What dead author would you have dinner with?
1. Kurt Vonnegut
2. H.P. Lovecraft
3. J.R.R. Tolkien
4. Phillip K. Dick
5. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Each one of these authors spoke to a branch of world philosophy or human psychology that has intersted me. What authors make your list?
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M$16 Answers
Number two would have to be Ernest Hemingway. Nobody had that guy's style, and he was a character.
Number three I think would be Dante, except I don't think I'd be talking much... mostly just listening while keeping his wine glass full... seeing if I can wrap my head around how his mind works.
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M$
I would love to fare on green eggs and ham with Dr. Seuss. Who wouldn't love to find out what kind of man comes up with those incredible stories!
I think my favorite would be dining on Southern Fried Chicken and catfish with all the fixings at the table of Samuel Clemens (or Mark Twain if you prefer). Another time and place with a slower pace that holds much attraction to me.
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M$
Ivincentpoupard: your point about Michigan is well taken, as I too have been many of those places (as a Michigan native). I would only want to dine with Ernest if we could dine in Cuba and the stories would be about fishing or bullfighting or war (or women).
I didn't mean to make this so personal, or to write all over this thread like some graffiti writer. As you can tell i don't have anyone to talk about books or authors with, being young its hard to find others with interests like this. young people really don't wanna discuss these things so you guys are the only ones who will actually read and respond to me.
I'm sorry if you felt like i was attacking you or if you felt i was trying to dis-credit Hemmingway's work. Re-reading it now i can understand if you thought that. I was basically trying to say he just might not be that interesting to talk to. The other point i was trying to convey in less detail is even Hemmingway couldn't make flint seem beautiful, and he certainly wouldn't write about buying his wine and cigars from a cashier enclosed in bullet proof glass, like it is in Detroit. But I'd be an idiot if i said there aren't some nice spots in Michigan, i love it here! Why would i stay if i didn't? Certainly not because of all the money I'm making.
I respect the live and let live idea. I wish i could use it more than i do. I'm more of a "half-way-live and attack everyone else for living kind of guy", even if i don't mean to be. sorry nothing personal!
oh i just thought of this, why would you expect him to kill himself if he had not died yet? His work, or at least what I'm familiar with is not sad or "life-hating" enough for me to expect spontaneous suicide.
Correction - I never said that Hemingway was not interesting. What I stated was that I am a little burned out by the fact that I have been so many of the same places that he has been. If my list was ten authors long, he would be on it.
I agree with Ivincentpoupard. While Hemmingway is a great writer, hes not the most interesting fellow in the world. I think he'd be better for a bedtime story, the man has good sentences and great detail, but talk about a snore fest. I live in Michigan and always have, its not as beautiful as Hemmingway makes it seem. If i had to listen to his stories over dinner i would probably start zoning out and i would begin wondering who was the first to mash a potato or something silly like that.
A great example of what I'm talking about is a compilation/frankenstein book made after Hemmingway died called the "Nick Adams Stories." its supposed to represent Ernest's life but its written in painstaking detail. You may not believe me but the book has three full pages dedicated to making wheat pancakes, from mixing the batter to the sound it makes as it fries. I think this represents how Ernest would hold a conversation better than his classics that are filled with adventure, like For Whom the Bell Tolls and The Old Man and the Sea.
Intersting that you should say Hemingway. The only reason why I did not put him on my list is because I have vacationed in so many Northern Michigan spots as him, I almost feel like I have already eaten with him. There are toms of spots in Northern Michigan where he would go to relax that it isn't funny. Think about the number of places in Virginia that brag about how Washington stayed there, and you have an overview on Norther Michigan and Hemingway.
goatead1:
I guess I was just trying to make him more interesting. Who would go to sleep if there was a possibility of a shooting? Perhaps I see a darker side in him than you do. fairly depressing dude, i would think. which is why I'd like to have Dr. Seuss along to lighten things up.
OK, you're back on my good side. Lets be friends. At least you know who Hemmingway is, which is a good start to any friendship of mine.
I actually grew up in flint, and God help anyone who stops for a good cigar these days!
I'm a Michigan native, and SW Michigan is a s beautiful a place as you can find. Hemingway is one of the best authors ever. Perhaps sipping wine and smoking cigars would help make his story telling more interesting, then again, maybe it's knowing that at any moment he might blow his head off....?
Strange how I never imagined anyone would campaign against my choices. Weird. Guess I'm more of a live and let live kind of guy.
01. H.G. Wells - Visionary - If it can be imagined by the human mind, it can be made to happen - First Men in the Moon, War of the Worlds
02. Jules Verne - Same as H.G. Wells - Submarines and flying machines - 20,000 Leagues under the Sea
03. Mark Twain - Putting the times into words and actions - Tom Sawyer
04. Mary Shelley - An authoress of great imagination - Frankenstein no less
05a. Ian Fleming - From James Bond to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
05b. Edgar Rice Burroughs - From the Jnungle of Tarzan to the reaches of outer space.
05c. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson
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M$
My top 5 would be:
1. Alexandre Dumas-
I'm intriqued by his writing and just want to know more about his life. I'd like to have tea with him directly after eating.
2. Laura Ingalls Wilder-
I want to know more about her life. I'd love to talk to her and have her take me to the places she grew up near.
3. Louisa May Alcott-
I'd like to know more about her experiences as a feminist in the late 1800s and as an abolitionist.
4. Anton LaVey-
I think it would be very interesting to talk to the man who wrote the Satanic Bible over a home cooked meal.
5. Charles Dickens-
I'd love to eat dinner with him then take a walk through the streets of London.
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M$
The only issue with LaVey would be that he might want to have a little blood.
haha i dont think you have to worry about blood letting with LaVaey. The man is much more cynical and sarcastic than he is the serious demon worshiper America has made him into. His religion was basically made to enrage Christians seeing as most of it is just poking fun at Christianity. The 11 satanic commandments, are a good example, they are obviously just making fun of the 10 commandments, adding one more to make it seem more important, and more offensive. If you read the rules its obvious what he's trying to do, and really can you take a religion that is less the 40 years old as a serious threat?
The 11 Rules of Earth, according to Mr. LaVey. Compared to the Commandments. A=Commandment S=Rules of Earth.
A1: Thou hast no other Gods before Me.
S1. Do not give opinions or advice unless you are asked.
A2: Thou dost not make to thyself a graven image... Thou dost not bow thyself to them, nor serve them
S2. Do not tell your troubles to others unless you are sure they want to hear them.
A3: Thou dost not take up the name of Jehovah thy God for a vain thing
S3. When in another’s lair, show him respect or else do not go there.
A4: Remember the Sabbath-day to sanctify it;
S4. If a guest in your lair annoys you, treat him cruelly and without mercy.
A5: Honour thy father and thy mother
S5. Do not make sexual advances unless you are given the mating signal.
A6: Thou dost not murder.
S6. Do not take that which does not belong to you unless it is a burden to the other person and he cries out to be relieved.
A7: Thou dost not commit adultery.
S7. Acknowledge the power of magic if you have employed it successfully to obtain your desires. If you deny the power of magic after having called upon it with success, you will lose all you have obtained.
A8: Thou dost not steal.
S8. Do not complain about anything to which you need not subject yourself.
A9: Thou dost not answer against thy neighbour a false testimony.
S9. Do not harm little children.
A10: Thou dost not desire... anything which is thy neighbour's.
S10. Do not kill non-human animals unless you are attacked or for your food.
S11. When walking in open territory, bother no one. If someone bothers you, ask him to stop. If he does not stop, destroy him.
Can't think of anyone more suitable right now than George Orwell, though I doubt we'd have enough victory gin to last the night. Good question!
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M$
I don't think that the average person could match him drink for drink.
I cant believe when thinking of classic authors i forgot Orwell. Victory Gin is supposed to be full of impurities and of very low quality. According to the story i want nothing to do with it but there is a real gin called victory gin, do you know if this is based on the book?
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M$
---Quote---
"Neither a borrower nor a lender be; For loan oft loses both itself and friend, and borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry". - Hamlet (Act I, Scene III).
----End quote---
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M$
There is no doubt in my mind that I would request an audience with William Shakespeare. The depth of his characters, the historical insights he revealed and the humor with which he revealed it, make him a very desireable dinner guest.
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M$No, seriously, I just only like a few authors.
They are:
Corie Ten Boom and the author of The Diary of Anne Frank.
Corie Ten really has many inspiring books out.
The ones you listed I am not familiar with, but I am sure they must be good authors. I see it is in a field of interest to you.
Thanks so much.
pinky8
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M$
I liked the joke! I like your choice. It would for a fact be an interesting dinner.
I hope I have not offended you with my joke. If I have please accept my apology. That was not my intention.
Thank You
pinky8
Interesting response. Especially since you are the only person so far to only have one choice.
He is, was and will always be the man!
''...words, words, there so many words..'' from Hamlet.
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M$
1: Poe. I love his macbre
2: Julia Child: reading her books taught me how ot cook better. But imagine talkingt o her over dinner!
3:Erma Bombeck.I am an avid fan of hers since i was younger. Our outlook is so similar!
4 Dr. Lendon Smith, if it werent for him, I woudl ahve never found out about food allergies and food reactions to keep my child and myself healthier.
5 Christ: I mean he was supposed to be a head rabbi. Finding out what really happened would be epic.
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M$
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M$Only recently passed, but one of my favorite authors of all time is David Eddings, he seems like a very down to earth laid back guy, he shunned most technology, and wrote great fantasy. I would love to have dinner with him and his wife.
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M$
-quote-
"I found that the price of picking the rose is fingers bloodied by the thorns; that what dreams gather, wakefulness scatters."
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M$“Sometimes you just have to pee in the sink." I think that might make for an interesting dinner. Probably more realistic and evil than Anton Lavey.
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M$
The issue would come up that your twoother writers might be so blunt that it would drive you to end the dinner quickly.
Either that or alcohol poisoning!
Seems bad but it would be worth it just for the story. If Ali wanted to punch me in the face, it might hurt, and he might walk away right afterwords, but in the long run the experience is what matters.
I posted some quotes as a source, you should check them out. His one liners alone would be worth every bit of his general negativity. Anyone who writes "We are born into this, a world where hospitals are so expensive it is cheaper to die, born into this, a world where a good defensive costs so much it is cheaper to go to jail." and calls it poetry is gonna be a little blunt, but in this ever kind and indirect world, he would be a breath of fresh air. Well at least to me.
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M$
Michael jackson a beer fan? is this true? i always thought he would just be into pescription drugs, and this can make the effects of alcohol a little nasty.
If were talking long multi course beer matched dishes here, i think vonnegut might be a good match for you. Although he prefered fine liquor, in any case Bukowski could drink every poster and author on this thread under the table!
One of the more surprising answers.
I have to say that I did not expect anyone to say Dante. In fact - my first dog's name was Dante.
well keepontryin, I always criticize others when i feel they are not considering the things i am, weather it be virtually or in my personal life. I'm not simply trying to offend you. If YOU felt I was not considering something i would accept and enjoy your criticism, its what helps us learn from each other.
We have both had different experiences, emotions, and knowledge that has led us to believe the things we do, I'm simply offering my side of the story. Sorry if it is too straightforward.
Part of answering and asking questions in a community, is also debating with each other. Especially when it comes to opinions. You do not have to enter in debate with me if you do not want to. If you are already ticked off please don't, I feel I'm being respectful. If this was a rule all questions would have a little tag saying if debating was ok or not.
Sorry for seeming disingenuous, although I'm not sure why you feel this way. I'm just opinionated, we don't have to be friends, but we certainly do need some more people to challenge and debate others in this community.
I can be friends, I just needed a piece of pie. I get grumpy when I don't eat. I do think the basic purpose of Mahalo Q&A is information and not debate, but that is likely an opinion that is debatable(lol). It seems bad form to offer an answer of your own and then systematically run down everyone else's answer. It leaves you open for criticism that you don't care about quality answers, you only care about winning the best answer awards. This may not be true. What Mahalo needs, in my opinion, is not more debate, but more quality answers. I should get back out there and add a few! Don't worry about me, I'm not important around here or anything, just a guy with an opinion.
I can see why you might think i was promoting my own answer, but really my answer was kind of a joke, dinner with bukowski might be a painful experience. Really i think iskander had the best answer.
Hey goatehad1, I'm curious as to why you feel you need to criticize and dispute other folks answers? Wasn't this an opinion question? Don't we all have different opinion and find different things interesting? Did I miss the part of the question that asked us to debate amongst ourselves as to who had the best answer and why other people's answers are not good? At the very least , it seems disingenuous for you to argue against other folks answers when you have an entry in a competitive situtaion. You're starting to tick me off, mildly.
good choices! "Adam's Diary" was an interesting read, in my opinion.
The way Dante wrote his Comedia Divina, I would think that he would be the one more interested in you. His deep insights into the church hierarchy, his interests in the contemplations of Greek ancients and the curiosity he has in all his characters make him seem more introverted and thoughtful. I think he absorbed his surroundings and the political life of the time and portrayed it in his writings.
These are all very great writers, but great writers are not always great talkers. Mr. Twain aside I'm saying this would be about as interesting as having dinner with my grand parents.
While Dante is interesting, i would like to read about it in my own time, not try to grasp a deep concept while I'm grasping a chicken wing, wine would just make it all the more confusing.
Look at keepontryin's answer to see me feelings on Hemmingway and maybe you might see where I'm coming from.
Now Mark Twain would be an experience, i feel like he could listen to questions just as well as he could answer them. Also he would throw in enough satire to make it interesting.