Book blogging (mostly)
Recommended
Catch-22
21 week ago
You’ve just read a book so good that you want everyone else to read it immediately, but you know that if you approach the subject with too much enthusiasm, you risk overselling the book and causing the opposite outcome. In fact, the more you say, the more likely you’ll mention something that person hates about books, thus ensuring they never read it. Or, in your haste and excitement, you might offer your own rash interpretation, implying the book is about something it isn’t, and thereby cause yet another person to pass on a wonderful piece of literature. Such is the unresolvable dilemma I find myself in with Catch-22.
Suffice it to say, I absolutely loved reading this book. It starts slowly, as Heller’s writing style (and the way he jumps back and forth through time) has its own unique rhythm. Once you grow accustomed to it, however, it becomes utterly engrossing. This is an especially odd thing to say because there’s nearly zero plot in the book. Instead, it focuses almost entirely on characters, and the crazy, bizarre, emotional, disturbing, horrifying, hilarious antics that fill their lives during war.
Yes, Catch-22 is a book about war. Or rather, it is a book that takes place during war. Don’t be discouraged, though, if you don’t usually gravitate to such books, because it’s more about the people than the fighting.
All I really want to say is please read this book. It is a beautifully crafted work of literature that has easily catapulted into my top 5 favorite books. I cannot wait to read it again, as it really is a masterpiece.
“It was almost no trick at all, he saw, to turn vice into virtue and slander into truth, impotence into abstinence, arrogance into humility, plunder into philanthropy, thievery into honor, blasphemy into wisdom, brutality into patriotism, and sadism into justice. Anybody could do it; it required no brains at all.” (363) – Permanent Link.
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
03 weeks ago
I read Robert Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land last year and I didn’t enjoy it, despite its strong start. In addition to my disappointment over the book, I was also surprised by the fact that I didn’t like it. Here we had what is considered one of the greatest science fiction books of all time, and all I can do is criticize it for being heavy-handed and dull. Shouldn’t this be exactly the kind of thing I love to read?
Since my experience with Stranger last year, I really had no intention of reading anything else by Heinlein. Still, he is considered a master in the genre and there were definitely some promising aspects to Stranger. And if C.S. Lewis is right when he says you can’t criticize a book the first time to read it (shh…don’t tell him I do that every time), I certainly don’t have the right to ignore everything else by Heinlein just because of one reading of one book.
And a good thing I didn’t give up on him, because everything Stranger gets wrong, The Moon is A Harsh Mistress gets right. Mistress tells the story of Mannie, a computer technician who becomes involved in a rebellion whose goal is to free the residents of the Moon from the tyrannical control of the Authority. Heinlein does a great job of introducing the conflict to us, and sets up a scenario in which there is tension about the ultimate success of the rebellion. While this aspect of the book is good, it’s certainly not what really makes it shine.
What does make The Moon is a Harsh Mistress a great book to read is the depth to which Heinlein goes to create a world in which people don’t just visit the moon, but actually live on the moon. Through the process of exposing how Mannie and his friends coordinate their rebellion, Heinlein subtly and thoroughly shows us what it’s like to work, play, marry, love, hate, eat, drink, and make war on the moon. What makes this all great, though, is how his strategy to reveal all this differs from Stranger. Instead of telling us what it’s like to live on the moon, Heinlein shows us, in the small moments between the larger scale of rebellion against earth. It’s subtle, but wonderfully executed, and makes the book a real pleasure to read.
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to live on the moon, with a 3:1 male to female population, while attempting to rebel against a heartless Terran government (and really, who hasn’t?) then The Moon is a Harsh Mistress is definitely for you. If, somehow, you haven’t wondered that, I still recommend the book if you enjoy an author who uses great characters and an interesting plot to help us earthworms consider the nuances of something as foreign as Lunar life.
Full database entry on The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. Beware spoilers
Across the Nightingale Floor
81 year ago
One of the things I love about reading is being able to draw connections between the story I just finished and a conversation I’m having with a friend, or some other book I just read, no matter how different the two may seem. Whether it’s Tufte’s Visual Display of Quantitative Information and getting people to go to church, or the asides of Don Quixote and the Tale of Genji, it’s all connected. Or, as Thomas Foster says in How to Read LIterature like a Professor, it’s all one story:
“We – as readers or writers, tellers or listeners – understand each other, we share knowledge of the structures of our myths, we comprehend the logic of symbols, largely because we have access to the same swirl of story. We have only to reach out into the air and pluck a piece of it” (192).
Across the Nightingale Floor and C.S. Lewis’ essay “On Stories” is yet another example. In this essay, Lewis emphasizes that what makes a story great isn’t as simple as a sense of danger or excitement, or not knowing what will happen next. Instead, it is all the elements of that story, combined in their own unique way, that are important.
Thus, if a story is good, you can’t simply replace one exciting element with another (for example, having your life threatened by pirates being replaced by having your life threatened by regular robbers) because the new element doesn’t contain all the implications and history of the original. In the case of our example, even though you could just as easily die at the hands of regular robbers, they don’t bring to the table all the components of a pirate attack (namely, parrots).
So why am I talking about pirates when Across the Nightingale Floor is about a young boy’s journey of revenge in a world full of ninjas and samurai? Because if it weren’t for Lewis’ insight into this aspect of Story, I don’t think I would have realized what makes Across the Nightingale Floor such a good book. I would have still enjoyed it, because it is good, but my recommendation would not have been any more sophisticated than “This book was good. I don’t know why, but there’s just something so much fun about reading it. I can’t wait to pick up the sequel.” There’s nothing wrong with a reaction like that, but it certainly wouldn’t give a very compelling reason why you should read it.
I don’t want to ruin any of the specific moments, but my full database entry has them if you want the details. In general, though, Across the Nightingale Floor is great because of the personal reaction we have to a world full of Samurais, Ninjas, revenge, faith, compassion, loyalty, and just a little bit of magic. Combined, these elements create a Story that is far more than the individual moments that make it up. If you are a fan of Story, this is definitely a book for you.
Full database on Across the Nightingale Floor. Beware spoilers.
Of Other Worlds: Essays and Stories
21 year ago
I’ve never felt the need to defend the enjoyment I get out of reading science fiction or fantasy novels. As a result, though, I’ve never really considered what it is about these types of books that interests me so much. Fortunately, C.S. Lewis has, and in this collection of essays, he perfectly articulates why such stories are worth reading, writing, and discussing.
It’s not worth summarizing each of the essays here (they are so efficiently executed that it’s hard to trim anything out in summary), but there are a few points that Lewis makes that I want to highlight.
First, he repeatedly points out that, regardless of audience or subject matter, a good book is simply a good book. If it’s not good enough for adult’s to read, then why should our children? He also enjoys emphasizing the idea that one should not arbitrarily choose a genre, but should let the story dictate the best means of delivery. These are just two of the many points he raises, and I’m hardly doing them justice. Lewis brings so much warmth and humor to each essay that you should really just read them.
In addition to a collection of fascinating essays (see the number of times I had to mark a sentence or idea that I wanted to return to), Of Other Worlds also has several short stories and the beginning of an unfinished novel. While these stories were good, it was definitely the essays that make this collection worth reading.
This book has reminded me how much I love reading Lewis’ writing and, as a result, you’re probably going to be seeing a lot more posts about his works. Most of it will be nonfiction, not because it’s any better than his fiction, but just because I haven’t read most of it.
I recommend this to anyone who enjoys reading about literature, even if they hate science fiction or fantasy. I say this not because I think Lewis will convince you to suddenly start liking them, but because his humility and insight may increase your respect for these genres. It won’t make you want to read them, but it may help you understand where those of us who enjoy them so much are coming from.
“I am almost inclined to set up as canon that a children’s story which is enjoyed only by children is a bad children’s story” (24).
“When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up” (25).
The Handmaid’s Tale
21 year ago
Wow, it’s been so long since I last posted that you’re probably thinking I decided to read The Tale of Genji all over again. I did not, though, so I promise that’s the last reference to the length of Genji that I’ll make (in this post). No, the real reason I haven’t been posting is due to a combination of being on vacation with no internet, and laziness. I was still reading, however, so let’s get to that.
The Handmaid’s Tale, sexual pun intended, is set in a futuristic dystopian society and tells the story of a Handmaid – a religiously and politically sanctioned concubine. The Handmaid who serves as our narrator is not a huge fan of her new role in society.
Though Atwood does an excellent job of creating a cohesive, well-realized, and clearly defined society, I would not go so far as to say the events she portrays are believable. I don’t think our own society is just one step away from heading down this particular path. That isn’t a criticism, however, because I don’t think you have to consider this a real possibility to appreciate what Atwood is trying to tell us.
As a matter of fact, one of my favorite aspects of this book is how it captures both the bad qualities of the society before the new “Handmaid” regime is put in place, as well as the “Handmaid” regime itself. It would probably have been easier just to cast the latter regime in an evil light, but I appreciate that Atwood was willing to criticize the extremes of the pre-dystopian society as well.
I definitely recommend The Handmaid’s Tale, especially to anyone interested in dystopian literature. However, considering how well-crafted the book is, I don’t think you have to be a fan of similar books to enjoy this book.
“Truly amazing, what people can get used to, as long as there are a few compensations” (270).
Full database entry on The Handmaid’s Tale. Beware spoilers.
The Tale of Genji
91 year ago
If you’ve been reading this blog recently, you know that I’ve been reading (and enjoying) The Tale of Genji. I’ll do my best not to reiterate anything I’ve said already, but that shouldn’t be hard considering there are so many great things happening in this book.
First of all, the briefest of synopses. The Tale of Genji follows 4 generations of individuals in Japan’s Imperial court during the late 10th Century (which is also when it was originally written). Though Genji is the main character, he is not the only one we get to know in this epic tale.
Ultimately, though, it’s not what happens in The Tale of Genji that makes it so appealing (not to say that there isn’t a lot that happens. Here’s a quick rundown off the top of my head: sex, rape, death, cuckolding, spirit possession, exorcism, suicide, inclement weather, exile, love, jealousy, infidelity.) It is the characters, and the reality of their hopes, fears, joys, heartaches, desires, and transgressions that make Genji such a compelling work of fiction. Or, in Genji’s own words:
“Not that tales accurately describe any particular person, rather, the telling begins when all those things the teller longs to have pass on to future generations – whatever there is about the way people live their lives, for better or worse, that is a sight to see or a wonder to hear – overflows the teller’s heart” (461).
I think I have already given The Tale of Genji the highest recommendation that I can – I spent the last month reading, and enjoying, all 1120 pages. At no point did I even consider giving up, or reading something else instead. I never got bored, I never even motivated myself with another book (which I do all the time). In fact, the only frustration I did feel in the last month was frustration over not having more time to read. If you have the opportunity, you should definitely pick up The Tale of Genji. Between its individual style and unique place in history and literature, you won’t ever read anything else quite like it.
“How true it is that bitter experience yields fond memories!” (815).
For more information, see the full database entry on The Tale of Genji. Beware spoilers.
The Well at the World’s End Volume II
21 year ago
Considering 
The Well at the World’s End was split into two volumes arbitrarily, it’s not worth reiterating what I said in my post on Volume I. No time passes between the volumes, and the quest for the Well picks up right where it left off. What is worth mentioning, however, is how great the book continues to be.
Without the surprise of the language, or the need to grow accustomed to it, I had a great time reading Volume II. Unfortunately, there’s really no good way for me to explain what exactly I liked so much without spoiling specific moments. Of course the experience of reading it would still be great, even if you knew everything that happens, but that’s no reason to spoil such a great tale.
If, as I hope is the case, I’ve convinced you that you should read this book, but you don’t have a friend or family member you can borrow it from, I have some great news. You can actually download The Well at the World’s End for free thanks to Project Gutenberg. You can even put it onto your iPhone, iPad, Kindle or any other eReader that will accept ePub files. You officially have no excuse not to read this book.
Just in case there is any doubt, allow me to state my opinion clearly: I recommend this book. It’s a great adventure and the medieval language helps make it feel like an ancient story from a long lost age. I honestly have no complaints. Considering you can grab a copy for free online, there’s no reason to not at least give this one a try.
“Alas!” she said, “and had I lain in thine arms an hundred times, or an hundred times an hundred, should not the world be barren to me, wert thou gone from it, and that could never more be? ” (53)
Full database entry on The Well at the World’s End Volume II. Beware spoilers.
Goose Girl (Audio)
101 year ago
Goose Girl is not the type of book that would normally catch my eye. However, after reading Christy’s review of the sequel I figured it would be worth requesting from the library and listening to it when I got the chance. I had it for a few weeks and, honestly, I didn’t have a plan to start it anytime soon until I saw Erin’s claim that Shannon Hale “has not written a bad book”.
Convoluted story of why I started reading it aside, I’m really glad that I did. Goose Girl seems pretty straight forward at first – a crowned princess of a small kingdom is, unbeknownst to her, about to be sent off to marry the prince of a distant kingdom. As the story progressed, though, I was consistently impressed both with the number of times the plot surprised me and with how well-realized the world and characters were.
True, I’ve only read one book by Shannon Hale now, but I can see why Erin would say she hasn’t written a bad book. In addition to a consistent, deep world full of entertaining characters, Goose Girl is also filled with some beautiful writing. Even the first line (“She was born Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee, Crown Princess of Kildinree, and she did not open her eyes for three days”) has a sense of weight and meaning that I find appealing.
My only real complaint was with the audio production. Instead of having a single narrator, this book had a full cast. I don’t mind this on principal, but with so many actors participating, it’s inevitable that some of the performances will not be as good as others. Ultimately, instead of enhancing the experience, the unevenness of the performances just made me wish the main narrator (who was excellent) had been responsible for everything.
I recommend this book without reservation. Don’t let the title (and in some cases the unfortunate covers) convince you that this is a book only for girls. Anyone who is willing to read a fairy tale based fantasy will be able to appreciate Hale’s quality story telling.
Perelandra
41 year ago
Instead of listening to audio books during my daily commute, I have recently been enjoying lectures from The Great Courses. These cover all types of subjects, from classical mythology, to Einstein’s theory of relativity. The one I just finished, however, was a 12 lecture series on the life and writings of C.S. Lewis. I complimented this listening experience by reading Perelandra, the second book in Lewis’s classic Space Trilogy.
I’ve read Perelandra before, as well as a number of Lewis’s other works, but by listening to lectures discussing major themes of his work in general, while simultaneously reading a single work in depth, I was able to enjoy it at a much deeper level. I encourage anyone with the time or opportunity to do something similar.
As for the book itself, Perelandra follows Ransom (a professor of philology) on another interstellar adventure – this time to Venus (or Perelandra). While there, he becomes involved in Perelandra’s own Edenic struggle to resist temptation.
I loved reading Perelandra. Lewis’s ability to make the temptation believable, and compelling, is extremely impressive. In fact, the dialogue of this book is far more exciting than the “action” moments. Full of fascinating ideas, Perelandra is easy for me to recommend – to a certain audience. I can see how many, however, might not enjoy it nearly as much as I have.
First of all, science fiction fans who aren’t interested in Lewis’s Christian theology would find this book endlessly frustrating. Lewis makes no attempt to hide the Christian elements of this work, and I can see how someone who is not predisposed to believe the same things as Lewis would criticize this as being preachy or even condescending.
On the other hand, those who may hold the same beliefs as Lewis may not be as interested in a book that is so very science fiction. In fact, the sci-fi qualities are even more obvious than the Christian elements to the story, making a predisposition for enjoying this kind of work even more necessary. However if, like me, you are interested in rigorous theology in your hardcore science fiction, then this is definitely the book for you. That has to be one of the nerdiest things I’ve ever said.
“There seems to be no plan because it is all plan: there seems no centre because it is all centre” (218).
The Ringworld Engineers
01 year ago
It was probably 5 years ago that I read Ringworld – the tale of a group of 3 adventurers who are tempted to travel to beyond the known universe to explore a giant Ringworld in search of treasure and fame. Unfortunately, that’s about all I remembered about the first book, and so when I was looking to read the sequel last week, I decided to check Wikipedia for the details I could not recall. To my great disappointment, Wikipedia had only an extended, spoiler free summary. Yet another reason I wish I had started my book database years earlier!
Despite my failed memory and lack of information online, I went ahead and read The Ringworld Engineers. In this sequel, Louis Wu and Chmee return, against their will, to the Ringworld in search of a mysterious object. Louis and Chmee, however, spend most of their time looking for freedom from their paranoid Puppeteer captor.
Ultimately, not remembering the details of the first book was a minor point. I wish I had, but only because I think it would have added depth to the development of Chmee and Louis Wu as characters. As it was, I could only watch them grow within the context of the book. And while this was an enjoyable experience, I can’t help but think it would have been more meaningful if I could have seen them evolve from their original incarnations. Of course, the possibility also exists that they behaved in foolish and unbelievable ways in comparison to the first book, but I like to remain hopeful.
While I recommend this book, I do so with the caveat that this is hardcore science fiction. In fact, in the introduction, Niven admits that the whole reason this sequel was written was so he could deal with all the scientific and mathematical questions and concerns that readers raised after the first book. Now, if you’re like me, you just thought “Yes! Can’t wait to read it!” but if you are a normal person, feel free to pass on this series for something a little more down to earth.
“You only learn to ask more questions” (215).
Full Database entry on The Ringworld Engineers. Beware spoilers.