Scan barcode
minisaucisse's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
1.0
Sometimes he sais interesting things. Other times he sais racist things, boring things, he glamorises poverty or hates the poor.
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism
cooper_michael's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
willardk's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. I finished this book a lot faster than Naked Lunch. And, most importantly, I liked it a whole lot better.
I was reading other reviews, and I just have to say I blew those guys out of the water with my perfect setting to read Walden at: on the dock looking out at Bear Pond in Maine, with loon calls echoing in the background and the sun setting. I'd definitely say this setting heightened my reading experience, which is probably why I gave this book five stars instead of four. But Walden was good. That's the real reason why I gave it five stars.
This wasn't a novel, and I went in expecting that. But I started to care about Thoreau like I did the other characters in all of Charlie's other books. Don't get me wrong--Thoreau annoyed me at times. The fact that he listed the official Latin genus names for all the animals and plants was highly irritating, and his comments about the gods idolizing him were pretentious to say the least. But I cared about his sojourn. I cared that he decided to go into the woods. True, town was very close and his constantly had visitors, but I liked the thought behind going to Walden. Good job, Thoreau. (Not that you need another compliment.)
Also, I'd like to take the time to reflect upon this personally. Last year, I went to Colorado. The short version is I didn't like it. Outward Bound is not my style and the kids athletic and all-American--so not me. There was a solo night, which means we went away from camp at the base of this mountain and sat alone under a tree for the night. I thought it'd be freaky, but that was the most enjoyable part of the whole week for me. I wrote, I drew, and I thought a lot. And I wrote this piece in the form of a letter, in which I contemplated over whether this was my Walden or not. I was leaning toward no, because I didn't feel anything. Mostly, I enjoyed being away from everything/everyone else.
But now things are different. If I had read Walden that summer, I probably would have barfed, because it represented how going into the woods is actually supposed to be a good time. I hate things that promote that, even now. But this summer I had a new perspective. It was more about the calm for me, the change. I looked into the spiritual and philosophical side more than the outdoorsy side. I especially loved when, toward the end, Thoreau made this comment like (and I'm just paraphrasing), "I came here for the exact reason I left." He knew things had to move on. He couldn't just sit in that house forever. And I couldn't just think about how hard this year is going to be. I just had to trust things are changing and life is moving on. I go to college next year, but at least I can take this book and this experience with me.
I was reading other reviews, and I just have to say I blew those guys out of the water with my perfect setting to read Walden at: on the dock looking out at Bear Pond in Maine, with loon calls echoing in the background and the sun setting. I'd definitely say this setting heightened my reading experience, which is probably why I gave this book five stars instead of four. But Walden was good. That's the real reason why I gave it five stars.
This wasn't a novel, and I went in expecting that. But I started to care about Thoreau like I did the other characters in all of Charlie's other books. Don't get me wrong--Thoreau annoyed me at times. The fact that he listed the official Latin genus names for all the animals and plants was highly irritating, and his comments about the gods idolizing him were pretentious to say the least. But I cared about his sojourn. I cared that he decided to go into the woods. True, town was very close and his constantly had visitors, but I liked the thought behind going to Walden. Good job, Thoreau. (Not that you need another compliment.)
Also, I'd like to take the time to reflect upon this personally. Last year, I went to Colorado. The short version is I didn't like it. Outward Bound is not my style and the kids athletic and all-American--so not me. There was a solo night, which means we went away from camp at the base of this mountain and sat alone under a tree for the night. I thought it'd be freaky, but that was the most enjoyable part of the whole week for me. I wrote, I drew, and I thought a lot. And I wrote this piece in the form of a letter, in which I contemplated over whether this was my Walden or not. I was leaning toward no, because I didn't feel anything. Mostly, I enjoyed being away from everything/everyone else.
But now things are different. If I had read Walden that summer, I probably would have barfed, because it represented how going into the woods is actually supposed to be a good time. I hate things that promote that, even now. But this summer I had a new perspective. It was more about the calm for me, the change. I looked into the spiritual and philosophical side more than the outdoorsy side. I especially loved when, toward the end, Thoreau made this comment like (and I'm just paraphrasing), "I came here for the exact reason I left." He knew things had to move on. He couldn't just sit in that house forever. And I couldn't just think about how hard this year is going to be. I just had to trust things are changing and life is moving on. I go to college next year, but at least I can take this book and this experience with me.
vverbatim7's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
tinydumptruck's review against another edition
3.75
Really like the spring excerpt, his philosophy was fine. Civil disobedience is hilarious because it’s about tax evasion.