jakej's Reviews (94)

I read some of these books (can't remember which ones) about a decade ago. Rereading them will be a delight.

Walden lacks rigor in argument or unity of purpose, but has a lot to offer a determined reader. Thoreau excels in his descriptions of nature, particularly in his ability to create powerful metaphors whose relevance balloons outwards, encompassing the whole of human experience. His moralizing/philosophizing that is largely concentrated in the first and last chapters is of spotty quality (he has a superiority complex that makes his arguments sound hollow and whiny) but it comes from a place of mental strength and determination, framing classical religious teachings from Christianity to Hindu mysticism in terms of the natural world as divinity.

Masterful. There's so many layers of meaning sandwiched between intertwining references and metaphors. Reviewers love to say shit like "A harrowing examination of race, class, and gender in America" to describe any book that merely grazes these topics. Song of Solomon unearths them, molds them, builds a new truth: it truly is such an examination, and much more.

I have some minor quibbles (the nonlinear narrative deprives the story of some steam, and I would've liked more in depth exploration of the science) but overall a carefully constructed bildungsroman and lovely read.