Ben Walter > Recent Status Updates

i had to lie about what book i’m reading to someone on hinge because “a collection printed in-house of short fiction finalists from a contest run by a local bookstore in madrid” made me sound way too annoying

the thing about hemingway is that you don’t need to read the machismo and masculinity of the characters as a good thing. in fact i think it’s pretty clear that it’s a major character flaw across almost all of his work

fuck it just doing more hemingway

need a complete candy book to read on my kindle on vacation i was not prepared with a backup book

i got this on kindle and i should’ve got the penguin classics ebook. how am i supposed to read this without an introduction.

christ

it took me 5 days to read the first story in this book good lord was that one punishing. it’s supposed to be but still. christ

really digging this. nice to see some contemporary sf in the same vein as the older stories in this collection. max brooks: i did not know you had it like that. your story about china destabilizing the united states under president tucker carlson. incredible. a world we can only dream of.

unfortunately #failed at my goal of not buying any new books until i finished all the ones i already own. turning my herculean task into a sisyphean one

i feel like i have completely forgotten how to write so im reading this in desperate need of examples of good/well written/meaningful sf

how fake readers look when real literary criticism comes at them

enough of that classics crap. back to the goat

technically this is a 2 in 1 but i’m logging both independently

zadie smith you’re such a good author why did you write that horrible new yorker essay this summer

can anyone recommend any good female authors

2025 resolution: read more books by women

becoming more annoying

read about half of this 3 years ago but i’m starting fresh because i saw someone refer to it as “infinite jest for spooky people”

on a roll lately. burning through my unread shelf. let’s see how long i can keep this pace

i bought this book for a dollar because it looked like dogshit pulp. my assessment seems to be correct

really truly is one of the best i’ve ever read i fear

sorry for rating books so high on average. i guess im just too much of a lover.

it’s time to fulfill my destiny and become the most annoying man in the world

been reading too many vegetable books. need a good candy book that has nothing to say beyond a good story.

logging all the unread books on my shelf. woof.

there have already been 3 or 4 moments where it feels like DFW is aiming a sniper rifle directly at me and transcribing my own exact thoughts better than i ever could. good lord.

DFW minor leagues before i tackle infinite jest

will 2024 be the year i read the unread books on my shelf

reading this while on the elliptical at the gym. pretty good