| | In the couple weeks since I last posted anything here I've been enjoying being able to read just for fun (there was also an unpleasant incident where I got put on probation at work for a supervisor's actions over which I had no control, but that just makes me hostile to think about so I won't talk about it right now). I've decided to write short reviews of the books that I read for fun this summer. If you like to read maybe it'll give you some books to add to your "to read" list (or avoid like the plague). If you don't like books then you can be happy that my summer classes started this week so I won't have as much time to read for fun and you might not be subjected to too many more of these. Anyway, here's what I've read so far this summer:
The Last King: Romes Greatest Enemy by Michael Curtis - This is historical fiction about the life of Mithridates Eupator IV (the Great) who was the last king of the kingdom of Pontus in Asia Minor. He caused the Roman Empire so much trouble that his eventual death led to parties in the streets of Rome. It was interesting to learn about a person (albeit a ruthless, cruel person) and part of history I didn't know much about. However Mithridates was exaggerated to the extent that he sounded more like Hercules or Conan the Barbarian (but with a higher level of intelligence) than a real historical figure. To me, it just made the story feel shallow rather than mythical (which is what I think the author was aiming for). Rating: 2 out of 5
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley - This is one of the classic dystopias (along with Orwell's 1984 and Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451). The picture Huxley paints of a society that has given up truth, faith, and love in order to have stability and a sort of frantic, hedonistic "happiness" (maintained by never being alone or quiet, lots of casual sex, and mind-altering drugs if, Ford-forbid, you should ever actually start to think or feel unhappy) is scarily reminiscent of the way our culture is headed. Granted, the cloning and subliminal brain-washing aspects of the story aren't going on yet, but this is sci-fi. An excellent dystopia, especially considering how relevant it is even though it was written 70+ years ago. Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Eric by Terry Pratchett - This is one of the Discworld novels. Chronologically, it's the next book about Rincewind (the wizard who can't do magic) to happen after Sourcery. Overall, I think I prefer Pratchett's earlier Discworld books...the later ones that I've read (including this one) tend to mock faith/religion/Christianity excessively (though I suppose I should have expected that with this book since it's a variation on Faust). Rating 2.5 out of 5
The Screwtape Letters with Screwtape Proposes a Toast by C. S. Lewis - In this book, Lewis's thoughts on temptation, sin, and virtue are cleverly presented as letters from a senior demon to a novice tempter. The two themes I appreciated the most were: a life genuinely submitted to God is contrasted with a life lived in trying to impress God and others; and the extent to which feelings can be confused for spirituality (or lack thereof) and lead us astray. I disagree with the implication throughout the book that salvation is an extremely tentative, unsure state, but I'm not sure whether that is actually C. S. Lewis's personal view or just "wishful thinking" on the part of the demons. Rating 5 out of 5
And that's it for now. I'm already most of the way through several other books so more reviews may be coming soon if classes don't keep me too busy. Yeah, I know you're thrilled. |
| | Posted 5/13/2009 11:38 AM - 5 Views - 0 eProps - 0 comments
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