Caleb
The guy who wrote this is probably so insufferable and annoying. Half the book is him making very surface level pseudo-intellectual claims. Most of the time this is very annoying.
Haven't read anything like this before but it accomplishes so much in so few pages. Definitely an odd structure as most of the statements are at most a page and contain only brief musings from one of the employees. Love the idea of extraterrestrial objects possessing some kind of sentience or otherworldly qualities that can't be understood. Something about it feels more alien than most visions of alien life are.
Really good jeez
Such a cool world and really cool style that takes a bit to get used to.
Took me a little while to get into this but once i got into it I was very into it. The whole thing is very harrowing but the last third is especially hard hitting. Sarah's story is particularly tragic just because she never really fully understands what's happening to her. Also her “treatment” is by far the most disturbing part of the book.
The dialogue isn't split up at all which took some getting used to but selby gives each character such a unique voice that after awhile it gets pretty easy to tell who's talking. His dialogue for black characters can seem very stereotypical at times but I think part of that is done to differentiate the voices of the characters.
One of the best novels I've read recently. The language is so disorienting and foul but at the same time is very evocative of this chaotic, drugged up, and sweaty landscape these characters live in. Also has almost every messed up thing you can think of in it and very graphic descriptions at that so not for the faint of heart.
This was good buts it's not very cohesive as it is essentially a collection of interviews and essays. A lot of the same facts and ideas are repeated often. Still a great overview.
Listened to on a road trip. It's not great and far too long but parts are interesting and insightful.
The battle royal section (chapter one) is a masterpiece and maybe the greatest thing I've ever read. I honestly can't believe that this was published in the 50s. Everything about this book is so groundbreaking, from the ideas it presents to the style of writing and storytelling itself. Much of the story feels almost dreamlike, especially the battle royal section which is almost surreal in its telling. That section is just so powerful, disturbing, and visceral, I cannot give it justice. Can't say enough great things about this book, it is a new favorite for me.
I enjoyed this and found the writing compulsively readable but I can't agree with the reading of Stoner as some sort of saint. He essentially rapes his wife (which likely contributes to the resentment she feels towards him) and doesn't do much to help his daughter who is both abused and neglected by his wife. While his quiet suffering is admirable in sections (I think his steadfastness to his principles in regards to the whole Lomax thing is quite honorable), much of Stoners suffering seems to be a result of him refusing to stand up for himself. I also think that Lomax and Edith can come across as almost cartoonishly villainous at times, to the point that they feel as if they are only there to provide painful situations for Stoner to manage.
Sometimes really good and sometimes infuriating and boring. The main character has a tendency to be the most insufferable incel freak loser I've ever seen in a book but manages to still have his likable moments. I preferred the books that took place in Unthank, especially book 3.
Some of the stories are super good and some of them are just eh. The writing in general never really elevates itself above just passable but the ideas in PKDs stories is what shines.
My favorites were: I Hope You Arrive Soon (my favorite in the collection), Beyond Lies the Wub, The King Of The Elves, and Rautavarras Case.
Still think about this book all the time... So hilarious and Mickey is such a great character. He's such an asshole but it's so fucking funny. There's a surprising tragedy that envelops the book as it goes on. Likely to revisit this later.