chrisko's reading history

Cover imageOne Hundred Years of Solitude

by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Finished on July 6th 2007
Rated by chrisko: 4 out of 5

Enchantingly written, but it didn't strike me as it seems to have struck some (my family, Bill Clinton). Will have to read it again someday.

Cover imageEinstein's Dreams

by Alan Lightman
Finished on July 6th 2007
Rated by chrisko: 4 out of 5

Very thoughtful, and I've got a lot of personal sentiment towards Berne. Short and highly recommended.

Cover imageAnimal Farm

by George Orwell
Finished on July 6th 2007
Rated by chrisko: 4 out of 5

Pointed, very funny. Also very light, though, and without much depth. Effective for what it was meant to be.

Cover imageJPod

by Douglas Coupland
Finished on July 6th 2007
Rated by chrisko: 1 out of 5

Blew. I sort of enjoyed Microserfs, but here he got way too carried away. One of those sickening, intentionally absurd wrecks that expects to be taken as edgy. "Oh ha ha," the readers are supposed to say. "Look at that, what a clever and unexpected development." Apropos of nothing, left me exasperated and ill.

Cover imageMicroserfs

by Douglas Coupland
Finished on July 6th 2007
Rated by chrisko: 3 out of 5

Fluffy, flawed, but I'll admit to enjoying it. I was into the technology part, and he's got an irrefutable ability to wield cultural references.

Cover imageZen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values

by Robert M. Pirsig
Finished on July 6th 2007
Rated by chrisko: 2 out of 5

Not very good. Felt like he was expressing an essay as a novel. All the other characters existed to ask, "What do you mean?" and "Wow, that's a great point." And the psychology angle didn't interest me at all. Beginning was good, as I remember. Liked latent thought and the idea of different relationships to technology. Didn't like the story or characters, which leads me to think I would have enjoyed this if it were in essay form.

Cover imageMidnight's Children

by Salman Rushdie
Finished on July 6th 2007
Rated by chrisko: 5 out of 5

Reminded me of 100 Years of Solitude, but liked it more. Closely tied to a rich historical transformation, great characters, unparalleled writing. Poignant and funny and poetic. FULL-TILT!

Cover imageOn the Road

by Jack Kerouac
Finished on July 6th 2007
Rated by chrisko: 4 out of 5

Really enjoyed it, sometimes for the writing, but primarily for the closeness with Neal Cassady, the guy I'll always wish I'd known, but who inevitably would have been bored with me.

Cover imageEast of Eden (Penguin Modern Classics)

by John Steinbeck
Finished on July 6th 2007
Rated by chrisko: 4 out of 5

Was my favorite book for a very long time. Will have to reread again someday, though I'll always remember it well and fondly.

Cover imageSeven Pillars of Wisdom: A Triumph

by T.E. Lawrence
Finished on July 6th 2007
Rated by chrisko: 4 out of 5

A lot of war campaign logistics, but as a memoir it's tremendous. Compelling story, great man.

Fodors and Dummies and BookCloseOuts