Tag: LIterature

Books, The Classics Club

Book 299: The Grapes of Wrath – John Steinbeck

Geoff W

I did it. I completed a John Steinbeck novel!

Honestly, I think even in high school I only partially read The Red Pony and The Pearl (or maybe I did actually read them, because they’re both novellas and pretty short), but the point is I finished a BIG one! In addition to it being a “full” Steinbeck novel, it counts toward both my Classic Club list (32/100) and as part of my 30 x 30 list!

I’ve always felt a little guilty at the lack of American authors on my read list and not having Steinbeck seems like a big omission. I’ve read many American authors, mostly before I started this blog, but Steinbeck is one of those which really is synonymous with America. He is America, a very specific swath and very specific time period of America, but he is America none-the-less.

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30x30

30 x 30: #14 – Read The Grapes of Wrath

Geoff W

2014 08-26 Falling Apart SteinbeckYAY! I’ve finally made more progress on my 30×30 list! I thought for sure, at this point it had fallen by the wayside and I’d pick up the pieces after December 21st, but THAT is why I included some reading related items on the list!

With the completion of John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath, I am now 1/3 of the way through my list and SEVERELY behind! I should’ve been at this point at the end of June, I’m going to have to seriously pick up the pace! Thankfully, I’ve made progress on a few other and count probably cross them off in the near future (lying in the park, growing something from a bulb/seed, visiting Alie in VA, reach 525 blog posts), so it’s not like I’ve just been lounging around even though I have!

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CRWMPodcast

CRWM #00: Welcome!

Geoff W

Come Read With Me 6Welcome to MY world. This is the introductory episode of my new podcast, Come Read With Me. It’s a bit rambling and I can guarantee the three episodes I’ve already recorded (with other people) are much more entertaining!

As I say in the episode and as I said during my four-year blogoversery celebration, this episode is to primarily get the feed up and running on iTunes! I’ll let everyone know when that is live, but until then enjoy it. I hope you have as much fun listening as I’ve had recording the first few episodes. I of course have to give a special thanks to Caroline, Caitrin and Patrick for being the guinea pigs and Josh for the idea and encouragement. The theme music was provided by Hariel on YouTube who built an excellent rendition of Come Fly With Me in Garage Band! Let me know your thoughts and hopefully I’ll be able to eventually do remote discussions!

*Side note, the graphics are temporary and if you can do a better one that would be awesome! I struggled to get my idea across but in the end I liked what I chose even if it is super cheesy and simple.

Books, Quotes

Book 287: The Rise of Endymion (Hyperion Cantos #4) – Dan Simmons

Geoff W

I’m exhausted. This series has spanned 2,200+ pages and more than 10 centuries! It covers lifetimes of characters, many lived over and over and a few lived once throughout the entire story! (Twenty years shy of 1,000 years old, one character!) The story was convoluted and continuously changed which ultimately worked for and against the series.

As the concluding novel in this epic story, it felt a little hollow. There were definitely moments of amazement and creativity and Simmons intelligence once again comes across unquestionably, but for some reason it just felt a little hollow and most definitely rushed at the end. Even though I hadn’t fully thought through the end of the novel when I got there I was not surprised at the ending. It did feel a little deus ex machina (Wikipedia link), but with a “machine” like the Shrike, how could it be any other way?

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Books

Book 286: Endymion (Hyperion Cantos #3) – Dan Simmons

Geoff W

If I’m completely honest, I expected this book to fail miserably. After the feeling of utter astonishment at the brilliance of the first two novels in the Hyperion Cantos, how could the follow-up novels remotely compare?

Thankfully, this first one was excellent. Simmons solved part of the problem by fast forwarding almost 300 years into the even further future and starting from there. As with the first two novels, Hyperion and The Fall of Hyperion, this novel is told from someone who is simultaneously outside (looking back) and inside of the story, essentially revolving around them. The novel’s opening definitely put me on guard and I was very worried that I wouldn’t see any of the characters from the previous novels, but we already knew the technology existed to extend life well beyond a normal lifespan and thankfully some came back!

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