/lit/ - Literature

What is your favorite novel, short story, or poem from 1925 (the year which some have called “the greatest year of literature”)?

Books for when I’ve read the entire Western canon yet everything in this Leddit post describes me?

>Isn't it strange that modern physics embraces process over substance but our metaphysics doesn't?
>Hmm I guess you're right Whitehead.
>Alright so everything is conscious and has free will, occasions are the real actors in everything, every moment anywhere influences every other thing that occurs and objects absorb every piece of data from anything they interact with.
Uh what?

>peak
>mid
>slop
>crash out
>unalive
What the hell is up with modern speech turning into newspeak straight out of 1984? The word "ungood" genuinely wouldn't look too out of place with all the neologisms I just listed.

give me your best books on decolonization

Previous: >>24841342

“Real Writers” Edition

Previous:>>24848643

Please remember that /wg/ is focused primarily on real writers—that is, authors writing frequently and with the intent to garner an audience. If you’re a sniff-your-own-butthole author, you are reluctantly allowed in this thread, if only because you’re technically on topic. But you will be made fun of at all opportunities.

Genre Fiction and Web Novelists welcome with wide arms. “Literary” authors should go to their containment thread: >>24851315

if you could unlearn certain things from your mind, what are those, /lit/?

>I read fiction!
what are you, 5?
how are y'all not embarrassed to admit, with a fully adult body, that you still read story books?

check this out

https://www.gururamana.org/Resources/Books/Who_Am_I_English.pdf

if it is for you, you're blessed. if it is not, then one day it will be

Thank you Elon for finally killing the Spinoza meme by forever associating it with this pseudery.

For reading in general, what's the best to retain information?

Should I get a journal and note stuff after reading?
What methods do you guys use?

>I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

>so that all may know, from where the sun rises to where it sets, that there is none but Me; I am the LORD, and there is no other. I form the light and create the darkness; I bring prosperity and create calamity. I, the LORD, do all these things.

How many planets are in the universe?
If you take every single grain of sand on earth and imagine that every single grain of sand on earth is 1 billion planets, thats how many.

Any books with some philosophy to address this? I'm finding it very hard to imagine humans are important against such numbers as these. Like how could you possibly argue we matter at all vs that?

Do you do a fiction and a nonfiction concurrently?

>"Your style is much too sanctified —
>your cut is too canonical" —
From the Gilbert and Sullivan comic opera Patience duet ‘So Go to Him and Say to Him’.
I struggle to understand what is meant by ‘canonical’. I’ve tried Wiktionary and I still don’t get it.
https://www.gsarchive.net/patience/webop/pat15.html
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JutFKM17Pl4&pp=ygUkc28gZ28gdG8gaGltIGFuZCBzYXkgdG8gaGltIHBhdGllbmNl

Why do people pretend to like this book?

>human knowledge is limited to phenomena, the world as structured by our mind’s categories (space, time, causality, etc)
>the noumenal world, things as they are “in themselves,” independent of perception, is unknowable

this distinction was meant to preserve both empirical science (which studies appearances) and metaphysical limits (beyond which reason cannot go).
but If we truly can’t know anything about the noumenal world, then how can we even assert its existence or claim it causes appearances?

>beta readers love it
>the edgy dick in my writers group begrudgingly likes it
>I followed elements of style to a T
>yet still, out of 500 queries, I get one partial request

Am I missing something? Is there, like, an automaton approach to send out queries and i just have to numb my heart and just focus on hitting every even somewhat open minded agent with automaton bullshit?

What am I in for?

Pretty good

>did well at school
>no girls ever attracted to me
>made fun of by women as a loser beta
>went to university
>no girls ever attracted to me
>girls didn't acknowledge my existence
>got part time jobs in summers
>no girls ever attracted to me
>got a full time job
>no women ever attracted to me
>moved to a big city
>no women ever attracted to me
>made online dating profiles
>no matches
>just went outside
>no women ever attracted to me
>regularly gone to gym for over 10 years and have squatted over 4 plate
>no women ever attracted to me
>now in my 30s
>no women ever attracted to me

Ok. Now what? I'm a totally social exprienceless mid-30s male with zero social life at all.

"On Being Born"
Born. What is there to do after the fact? A life, an existence, but what for? We are conscious in the pale mirror of our own eyes. But nothing is seen except the strangeness of our self-realisation. Nothing is born as soon as we enter the world, screaming. As the curtains of death draw, to reveal a stage; at its centre dances a clown named Life. We clap. We cheer. What a cosmic joke!

"On Night"
What is the point of sleep when life itself is a nightmare? When night descends, beasts and demons rise out of the tenebrae. These creatures are hungry for flesh and thirsty for blood. But what dreams can monsters infest if all they know is the darkness?

"On Resentment"
Why do I resent the world after the tears of society's lamentations have dried away? If there is a god, he must see that I am angry over his Creation... The anhedonia of crazed hatred infests the mind and makes me wonder why I deign to mock the heavens! My bile, my black blood, all surge in the moment of realization that my own father mocks my very existence. He has committed every crime, the worst of which is being a father.

What are all your book related apps?

Society already is divided in 3.5/4.
3.5 are the cattle, 0.5 the remnants dissidents.
The internet is owned by them, everything is controlled by them while we control almost nothing except partially where we can choose to go and die.
Diagnosis: We lost, no organization on our side, the NWO is heading strongly toward their goal, which is total control of peoples lives through digital surveillance and technology.
While we are all divided between meaningless reasons and most refuse to acknowledge the truth.
Christ here, Allah there, YHWH here, Buddha there.
Truth is God and pathetically everyone who says they fight the good cause doesn't know it and avoids it at all costs.
There will come a point where we have to choose to do what is right or retreat to the mountains in order to die off with the knowledge that we did absolutely jack shit to try and change things.
Fuck politics, fuck false religions, fuck scientism, and most of all fuck whoever gave their responsibility up to someone else instead of developing within them the true will.

What are some books that explain killing your enemies is all that matters or accomplishes anything?

the last time I felt something reading anything post-WWII was about a year and a half ago when I picked this up. didn't make it past the first few hundred pages because of personal reasons and I never really got back to it.
not Houellebecq, not no Knausgård or Beckett, not even Bernhard whom I consider to be a true titan of 20th c. literature, one I absolutely regret not being able to read in the original German, made as immediate an impression on me as Gaddis' condensed, surchargé, relentless prose.

In fact, of all the authors mentioned above and their underlying projects that served as both the means and ends of their respective œuvres, Gaddis' encyclopedic approach, while not as interesting as Beckett's linguistic fragmentation as catharsis or the political predictor/provocateur whoremonger Houellebecq, seems to me the most efficient.
Knausgård, just to say a few words on him and authors of the same strain en passant, the yuppie, stream-of-consciousness, refuses-to -acknowledge-they-read, or maybe even unironically chooses to not read any classics for fear of losing "voice", or some similar effeminate notion, is just that: effeminate.

I don't see how the novel as a form can progress beyond encyclopedic doorstoppers.

Learning Edition

Previous: None

>What is /apug/ — Alternative Publishing General?
A general for writers and readers of non-traditional published works—that is, works that weren't published by a large publisher, especially self-published and web published. Mostly genre fiction.

For discussion on reading trad pub works, check /sffg/
For writing of non-genre fiction, check /wolw/

>says whales are fish
fucking droped lol

Previous: >>24846827

>What is /wng/ — Web Novel General?
A general for readers and authors involved or interested in the growing phenomenon of 'web novels', serialized English fiction posted to websites such as: Royal Road, Webnovel, Scribblehub, Wattpad, Archive of Our Own, Spacebattles, HFY, various personal author websites, and more

>Why read web novels?
Not for prose or tight editing or deep themes, frankly. As a whole, web novels are infamous for content sprawl and pacing issues. If you enjoy having millions of words to sink your teeth into to get to know the world and characters, though, you may be interested. Keeping up with other readers on a weekly basis to discuss the story's events unfolding is another perk, in the same way discussing an ongoing TV show might be.

>Why write web novels?
Ease of access & potential for Patreon earnings. Many successful authors gain an audience on their website of choice and funnel their readers into a Patreon. See graphtreon.com/top-patreon-creators/writing for an idea of what some are earning.
Also, once an author has earned a fanbase, transitioning into an Amazon self-publishing career is several orders of magnitude easier than starting 'dry'.

>/wng/ authors.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vSNZali-jIk2MASsAWVf8N7A8BlSyzPbAFV_BhsA5Ip3SWfMPWKxaXf8Pdb7f0TgFyWis31BzirtPeR/pubhtml


>Advice for Noobs!

##READ THE FOLLOWING BEFORE ASKING FOR HELP##

Running your story like the business it is:
www.royalroad.com/forums/thread/116847

On writing web serials:
alexanderwales.com/how-to-write-a-web-serial/

Sanderson's Writing Lectures 2025:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEUh_y1IFZY&list=PLSH_xM-KC3ZvzkfVo_Dls0B5GiE2oMcLY

Recommended web novels:
rentry.co/d2yvczro

Anon's guide to success:
rentry.co/RRBasicGuide

FAQ:
rentry.co/pytefpxn

Any got a good short story or flash fiction collection? Like 5-10 pages max.

Post quotes that made you laugh and the book it is from

>“Caligula eased the situation by dying”

Some of the most beautiful prose I've ever read

Realistically speaking, what are the steps towards publishing your book once you finish your very first draft (apart from editing it to a second one)

Post any nonfiction that spins a good yarn.

>The Gales of November: The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald by John Bacon

>For three decades following World War II, the Great Lakes overtook Europe as the epicenter of global economic strength. The region was the beating heart of the world economy, possessing all the power and prestige Silicon Valley does today. And no ship represented the apex of the American Century better than the 729-foot-long Edmund Fitzgerald―the biggest, best, and most profitable ship on the Lakes.

>But on November 10, 1975, as the “storm of the century” threw 100 mile-per-hour winds and 50-foot waves on Lake Superior, the Mighty Fitz found itself at the worst possible place, at the worst possible time. When she sank, she took all 29 men onboard down with her, leaving the tragedy shrouded in mystery for a half century.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/223736260-the-gales-of-november

Falls off pretty hard after that though. He should have stuck to his earlier idea of society slowly collapsing as the book spreads. The government is building suicide pods? Cool, why are they doing that? He just kind of drops the subject and never mentions it again.

Might get banned by mods for this because theyre retarded but whatever. I need to ask.

Does anybody know the best place to find philosophy audiobooks online? The problems with the generic audiobook sites is that first of all, Im worried about the audiobook being tied to the specific site or app I buy it on. And I dislike subscription models as I dont use audibooks enough for them to be useful.

Anybody got any ideas? I've been trying to listen to Matter and Memory for weeks now, but I keep stopping because I'm close to the end of this preview of the audiobook I found on YouTube. Usually you can find entire audiobooks on youtube, but for Matter and Memory specifically its nowhere to be found save for one shitty low quality AI voiced one thats hard to hear.

If Matthew was a deciple of Jesus, why did he feel the need to copy Mark's account verbatim instead of telling his own account?

Why hasn't he won the big one yet /lit/? He's more than deserving.

So, ultimately, would you rate the effect of reading philosophy on yourself as positive?

>What is /wng/ - Web Novel General?
A general for readers and authors involved or interested in the growing phenomenon of 'web novels', serialized English fiction posted to websites such as: Royal Road, Webnovel, Scribblehub, Wattpad, Archive of Our Own, Spacebattles, HFY, various personal author websites, and more

>Why read web novels?
Not for prose or tight editing or deep themes, frankly. As a whole, web novels are infamous for content sprawl and pacing issues. If you enjoy having millions of words to sink your teeth into to get to know the world and characters, though, you may be interested. Keeping up with other readers on a weekly basis to discuss the story's events unfolding is another perk, in the same way discussing an ongoing TV show might be.

>Why write web novels?
Ease of access & potential for Patreon earnings. Many successful authors gain an audience on their website of choice and funnel their readers into a Patreon. See graphtreon.com/top-patreon-creators/writing for an idea of what some are earning.
Also, once an author has earned a fanbase, transitioning into an Amazon self-publishing career is several orders of magnitude easier than starting 'dry'.

>/wng/ authors.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vSNZali-jIk2MASsAWVf8N7A8BlSyzPbAFV_BhsA5Ip3SWfMPWKxaXf8Pdb7f0TgFyWis31BzirtPeR/pubhtml


>Advice for Noobs!

##READ THE FOLLOWING BEFORE ASKING FOR HELP##

Running your story like the business it is:
www.royalroad.com/forums/thread/116847

On writing web serials:
alexanderwales.com/how-to-write-a-web-serial/

Sanderson's Writing Lectures 2025:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEUh_y1IFZY&list=PLSH_xM-KC3ZvzkfVo_Dls0B5GiE2oMcLY

Recommended web novels
rentry.co/d2yvczro

Anon's guide to success
rentry.co/RRBasicGuide

FAQ
rentry.co/pytefpxn

Best novels by women
1. Eliot, 'Middlemarch'
2. Burney, 'Cecilia'
3. Brontë, 'Wuthering Heights'
4. Austen, 'Persuasion'
5. Rhys, 'Good Morning Midnight'
6. Woolf, 'The Waves'
7. Shelley, 'Frankenstein'

>The torrent pours from an invisible source, the point of entry being the center of the symbolic circle of the universe, the Immovable Spot of the Buddha legend, around which the world may be said to revolve. Beneath this spot is the earth-supporting head of the cosmic serpent, the dragon, symbolical of the waters of the abyss, which are the divine life-creative energy and substance of the demiurge, the world-generative aspect of immortal being. The tree of life, i.e., the universe itself, grows from this point. It is rooted in the supporting darkness; the golden sun bird perches on its peak; a spring, the inexhaustible well, bubbles at its foot. Or the figure may be that of a cosmic mountain, with the city of the gods, like a lotus of light, upon its summit, and in its hollow the cities of the demons, illuminated by precious stones. Again, the figure may be that of the cosmic man or woman (for example the Buddha himself, or the dancing Hindu goddess Kali) seated or standing on this spot, or even fixed to the tree (Attis, Jesus, Wotan); for the hero as the incarnation of God is himself the navel of the world, the umbilical point through which the energies of eternity break into time. Thus the World Navel is the symbol of the continuous creation: the mystery of the maintenance of the world through that continuous miracle of vivification which wells within all things.
Why did no one tell me that this book was just schizo shit?

Which year would you cut it off at?
I am thinking 2002, aka people who graduated high school before covid really took over

"Tried and True" edition

Previous: >>24851513

>What is /wg/ — Writing General?

A general for self-published writers and readers, focused primarily on serialized english authors posting for online audiences. You're welcome to discuss works hosted on Royal Road, Webnovel, Scribblehub, Wattpad, AO3, Spacebattles, HFY, and other literary blogs.
Also welcome: Genre Fiction, short stories & more.

>>Why read serialized fiction?
Not for prose or tight editing or deep themes, frankly. As a whole, serials are infamous for content sprawl and pacing issues. If you enjoy having millions of words to sink your teeth into to get to know the world and characters, though, you may be interested. Keeping up with other readers on a weekly basis to discuss the story's events unfolding is another perk, in the same way discussing an ongoing TV show might be.

>Why write serialized fiction?
Ease of access & potential for Patreon earnings. Many successful authors gain an audience on their website of choice and funnel their readers into a Patreon. See graphtreon.com/top-patreon-creators/writing for an idea of what some are earning.
Also, once an author has earned a fanbase, transitioning into successfull Amazon authorship is several orders of magnitude easier than starting 'dry'.

>Advice for Noobs!

##READ THE FOLLOWING BEFORE ASKING FOR HELP##

Running your story like the business it is:
www.royalroad.com/forums/thread/116847

On writing online serials:
alexanderwales.com/how-to-write-a-___-serial/

Sanderson's Writing Lectures 2025:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEUh_y1IFZY&list=PLSH_xM-KC3ZvzkfVo_Dls0B5GiE2oMcLY

Recommended novels
rentry.co/d2yvczro

Anon's guide to success
rentry.co/RRBasicGuide

FAQ
rentry.co/pytefpxn

>Interests & Discussion

Serial authors: feel free to link chapters and synopses, but please be mindful of your frequency
Give feedback as often as you receive it. This thread thrives on exchange.
Share ideas, brainstorm your next arc, or provide honest reviews to others.
Discuss ongoing serials, industry news, and publishing strategies.
Encourage anons to keep writing.

If I order this from Hackett's website instead of amazon will it at least get some decent packing? I am fucking sick of amazon throwing books in envelopes or boxes just to get bashed around

>can't buy these for love nor money
This phrase makes no sense, since when is love a traded backed commodity like money

Any books on a slow descent to madness caused by the degradation of beauty from aging?