kurtwombat's reviews
883 reviews

This brilliant story blends absurdist and existential elements almost 100 years before Camus & Kafka strode the page. Not surprised this story came from Melville—his Moby Dick is one of my favorite books. Both the book and this story express an enveloping darkness. Both have lots of funny moments but they diminish as the light to nourish them is choked out. Both have a title character that seem to be blank canvases. They exist only for the reader or other characters to project elements of themselves upon that canvas. The main character of each is actually the narrator. In Moby Dick, he famously declares his name. Since the name is biblical, an archer standing in for a harpooner, in a book heavy with religious themes it may not be a real name. In Bartleby, the main character remains unnamed allowing him to stand in for many of his type. In both the story and the book, the business world chugs along uncaring of the fates of those involved.

Particularly in Bartleby, The Scrivener—Melville focuses upon the inability of those involved in business to deal with the human element. To quote THE SIMPSONS, “We’ve tried nothing and we’re all out of ideas.” The lawyer tries to help Bartleby, but his narration makes it clear he is only simulating what he thinks is a human interaction. His only real concern is, with false modesty, growing his law practice. Bartleby could be seen as the human part of ourself that withers away as less humane pursuits become our focus.

Bartleby is the blank canvas for all of our despair—and he pays for it.

Bardin the Superrealist: His Deeds, His Utterances, His Exploits and His Perambulations by Max

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challenging dark funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

There's Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension by Hanif Abdurraqib

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

Any book “about sports” is invariably about something else, something more. For Hanif Abdurraqib, basketball is merely the vessel that carries life—his life and the lives of many in America. I was fortunate enough to listen to the audiobook read by the author. His delivery and the structure of the book are immediate like a game in progress and the momentum like that game chasing the final buzzer. Much of this memoir feels more like poetry than essay—the beauty of the language seducing this reader into opening myself up for stories that each hung like an arched shot waiting to fall. Immediately I was embraced by the text, I’ve never liked a book so much so fast. As a sports fan, the basketball made Abdurraqib’s life more accessible. For non-sports fans, his life will make basketball more accessible. Family, community and basketball helped inure the author against all that growing up Black in America means. Abdurraqib beautifully transcribes his life into a vision of America that retains beauty despite darkness, love despite hate. I had concerns before listening, that the whole thing would just be a bummer but the passion, eloquence and insight involved here left me transfixed and elevated.

The Hobbit Companion by David Day

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informative lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? N/A
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

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kurtwombat's reviews 883 reviews

kurtwombat's reviews
883 reviews