No. 36, 37 & 38...
Sophie's World by Jostein Gaardner
I think I'd read this, a good while ago, but as I was reading through, I found it all seeming very new. It was a great book to read in close proximity to Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, as it filled out some of the gaps in my understanding of the philosophy connected to that book. And it is an amazing read in it's own right. The plot, whilst not exactly Booker material, is actually really engaging, and the potted history of philosophy which it's a vehicle for is comprehensive and very well done. The two are also quite ingeniously intertwined. Lots of books (Atomised, Zen, etc.) keep making me want to read more philosophy, and this is another one which adds its weight considerably.
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
An engaging read and a thought-provoking story, it's pretty obvious why this is a classic, and I can imagine its impact when it was published in the fifties. I have vague recollections of reading parts of it when I was small, and/or maybe watching one of the film versions, and I think that really did make an impact. However, reading it this time, while I loved it, didn't quite put me into the same raptures as some of the classics I've read recently have done. I'm not knocking it in any way, though - it's a powerful book, and deserves its place in the canon of classics. I guess I was just exepcting to like it even more than I did, for some reason... I did particularly like the bits which were actually about the Lord of the Flies and the pig's head talking; they had a visceral, tripped out darkness to them. I also liked the development of Ralph as he turns from Piggy's tormentor to friend.
Agri-Culture by Jules Pretty
Jules Pretty very clearly (a) knows exactly what he's talking about and has read, researched and thought extensively on his chosen subject, and (b) believes passionately in what he says. Written six years ago, this addresses the 'agri' and the 'culture' of the title - food, it's production, and the culture surrounding it. What he says is still massively relevant today; he demonstrates exactly how agribusiness and monocultures are failing us, and how sustainable agriculture and food production, from environmental and poverty reduction standpoints, are both desirable and possible. In doing so, he shows an amazingly clear understanding of how the we've become disconnected from our food and the way it comes to us, and shows how our social networks and ways of life are caught up in a process many of us largely take for granted. This is a stunningly accurate and important book, which really really needs to be read and heeded by policymakers, consumers, farmers and voters everywhere.
38 / 50 books. 76% done!
12 Books to go, that's six books a month (I started at the start of October)... still doable...
I think I'd read this, a good while ago, but as I was reading through, I found it all seeming very new. It was a great book to read in close proximity to Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, as it filled out some of the gaps in my understanding of the philosophy connected to that book. And it is an amazing read in it's own right. The plot, whilst not exactly Booker material, is actually really engaging, and the potted history of philosophy which it's a vehicle for is comprehensive and very well done. The two are also quite ingeniously intertwined. Lots of books (Atomised, Zen, etc.) keep making me want to read more philosophy, and this is another one which adds its weight considerably.
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
An engaging read and a thought-provoking story, it's pretty obvious why this is a classic, and I can imagine its impact when it was published in the fifties. I have vague recollections of reading parts of it when I was small, and/or maybe watching one of the film versions, and I think that really did make an impact. However, reading it this time, while I loved it, didn't quite put me into the same raptures as some of the classics I've read recently have done. I'm not knocking it in any way, though - it's a powerful book, and deserves its place in the canon of classics. I guess I was just exepcting to like it even more than I did, for some reason... I did particularly like the bits which were actually about the Lord of the Flies and the pig's head talking; they had a visceral, tripped out darkness to them. I also liked the development of Ralph as he turns from Piggy's tormentor to friend.
Agri-Culture by Jules Pretty
Jules Pretty very clearly (a) knows exactly what he's talking about and has read, researched and thought extensively on his chosen subject, and (b) believes passionately in what he says. Written six years ago, this addresses the 'agri' and the 'culture' of the title - food, it's production, and the culture surrounding it. What he says is still massively relevant today; he demonstrates exactly how agribusiness and monocultures are failing us, and how sustainable agriculture and food production, from environmental and poverty reduction standpoints, are both desirable and possible. In doing so, he shows an amazingly clear understanding of how the we've become disconnected from our food and the way it comes to us, and shows how our social networks and ways of life are caught up in a process many of us largely take for granted. This is a stunningly accurate and important book, which really really needs to be read and heeded by policymakers, consumers, farmers and voters everywhere.
38 / 50 books. 76% done!
12 Books to go, that's six books a month (I started at the start of October)... still doable...