Finished 100 Years of Solitude a few weeks back. One of those books that I've always meant to read but haven't. So many words compete in my head to describe it... so I'll stick with generational. But also depressing. And beautiful. And I straight up love the magical (should I say magical realist?) elements of it. Currently reading Beyond Black by Hilary Mantel, which I'm absolutely loving, and Gideon the Ninth. Putting Kafka now on my very very long "to read" list, as well as Foster and The All of It. Excellent work making me want to read the books you recommend, Colin!
I was going to suggest that myself! I'm a big fan of David Mitchell, and one of the things I enjoy is that he always seems to include a character or two from past books in his new works.
all his books are set in the same universe and there are so many threads connecting them all. it’s really fun to read them all back to back & see the connections more clearly.
Since the book is about Rock music in the 60s, Brian Jones, Eric Clapton,Jimmi Hendrix Jerry Garcia all have walk-ons. So look fwd to seeing some of them in next books.
Have you been to the Kafka Museum in Prague? It's amazing and a little disorienting at times (as I recall from something like 15 years ago -- fairly certain my wife schlepped a Decemberists tote bag all over Europe as a purse). Anyway, it's absolutely worth the visit.
I recently read Meg Wolitzer's "The Wife," which I enjoyed, but not to the extent of "The Ten-Year Nap" or even the first two thirds of "The Female Persuasion." I'm about one-third of the way through Thomas Hardy's "The Mayor of Casterbridge," but as of this morning I'm putting it on hold (though I'm really enjoying it) because otherwise I won't finish Rebecca Makkai's "I Have Some Questions For You" in time for my work book club.
Anyone else know Becky Chambers Monk and Robot series? There are two volumes so far. NOT Kafkaesque however, invites us to contemplate our place in the world.
We Lived in Berlin by Hannelore Krollpfeiffer is a slim volume about a young German woman's experience during WWII, especially the last days of the reich. Fascinating look at a terrible time through the eyes of an ordinary person. It was originally published in 1947 but was recently translated into English vy her daughter. Wildly, her daughter Katrine is a good friend of mine and I have spent time with this fascinating woman drinking beer and talking about Germany never knowing she was an important author!
I used to dream, when visiting PDX, that I would somehow run into Ursula K Leguin, so I could tell her in person what her work has meant to me (I eventually just wrote her a letter). In her absence, you now play that role.
I'm kind of bobbing between Weyward by Emilia Hart and Soonish by Kelly and Zach Weinersmith. The first is about three women split several centuries apart in the same family, with various elements of weirdness about it. The second is about (as the subtitle says): "emerging technologies that'll improve and, or ruin everything." I've almost finished the space age/rockets chapter...
I’ve just finished The Candy House by Jennifer Egan. Really interesting ideas in this book and it plays with style in some very creative ways. I’m in the middle of Dark Forest by Nicole Krauss which seems to have some dream-wakefulness aspects to it as well. Thematically it seems to be about identity metamorphosis. I’ll let you know if, by the time I finish, the ghost of Gregor Samsa shows up.
25 years ago I was reading Kafka's In The Penal Colony on a Seattle bus and was so disturbed by the image of how the sentence was carried out that I almost passed out (and I'm not prone to those sorts of hysterics!). I still remember that moment and how I felt like, almost as if it is a memory sealed in crystal, as though I'm looking at myself through time. It was a story I'll never forget--for me that piece is the ultimate and perfect horror story.
I always thought of SOMA more as television/screens. Take as much as you want, stay numb and distracted and don’t count the seconds of your life ticking away.
Also wonder if It influenced “Do androids dream of electric sheep” both have a drug you can take to distract yourself and be happy, and both have media to to lose yourself completely as someone else. Always liked that one of Android’s drug sprays was “the desire to take more drug” for when you’re too Anhedoniac to choose yourself.
Of all things, I am currently reading American Hero, The Life and Death of Audie Murphy. It is an extremely interesting book about a very misunderstood man. It is written by Charles Whiting.
i just started reading the author matt haig. just finished the midnight library, and how to stop time. quite enjoyed both. it’s a nice feeling to discover another author that i enjoy.
Haig's The Comfort Book was just that for me last fall when I was going through a rough patch, a book full of comforting advice. I listened to the audio, which he narrated. I'm not sure it makes for great every day reading, but it really does live up to its name.
Sam and Gollum have just debated taters. I’m going to start Blood Meridian soon.
I just started reading The Hobbit to my son! I'm excited to move on to LotR
Finished 100 Years of Solitude a few weeks back. One of those books that I've always meant to read but haven't. So many words compete in my head to describe it... so I'll stick with generational. But also depressing. And beautiful. And I straight up love the magical (should I say magical realist?) elements of it. Currently reading Beyond Black by Hilary Mantel, which I'm absolutely loving, and Gideon the Ninth. Putting Kafka now on my very very long "to read" list, as well as Foster and The All of It. Excellent work making me want to read the books you recommend, Colin!
You must read David Mitchell's Utopia Avenue".
I was going to suggest that myself! I'm a big fan of David Mitchell, and one of the things I enjoy is that he always seems to include a character or two from past books in his new works.
all his books are set in the same universe and there are so many threads connecting them all. it’s really fun to read them all back to back & see the connections more clearly.
I just finished The Bone Clocks a few weeks ago and enjoyed it, though not as much as Cloud Atlas. Will have to put Utopia Avenue on my list.
also be sure to read the thousand autumns of jacob de zoet. it’s so hard for me to choose a favorite, but that one is near the top for me.
Since the book is about Rock music in the 60s, Brian Jones, Eric Clapton,Jimmi Hendrix Jerry Garcia all have walk-ons. So look fwd to seeing some of them in next books.
Have you been to the Kafka Museum in Prague? It's amazing and a little disorienting at times (as I recall from something like 15 years ago -- fairly certain my wife schlepped a Decemberists tote bag all over Europe as a purse). Anyway, it's absolutely worth the visit.
I recently read Meg Wolitzer's "The Wife," which I enjoyed, but not to the extent of "The Ten-Year Nap" or even the first two thirds of "The Female Persuasion." I'm about one-third of the way through Thomas Hardy's "The Mayor of Casterbridge," but as of this morning I'm putting it on hold (though I'm really enjoying it) because otherwise I won't finish Rebecca Makkai's "I Have Some Questions For You" in time for my work book club.
Anyone else know Becky Chambers Monk and Robot series? There are two volumes so far. NOT Kafkaesque however, invites us to contemplate our place in the world.
i haven’t read that series but i loved her wayfarers books.
I want to read the wayfarers books too...really enjoyed the two Monk and Robot books. Waiting for more!!
We Lived in Berlin by Hannelore Krollpfeiffer is a slim volume about a young German woman's experience during WWII, especially the last days of the reich. Fascinating look at a terrible time through the eyes of an ordinary person. It was originally published in 1947 but was recently translated into English vy her daughter. Wildly, her daughter Katrine is a good friend of mine and I have spent time with this fascinating woman drinking beer and talking about Germany never knowing she was an important author!
I used to dream, when visiting PDX, that I would somehow run into Ursula K Leguin, so I could tell her in person what her work has meant to me (I eventually just wrote her a letter). In her absence, you now play that role.
"In The Penal Colony" and "The Burrow" are incredible short stories by Kafka but definitely difficult reading!
I'm kind of bobbing between Weyward by Emilia Hart and Soonish by Kelly and Zach Weinersmith. The first is about three women split several centuries apart in the same family, with various elements of weirdness about it. The second is about (as the subtitle says): "emerging technologies that'll improve and, or ruin everything." I've almost finished the space age/rockets chapter...
I’ve just finished The Candy House by Jennifer Egan. Really interesting ideas in this book and it plays with style in some very creative ways. I’m in the middle of Dark Forest by Nicole Krauss which seems to have some dream-wakefulness aspects to it as well. Thematically it seems to be about identity metamorphosis. I’ll let you know if, by the time I finish, the ghost of Gregor Samsa shows up.
25 years ago I was reading Kafka's In The Penal Colony on a Seattle bus and was so disturbed by the image of how the sentence was carried out that I almost passed out (and I'm not prone to those sorts of hysterics!). I still remember that moment and how I felt like, almost as if it is a memory sealed in crystal, as though I'm looking at myself through time. It was a story I'll never forget--for me that piece is the ultimate and perfect horror story.
I'm revisiting The Hitchhiker's Guide books. And I never forget my towel.
I always thought of SOMA more as television/screens. Take as much as you want, stay numb and distracted and don’t count the seconds of your life ticking away.
Also wonder if It influenced “Do androids dream of electric sheep” both have a drug you can take to distract yourself and be happy, and both have media to to lose yourself completely as someone else. Always liked that one of Android’s drug sprays was “the desire to take more drug” for when you’re too Anhedoniac to choose yourself.
Of all things, I am currently reading American Hero, The Life and Death of Audie Murphy. It is an extremely interesting book about a very misunderstood man. It is written by Charles Whiting.
I just finished reading The Hobbit with my 7yo, for I think her third time? It’s a family favorite and so fun with a child.
In high school my SciFi lit teacher required a signed note from parents before he’d let anyone read A Brave New World.
i just started reading the author matt haig. just finished the midnight library, and how to stop time. quite enjoyed both. it’s a nice feeling to discover another author that i enjoy.
Haig's The Comfort Book was just that for me last fall when I was going through a rough patch, a book full of comforting advice. I listened to the audio, which he narrated. I'm not sure it makes for great every day reading, but it really does live up to its name.