250 ratings (4.16 avg)
12 reviews
more photos (3)

Mark Gerlach

Add friend

https://www.goodreads.com/bostaffman

Mark’s Bookshelves

to-read‎ (523)
currently-reading‎ (1)

read‎ (251)
did-not-finish‎ (0)

favorites‎ (21)
temporarily-shelved‎ (11)

Stats | More…

Mark is Currently Reading

Mark Gerlach is currently reading

The City and Its Uncertain Walls

by Haruki Murakami

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Aug 27, 2025 06:55PM

Mark’s Notes & Highlights

Book cover for The Songs Of Distant Earth

The Songs Of Distant Earth by Arthur C. Clarke

4 highlights

The Thalassans were never poisoned by the decay products of dead religions, and in seven hundred years no prophet has arisen here to preach a new faith. The very word “God” has almost vanished from their language, and they’re quite ...more

See Mark Gerlach’s 5 books with notes and highlights…

Mark’s Quotes

“Destiny is a lie. Destiny is justification for atrocity. It is the means by which murderers armour themselves against reprimand. It is a word intended to stand in place of ethics, denying all moral context.”
― Steven Erikson, Midnight Tides

207 likes

“So many vows... they make you swear and swear. Defend the king. Obey the king. Keep his secrets. Do his bidding. Your life for his. But obey your father. Love your sister. Protect the innocent. Defend the weak. Respect the gods. Obey the laws. It’s too much. No matter what you do, you’re forsaking one vow or the other.”
― George R.R. Martin, A Clash of Kings

777 likes

“... a mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge.”
― George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones

tags: books, mind

16636 likes

“We humans do not understand compassion. In each moment of our lives, we betray it. Aye, we know of its worth, yet in knowing we then attach to it a value, we guard the giving of it, believing it must be earned, T’lan Imass. Compassion is priceless in the truest sense of the word. It must be given freely. In abundance.”
― Steven Erikson, Memories of Ice

tags: inspirational

379 likes

“Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not. Make it your strength. Then it can never be your weakness. Armour yourself in it, and it will never be used to hurt you.”
― George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones

tags: identity

12862 likes

More of Mark’s quotes…

recent posts
Mark’s Groups

The Malazan Fallen — 1616 members — last activity Dec 01, 2024 05:29PM
For those of us who have fallen for the Malazan series and need a place to read or re-read, discuss and dream. We did a massive reading of the Book o ...more

J.R.R. Tolkien — 3853 members — last activity Dec 26, 2025 03:51AM
Discussion, recommendations, and all-over appreciation for Britain's own myth maker, Professor J.R.R. Tolkien. ...more

Into the Forest — 2147 members — last activity May 31, 2026 08:32PM
A group to discuss the fairy and folk tales, world mythologies, mythic fiction, magical realism fiction, and monsters. Of course, we also discuss rete ...more

On Reading Graphic Novels — 1824 members — last activity May 15, 2026 10:04AM
Let's talk about the wide array of graphic novels and which ones you enjoy reading. Maybe you like reading memoirs in the graphic format like Brooklyn ...more

Sci-fi and Heroic Fantasy — 8858 members — last activity 20 hours, 2 min ago
A place for those who walk the green forests of Middle Earth, cross the pale sands of Arrakis, sail the blue waters of Earthsea, slip among the shadow ...more

More of Mark’s groups…