Erik > Recent Status Updates

I've been looking for a reason to write an essay on how my toaster has free will. This book has provided it.

Writing negative reviews always makes me feel bad. The thing is, in order for me to justify a one-star review, I feel I must fully grasp the story and the author's intentions. In the process of doing so, however, I learn to appreciate the book in new ways. So even though I'm just a whisper in an ocean of noise, when it comes time to post my negative review, I begin to wonder: "Should I really?"

Incoming takedown of postmodernism, metafiction, and this book. I keep reading positive. reviews of this book, and they make it sound so amazing, but I'm like, you're not describing the same book that I read.

Incoming takedown of postmodernism, metafiction, and this book. I keep reading positive. reviews of this book, and they make it sound so amazing, but I'm like, you're not describing the same book that I read.

That moment when you use a word not even in Goodread's spellcheck dictionary. *fist pump*

Tenebrous. Learned that one from a VIDEO GAME. And they say those things only rot your brain, hah!

Having a hard time writing my review for PKD's Flow My Tears. Last book before his "revelation" (read: he went off the deep end), and it's been tough to do the research. The first half of PKD's speech How To Build a Universe That Doesn't Fall Apart in Two Days showcases his humanity and brilliance, but the second half is frankly tragic. Every PKD fan should give the speech a read.

Like 5 pages in which a character reinvents sewing. REALLY? Holy boring batman. Gotta be one of my biggest pet peeves when authors fill up pages with mundane crap like that. Reminds me of Connie Willis' Blackout. That's one of the worst books I've ever read... and it won a Hugo AND Nebula. Popularity contest much?

I loooove good character description.

here's two male perspectives of female beauty that are hard to beat: Pg. 19 (of my copy) in Looking for Alaska: "And now is as good a time as any to say that she was beautiful..." & pg. 61 in Ubik: "As always, when the opportunity arose, Joe took a long, astute look at the girl whom, if he could have managed it, he would have had as his mistress, or, even better, his wife..."

this book. boring & hilarious. absurd & honest. contrived & realistic. a literary rom-com? is that a thing? this review will require the zenith of my critical capacities and oceans of tea. someone will get murdered in the process. another person will get pregnant. i may also milk a goat. hopefully i won't need to murder one.

Just out of curiosity, does anyone know why Camus' The Stranger has such a large proportion of reviews written in Arabic?

I could see French but Arabic? Seems abnormal. Or is it normal and I'm just not reading enough classics?

I have the most bizarre "how do you know each other?" friend stories here on goodreads...

Eugh. I hate when you're writing a long detailed (negative) review and in the process, you learn that you actually kinda love the book. Or at least you actually understand why it is the way it is, and why it couldn't be different.

I dunno. I keep finding that when I dislike something, it's usually because I don't understand it (even when I think I do).

Just cause... TIME TO CALL DOWN THE THUNDER (on a 3 star review??? but hey yeah you know, a hobbit is sitting in bed, wrapped in his blanketses, he wants to write something fun and entertaining and, "it was OKAY" reviews aren't fun and entertaining). So do I call down the love thunder or the hate thunder? Well this book has so few negative reviews! And I don't want people to feel lonely. So.... THE (LOVE) HATE THUNDA

Sure wish my friend sorting worked...

I haven't read a book I rated over 3 stars since October of last year. Seriously, I'm about to READ RAGE.

I happened to read the first line of Jane Austen's Emma today. Not saying, it's a terrible book or anything, but that is the absolute worst first line of a novel I have ever read. It's actively bad. Like, if I didn't know better, I'd assume someone had rewritten the REAL first line in order to sabotage the book.

...that or it's genius like HP's first line is genius.

True story: if I'm pondering friending someone (or accepting a friend request) and that person has given 5 stars to Eric Carle's Hungry Hungry Caterpillar, it's an automatic accept.

Again I find myself in the crappy position of having the write the only thorough negative review of a book here on Goodreads.

Honestly, I get MAD at authors when I don't like their book. Not because my time is wasted. Rather, I *WANT* to sing high praises - that's the best feeling in the world.

So when I get a bad book and I have to write a negative review instead. Eugh. I'm genuinely upset at the author.

Tiffanie DeBartolo (author of How To Kill a Rockstar) liked my review tweet and gave me a bunch of hearts. lololololo. I can only surmise she didn't actually READ my review. successful troll is successful?

Oh my god, that is the best review I've ever written. I might as well just never write another review again.

I have written the most scornful review of my existence. I am ready to call down the thunder.

Bout halfway and I already know I am going to absolutely destroy this book in review.

Hrm. How ridiculous can I get with my 'How Do You Know...' friend stories?

Answer: awesomely ridiculous.