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bibliophage's reviews
626 reviews
Revolting Rhymes by Roald Dahl
More of Roald Dahl's clever and entertaining writing. He is gifted and these Rhymes are totally enjoyable.
Pragmatism: A New Name for Some Old Ways of Thinking by William James
I really really loved reading what William James has to say about experience (religious and otherwise). That was my focus as I read his work.
What I found to be the most interesting part is that between all of James’ analysis and evaluation he uses narrative descriptions of personal experiences as his evidence and material to better understand experience. Much of the text are narrative descriptions of people about their religious experiences, in the lectures I read, James includes narratives from people who recount their experiences sensing a presence or something that influenced their faith. Although James is focusing on religion and faith, it is very applicable to our understanding of the aesthetic experience in any context. For James, religion becomes real when we have actually experienced it or lived it in some way. He makes the claim that when we are determining what we believe to be true humans don't turn to hard evidence or logic, instead we draw from experience and how those "truths" have played out in our lives.
“Your whole subconscious life, your impulses, your faiths, your needs, your divinations, have prepared the weight of the result; and something in you absolutely knows that that result must be truer than any logic-chopping rationalistic talk, however clever, that may contradict it."
“Emotional occasions, especially violent ones, are extremely potent in precipitating mental rearrangements.”
I also loved what James had to say about the power of aesthetic experiences. It's no wonder that I loved William James since I also very much love Ralph Waldo Emerson (who was William James' godfather, and they have many connections in terms of thought).
What I found to be the most interesting part is that between all of James’ analysis and evaluation he uses narrative descriptions of personal experiences as his evidence and material to better understand experience. Much of the text are narrative descriptions of people about their religious experiences, in the lectures I read, James includes narratives from people who recount their experiences sensing a presence or something that influenced their faith. Although James is focusing on religion and faith, it is very applicable to our understanding of the aesthetic experience in any context. For James, religion becomes real when we have actually experienced it or lived it in some way. He makes the claim that when we are determining what we believe to be true humans don't turn to hard evidence or logic, instead we draw from experience and how those "truths" have played out in our lives.
“Your whole subconscious life, your impulses, your faiths, your needs, your divinations, have prepared the weight of the result; and something in you absolutely knows that that result must be truer than any logic-chopping rationalistic talk, however clever, that may contradict it."
“Emotional occasions, especially violent ones, are extremely potent in precipitating mental rearrangements.”
I also loved what James had to say about the power of aesthetic experiences. It's no wonder that I loved William James since I also very much love Ralph Waldo Emerson (who was William James' godfather, and they have many connections in terms of thought).
Story: Substance, Structure, Style, and the Principles of Screenwriting by Robert McKee
So insightful. I learned a lot about writing and a lot about reading. I recommend it to any writer, or anyone who is interested in why stories are so important and how we make them important. It is also good for anyone who is a keen film watcher.
Locomotive by Brian Floca
This is a fantastic book. The illustrations are gorgeous and the writing is interesting and elegant AND fun. What a great telling of the story of the US transcontinental railroad and the day-to-day life of a train and it's engineers.
Caldecott Medal 2014
Caldecott Medal 2014
Half a Lifelong Romance by Eileen Chang
I loved this beautiful book. A good friend from Taiwan recommended Eileen Chang, one of China's exceptional modern writers of literature, and I'm so glad we talked books because this read was marvelous. Chang stands out from other Chinese writers because of her attention to the everyday and not the larger political context. Several large political events occur through the timeline of the novel but Chang's focus are the relationships and personal turmoil of her characters.
Chang's writing is elegant, she captures the balance between the dramatic and the ordinary, the light and the heavy, and the love and the loss. The tension of the novel kept me going and eager to pick up the story whenever I could. The characters are complex and they are both endearing and frustrating (and some of them are just horrible––complexity be damned).
And, the title?––it's romantic, tragic, and exquisite.
Chang's writing is elegant, she captures the balance between the dramatic and the ordinary, the light and the heavy, and the love and the loss. The tension of the novel kept me going and eager to pick up the story whenever I could. The characters are complex and they are both endearing and frustrating (and some of them are just horrible––complexity be damned).
And, the title?––it's romantic, tragic, and exquisite.
Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
A well-written, clear, thoughtful piece on Christianity, Christian virtues, and challenges. He excellently breaks Christianity down to a fundamental shared territory among Christian believers. I took this book to heart and think about what I learned from Lewis every day. A brilliant, Christian, critical thinker and articulate writer.
Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton
A beautifully written story of South Africa, fathers and sons, faith and doubt, and redemption. The writing style is interesting and authentic and reads smoothly. One of my favorite pieces of literature.
A Good Man Is Hard to Find and Other Stories by Flannery O'Connor
Flannery O'Connor is a gifted writer and a great in American literature. Her stories are fascinating, dark, funny, dramatic, and much more. Her writing is very well crafted. I still think about how engaging her writing is.
A Good Man is Hard to Find awarded the National Book Award in Fiction 1956.
A Good Man is Hard to Find awarded the National Book Award in Fiction 1956.
Dr. Faustus by Christopher Marlowe
A powerful, classic, storyline––I perhaps appreciate the storyline more than the actual writing in this case. A worth-your-time thought-provoking read.
Persuasion by Jane Austen
My favorite Austen. So much good I'm not even going to try writing everything I think and feel about this book. Austen is incredibly talented.
“You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope...I have loved none but you.”
“You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope...I have loved none but you.”