Who's reading what?
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camus
- Perspicacious Poster
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Room to Dream by David Lynch and Kristine McKenna.
A hybrid biography. An interesting approach where McKenna writes a chapter then Lynch answers or corrects it in the next chapter, or at least that's how I'm reading it?
What lies beyond that white picket fence?
A hybrid biography. An interesting approach where McKenna writes a chapter then Lynch answers or corrects it in the next chapter, or at least that's how I'm reading it?
What lies beyond that white picket fence?
http://www.closetpoet.co.uk
These Silent Mansions by Jean Sprakland. Who knew that graves could be so interesting?
Tony
Tony
Counting the beats,
Counting the slow heart beats,
The bleeding to death of time in slow heart beats,
Wakeful they lie.
Robert Graves
Counting the slow heart beats,
The bleeding to death of time in slow heart beats,
Wakeful they lie.
Robert Graves
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. Predictable territory on totalitarianism, control and identity and survival, but I enjoyed the writing style (particularly imaginative description of flowers!) I don't watch much TV so haven't seen the televised version.
The hundred-year-old man who climbed out of the window and disappeared by Jonas Jonasson.
Some positive vibes, amusing in a dry way, with an engaging narrative that page turns. A spectrum of soft-heartedness, sometimes a bit too much Forest Gump sentiment, to a darker satire (the nuclear weapon thread I don't find amusing given the reality). The book is a translation from Swedish, but the translator has delivered an engaging laid-back style.
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
I was lent this book, started reading and realized I read before (if I kindle read then I tend not to remember author/title). The book was worth a revisit, sort of, though the intentional agenda to be life-positive gets laboured at times. The device of visiting parallel lives in parallel universes made the read episodic, but did nudge this reader to 'what if' in the world of action/consequences.
A Rising Man by Abir Mukherjee
One of my favourite genres is detective fiction set in historical times. This one was set in 1919 India, very much a narrative filtered through a colonial perspective, but did deliver a sense of time and place (which I feel the writer was more interested in rather than the crime plot). Indeed, wasn't convinced the writer had a grasp of the crime genre or policing procedure, the concluding chapters on who done what felt rushed, but I feel his real interest was to learn about the colonial past. I think the author did give some insight on the corruption and prejudices of Empire
A Country Doctor by Franz Kafka .
Most scary read during July.
Some positive vibes, amusing in a dry way, with an engaging narrative that page turns. A spectrum of soft-heartedness, sometimes a bit too much Forest Gump sentiment, to a darker satire (the nuclear weapon thread I don't find amusing given the reality). The book is a translation from Swedish, but the translator has delivered an engaging laid-back style.
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
I was lent this book, started reading and realized I read before (if I kindle read then I tend not to remember author/title). The book was worth a revisit, sort of, though the intentional agenda to be life-positive gets laboured at times. The device of visiting parallel lives in parallel universes made the read episodic, but did nudge this reader to 'what if' in the world of action/consequences.
A Rising Man by Abir Mukherjee
One of my favourite genres is detective fiction set in historical times. This one was set in 1919 India, very much a narrative filtered through a colonial perspective, but did deliver a sense of time and place (which I feel the writer was more interested in rather than the crime plot). Indeed, wasn't convinced the writer had a grasp of the crime genre or policing procedure, the concluding chapters on who done what felt rushed, but I feel his real interest was to learn about the colonial past. I think the author did give some insight on the corruption and prejudices of Empire
A Country Doctor by Franz Kafka .
Most scary read during July.
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camus
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Finally finished 'Blood Meridian'
It was a trial in many ways, but ultimately rewarding, I think?
I'm going to continue my exploration of the classics with probably the ultimate classic - Moby Dick.
Had anyone actually read this novel, moreover finished it?
It was a trial in many ways, but ultimately rewarding, I think?
I'm going to continue my exploration of the classics with probably the ultimate classic - Moby Dick.
Had anyone actually read this novel, moreover finished it?
http://www.closetpoet.co.uk
Read the book a long time ago, but don't remember much. Revisited last weekend before visitors arrived to fill my days for this week. Enjoyed the first fifty pages, Ishmael's self-justifications and his interactions with Queequeg. Will read some more this weekend. Vaguely remember that some of the book gets slowed down by details on whaling, but I'll skim those if they prove boring.
Diverted this week from Moby Dick. Ended up reading 'All The Pretty Horses' by Cormac McCarthy. Enjoyed the reticence, a nod to those who are honest enough not to articulate justifications for their compulsions. Narrative doesn't dawdle or digress.
'Finished' Moby Dick. I found it far too digressive from the main narrative and skimmed most of those digressions. I guess I have zero empathy for those involved in killing whales.
Just finished 'We Begin At The End' by Chris Whitaker. I can recommend this one with prose similar to Cormac McCarthy and the fact some of the story is set in Montana. It has flaws, not buying into such an insightful teenager, but I took my time with the read because I didn't want to miss any of those insights.
Just finished 'We Begin At The End' by Chris Whitaker. I can recommend this one with prose similar to Cormac McCarthy and the fact some of the story is set in Montana. It has flaws, not buying into such an insightful teenager, but I took my time with the read because I didn't want to miss any of those insights.
Hi Phil, I tried to read Moby Dick years ago but couldn't get past all the digressions and gave up on it. I think I like Melville's stories and poems better than his novels.
The Maldive Shark
About the Shark, phlegmatical one,
Pale sot of the Maldive sea,
The sleek little pilot-fish, azure and slim,
How alert in attendance be.
From his saw-pit of mouth, from his charnel of maw
They have nothing of harm to dread,
But liquidly glide on his ghastly flank
Or before his Gorgonian head;
Or lurk in the port of serrated teeth
In white triple tiers of glittering gates,
And there find a haven when peril’s abroad,
An asylum in jaws of the Fates!
They are friends; and friendly they guide him to prey,
Yet never partake of the treat—
Eyes and brains to the dotard lethargic and dull,
Pale ravener of horrible meat.
Herman Melville
Reminds me of Lewis Carroll.
Jim
The Maldive Shark
About the Shark, phlegmatical one,
Pale sot of the Maldive sea,
The sleek little pilot-fish, azure and slim,
How alert in attendance be.
From his saw-pit of mouth, from his charnel of maw
They have nothing of harm to dread,
But liquidly glide on his ghastly flank
Or before his Gorgonian head;
Or lurk in the port of serrated teeth
In white triple tiers of glittering gates,
And there find a haven when peril’s abroad,
An asylum in jaws of the Fates!
They are friends; and friendly they guide him to prey,
Yet never partake of the treat—
Eyes and brains to the dotard lethargic and dull,
Pale ravener of horrible meat.
Herman Melville
Reminds me of Lewis Carroll.
Jim
Thanks for sharing Jim. Enjoyable poem, I particularly like the 'pale ravener' and ' charnel of maw'.He definitely had a sense of humour, the relationship between Ishmael and Queequeg in the opening of Moby Dick is proof. I'll add the short stories to my next reading batch (I have a few books to finish first, including a revisit to one of my favourites, 'Bleak House'.
Babel by R.F.Kuang
I found some of the devices used, such as an exploration of word origin and the challenges of translation, a real hook. The 'black and white' characterization was ludicrous, all the 'white' skin villains were one-dimensional. The central theme of colonization and exploitation was simplistic. Perhaps it was aimed at the teenage fiction market. However, it is a book that provokes thought, despite the lack of nuance.
A balanced viewpoint!Customers find the book thought-provoking, intellectual, and beautiful. They describe it as stunning, imaginative, and riveting. However, some find the story boring, underwhelming, and silly. They also mention the pacing is slow and the story telling feels clunky. Opinions are mixed on the plot, writing style, and character development.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
I found some of the devices used, such as an exploration of word origin and the challenges of translation, a real hook. The 'black and white' characterization was ludicrous, all the 'white' skin villains were one-dimensional. The central theme of colonization and exploitation was simplistic. Perhaps it was aimed at the teenage fiction market. However, it is a book that provokes thought, despite the lack of nuance.
The Testaments - Margaret Atwood
The sequel to The Handmaid's Tale, which I was intending to avoid, but found it in my local library and couldn't resist. It does give a conclusion to the story, and the 'witness' statements have some wit, but the characterisations did not feel particularly real. However, readable and insightful, especially in the context of an increasingly totalitarian world.
The sequel to The Handmaid's Tale, which I was intending to avoid, but found it in my local library and couldn't resist. It does give a conclusion to the story, and the 'witness' statements have some wit, but the characterisations did not feel particularly real. However, readable and insightful, especially in the context of an increasingly totalitarian world.