Jonathan Livingston Seagull

[Sark79]

Has anyone read   " Jonathan Livingston Seagull " by Richard Bach .

I read this as a kid and it is still one of my favorite books.  I picked up an old copy today from my local PDSA.  I read it in my hour lunch break.

It is a fantastic story.  I recommend it for anyone who hasn't read it.  The story is happy, sad, thought inspiring, it has a feel good quality about it and it also shows us we can all achieve so much if we utilize our potential.

Here is the Plot summary given by Wikipedia -

The novel tells the story of Jonathan Livingston Seagull, a seagull who is seized by a passion for flight. He pushes himself, learning everything he can about flying, until finally his unwillingness to conform results in his expulsion from his clan. An outcast, he continues to learn, becomes increasingly pleased with his abilities and leads an idyllic life.

One day, Jonathan is met by two seagulls, who take him to a “higher plane of existence”, where he meets other gulls who love to fly. He discovers that his sheer tenacity and desire to learn make him “a gull in a million”. Jonathan befriends the wisest gull in this new place, named Chiang, who takes him beyond his previous learning, teaching him how to move instantaneously to anywhere else in the universe. The secret, Chiang says, is to “begin by knowing that you have already arrived”.

Not satisfied with his new life, Jonathan returns to Earth to find others like him, to bring them his learning and to spread his love for flight. His mission is successful, gathering around him others who have been outlawed for not conforming. Ultimately, one of his students, Fletcher Lynd Seagull, becomes a teacher in his own right and Jonathan leaves to continue his learning. In some ways, this section is as much a story of Fletcher’s realization as of Jonathan’s continued learning.


Below, I have given a Link to an online version of the book. It is well worth giving a read. It is fairly short, so shouldn't take all that long to do.

http://lib.ru/RBACH/seagullengl.txt

[Ironside]

takes me all my bits to read blondepoker in a lunch hour never mind a novell

when does the dvd come out so i can skim read

[Nem]

Have yoy read this book Sark? Fantastic Voyage: Live Long Enough to Live Forever by Ray Kurzweil and Terry Grossman.

[Sark79]

lol  Iron..   Not sure about the DVD .  I think there is a cartoon version, but I haven't been able to find it yet.

No I haven't read it Nemesis, but I did a google from your title.  It looks good. I will ask for it at the library next time, I am in .

Most of the books I read are biographies.  Other than biographies, the last non gambling related book I read was  The 2005 Tweenies annual   a book about body language by Peter Collett. I have to start reading more diverse books.

[tikay]

Nice Post Sark - thank you.

I only read non-fiction as a rule, but if I see a copy of this, I may give it a try.

[Sark79]

Tikay. The link at the bottom of the post is an online version.  Print it out, if you are like me and can't read from the computer screen.

[dik9]

Brilliant book although i prefer "The Reluctant Messiah" by Richard Bach, fantastic author!!!

[Sark79]

Brilliant book although i prefer "The Reluctant Messiah" by Richard Bach, fantastic author!!!

Never seen that one.  That is two, I have to look for now. The Reluctant Messiah and the book Nemesis mentioned 

[I, Zimbra]

I recommend 'Journey to the West' by Wu Ch'eng-En.

If this sounds like I'm taking the P.S., I assure you I'm not, it's one of my favourite stories of all time.

It's the novel that the TV series 'Monkey' was based on, it was written in the 16th century. I've read it numerous times since I was small - and is available in many different versions, either abridged or unabridged.

[clayftknight]

Richard Bach is fantastic.

The reluctant messiah is actually called 'Illusions'   and I've read Jonathon Livingston Seagull also.........from a guy who doesn't read fiction these two are fantastic.

"The river delights to lift us free, if only we dare let go"

"Imagine a world, perfect, beautiful and just, then be sure of one thing, the master has imagined it quite a bit better than you"

"The mark of yyour ignorance is the depth of your belief in injustice and tragedy"

Illusions is full of fabtastic quotes woven into a brilliant story that will stretch your mind like Seagull does.

The last quote is one of the best..........

"Everything in this book may be wrong"

[clayftknight]

Illusions is called......

Illusions ; The adventures of the reluctant messiah.

And

The messiahs handbook ; reminders for the advanced soul

Which was the not real book in Illusions that the messiah had and that the quotes came from.................is now itself a real book lol

[Sark79]

I will look both these up guys, thanks

[Colchester Kev]

I mostly read biographies, but i am an avid reader of Minette walters, her book Acid Row is one of those "cant put it down til its finished" ones.

[Nakor]

I recommend 'Journey to the West' by Wu Ch'eng-En.

If this sounds like I'm taking the P.S., I assure you I'm not, it's one of my favourite stories of all time.

It's the novel that the TV series 'Monkey' was based on, it was written in the 16th century. I've read it numerous times since I was small - and is available in many different versions, either abridged or unabridged.

Great shout Zim - not read it for years guess I am in the storage box's at the weekend to dig my copy out.

[lazaroonie]

At the moment I am mostly reading Charles Bukowski..

Ironside, you can get the DVD of "factotum" from your local blockbusters if you prefer...