Review: Blindness

Blindness by José Saramago
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The story of a blindness epidemic spreading through a city, written in a style distinct to Saramago. Although I read the English translation, the way the characters think and talk are very Portuguese. The philosophies spoken of throughout the novel are very different from what I'm used to, and reek of a continental philosophy influence. Nevertheless, I was captivated by the story's twists and turns.

Not my favorite style of science fiction, but worth the read anyway.

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Review: The End of Eternity

The End of Eternity by Isaac Asimov
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A very interesting premise, and not all is as at seems. The story kept me guessing even after I thought I had figured out the plot. Best of all was the excellent use of sexism and other prejudice of this book's day; Asimov did a good job of portraying it Archie Bunker-style to good effect. Definitely worth the read if you like time travel scifi.

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Review: Anne of Green Gables

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Although some sections suffer from the prejudices of the day, overall this book really touched my heart. I found myself really enjoying all the characters in their own way, and I loved the way that Anne changed over the course of her years at Green Gables. It was definitely well worth the read.

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My Birthday

My pen ran out of ink on my birthday.

Ordinarily, this would not be such a big deal, but at the time, I was a few miles deep in the forest while my ink sat useless on top of a stack of so far unread books at home (an eight book set of Anne of Green Gables I bought for $1.50 at a library sale in New Jersey). My electric light shone brightly on my journal as I tried desperately to at least finish the sentence in my birthday entry, but it was not to be. I had run dry.

My pen is perhaps my most prized possession; certainly, it is the most expensive -- if you don't count Topia, my loyal beetle. I've only had my montblanc for about four years, but in that time it has served me well in situations good and bad. Perhaps I was naive, however, to just assume it would not run out of ink while I was in the center of a dark forest at night.

Still, it's no justification for getting irritated on my birthday. I'd chosen this venture because I wanted some alone time. Far be it from me to dictate that alone time must be spent on journal writing. My light was still functioning quite well, after all. So I took out a book I haven't read for almost a decade at this point: Boethius' Consolation of Philosophy.

It is a well-worn copy, though not by my hand. I found it in a store of a battered second hand shop somewhere in the midwest, I think. It's a nineteenth century edition, with writing in the margin of the first few pages from at least three previous owners. Although I have a copy of the same text published in the twenty-first century, it just feels cooler to read Boethius in a dark mountain forest on my birthday from a book that is four times older than I am. One day, I will get a kindle, but in the meantime, I can't help but consider this method much more awesome.

Suddenly, the sky lights up brightly, and I realize a storm is headed my way. As I gather up my fold-out chair, electric light, books, journal, headphones, iphone, walking stick, backpack, pen, water bottle, and bag of nuts, I wonder to myself: why didn't I bring an umbrella?

Review: Viscous Circle

Viscous Circle by Piers Anthony
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Although the book suffers from the blatant sexism of its day, it was forward thinking for its time, and had some very positive messages about what ideals should be truly valued. The science in the book was hit or miss; some parts make it seem like hard science fiction, but other parts are so implausible on their face that it made me wonder why the author attempted to be so scientifically accurate in the more rigorous sections. Apparently, the author wrote this book while going through a serious illness, so that might explain some of the defects. Nevertheless, it was a fun read, and I don't regret going through it, flaw-filled though it may have been.

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