Orlando tells the story of an English nobleman living during the reign of Elizabeth I. At the age of 30 he mysteriously turns into a woman, then lives on for 300 further years. He is an aspiring writer and poet, and meets many people over his/her life. At the start of the book, he falls …
For Whom the Bell Tolls, Hemingway
I didn't think much of For Whom the Bell Tolls at first, but it pulled me in and left me heartbroken. Somehow, with sparse descriptions and repetitive words, he made me feel the love between Maria and Robert with a clarity that made me feel sick for them. He made me despise Pablo and respect …
Bird watching
I recently started reading The Peregrine by J.A. Baker, and am stunned by the beauty of the prose. I have always been endeared by birds and though I've never gone birdwatching, this is making me want to. How he can go on about all the details of how these birds live, and make it so …
The City and the City, by China Mieville
I finished reading The City & The City and was impressed, intrigued and am interested in reading some of his other books. A murder investigation in a foreign city which is actually two cities who spend their days ignoring each other... what could go wrong? I found this crime novel to be very creative, and …
Peace on Earth, by Stanislaw Lem
I finished Peace on Earth and I think it's possible that I didn't 'get' this book. I have found afterward that it was meant to be a satire, and though some of it was funny, I took it more of a straight up sci fi adventure/thought piece. Maybe that is why I was a bit …
Jonas David 