Wendell Berry's fiction offers up a different kind of escapism; there are no spaceships or lasers or wizards. These are stories that, if I were to desWendell Berry's fiction offers up a different kind of escapism; there are no spaceships or lasers or wizards. These are stories that, if I were to describe them (an attorney trying to fulfill a will, an old man going for a walk in the woods and remembering things, children working in fields and messing around), would sound pretty mundane. And it probably seems odd to call something that's so entrenched in realism "escapism".
But the more I get involved in the modern world (the more days I spend at a desk and the fewer days I spend out in the woods or playing in a stream or whatever), the more I wish to escape to Berry's Port William, where you know everyone's family history and where, sure, there are problems and conflicts, but they're all manageable, and for the most part the people are good people. Wouldn't it be nice to be a member of that membership?...more
A wonderful coming of age novel that belongs on a bookshelf alongside To Kill a Mockingbird, The Catcher in the Rye, A Separate Peace, and Dandelion WA wonderful coming of age novel that belongs on a bookshelf alongside To Kill a Mockingbird, The Catcher in the Rye, A Separate Peace, and Dandelion Wine. ...more
I think that every Japanese book I've ever read has been about conformity or nonconformity. Is that because that's what the Japanese write about, or bI think that every Japanese book I've ever read has been about conformity or nonconformity. Is that because that's what the Japanese write about, or because that's what becomes popular and makes it to an English translation? The Factory and The Hole by Hiroko Oyamada, Convenience Store Woman and Earthlings by Sayaka Murata, Nipponia Nippon by Kazushige Abe, 1Q84 and Kafka on the Shore by Murakami, In the Miso Soup by the "other" Murakami, even The Woman in the Dunes by Kobo Abe... these are all books about characters transgressing from normal society and finding a path that is better suited for themselves.
That's taken to an extreme with Cult X, which is actually about two cults: one with a good (or relatively harmless) leader, and one with the epitome of evil at its head. Naturally, it focuses a bit more on the evil cult, and things get very, very dark. Thematically, this book roams all over the place. Conformity is top of mind, but it also goes into conspiracy theories, Japanese political history, particle physics, metaphysics, mysticism, the existence of god, and sexuality.
Despite its rough subject matter, it's an entertaining read. The plot moves quickly and there are plenty of twists, especially in the endgame. Some of it feels a bit ham-handed; this book pulls a strange trick in that it provides almost no character building in the front half of the book. For some reason, it waits until near the end to give characters backstory and motivations, so for the first half you're kind of just going on faith that the author will tie everything together and make it all make sense. ...more
Sometimes children's literature is the best literature. Somehow this is all at once a Dickensian tale of poverty, an education in early twentieth centSometimes children's literature is the best literature. Somehow this is all at once a Dickensian tale of poverty, an education in early twentieth century arts and technology, a saga of generational trauma, and a quest to uncover one's identity. Plus, it's got some beautiful art, incorporated in a novel way.
David Mitchell is great at setting up new plot threads and getting into the minds of new characters. That's what a lot of this book is: it's broken inDavid Mitchell is great at setting up new plot threads and getting into the minds of new characters. That's what a lot of this book is: it's broken into six or seven parts, each of which has a different perspective character. And for the two thirds of the book, you're sort of glancing off the edges of a big world and story, but you're just getting glimpses. That's where the book is at it's best, when it's a series of loosely connected character studies.
But then later it turns into a Doctor Strange-esque battle between good wizards and bad wizards. There's a lot of hokey fantasy jargon like one of the factions being named the "Anchorites of the Chapel of the Dusk of the Blind Cathar of the Thomasite Monastery of Sidelhorn Pass" who spend their time psychodecanting souls and psychoblasting enemies (I'm not joking.) Frankly, it gets corny and cheesy and cheapens the whole book. In my opinion.
5 stars for the good bits, 2 stars for the bad bits....more
A fun, silly take on X-Files with a great audiobook narration. This reminds me of the books I would read in late elementary school: Aliens for BreakfaA fun, silly take on X-Files with a great audiobook narration. This reminds me of the books I would read in late elementary school: Aliens for Breakfast or the Tim War Trio or something like that. ...more
This is such a perfect final book for Paul Auster. He's an author who has been hit or miss for me. The New York Trilogy was an awakening for me... likThis is such a perfect final book for Paul Auster. He's an author who has been hit or miss for me. The New York Trilogy was an awakening for me... like baby's first postmodern novel. 4�3�2� was a late career masterpiece, and Moon Palace was a Dickensian delight. On the other hand, Oracle Night felt as pretentious as Auster's haters say, and Mr. Vertigo was simply irritating.
This book, though, is an exquisitely and sensitively written novella about an old man reflecting on his life. There is very little plot; Baumgartner is an aged writer whose wife has died awhile back, and he lives a simple life, and memories pop up and occupy him for twenty or thirty pages at a time. It has one of the more real-feeling stream of consciousness styles; Baumgartner's brain works the way mine works.
There's also a lot of John Williams's Stoner in here. If you liked that, you're bound to like this one for sure....more
All those reviewers weren’t kidding when they called this book Dickensian. It’s certainly a nice, updated take on Dickens, with beautiful writing and All those reviewers weren’t kidding when they called this book Dickensian. It’s certainly a nice, updated take on Dickens, with beautiful writing and a protagonist who feels very true. It’s got wonderful commentary on art and art history.
I didn’t connect with this book on the same level as I did The Secret History, though. I was compelled by The Secret History, and still think about it regularly. By contrast, The Goldfinch felt a bit uneven, too long in some parts and not long enough in others. ...more
One of Scalzi's meatier books, it's a high concept sci-fi detective story about an FBI agent investigating a couple of murders surrounding a sport thaOne of Scalzi's meatier books, it's a high concept sci-fi detective story about an FBI agent investigating a couple of murders surrounding a sport that's played by people who are paralyzed in their own bodies, but control humanoid robots. Like most detective stories, I've already forgotten all of the twists and turns and if I pick up the next book in the series, I'll most likely be lost as to the particulars....more
Two things are true about this book. One: there's no way I wasn't going to buy it the second I heard of its existence. And two: there's no way I'd comTwo things are true about this book. One: there's no way I wasn't going to buy it the second I heard of its existence. And two: there's no way I'd come away from it thinking it did the source material justice. The thing about The Road is that it's the words that make it special. Most of it is plain jane "the man did this", "the man did that", but when McCarthy decides to write a special passage, man is it special.
The art in this book is really terrific. It's just that it lost the heart of the novel and all of the nuance without the prose. In this form, it became a fairly typical post-apocalypse story....more
An incredible, gripping, emotional experience. I really think Paul Murray could be the next Tolstoy, because in his hands, the family drama becomes a An incredible, gripping, emotional experience. I really think Paul Murray could be the next Tolstoy, because in his hands, the family drama becomes a psychological epic. Each four members of the Barnes family is so impeccably detailed; they all feel like someone I could meet any day of my life. I'm convinced they're real people, and when one of them was in trouble, my palms were sweaty and my heart raced. Pretty sure that as the book built to its climax, I felt the stakes just as much or more than each of the characters. I can't remember the last time I was so invested in a fictional family.
I have some mixed thoughts about the ending: (view spoiler)[Because the characters felt so real to me, I felt a sense of dread in the last 100 pages. I could tell things were building to what could easily be a tragedy. I remembered the very first page of the novel, which described a news story about a father murdering his family and then committing suicide, and a character commenting that they're surprised it doesn't happen more often. I knew from the very first page that there was a good chance this wasn't going to end well.
Of course, Murray left it vague. We don't know what happened to everyone as they all converged in front of Dickie's gun. I've read lots of theories now, but there's no answer. Murray didn't write the ending. I know what I want to have happened (I want all of the Barnes family to be alright, to pick up the pieces of their wrecked lives, and to move forward), but I don't think everyone got out unscathed.
What I personally choose to believe, is that Dickie killed himself. It's the least bad of all the horrible options. I believe he was the bee who stung himself in a last ditch attempt to allow his family to find their way back home. But it's also very possible that PJ, the most innocent of them all, is the one who died; Cass's "grey squirrel" remark implies PJ met the same fate as the euthanized grey squirrels. I don't think Dickie would have killed his whole family, though.
I've never been one to argue with authors about how they choose to wrap up their plots. I generally want to read the story that they set out to write. However, I'm going to do my best to remember the Barneses as they were, not as they ended up. I just loved them so much, it's hard for me to hold in my mind the awful conclusion that is implied here. Dickie, Imelda, Cass & PJ forever! (hide spoiler)]...more
The idea of the apocalypse doesn’t usually inspire such tender stories, but this is one is the best post-apocalypse novels I’ve read. It’s sort of an The idea of the apocalypse doesn’t usually inspire such tender stories, but this is one is the best post-apocalypse novels I’ve read. It’s sort of an anti-The Road, a story of a mother and son in Wales after the big bomb drops, growing vegetables and existing simply and alone. I absolutely love The Road, but I love this, too.
Merged review:
The idea of the apocalypse doesn’t usually inspire such tender stories, but this is one is the best post-apocalypse novels I’ve read. It’s sort of an anti-The Road, a story of a mother and son in Wales after the big bomb drops, growing vegetables and existing simply and alone. I absolutely love The Road, but I love this, too....more
My favorite thing is stumbling across a book with an interesting cover in the library and taking a wild chance on it. In my experience, it often turnsMy favorite thing is stumbling across a book with an interesting cover in the library and taking a wild chance on it. In my experience, it often turns out great! I had never heard of this author or the publisher before.
It’s a fever dream of a book, written by and featuring an immigrant to America from the Soviet Union. It’s one of those books where you’re not really sure what’s going on half the time but it’s enthralling nonetheless. It’s visceral and violent, brimming with lust and desperation. I’ve never read anything quite like it� maybe the closest thing is Ana Kavan’s Ice. Which I didn’t like very much, but I do like this. I like this very much. ...more
My son read this in his fourth grade class, so I figured I'd join in. Children's literature has gotten subtle and sophisticated! I thought this was soMy son read this in his fourth grade class, so I figured I'd join in. Children's literature has gotten subtle and sophisticated! I thought this was some kind of fantasy adventure, but it's a touching story about a kid whose family is going through a rough patch, is on the verge of homelessness, and how he deals with that trauma. I like it!...more
A Swedish novel about childhood trauma and how it crops back up during adulthood. (Is this a particularly Nordic theme? See Per Petterson, Fredrick BaA Swedish novel about childhood trauma and how it crops back up during adulthood. (Is this a particularly Nordic theme? See Per Petterson, Fredrick Backman.) There’s also an interesting structure, wherein alternating chapters explore two timelines: the first, vignettes from childhood and the second, a single day that unfolds in reverse chronology.
I liked it, but then the end came with one of the biggest emotional wallops I’ve read in quite some time, and then I loved it. ...more
I've found that I appreciate Japanese writers for their simple, easy prose. I don't know if it's the translation or if it's inherent in the language oI've found that I appreciate Japanese writers for their simple, easy prose. I don't know if it's the translation or if it's inherent in the language or if it's just a popular style there, but I like turning to Japan for a quick read. Not to mention they get into some weird stuff.
Ryu Murakami is the other Murakami, most famous for Audition, which is an easy going read punctuated by one scene of extreme horror. In that way, In the Miso Soup is very similar. It's the story of a young Japanese man who's guiding an American through the Japanese nightlife districts. The American turns out to be a weird, dangerous fellow.
Halfway through the book, I was ready to give it a single star and rant about it the way I like to rant about Bret Easton Ellis novels. It seemed shallow and juvenile. Yet somehow, Murakami turned it around in the last third of the novel. Unlike Audition, Miso Soup's singular disgusting scene happens at the midway point, and the rest of it is falling action, but that was where the magic happened. ...more
A wonderful, original novel about a woman who's just reunited with her wife after she went missing on a submarine research mission to the bottom of thA wonderful, original novel about a woman who's just reunited with her wife after she went missing on a submarine research mission to the bottom of the ocean. Things get... weird.
This is described by many as a horror novel, but if you go into it with the usual horror expectations, you'll be disappointed. It's a fable, or maybe a fairy tale, or a nightmarish dream interspersed with touching memories. It's not exactly pageturning when it comes to plot, but it's beautifully written and complexly structured.
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