Grade the last book you read.

[captainofbeef]

The Confessions of Nat Turner by William Styron
9/10
Really insightful look into the mind of the leader of a slave rebellion. Styron's dialogue's between the slaves are fantastically written and really offer a look inside the black heart of slavery. It is slow at times but definitely worth the read for fans of historical fiction.

[captainofbeef]

The End of Faith by Sam Harris
9/10
Concisely lays out the case against both radical religious faith and moderate faith. Harris takes a different approach in his attack on religion, using scientific and philosophical evidence rather than historical fact. His input about consciousness and meditation is unlike any I've ever heard before. The book may lack focus in places but it definitely is a worthy addition to any skeptics bookshelf.

[captainofbeef]

The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner
8.5/10
Once again, a magnificent example of wonderful technical writing and excellent themes in a writing style that I just do not enjoy. The stream of consciousness technique used in the first two sections of the book is nearly impossible to decipher and makes for a very difficult read. The next two sections are easier to understand but consequently not as interesting. Overall, this is definitely a book that I need to read again in the future to truly understand, much like Ulysses.

[captainofbeef]

A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking
9/10
Hawking presents very complex mathematical problems and scientific principles in a way that the mere mortal can understand. His direct language allowed me to comprehend concepts that I would have otherwise had no chance of understanding. Sure, some of the ideas were beyond me and I don't know if I ever will truly understand String theory. But definitely an interesting and educational book from the genius of our time.

[captainofbeef]

Candide by Voltaire
10/10
A enjoyable and fun read that contains many valid criticisms and excellent wordplay. Voltaire's satire holds up over three hundred years after its publication and that is definitely a testament to the quality of the novel. The prose is witty and easy to understand and the story itself keeps you wondering what terrible occurrence will happen next. Definitely a must read.

[captainofbeef]

The Inferno by Dante Aligheri
10/10
The first section of the Divine Comedy is extremely difficult to read but well worth it in the end. Dante's language rivals that of Shakespeare and I can only imagine what it reads like in the original Italian. Definitely whetted my appetite for Purgatory and Paradise.

[captainofbeef]

Thus Spoke Zarathustra by Friedrich Nietzsche
8/10
Though I generally agree with the themes presented and the ideas that Nietzsche advocates for, I felt that the writing in this book was a bit too dense for my liking. The English version of this book does not flow well, though I'm sure the German version does. Nevertheless, it was an interesting and thoughtful read.

[captainofbeef]

Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy
10/10
This book is often heralded as McCarthy's best work and I wholeheartedly agree. The story that this book tells is incredibly gripping and you will be struggling to put the book down. The book's main characters are painted vividly and you actually care for them even though they are cold blooded killers. If you are going to read one Cormac McCarthy book, this is definitely the choice.

[captainofbeef]

Goth- Otsuichi
6/10
A decent and quick read for a boring Sunday night. Not usually the type of novel I'm into, but it kept me interested.

[captainofbeef]

Naked Lunch by William Burroughs
6/10
Pretty much incomprehensible, which is understandable considering he was on heroin the entire time he wrote the book. Its an interesting read but not necessarily an enjoyable one.

[ie]

Jun 16, 2010 21:58:21 GMT -5 captainofbeef said:

Naked Lunch by William Burroughs
6/10
Pretty much incomprehensible, which is understandable considering he was on heroin the entire time he wrote the book. Its an interesting read but not necessarily an enjoyable one.

I got through about 10 pages before realizing I didn't understand a word of what I had just read.