You’re welcome, it was a nice surprise for me too. Seems pretty good!

I read them as an adult. What I loved about the second book was the very original setting and perspective that was still completely captivating and felt believable. I don’t think I have ever read anything that is quite comparable. Anyway, maybe I should give the third one another go, I’m on vacation now so maybe a little bit more relaxed and patient!

My experience was that the first book was fine, say 6,5/10. Just enough to move on to the the second, which I absolutely loved 9,5/10. Started reading the third with high expectations but it just didn’t engage me at all. Didn’t get through more than perhaps 25% of it.

Meaning only exists as experienced by someone particular in a specific situation in time and space. The meaning-making processes in these situations assume a configuration of previous experiences, and probably conventions, languages, agreements on symbols and metaphors, technologies and so on. “The work” doesn’t have any meaning outside of these situations (maybe it doesn’t even exist, depending on how you define it). The author normally has no control over these situations and thus cannot, practically speaking, determine any meaning. But probably there is neither a “the audience” that can “determine” anything. The audience likely consists of several elements that create meanings in different ways across space and time.

Related issues: The author/creator/performer had an intention that they themselves get to decide. But this intention is not universally and necessarily the same as “the meaning of the work”.

Practically speaking, the purpose of the audience is often to understand the intention of the author/creator.

Discussions of authorial intent may be useful and interesting: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Authorial_intent

Thank you, those are some interesting perspectives!

Thanks for another great answer. I realise now that the comparison with Soviet wasn’t very thoughtful of me. I just wanted to imagine something that would have broken up the Nazi German hegemony from the inside.

Another thought is that American products and culture probably are popular partly because they were winners in World War 2.

Great answer, do you see any internal tensions within the Axis that could foreseeably have caused collapse comparable to say Soviet communism’s collapse in the real world? How dependant were they on Hitler and Mussolini as individuals?

Thank you so much for taking the time to write a long and informative answer. It was very interesting to learn about the situation. I really hope it will improve. Best of luck to you and your country/community!

PS. If you have any question about either, happy to answer>

Could you please say a few words about the situation for young people (say 15-25) in Pakistan? What are their dreams and aspirations? Main differences between socioeconomic groups of youth? Main conflicts and disagreements with older generations? View of the world?

I fully realise that this is a huge and complex question and that it will be very difficult to generalise. Any response on these kinds of questions would be much appreciated though!

Yeah a clear sign that it’s actually your favourite!

Great to see two really iconic artists and singers at their best!

Indeed, really exceptional performances! Thank you so much for sharing!

Yup, big Whigs fan here! 🙌

Nice song! This Uncomfortably Numb is also great, by Graveyard: https://youtu.be/K58iuxowDvc

Einstürzende Neubauten: Nagorny Karabach https://youtu.be/hd-6WweqD0Y

(With subtitles in English)

Thanks! That was a completely new acquaintance for me!

Nice ones, Incognito was actually my favourite. Also good to see another fan of Hunger Strike!

Haha, thanks, excellent performance by Pavarotti!

Thank you! I love the wild roses, amazing. Also great to see that powerful version of Phantom of the Opera.

Thank you! Great stuff! I’m actually a huge fan of Chris Cornell but had not heard this one! Goosebumps! Here is another fantastic duet with Cornell and Eddie Vedder:

Temple of the Dog https://youtu.be/VUb450Alpps

Beautiful! Everything looks absolutely delicious!