Esther's 50

[Esther]

1. On the Road by Jack Kerouac - completed 1/4/09

This wasn't as good as I had anticipated, though I'm certainly glad I read it as it contains within the BS tiny morsels of goodness that stick to my insides. Kerouac keeps going without ever really getting anywhere and takes you along for the ride. What you learn is that the road can be crazy, fun, exciting, boring, depressing, lonely, a mask to hide all that is lost inside and a never-ending battle to keep running away from your woes, only to find them following you.

[Esther]

2. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut - completed 1/5/09

Added to the list of all-time favorites. I love how Vonnegut can pick you up and drop you anywhere, geographically and chronologically, and you never seem to lose your place. So it goes.

[Esther]

3. Story of the Eye by Georges Bataille - completed 1/10/09

This story isn't for the faint of heart. I can't say that I enjoyed the plot or story, but I'm intrigued by the fact that I wasn't more disturbed or horrified by it. The writing seems to soften the vulgarity of the actions and makes you consider what the motives behind those actions are and how they relate to human nature and the need for all of us to define "love."

[Esther]

4. Tender is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald - completed 1/14/09

Fitzgerald remains a puzzle to me. He traps me in his net while I struggle to get out, thinking I'm wasting my time and not having any fun, only to find out later how much I enjoyed the battle. His writing is beautiful, while his characters provide little more than a glimpse into the lives of the unworthy elite. This book was good. And the longer I'm away from it, the better I seem to think it was. Funny how that happens sometimes.

[Dana]

Esther wrote: "1. On the Road by Jack Kerouac - completed 1/4/09

This wasn't as good as I had anticipated, though I'm certainly glad I read it as it contains within the BS tiny morsels of goodness that stick t..."

Was this your first Kerouac? Try The Dharma Bums instead. On the Road is a common first Kerouac read which is too bad because though it's perhaps the most famous, I don't think it's his best.

I love your description of Fitzgerald!

[Molly]

Esther wrote: "2. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut - completed 1/5/09

Did you read Galapagos? That is one of my favorites that I like to re-read every few years.

[Esther]

Molly wrote: "Esther wrote: "2. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut - completed 1/5/09

Did you read Galapagos? That is one of my favorites that I like to re-read every few years.

"

Slaughterhouse-Five was my first Vonnegut and I haven't read any since. It's definately on my list...along with everything else he wrote.

[Esther]

Dana wrote: "Esther wrote: "1. On the Road by Jack Kerouac - completed 1/4/09

This wasn't as good as I had anticipated, though I'm certainly glad I read it as it contains within the BS tiny morsels of goodness..."

It was my first Kerouac and I read it because everyone tells you how important it is, how you have to read it before you die or...you'll die. I'm glad I read it, otherwise I wouldn't know what I was missing and I would think it was one my greatest failures...never reading it. Does that make any sense? I won't count him out as an author. I think that he has something to say, I just feel like it was tucked so deep inside all the nonsense in the book that it was hard to separate it from the rest.

Thanks for the rec...I'll put The Dharma Bums on my "to-read" list.

[Molly]

Esther wrote: "Dana wrote: "Esther wrote: "1. On the Road by Jack Kerouac - completed 1/4/09

This wasn't as good as I had anticipated, though I'm certainly glad I read it as it contains within the BS tiny mors..."

I despise On The Road. I never finished I hated it so much - so it is not fair for me to judge without knowing the finished product. Maybe I'll try one of his others instead.

[Esther]

*sigh* School has started again..which means I can't seem to finish anything. After reading 30 pages in Astronomy, 30 in Sociology, 20 from my American Lit book, another 10 in French, and 30 or so on the History of the English Language, I hardly feel like reading anymore. Sucks.