Jesse ’s Comments (group member since Nov 26, 2022)

Jesse ’s comments from the Sci-fi and Heroic Fantasy group.

Andrea wrote: "We read To Kill a Mockingbird too, and loved it (more for the Boo Radley storyline than the main one), and the teacher who taught it to us was also the teacher that was involved in putting on the s..."

The Boo Radley plot is definitely one of the best parts of the book.

Your teacher let you guys read King? Sounds like a cool guy!

Dickens still kind of scares me, honestly. I've read A Tale of Two Cities and A Christmas Carol, and just wasn't a fan of his writing style. I kind of view him as I view the movie The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. Very well made, and I can appreciate its impact, but it really is just not my thing. Who knows, though, maybe I'll read another of his books and love it. Do you like Dickens?

I for one love The Catcher in the Rye. I know a lot of people hate it, but it really resonate dwight me. I'd recommend it!

Jim wrote: "Jesse wrote: "...Fahrenheit is a very interesting book, definitely a must-read!"

Agreed. It's one of the best SF books ever written, IMO. I read, enjoyed, & understood it as a teen in the 1970s. I..."

Yeah, I read it twice. Although I don't consider it a favourite of mine, it's still very well-written and revolutionary. Plus, Bradbury's writing is so understated.

Just read To Kill A Mockingbird a few months back, such a good book! That is one everyone should read, no matter what.

Isabella wrote: "Jesse wrote: "Andrea wrote: "I read it in high school too but don't remember much about it anymore, but I don't recall not liking it. Not like 1984 or Fahrenheit 451 which I recalled and loved. We ..."

Definitely! I haven't read Tess, but I've heard the ending is tragic (more so than Of Mice and Men?).

Andrea wrote: "I read it in high school too but don't remember much about it anymore, but I don't recall not liking it. Not like 1984 or Fahrenheit 451 which I recalled and loved. We also did a lot of Shakespeare..."

I'm really not sure why they give it to kids in high school. They should focus on giving people of that age less bleak books, at least at the age of 14 (which I heard is the age they give OM&M to teens).

Fahrenheit is a very interesting book, definitely a must-read!

Jim wrote: "Jesse wrote: "I know this isn't SFF, but has anyone here read Of Mice and Men? Just read it and ma interested on what others thought of it, the ending in particular."

I loved it. Before reading it..."

Yeah, I also really like it! I have not heard of The Red Pony, but it seems like I'll give it a pass. I am looking forward to diving into more of his work, particularly East of Eden.

That was my thinking also. It's kind of like that old train dilemma. Do you kill the one man in order to save five? Seems like that's the only option, but doesn't mean it's a good one.

Isabella wrote: "It’s decades since I read it, at school, around about the time I read Tess of the D’Urbervilles, so my memory of detail is hazy. One thing I remember is that the women came out badly, one way or an..."

You're absolutely right, Curley's Wife was depicted horribly. Apparently that is a recurring thing in Steinbeck's work (I'm yet to read more).
It really does come down to if you like the ending or not. Personally, I liked the ending for what it was going for; obviously you don't want Lennie to die, but what else could George do? Kind of a moral dilemma. Or, you could look at it in this sense: The whole book, George and Lennie talk about how one day they'll get a farm and live the American Dream. But at the end of the book Lennie, obviously, dies. So, what Steinbeck could also be referring to in a way, is that the American Dream is unattainable for the helpless, if attainable at all. That does seem to make sense to me, though one wouldn't want to make a book allegorical when it actually isn't.
I think school gives it to kids when they're too young honestly. There are plenty of classics that are hopeful and inspiring, which I think is better for young teens to be reading. I would recommend giving it another shot, but it's very possible you just don't like it. Not a book for everyone, thats for sure! Though I completely disagree with the criticism that it is nihilism. I don't see how the message of the book is "everything is meaningless and then you die." I feel like that is a very shallow take on it.

Sorry for the rant, but in short, I did like the ending. Left me with emotional impact. I haven't been able to stop pondering on it since I read it, about 5 days ago. The movie with Gary Sinise depicts the end scene marvellously.

I know this isn't SFF, but has anyone here read Of Mice and Men? Just read it and ma interested on what others thought of it, the ending in particular.

Yep, I've noticed that also. Goodreads keeps messing up the system, they should just leave everything alone.

Is it the Charley Davidson series?

Robert wrote: "Jesse wrote: "For anyone who's read The Martian and Project Hail Mary, which do you prefer?"

The Martian was an incredible reading experience start to finish, and since it is likely people's first..."

Very true. The plot is more unique and, as Barbara said, is more intricate. And yes, Rocky. Seriously, one of the most well-done alien characters in any media ever.

Chad wrote: "I loved The Martian, it was like reading a love letter to science. my weird ass cried at the end of the book and the movie.

PHM was more of the same, but slightly less so. I loved both, but The Ma..."

Agreed, Chad. That's pretty much my thought process.

Barbara wrote: "I like both books but Project Hail Mary had a more intricate plot so I guess I'd vote for that one."

It does have a more intricate plot, you're right there.

Great points! I think I did prefer The Martian slightly, but it is close. On top of all the things you said, PHM had Rocky, which was really just the highlight of the book. Though I did find the science in the latter to be much more dense than The Martian.

It's so true, some of the lines did sound like a Twitter post.

Welcome!

For anyone who's read The Martian and Project Hail Mary, which do you prefer?

Jim wrote: "I don't think the short stories were vital. I'm not sure there was more than one. IIRC, it just filled in some side/back story."

Andrea wrote: "I loved the Powder Mage trilogy, also read all the short stories (there are several) but I agree I don't think they are vital as Jim said, just fleshes out some gaps when the characters were younger."

Ah, sweet. I probably won't read them in that case, though they do look pretty cool.
Does the second book improve upon the first?

Audrey wrote: "Jesse wrote: "Does anyone here like the Powder Mage series? I'm almost finish with the first book, and I already ordered the second."

Yes, but I've still only read the first one. I have the second..."

Awesome! I used to take breaks between series but now I find that it results in me never really finishing series, or forgetting what happened in the last book. Does that happen to you also?

Jim wrote: "I liked all the Powder Mage books & stories not that there were many, IIRC. A couple/few books & one or two short stories. All good, though."

Good to know! I would love to read the whole series this year. Are the short stories vital to the plot, or can they be passed?

Does anyone here like the Powder Mage series? I'm almost finish with the first book, and I already ordered the second.

Kivrin wrote: "Jesse (Semi-Hiatus) wrote: "Has anyone read the Red rising saga? If so, what are your thoughts? I'm over halfway in Morning Star."

I absolutely LOVED the first two books. (The ending of Golden Son..."

Weirdly enough, Golden Son is actually my least favourite from the trilogy (which isn't saying much, cause I loved it). I can't really tell you why.
Should I continue after Morning Star?