From Goodreads
Othello
William Shakespeare
Othello ranks up there with my favorite Shakespearean work, Coriolanus. Shakespeare knows how to grab your attention even through all the barriers. His character development moves the plot along while simultaneously giving it extra layers. Othello's tragedy makes for a fun time when you get to the deeper ethical questions, but at the same time it is obvious that Othello is as unquestionably guilty as Iago. Iago is a pretty fascinating character as well. I'm rambling here so I'll end with that.
Monday, March 11, 2019
Sunday, March 3, 2019
You are my dukedom, my beer and my pot roast
From Goodreads
Prague in Black and Gold: Scenes from the Life of a European City
Peter Demetz
This is a solid history that really showcased to me my ignorance of Bohemian and Central European History. I knew a little before I read it; and, yet I thought I knew much more. While some of Demetz's references and allusions went right over my head he did an excellent job of painting broad strokes of the history of Prague and whetted my appetite for more. Usually I am drawn more to ancient history and the chapters leading up to the Hussite revolution were probably my favorite, but I found myself very interested in the Hapsburg era as well.
The writing is generally good, in a textbook sort of way. Some of the demystifying of Prague left me a little hostile, as I'm eagerly anticipating my Prague trip in just over a month, but there are copious amounts of magical histories of Prague, I guess one like this is necessary.
In his section on Mozart in Prague, he tells an anecdote about the first play performed in the Czech language. (Without spoiling the history of Bohemia, a history of language plays a pivotal role in the history of the city and the national identity.) The play, called Kníže Honzík is a play with a love triangle of sorts and deals with an ambitious dreamer. In the end though the dreamer is happy with his fiancee, declaring to her, "You are my dukedom, my beer and my pot roast". I guffawed when I read that line and am inscribing it in my memory banks with the hope that I will find occasion to steal it to declare my love for Erin some time.
What is great about this book is that it has informed me enough to want more. Being just the second history book of Prague I've read I find myself more and more fascinated with this city's history. Like any good teacher Peter Demetz has left enough questions unanswered to demand I learn more.
Prague in Black and Gold: Scenes from the Life of a European City
Peter Demetz
This is a solid history that really showcased to me my ignorance of Bohemian and Central European History. I knew a little before I read it; and, yet I thought I knew much more. While some of Demetz's references and allusions went right over my head he did an excellent job of painting broad strokes of the history of Prague and whetted my appetite for more. Usually I am drawn more to ancient history and the chapters leading up to the Hussite revolution were probably my favorite, but I found myself very interested in the Hapsburg era as well.
The writing is generally good, in a textbook sort of way. Some of the demystifying of Prague left me a little hostile, as I'm eagerly anticipating my Prague trip in just over a month, but there are copious amounts of magical histories of Prague, I guess one like this is necessary.
In his section on Mozart in Prague, he tells an anecdote about the first play performed in the Czech language. (Without spoiling the history of Bohemia, a history of language plays a pivotal role in the history of the city and the national identity.) The play, called Kníže Honzík is a play with a love triangle of sorts and deals with an ambitious dreamer. In the end though the dreamer is happy with his fiancee, declaring to her, "You are my dukedom, my beer and my pot roast". I guffawed when I read that line and am inscribing it in my memory banks with the hope that I will find occasion to steal it to declare my love for Erin some time.
What is great about this book is that it has informed me enough to want more. Being just the second history book of Prague I've read I find myself more and more fascinated with this city's history. Like any good teacher Peter Demetz has left enough questions unanswered to demand I learn more.
Saturday, February 16, 2019
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
From Goodreads
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Robert Louis Stevenson
This book gets an extra star for its importance and status. Honestly, the story is great and the psychological tension is intriguing in it. My problem with it was that it sort of rambles on and not in the way I like to ramble on. It's a very good book and deserves its place among the classics of Western Literature. It just wasn't my favorite.
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Robert Louis Stevenson
This book gets an extra star for its importance and status. Honestly, the story is great and the psychological tension is intriguing in it. My problem with it was that it sort of rambles on and not in the way I like to ramble on. It's a very good book and deserves its place among the classics of Western Literature. It just wasn't my favorite.
Monday, February 11, 2019
Ethan Frome
From Goodreads
This short, little novel grew on me as it unfolded. I was a little underwhelmed at first with its pondering pace. While it never really sped up it did get deeper and more interesting as the psychological profiles unwound and were laid bare.
On a side note, I did not picture Liam Neeson as Ethan. In my head he looked much more like Ichabod Crane or the bicyclist from The Triplets of Belleville. Mattie looked nothing like Patricia Arquette in my head either. Even books I don't love tend to create better mental images than their cinematic counterparts.
This short, little novel grew on me as it unfolded. I was a little underwhelmed at first with its pondering pace. While it never really sped up it did get deeper and more interesting as the psychological profiles unwound and were laid bare.
On a side note, I did not picture Liam Neeson as Ethan. In my head he looked much more like Ichabod Crane or the bicyclist from The Triplets of Belleville. Mattie looked nothing like Patricia Arquette in my head either. Even books I don't love tend to create better mental images than their cinematic counterparts.
Friday, February 8, 2019
Siddhartha
From Goodreads
As far as Siddhartha is a story the work is simple and beautiful. hesse does a great job of developing characters through the book in a unique way. In a sense he reveals them in the way that Siddhartha learns, by pulling back the bits of otherness to get to the oneness.
My only issue with the book is not so much with the book as with its modern devotees. The theology or philosophy or whatever you may call it that is built on this work is often wileded recklessly, clumsily and haphazardly by those same seekers that eternally never find anything. There may be wisdom in this book but it may be just as ineffable as the ferryman says it is.
As far as Siddhartha is a story the work is simple and beautiful. hesse does a great job of developing characters through the book in a unique way. In a sense he reveals them in the way that Siddhartha learns, by pulling back the bits of otherness to get to the oneness.
My only issue with the book is not so much with the book as with its modern devotees. The theology or philosophy or whatever you may call it that is built on this work is often wileded recklessly, clumsily and haphazardly by those same seekers that eternally never find anything. There may be wisdom in this book but it may be just as ineffable as the ferryman says it is.
Tuesday, February 5, 2019
The Transformation and Other Stories - Kafka
From Goodreads
I thought I had read Metamorphosis before, but if I had it made no lasting impression on me. The same cannot be said this time round. Metamorphosis is, above everything else, very sad. It has a bleakness that is palpable. While this may be the best and most well known story in this anthology there are other very good ones as well.
In particular I enjoyed The Stoker, The Judgment and A Report to the Academy. In The Penal Colony and A country Doctor were interesting as well. The latter two had some great bizarre moments. This anthology ended with Josephine, the Songstress. It somehow combines a weariness with strength in the face of futile existence. I don't know if it was intended as a surveying of the political atmosphere of his time, but it could be read as such by today's readers, who have resigned themselves to ineffectual governance.
I thought I had read Metamorphosis before, but if I had it made no lasting impression on me. The same cannot be said this time round. Metamorphosis is, above everything else, very sad. It has a bleakness that is palpable. While this may be the best and most well known story in this anthology there are other very good ones as well.
In particular I enjoyed The Stoker, The Judgment and A Report to the Academy. In The Penal Colony and A country Doctor were interesting as well. The latter two had some great bizarre moments. This anthology ended with Josephine, the Songstress. It somehow combines a weariness with strength in the face of futile existence. I don't know if it was intended as a surveying of the political atmosphere of his time, but it could be read as such by today's readers, who have resigned themselves to ineffectual governance.
Monday, February 4, 2019
Robinson Crusoe
From Goodreads
The story of Robinson Crusoe is interesting enough, but some of the minutiae of details in his survival drag on and for me, make it a rather boring read. I used a few reviews that decried Crusoe's morals and use of religion as a weapon and his language (savages, etc.). I was going to comment on these; but, I realized that arguing against somebody's post here on Goodreads would have had the same effect that their scourging of this novel has on Defoe.
SOme of the psychological aspects of this book and Crusoe's inner struggles are more interesting than how to build a hedge, but these became tedious at times. Overall this isn't a bad book - it just ain't great, neither.
The story of Robinson Crusoe is interesting enough, but some of the minutiae of details in his survival drag on and for me, make it a rather boring read. I used a few reviews that decried Crusoe's morals and use of religion as a weapon and his language (savages, etc.). I was going to comment on these; but, I realized that arguing against somebody's post here on Goodreads would have had the same effect that their scourging of this novel has on Defoe.
SOme of the psychological aspects of this book and Crusoe's inner struggles are more interesting than how to build a hedge, but these became tedious at times. Overall this isn't a bad book - it just ain't great, neither.
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