redcephei's reviews
34 reviews

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

hopeful reflective

5.0

Aaah that was so good. I did not expect the ending "pooteeweet?" to hit as hard as it did, given that I knew it was coming. It was unsatisfying but so very appropriate, perfectly summarising the "so it goes" attitude of Tralfamodorians and thus Billy Pilgrim. This book is weird. It's not written in chronological order. It doesn't feel like traditional first or third person perspective (more like a third person augmented reality on top of first person non fiction). The writing style is inexplicably good. It's beautifully written not thanks to imagery or figurative language which I could dissect more easily but because it has so much character and it builds on itself and references itself in a beautiful and highly appropriate way. Besides that, the plot is beautiful too. Change of any kind is difficult and complex and the non-linearity of time is reassuring. It's personal because I've been thinking about it a lot and reading this book at times felt like somebody refining my thoughts and saying them back to me. There are so many little parts of this book that make me feel things that I can't fully describe you just need to read it to understand. I love how he says "So it goes" to every death from the death of a spouse to the death of an insect to the death of a concept. It kind of (perhaps unintentionally) ties in with the concept of the oneness of the universe that I've been finding interesting in other books. Overall this book is really good and at time of writing, I cannot sincerely compare it to anything else I have ever known.

Human Compatible by Stuart Russell

informative

4.5

Good introduction to AI risk and alignment where we are and what we need to develop to be on the right path. Easy (and fun!) read despite my limited prior knowledge.

Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse

inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

The concept of the oneness of the universe and a person's soul and the illusion of time is beautifully fascinating. Everything is what it was and will be.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

dark reflective sad medium-paced

4.5

This book is beautifully written. Fitzgerald has an exact way of describing character's attitudes and interactions. The exaggerated but accurate metaphors add humour while eliciting the perfect emotions in response in the reader. The book also carries symbolisms which tie in with the plot such as Dr T.J. Eckleburg's fading eyes symbolising God or reflecting the inner worlds of the characters standing for the distorted and superficial world of the wealthy. 

The final juxtaposition between the number of attendees at Gatsby's grand parties and the number of attendees at his funeral is haunting.

Rationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It Matters by Steven Pinker

informative reflective medium-paced

4.5

It's such a good book. I feel like a more knowledgeable person having read this. It's the type of book you don't just read, but reflect on and implement. I need to spend a few days sitting with this and sorting everything I've learned. It's provided me with so many more topics and ideas to hone in on. The writing style is engaging, digestible, and surprisingly funny even when the topic being discussed is complex. He covers a variety of subjects which I now have a basic understanding of. Some of my previous ideas on morality and politics have been challenged so I'm excited about scrutinising them. Side note: his vocabulary is extensive I didn't think I'd learn so many new words haha

The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

dark reflective slow-paced

4.75

Metamorphosis is an existential, absurd, beautiful work about alienation. The setting is claustrophobic which reflects the claustrophobic relationships and attitudes around Gregor Samsa. His (petite) bourgeois family depends on him for income. This book is very fun to analyse from many vantage points and provides reflections on modern society. It's possible that him turning into a bug is metaphor for underlying alienation. An economic analysis would suggest that part of the alienation resulted from being cut off from one's work which is characteristics of capitalism. In the epilogue, the alienation extends to the family following Gregor's death. The comments on Grete Samsa may suggest that the same fate will befall her.

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

5.0

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

adventurous inspiring reflective fast-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

I love love love this book. Timeless favourite and it has the same vibes as The Little Prince. I find it so beautifully written and I'm such a sucker for religious allegories and metaphors. Santiago is everything I aspire to be. This is a great reflection of me and what I love most in this world. That being said, I rate it so highly because I like how it makes me feel but objectively I would rank it lower. So it isn't necessarily a book I would recommend easily and I agree with a lot of its criticisms. 

Women, Race, & Class by Angela Y. Davis

informative reflective

4.5

This book is so informationally dense. I learnt a lot about the history of the intersectionalities between gender race and class. Angela Davis writes that their respective oppressions are symptoms of a faulty system rather than isolated blemishes on an otherwise perfect society. Would re-read.

God's Silence by Franz Wright

4.25

I love the atmosphere in a lot of the poems  esp with snow. From Nightwalk, "There must be thousands of people in this city who are dying to welcome you into their small bolted rooms,to sit you down and tell you what has happened to their lives.And the night smells like snow.Walking home, for a moment you almost believe you could start again." A lot of the poems are sad and angry and religious in a way which comes off as mystical but unsure. From Father Roger Goes For a Walk, "It's the last day of somebody's childhood. And every day I'll try to do one thing I like, in memory of being happy". Man that stings. What a banger