The Great Books! ( And What Are You Currently Reading? )

[Imperium]

The first four books on your list. What do you think of them khan? I read and liked the first ender book (which was so amazing as to leave me speechless), but when i tried to read more it just did not grab me in the same way. Dune, I never understood the fuss I ended up dropping it as I really didnt enjoy it much (coincidently something that continued happening with every scifi book I read up until I picked up Enders game). I've heard of foundation and its rave reviews and I was thinking about reading that but after reading Dune, I did kinda go off scifi for a while. Do you like it? Are you a big fan of WoT?

[HegemonKhan]

Important Note:

I read these quite a long time ago, so unfortunately, my memory is very sketchy at best, sighs. My apologies, if you had asked me this years and years ago... oh man, I could retell/summarize the entire stories of all 4 of these epic series down to the most miniscule of details, hehe, lol. But, now anymore, sighs.

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I love those four book series!

Dune is very sci-fi, but you need to enjoy that sci-fi stuff, and to give it patience, as it's really epic. But, it's certainly not for everyone.

it's about this "spice" that can allow humans to see and shape the future and travel through space and whatever else, breeding superhumans and using sex to switch on godlike genes, passing on experiences/knowledge down the generations so that the females (and the male protagonist's) lineage has the souls and experiences of their entire family tree lineage, and about preserving/saving this superhuman race as the "spice" runs out, and etc..

Ender series is absolutely awesome! how could you not like the next book after Ender's Game, Speaker for the Dead??? J/K, kinda... Ender is just amazing! hehe. but, again it is very sci-fi and "human behavioristic", so its not for everyone. I just don't see how you can like Ender's Game but not the rest of the books as they take Ender's Game beyond to the world, for total epicness. I really need to finish reading the books, especially the one with Peter...

Foundation is absolutely epic as well, but again it's sci-fi and "human behaviorioristic".

all of these are sooo epic... though they're not for everyone as they are very sci-fi and "big idea/concepts" that can be very difficult to understand and enjoy. Some of them can be a bit slow-lull periods, but than they get sooo awesome...

if you like LotR, than as a reviewer had said paraphrasingly:

"LotR opened the door to the world of fantasy, but WoT *IS* that world of fantasy beyond the doorwar".

let's just say that WoT is absolutely EPICNESS... and unlike LotR, women play a major role in it, hehe. The characters are soo awesome and there's so many of them too. Oh, and the women are hot and "heated"... RAWR... Faile (and her mother), Min, Elaine, and one of my favorites: Aviendha the Wise One and Far Deis Mai (Maiden of the Spear) of the Dragon Broken of the Aiel Waste, her "Dance" is that of death as it is a "Dance" of her spear, Balsa and her mentor (from anime/manga) would get pwned by Aviendha, hehe. Ilyena Sunhair and Lanfear. The Chosen/Forsaken. Aes Sedai. Mat Cathon. Perrin Aybara. Lan. Egwinne. Morianne. Shadar Huran (the Hand of the Dark One). Shiatan (the Dark One=evil god). Rand al' Thor the Dragon Reborn. Lews Therin Kinslayer the Dragon Reborn. The Daughter of the Nine Moons. and etc... trollocs. Telamon Gaiden (the final battle). Tel'varin ("magnets of events of destiny/fate, and of women!"). and etc... A fantasy world that deals with time, past, present, and future, and intertwined. A "normal" medieval-like fantasy time period. An age of great magicks and wars. Balefire. An an ancient but technological-magical advanced age with "Shock lancers". hehe.

Poor Birgitte is magically bonded with Elaine, so that they both feel/experience what the other is. Well, Elaine is the only girl who hasn't done it with Rand yet, so when he finally arrives, she goes right at it/him... well poor Birgitte is walking down the hallway in this exact moment... Birgitte is barely able to walk and stand upright... as she feels... hehe... it's really funny!!!...]

A Quote from WoT:

"There can be no health in us, nor any good thing grow, for the land is one with the Dragon Reborn, and he is one with the land. Soul of fire, heart of stone, in pride he conquers, forcing the proud to yield. He calls upon the mountains to kneel, and the seas to give way, and the very skies to bow. Pray that the heart of stone remembers tears, and the soul of fire, love." -WoT by R.J.

"Weep for your Salvation; to save the world, the Dragon Reborn must break the world."

"Jackdaw fool, let the lord of chaos, rule!"

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"Give a book patience, and it'll reward you!" - HK

[RaveDragon]

Books are fun i've read many great ones;
Harry Potter -J.K Rowling, we all know this one =D

James patterson is a great writer will be reading more from him, I've read Sail one of his thrillers, and i'm currently reading Maximum ride which is a fun series, thriller again aimed for teens.

Paolo Coelho is a genius i just loved The Alchemist and i want to read badly Veronika wants to die! the pilgrimage was interesting but a bit boring.

For vampire series but this is more likely for girls The House of Night series by P.C Cast id quite an interesting new approach on the genre ^^
Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer had potential but i dont know what happened :/

Last but not least I need werewolf stories i love werewolves but the only cool series i managed to find was The wereling trilogy by steve cole (still need to read the last installment which i cant find!)

The Inheretance cycle by Paolini is very imaginative and exciting cant wait for the last installment

The shapeshifter is also a very nice read by Ali Sparkes will have to reread it but its fun, no romance (you can come up to your own conclusions though) though very adventurous ^^

Last but not least Dianna Wynne Jones is an amazing author, Howl's Moving Castle is a masterpiece!

[Zeltrax]

Anyone here that has read Norwegian wood can explain the ending to me? The entire story was okay, but I felt that it was overrated. Half of the time I had no idea what the story is doing.

[RaveDragon]

I havent read that but if no one can explain it you you you can try to find it on wikipedia or another informaton site, when i'm lost on a book ive just read and cant still understand it after rereading it again i find it on wiki or something it usually helps,

btw if anyone knows about some cool awesome werewolf story pls tell me xD

[HegemonKhan]

Twilight... it seems to be very popular with girls... (vampires+werewolves story), I hadn't read/watched it yet myself, lol. I'm more of a Hellsing and Underworld (1st one only) fan

Harry Potter does has a small werewolf section within it... but it's obviously not about werewolves at all.

other than that, I too am not aware of any good werewolf stories/books . I also am quite interested if anyone does know of some good ones, hehe, as I love werewolves (and vampires)

for American movies:

Blood an Chocolate, though I thought it was awful! But, maybe you'd like it:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0397044/

Underworld (1-3, with a 4th one coming)

Underworld (generally): http://www.imdb.com/find?s=all&q=underworld

Underworld (1): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0320691/

Underworld: Evolution (2): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0401855/

(prequal to Underworld 1) Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (3): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0834001/

Underworld: New Dawn (4): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1496025/

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I have some recommendations, but they're not books

American Movies:

Underworld series, there's 3 of them so far, with a 4th coming out sometime. The 1st was very good, but the other two... ughn... though they get more into the werewolf story, hehe.

lots of manga/animes too:

and if you like wolves... though it's *not* werewolves, I'd suggest Wolf's Rain, as it's quite awesome

[RaveDragon]

Twilight... it seems to be very popular with girls... (vampires+werewolves story), I hadn't read/watched it yet myself, lol. I'm more of a Hellsing and Underworld (1st one only) fan

Harry Potter does has a small werewolf section within it... but it's obviously not about werewolves at all.

other than that, I too am not aware of any good werewolf stories/books . I also am quite interested if anyone does know of some good ones, hehe, as I love werewolves (and vampires)

for American movies:

Blood an Chocolate, though I thought it was awful! But, maybe you'd like it:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0397044/

Underworld (1-3, with a 4th one coming)

Underworld (generally): http://www.imdb.com/find?s=all&q=underworld

Underworld (1): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0320691/

Underworld: Evolution (2): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0401855/

(prequal to Underworld 1) Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (3): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0834001/

Underworld: New Dawn (4): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1496025/

-------------------------------

I have some recommendations, but they're not books

American Movies:

Underworld series, there's 3 of them so far, with a 4th coming out sometime. The 1st was very good, but the other two... ughn... though they get more into the werewolf story, hehe.

lots of manga/animes too:

and if you like wolves... though it's *not* werewolves, I'd suggest Wolf's Rain, as it's quite awesome

I never said i LIKED it what i do like is the idea twilight had potential we can admit that it however was poorly written :S

Wolf's Rain i newer watched it but i am planning too! sound awesome ^^

Thanks for the rest i will see them, blood and chocolate ive heard about it but doesn't seem like much :/

P.S i adore wolves they're my fav. animal!

[HegemonKhan]

my apologizes, as that was jsut a general statement by me about girls in my country, the U.S., as Twilight seems to be a big rave among the young teenage girls here.

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(you have to be a bit patient though, as the first few episodes might seem a bit boring or uninteresting... but it gets much much better, with an absolutely incredible and original story!)

Wolf's Rain is really really awesome! It is *THEE* wolf source... you really get to know and understand "wolf culture and values" from it, hehe. Beautiful animation of them running too... I'm sure Kiba is hot to girls, hehe. As a wolf, he's the beautiful white wolf, protagonist/main character, hehe Though maybe you'd like Darcia or hige or Tomoe or whoever, hehe. I like Blue, as she's the female wolf (an actual bitch, the word/name for female wolves), but I'd have to fight for her with Hige, as she likes him, lol Well, Cheza is sooo cute as well along with many other female characters in it, hehe. Harmona and Jagara, and that blond human girl, forgot her name though

it's a long anime series though, ~50 episodes (if I remember correctly), but it has an incredible story! So original and incredible!

The Wolves are magical super wolves (they can regenerate, super wolf-lol strength, change into human forms, and etc) and they along with the white flower (Cheza) act as like gatekeepers/angels to Paradise. The setting is very sci-fi, set in an apolcayptic world, from the advanced Nobles (with starships and super advanced technology) used the wolves and the white flower, to try to get to paradise, and their wars with each otehr towards trying to get to Paradise resulted in the apocalyptic world, and the seeming extinction of the wolves... except.. the Legend of the Red Moon, their "bible-like ancient-forbidden book foretelling of this ancient legend and returning fate", is coming true again... *grins*

------------------------------

well since you're interested in wolves and not just werewolves, than I got some more recommendations, for books:

Call of the Wild by Jack London (it's very emotional though, happy and very sad,... and gruesome...)

Never Cry Wolf by Farley Mowat (he's a scientist who studied wolves due to a complaint of disappearing carabou in Canada, and its really good. One of its funny scenes: Farley Mowat goes around and pees in a square territory, and the wolves respect his "wolf territory" not entering past his urine markings, lol)

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls (its about dogs, a kid and his two dogs, Big Dan and Little Ann. It is absolutely incredible, one of the best books eva!... extremely emotional as well; happy, sad, and very ....gruesome and uber sad.... at the...e... I cried soo much... I don't want to spoil...hehe)

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I love dogs/wolves too! So, you're awesome! hehe. Wolf-fans are the best!

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An awesome site that I like (about the Mongols), but it has this page about wolves, which I really like as well:

http://www.coldsiberia.org/sibirwlf.htm

.

[baboysai]

@Zeltrax, I haven't read Norwegian Wood, but I do love Haruki Murakami, even if I've only read one of his works: Hard-boiled wonderland and the end of the world. I think he's an awesome writer.

I'm planning to read Norwegian Wood before I watch the movie. ^^

[cracker]

Twilight... it seems to be very popular with girls... (vampires+werewolves story), I hadn't read/watched it yet myself, lol. I'm more of a Hellsing and Underworld (1st one only) fan

Harry Potter does has a small werewolf section within it... but it's obviously not about werewolves at all.

other than that, I too am not aware of any good werewolf stories/books . I also am quite interested if anyone does know of some good ones, hehe, as I love werewolves (and vampires)

for American movies:

Blood an Chocolate, though I thought it was awful! But, maybe you'd like it:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0397044/

Underworld (1-3, with a 4th one coming)

Underworld (generally): http://www.imdb.com/find?s=all&q=underworld

Underworld (1): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0320691/

Underworld: Evolution (2): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0401855/

(prequal to Underworld 1) Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (3): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0834001/

Underworld: New Dawn (4): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1496025/

-------------------------------

I have some recommendations, but they're not books

American Movies:

Underworld series, there's 3 of them so far, with a 4th coming out sometime. The 1st was very good, but the other two... ughn... though they get more into the werewolf story, hehe.

lots of manga/animes too:

and if you like wolves... though it's *not* werewolves, I'd suggest Wolf's Rain, as it's quite awesome

Werewolves are cool but its really hard to find good fiction on them...some recommendations

Cycle of the Werewolf By Stephen king
The Talisman by Stephen king
Werewolf of Paris by Guy Endore
Darker Than You Think Jack Williamson

[RaveDragon]

my apologizes, as that was jsut a general statement by me about girls in my country, the U.S., as Twilight seems to be a big rave among the young teenage girls here.

-------------

(you have to be a bit patient though, as the first few episodes might seem a bit boring or uninteresting... but it gets much much better, with an absolutely incredible and original story!)

Wolf's Rain is really really awesome! It is *THEE* wolf source... you really get to know and understand "wolf culture and values" from it, hehe. Beautiful animation of them running too... I'm sure Kiba is hot to girls, hehe. As a wolf, he's the beautiful white wolf, protagonist/main character, hehe Though maybe you'd like Darcia or hige or Tomoe or whoever, hehe. I like Blue, as she's the female wolf (an actual bitch, the word/name for female wolves), but I'd have to fight for her with Hige, as she likes him, lol Well, Cheza is sooo cute as well along with many other female characters in it, hehe. Harmona and Jagara, and that blond human girl, forgot her name though

it's a long anime series though, ~50 episodes (if I remember correctly), but it has an incredible story! So original and incredible!

The Wolves are magical super wolves (they can regenerate, super wolf-lol strength, change into human forms, and etc) and they along with the white flower (Cheza) act as like gatekeepers/angels to Paradise. The setting is very sci-fi, set in an apolcayptic world, from the advanced Nobles (with starships and super advanced technology) used the wolves and the white flower, to try to get to paradise, and their wars with each otehr towards trying to get to Paradise resulted in the apocalyptic world, and the seeming extinction of the wolves... except.. the Legend of the Red Moon, their "bible-like ancient-forbidden book foretelling of this ancient legend and returning fate", is coming true again... *grins*

------------------------------

well since you're interested in wolves and not just werewolves, than I got some more recommendations, for books:

Call of the Wild by Jack London (it's very emotional though, happy and very sad,... and gruesome...)

Never Cry Wolf by Farley Mowat (he's a scientist who studied wolves due to a complaint of disappearing carabou in Canada, and its really good. One of its funny scenes: Farley Mowat goes around and pees in a square territory, and the wolves respect his "wolf territory" not entering past his urine markings, lol)

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls (its about dogs, a kid and his two dogs, Big Dan and Little Ann. It is absolutely incredible, one of the best books eva!... extremely emotional as well; happy, sad, and very ....gruesome and uber sad.... at the...e... I cried soo much... I don't want to spoil...hehe)

-----------------------------------------------------

I love dogs/wolves too! So, you're awesome! hehe. Wolf-fans are the best!

--------------------------------------------

An awesome site that I like (about the Mongols), but it has this page about wolves, which I really like as well:

http://www.coldsiberia.org/sibirwlf.htm

.

Sounds awesome, i saw some amvs on wolf rain, blue is among my favs cuz of her side story shall have to watch it though now cuz you got me sooo curious, kiba is awesome in his wolf and non wolf form =P yes he is hot =P too bad hes just an anime character xD

Call of the wild is one of my favs reads xD i loved it! i got it from my school library though might have to buy it or find it again as the story was so good but i only remember snippets now ><

Thanks so much!
WOLFS FTW aye? xD >< xP

Where the Red Fern Grows is on my list already haha good to know its good ill check out the other one thank you so much!

[HegemonKhan]

I can't stress enough about:

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

it's truly oooohhhh sooooooo wonderful... it's "breathtaking!", seriously, you'll be fallen in love with it! You'll hold it forever against your heart, when you're awake when you're asleep, you'll always be holding it against your heart, hehe

You'll probably like it even better than Call of the Wild, *grins*, it's THAT UBER GOOD!

it's a MUST READ for animal/pet and especially dog lovers!

and those who aren't... it'll make you into one!

[baboysai]

Hmm, speaking of dogs,

I wonder if you guys ever read "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time"?

It's a really cute book, since it's a book that's written in the person of an autistic child. Not in actuality, but supposedly from his point of view..

[RaveDragon]

I can't stress enough about:

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

it's truly oooohhhh sooooooo wonderful... it's "breathtaking!", seriously, you'll be fallen in love with it! You'll hold it forever against your heart, when you're awake when you're asleep, you'll always be holding it against your heart, hehe

You'll probably like it even better than Call of the Wild, *grins*, it's THAT UBER GOOD!

it's a MUST READ for animal/pet and especially dog lovers!

and those who aren't... it'll make you into one!

Awesome shall be looking forward to it!!! to be even better than Call of the Wild! Have you read White Fang? I loved it even more than call of the wild! it was an amazingly emotional read on a wolf-dog hybrid, there are films too but nothing compared to the book!

Btw i read that page on the Mongolian wolfs it was really interesting, they're truly magnificent animals and very intelligent arent they! I love them so much!!

[HegemonKhan]

Hmm, speaking of dogs,

I wonder if you guys ever read "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time"?

It's a really cute book, since it's a book that's written in the person of an autistic child. Not in actuality, but supposedly from his point of view..

thanks baboysai, I'll definately check this out sometime when I got time to leisurely read again...

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I haven't read the book, but I watched the (disney?) movie of White Fang, which was really good at the time I watched it (as a kid), though I saw WF2 (later on, as an adult) and it sucked, lol.

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about Where the Red Fern Grows:

Big Dan and Little Ann (the dogs, hehe) are suuuuchhhh a cuuuuuuteeee couple, seriously dogs know how to truly LOVE someone else!

You WILL CRY! Tears of happiness and Tears of sadness, like you have never known! Well, I did anyways *blush*

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Iron Will (I saw as a movie though, not sure if it's a book too) is another great... movie... lol

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110157/ and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Will

it's about a race of sledding dogs... and... I won't spoil the ending...

The spoiler ending is truly a heart bursting spoiler ending!

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hehe, someone, actually read that, yay! The rest of the site is great too, about the Mongols, as they're quite fascinating as well, hehe. But, Mongol history, culture, and etc... isn't for everyone, lol

(the Mongol women section is a fun read though, laughs. Unless, it's been changed since last I read it. When I read it, it talked about this girl who physically pwned all these males who wanted her as a wife/mate, hehe)

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Have you seen shows of that english guy, don't know his name, on TV, who lives with wolves. I saw a new show teaser where he's now infusing his new wife into the pack, but it hasn't been on since... they're making it into a DVD series (for money obviously - So, I'm waiting to buy it lol). but in this "teaser" show, he's trying to infuse his new wife (get his wife accepted) into the pack, and so the alpha-male wolf is testing her mental strength, climbing up on her (~100-150 lbs) shoulders and having her neck between its teeth too, to see if she is mentally/emotionally fit/strong to be in the pack (if his wife will freak out or not), and the guy started to freak out quickly as it was his wife just cm's away from death even though he knew and briefed her that this is exactly what would happen, and he goes into the pen to end it. The wife passes anyways, and she eventually is allowed to be the wet-nurse/nanny for the alpha-females newborn cubs by the alpha-female.

anyways, it was sooo cool and "on the edge", hehe

but despite all what seems to us to be dangerous and "wild"/chaotic, the wolves DO have an extremely complex social structure and the guy is able to understand it perfectly, allowing his wife to not only survive it, but to be successful and integrity into the pack, into a role that could never be documented before, the alpha-female's world of (using another to) raise/nurse her cubs (a human female too).

and the wife was using a bottle for the nursing... for any of you who have a perverted mind like me

(anyways, I am so going to order buy it when it comes out!)

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about animal intelligence:

there was a "recent" show, well now its been some time, that talked about our new knowledge/awareness of animal intelligence:

animals fully understand the concept of deception

If you have dogs, you should be fully aware of this!

As long as you're paying attention (and a dog understands that you use sight/eyes), the dog acts all innocent and won't do anything bad... but as soon as you close your eyes or look away (and after some time passes, as the dog is making sure), the dog knows it's now free to do what it wasn't suppose to do, such as steal food...!

the same is seen with other animals too. One scientist would face the food in front of them and these monkeys/apes would not take the food. the experiment is done again, and the human scientist would face away from the food, and the monkey/ape would take the food.

(in hindsight, the scientists realize how obvious it is that animals truly understand the full concept of deception, and its not merely an instinctual behavior by them. As in the wild, they have to know deception in order to survive. Let's say you got a bunch of monkeys in a group. Well, if you can successfully steal food from the other monkeys and they never know it, that's very advantageous, as if you were to get caught, they'd mob-murder you or banish/exile you from the group. And then with all that stolen food, you can go up to that hot female monkey and show her that you can provide for her and your+her now-soon-to-come-baby-monkeys-hehe, like no other male monkey and you get to mate with her, whereas every other monkey has failed to do so, giving you the Nat. Sel. edge of being selected as a mate by her over the other male monkeys)

(which is exactly the same behavior in humans, human females *DO* desire a male who can provide, and that means wealth/money, which means that male human has to be able to make more money than other males can. I can't compete with Bill Gates, as he is far dominant to me in acquiring wealth, the ability to provide for female humans. Wealth is a MAJOR factor of a successful relationship vs an unsuccessful relationship-divorce in humans)

oohh... almost forgot... an experiment was done... and these monkeys/apes literally understand the mathematical concept and principles of economics just as we do! I forgot what exactly was the experiment but I think it involved opportunity costs/bartering, not getting ripped off-lol/understanding values-amounts, and other such basic economic principles that we had previously thought only humans were capable of understanding.

there's this female dog (at least I think the female animal was a dog), that has like 1,000 stuffed animal toys in its "toy room", and knows them ALL by verbal name! the human trainer-scientist says get the purple giraffe and the dogs gets it (and can find it, lol) !!!

but, what was even further amazing... the human trainer-scientist, hid a new stuffed animal into its "toy room" with 1,000 stuffed animals in there, and asked the dog to find the new stuffed animal by verbal description, and the female dog was able to (quickly too)!

(I soooooo need that dog.... with how messy my house+room is and with trying to find my stuff !!!!! LOLOLOLOL)

lastly, they discovered this with some animals as well:

self-awareness (using the dolphin's experiment)

the dolphin trainers/scientists placed a mirror into its tank, and the dolphin would curiously go look at it.

first the dolphin thought it was another dolphin, and tried to get its attention. but, it realized something more was going on. it would then discover the mirror and try to look around/behind it, realizing the mirror's doplhin as a reflection, understanding the concept of a reflection, that it was able to see itself. Suddenly the dolphin starts examining itself, and trying out things (like how it looks when doing things, such as like how guys and girls practice for their first date or in trying to impress or talk to the other gender)

than, to make absolutely sure, the scientists/trainers called the dolphin and they like drew a design on the dolphin making sure the dolphin felt it, as soon as they were done the dolphin immeditately went to the mirror and turned to see what those humans had done to it, at how it looked!

also, the dolphin would go to the mirror and see how cute/attractive it was, like how girls will do with their bodies+clothes+make-up+hairsytles and guys too with their stuff. Trying different things, for a male dolphin: "hmm, do I look more cute, for getting female dolphins, if I do 1 roll to the left and then 2 rolls to the right, or if I do a front roll and than a back role"

etc.. etc...