Man from high castle
Completed: Man from high castle, the last 20 pages gives you an “inception+matrix” level mind bending.
2020 | Reading | Watching | Listening | List
What I’m reading, watching and listening this year(2020)
Books
Fiction:
Lincoln in the Bardo — George Saunders
The Book of Disquiet — Fernando Pessoa 👌
பூனாச்சி(Poonachi) அல்லது ஒரு வெள்ளாட்டின் கதை — பெருமாள் முருகன்(Perumal Murugan) 👌
கோபல்ல கிராமம் (Gopalla Gramam) — Ki. Rajanarayanan 👌
தலைகீழ் விகிதங்கள்(Thalaikeezh Vikithankal) - நாஞ்சில் நாடன்(Nanjil Nadan)
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen — Paul Torday
Vivisector — Patrick White
Killing Commendatore — Haruki Murakami 👌
Crime and Punishment — Fyodor Dostoevsky — Pevear & Volokhonsky(translation)
Crime and Punishment — Fyodor Dostoevsky — Constance Garnett(translation) 👌
The Plague — Albert Camus 👌
Death in Venice — Thomas Mann
The Temple of the Golden Pavilion — Yukio Mishima
The Secret History — Donna Tartt 👌
The Ghost —- Robert Harris
The Second Sleep — Robert Harris
Drive — James Sallis
Non-Fiction
The Peregrine — J.A. Baker 👌
Packing My Library: An Elegy and Ten Digressions — Alberto Manguel
Walden — Henry Thoreau
Working — Robert Caro 👌
Unix — A History and a Memoir — Brian Kernighan 👌
I Am a Strange Loop — Douglas Hofstadter
Le Ton beau de Marot: In Praise of the Music of Language — Douglas Hofstadter 👌
Fluid Concepts and Creative Analogies — Douglas Hofstadter
Surfaces and Essences: Analogy as the Fuel and Fire of Thinking — Douglas Hofstadter
Musicophilia — Oliver Sacks
The Leonard Bernstein Letters — Leonard Bernstein, Nigel Simeone
Selected Letters of Norman Mailer — Norman Mailer J. Michael Lennon
The Naive and Sentimental Novelist — Orhan Pamuk
Reporting at Wit's End: Tales from the New Yorker — St. Clair McKelway 👌
Films:
All these films were watched before the COVID lockdown(jan & feb). Never got to watch one after that.
The Light House | English | Supernatural Thriller
Climates (İklimler) | Turkish | Drama
The Wild Pear Tree | Turkish | Drama
Winter Sleep | Turkish | Drama
Burning (2018) | Korean | Thriller
Parasite | Korean
Koudelka: Shooting Holy Land | English | Documentary
Before My Eyes (1988) | Mani Kaul | Documentary
Ford v Ferrari | English | Sports Drama
Knives Out | English | Crime Drama
Reading Infinite Jest
One more try. My third attempt, not to try and finish but to get started.
To read Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace.
As I’m typing this, I’m feeling that I’ve accomplished something; I’ve Just crossed page number 100. Still 950 pages more.
One more try. My third attempt, not to try and finish but to get started.
To read Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace.
As I’m typing this, I’m feeling that I’ve accomplished something; I’ve just crossed page number 100. Still 950 pages more.
“On the other hand, there are those who feel that fiction can be challenging, generally and thematically, and even on a sentence-by-sentence basis — that it’s okay if a person needs to work a bit while reading, for the rewards can be that much greater when one’s mind has been exercised and thus (presumably) expanded”
But how? What has changed from the previous attempts?
I tried to introduce myself to David Foster Wallace (DFW) through Infinite Jest (IJ). Turned out to be a bad idea. So I read a couple of his other works; got myself used to his style, humor, rhythms, and his genius.
To scale the book: discipline, dedicated time and undivided attention is a must.
I created a goal of reading 10 pages of the book every day on Beeminder. It’s been two weeks and I’ve crossed 100 pages.
“10 pages a day” isn’t that less? Be my guest! Everything about the book is different and new.
The entire plot is a non-linear narrative, happening at multiple timelines, across different characters, across various sub-plots all built on a hidden theme(which according to the author is subjective). The book has 200-page footnotes at the end — on one occasion a footnote is 30 odd pages long — which is so crucial to the plot, so one cannot skip them as we normally do. In short, it is like the movie Inception on steroids.
“But this is not possible with Infinite Jest. This book is like a spaceship with no recognizable components, no rivets or bolts, no entry points, no way to take it apart. It is very shiny, and it has no discernible flaws. If you could somehow smash it into smaller pieces, there would certainly be no way to put it back together again. It simply is. Page by page, line by line, it is probably the strangest, most distinctive, and most involved work of fiction by an American in the last twenty years. ”
As recommended by fellow DFW fans on the internet, I also carry around a companion/study guide(520 pages) written by Greg Carlisle on my phone to refer and to make sure I’m on the right track.
And did I tell you that the literary style is unlike you’ve ever read. The vocabulary, sentence structure, complex phrases, strange punctuations would warrant you to have linguistic conversations with your friends.
“And yet the time spent in this book, in this world of language, is absolutely rewarded. When you exit these pages after that month of reading, you are a better person. It’s insane, but also hard to deny. Your brain is stronger because it’s been given a month long workout, and more importantly, your heart is sturdier, for there has scarcely been written a more moving account of desperation, depression, addiction, generational stasis and yearning, or the obsession with human expectations, with artistic and athletic and intellectual possibility”
At the current page run rate, it would take another 3 months to finish the book. Hoping to finish it before the Indian summer. Will keep this entry updated.
Update: 10th Feb, Sunday.
Total Pages read = 160
The book is too heavy in its physical size, hands are getting stressed holding it for longer hours. Trying to listen to the book in its audio book version from Audible. One mustn’t read this book in the audio version; you would miss out on most of the amazing things like: Wordplay, brilliant sentences which you must read multiple times to understand and to enjoy, mysterious punctuations and not to mention footnotes.
Update April 14th
Completed! Done! In 3 months, before summer, as desired.
A feeling of exhaustion and relief. That is how I felt after finishing the book.
“But are you sure?”
mmmm.. no not really, I’m confused. I’ve technically finished reading all the pages, but did the novel really end?
I think that is how the author wants us to feel. He has in-fact confided a similar sentiment on the lines of: every reader will have a different interpretation of the ending, and each one will have a different opinion on their consequent rereads.
Here is my take on the book:
1) A brilliant piece of literature. The words, sentences, phrases, chapters, plots, sub-plots, rhythms, patterns, and the narrative style is unlike you’ve read before.
2) Half way through the book, after realising the complex nature of the narrative, I sort of stopped worrying about connecting the plot and started reading every chapter as an individual long form essay. Doing this, I was able to enjoy and appreciate the literature more.
3) It took 4 months to finish the book, it is a journey. As in any journey, you cannot remember every thing that happened, for that long, continuously. There are few instances where I don’t even remember reading whole chapters.
4) As in any journey, there are ups and downs; sometimes the book feels like a page turner and other times you’ll need to drag yourself out of the quagmire.
3) Needs a quick revisit(skim through key chapters) to get a grip on the plot and the ending. And a definite multiple rereads sometime in the future.
P.S - Found this great interpretation on finishing the book and interpretation of the ending by the late Aaron Swartz.
Book Notes: Birth of a Theorem: A Mathematical Adventure
An absolutely fabulous book, that takes a leaf from Cédric Villani’s life when he was at his prime working on his magnum opus which ultimately led him to win the prestigious Fields Medal.
Book Notes: Birth of a Theorem: A Mathematical Adventure
An absolutely fabulous book, that takes a leaf from Cédric Villani’s life when he was at his prime working on his magnum opus which ultimately led him to win the prestigious Fields Medal.
The book is about,
How a mathematician’s daily life looks like?
A look into the life of a mathematician at the prime of his life’s major work
Who’s who of some great minds in mathematics.
What kind of music he listens to?
How mathematicians cooperate to find answers to unsolved problems?
A glimpse of great strides and how it was made in the arena of contemporary mathematics.
This is definitely one of the best books i've read this year.
Download complete notes below. 👇👇
Book Notes - Hit Refresh: The Quest to Rediscover Microsoft’s Soul
Business biographies are usually written only long after an event has occurred or a person has retired. On the contrary, this book’s narrative distinctively stands out because it deals with the present and future too. It is a prose of prognostication and a statement on record for the future to judge.
Hit Refresh: The Quest to Rediscover Microsoft’s Soul and Imagine a Better Future for Everyone
Business biographies are usually written only long after an event has occurred or a person has retired. On the contrary, this book’s narrative distinctively stands out because it deals with the present and future too. It is a prose of prognostication and a statement on record for the future to judge.
The book is divided into the past, the present and the future. I loved the past and the present!
Key take aways are:
Unlike Bill Gates, Steve Ballmer, Steve Jobs or as a matter of fact any contemporary business greats, the motivation for Satya Nadella to go out everyday is more personal and empathetic in nature. This is where the first part of the book grips the reader.
An outsider’s fresh view point in the way things happen in the company
Not allowing the past to haunt you in the present, which takes guts. (Apple Vs Microsoft)
The philosophy of “hit-refresh” in itself will keep you busy pondering.
Removing “yet another corporate propaganda” parts from the book will let you glimpse the personality of a Man who is leading a $85 billion company.
Book Notes: The Pleasures of Reading in an Age of Distraction
My Jan 1st 2017 resolution is reading a 100 books this year (current count of books finished stands around 40 I guess..) The one thing that has slyly crept on to me this year is the “feeling of rush” to finish books fast. It became more of a mechanical task rather than a part intellectual and part emotional endeavour which one feels while reading a book.
There are books that would help you stop and change the way you are thinking/doing things. One such book that I read this year is The Pleasures of Reading in an Age of Distraction - Alan Jacobs.
My Jan 1st 2017 resolution is reading a 100 books this year (current count of books finished stands around 40 I guess..) The one thing that has slyly crept on to me this year is the “feeling of rush” to finish books fast. It became more of a mechanical task rather than a part intellectual and part emotional endeavour which one feels while reading a book.
Of all the books I’ve read this year, can I confidently say what a particular book is about? In some cases no, and in most cases I was doubtful and unsure. This has to stop! There is absolutely no point in turning pages.
So is it not possible to read a 100 books year and at the same time read deep and thorough?
This is exactly is what The Pleasures of Reading in an Age of Distraction - Alan Jacobs and How to Read a Book by Mortimer J. Adler (notes will be published later) is all about.
I read these books 3 months ago and it has completely changed the way I read and my quality of reading has improved. The very act of organising & publishing notes from my reading in a downloadable form is a result of this book’s influence.
Book Notes: The Art of Slow Writing: Reflections on Time, Craft, and Creativity - Louise DeSalvo
This book, even though, written for aspiring authors who are beginning to learn the art of writing, I felt it would be immensely helpful for any one who writes - be it, news reporting, blog, research paper, business pitch or even professional emails.
Book Notes: The Art of Slow Writing: Reflections on Time, Craft, and Creativity - Louise DeSalvo
This book, even though, written for aspiring authors who are beginning to learn the art of writing, I felt it would be immensely helpful for any one who writes - be it, news reporting, blog, research paper, business pitch or even professional emails.
Writing, like poetry and music, must adhere to an underlying rhythm. As writers one must always be consciously aware of the playing the right notes(words) always.
The book,
Demystifies, with examples, some well established myths about writing.
Provides actionable takeaways and pro-tips from the experience of great writers.
Asserts the importance of slowing down, patience & persistence.
Guides us on how to read a book.
List of books read this year.
Book Notes: Absolutely on Music: Conversations with Seiji Ozawa
Two reasons why I instantly loved this book:
A fan of Murakami’s writings.
A student of music.
The book is a collection of transcribed conversations between writer Haruki Murakami and conductor Seiji Ozawa.
Book Notes: Absolutely on Music: Conversations with Seiji Ozawa
Two reasons why I instantly loved this book:
A fan of Murakami’s writings.
A student of music.
The book is a collection of transcribed conversations between writer Haruki Murakami and conductor Seiji Ozawa.
The book is replete with nuggets of wisdom on topics like,
What is it like to be a musician?
How to be a life long student of music or any art form?
Practice, discipline and focus.
How to listen to music? The lost art of active listening to music.(as opposed to passive listening in the “instant”, “same-day-delivery” and busy world we are a part of.)
A great introduction to classical music for beginners.
Anecdotes of eccentricities.
Brilliance of Murakami and Seiji Ozawa.
List of books read this year