Cory Alexander > Recent Status Updates

Living up to the internet hype!

I'm definitely confused on what's going on. Great writing but the plot is impossible to decipher. Lol.

Seems very solid so far. Interesting writing. Japanese translations are beautifully simple sometimes. They have a staunch sort of straight forward approach. This is my 3rd or 3th post ww2 novel from there. Heavy existencial stuff.

Some great sections. Spme boring ones. A ton of characters. And like half of them have multiple names or identities. But the story telling is great. Little adventures here and there. The Count just being his enigmatic, generous, and plotting self. Might have done the abridged version but I am happy I chose to read it none the less.

Gahd Damn, that's some good story telling.

I think I read Thomas Mann's The Magic Mountain just about 1 year ago and in the mean time seem to have forgotten how good his writing is. I knew I enjoyed reading it but I had forgotten why. The writing is insane. And they're translations which has been blowing my mind recently. Have read some Japanese, German, and Spanish translations and it's an unique experience everytime. Beautiful words translated beautifully.

So far I have been confused, enraptured, and even bored a little. But by the last section I think I have begun to understand what this book is "about". It's an experience. Meta. Multiple books in one about one and everything. A straight up fever dream. Lol. But I'm having fun. Books are often mesmerizing, captivating, sad, or even occasionally funny. But fun? That's very rare. House of Leaves vibes.

Much better being read than when I listened to it. Don't remember too much. Great books really need to be read as opposed to listened to. Lesson officially learned.

Simply a masterpiece. It's sad. And beautiful. And makes me appreciate my life and my family. Just so damn good. The writing isn't too difficult to read like some other great books. Very much looking forward to the last half of this book but also kind of nervous. Some deaths already and I suppose more. Will Tom get caught? Wonder what happened to Noah. Steinbeck is up there now as one of my favorite authors for sure.

God damn. This is a good book. Interesting dialog between the Italian and Hans. It getting more tragic as it goes along. Reading just 5% a day. It's definitely difficult but getting easier as it goes along, like any book, you pick up the language and flow. Even an especially beautiful and generally complex one such as this book. Half way though.

Started off a little scattered or even annoying but 15 or 20% in it really got interesting. Enjoying each chapter a bit more than the last. 4 down. Curious to see where this all goes. Interesting too that this is the first of three books. Very grounded characters and realistic story.

The forest stuff has been pretty boring. The Jake stuff is cool.

Starting off a bit slower than I remember. A few cool things but hopefully some action is next.