Looking for entry-level ergodic fiction? Start here.
An allegorical story about a fictional nation where the citizens venerate a man who came up with tLooking for entry-level ergodic fiction? Start here.
An allegorical story about a fictional nation where the citizens venerate a man who came up with the phrase "the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog," a phrase utilizing all 26 letters of the alphabet.
The story is a series of letters that chronicle a island community as the use of the letter "Z" is outlawed, soon followed by others, and all the social, political, and literal chaos that ensues.
The reader will encounter archaic words, strange vernacular, and ultimately train their brain to read a new form of phonetic English writing based on the limited lettericon.
A heavy, haunting, and beautiful read. Writing sharply divided between poetry and prose, it still catches the reader off guard, lost between both. WriA heavy, haunting, and beautiful read. Writing sharply divided between poetry and prose, it still catches the reader off guard, lost between both. Written in many voices, fonts, styles, and dimensions, the genres of horror, love, academia, poetry, and autobiographical all compete for this book's shelf.
A difficult read, emotionally, mentally, and physically. Unavailable in electronic form, the heavyweight of this book depresses the reader. The dark tones and manic narration further dig the reader deeper. Similar to the author's predicament, the only way out is to finish.
Some readers will find it too much and give up; others will find it too much and continue. This book is not for them. Then there will be those who relish every word, lost in the haze of its pages. This book is not for them. This book is not for you.
I do not recommend this book to anyone, but it is absolutely worth reading....more
A beautiful example of rethinking old ideas to form a story that feels both original and authentic. What emerges is a fictional biography with a themeA beautiful example of rethinking old ideas to form a story that feels both original and authentic. What emerges is a fictional biography with a theme of "be careful what you wish for". The story spans centuries; French historical fiction intertwined with a contemporary New York narrative, all following one life's events.
Addie has promised her soul to gain freedom from her peasant life, a life where she has no say in who she is to marry, where she is to live, or what she is to do. In doing so, she has unwittingly become free of the world. Losing the ability to leave any marks or be remembered, except by the Devil...
What follows is a lonely 300 year-long journey of her struggle to keep finding a reason to live. In a life without her name, anyone to love, or anything to leave behind, she turns to art as her refuge, becoming a muse. But the Devil wants her soul, and the story cannot be so simple.
A haunting book. Superficial in concept but deep in execution. Examining themes of loneliness, mental health, and philosophical ideas on living. Written in a poignant, poetic, but beautiful demeanor, highly recommend. ...more
Pan's Labyrinth, known as El laberinto del fauno in its native Spanish, is a mysterious, dark, and spellbinding fairytale played out in an enchanting Pan's Labyrinth, known as El laberinto del fauno in its native Spanish, is a mysterious, dark, and spellbinding fairytale played out in an enchanting movie directed by Guillermo del Toro. It takes place in fascist ruled Spain in the deep forest after world war two. It follows the life of a young girl, anti-government guerrillas, and the Captian charged to exterminate the rebellion. The movie is a masterpiece, and the book is too.
It's rare to see a direct adaption of a film into a novel, the reverse being the norm. In this case, it's masterfully done. Whereas the movie is in Spanish, this book is brilliantly translated into English, stylistic integrity and essence preserved.
This book is not a prequel, sequel, or variation of the movie, but the same story intensified. Everything that occurs in the film happens in the book with more detail; characters are given backstories, reminiscent of One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez. Key objects have their origins explained, their enchantments and curses. And the main story is elevated upon a foundation of dark fairytales only hinted of in the movie.
Highly recommend the book and movie; Recommend watching the movie first, building the cast of character in your imagination, and letting the story linger on your mind for a bit. Then after some time has passed, read the book. The audiobook is enchantingly performed if you choose to listen to the book. ...more
The underlying concept is great for a science fiction or fantasy story, but the execution is almost elementary. The story holds together as long as thThe underlying concept is great for a science fiction or fantasy story, but the execution is almost elementary. The story holds together as long as the reader does not ask any questions about details, or fills in holes as they read.
However, this book is filled with deus ex machina (plot-driving or resolving coincidences). Examples of this are all over the book, starting with how the "protagonist" team of characters all meet. There are also inconstancies in the "abilities" characters have, it seems they are either limited or unlimited as the plot requires. Not to mention one character whose ability is so powerful that it makes no sense that that character is not in charge of the entire world.
I'm giving this book too much of a review, it's not meant to be engaging through-provoking literature. It's an easy read to take one's mind off reality for a bit, then to be forgotten....more
These stories are metaphorical extremes of the trials a lot of guys go through when playing the dating game. The thirty or so stories are unique... buThese stories are metaphorical extremes of the trials a lot of guys go through when playing the dating game. The thirty or so stories are unique... but about subjects that are so commonplace they are relatable. The stories are written by an average male, so his stories are biased as such. If you are rich, famous, a model, or a woman, you likely won't find this book as funny. You might instead find it melodramatic or a little pitiful because you've never had these problems in your life; enjoy having and eating your cake.
If you are an average single male who's desperately in search of companionship (see: sex), and have gone through the right of passage of online dating known as being "catfished". Or had a date roll her eyes when she first saw the car you drove or watch you wore. Or been dumped for inexplicable reasons for somebody as bad as Hilter and don't understand why... you'll likely relate to this book. It's not all sad stories twisted to be funny; some are just sad, some are just funny, and some are just twisted. It's a fun book, making light of a subject that needs more humor in it. This book reminds its readers how absurd the things we take seriously really can be....more
This book shattered me. The colorless grays that were so vividly painted in it slowly seeped into my life; my thoughts became bland, and my existence.This book shattered me. The colorless grays that were so vividly painted in it slowly seeped into my life; my thoughts became bland, and my existence... pointless. For literature to have this effect on me it must be powerful, this was maybe a bit too powerful. McCarthy seems to be on intimate terms with both Death and Despair, who aren't working in tandem in this story. Indeed, Death is a reluctant protagonist in the way he compassionately takes one away from Despair. Read this if you want to feel sadness, hopelessness, and eventually emptiness. I hope, as in my case, this fiction serves as a stark contrast to your reality. It's strange how such tragedy can be told so beautifully....more
This book is not for the causal reader; it takes place in a world where taboo does not exist, moral absolutist should stay away. The themes this book This book is not for the causal reader; it takes place in a world where taboo does not exist, moral absolutist should stay away. The themes this book explores are so diverse, the word that comes to mind is "cacophony"; how else would the topics of artificial intelligence, sadomasochism, and Asimov's laws of robotics come together? Surprisingly well. This book is as much science fiction as it is fantasy, and the philosophical questions it brings up will probably need to be addressed at some point in our society as we keep moving forward towards a technological singularity. Elements of this story definitely pay homage to classic science fiction, dystopian, and dark fantasy novels, but it remains very original. The ideas explored are challenging, but the narration is not. Highly recommend this book to those looking to challenge themselves by reading something completely outside of their normal reading habits.
Usually I am pose, composed, and objective when reviewing a book; the demeanor that the hundreds that read my reviews expect. BUT I CANNOT DO THAT FORUsually I am pose, composed, and objective when reviewing a book; the demeanor that the hundreds that read my reviews expect. BUT I CANNOT DO THAT FOR THIS REVIEW! This book kicks so much ass, I devoured it in three days - like a rabid addict I was either consuming its content or salivated at the next opportunity to do so. This book was written for me, the dude who was socially awkward in adolescence and retreated to the unjudging solace of his mind to escape reality. Programming code, watching cartoons, reading sci-fi novels, playing DOS games, or enjoying cult media... these were all forms of escape, and this books pays tribute to them all+. If you were anything like me growing up, or enjoy playing MMORPGs I think you will relate with a lot in this book. If you were one of the cool kids growing up, there is a lot you won't understand in this book (it is extremely esoteric), BUT it is still an excellent piece of experimental fiction and does a great job merging the genres of love, mystery, fantasy, sci-fi and auto-biograpy together. READ THIS BOOK. Then write a great review for it and never say any thing negative about it. EVER!...more
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