hardcastlemccormick
Banned
I finished a few things in December. Idle eyes excited for Christmas and Star Wars, I suppose.
Love and Sleep by John Crowley
This is the second book in the AEgypt quadrilogy. Similar to the first book, and similar to Crowley's other books, the novel blends subtle fantasy into English scholar musings. In this one, we find several modern equivalents of knights and kings on the hunt for modern equivalents of scrolls, spells and stones (most of which are to be found, unsurprisingly, in the title).
It's a slow novel. The first chunk of the novel follows the main character as a young child. The second chunk follows a fictional account of Bruno, John Dee and other historical figures. It's a dreamlike atmosphere, where the characters' thoughts fill the space and the voids in plot and tangents take the rest of the chapter to resolve.
Crowley's Little Big is my favorite novel. Love and Sleep is not, but it's a different taste. I find the historical parts harder to grasp; my ease with modern fantasy symbology is lacking when it comes to ye-olden religious figures. Little Big was more quotable, more alive; AEgypt thusfar reads like a fanciful but aloof thesis. Not sure I'll read parts three or four.
Inverted World by Christopher Priest
I will not discuss the plot because I went in blind and I would recommend others do the same. It's sci-fi, and a masterpiece of the genre. It's one of the most remarkable books I've ever read - always approachable, filled with invention and creativity. The first read is breathtaking experience. The themes of the book,
are interwoven into the narrative in such a way that their conclusion left me speechless.
Easily one of the best books I've read in 2015. I've turned it over in my mind continuously since and I doubt it will ever leave.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
I went into this one blind too, aside from being vaguely aware of a Mr. Rochester. The whole thing was incredibly fun. It's one of those books where you continually say to yourself, oh, that's why it's a classic. The book is constantly funny, comforting, comfortable to read, and engaging. In the same way as Pride and Prejudice snagged me into English society with its social criticism, I found myself enjoying the carefully placed pieces of feminism and moral critique. These barbs were my way in. It's hard for me to just accept the social norms of the period, so I need that amused and critical eye.
I enjoyed Jane Eyre so much that I intend to find more of these classics I've never touched before, to get a vague understand of them at least. This was my intention with Jane Eyre several months ago, but the damn thing dragged me in. To the public domain we go.
EDIT: Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender are way too pretty to be the leads of Jane Eyre. That's just wrong.
Love and Sleep by John Crowley
This is the second book in the AEgypt quadrilogy. Similar to the first book, and similar to Crowley's other books, the novel blends subtle fantasy into English scholar musings. In this one, we find several modern equivalents of knights and kings on the hunt for modern equivalents of scrolls, spells and stones (most of which are to be found, unsurprisingly, in the title).
It's a slow novel. The first chunk of the novel follows the main character as a young child. The second chunk follows a fictional account of Bruno, John Dee and other historical figures. It's a dreamlike atmosphere, where the characters' thoughts fill the space and the voids in plot and tangents take the rest of the chapter to resolve.
Crowley's Little Big is my favorite novel. Love and Sleep is not, but it's a different taste. I find the historical parts harder to grasp; my ease with modern fantasy symbology is lacking when it comes to ye-olden religious figures. Little Big was more quotable, more alive; AEgypt thusfar reads like a fanciful but aloof thesis. Not sure I'll read parts three or four.
Inverted World by Christopher Priest
I will not discuss the plot because I went in blind and I would recommend others do the same. It's sci-fi, and a masterpiece of the genre. It's one of the most remarkable books I've ever read - always approachable, filled with invention and creativity. The first read is breathtaking experience. The themes of the book,
cults, mass delusion, and the sometimes delusional march of progress,
Easily one of the best books I've read in 2015. I've turned it over in my mind continuously since and I doubt it will ever leave.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
I went into this one blind too, aside from being vaguely aware of a Mr. Rochester. The whole thing was incredibly fun. It's one of those books where you continually say to yourself, oh, that's why it's a classic. The book is constantly funny, comforting, comfortable to read, and engaging. In the same way as Pride and Prejudice snagged me into English society with its social criticism, I found myself enjoying the carefully placed pieces of feminism and moral critique. These barbs were my way in. It's hard for me to just accept the social norms of the period, so I need that amused and critical eye.
I enjoyed Jane Eyre so much that I intend to find more of these classics I've never touched before, to get a vague understand of them at least. This was my intention with Jane Eyre several months ago, but the damn thing dragged me in. To the public domain we go.
EDIT: Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender are way too pretty to be the leads of Jane Eyre. That's just wrong.
I'm watching it anyway
, the effect is like sitting beside a brilliant, slightly boozy barstool raconteur, who knows a little bit about everything. From a tabloid murder trial to a flagpole-sitting record to the secret origins of the looming Great Depression, One Summer offers a new look at a transitional period in history, re-introducing us to such characters as Capone, Jack Dempsey, Al Jolson, Charles Ponzi, and Herbert Hoover. Ultimately, this is a book about the moment when important things, for good or ill, began happening in the US. With a giddy narrative voice and keen eye for off-kilter details, Bryson has spun a clever tale of America’s coming of age.
