Reading Log 2009

January

Failed States - Noam Chomsky 8.5/10

Failed states are countries that distance itself from the international community and endanger its own citizens. Chomsky points out that the U.S.A. is starting to take on characteristics of failed states by making the world we live in far more dangerous than it needs to be. He gives examples of nuclear proliferation (including the militarization of space), increasing the likelihood of another terrorist attack occurring on U.S soil (since 9/11), consequences from opposing the spread of freedom and democracy in favour of oppressive regimes, and failure to comply with international environmental treaties. This books is highly accessible and avoids pushing a political ideology; instead it simply evaluates the U.S. government on the moral principles it claims to uphold.

March

A General Introduction to Psychoanalysis - Sigmund Freud (1920) 8.0/10

A great book for beginners and experienced Freudians alike (to summarize his ideas). Gives the reader a good outline of the Unconscious/Preconcious/Conscious mind, the function & interpretation of dreams, & how a neuroses develops and can be cured.

The Outsider - Albert Camus 8.5/10 (1942) My copy was called The Outsider, though it's more commonly known as The Stranger. It's an impressionable book written in simple, short prose, about the theater of everyday life, and what happens to a man who chooses not to be an actor. It's one of the best books I've ever read.

Hamlet - William Shakespeare 9.5/10

May

Richard McBeef, Seung Cho's masterpiece of modern theatre. For all the lives he took, this play easily makes up for it. The world has lost what could have been a great artist. But seriously, Seung Cho is a fascinating guy. And that play is horrible. It's actually quite interesting how bad it is, that's a talent all in itself.

Rabbit is Rich - John Updike (1981) This novel has some of the most well-drawn characters I've encountered. Updike's unflinching ability to get inside Harry Angrstom's head is both hilarious & frightening. I think this is an exceptional book, though I felt he could have edited it down a bit, as there's a fair bit of uninteresting rambling.
Selected quote: "The luminous orbs of Melanie's eyes scout their faces in a sweep that ends in an upward roll such as you see in images of saints. 'I believe the things we're running out of we can learn to do without. I don't need electric carving knives and all that. I'm more upset about the snail darters and the whales than about iron ore and oil.' She lingers on this last word, giving it two syllables, and stares at Harry. As if he's especially into oil. He decides what he resents about her is she seems always to be trying to hypnotize him. 'I mean,' she goes on, 'as long as there are growing things, there's still a world with endless possibilities.' The hum beneath her words hangs in the darkening space of the porch. Alien. Moonraker." John Updike

Vanity Fair - William Thackery (1848) read 166 pages, chapters 1-16 Thackery has the most wicked sense of humour. I have never laughed out loud as much, nor as heartily, than while reading Vanity Fair. However, for now I refuse to go on, as his rather complex & flowery writing style is giving me a headache. Too bad though, I can sense a unique masterpiece billowing amidst the many pages of this thick work.
Selected quote: "We are Turks with the affections of our women; and have made them subscribe to our doctrine too. We let their bodies go abroad liberally enough, with smiles and ringlets and pink bonnets to disguise them instead of veils and yakmaks. But their souls must be seen by only one man, and they obey not unwillingly, and consent to remain at home as our slaves - ministering for us and doing drudgery for us." Willaim Thackery

Sexual Personae - Camille Paglia (1990) read 41 pages, chapter 1 This is easily the best book I've ever read by a feminist, and a fascinating work on gender.

JUNE

Why People Die by Suicide - Thomas Joiner (2006) According to Joiner there's 2 general things that occur before a person kills themselves. 1) They start to feel suicidal because of lack of belonging in society and/or perceived burdensomeness on those close to them. But even though many people feel that way and have suicidal wishes they still need to 2) Acquire the ability for lethal self-infliction. It is so incredibly difficult to compel your own body to kill itself, that for almost all suicides it's something the person has to work towards through repeated self-injury or being in dangerous situations. Eventually they feel more comfortable in these situations and work up to the final act. The book goes into much more detail than that, but the best part is probably the introduction, in which Joiner explains how his father committed suicide and how that led him to want to understand it. It's also very simply written (as opposed to Durkheim's book).

Cannabis: A History - Martin Booth (2003)

Rabbit at Rest - John Updike (1990)
"While she's in the Ladies he cannot resist going into the shop and buying something to nibble, a Planter's peanut-brittle bar for forty-five cents. Planter's Original Peanut Bar, the wrapper says. It was broken in two somewhere in transit and he thinks of saving one half to offer his two grandchilren when they're all together in the car heading home. It would make a small hit. But the first half is so good he eats the second and even dumps the sweet crumbs out of the wrapper into his palm and with his tongue licks them all up like an anteater. Then he thinks of going back and buying another one for his grandchildren and him to share in the car - "Look what Grandpa has!" as they turn onto Interstate 75 - but doesn't trust himself not to eat it all and makes himself stand and look out the window instead." John Updike (1990)

120 Days of Sodom - Marquis de Sade (1785) This is undoubtedly the most erotic book I've ever read and quite possible the most shocking book ever written. The entire work is devoted to describing exotic sensual acts. Fetishes basically. Most of them highly colourful. Seriously, this book makes the Kama Sutra look like a children's book. It starts off pretty shocking right from the get-go, though definitely titillating and quite enthralling to read. Pretty soon however, the sexual acts being described are nothing short of repulsive, yet the obsessively intricate manner in which they're carried out is always fascinating. It's also written in an elegant and darkly humourous prose. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, Sade never came close to finishing the book. It's divided into 4 parts, the 1st being the most "tame" and the only one completed. The other 3 parts are presented in draft form, and are not as fun to read (but are demonically disgusting). This is a book for your bed-side table. Next to the Bible or that book on Buddha. It's the kind of thing you'd read for a little bit everyday, absorbing one more tidbit of sexual deviancy to help lull you to sleep.

JULY

Jung for Beginners God I love these for beginners books.

Metamorphosis - Franz Kafka The funniest and most poignant story I've read

AUGUST

1. Bend Sinister - Vladimir Nabokov 8.0 Great early novel from Nabokov. His first in English I believe. Hilarious & smart writer. He has a way with words.
2. Analytical Psychology: it's Theory & Practice - C.G. Jung 8.5 This is similar to Freud's A General Introduction to Psychoanalysis in that it's a series of lectures over a few nights transcribed into a book. So far, it's the best book I've read written by Jung himself and a great introduction to his system of thought. He lays out his brilliantly simple psychological types (where my thinkers at yeeeeee-ah! feelers suck yo step back) and goes into intricate personal/historical symbolism for ONE dream (which takes up an entire evening).
3. Jung - Anthony Storr 7.5 Slim outline of Jung's ideas and a great third party perspective. He not only does a very good job summing up Jung's ideas, but he's even critical of the practicability of some of them, and notes that Jung's therapy evolved from patients who were old and rich and had all the time in the world to understand themselves. A nice sober outlook. Recommended for Jung fans.
4. Astronomy for Beginners 8.0
5. Roger's Version - John Updike 7.5 Good book from Updike, filled with excellent over-arching ideas about society and history subtly embedded (namely Christianity and Science), though not as elegantly written as some of his other works. Worth it if you like his point of view.
6. Netochka Nezvanova - Dostoyevsky 8.0 Goddamn, why are the Russians so hilarious and so good at dealing with sentiment? I've heard that Fyodor has written better novels, but this was pretty damn good. Excited in checking out more of him.
7. The Antichrist - Nietzsche 9.0 Yet another brilliant book. It may be the most lucid book of his I've read so far. Highly recommended. It's mostly about Christianity - determining Christ's message and psychology and how different it is to Christianity (the gospel died on the cross), comparing Christianity to Buddhism (Buddhism the long sigh of a weary civilization Christianity a brutal totalitarian method of controlling beasts)...he does a fair bit of criticizing the soil from which Christianity sprung up and the priestly Jews receive a surprising amount of harsh criticism (surprising because you're not suppose to say mean things about Jews since the Holocaust). Just another masterwork from Nietzsche, certainly my favourite philosopher at this point.

SEPTEMBER

1. Derrida for Beginners 8.0 I have heard a lot of negative things about Derrida and French intellectuals in general, so it was with considerable hesitance and excitement that I leafed through his ideas. I even had my own reasons for apprehension as I've always found Sartre to be incredibly over-rated and not to my tastes at all. So what's the verdict? Well, I thought Derrida was incredible! One of the most interesting things I have read all year. Granted, it's not exactly an actual text by Derrida, but even the quoted text in the book sounded fascinating. Next, we'll have to see how one of his texts reads. But I think I can safely say that not ALL the French intellectuals et glos pautonnier.
2. Beyond Good and Evil - Friedrich Nietzsche 9.5 I have a feeling I'll be reading this book for years. The most insightful, inspiring, informative & uplifting books I've ever read.
3. Eugenie Grandet - Balzac 9.0 Balzac is amazing. He's like Thackeray, except far more humane and not as bitter. Also a lot more FUN to read. A true artist this man - attracted to the beautiful and the ugly and creating such human characters. Good stuff.

NOVEMBER

1. The Fountainhead - Ayn Rand i like this book and Ayn Rand, quite a bit. her writing is nothing special, but i love her characters.