oriana's review
The Society of Others: A Novel by William Nicholson
my sister, who never reads, is reading this book on her travels in South America. I am flabbergasted and ecstatic that she's taking the time to read at all, and I must have this book finished by the time she gets back.
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update: Welp, I'm really sad to have to take a break from Against the Day, but it must be done. This book looks like a quick read, tho, so hopefully I won't forget too much of Pynchon while I'm sidetracked.
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update the second Ok, so I admit that I wasn't exactly expecting to love this book. Sis aside, I am generally an unapologetic book snob, and my interests were not piqued by this one. And I wasn't wrong, really, Society of Others definitely wasn't that good. See, I mean, it starts real shitty, ...more
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update: Welp, I'm really sad to have to take a break from Against the Day, but it must be done. This book looks like a quick read, tho, so hopefully I won't forget too much of Pynchon while I'm sidetracked.
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update the second Ok, so I admit that I wasn't exactly expecting to love this book. Sis aside, I am generally an unapologetic book snob, and my interests were not piqued by this one. And I wasn't wrong, really, Society of Others definitely wasn't that good. See, I mean, it starts real shitty, ...more
I'll tell ya, after I read your review, I went ahead and read the book's description to see if it would engage my snobbishness too. After the first three words, I asked myself, "Are they describing this character....or Ben Stein, the Clear Eyes guy?" (Bueller? Bueller? Anyone? Anyone? Voodoo Economics.)The plot sounds bafflingly ridiculous. "Here, have this envelope while I go off and die and my truck gets burned?" Hmmm...I scratch my chin. Lovely that you're making your way back to Pynchon. I think once I'm done with these Dark Tower books, it'll be a fitting time to finally do Gravity's Rainbow.
Once again, Oriana, your writing. But also, your sensibilities. Thanks for the cogent warning.I wonder what the ensuing sister duologue must be like.
Matt: hee hee. (But I don't understand what you mean by Bueller / Voodoo Economics.) Ya, it's pretty much real bad. Certainly don't bother reading it... or even giving any more of your brain power to thinking about it. Good luck with that Dark Tower shit. (Sorry, I just hate Steven King.) Against the Day is making me think I might redo Gravity's Rainbow next. Or else maybe I'll do some nice easy ones. Gorilla: aww, thanks again! And, I'm happy to say, my sis was pissed off by the ending too. I was really worried that I was hating a book she had loved, but luckily we're in agreement.
Never seen Ferris Bueller's Day Off before? For shame! Lovely Ben Stein portrays a droning high school economics teacher to much amusement. As for Stephen King, I've only read his memoir "On Writing" and the first two Dark Tower books. He's no literary artist, but certainly a serviceable craftsman. He's my best friend's favorite author, and after years of him babbling about how great the Tower books were, I finally succumbed. I admit to liking 'em thus far. They appeal to my, I dunno, ... adventuring sensibilities? It's kind of like my teenage love for vampire books all over again, or of watching old episodes of Quantum Leap. In any case, after finishing them, I have little doubt I'll be ready for a intellectual nut-buster like T.P. (or I was thinking maybe....Faulkner???) once again.
