Justin Monisit > Recent Status Updates

Sat down and essentially read this book in 3 settings (the last 50 pages are all footnotes). I don't know if I can make time for the movie, but I definitely want to see how they expand upon it.

I expected this to be pseudo-science grifting, but it's actually awesome - so much so that I may reread this again just to take notes.

Pretty Mouth and Green My Eyes - it's a really good story and shows Salinger's talent for writing dialogue that feels authentic. But I can't say much more than that aside from wondering what the message is. On the surface level though, it is a very interesting story that is executed well - but feels like there could have been more to it. 7/10

No one would ever expect this book to be among my favorites but here we are - reading it again. This is still surprisingly hardcore, thrilling, and also heartfelt in a way.

Reading this every year still makes me feel things. And this is still the only Dickens I find myself enjoying (albeit this time on audiobook!). The ending still is wonderful

Listening it again on audiobook really brings out the humor. A guy wakes up as a giant bug, then the first thing he does is like "oh man I got to work" and everyone is like "yeah you do." Hilarious. And also has a tragic ending. I am now a Kafka fan

The audiobook is awesome, such a strong performance for an amazing novel.

Authority and American Usage - there's a pretty good reason why it took me so long to get through this essay. While it may be interesting, the subject matter still kind of bores me - even if it was written well. Definitely my least favorite essay thus far, but for all those that love it - good for you

Have been rereading this since 11/19 - still holds up. Stoner is like me fr

One Would Sort....: Have no opinion on this one considering I've never read an Updike book. Seems interesting though.

Kafka: honestly, I appreciate Kafka more now - especially his sense of humor. Not necessarily laugh out loud funny, but there is a structure to the joke that makes you appreciate it. Also really well written essay


So far so good. Next one is about grammar...hooray!

Big Red Son - this is such a strangely alluring essay. Makes fun of the adult film industry, but then shows the humanity within the absurdity in great detail. So well written though!

(reading this physically rather than an ebook for obvious reasons)

This is such an amazing book - might read it again but as a physical copy to really get those details in

Nonfiction audiobooks + cooking/cleaning/chores = fun. And yes, this book is still awesome.

A good chapter, but I just feel so distant from it. Too many adverbs and just clunky grammar makes what should be a sad chapter, something less effective. It's still good but I can tell it was translated in a way that didn't enhance the book

The Prisoner - an interesting look at the mind before and after torture and imprisonment, where essentially her entire life was stripped away from her due to trauma and guilt. It was indeed rough

Chapter One - The Boy

Doing this in second (!) person really harms the investment - such a strange way of writing this and having it feel so detached as a result. But it was interesting, but filling in gaps of "my" life doesn't work as well as having a fully realized character. Even the climax of this slice of life chapter wasn't written as intense as hoped

Yes I know I'm starting too many books, but I do not care. So far, this book is good. Only halfway through and it hasn't set my world on fire, but this is a classic I think holds up and is easy to read.

My reading buddy just beelined the last 300 pages. Bless his soul. I now must do the same in order to be FREE of the task of reading this book

For Esmé - I feel like I should like this more, but as for every story here thus far, I just don't get the emotional impact. The story is cute, but it's way too simple for me to appreciate it. It's predictable, but executed well - but I've yet to feel an emotion other than "that was a good short story". 7/10 (but a good one).

It may have taken 570+ pages, but the prosecution stuff actually has me really engaged and I don't know what's about to happen next. Goes full on Rashomon.

This book is just a touch out of my understanding at points - many times great, and many times it's over my head. Feel like it's heresy to suggest it's not the greatest book of all time, but at many points I can totally see why.

Trying to beeline it without using Sparknotes to help so I can finish this by the end of the month. Which also leaves me still kind of lost in the density of the content. Hooray!