Anisha Inkspill > Recent Status Updates

Book I - the hardest part was all the names of all the people who joined the crew of the Argo, but got easier when I passed this.

Bernard returns from the reservation feeling really good about things, but as the chapter ends I wonder for long.

It’s the moment where Patroclus is wearing Achilles’s army and gets carried away being a hero.

And when the armies met, they paused,
And then they swayed, and then they moved
Much like a forest making its way through the forest.

quote from: War Music: An Account of Homer's Iliad, Husbands

Lenina was quite offended. ‘Of course I can stand it. I only said it was lovely here because … well, because progress is lovely, isn’t it?’

Quote from chapter 6, Brave New World by Aldous Huxley.

Mid-way of chapter 5, Lenina, Henry, Bernard, Helmholtz, how real is their world? I am not sure. It’s funny how Helmholtz feels he is missing something but doesn’t know what this is, not yet anyway.

Second read, how the imaginary is mixed together gives an added punch to the drama.

This is a book I've been meaning to read for a few years. Chapter 1 - 3, focuses on the worldbuilding. Every new information it gives leaves me with a moment of pause.

It was good to take a break. This story is vast, even my abridged version has a huge cast, and the drama also has comedy but I’m not sure if this is how I’m supposed to read this, but there are many quirky moments that exist with the solemn and the serious. It’s also non-graphically violent; the number of beheadings runs to 100s+. It’s shocking when it happens but I’m left with the sense this is how it worked.

Ouch!!! Only 2% read since last update but I hope to get back on track this week.

So far, civil strife continues <spoiler>but it is sad how the empress is horribly murdered. Her plot to assassinate Cao Cao is foiled (after hearing he is to crown himself). Cao Cao murders her to make a point to the emperor. Cao Cao is a PM playing 'regent' to the emperor and starting to like the role for himself</spoiler>.

Last couple of chapters was a bit of chore as I was trying to keep up with the war strategies and who’s trying to outwit who. The interesting characters and details are still there, and I could probably just skim through this but I’m thinking I’ll miss something as there are so many characters where the point of view keeps switching as civil strife continues.

Over 40 chapters in and the story is now starting to fall in place. This is disorientating with its multi-story lines but I like books that challenge me. For a first attempt I’m just about keeping up with the action that moves along fast, my favourite parts are the range of characters and their stories that are a mix of comedy, drama and lessons to learn. It’s completely surprised me is how much I have taken to this.

I wasn't sure what to expect but I’m really liking the style of how the story is told. There’s a lot of characters, where the main characters can change from chapter to chapte but so far I am managing to keep up with the story.

I'm just wondering, does anyone here use Onyx Boox as an eReader?

It's like an eReaders with its e-ink tech but runs in an Android environment. Also, unlike the eReaders it lists its RAM and has an sd card slot. You can also run other android apps, along with apps for reading eBooks.

If you do, I'd be interested to know how you're finding it. Thanks.

I’m truly amazed!!! it’s not taken me a longer time to read this. I think a big part of this is the translation, and the second one I kept close by, but I also think all the books I have read before have also helped.

What I'm finding hard to believe is that I have reached this far and it's almost the end of October, I won't be able to finish this at the end of this month but maybe within the next couple of weeks, maybe, and if I do I will be surprised by this.

I had heard of these works referred to as dialogues but never clocked it was literal, and I like reading plays and screenplays and so I'm finding this easier than I thought I would. I’m also surprised by its humour, v unexpected.

The intro essay gives me an overview of what to expect. I never made the connect between the name of this book and its content, I am now intrigued and want to know more.

I also like how Robin Waterfield’s intro essay makes me feel I will be able to keep up with the rest of the book. It’s nice when a book makes me feel this confident but I’m keeping an open mind :)

This has been on my tbr for ages. I’ve picked this translation by Robin Waterfield as it seems the easiest. But we shall see.

leaving me a lot to chew on :)

review coming soon :)

Chapter 21 No Longer Invisible ends with a quote from a newspaper article published on 28th Feb 1850, Bradford Observer:

It is understood that the only daughter of the Rev P Bronté, incumbent of Haworth is the authoress of Jane Eyre and Shirley, two of the most popular novels of the day, which appeared under the name of ‘Curer Bell’.

Volume II, Part 1 – the formative years

This feels different to me from Vol I, in Vol II, having gone through the development of woman through history, Simone de Beauvoir explores the makeup of woman. What’s engaging me is the detail Simone de Beauvoir presents, it’s the kind of detail that takes a lot of thinking and a lot of work to bring together.

I like how Juliet Barker is not just focusing on Charlotte Bronte but all of them – what an amazing family.

reached Vol 1, part 3 (Myths), chapter 1

I'm enjoying how Simone de Beauvoir illustrates what it means to be a woman from many cultural points of view.

quote:

'In Paris Gaugin had admired a still life with  by Vincent and acquired it, probably by way of exchange.  Van Gogh now informed Theo that Gaugin considered the new still lifes with sunflowers he had painted for the Yellow House even finer than a similar work by Claude Monet.'

kindle location: 7493