He who sees the In-

-finite in all things

sees God. He who

sees the Ratio only

sees himself only

Socrates — The Trial

The notion of piety. Prosecutor interrogates Socrates on the notion of divinity. What is truly in service to the Gods and what is not.

And by use of dialogue, Socrates manages to get the interrogator to admit his notion of divinity is ill-founded. Eg — “what is god-loved != piety”. That there must be an objective nature of goodness or piety that exists independently of divine preference.

Moral truth is independent of myth.

— Also, the idea that Socrates is the most influential philosopher and he never wrote anything down. Only interpreted by people like Plato. Must have been a revolutionary thinker.

The sections on meditation and psychedelics were informative reads. Skipped most of the theology.

DNF.

Not my favorite of Camus. Would recommend The Fall over this one.

If I could write the beauty of your eyes

And in fresh numbers number all your graces,

The age to come would say, 'This poet lies-'

Too flowerly. DNF.

I don’t read much 19th century romantic poetry anymore, but this was good.

For if the gods need of one thing,

It is of heroes and human beings

---

I was reared by the euphony

Of the rustling copse

And learned to love

Amid the flowers.

I grew up in the arms of Gods.

---

for *once* I

Lived like the gods,

and no more is needed

---

Latest News: Apollo’s become the god of journalists, press men, And his blue-eyed boy he who reports all the facts.

DNF - :/

Nietzsche was a big influence to a younger self. Picked up a copy of ‘Beyond Good and Evil’ when I was 21 living in London. Since then, I’ve read nearly all his work - saving Zarathustra (his magnum opus) for last.

This is Nietzsche at his most aphoristic. Everything is parable and nothing straightforward. But if you can get through the metaphor, there is deep wisdom in this work. In the idea that we make and shape our world and those around us. That it is _ a choice_ to be happy and you can choose to live a life that brings you deep joy. Discover your own meaning.

I’d recommend starting with ‘On The Genealogy of Morals’ and then ‘Beyond Good and Evil’.

Save this one for when you’re ready (committed?) to doing the work.

Better than ‘On the Road’. Piqued my interest in Buddhism too. Shared my Kindle highlights if you want a taste.

There's so much truth in this book regarding creativity. In unlocking it for yourself. Would highly recommend to anyone else trying to tap in -- 4.5 / 5

Reading this as part of a bookclub with some buddies. Difficult-ass philosophy, but rewarding nonetheless. Here’s my notes.

———- - Simulation: to pretend (“I’m sick..cough”) - Dissimulation: to pretend NOT to be something (hide it) - Simulacra: a crude representation, which becomes taken for the “real” ——— Orders of Simulacra 1. A reflection of reality 2. “Its hiding the truth!” 3. “Its hiding that there is no truth” 4. “Its not related to anything…its not real…” ——— - why have European societies become so liberal? While America retains its republicanism? - Smaller countries…less people…converging ideologies? - Existed longer…alignment of values over sheer time…less need for republican representation (ala fewer “important” minorities) ——— - fascism results from a society losing power and embracing its melancholy…turning to anger…uproar - Society used to erupt into violence when those in power overreached - But now, in this era of hyper-real, there is no true understanding of what motivates society - Which results in this contraction, this stepping away, this implosion (short circuitry) ——— - what do diplomas represent anymore? - When university education no longer has any value in the workplace? - Are we merely holding onto the artifice that used to mean something? - Too sentimental to let go? ——— - nihilism predates postmodernism - “the disappearnece of meaning”

I respect what Melville was trying to do here — and he gets damn close to succeeding — but there are just too many flaws. Too many gaps in narrative. That said, if you found Moby Dick to be a digressive mindbend, look no further.

Very well written. Subject matter was pretty honed to specific 1950s and 60s events, but the central theme of “condescending mediocrity in the form of high culture” stands very poignant in today’s day and age.

Namesake essay is a worthy read, but DFW loses me with his preachy didacticism.

I read the first couple hundred pages of this tome last spring. The intention was to circle back and finish, but I doubt I will. Interesting ideas. Could probably get ChatGPT to summarize it instead (lol)

Virginia Woolf gives me very faint glimmers of Faulkner and Joyce through her stream of consciousness — but somehow fails to execute.

The history of Keats being wound into the story was intriguing (as someone who is really interested in Romantic poetry relatively speaking). And the world building was great. I don't read a lot of sci-fi or fantasy anymore, but this was definitely one of the best I've read in a long while.

I couldn't quite give it 5 stars though. For me, a big part of a book being “brilliant" is that it has to blow my hair back a bit. Get me thinking. This was a great story, but I didn't garner any "philosophical insight" from reading it.

Disappointing. If you’re gonna read Faulkner, stick to the big four (TSATF, As I Lay Dying, Light in August, Absalom Absalom).

There are moments where this book is sheer brilliance. And there are others that don’t make much sense to me (and whom others refer to as “flaws”). But idk, this one really resonated. 4.5 / 5 stars.

——-

“All right. He knew what he wanted. He wanted some money. He wanted a piece of ass. He wanted a big dinner, with all the trimmings. He wanted a bottle of whiskey. He wanted a car, in which he could drive a hundred miles an hour (he had only recently learned how to drive, and he loved the feelings of speed and control, the sharpness of the danger). He wanted some new clothes and thirty-dollar shoes. He wanted a .45 automatic. He wanted a record player in the big hotel room he wanted, so he could lie in bed with the whiskey and the piece of ass and listen to “How High Was the Moon” and “Artistry Jumps”. That was what he wanted.”

Very messed up. And that’s what I liked about it (in the satirical sense). But wasn’t a huge fan of the ending.

First dozen or so poems are sheer brilliance. Quality tapers off a bit (otherwise I’d have given 5 stars).

First time reading O’Connor and I have to say, I’m impressed. The Violent Bear it Away seems situated between Faulkner and McCarthy’s early works in my mind. Its almost as if you took one of Faulkner’s major works, and stripped down the “meatiness” (which is where most folks get lost) and kept the major themes and narrative structure.

TL;DR — Straightforward, entertaining, and just the right flavor of “dark” for a classic Southern tale. Will be reading O’Conner again.

(i do not know what it is about you that closes

and opens;only something in me understands

the voice of your eyes is deeper than all roses)

- EE Cummings

There were a few gold nuggets in here (The Eagle, The Charge of the Light Brigade, The Daisy). Yet, Tennyson’s prose seems outdated and dare I say boring? I can read Keats (or any of the other romantics) and be infatuated with similar language, but Tennyson feels a bit too “historian-esque” and dallies on ancient subject matter for far too long (there are a LOT of multi-act prose poems in here).

Idk - give me Whitman, Keats, or Shelly any day over Tennyson. Sorry not sorry.

This was really disappointing given how much I’ve enjoyed Ellis’s previous works. It just felt lazy and 300 pages too long.

Raymond Carver is up there with my other favorite poets (John Keats, Percy Shelley, Denis Johnson) - but for different reasons. Those aforementioned poets write beautifully. Carver realistically.

After reading all McCarthy’s novels (with the exception being his plays) I’d say this has to be his most inaccessible work. Lots of discussion on very high level mathematics and it’s conjunction with our interpretation of the world. This was like reading a McCarthy brain dump. There’s super interesting tidbits in here ranging from the history of violins to the way whales time their breathing - and it’s semi-evident to me what McCarthy was advocating as a theme - I just think it could have been more appropriately edited (the last 30 pages and the history of the Poincaré/Riemann/etc could have been excluded and the novel would have rounded out a lot better - but that’s just me). 4 out of 5 because I’m stacking this against his other incredible works.

Shared my highlights from this too fyi - read it on my Kindle on the way to London since I didn’t want to pack my first edition hardcover.

Also, I’d like to add that I think McCarthy is a genius. And that’s coming from someone who uses that word _very_ sparingly.

Tried twice to read this one - couldn’t get into it. DNF

The Fountainhead > Atlas Shrugged > We the Living > Anthem

Denis Johnson has really caught my attention lately. A brutally honest writer who can present characters you shake your head at yet still have hope for.

Given that this was his first novel and that he is more known for his novellas/short stories - I’m deeply impressed.

There are brief flashes of Faulkner’s earlier brilliance in this novel - but the subject matter was just too disconnected (and do I daresay boring?) to really amount to anything.

I had two dreams about my father after he died. I don't remember the first one all that well but it was about meetin him in town somewheres and he give me some money and I think I lost it. But the second one it was like we was both back in older times and I was on horseback goin through the mountains of a night. Goin through this pass in the mountains. It was cold and there was snow on the ground and he rode past me and kept on goin. Never said nothin. He just rode on past and he had this blanket wrapped around him and he had his head down and when he rode past I seen he was carryin fire in a horn the way people used to do and I could see the horn from the light inside of it. About the color of the moon. And in the dream I knew that he was goin on ahead and that he was fixin to make a fire somewhere out there in all that dark and all that cold and I knew that whenever I got there he would be there. And then I woke up. - Cormac McCarthy (No Country For Old Men)

Penelope > Hades > Circe > Rest of novel.

The experimentation by Joyce is interesting to say the least, but large portions of this novel come-off as incredibly pretentious.

While a few chapters were brilliant (see above) the remaining 70% requires significant diligence.

In general, I’ve found nearly everything written by Nietzsche to be profound - borderline insanity, but profound nonetheless.

This essay was not an easy read, as much of Nietzsche’s work tends to be - but his general proposal concerning each generation’s pitfall of considering the pursuit of something new and wonderful being often perceived as insurmountable due to the sheer weight of centuries of human achievement is a rather brilliant one.

Nietzsche’s earlier work is a better place to start, but this essay is a great examination of history for history’s sake.

Large portions of this novel are a sludge - and I was struggling to grasp the straws McCarthy so adeptly laid down.

But the ending. Well worth the effort.

The best short story collection I’ve read to date. A harrowing compilation - lacquered in the human condition. Will most certainly be reading William Gay again.

Very Faulkner-esque, yet lacking the indomitable aspects of his more renown works. While the counterbalance of the entwined narratives sets a fluid pace, I was a bit disappointed by the conclusive themes. Still most certainly a brilliant work of literature, but would recommend his earlier works over this one.

I can understand how the Beat Generation found homage in this novel, yet it still feels sporadic and undirected. Only real sense of theme came near the end. Feel like this novel could have been 100 pages shorter and promulgated the same point.

I've heard this novel described as a 'fever dream' and frankly that is probably the most accurate way to describe it. Like most of Faulkner's works, I wouldn't say this novel is easy to read - which is why most folks give up 20 pages in. But I think those who have read anything by Faulkner would agree that his works become more and more rewarding as the plot continues to unfold. Just brew that pot of coffee and settle in for a slow burn.

Side Note: I'm continually amazed by the way Faulkner can turn a mundane conversation or description into something incredibly eloquent.

While the greater part of the plot sort of meanders around a bit, it does eventually lead to singularly profound conclusion. A short and worthwhile read.

At times this novel feels kaleidoscopic, but mostly it just feels overdone. It is certainly a brilliant literary experiment by Woolf though — I probably just need to reread.

First time reading Bradbury, but thoroughly enjoyable. His scenic depictions give me flashes of Fitzgerald: eloquent.

Really interesting to see Faulkner in his early stages. His prose seems more romantic in this early work compared to his more renowned novels where the prose is still beautiful in a sense, but crushing.

From this work, highly recommend ‘The Hill’. Interesting depiction.