This beloved book by E. B. White, author of Stuart Little and The Trumpet of …
A terrific, radiant, humble masterpiece
5 stars
E.B. White proves that great writing can eschew all pretensions of greatness. A beautifully crafted tale about friendship (and writing) that exudes love and kindness from every page. This was my second time reading this as an adult, and I don't think it will be my last. Much like his "On Writing," this is a book I return to when I get lost in the sea of ambitious and clever fiction. Going to read it to my kids as much as they can stand it.
Letters to a Young Poet (original title, in German: Briefe an einen jungen Dichter) is …
What a lucky young poet
5 stars
Dear Mr. Kappus,
It is with great envy that I read these letters. I wish I had the correspondence of such a wise and creative poet to guide my endeavors.
And yet, thank you for being brave enough to ask Rilke for help, that the rest of us can have this gift to read and find inspiration and hope in different worlds and cultures, which no matter how different or developed, will always attempt to starve and dismiss poets and their art.
Borges is perhaps so involved in his own stories that it makes for harder, but more fascinating reading. They are enjoyable, but not mindblowing, nor should we expect every story by even great authors to blow our minds.
This story is short, well told, and very neatly tied. I did not particularly love any character. It means more after you have shut the book. I am glad that Natlie Babbit had the restraint not to draw it out. Refreshing to read in 2025.
The Sparrow is a novel about a remarkable man, a living saint, a life-long celibate …
Deus Vult
4 stars
It was very refreshing to read scifi that trusts the reader. So much of what I come across these days goes for easy reading. Still, this is not a super challenging read. I read it very fast and enjoyed myself. I was frustrated that the aliens didn't show up until more than halfway through, but the perspective was unique. It was so great to have a focus on language, which in a real first contact scenario, would definitely be the primary barrier. Overall a very courageous book about faith and the human condition, and aliens.
The only more serious critique I have is that, while the Jesuits seem very thoroughly researched and accurately represented, I felt like none of them actually had truly solid faith. Maybe that is part of Mary Doria Russel's point, or maybe it is a reflection of her own worldview. There are, of course, many nuanced …
It was very refreshing to read scifi that trusts the reader. So much of what I come across these days goes for easy reading. Still, this is not a super challenging read. I read it very fast and enjoyed myself. I was frustrated that the aliens didn't show up until more than halfway through, but the perspective was unique. It was so great to have a focus on language, which in a real first contact scenario, would definitely be the primary barrier. Overall a very courageous book about faith and the human condition, and aliens.
The only more serious critique I have is that, while the Jesuits seem very thoroughly researched and accurately represented, I felt like none of them actually had truly solid faith. Maybe that is part of Mary Doria Russel's point, or maybe it is a reflection of her own worldview. There are, of course, many nuanced and deep approaches to faith. And true faith I think will always involve doubt... But the characters seemed so focused on the wordly application of faith in the story, forgetting that following Christ on the mortal plane is only the beginning of following Him eternally. Like one of the character's said, "think of the theology!"