Books
Fight Club
FINISHED: 02/15/2025
This was very hardcore Americana. To be honest, at some points I was pretty lost, and I got annoyed at the author for making things so wishy-washy at times. Didn't get the soap stuff. Nonetheless, I appreciated the big reveal; that was clever!
Chapter 20 was my favorite. "What does Raymond Hessel want to be when he grows up?" Answer or you'll die. On the brink of desperation. "A vet." And then our main character says, "If you aren't back in school on your way to being a veterinarian, you will be dead."
How to Win Friends and Influence People
FINISHED: 02/11/2025
Felt like a book for the big man. I like self help books because they make things seem profound; this one was the same. Maybe I'll use some tips, not use some others, but I learned some. Every chapter, he said, "If you take one thing away from this book, it's gotta be this chapter." Funny.
Ten Nights' Dreams
FINISHED: 02/10/2025
I couldn't really appreciate this book. I got bored. Maybe because it's a translation, maybe because I don't know any of Soseki's other works to compare it to. But just felt like a collection of aimless musings. Maybe I didn't read into it enough.
South of the Border, West of the Sun
FINISHED: 01/15/2025
I think this is the second time reading this book. To be honest, it rubbed me the wrong way, but I definitely appreciated it more than I had before. Felt like it was advocating adultery, but the ending was ultimately "We're one big happy family again." I liked the twist on Shimamoto and her intentions, though. Plus, the main character was a likeable guy.
A Wild Sheep Chase
FINISHED: 01/12/2025
Murakami's definitely growing on me. This was a fun read. It kind of went nowhere, but I had fun going on the 'wild sheep chase,' I guess. Probably Murakami's intention.
I had read the sequel to this first, Dance Dance Dance, but I don't think I really needed to read them in order (I didn't). Ultimately, while reading this one, I felt like one of his characters reading some abstract cat story on the train while the Japanese countryside passed outside the window.
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous
FINISHED: 01/05/2025
I got this book as a gift from a friend. It was on my want-to-read because I've been seeing it everywhere on the internet.
I didn't like it. It read like poetry and I don't like poetry. But I will admit, there were some five star moments in it, like the buffaloes running off the cliff. Or when his grandma talks about being a girl: "I used to be a girl... I used to put a flower in my hair and walk in the sun. After big rain, I walk in the sun. The flower I put on my ear. So wet, so cool. It's a stupid thing. Stupid thing. To be a girl." Also when he talks about the veal, the baby cow, how they're bred for soft meat. How Trevor, despite his masculinity, wouldn't eat veal. Anyway, don't think I'll read Vuong's next book.
Chain-Gang All Stars
FINISHED: 12/31/2025
This book took everything out of me. It's such a brutal commentary. It stunned me. At first I was a little bored. Or maybe not bored, but not invested. Catch me at the end and I was in tears. So brutal, I have a deep appreciation for this. Definitely looking out for the author's other works, definitely will reread at some point.
The Glass Castle
FINISHED: 12/26/2025
It was a good read. Kept me invested. The author's history was messed up (it's an autobiography).