Jared Della Rocca > Recent Status Updates

"It's okay, Daddy," she said. "I know you won't leave me here forever."

OMG this is one of the saddest books I've ever read.

First chapter is magnificent, one of the best I've read of non-fiction. Absolutely grabs you and you are just as curious as the author for what lies beyond the door.

If I didn't share an office, I'd be outright bawling. First 50 pages are REALLY REALLY sad.

Well, that took an interesting turn.

Either this book is going to take a few wicked turns, or Bohjalian has written the most formulaic mystical thriller ever. Seriously--characters named after rare flowers...and then the protagonist actually makes note of it?! C'mon, Bohjalian, don't disappoint me here.

Slow start, would be more interesting with a better knowledge of London, perhaps. By the names of the authors used for reviews, expected it to be more of a thriller from the start.

"Nevertheless, the basic motive for even the most abusive attempts at dissonance reduction is defense of values or beliefs that are perceived to be indispensable to the survival of one's own community."

The first 26 pages are like climbing into a drag race car---you go from 0 to 150 in 2.7 seconds. I swear, the first pages gave me whiplash it got going so fast!

"The walls wept. Besides surface rivers, ancient underground rivers burrowed through the city, blind and unseen currents with lost directions. Sometimes in winter half the basements in Moscow cried."

"These are your own words, Stavrogin...I haven't altered anything of your ideas or even of your words, not a syllable." "I don't agree that you've not altered anything," Stavrogin observed cautiously. "You accepted them with ardour, and in your ardour have transformed them unconsciously."

Ridiculous intro---main character experiences deja vu, then proceeds to suddenly have major breakdown in his office all for the author's purpose of introducing this experience from the character's teenage years that is the heart of the book. I'm interested in the experience itself, but Straub (as characteristic of his other books) has trouble with the mechanics of introducing plot.

fdsfdsa

Fascinating read, thus far, exploring the competing ideals of Privacy and Freedom of Speech. First chapter deals mainly in reputation, and the currency it holds. Though we may post nothing about ourselves on the Internet, it doesn't ensure our privacy if other people post pics, blog, etc. How do we battle incorrect facts and gossip about ourselves when information moves at the speed of electrons?