Monday, November 2, 2015

October Books

From Marcus Aurelius to Jonathan Franzen, with a stop at the 150 shelf in the library to see if there was anything interesting.

Purity

by Jonathan Franzen

Note

Overly praised. Did not live up to my expectations and did not seem to be set on the planet we live on. But I read it quickly.

The Art of Procrastination: A Guide to Effective Dawdling, Lollygagging and Postponing

by John R. Perry

Note

Could have found something better to do.

The Tell: The Little Clues That Reveal Big Truths about Who We Are

by Matthew Hertenstein

Note

Not as good as I expected from the cover and the blurb from Daniel Pink. Hmmm.

Meditations

by Marcus Aurelius

Note

Less resonant than when I read it 20 years ago, perhaps due to a more modern translation. Short take: live in the now, don't worry so much about the past or the future. Good advice, but no surprise.

Play It as It Lays

by Joan Didion

Note

Beautiful writing, but very much of its time, and a little dreamy for my taste. Like the essays better.

Station Eleven

by Emily St. John Mandel

Note

Not my genre, but the writing is very good, and the Great Lakes setting is a plus. Credible picture of post apocalyptic world grows less so on further reflection.