The Last Man | 
panI finished it but I can't say I liked this book.
Many things bugged me, mainly the terribly overwritten, tediously poetic prose. Don't get me wrong, each sentence is beautiful, but I grew impatient with reading all these long descriptions and sentimental monologues. I almost DNFed. Luckily, an audiobook version on Spotify came to the rescue, which allowed me to go on with the story while doing other things (mainly crocheting).
Men love a prop so well, that they will lean on a pointed poison spear;
Mother of the world! Servant of the Omnipotentl eternal, changeless Necessity! who with busy fingers sittest ever weaving the indissoluble chain of events!-I will not murmur at thy acts. If my human mind cannot acknowledge that all that is, is right; yet, since what is, must be, I will sit amidst the ruins and smile. Truly we were not born to enjoy, but to submit, and to hope.
Haul! A Series of unfortunate events #6 by Lemony Snicket, and The Last Man by Mary Shelley, bought at Half Price Books today. Also, my mom sent me the ultimate reading challenge, which I'm super excited about!
pick⭐⭐⭐ The most depressing book I have ever read (and yes it gets 3 stars anyway). Since Covid this hits a bit closer to home as Shelley describes the spread of the plague, fear of the contagion, the decline of mankind. Really makes you think what if?
66% ...the plague is in full force now, and it's a bit difficult to read it now since Covid. 😐 (But check out this nice cover of the book that I found online!)
pickFew people know that Mary Shelley pioneered two great science fiction genres, rather than just one. Frankenstein, her first novel, stands still as a pillar in the pantheon of genre fiction, but The Last Man is perhaps her true science fiction masterpiece. Masterfully crafted, and riddled with Shelley's personal grief over the loss of her loved ones, TLM is possibly my favorite from her oeuvre and easily one of my favorite texts to teach.
37% into this 600 page book...and it's only JUST NOW mentioning the main topic of the plague for the first time. 😂😂 Shelley apparently wanted us to have major backstory before getting to the plot; it's been describing the characters' various emotions, personalities, and circumstances for over 200 pages! I'm enjoying reading it though!
Well I felt that one. 😢 Some of the classic writers sure did know how to dramatically describe emotions.
Just posted our new episode! We choose a creepy October book and Peter gives us his final thoughts on the new Sally Rooney. Oh, and breakfast cereal enters into the mix too. Please enjoy responsibly.
https://anchor.fm/peter-murphy8/episodes/Episode-69-October-Book-Nominations-Fin...
#BookSpinBingo update. I have 4 books left. That should be doable. Right?
@TheAromaofBooks
panFrom someone whose imagination created Frankenstein, I expected more from this. Basically, she imagined the world 250 years into her future exactly as it was in her present. It is interesting from a historical perspective. Imagine if there were no world wars, Ireland was still a colony, America is still a wilderness mostly, and women have no rights. No thanks. Oh. And then a plague kills everyone.
#BookSpinBingo square 8
@TheAromaofBooks
Well, this is rather apropos of the current climate. I ran across it doing cursory bibliography research on Shelley. 1826
so-soThe politics and romance in the first part was surprisingly much better than the promised apocalyptic last part - which is just a slow drag to the inevitable.
Shelley sees her culture, country, and race as superior to others. I think here that's not just an aside - it partially explains why the apocalypse lacks any real emotional impact. It influences what she chooses to focus on and just makes a lot of things seem ridiculous.
Though I was almost done with this - turns out I'd only downloaded part of the audiobook files.
Explains the "bizarre pacing" lol
Apparently this is a futuristic story of tragic love and the gradual extermination of the human race from the plague. Sounds #grim but I couldn‘t resist this gorgeous Folio edition! 😯 #scarathlon #ChillingPhotoChallenge #teamstoker
panOh man I had to force myself to finish this. I love Frankenstein. Do not expect anything as good if you pick this one up.
#audiocrocheting while listening to tagged book. It is funny seeing how someone writing in 1826 envisioned the 21st Century with no frame of reference for the technology we have now. For Shelley it seems 2073 is very similar to 1826 except hot air balloons are the way to travel. 😂
so-soThe Last Man is by no means as good as Frankenstein, not even close. Some parts were so overly descriptive, and I really struggled getting through this book. Also, I couldn‘t speed read it at all—maybe it‘s the older language and certain words would trip me up. It‘s one of the first dystopian novels written, 200 years ago—the problem is that there was nothing to show it was 2098 because there were no technological advances. 🤔
The Last Man is a post-apocalyptic science fiction novel, which was first published in 1826. The book tells of a future world that has been ravaged by a plague.
Last one, couldn't help buying this one due to the description on the back, I like post-apocalyptic fiction; it's my favourite. I'm strange. 😬
#maryshelley
#postapocalyptic
#book
#bookhaul
I've been so bad at challenges recently so I'm trying to get back into the habit with a postapocalyptic late 21st future as imagined by Mary Shelley in 1826. Remarkable as an early example of a genre that I usually see as modern and fascinating portraits of the important #male figures in Mary's life; her husband Percy Bysshe Shelley and Lord Byron. I prefer this to Frankenstein! #maylovesclassics @Sarah83 @Bambolina_81
Placed my first Folio Society order today! I requested a catalogue, too, so I know this is going to become a bad habit for my bank acct...🙈 The Last Man and Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man! Total blame #FolioFreaks #blameLitsy buy!
