wohnjick's reviews
83 reviews

The Dehumanization of Art and Other Essays on Art, Culture, and Literature by José Ortega y Gasset

reflective medium-paced

3.5

The first (titular) and last essays are the best, but there are some interesting thoughts to be had throughout the work. Ortega's writing is clear and easy to read, and (aside from some weird aspects of his conservatism leanings bleeding through here and there) he makes some interesting points

Dogmatics in Outline by Karl Barth

challenging slow-paced

Magritte: Masters of Art by Alexander Adams

informative fast-paced

4.0

Interesting and digestible little book about Magritte. Good as a general introduction to him. 

Hyperion by Dan Simmons

adventurous emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison by Michel Foucault

challenging informative reflective slow-paced

4.75

Foucault's analysis is detailed, persuasive, and prescient. There's a reason this is considered a classic of contemporary philosophy; go read it. 

Flatland by Edwin A. Abbott

funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

Funny and interesting satire of rigid social hierarchies combined with a surprisingly open minded view (for the time) of dimensions and reality. Solid little book

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

dark reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Great book. Its well written, engaging, and makes a decisive political statement that doesn't pull punches. Sometimes the level of misogyny seems almost too much, but a quick reflection about some of the things I've heard other men say and it really isn't as far fetched as it sounds (referring specifically to the ideology some men (and probably women) have). If I had any critiques, at times Atwood's writing style is a bit difficult to follow (her sporadic use of quotation marks makes is more difficult than someone like Saramago who doesn't use them at all) but this doesn't happen often and isn't a major hinderance on the book itself. 

The World and Man by René Descartes

challenging informative slow-paced

3.75

 I went into this book presuming it was a mostly philosophical work... this was incorrect. This is more akin to Descartes' version of a science textbook and contains mostly his breakdowns of physics and anatomy. There are some philosophical underpinnings here (corpuscularianism is a nice word you make you sound smart), but this is not a primarily philosophical work.

That being said, it wasn't a horrible read. Descartes's understandings are obviously out of date and often wrong, but I did find a new respect for him by seeing how dedicated he was as a scientific mind. And it helped that Roger Ariew's was, as Descartes would put it, clear and distinct enough to make such a dense (and surprisingly small) work accessible.

By no means a bad book and it certainly accomplishes the goal it is aiming for (to explain Descartes' understanding of the mechanics of the world and man), but unless you're looking to better understand Descartes' scientific theories it is probably of no interest to you. 

A True Story by Charles Whibley, Francis Hickes, Lucian of Samosata

adventurous lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

Story is fine enough but God this translation was awful and outdated. Certainly has science fiction elements so I can understand why some say it's the first sci-fi work, but to me it seems more fantasy. Worth the read but I'd much prefer a newer translation

Bacchae by Euripides

dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Honestly I expected a little bit more out this one given its reputation as one of the pinnacles of Greek drama. While it has a good story, I feel like some elements of the structure dont end up suiting the plot particularly well. That being said it was a good story, and Poochigian's translation read nicely.