Jess
Updated a reading goal:
Read 40 books by December 31, 2025
Progress so far: 25 / 40 63%
classic Shirley Jackson, a somber exploration of class and sisterhood, repression and alienation.
classic Shirley Jackson, a somber exploration of class and sisterhood, repression and alienation.
This book was an unhinged, wild ride. It does a great job of showcasing the power of narrative to shape a reader’s viewpoint.
This book was an unhinged, wild ride. It does a great job of showcasing the power of narrative to shape a reader’s viewpoint.
An excellent primer with short texts/lectures by Patočka. This was my first time reading his work, and I am excited to read more in the future.
An excellent primer with short texts/lectures by Patočka. This was my first time reading his work, and I am excited to read more in the future.
This is a very well written reflective piece about space travel in the age of billionaires. It is short, and hardly anything happens. I enjoyed listening to it, but it took me a long time to get through because nothing really pulled me in.
This is a very well written reflective piece about space travel in the age of billionaires. It is short, and hardly anything happens. I enjoyed listening to it, but it took me a long time to get through because nothing really pulled me in.
What a well written atrocity. I don’t believe I’ve ever read a book where I hate everyone involved (edit: I forgot about my year of rest and relaxation), but there you go! Utterly silly, ridiculous, frivolous, though entertaining.
What a well written atrocity. I don’t believe I’ve ever read a book where I hate everyone involved (edit: I forgot about my year of rest and relaxation), but there you go! Utterly silly, ridiculous, frivolous, though entertaining.
Mystery is not my usual genre, but I did enjoy this. It was particularly distressing due to the core mysteries both being about children. The ending had comforting elements, but I felt it was too wrapped up— not every element of a story needs to be explained in the end (especially ghost stories children tell each other at camp).
Mystery is not my usual genre, but I did enjoy this. It was particularly distressing due to the core mysteries both being about children. The ending had comforting elements, but I felt it was too wrapped up— not every element of a story needs to be explained in the end (especially ghost stories children tell each other at camp).
The adventures of huckleberry fin is an interesting book because it displays a grim, dystopian society through the bubblegum-shaded glasses of boyish fun. In that way, it’s a very important insight into the collective American psyche.
This book is so much better than that. I would say that the first third or so follows the huckleberry fin plot told through Jim’s perspective, and where it branches off is much more interesting, sad, real. The story holds a mirror up to the ugliest, most vile realities of American slavery. Everett consistently created devices for reflection on the nature of identity, language, double consciousness, and many other philosophical concepts throughout the book. When he does so, it is usually through the incredibly insightful titular character’s musings as he tumbles through his odyssey. I particularly loved Jim/Jame’s (towards the end we see him lean into James more intentionally) dream conversations with different Enlightenment philosophers.
There was a lot of violence, racism, sexual violence, slurs, and terrible things said and done throughout the book, which can be really difficult to hear/read (audiobook version was still a really good way to experience this story, but it’s very visceral and a little nauseating at times for its portrayal of deeply brutal historical realities).
The adventures of huckleberry fin is an interesting book because it displays a grim, dystopian society through the bubblegum-shaded glasses of boyish fun. In that way, it’s a very important insight into the collective American psyche.
This book is so much better than that. I would say that the first third or so follows the huckleberry fin plot told through Jim’s perspective, and where it branches off is much more interesting, sad, real. The story holds a mirror up to the ugliest, most vile realities of American slavery. Everett consistently created devices for reflection on the nature of identity, language, double consciousness, and many other philosophical concepts throughout the book. When he does so, it is usually through the incredibly insightful titular character’s musings as he tumbles through his odyssey. I particularly loved Jim/Jame’s (towards the end we see him lean into James more intentionally) dream conversations with different Enlightenment philosophers.
There was a lot of violence, racism, sexual violence, slurs, and terrible things said and done throughout the book, which can be really difficult to hear/read (audiobook version was still a really good way to experience this story, but it’s very visceral and a little nauseating at times for its portrayal of deeply brutal historical realities).
The adventures of huckleberry fin is an interesting book because it displays a grim, dystopian society through the bubblegum-shaded glasses of boyish fun. In that way, it’s a very important insight into the collective American psyche.
This book is so much better than that. I would say that the first third or so follows the huckleberry fin plot told through Jim’s perspective, and where it branches off is much more interesting, sad, real. The story holds a mirror up to the ugliest, most vile realities of American slavery. Everett consistently created devices for reflection on the nature of identity, language, double consciousness, and many other philosophical concepts throughout the book. When he does so, it is usually through the incredibly insightful titular character’s musings as he tumbles through his odyssey. I particularly loved Jim/Jame’s (towards the end we see him lean into James more intentionally) dream conversations with different Enlightenment philosophers.
There was a lot of violence, racism, sexual violence, slurs, and terrible things said and done throughout the book, which can be really difficult to hear/read (audiobook version was still a really good way to experience this story, but it’s very visceral and a little nauseating at times for its portrayal of deeply brutal historical realities).
The adventures of huckleberry fin is an interesting book because it displays a grim, dystopian society through the bubblegum-shaded glasses of boyish fun. In that way, it’s a very important insight into the collective American psyche.
This book is so much better than that. I would say that the first third or so follows the huckleberry fin plot told through Jim’s perspective, and where it branches off is much more interesting, sad, real. The story holds a mirror up to the ugliest, most vile realities of American slavery. Everett consistently created devices for reflection on the nature of identity, language, double consciousness, and many other philosophical concepts throughout the book. When he does so, it is usually through the incredibly insightful titular character’s musings as he tumbles through his odyssey. I particularly loved Jim/Jame’s (towards the end we see him lean into James more intentionally) dream conversations with different Enlightenment philosophers.
There was a lot of violence, racism, sexual violence, slurs, and terrible things said and done throughout the book, which can be really difficult to hear/read (audiobook version was still a really good way to experience this story, but it’s very visceral and a little nauseating at times for its portrayal of deeply brutal historical realities).
Frustrating and sad, but in a very real way. I enjoyed the jumpiness in the structure/timeline. I think Rooney captures the liminal space between misunderstanding remarkably well, and her characters are complex and unpolished much like real life.
Frustrating and sad, but in a very real way. I enjoyed the jumpiness in the structure/timeline. I think Rooney captures the liminal space between misunderstanding remarkably well, and her characters are complex and unpolished much like real life.
More than anything, it is a thoughtful reflection on the relationship between the senses and memory. I believe this is also where the novel is strongest; in reflection rather than plot. I received a lot of insight into the social inter-workings of the French aristocracy; their anxieties especially. I didn’t think I would find it so funny. The most interesting points to me, within this social sphere, were the two moments of discourse around lesbianism and specifically the moral panic provoked by it.
More than anything, it is a thoughtful reflection on the relationship between the senses and memory. I believe this is also where the novel is strongest; in reflection rather than plot. I received a lot of insight into the social inter-workings of the French aristocracy; their anxieties especially. I didn’t think I would find it so funny. The most interesting points to me, within this social sphere, were the two moments of discourse around lesbianism and specifically the moral panic provoked by it.
More than anything, it is a thoughtful reflection on the relationship between the senses and memory. I believe this is also where the novel is strongest; in reflection rather than plot. I received a lot of insight into the social inter-workings of the French aristocracy; their anxieties especially. I didn’t think I would find it so funny. The most interesting points to me, within this social sphere, were the two moments of discourse around lesbianism and specifically the moral panic provoked by it.
More than anything, it is a thoughtful reflection on the relationship between the senses and memory. I believe this is also where the novel is strongest; in reflection rather than plot. I received a lot of insight into the social inter-workings of the French aristocracy; their anxieties especially. I didn’t think I would find it so funny. The most interesting points to me, within this social sphere, were the two moments of discourse around lesbianism and specifically the moral panic provoked by it.
More than anything, it is a thoughtful reflection on the relationship between the senses and memory. I believe this is also where the novel is strongest; in reflection rather than plot. I received a lot of insight into the social inter-workings of the French aristocracy; their anxieties especially. I didn’t think I would find it so funny. The most interesting points to me, within this social sphere, were the two moments of discourse around lesbianism and specifically the moral panic provoked by it.
More than anything, it is a thoughtful reflection on the relationship between the senses and memory. I believe this is also where the novel is strongest; in reflection rather than plot. I received a lot of insight into the social inter-workings of the French aristocracy; their anxieties especially. I didn’t think I would find it so funny. The most interesting points to me, within this social sphere, were the two moments of discourse around lesbianism and specifically the moral panic provoked by it.
