@arensb@sciencefiction@reading@bookstodon definitely! I somewhat selfishly wish he had been able to complete the Dirk Gently series and written a lot more books! Really greatly missed.
I quite liked Western Lane and If I Survive You, but gave up on This Other Eden after one chapter (which is very unlike me, but I just did not get on with it at all) #BookerPrize#currentlyreading#bookstodon
Well, thanks to the library I did end up giving everything shortlisted for #BookerPrize a go. #Currentlyreading Study for Obedience. Have heard a lot of criticism of the writing style, but so far I'm enjoying this quiet, eerie book. #bookstodon@bookstodon
When I read about Nikolai contemplating with sadness and agitation the rift between him and his son, Arkady, these lines broke my heart. A simple matter of a generation gap, when told from the POV of the father, was especially poignant considering that Nikolai put in considerable effort to make himself "up to date" to get closer to his son, and then had to overhear Bazarov call him "out of date" without Arkady disagreeing with him. #fathersandsons by #turgenev @bookstodon#bookquotes#reading
@bookstodon Bazarov had even made fun of his cello playing, saying that playing the cello is not a fitting activity for a man of his age, thankfully out of his hearing.
So many of us have probably been convinced how "out of date"/ "uncool" people of older generations have been. Now that I am older, I think that we were probably not always fair in our assessment, or our behavior
My new post is a summary of my October reading and was it was a good month for the books. They ranged from a suitably eerie collection of short stories to a fascinating book on how needlework has been viewed through the centuries and has communicated rarely heard stories. One novel is a gentle story set in Quebec, while another takes place in the creative energy of NYC. Two outstanding novels feature men who take their own paths, but are set worlds apart, and a look at a trailblazing woman artist and writer.
Community is so neglected, perhaps not by everyone, but especially by me. How many creative blocks could have been undone, or avoided all together if I could manage to be good company?
@stephenwhq@duanetoops@bookstodon Communities do not "owe" individuals. Communities cease to be communities if they do notvengage in mutual caring and respect.
I've been involved in communities which appoint people to focus the caring for others and where, objectively, that made those people hyper burdened although their needs were no less and sometimes greater than those they needed to help
I really enjoyed the book. An android with human-like features is nothing new in sci-fi, but I really liked this version. The main character android is very likeable.
@timgatewood@bookstodon@peachfront@EvaLie@Omom4075
Oh, I love this series. Book 2 may be my favorite (ART is the best). Or maybe the more recent full length novel. Or the murder mystery Sam Spade-esque stand alone novella (set just before the longer novel). So hard to pick!
"I like books that make you discover other books—a virtuous cycle that should never be broken." - from 'Diary of a Tuscan Bookshop' by Alba Donati (tr. Elena Pala)
Gulliver’s Travels, by Jonathan Swift. You are an early 18th century ship’s surgeon who is repeatedly Washed Ashore on various never before seen islands, whose inhabitants find you Unaccountably Strange due to differences in Size and Temperament, but nevertheless teach you several Important Lessons about merry old England, particularly its Superior Personages. 4 out of 5 library cats 🐈 🐈 🐈 🐈. @bookstodon#bookstodon#books#novels#reading#travel#satire
@kenthompson@bookstodon A classic book, but — despite cartoon adaptations — the uncensored version of “Gulliver’s Travels” isn’t for little kids, due to multiple sex scenes and scatological humor. I was rather surprised to learn this in high school, where mature and wise adults can guide students through some of the purple passages.
‘The argument goes something like this: “I refuse to prove that I exist,” says God, “for proof denies faith, and without faith I am nothing.”
‘“But,” says Man, “the Babel fish is a dead giveaway, isn’t it? It could not have evolved by chance. It proves you exist, and so therefore, by your own arguments, you don’t. QED.”
We've had @mjohnharrison walking the line between #fiction and nonfiction, Irena Karpa turning it up to eleven, Seán Padraic Birnie reflecting on illness and work, Shauna Mackay summoning up the voices in her head and now Catriona Bolt in pursuit of #mushrooms
In my opinion, one of the best conversations with M John Harrison I’m aware of, which is saying a lot because he’s always s fine interviewee and a great reader of his own work.
Furthermore, Wish I Was Here surpasses all expectations. I marked up my edition so massively I had to buy a second copy.