Seth > Recent Status Updates

Preface: art is a reflection of the consumer/critic, with no moral standing of its own.

What the hell is he cooking here? Plenty of art takes a moral stance. Even something like a Greek sculpture will belie some vice/virtue: physical strength, heroism, etc.

Dorian's portrait will come to reflect the ugliness of his soul, but how does the critic/consumer play into this?

Really enjoying it so far. Feels like the 90s or 2000s? I miss the hunter but the new MC Kayo seems like a nice fella. I'm sure the two will meet at some point. An interesting mystery is unfolding! I can't wait to drink a Guinness in Accra

Ch1: Loving the prose so far. Lots of charming, tactile turns of phrase and imagery– "But let me tell you the tale before it goes cold." Main character seems like a big chiller who just wants to drink his palm wine. Real as hell! First mention of a bluebird...seems like it has kicked off the conflict of the story. What year is it? Is Ghana still under colonial rule? Who is the woman? A tourist? A colonist?

On anxiety. "It will never disappear, but the great wisdom of life is to realize that we can be the masters of the things that try to enslave us."

On loyalty. A beautiful vase, once broken, it cannot be fixed.

On weapons. The wise man uses guile, not weapons.

Continued. Live laugh love. Not practical advice

Spiritual books should have a bit more teeth

Ch 12?: On luck and success. Success is a consequence, not an end. It comes to those who love their work. Enjoy the process

Ch 13: On miracles. This chapter was kinda live laugh love tbh

Ch 12: on work.

Mentions of Sisyphus. "One must imagine Sisyphus happy."

Echoes of Ecclesiastes.

"The poet would die of hunger if there were no shepherds. The shepherd would die of sadness if he could not sing the words of the poet."

Ch 11: on simplicity.

"And what is simplicity? It is the coming together of the true values of life."

"Elegance transforms complex thoughts into something that everyone can understand." Rings very true as a teacher.

Ch 10: on community and friendship. Choose your friends carefully.

Ch 9: On choices. See the world with fresh eyes. Break from routine.

The book feels like a self-help book presented as a lost book of the Bible. Basically, what would Jesus say if he had another 1000 years to think about his message?

I would like a little more narrative.

Ch 7: On beauty. Physical beauty is a manifestation of inner beauty. Live for yourself, not others.

Ch 8: On choices. Enthusiasm and respect for the mystery of life are the best ways to find "meaning" in life.

Ch 8: On love. An act of faith, not an exchange.

Overarching theme of the nature of existence being inherently unknowable and mysterious. To attempt to capture it is to rob it of its beauty.

Ch 4: On solitude. Love, art, self-realization cannot exist without it

Ch 5: On uselessness. Live not to be useful; just be yourself. Everything has a purpose.

Ch 6: Embrace change, which is the way of nature. Take the first step; it will get easier.

More Jesusy allusions. "Blessed are the..." "Woe to the..."

"In the silence of the night, they fight their imaginary battles... And they promise themselves: "Tomorrow will be different." But tomorrow comes into the paralyzing question surfaces in their mind: What if it doesn't work out? And so they do nothing."

The Nag Hammadi Library alone doesn't make up the entirety of the Apocryphal Gospels ?

Re: pg 2 "In AD 170..." Not true. The context of the authorship of the Muratorian fragment is unkown. The 27 books of the NT weren't finalized until 367 AD with the 39th Festal Letter

"In the cycle of nature there is no such thing as victory or defeat; there is only movement."

Comedic, imaginative imagery of deeply depressing topics. Jumps in time are smooth, cinematic. Main character is sort of a nothingburger

The "real book" begins? Enjoying the ridiculousness of the aliens-- is it a coping mechanism or just silly? A detached, blunt attitude towards death. "So it goes." Very funny, particularly the goofy but apt similes: "The gun made a ripping sound like the opening of the zipper on the fly of God Almighty."

First chapter is sort of a comedic snarky prologue. The author talks about the intro, climax, and ending of the book, basically spoiling the whole thing but it's entertaining. Very clearly anti-war; the protagonist was a prisoner of war in Dresden and/or might have assisted in the bombing.