Welcome to Litsy!

I have read a record breaking 41 books so far this year (thanks, influenza!), so I thought I'd have a look at how I'm doing on my current reading goals.

I've read 13 books from the combined 1001 books to read / Guardian 1000 books / plays I want to read list that's my current #LifetimeReadingPlan . ✔️
I've read 4 science fiction / speculative fiction books. ✔️
But so far I've failed to read any of the long novels I set for myself. 😱

Yes, Clarke predicted a lot of technological developments (although there are still way too many fax machines in here). But there are much better written and more interesting classic sci-fi novels out there that aren't nearly so depressing. The overall message (or was there even one?) was unconvincing. The only entertaining bit for me was the form the overlords took.

#1001books #LifetimeReadingPlan

First book finished in 2019. Three interlinked short novels: the first ("City of Glass") was too much like an undergraduate philosophy essay but I really liked "Ghosts" and "The Locked Room".

Also qualifies for #booked2019 #NewToMeAuthor.

#lifetimereadingplan #postmodern

Amazing book. Very disturbing. If you haven't read it yet: it is not very long, so it's worth trying even if you don't like it or find it difficult.

I've realised recently how much I love it when a comic moment breaks up an otherwise serious book.

Above: original Penguin cover - the best one I could find by far.

Next step: watch movie directed by James Franco.

#lifetimereadingplan

I finished this book, even though it was a chore, because it's on my lifetime reading plan. The story follows a small band of Spanish partisans as they get ready for an extremely dangerous mission: blowing up a bridge with the help of Robert Jordan, Hemingway's thinly disguised alter ego. While Jordan is an unmitigated ass, the book did have two interesting and unforgettable characters: Pablo and Pilar.
⭐⭐⭐

#1001books #lifetimereadingplan