Feb 4, 2022·1 replyDracula — Bram Stoker
This novel starts off extremely well - Harker scales walls and escapes hounds in an eerie remote Transylvania, only for the next 20 chapters to be about two virginal brides and their handsome suitors ‘transfusing blood’ to save them, and jars of dirt everywhere. Like a few classics, there’s an awful lot of filler in the middle to pad out. It ends with a bit of a whimper too.
Exemplary in the vampire genre, not quite in literature. It’s certainly no Frankenstein.
2.5/5
Feb 4, 2022·1 replyGrenouilleDracula — Bram Stoker
This novel starts off extremely well - Harker scales walls and escapes hounds in an eerie remote Transylvania, only for the next 20 chapters to be about two virginal brides and their handsome suitors ‘transfusing blood’ to save them, and jars of dirt everywhere. Like a few classics, there’s an awful lot of filler in the middle to pad out. It ends with a bit of a whimper too.
Exemplary in the vampire genre, not quite in literature. It’s certainly no Frankenstein.
2.5/5
How's Frankenstein btw
- Feb 4, 2022·1 replyCRACKASTEPPAVEGAN
How's Frankenstein btw
Really good. It’s the quintessence of gothic literature - a psychological horror that peers into the themes of loneliness and solitude in a way few novels ever have.
Not to mention this was written by a female teenager in a pre-Victorian era. Pretty amazing.
- Feb 4, 2022Grenouille
Really good. It’s the quintessence of gothic literature - a psychological horror that peers into the themes of loneliness and solitude in a way few novels ever have.
Not to mention this was written by a female teenager in a pre-Victorian era. Pretty amazing.
Thanks, will check it out. I heard Mary Shelley really had some mental problems irl. It's impressive that she wrote this as a teenager.
Feb 4, 2022
Just finished this after about a month of reading.
This book broke me man.Not a day goes by without me thinking about a passage/situation from this book.At times it gets hard to read it I admit,there were points where stuff goes on too long but honestly it felt so rewarding at the end.
I really thought that he was gonna die in prison and I was kinda shocked at that ending.
It was beautiful but I just didn't expect it.The whole book, especially towards the end bummed me pretty bad,tho thats just the testament of how good Dostoevsky went into the human psyche.
Can't recommend it enough,now I understand why this is constantly put in the "greatest of all time" books.
It just doesn't leave my mind.Gonna read something easier next because I'm not sure my mind can take another one like this
Feb 4, 2022
demoAmerican Psycho - Bret Easton Ellis
5/5.
my mind is spinning and I’ve been trying to read as many a***ysis’s of the book as I can because there is a lot to unpack. this book has so many little details and overarching hints (many I didn’t catch). loved it a lot. made me laugh and physically recoil equally throughout the story.
Amazing book tbh. Read this cus I always thought the film was one of the funniest movies I’ve ever seen. This was also funny but in a much sadder way tbh. Actually felt bad for Bateman (ik 😬) about how empty his life was and how he didn’t really enjoy doing anything even while having it all. Apart from the killing/torture scenes he was like the least dense/pathetic/asshole amongst his friends cus he was 100% aware of how dumb all of the s*** he and his rich friends participated in.
Feb 4, 2022·1 reply
kogoyosWhat We Talk About When We Talk About Love by Raymond Carver
recognized as one of the best collection of 20th century American short stories, but these didn't really hit for me. some of them were good but I found most of them pretty non eventful plot wise and without any real redeeming characters or interesting perspectives. might try reading one of his other collections, but this seems to be like a book that was revolutionary at the time but hasn't aged that well
6.5/10
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
long book but I couldn't put this one down and really liked the different sections and settings that the main character interacted with. Tartt is a very talented writer, and while I think this wasn't quite on the same level as The Secret History, it was still engaging and unique. seems like she releases a novel around every 10 years so hopefully we're due for one soon. avoiding the movie for sure
8.5/10
Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
very interesting non-fiction book about the little known (to most people) Osage murders in the 1920s. the book was quite entertaining and written like a mystery novel. pretty harrowing how the Osage were slowly killed without much intervention or help from the government. lost a bit of steam in the third part but still a memorable read. can't wait to see what Scorsese does with this
8/10
Ill say this about Carver since he's one of my favs, while his stories are mostly mundane, I found them to actually have a lot of heart underneath the surface. They feel almost episodic to the lives of day to day people. An argument, a failing relationship, a funny situation, addiction, a conversation, etc.. Carver may not be for everyone but let him grow on you and see where it lands.
- OPFeb 4, 2022·1 replyKoala
Ill say this about Carver since he's one of my favs, while his stories are mostly mundane, I found them to actually have a lot of heart underneath the surface. They feel almost episodic to the lives of day to day people. An argument, a failing relationship, a funny situation, addiction, a conversation, etc.. Carver may not be for everyone but let him grow on you and see where it lands.
I can see that perspective and definitely felt that way about a few of the stories in the collection. I'll probably give him another try, which book would you recommend?
Feb 4, 2022·1 replyI'm trying to read more this year.
I'm almost done with "the art of not giving a f***." It's really basic, but it's a decent flick to the head on not overthinking yourself to death.
- Feb 4, 2022kogoyos
I can see that perspective and definitely felt that way about a few of the stories in the collection. I'll probably give him another try, which book would you recommend?
I actually only read his Where I'm Calling From collection which is basically a compilation of his works. Some great stuff in there that definitely hits. Type of author that you read a story or two before bed or to chill and take it in.
Feb 6, 2022·1 reply
Proulx is tough as nails and manages to squeeze entire lifetimes and sometime several generations into these short stories, matched in scope by the vast Wyoming plains that they're set in.
Just a bunch of gritty cowboy stories written in really dense, lyrical prose. Great stuff
Feb 6, 2022kogoyosWhat We Talk About When We Talk About Love by Raymond Carver
recognized as one of the best collection of 20th century American short stories, but these didn't really hit for me. some of them were good but I found most of them pretty non eventful plot wise and without any real redeeming characters or interesting perspectives. might try reading one of his other collections, but this seems to be like a book that was revolutionary at the time but hasn't aged that well
6.5/10
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
long book but I couldn't put this one down and really liked the different sections and settings that the main character interacted with. Tartt is a very talented writer, and while I think this wasn't quite on the same level as The Secret History, it was still engaging and unique. seems like she releases a novel around every 10 years so hopefully we're due for one soon. avoiding the movie for sure
8.5/10
Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
very interesting non-fiction book about the little known (to most people) Osage murders in the 1920s. the book was quite entertaining and written like a mystery novel. pretty harrowing how the Osage were slowly killed without much intervention or help from the government. lost a bit of steam in the third part but still a memorable read. can't wait to see what Scorsese does with this
8/10
Goldfinch is one of my all time favorite books. I love the way that Tartt steps into the shoes of her narrators in both that book and the secret history. Probably the best first-person narration I’ve read. I’m not sure what to call it though. Not necessarily unreliable but maybe manipulative?
I still need to read the little friend, which I’ve heard is quite underrated. And yeah, hopefully a new novel soon too
- Feb 6, 2022·1 reply
Go tell it on the mountain by James Baldwin
3/5
Some great passages in this but man it dragged. Short book which is weird, but I knew what I was getting myself into. Just got overwhelmed with the sermons halfway through but I finished it and I liked the final confrontation at the end between brother and sister. Overall though, it was okay, didn't love it
- Feb 7, 2022·1 replyBizzle
Proulx is tough as nails and manages to squeeze entire lifetimes and sometime several generations into these short stories, matched in scope by the vast Wyoming plains that they're set in.
Just a bunch of gritty cowboy stories written in really dense, lyrical prose. Great stuff
This looks
ima make note broski 
Feb 7, 2022CRACKASTEPPAVEGANGo tell it on the mountain by James Baldwin
3/5
Some great passages in this but man it dragged. Short book which is weird, but I knew what I was getting myself into. Just got overwhelmed with the sermons halfway through but I finished it and I liked the final confrontation at the end between brother and sister. Overall though, it was okay, didn't love it
The imagery here is great but he refined it in Beale street
- Feb 7, 2022·1 replySpring
I'm trying to read more this year.
I'm almost done with "the art of not giving a f***." It's really basic, but it's a decent flick to the head on not overthinking yourself to death.
The title alone makes me really not want to read the book lmao. Sounds like some s*** soccer moms would love.
- Feb 7, 2022M a r b l e
The title alone makes me really not want to read the book lmao. Sounds like some s*** soccer moms would love.
It's average for the scope of self help books.
But it's a nice alternative to the self help books that try to push the "sigma" "trillionaire" grind set of improving yourself.
It operates on accepting the mundane and enjoy the actual boring part of our lives which is the majority of us and our time.
Basically stop overthinking yourself to death
- Feb 7, 2022·1 replyKoala
This looks
ima make note broskiShe really nails a sense of place in everything she does. I read The Shipping News a little while ago and you can basically feel the north Atlantic chill coming off the pages.
Finally found a copy of Hard Rain Falling on ebay recently btw, will get round to that soon
- Feb 7, 2022Bizzle
She really nails a sense of place in everything she does. I read The Shipping News a little while ago and you can basically feel the north Atlantic chill coming off the pages.
Finally found a copy of Hard Rain Falling on ebay recently btw, will get round to that soon
nice, that's one of my favs.. Also got one of your rec lined up soon
Feb 8, 2022The compound effect
Good book. Interesting take on discipline and consistency. Basic concept is doing a lil better every day or just showing up every day to work can have immense benefits.
Gave me some inspiration so I can vouch
Feb 8, 2022·2 replies
This mf SPITTING
Feb 9, 2022·edited·2 replies
Spent almost two weeks reading this & it beat my ASS. This is a book I’ve always lowkey avoided my entire life because of its reputation for being a slow story, but I’m so glad I finally said f*** it and picked it up. By the end of the book I was attached to the main characters and felt like I was on that whaling ship with them for years. The slow-burning narration and long digressions aren’t so bad when you just go along for the ride and accept them for what they are. One chapter called “Cistern and Buckets” starts with Ishmael (the narrator) describing how to empty a whale’s head of its contents and compares it to midwifery, which leads to reflections on Plato. It all pays off at the end, which is pretty epic.
I also really loved how Herman Melville played with the format of the book, writing quite a few chapters as plays that feature long soliloquies.
Lastly, I love how on the surface a lot of people think it’s just a long story about chasing a whale, but throughout the book Melville references so many branches of knowledge like zoology, astronomy, law, economics, mythology, ETC.
There’s something in Moby D*** for everyone and I’m glad to say I see why it’s considered one of the great American classics.
5/5
“Call me Ishmael.”
- Feb 9, 20220ddJay
Spent almost two weeks reading this & it beat my ASS. This is a book I’ve always lowkey avoided my entire life because of its reputation for being a slow story, but I’m so glad I finally said f*** it and picked it up. By the end of the book I was attached to the main characters and felt like I was on that whaling ship with them for years. The slow-burning narration and long digressions aren’t so bad when you just go along for the ride and accept them for what they are. One chapter called “Cistern and Buckets” starts with Ishmael (the narrator) describing how to empty a whale’s head of its contents and compares it to midwifery, which leads to reflections on Plato. It all pays off at the end, which is pretty epic.
I also really loved how Herman Melville played with the format of the book, writing quite a few chapters as plays that feature long soliloquies.
Lastly, I love how on the surface a lot of people think it’s just a long story about chasing a whale, but throughout the book Melville references so many branches of knowledge like zoology, astronomy, law, economics, mythology, ETC.
There’s something in Moby D*** for everyone and I’m glad to say I see why it’s considered one of the great American classics.
5/5
“Call me Ishmael.”
I'm still 15% in, after the sermon at the start
Feb 10, 2022·1 reply0ddJaySpent almost two weeks reading this & it beat my ASS. This is a book I’ve always lowkey avoided my entire life because of its reputation for being a slow story, but I’m so glad I finally said f*** it and picked it up. By the end of the book I was attached to the main characters and felt like I was on that whaling ship with them for years. The slow-burning narration and long digressions aren’t so bad when you just go along for the ride and accept them for what they are. One chapter called “Cistern and Buckets” starts with Ishmael (the narrator) describing how to empty a whale’s head of its contents and compares it to midwifery, which leads to reflections on Plato. It all pays off at the end, which is pretty epic.
I also really loved how Herman Melville played with the format of the book, writing quite a few chapters as plays that feature long soliloquies.
Lastly, I love how on the surface a lot of people think it’s just a long story about chasing a whale, but throughout the book Melville references so many branches of knowledge like zoology, astronomy, law, economics, mythology, ETC.
There’s something in Moby D*** for everyone and I’m glad to say I see why it’s considered one of the great American classics.
5/5
“Call me Ishmael.”
Ahab goat
“ Come, Ahab’s compliments to ye; come and see if ye can swerve me. Swerve me? ye cannot swerve me, else ye swerve yourselves! man has ye there. Swerve me? The path to my fixed purpose is laid with iron rails, whereon my soul is grooved to run. Over unsounded gorges, through the rifled hearts of mountains, under torrents’ beds, unerringly I rush! Naught’s an obstacle, naught’s an angle to the iron way! “Reminded me of satan in paradise lost
- Feb 10, 2022·1 replyvenus
Ahab goat
“ Come, Ahab’s compliments to ye; come and see if ye can swerve me. Swerve me? ye cannot swerve me, else ye swerve yourselves! man has ye there. Swerve me? The path to my fixed purpose is laid with iron rails, whereon my soul is grooved to run. Over unsounded gorges, through the rifled hearts of mountains, under torrents’ beds, unerringly I rush! Naught’s an obstacle, naught’s an angle to the iron way! “Reminded me of satan in paradise lost
Fr he’s the GOAT and he went out like a f\*\*\*ing G
“Towards thee I roll, thou all-destroying but unconquering whale; to the last I grapple with thee; from hell’s heart I stab at thee; for hate’s sake I spit my last breath at thee. Sink all coffins and all hearses to one common pool! And since neither can be mine, let me then tow to pieces, while still chasing thee, though tied to thee, thou damned whale! Thus, I give up the spear!”