A sobering look at the inevitable and merciless certainty of our mortality. No matter how much we exercise or how carefully we eat, death is unavoidable—and growing old is not for the faint of heart.
Old age is not a battle. Old age is a massacre.
Gawande, a practicing surgeon, argues doctors are good at fixing specific ailments but often do more harm than good with a dying patient. Not an easy read, but the lessons are essential for all of us. ★★★★☆
Seeing the awful movie many years ago spoiled me from reading this book until now. As with most Stephen King novels, the depth of characters and human themes transcends the genre. ★★★★☆
This novel had all the elements of a terrific story: a strong, conflicted female protagonist, a menacing Nazi villain, Narnia-like magic, time travel, all set in wartime Britain. Sadly, the book couldn’t live up to the premise. ★★☆☆☆
Timely review of the Founding Fathers’ debate and intentions for the formation of the United States. An easy read, but it will leave you with lots to ponder. ★★★★☆
Finally read this dystopian classic. Five years ago it would have felt wildly imaginative; now it feels all too plausible. Atwood’s prose is cinematic, her warning timeless. ★★★★★
A breezy book about the importance of character, persistence, and passion in how we learn, grow, and ultimately reach our goals. Not much new territory explored here. Some interesting stories, but probably better as a TED Talk. ★★☆☆☆
This classic novel explores the fine line between love and hate in post-war London.
I have never known a woman before or since so able to alter a whole mood by simply speaking on the telephone, and when she came into a room or put her hand on my side she created at once the absolute trust I lost with every separation.
Short chapters, crisp prose, suspense-novel feel, but the real punch is in the questions it raises: fate vs. free will, faith vs. doubt, romantic longing vs. jealousy’s corrosiveness. ★★★★☆
Finished reading: Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson 📚
Housekeeping is a novel, yes, but also a ruminative meditation on grief, loneliness, and memory. A book to take slow and let it flow over you. The perfect ending made up for the challenging parts. ★★★★☆
A literary classic set in rural Nebraska during the 1880s. It’s a coming-of-age story of friendship, romance, and small-town values, but also a quiet meditation on place and memory. I enjoyed this one. ★★★★☆
Wide range of styles, but most of these stories were just okay. My favorite was UR, a novella about a Kindle with access to the multiverse. Fun references for Dark Tower fans. ★★★☆☆
A reminder to fully embrace life on our own terms. One of my favorite passages from an all-time favorite book. Thank you for the kick in the pants, Readwise!
The Guardian just released a list of the 100 best novels of all time. I like how they arrived at the list. It’s interesting to click through and see who voted for which book. As it turns out, I’ve read just 35 of these. I sense a shuffling of my TBR list! 📚
Rereading Hemingway one story a night — pure, punchy prose with deep emotions tucked just below the surface. Favorites: The Snows of Kilimanjaro, Hills Like White Elephants, A Clean, Well-Lighted Place. ★★★★☆
This latest novel from Julian Barnes resists easy classification — memoir, literary analysis, meditation on friendship, memory, and the finality of death. Dark wit throughout, melancholy just beneath, but somehow still hopeful? Like I said, hard to pin down.
It seems to me that humans are often so busy living that they forget they are human – or at least forget what it is to be human, and what its consequences are – and therefore what it means to be dead.
Barnes says this will be his last book. I hope he’s wrong. ★★★★☆
