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February 10
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Michael
gave
 
to:
The Brief History of the Dead (Paperback)
by Kevin Brockmeier
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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Michael said:
"Everyone says it is dreamlike and devoid of moralizing. Sounds like my kind of book.
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Michael
gave
to:
Litany of the Long Sun (Book of the Long Sun, Books 1 and 2)
by Gene Wolfe
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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Michael said:
"The Long Sun books are fantastic.
Read on their own, they're a pulpy and fun fantasy universe. In fact, they're one of the most accessible Gene Wolfe stories out there. Above all else, it's actually funny. I never thought of Wolfe as capable of...more
The Long Sun books are fantastic.
Read on their own, they're a pulpy and fun fantasy universe. In fact, they're one of the most accessible Gene Wolfe stories out there. Above all else, it's actually funny. I never thought of Wolfe as capable of humor, but it's all over the place here. The science fiction is interesting, but takes a back seat. As usual there are bizarre and dark ideas about sociology from Wolfe where I can't be sure if the author believes them or not, but they are a backdrop that the characters move against, not the foreground of events.
But, if you read these books after the New Sun, you'll see that the whole thing is a kind of parody of the earlier, more pretentious series. Most everything in the NS shows up in reverse in the LS books. The protagonist, Silk, is a good person who believes himself to be sliding into wicked ways, while it is obvious to the reader that he is truely a hero. Contrast him to Severian, the protagonist of the NS, who presents himself as a wayward soul who finds virtue through his travels -- a fact that though manifestly false is hidden by Severian's justifications. The rest of the book is like this too. Part of the interest in this book is that it provides new insight into the NS books.
And, not at all least, there is a really touching review of religious devotion, godhood, and personal sacrifice.
It may be the best thing Wolfe has written, but you do have to read the NS books to appreciate it....less
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Michael
gave
to:
The Urth of the New Sun (Paperback)
by Gene Wolfe
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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Michael said:
"Easily the most enigmatic entry in Wolfe's "Solar" books. I think I understood less than a 1/10th. In many ways, it is a reflection on the the Book of the New Sun, but I found it less helpful in understanding those books than Wolfe's othe...more
Easily the most enigmatic entry in Wolfe's "Solar" books. I think I understood less than a 1/10th. In many ways, it is a reflection on the the Book of the New Sun, but I found it less helpful in understanding those books than Wolfe's other follow-up books.
Also, I wish I knew more about Gnosticism. There's clearly a code written in the religious parts, but I can't decipher it....less
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Michael
gave
to:
In Green's Jungles (The Book of the Short Sun, Book 2)
by Gene Wolfe
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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Michael said:
"Part 2 of 3 in the Book of the Short Sun. I don't know what to make of this installment yet, or the BotSS as a whole. It'll take months to digest who the narrator is. After that I can go back and see what things he says that I believe.
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Michael
gave
to:
The Wal-Mart Effect: How the World's Most Powerful Company Really Works--and How It's Transforming the American Economy (Paperback)
by Charles Fishman
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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has a copy to sell/swap
Michael said:
"Mom got it for me for Christmas. So far it's okay, with a steady pattern. Wal-Mart did this from 1970-1990 and it was a reflection of some American value, then in the 90's and 00's, that same idea turned nightmarish. It's going to have to look at ...more
Mom got it for me for Christmas. So far it's okay, with a steady pattern. Wal-Mart did this from 1970-1990 and it was a reflection of some American value, then in the 90's and 00's, that same idea turned nightmarish. It's going to have to look at more numbers and fewer stories to turn out good....less
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Michael
gave
to:
Quicksilver (The Baroque Cycle, Vol. 1)
by Neal Stephenson
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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Michael
gave
to:
Cryptonomicon (Mass Market Paperback)
by Neal Stephenson
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my rating:
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Michael
gave
to:
The Diamond Age: Or, a Young Lady's Illustrated Primer (Bantam Spectra Book)
by Neal Stephenson
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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Michael
gave
to:
1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus (Paperback)
by Charles C. Mann
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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