New Orpheu
If I wanted to read a Scottish guy’s interpretation of Salazar’s life as “good, actually!” with the European Looney Left(TM) in the crosshairs, I’ve found the right book. A starting point at best, and an unsatisfactory one at that. Autocrat apologia is boring.
If I wanted to read a Scottish guy’s interpretation of Salazar’s life as “good, actually!” with the European Looney Left(TM) in the crosshairs, I’ve found the right book. A starting point at best, and an unsatisfactory one at that. Autocrat apologia is boring.
Would’ve been a better fit if I had watched or had interest in Herzog’s work as a filmmaker. Silly me thought this would be like Calasso’s The Unnameable Present—a sort of meditation on the state of the current world from a unique POV.
Would’ve been a better fit if I had watched or had interest in Herzog’s work as a filmmaker. Silly me thought this would be like Calasso’s The Unnameable Present—a sort of meditation on the state of the current world from a unique POV.
Too flowery, too bound up in the telling of an addiction story, and too misunderstanding what martyrdom is. Dying for belief in the face of persecution makes a martyr, not finding a way to die that suffuses it with meaning. Build something, no matter how small, that can reverberate briefly in this world after you have departed for whatever lies in the next.
Too flowery, too bound up in the telling of an addiction story, and too misunderstanding what martyrdom is. Dying for belief in the face of persecution makes a martyr, not finding a way to die that suffuses it with meaning. Build something, no matter how small, that can reverberate briefly in this world after you have departed for whatever lies in the next.
Some good essays, some bad. Pouring one out for the death of the erotic was a strange stance, as was the lamentation at the disappearing of a place for a cultural elite and intellectuals in general on the public stage. He’s an elite backing elites, but he makes very few bones about that. As a non-elite, I’ve less time for these complaints. The work of intelligence in culture continues on in the shadows and niches of the internet and academia; just because some egos were busted along the way doesn’t mean the value has dissipated.
Some good essays, some bad. Pouring one out for the death of the erotic was a strange stance, as was the lamentation at the disappearing of a place for a cultural elite and intellectuals in general on the public stage. He’s an elite backing elites, but he makes very few bones about that. As a non-elite, I’ve less time for these complaints. The work of intelligence in culture continues on in the shadows and niches of the internet and academia; just because some egos were busted along the way doesn’t mean the value has dissipated.
Insightful in its bursts of give and take between Judt and Snyder on some of the niches of early 20th Century thought, far less interesting when they get bogged down in shop talk about what it means to be a historian. I once would have found that kind of talk valuable, but Snyder’s outsized public persona, like most intellectuals in the States, sours my impression of him somehow.
Insightful in its bursts of give and take between Judt and Snyder on some of the niches of early 20th Century thought, far less interesting when they get bogged down in shop talk about what it means to be a historian. I once would have found that kind of talk valuable, but Snyder’s outsized public persona, like most intellectuals in the States, sours my impression of him somehow.
Surprised this made the International Booker longlist (update: SHORTLIST!). An interesting premise that was broken up into too many veering vignettes to tie together a complete whole. Did it introduce some new insights into the structures of our possible futures? An optimistic and human-sympathetic AI is as close as we get. Speculative. Disjointed.
Surprised this made the International Booker longlist (update: SHORTLIST!). An interesting premise that was broken up into too many veering vignettes to tie together a complete whole. Did it introduce some new insights into the structures of our possible futures? An optimistic and human-sympathetic AI is as close as we get. Speculative. Disjointed.
At issue for the Palestinians is that of the all-encompassing question: will they will survive to see another day. The intensity of that feeling and its related emotions provides the spark that inspires some to shed blood and others to protest in support of their cause. It can also narrow the aperture of view and thought to a point at which it loses the wider puzzle. As abstract, The Book of Disappearance intrigues. On paper, it understandably loses itself within the conflict’s long labyrinth.
At issue for the Palestinians is that of the all-encompassing question: will they will survive to see another day. The intensity of that feeling and its related emotions provides the spark that inspires some to shed blood and others to protest in support of their cause. It can also narrow the aperture of view and thought to a point at which it loses the wider puzzle. As abstract, The Book of Disappearance intrigues. On paper, it understandably loses itself within the conflict’s long labyrinth.
The best of the International Booker 2025 bunch that I’ve read so far. Humanizing those who suffer from disorders of their mood or mental capacity can be a challenge, falling back on stereotype if the hurdle is too high to overcome. Serre realizes a portrait of a woman who battles an unseen affliction without ever losing her individual spark. A touching tribute to her sister.
The best of the International Booker 2025 bunch that I’ve read so far. Humanizing those who suffer from disorders of their mood or mental capacity can be a challenge, falling back on stereotype if the hurdle is too high to overcome. Serre realizes a portrait of a woman who battles an unseen affliction without ever losing her individual spark. A touching tribute to her sister.
Faithful in its rendition of how we think the Roman mind would have worked. Like all good historical fiction from the Republic or Empire it gives us a glimpse of our shared similarities while laying bare where we depart from one another.
Faithful in its rendition of how we think the Roman mind would have worked. Like all good historical fiction from the Republic or Empire it gives us a glimpse of our shared similarities while laying bare where we depart from one another.
Frankly can’t recall much about this. Autobiographical work on Camus’ childhood. Well-written, but the subject matter (being a kid) will always handicap a work. Makes me worry about spending money to get Coetzee’s autobiographical trilogy.
Frankly can’t recall much about this. Autobiographical work on Camus’ childhood. Well-written, but the subject matter (being a kid) will always handicap a work. Makes me worry about spending money to get Coetzee’s autobiographical trilogy.
One character of real worth here, Szmul, and he gets the shortest time in the spotlight of the three narrators. Good quotes here or there, but imperfectly done. Didn’t help that the Germans were written in the style of English schoolboys (with awkward German phrases thrown in for bad measure).
One character of real worth here, Szmul, and he gets the shortest time in the spotlight of the three narrators. Good quotes here or there, but imperfectly done. Didn’t help that the Germans were written in the style of English schoolboys (with awkward German phrases thrown in for bad measure).
As a work trying to capture the debasement of a soon-to-be-defunct aristocracy, it does quite well. Tries to gin up your sympathy for these fallen angels and their inability to merge with the “coarse” world of the lower classes, but falls somewhat flat there. That’s coming from a sincere believer in the ideals of a small-D democratic society, though. The decline of any and all aristocratic class is largely the point.
As a work trying to capture the debasement of a soon-to-be-defunct aristocracy, it does quite well. Tries to gin up your sympathy for these fallen angels and their inability to merge with the “coarse” world of the lower classes, but falls somewhat flat there. That’s coming from a sincere believer in the ideals of a small-D democratic society, though. The decline of any and all aristocratic class is largely the point.
Been too long removed since reading it in the hospital to write a coherent review. However, for an American living in Italy writing in Italian and then having a translator go back to English, I thought some of the short stories were quite good.
Been too long removed since reading it in the hospital to write a coherent review. However, for an American living in Italy writing in Italian and then having a translator go back to English, I thought some of the short stories were quite good.
Children are the future, and this child is nuts. Giving this one four stars solely because Coetzee’s prose and characterization is strong enough to have kept me reading to the end in spite of the bland subject matter. Can’t imagine I’ll be onto the next book in the series anytime soon, though.
Children are the future, and this child is nuts. Giving this one four stars solely because Coetzee’s prose and characterization is strong enough to have kept me reading to the end in spite of the bland subject matter. Can’t imagine I’ll be onto the next book in the series anytime soon, though.
Family drama at its best, especially in the first third of the book. Loses some of its propulsion as it goes (the financial difficulties which underpin the collapse of the family fade out of the picture after about 100 pages) and threatens at all times to get lost in the past. Still, capably instills a sense of authentic dread which most writing fails to do. Points for that.
Family drama at its best, especially in the first third of the book. Loses some of its propulsion as it goes (the financial difficulties which underpin the collapse of the family fade out of the picture after about 100 pages) and threatens at all times to get lost in the past. Still, capably instills a sense of authentic dread which most writing fails to do. Points for that.
Most of the music references fly right past me, but I’ll be damned if Dylan doesn’t have one of the most distinct authorial voices around. Salute, and here’s hoping Vol. II shows up eventually.
Most of the music references fly right past me, but I’ll be damned if Dylan doesn’t have one of the most distinct authorial voices around. Salute, and here’s hoping Vol. II shows up eventually.
Having just finished Kawakami’s Under the Eye of the Big Bird, it is almost shocking just how much better this work is. The premise is stronger, execution is better, ideas explored in a deeper way without bogging you down in the muck of philosophical musings. Feminist speculative SF that appeals way beyond any narrow target demographic. A mystery opened and never fully explained without frustrating the reader. Extremely impressive.
Having just finished Kawakami’s Under the Eye of the Big Bird, it is almost shocking just how much better this work is. The premise is stronger, execution is better, ideas explored in a deeper way without bogging you down in the muck of philosophical musings. Feminist speculative SF that appeals way beyond any narrow target demographic. A mystery opened and never fully explained without frustrating the reader. Extremely impressive.
Added to listRead in 2025 (Ranked)with 3 books.
