A profound book. I can't believe I had never read it before now. Siddhartha is the story of a man who has to experience all the ups and downs of life A profound book. I can't believe I had never read it before now. Siddhartha is the story of a man who has to experience all the ups and downs of life before he can find enlightenment. He becomes a beggar to experience being poor and knowing how to be hungry. He becomes a rich merchant to experience what working and luxury are like, and he also makes love with a beautiful woman. He then gives all that up and becomes a poor ferryman.
But the buildup to his enlightenment in the end was enthralling, and... for lack of a better work - beautiful. It sounded very peaceful to be so calmly listening to a river. This quote was the point of the whole book. And perhaps it's also a better way to live:
A wonderful, beautifully written, poignant, subtle, and brilliant novel.
This is the story of an English butler of one the great houses, whose self vaA wonderful, beautifully written, poignant, subtle, and brilliant novel.
This is the story of an English butler of one the great houses, whose self value comes from his duty and his dignity, and who questions his values and his life in the end. It is ultimately a story of regret. It is a story that makes you want to live your life and dedicate yourself to things that you won't regret when you look back. One of the best ways of thinking about regret I've ever come across is from Jeff Bezos in his nerdily titled Regret Minimization Framework.
But what I really loved about the novel is how slow and forcefully it builds. I don't think I've read a book that does that so well since Pride and Prejudice. In the beginning you think it's just a butler going on a motoring trip. (view spoiler)[And at the end, your heart is breaking.(hide spoiler)]
Dignity is a big theme in the novel. Stevens attempts to define dignity several times throughout the novel - his definition generally has to do with self-respect and keeping ones emotions in check. But you have to wonder - his is suppression of emotions what leads him to where he ends up? His pushing himself to "banter" is a an interesting indication of him trying to break that pattern.
(view spoiler)[In the end, Stevens breaks your heart in two ways: he missed out on the love of his life, AND he realizes that he dedicated his life to serving a man who in the end wasn't the great man he thought he was. Good reminder: prioritize love first. And work on things that matter. (hide spoiler)]
Another aspect I loved is just learning about the era and how things in England worked. Fascinating for instance that multi-day stays at large estates were the only way to get a bunch of people together to communicate on an issue. Today, we communicate in very different ways. Seems appealing to try that way.
I'll conclude this with another of my favorite quotes from the novel:
A classic, but I had trouble getting into it. Similar themes to P&P, with a "bad boy" love interest, and a lot of tension between marrying for love orA classic, but I had trouble getting into it. Similar themes to P&P, with a "bad boy" love interest, and a lot of tension between marrying for love or marrying for money. I did really like Elinor's pluck though - she was a good strong character.
A great finish to the D'Artagnan series - definitely enjoyed it. Ending wasn't what I wanted though, you could tell he was just trying to permanently A great finish to the D'Artagnan series - definitely enjoyed it. Ending wasn't what I wanted though, you could tell he was just trying to permanently end the series. It could easily be having seen the movie made me want more drama....more
A lot of people I know have said this was a deserved masterpiece, or their favorite book - and now that I finally read it, I see why. It is a story thA lot of people I know have said this was a deserved masterpiece, or their favorite book - and now that I finally read it, I see why. It is a story that is timeless, because it's about love and life and the dirty humanity that makes us happy - and unhappy, in so many different ways across all the characters. The character development was on another level - I often found myself underlining sentences that conveyed the dynamics of a situation in ways that were just magnificent and yet simple. For instance, you might have wondered why Anna, a married woman, would ever lead Vronsky on - until you read this:
There are also some interesting political bits with Levin and his struggle with being a landowner and trying to find a better way to help the peasants. These are an interesting peek into old Russia and even old Europe, and yet are still not that different in some ways from the current wealth disparity. I kind of loved Levin, because he was thoughtful and true to his thoughts instead of following along what society wanted him to do. (view spoiler)[And in the end, I like how he found meaning in life - I would say by accepting the goodness of his situation, but I think it was a little open to interpretation. (hide spoiler)]
I read this classic twice in high school. Its hard to like books you read in high school, but this one stood out - couldn't tell you why anymore :)I read this classic twice in high school. Its hard to like books you read in high school, but this one stood out - couldn't tell you why anymore :)...more
This is one of my favorites, and I just re-read it as I'm in France and we started listening to it on a family road trip to Brittany, where we visitedThis is one of my favorites, and I just re-read it as I'm in France and we started listening to it on a family road trip to Brittany, where we visited the Ile de Ré, where the siege of Rochelle happens in the book.
And I have to say, Mon dieu! It remains just as good as I remembered! I love the over brashness of the young garcon, D'Argtagnan, and the richness of the backgrounds of each of the four musketeers.
I loved the politics of the King vs the Cardinal too, I hadn't appreciated there was such division there before. And of course, the perspective that nations went to war for the love of a single woman.
This book was pure Gold - it was impossible to put down, and its clear to see why its a classic. Watching Holmes apply his methods to each case and unThis book was pure Gold - it was impossible to put down, and its clear to see why its a classic. Watching Holmes apply his methods to each case and unravel it to the eternaly baffled Watson was entertaining and even inspiring. I only wish I was as smart as Sherlock. I actually think we can all learn a lot from Sherlock - even if he is fictional :)
Some other interesting things I learned: - sherlock only says 'elementary' once - sherlock does cocaine when bored in between cases . I guess it wasn't such a big deal back then? - one caper delved into the history of the Mormons, which was very interesting...more
The second volume of the masterful Sherlock Holmes. The first was probably better, but this was a very good read as well. I have all the respect for The second volume of the masterful Sherlock Holmes. The first was probably better, but this was a very good read as well. I have all the respect for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, as he really makes you believe in Holmes' genius.
One interesting tidbit is that he killed Holmes off at the end of the last book, because he thought he was "obscuring my higher work". Ironic since none of his other work has any popularity. Due to popular demand, Holmes returned 20 years later.
A great quote: "I have serious thoughts of writing a small monograph upon the uese of dogs in the work of the detective ... A dog reflects the family life. Whoever saw a frisky dog in a gloomy family, or a sad dog in a happy one? Snarling people have snarling dogs, dangerous people have dangerous ones. And their passing moods may reflect the passing moods of others."
I just (fall 2019) re-read this classic, which I hadn't read in ~ 15 years but was one of my favorites then and I'm glad to say, it still is. The artfI just (fall 2019) re-read this classic, which I hadn't read in ~ 15 years but was one of my favorites then and I'm glad to say, it still is. The artfulness of Monte Cristo's revenge is so slowly unveiled, after having been prepared by so many years by him, that it truly is impressive to read.
Also fascinating that this novel originally appeared as a series of articles in the newspaper in France. I also greatly enjoyed this as have lately spent a bunch of time in Marseille and the south of France.
This is the ultimate revenge story, and the count (not a big spoiler) gets his revenge. But it is also a story about happiness - does getting revenge on one's enemies make you happy or does it make you more miserable by pursuit of something dark? Do you need to have known suffering to know happiness or can you just be grateful for what you have? Personally, I don't think you need to know suffering first hand, but it is good to read books about it.
I read this while backpacking through Europe after college. It was a fascinating insight into the Spanish culture - anyone going there should definiteI read this while backpacking through Europe after college. It was a fascinating insight into the Spanish culture - anyone going there should definitely read this....more
I read this while on vacation in Spain. If you've already read The Sun Also Rises, this is a must-read while in Spain. You get a great sense of the hI read this while on vacation in Spain. If you've already read The Sun Also Rises, this is a must-read while in Spain. You get a great sense of the history of the fascinating bullfighting culture. ...more
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