On loan from Mike J (and a strong recommendation from Benjy).

Quickly became a favorite. The line between reality and fantastical interpretation of one’s surroundings was thin. Repeatedly I’d think that I misinterpreted what I read, only to discover the episode confirmed. The Tin Drum is like no other book I’ve read.

While allconsuming was down, I wrote about this book, forgetting that I’d done so already:

Paton’s book finds it on my list of all time favorites. It’s always odd to add a new favorite when I’ve been saying my favorites are X, Y, and Z for the last few years (one of Kazuo Ishiguro’s – because two of one’s favorite books can’t be by the same author, Tess, Gatsby… mostly things that have been favorites since high school). Cry The Beloved Country was moving. Paton’s style is different than most things I have read and do read. The language was frank, blunt, honest. The book lacked luster and pizazz. The characters experienced a range of emotions, all of which were believable. I am more inspired than ever to read The Grapes of Wrath, as Paton was inspired by Steinback to abandon quotation marks and replace them with extra long hyphens. I find one author’s inspiration inspiring (for lack of better words).

Borrowed from Mike J.

(completed 4/1/05)

Incredible. Brilliant description of both landscape and society. Paton succeeds in creating a multitude of likeable characters, though each has his own flaws. This book now lies on my list of all time favorites. It is inspiring, hopeful, and insightful.

Sep was reading this (for a second time) on the shuttle and highly recommended it to me.

(completed Apr 5, 2005) As is evident by this list, I rarely read non-fiction. Feynman, citizen scientist, has insights in the 1960s about society, that I think maintain their validity today. What stands out most in my mind, is his discussion of the Unscientific Age that he claimed we were living in in the 1960s. I had never thought of examining the way we function in such a way, but I agree with what he says. As a society, we often look only for the answer and overlook the importance of the process. No diatribe here from me, but I do recommend reading his.

Sep was reading this (for a second time) on the shuttle and highly recommended it to me.

I bought this (and had it signed) at Kepler’s when I heard Ishiguro speak last spring. I put off reading it for many months because I knew when I finished I’d want more Ishiguro and there’d be none for me. I was right! I loved it, as I do all his works. There’s something about a character coming to terms with one’s past and analyzing every step along the way that intrigues me. I can’t wait for Kazuo Ishiguro’s next book!

(completed Apr 11, 2005) I gave this to Judy for Christmas and borrowed it without asking last week :). I could hardly put it this book down over the weekend. It certainly took me by surprise around chapter 3 when I realized where it was going. It made me cry, but not until a page after I would’ve expected. It kept me awake last night, the way an equivalent real, live event would have. Great book. (recommended by Meg)

A very fun read. However, the first thing I did after finishing this book was apostrophize its in an e-mail to Daisy and Adam. Shameful! (completed 5/2)

Kazuo Ishiguro recommended Cloud Atlas when I heard him speak in 2005.

This book was incredible; I haven’t read anything quite like it. Really six stories wrapped into one, the switch from one to another and back again is really intriguing. Some transitions were hard for me, but I ended up enjoying all six parts. I hope to read more Mitchell in the future.