard about. I played Francis Nurse, a farmer, but the play as a whole is written about the Salem Witch Trials and the idiocy of the authorities in dealing with the apparent 'witchcraft' in Salem. However, it was also written as a metaphor for the ongoing McCarthyism attitude to Communism that was going on when Miller wrote the play, and his own experiences being questioned about his possible links to Communist writers back then.
Failing that, try one of the following:
- Journey's End.
- Playhouse Creatures (if you can find it).
- Anything by Shakespeare.
I understand Shakespeare is a bit obvious, but honestly, he's the greatest playwright ever for a reason. At least, in my own personal opinion. Really though, it's down to you, and what you think she'll like best. You know your sister better than we do, after all.
EDIT: It appears I don't take my own advice, since I missed out on reading one of your own comments, OP. I see you're already familiar with The Crucible. Let me just say now then that I am very jealous, since although I acted in it I'd love to see the play from an outside point of view. I'd also like to see the film version with Daniel Day Lewis and Winona Ryder, for that matter...
Get her to try some Chekohov.
Of Mice and Men is an incredible book as well, designed to work as both a novella and a play.
Of Mice and Men is an incredible book as well, designed to work as both a novella and a play.
If you want to get her some good plays perhaps 'the Caucasian chalk circle' or 'she stoops to conquer' both are respectable well written plays which, as far as I know, are sometimes used for AS or A-level courses.
If you are after good 'How to do Drama' books then it really depends on what exam board her course is with. It's most likely edexcel who do a fantastic range of study guides and Drama workshop books.
If you are after good 'How to do Drama' books then it really depends on what exam board her course is with. It's most likely edexcel who do a fantastic range of study guides and Drama workshop books.
She's apparently coupling it with performing arts, which makes me deeply suspicious of exactly what she intends to do. She's also doing psychology and religious studies.Trivun said:
If she took drama and was also studying English lit (or just plain English) then I would certainly agree with you. Sadly I don't see her taking even one of the classical academic subjects but rather she seems to be opting for the subjects she perceives to be easy.
DAMMIT, IN MY HOUSE IT'S SHAKESPEARE OR NOTHING AT ALL!
but seriously, am i the only teenager who likes shakespeare?
but perhaps waiting for godot? plus the dummy's guide to waiting for godot?
but seriously, am i the only teenager who likes shakespeare?
but perhaps waiting for godot? plus the dummy's guide to waiting for godot?
I agree, we studied it in english, i got a 1 for my essay on it. It's quite powerful, and emotional. they feel their dream is within reach, but it is suddenly snatched away from them. it really struck a chord in me.pigeon_of_doom said:
Hmmmm, maybe she's just interested in Performing Arts and Drama for that reason, i.e. that she's interested in acting? It's possible she just wants to be an actress or something, or work in that field. I may be wrong, but it's more than likely, since believe me, Psychology and Religous Studies are by no means easy. They are extremely difficult. I didn't do either of them but I know people who did and from their accounts, those two are pretty damn hard. Easy would be General Studies, something like PE, or something like Geography or History...ILPPendant said:
Still, I may be wrong. If so then feel free to ignore me for being an idiot
Get her some or all of Oscar Wilde's works. The Importance of being earnest is a really good play.
She's never expressed any interest in being an actress, so I can't say for sure.Trivun said:Hmmmm, maybe she's just interested in Performing Arts and Drama for that reason, i.e. that she's interested in acting? It's possible she just wants to be an actress or something, or work in that field. I may be wrong, but it's more than likely, since believe me, Psychology and Religous Studies are by no means easy. They are extremely difficult. I didn't do either of them but I know people who did and from their accounts, those two are pretty damn hard. Easy would be General Studies, something like PE, or something like Geography or History...
Still, I may be wrong. If so then feel free to ignore me for being an idiot
A-level psychology suffers from similar problems to law: it teaches students "wrongly" from a university's point of view. Of course, it's kind of moot because I just now asked her and apparently she's doing media studies, not psychology. In a way that makes a bit more sense.
The thing is, I'm genuinely worried: if only she ditched performing arts and got English lit, or failing that at least a foreign language, then she'd at least have something a more cynical employer would respect.
The weirdest irony is that general studies used to be a highly respected subject and having a decent grade in it was usually enough to tip an application in your favour. I'm not sure what changed or how it did but there you go.
One last point: I can tell you now that history isn't easy at all. I wish it was, since I could then have got away with simply learning the material. Instead I'm forced to try and figure out three specific ways of writing essays (analytically, critically and synoptically) at three times the speed I'm used to without any kind of input - I had to reverse-engineer "model answers" presumably because actually telling me what to do was against the rules or something.
OK, looks like it wasn't the last point after all, but this is. I saw "Art" a few years ago and found it quite fun, but do you think it would make good study fodder?