Book Nerd’s Comments (group member since Dec 20, 2018)

Book Nerd’s comments from the Never too Late to Read Classics group.

Pam wrote: "Did you happen to read The Garden of Forking Paths? I listen to a lot of literary podcasts and was surprised to find a recent episode about this Borges short story."
It was a great story.

Welcome to the new members.

Earth is long since dead. On a colony planet, a band of men has gained control of technology, made themselves immortal, and now rule their world as the gods of the Hindu pantheon. Only one dares oppose them: he who was once Siddhartha and is now Mahasamatman. Binder of Demons, Lord of Light.

I haven't read any other Bester. What other books is he known for?

Yeah, I've heard the new movie is good. I might see it next week. There are actually a few movies worth seeing out now.

His autobiography was actually really interesting too.

Yeah, the women are okay but none of the characters are that likable. That's okay to me.

Lol, yeah the circus is really Suess-ical.

John Dishwasher wrote: "Book Nerd wrote: "I really didn't get The Matrix at all..."

Not the story. Just the way he could move super fast. Like Neo could speed up and watch a bullet go by."
But you can't move faster than a bullet. There is no spoon.

John wrote: "I've probably read too much sci-fi already in the last few weeks, but this one has attracted me because of a review claiming that it is to speculative fiction what the "Velvet Underground and Nico"..."
Great. I've never heard of that album, I'm pretty ignorant about music but I'll give it a listen.

Pam wrote: "I’ve listened to ~10% and really liking it so far! Also, the narrator is really good."
Yeah, I hate audiobooks too. I really can't focus on them very well.

In the beginning Gully is pretty stupid and hateable. He's never actually likable for certain reasons but it becomes a Count of Monte Cristo type story, which is interesting. And then the ending is wild.

Now I see why The Vicar of Nibbleswicke wasn't included in my Roald Dahl Collection. It contains some mild fake profanity which will be very amusing to kids and childish adults like me.

Matilda was great.

Wijdan wrote: "Matilda is awesome I wish Roald Dahl wrote another book about her!"

Yeah, she could easily have had more stories.

Lesle wrote: "Mr Hoppy and his love from afar of his neighbor and what he does to make her dream come true.
Backward spells and forward spells make things happen and takes care of things when they go wrong!

On my goodness this was such an enjoyable fun read."
I can't believe he got away with that.

Welcome Jimena.

Wow, he went full Phillip K. Dick at the end there. It reminded me a lot of The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch.

I read the first half last night. The whole jaunting thing and how it threw the world into chaos is interesting. And in the fifties they thought tattoo removal would be the greatest medical challenge lol.
I really didn't get The Matrix at all.

I've been looking forward to this one. I've never read Alfred Bester and it looks really great.

In this pulse-quickening novel, Alfred Bester imagines a future in which people "jaunte" a thousand miles with a single thought, where the rich barricade themselves in labyrinths and protect themselves with radioactive hitmen—and where an inarticulate outcast is the most valuable and dangerous man alive.

The Stars My Destination is a classic of technological prophecy and timeless narrative enchantment by an acknowledged master of science fiction.

Welcome Claudia.

Lesle wrote: "I purchased one BookNerd, adult book, but I am not sure what the title was or where it even is. Im sure it is in my library that I forgot to log on My Bookshelf :("
Yeah, I buy books and then don't read them for years too. :)

Jen wrote: "I like that. Adding to TBR"
Collected Fictions has all of his fiction as far as I know but if you don't get that the stories in Ficciones and El Aleph were my favorites.

That black balloon looks like Marilyn Manson to me.

I haven't talked about it much but I'm still working my way through Collected Fictions by Borges. Almost done now.
Some of it's great, some not. Lots of Argentine cowboys and tough guys. Naturally I like the weird trippy stuff best.

Here's a quote I love from A Weary Man's Utopia:
"What Happened to the governments?" I inquired.
"It is said they gradually fell into disuse. Elections were called, wars were declared, taxes were levied, fortunes were confiscated, arrests were ordered, and attempts were made at imposing censorship-but no one on the planet paid any attention. The press stopped publishing pieces by those it called it's 'contributors', and also publishing their obituaries. Politicians had to find honest work; some became comedians, some witch doctors-some excelled in those occupations."