Haldeman served in Vietnam, and this 1974 sci-fi novel provides commentary on that experience. William Mandella serves in earth’s war with an alien race called the Taurans. The battles are rarely decided by any of his actions (except a good one at the end). When he returns to earth after his first tour, everything has changed so much …
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I don’t know that I want to write a novel or would be any good at it. I do find myself reading a lot of books about writing, which is curious. For the most part, I did not care for this one. His experience is not relateable (or even believable, many times!). So much of his success comes off as, “So I just cranked out a …
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I read this on my phone via Libby. He creates a weird, magical alternative world. Very little dialog. It makes you feel uncomfortable. Very well done, but I don’t need to read the next two books in the series.
Som quotes:
“When you see beauty in desolation it changes something inside you. Desolation tries to colonize you.” …
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This book turned out to be pretty boring but full of good, practical advice for someone wanting to start a podcast. Which I don’t really want to do… so why was I listening to it? I don’t know!
A few notes on the gear they …
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Pastor Bolland was diagnosed with stage 4 esophageal cancer. Expecting to live around six months, he wrote this short book, which includes some biographical details, his thinking about whether to try long-shot treatments, comforting Scripture passages and hymns, thoughts about burial and cremation, what not to say to someone …
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This collection of essays, short stories, and unfinished chapters was published a couple of years after C. S. Lewis died.
You can't get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me. (v)
As a kid, when he began writing, he tried to write “grown-up” books. “When I began writing stories… …
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I’ll read anything Max Barry writes. I loved Machine Man, Company (especially the first half), and have listened to Lexicon twice.
His strength is taking a unique premise (special words can control people, an engineer building his own robot arm, multiverse murder), establishing the rules, and then seeing how they play out. The …
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Loved it. Themes of perseverance, struggle, manliness, friendship, man’s relationship with nature. The old man measures himself against the marlin.
Lots of little comments in manly philosophy. “I would rather be exact. That way, when the luck comes, you are ready.” (32)
And some humor. “I fear the Indians …
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This book (or “extended essay”) is really about work and ambition. NH is not going to list strange coincidences paralleling the lives of Dickens and Prince (like that Lincoln/Kennedy list that goes around). Dickens and Prince are both in his list of “My People,” people who have inspired him …
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What you really want in songwriting is to disappear. To spend time in a place where you just are. (3)
“Connection is the loftiest of all aspirations… We all want to feel less alone.” (11) Sacred music helps us connect vertically, to God. Folk, rock, rap, etc. help us connect horizontally, with other people.
I want to …
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