Literature

Just finished the Remembrance of Earth's Past trilogy by Cixin Liu a couple days ago...it's reminded me of how mind-blowing and mind-expanding sci-fi can be. It's an incredibly bleak and yet somehow still hopeful series and aside from issues with how Liu handles characters, I can't wait to re-read it after I've had some time to digest the ideas in it. Definitely recommend if you like big ideas in sci-fi and can deal with some iffy character writing.

Right now I am reading An Urban History Of China by John Lincoln. It might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I am enjoying reading it, since I am a sucker for anything history.

I randomly picked up Ruth Ozeki's Tale for the Time Being at the library and couldn't put it down. It really was the level up of literature I have been waiting for. While it did have a few words I needed to look up, it was generally very approachable and enjoyable to get through. What I also appreciated was that even though some of the subject matter is difficult, it is not so detailed and exploitive that it created a triggering response, at least for me. I really look forward to reading more of her work. I'm shocked I had never heard of her and only bumped into this book by chance!

About to dive into The Tin Drum again. Last read it 30 years ago...

I just finished 'Player of Games' - Ian M. Banks. I liked it, it felt immersive.

Just started The Passenger by the late great Cormac McCarthy. I'm about a 3rd through, listening on audio book via Libby (read at 85% speed). It's a little hard not to put it in the context of No Country and the border trilogy - Mr. M does seem to have a type. I'm pleased that many of McCarthy's liberties with words seem to come through on audio, but I imagine I'm missing a lot. All in all I'm enjoying it. Next up my book club is reading All The Pretty Horses, so I'm in for the ride as it were. (Weirdly, there was a longer wait for his other work than The Passenger. I guess people are in the wait and see mode).

A friend recommended Midlife by Kieran Setiya. I have to say - it's quite dense, and I feel like I'm not doing it justice. I'll definitely keep going.

«Elsewhere, Perhaps» - Amos Oz (1966).

The Foundation series by Azimov. I read it when I was a teenager and remembered very little. It's a lot scarier today.