What could I possibly be reading now?

I'm reading my way through life. A blog detailing my various literary and cinematic exploits (both current and past). Send me book or movie recommendations through the "Ask" box.

[towritelesbiansonherarms]

movie magic

[papertopen]

This is the best.

[thighetician]

I picked a good Industry to make my way in.

Cinema, Fuck yeah.

[katzmatt]

i love this post but they missed all the starwars ships on strings

[iraffiruse]

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Lolita by Vladimir Nobakov

Plot: A pedophile schemes and succeeds in creating a life of carnal pleasure with his desired "nymphet" (as Humbert, the narrator, calls her). I hope this description sufficient communicates not only the plot of the novel, but also the charming nature of the narrator himself.

Review: I've heard about this novel for many years (with several individuals shuddering at the mere mention of the title), but this novel is not really the sordid tale I was expecting. Nabokov's focus is not describing the actual acts themselves, but rather the emotion and feeling behind them. Humbert Humbert, the narrator, is charming, attractive, and most adamant in his love for Lolita. He is very honest in the origins of his feelings and while taking advantage of the girl who eventually calls him "Dad,"  he tries to be a father to her as well...

I can't believe I'm writing this. It's just so well written.

Recommendation: Hells yes. The subject matter is disturbing, but the writing is superb.

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Possibly the entrance to my room... I would totally live in a book bunker.

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A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain

Plot: A modern (by modern, I mean 1889) American man is transported back in time to King Arthur's England. The title is pretty self explanatory.

Review: This is the only Mark Twain book I've read and really enjoyed. It's a very early "sci-fi"-esque novel (time travel is totally sci-fi, no question) and while it doesn't have the usual trappings of what we call science fiction today, the novel is a great adaptation of the Arthurian legends. Merlin is a schemer and tries his hardest to discredit the protagonist, "The Boss." The Boss, being a modern man with a grasp of history, is able to bamboozle the scientifically clueless Arthurians into thinking that he is a wizard (take that, Merlin!). The writing isn't my favorite, but the story manages to make me forget that I dislike the writing.

Recommendation: Yup. Enjoy it, it's a good story. Not my favorite but still fun.

[possiblyreadingnow-blog-blog]

The Island of Doctor Moreau by H. G. Wells

Plot: A shipwrecked man washes up on a mysterious island, where Dr. Moreau uses surgical techniques to "improve" the island's animals.

Review: A novel from the classic sci-fi author, H. G. Wells, IDM (for short) extrapolates on what was a major ethical issue of the times: vivisection. IDM was published in 1896, at the height of the anti-vivisectionist movement. Wells, through Dr. Moreau, creates a biting commentary on the cruelty of vivisection. The unfortunate narrator experiences the horror of seeing the "improved" creatures of the island, and grows to see the "animal" that resides in humanity as well. Wells also explores questions on the definition of humanity. The writing style is very detailed and somewhat slow in comparison to newer novels (but honestly, not out of character for the time period). 

Recommendation: Yes, it's a great novel and once you read some of the history of the anti-vivisection movement, you'll get even more out of the novel.

[alteredfocus]

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Carrie by Stephen King

Plot: A bullied girl develops telekinetic powers and revenge rains down. Oh, the puns. Bonus points if you can guess why this is awesome. This is King's first published work (that is a novel, he published short fiction in various magazines during his college years). 

Review: This is one of my favorite Stephen King books and should be the favorite of all teenaged, maladjusted, bullied high school girls. Seriously, Carrie (the eponymous protagonist) is able to wreak havoc upon the students who made her life miserable. Who didn't dream of doing the same to his own childhood bullies? I certainly did. Perhaps my love of this book is a result of wish-fulfillment, but I honestly don't care. It's a great plot, with great storytelling. King uses various "non fiction" after-the-fact articles and book excerpts to give the story a form of realism. In addition, a variety of perspectives (some from Carrie, some from the bullies, some from by-standers) add dimension to what could have been a one sided tale. Literary perfection? Nope, but I'm not reading it to improve my mind. It's fast-paced, slightly gory, and above all, entertaining. It's a tad out-dated (in the edition I own, he mentions this in his introduction), but still true to the feelings of my high school self.

Recommendation: Hells yes. If you ever wanted to act your fantasy of utterly destroying your high school bullies (or even, dare I say it, your mother- yes, that's in here too), then check out Carrie. The gore factor is pretty low for King books, so don't worry about that.

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The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner

Plot: This novel follows the daily life of a decaying Southern family in the early 1900s. It's not that particularly plot driven, but rather is centered around four different perspectives (Benjy, a mentally handicapped member of the family; Quentin, Benjy and Jason's brother, who commits suicide, and casts a shadow over the family; Jason, a bitter and moral questionable man, and from third person narration) which explain some of the misfortunes of the Compson family. One section (Quentin's) takes place in the past.

Review: I loved this book, but it was one of the most challenging books I read in high school. By far, the two most difficult and interesting sections were Benjy's and Quentin's due to the unreliable and often incomprehensible narration. Quentin was somewhat more difficult due to the constant religious references which I was unfamiliar with. Benjy, while mentally disabled sheds the most light on the history of the family and how it ended up in the present state. His section is filled with constant time jumps making it difficult to tell when he is recalling memories or the telling the reader of the present. The plot line itself is sad: a once proud and rich family is consistently worn down both financially and in prestige. The relationship between Jason and Miss Quentin, the illegitimate niece of the three brothers (born of the absent, but constantly remembered sister Caddy) creates an interesting dynamic and provides for some of the plot elements of the book.

Recommendation: Yes. I will be re-reading this, since it has been four years, but from my recollection, it is fantastic. It is a challenge, but one that is well worth it.

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A Separate Peace by John Knowles

Plot: An accident at a boy's New England prep school changes the life of one of the students. A classic, coming of age novel.

Review: Eh. This book is most frequently seen on high school reading lists or other adolescent literature, along with "similar" works such as Catcher in the Rye or James Joyce's Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. I read it in high school, I read it after my first year of college, and I've read this past summer. I have not liked it. Gene, the main character, is insufferably whiny and irritatingly jealous of his roommate. To the point of obsession. Ultimately, I've found that I cannot empathize with Gene which leads to my dislike of the book. My favorite part of the story is the the setting itself. I've always been fascinated by prep schools or boarding schools; they have a culture that is not easily accessible and somewhat mysterious. In addition, World War II hangs over the events of the story like a dark cloud and presents an interesting context for the characters.

Recommendation: Give it a shot, especially if you are a young man in high school  You'd probably like it. It's definitely for the teenage angst-ridden individuals who also empathize with Holden Caulfield.

[cosmictypewriter-deactivated202]

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"A Game of Thrones" by George R. R. Martin

Plot: It's too goddamn complicated. SPOILER WARNING. This is the first book in Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" series and is the source for the name of the HBO adaptation.

Review: I've read this particular book in the series about four times now and I have not been bored by this book once. Now, if you are not a fantasy fan, you simply won't like this series. It's pretty traditional in terms of time period and magical elements, but what makes it different than the rest is 1) The realish depictions of violence. Martin does not shy away from blood, gore, or pain and perhaps embellishes on it slightly more than necessary. 2) The scale of the world. This is Tolkien-big. The books include a world that spans countless leagues and has countless numbers of possible characters. Martin does not shy away from introducing new and often insignificant players to move things along. 3) The depth. You can find reasons to cheer or jeer any character of significance, and it isn't always to accept a character as wholly good or evil.

Recommendation: Hell yes. READ IT.

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"Blindness" by José Saramago

Plot: A mysterious blindness strikes an unnamed city, and the government attempts to respond before social order crumbles. A temporary "quarantine" area is created as a protective measure and the book follows a variety of narrators afflicted with the blindness.

In-progress Review: I'm approximately half-way through this apocalyptic novel. It is written in a peculiar style (no names, no quotation marks, few paragraph breaks) which seems to accentuate the "blind" feeling of the novel's protagonists. Saramago blinds the reader, just as the characters themselves are blind to the differentiating characteristics of the world. It is one of the few novels of this genre that focuses on the "afflicted" (but then again, this is also one of the few novels that does not involve a fatal or prima facie de-humanizing disease- ex: zombie epidemic- so that makes it far easier to have characters who can be "full" characters), and that places the narration in a far more interesting place than other novels. This also seems to be a love-it-or-hate-it novel (some friends have liked it, others have not, mostly due to the style of the writing). Another interesting thing to note is that original title is "Ensaio sobre a cegueira" which means "Essay on blindness" (somewhat innocuous, eh? Which makes the contents all the more chilling.).

Recommendation: Yes, definitely give it a shot if you like the genre.