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25 reviews
Cannery Row by John Steinbeck
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Steinbeck doesnt just comprise a major part of the American canon. He is the canon.
Absolutely loved this, I dont think there is another author that could write this book. Its not about the conclusion, its about the details and what happens in between. Its about the new elements that arise out of the marriage of each part of the community that refold into the community itself and create the unseen but universally understood culture.
The penultimate chapter about the gopher is an allegory for the entire premise of the novel. We dont get to pick our community, but without others heaven itself becomes its own hell.
I could read this for another 500 pages.
Absolutely loved this, I dont think there is another author that could write this book. Its not about the conclusion, its about the details and what happens in between. Its about the new elements that arise out of the marriage of each part of the community that refold into the community itself and create the unseen but universally understood culture.
The penultimate chapter about the gopher is an allegory for the entire premise of the novel. We dont get to pick our community, but without others heaven itself becomes its own hell.
I could read this for another 500 pages.
The Red Pony by John Steinbeck
emotional
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
3.0
Its not as good as East of Eden but comparing anything against that is an unfair shake.
Its good and I enjoyed reading it. Steinbecks skill is description and evocative tellings of the Salinas Valley are unmatched. The moment you return to his book he effortlessly transports your full 5 senses to the settings he writes in.
Its always a pleasure even if I wouldnt consider this his best work. Theres a lot of philosophical meat on the bone to think about in relations to growing up, childhood, life and death, realization of fallibility, and finding meaning in a cruel meaninglessness.
He really had me crying less than 40 pages in.
Its good and I enjoyed reading it. Steinbecks skill is description and evocative tellings of the Salinas Valley are unmatched. The moment you return to his book he effortlessly transports your full 5 senses to the settings he writes in.
Its always a pleasure even if I wouldnt consider this his best work. Theres a lot of philosophical meat on the bone to think about in relations to growing up, childhood, life and death, realization of fallibility, and finding meaning in a cruel meaninglessness.
He really had me crying less than 40 pages in.
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Wow.
Exhalation by Ted Chiang
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
Only the second short story collection ive read but this one was incredible.
Outside of a small lull in the middle that imo didnt measure up to the quality of the rest of the book, every single one of these stories was thought-provoking and like nothing ive ever read before. All but one of these stories made me just close the book and sit with them for a few minutes after completion.
They bring extremely unique perspectives to common sci-fi tropes and technology and dig deep into a lot of unanswerable consequences of pipedream technology. I found myself wondering both how someone comes op with the premises for these stories as well as how they explore them in such unique and unexpected ways
Outside of a small lull in the middle that imo didnt measure up to the quality of the rest of the book, every single one of these stories was thought-provoking and like nothing ive ever read before. All but one of these stories made me just close the book and sit with them for a few minutes after completion.
They bring extremely unique perspectives to common sci-fi tropes and technology and dig deep into a lot of unanswerable consequences of pipedream technology. I found myself wondering both how someone comes op with the premises for these stories as well as how they explore them in such unique and unexpected ways
The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
4.0
Like a warm hug
Player Piano by Kurt Vonnegut
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.0
The Butlerian Jihad by Kurt Vonnegut!
The primary thematic elements of the book have aged like fine wine. Humanity has such a deep seated desire for progress, growth, and innovation we will remove the need for humans to that end.
On the other hand due to the time period it was written in the gender politics and presentation of female characters is lacking and has not aged nearly as gracefully.
I loved this book for what it says about humanity. The same reason I love almost ever Vonnegut novel. He presents polished mirror for ourselves to look at. Our flaws, our triumphs, how they intertwine, and why that complete mess of contradictions that we are is so beautiful and worth caring about.
This novel so accurately portrays the working experience even 70 years after its publication. The corporate charade, the pretending, the cast of characters found all over the corporate world are so pristinely represented in a way that you cant help but laugh at, even while rolling your eyes with exasperation.
With all that praise deservedly earned if you have read his other novels like i have its very obvious this was his first. There are elements of his writing style and humor that he mastered to a sharper edge in his later novels that are certainly here, but not as refined. It also has pacing issues in the middle. The beginning is rocking, the middle starts to drag and can feel aimless at times, and then everything happens all at once in the last ~80 pages.
Regardless, I really enjoyed this!
The primary thematic elements of the book have aged like fine wine. Humanity has such a deep seated desire for progress, growth, and innovation we will remove the need for humans to that end.
On the other hand due to the time period it was written in the gender politics and presentation of female characters is lacking and has not aged nearly as gracefully.
I loved this book for what it says about humanity. The same reason I love almost ever Vonnegut novel. He presents polished mirror for ourselves to look at. Our flaws, our triumphs, how they intertwine, and why that complete mess of contradictions that we are is so beautiful and worth caring about.
This novel so accurately portrays the working experience even 70 years after its publication. The corporate charade, the pretending, the cast of characters found all over the corporate world are so pristinely represented in a way that you cant help but laugh at, even while rolling your eyes with exasperation.
With all that praise deservedly earned if you have read his other novels like i have its very obvious this was his first. There are elements of his writing style and humor that he mastered to a sharper edge in his later novels that are certainly here, but not as refined. It also has pacing issues in the middle. The beginning is rocking, the middle starts to drag and can feel aimless at times, and then everything happens all at once in the last ~80 pages.
Regardless, I really enjoyed this!
Children of Dune by Frank Herbert
challenging
slow-paced
3.5
Ohhhh so were getting freaky and esoteric with it
The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.5
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
Even in the thickest dark, there exists beauty. What a tragic novel.
This is my first Cormac McCarthy read and it did not disappoint. The devil is in the details. Every sentence a paragraph, and every paragraph a story. In just 287 it felt like a saga told in the most hauntingly beautiful and minimalistic prose. Both the horrors and triumph of humanity on full display. There are times I just read a single sentence over and over. Feeling the weight of it sink in deeper with each pass over.
I feel simultaneously empty and full.
This is my first Cormac McCarthy read and it did not disappoint. The devil is in the details. Every sentence a paragraph, and every paragraph a story. In just 287 it felt like a saga told in the most hauntingly beautiful and minimalistic prose. Both the horrors and triumph of humanity on full display. There are times I just read a single sentence over and over. Feeling the weight of it sink in deeper with each pass over.
I feel simultaneously empty and full.
Pity the Reader: On Writing with Style by Suzanne McConnell, Kurt Vonnegut
funny
informative
medium-paced
4.0
Likely wont hit for everyone, but it hit for me. I typically hate writing advice, especially online, so it was nice to feel like I took a self guided class on writing based on the contradictory and mostly useless advice of my favorite author.
I found lots of good stuff in here and will probably return to it over time
I found lots of good stuff in here and will probably return to it over time