The Confusion: Book 2 of the Baroque Cycle by Neal Stephenson
This is a re-read.
I have to say, the second time through was even better. I think it owes to the fact that I could read it in longer bursts over a relatively short amount of time.
On to System of the World, and then Stephenson”s new book should be out, which will have nothing to do with these, but it still seems a good way to bide my time while waiting.
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Volume 1: Pox Party by M.T. Anderson
If you came to this novel by way of M.T. Anderson’s Whales on Stilts, as I did, you would likely be surprised, but not necessarily disappointed. It’s like being tricked into reading something you wouldn’t seek out in the first place, and being pleasantly surprised.
Whales on Stilts is silly, campy fun. The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing is dark. It was technically recommended to me because I like Neal Stephenson, not because I like M.T. Anderson.
The is set during the beginnings of the American Revolution, through the eyes of a very peculiarly situated slave boy. He lives in an institute, sort of a misguided Royal Philosophers Society, as a living experiment.
It’s a book of rich historical accuracy, like Stephenson’s Baroque trilogy, and it’s a smooth, if at times disturbing, read.
The Pox Party itself, a several week party held to infect and immunize guests from the Pox, is best described by the author in the afternotes: “Like The Breakfast Club, but with more open sores.”
I shall have to see what else this Mr. Anderson is up to.
The Tragedy of Arthur by Arthur Phillips
I loaned my mother-in-law The Lonely Polygamist because I loved it, and she’s an avid reader who seems to enjoy some if not most of the books I do. It turned out well, and she tore through it in the week I was up in New Jersey.
In return, she loaned me a book she gave up on, and didn’t like. As it happens, that turned out well, also. So, apparently you don’t need a solid reason to give someone a book.
The Tragedy of Arthur is fictionally autobiographical novel about an author named Arthur whose life is nearly identical to the actual author of the novel. The premise is that Arthur Phillips is writing an introduction to a newly discovered Shakespeare play, The Tragedy of Arthur. The introduction tells the story of the discovery of the play, and why the author believes it not to be real, despite all the scholars’ opinions.
The story starts out kind of hard to read, a sad story of a disappointing con-man father, and I very nearly gave up on it, too. It’s that feeling where you’re reading along, and you think “If I put this book down, I likely won’t ever pick it up again.” But somewhere along the line, I started getting into it a bit, enough to keep me going.
The end of it is actually the “Shakespeare” play that he’s written the introduction for. It’s annotated with notes from him and a scholar, sort of arguing in the footnotes about the authenticity.
The story is okay (the book’s story, not the “Shakespeare” play within), but what I’m interesting in finding out is how good this forged Shakespeare play about King Author actually is, how plausibly did Arthur Phillips, the real-life author, create a purported Shakespeare’s work? I’m no judge, myself. It seems Shakespearean, but so do the improv skits we used to do in the style of Shakespeare.
I’ve looked around for reviews, but haven’t found any experts chiming in. I’ll keep looking.
Quicksilver: Book 1 of the Baroque Cycle by Neal Stephenson
I’m back-dating this, as I realize I didn’t note the book when I read it a few weeks ago.
Still good the second time.
Why Things Break: Understanding the World by the Way It Comes Apart by Mark Eberhart
I think I picked this one up through paperbackswap.com a long while back.
This book goes through the history of materials science, with specific interest in fracture mechanics. Apparently, real knowledge of why things break, versus when they break, is fairly recent, in the last 30 years or so.
It discusses airplane crashes, the Titanic, the space shuttle explosions, and other major engineering failures. We delve into the details at the molecular level, what makes things bend versus break, and where the state of the art was in 2003. Probably much more advanced now, given the rate at which we’ve been growing our knowledge.
I’m not going to run out and become a materials scientist, but I still found it fascinating.
Drawing Dynamic Comics by Andy Smith
This is a fine book on drawing comics. It’s not much different than the other ones I’ve read, but Mr. Smith’s style is slightly different.
Despite the general sameness of these guides, I still find the subtle differences interesting and educational. Perhaps even inspiring.
Not a complete beginner book, but not very advanced either.
Beginning Linux Programming, 4th Edition by Neil Matthew and Richard Stones
I don’t think I’ve ever read a technical book from cover to cover. Generally, I skim through, find the bits I’m interested in, read any other bits I need to in order understand the bits I’m interested in, and then put it on the shelf for future reference.
This one, I read cover to cover.
This book answered a lot of questions I’ve struggled with on understanding threads, processes, pipes, and other programming buzzwords I’ve only comprehended in vague, abstract ways previously.
What helped was also taking a 4 day class in Embedded Linux at work, which was awesome as well. I’m totally writing some C apps, with GUI and everything.
The Linux teacher told us that he doesn’t really consider anyone a Linux guy unless they a) have a Linux machine at home and b) have successfully compiled a kernel.
I have another Linux class coming up in a couple weeks. I plan on being able to call myself a Linux guy by then.
Fifty Dangerous Things (you should let your children do) by Gever Tulley with Julie Spiegler
We are going to do all of these things, including Put Strange Stuff in the Microwave (#14), Break Glass (#23) and Lick a 9 Volt Battery (#1).
So far, we’ve accomplished Play with the Vacuum Cleaner (#10) .
We missed our chance to Play in a Hailstorm (#2) today. Alas.
The Russian Debutante’s Handbook by Gary Shteyngart
I’ve now read 2/3 of Mr. Shteyngart’s works, the other being Super Sad True Love Story, and can say he is consistently good.
His main characters are similar, hapless, awkward men thrown into unusual situations.
In this one, our protagonist is a youngish, low level, immigrant clerk in NYC who gets embroiled in a series of worlds outside his own, from his low-rent slum apartment to high society New York City to a Russian Mafia outpost. The writing is amusing and smooth.
My only complaint is that I don’t particularly relate to his main characters, so in the end I am left with a bit of “so what?”, but the ride is enjoyable. I believe I’ll tackle his third (Absurdistan) when next I venture into a bookstore with cash in hand.
Tom Stoppard: Plays 4 by Tom Stoppard
Fourth in a five book collection of Tom Stoppard’s works. I’ve read book 5 as well, which contains my favorite Stoppards, Hapgood and Arcadia.
This one is a collection of his adaptations: Dalliance, Undiscovered Country, Rough Crossing, On the Razzle, and The Seagull. They’re all fine plays, some comedies, some dramas.
I don’t really have a lot to say about them.