false 14 91 80 true 5764331 read 4 true 1106781 currently-reading 7 true 1106780 to-read http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/22294923 Steve's review of Ishmael: An Adventure of the Mind and Spirit
by Daniel Quinn

you should definitely check it out. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/22294923 to: Ishmael: An Adventure of the Mind and Spirit (Paperback) by Daniel Quinn
Started out slow, kept going slow through the middle, and ended slow. BUT, I think it was probably necessary for Quinn to write this story as such in order for the reader to fully grasp the paradigm-changing message that arrives through a telepathic conversation between a self-doubting freelance writer and an enlightened gorilla. The gist: Human culture is on a collision course with total destruction because of continuous growth and our belief that humans aren't subject to the laws of nature. Ishmael outlines a new gestalt (different, at least) for "westernized" humans to base our culture and beliefs on that is more in-line with the natural world. The message is very exciting and ultimately worth the read. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/13820847 Steve's review of The Wall: And Other Stories (New Directions Paperbook)
by Jean-Paul Sartre

ha! i'll look forward to it. thanks. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/13820495 to: Franny and Zooey (Paperback) by J.D. Salinger
now i see where wes anderson got his inspiration for the royal tenenbaums. franny and zooey is a lot of fun. salinger's mastery of the art of conversation is just wonderful to read, especially coming from such well-defined, eccentric characters. salinger prefaces the second part of the book by saying that the reader should imagine what follows as a sort of home video, shot from the perspective of a family member holding a shaky, clunky camera in the manhattan apartment of the well-to-do glass family. we are treated to a hilarious, battle of the passive-aggressive wits of 25-year-old zooey and his mother in the bathroom, followed by an equally interesting monologue from zooey to his younger sister franny that aims to make sense of their unique upbringing against the backdrop of buddhism and christianity. super interesting stuff, and if you can get over the preachiness, you might find a few good nuggets of wisdom. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/13820847 to: The Wall: And Other Stories (New Directions Paperbook) by Jean-Paul Sartre
First two stories: The Wall & The Room are fantastic. I enjoyed the third story: Erostratus. But, I began losing interest by the fourth and fifth stories. I think the first two are the most interesting and illuminating on the subject of death and its relation to the meaning of life, and insanity. I've never read Sartre before, and I was inspired by his ability to describe those things that are generally kept on the fringe of everyday experience, but are the very subjects that can tell us the most about the core of our existence. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/13820685 Steve's review of The Early Stories
by John Updike

small sections. looks like many of the stories are pretty short, so i think this will be something i pick up in between other books. i'll let you know when i'm done, and you can borrow it if you want. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/13820495 Steve's review of Franny and Zooey
by J.D. Salinger

awesome! can't wait to get into this one. and thanks for the 9 stories recommendation. i'll check it out. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/13820685 The Early Stories (Paperback) by John Updike
bookshelves: to-read
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/13820609 Junky: The Definitive Text of Junk (50th Anniversary Edition) by William S. Burroughs
bookshelves: to-read
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/13820566 the fairy tales of herman hesse by Hermann Hesse
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