mermaidforlife's reviews
15 reviews

Notes from Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky

dark emotional funny mysterious reflective slow-paced

4.5

A novel invitation to various thought experiments. Among other things, Dostoevsky stirred this within me: For we shall not beg, though it is this we long to do; it is this we take instruction for; it is this I would perform for you.

There exists vanity, insanity, sensibility, fear, and hesitation. Reading Dostoevsky’s words is to engage in a conversation—double sided. Read, read, read.

Tortilla Flat by John Steinbeck

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

Steinbeck,
You and I are not alike

We are the same.

We both write about what we hope exists somewhere

In someone else’s mind

In someone’s real life

Cannery Row by John Steinbeck

adventurous emotional funny hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

5.0

Doc’s dreams and desires were too subtle, too concealed—his emotions, too. I agree wholeheartedly with his silence, but I yearn for him to speak, truly speak. I reflect that the objective seems always to be some sort of seeking of contentment. Perhaps it is our humanity. The novel enlightened me on this, too: all my ways are ignorant, and to say everyone’s ways are ignorant would be heresy. . . but they are. To my new lover, Henri, I love you. As for Frankie, Doc never reciprocated you with those innocent words, so I express them for him: I love you. 

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

5.0

Steinbeck,
Within us is an entire world

Pure and sacred

Delicate even with our ugly beasts of lust

There is no vulgarity in our art

East of Eden by John Steinbeck

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

5.0

Steinbeck,
The many things you love to burn I burn, too

Newspapers, cigarettes, candles, and houses

Isn’t it strange I wrote a story about Catherine before I touched your Eden?

Yes, I owned my own garden

My own woman with a history identical to yours

My own garden of love containing weeds

But love warm enough to make light
And encompass all good and evil things