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Ever since my early childhood I have been an avid reader. I used to enjoy reading almost any kind of books — from biographies to science fiction. However, the books I liked to read most were fantasies and historical novels. I’ve combed our local library through and through looking for the best books. After at least seven years of reading, I’ve even managed to compile a list of Ten Best Fantasy Novels.
What I would look most for in a book was an exciting plot, of course, also some tragedy (really, what kind of good novel doesn’t have some tear-jerking moments), and most important of all — originality... I used to be sick and tired of reading dozens of J.R.R. Tolkien clones who write not because they are passionate about it, but like, for example, J.K Rowling who wrote the “Harry Potter” series, do it pretty much just for the money. Those are most definitely not novels that would be remembered throughout history... Luckily, I was still able to find many, many good authors and very rarely would I find a book that wasn't interesting.
But, it must be said, that I know no longer read those sorts of childish fantasy books. Although I sometimes do enjoy reading some gothic/macabre short stories or some new historical novel, I usually tend to read various non-fiction books (on various topics that interest me) and I've also begun reading the great classics. I've decided that instead of reading all the various pulp-fiction novels I should first read all the great books that have withstood the test of time: Charles Dickens, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Gabriel Garcia Marquez...
Anyways, so far on these pages you can find many book reports, some very good e-book downloads, and lots of other interesting stuff.
Here is a list of my favorite writers, most of whom I read as a child. As you can see, in the very center, in the place of highest honor, is J. R. R. Tolkien, my most favorite writer of all times (he still is!). Some of my favorite writers are European, so I had difficulty finding English websites about them, as is the case with Gianni Rodari, an Italian writer whose wonderful children's book, “The Adventures of Cipollino,” which I read in Lithuanian, isn't even translated into English language. But, well, I did my best in finding links for almost all of the writers included here...
CLICK HERE to find out about very interesting Lithuanian book series written by a writer under the pen name Skomantas... Some of these books are available even in English.
Click below to go to the page where you can read all of the poetry that I have memorized:
Even though I enjoy reading novels, most of all I love reading poetry. I especially enjoy reading English and Lithuanian poetry, because often I have to read Russian poetry with a dictionary, so that takes away much of the enjoyment.
Ever since I was about seven years old, my parents encouraged me to learn by heart as many poems as possible. This helped train my memory (after all those years of learning everything by heart, now I have almost photographic memory) and also trained my speech to be loud and clear. This has really helped me out when I act with our local Russian theater troupe.
For your enjoyment, I've included in the Poetry all of the poems that I know in their original languages. And I'm not cheating: I can recite by heart every single one of those poems. Even E.A. Poe's “The Raven,” which is among my most favorite English poems.
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