Having a Gogol Week.

First I read his most famous play, „The Government Inspector“. It was alright, an archetypal story of mistaken identity. I liked especially that it didn’t really have any moral characters. Everybody is crooked as hell and everyone knows it and rationalises their own corruption. But overall I kinda expected more from one of Russias most famous authors.

So then I got into his Petersburg Stories (The Nevski Prospect, The Portrait, The Nose, The Overcoat and Diary of a Madman). There are five of them, and I really thought they were all great and some even brilliant. I enjoyed most „The Overcoat“ and „Diary of a Madman“. These are in many ways similar stories about Bureaucrats ignored and forgotten by society, but they develop into quite different resolutions. The others were also great to pretty good at least.

From what I hear a lot of Gogols signature style, the so called Skaz, gets lost in translation, but what remains was still pretty beautiful writing. It helps to get some background on Russian bureaucracy, names, status symbols at the time and a concept called „poshlost“ (Nabokov defines it as corny trash, vulgar clichés and bogus profundity, amongst others), as well as Skaz itself to enhance the reading, but I’m sure it’s also enjoyable to just read and see what you get from it without all that.

Next I’ll probably get to „Lost Souls“. This was supposed to be part 1 of three in his magnum opus, but in his later live he got very christian and never got around to finishing it, burning the second volume and never even starting with the third. From what I hear volume one is a closed story tho, and it might be better he didn’t finish it after getting very religious…

Anybody here read it? What was your experience with Gogol?

Listening to the Kingsbridge series currently.

Just discovered Joseph Finder. Finished The Oligarch’s Daughter yesterday. Starting Judgement today.

I’m in “the slog” of the Wheel of Time, and making my way through book 9, Winter’s Heart. I took a break and read some other books in the meantime, finished the Licanius trilogy by James Islington and a few others, and was inspired to read New Spring and quite enjoyed it. Now I’m back in winter, but it doesn’t feel quite a slow as 8 so far. Fingers crossed I’ll sail through the next portion of the series as it “picks back up”.

Just finished up book 5 of the Star Wars XWing series. It’s the first one of the saga written by a different author and also a slightly different cast. Was a little more difficult to follow for that reason.

Next is a sci-fi anthology from 1977, it’s the sixth “Best Science Fiction Stories of the Year”. Ive been enjoying the Hugo and Nebula ones, I’ve got a bunch from book fairs and planning to get more this year, this one though is a single persons take instead of being award winners.

After this it’ll be book 6 of X-Wing then I’ll switch up the anthologies for the Three Body Problem series.

Reading “the stainless steel rat’s revenge” by Harry Harrison. I like this one better than the first book in the series. I’m about 80% through, so I’ll have to take look which is the next title.

I am currently reading Neuromancer by William Gibson. This novel is often credited with starting the cyberpunk genre. It’s a novel that is so iconic that when you read it today, it feels a little generic. If I didn’t know the history, I would say someone wrote a book version of Cyberpunk 2077. It is interesting because he actually uses real life brands, instead of being forced to invent brands for the book (like what Cyberpunk 2077 did).

I am reading Circe by Madeline Miller. I was never a big greek lore nerd but the author makes it easy to understand - really enjoying it so far!

Finished Dungeon Crawler Carl. I liked it, simple, fun, amd a bit absurd. Will probably start other books once i knock out a few books i picked up about the same time.

Started Disquiet Gods audiobook. Really glad I stuck with the Sun Eater series. First book had me frustrated as it felt like a mish mash of a number of other books and movies. And maybe it still is but I feel like series really grew on me.

Also started reading Sunrise of the Reaping, the latest Hunger Games book. I enjoyed the series and first prequel. Had not realized there was another one or I did and totally forgot until I saw it in store. Its nothing crazy good but comfy.

I’ve just finished The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune, which was a charming little adventure.

My book club is reading Less by Andrew Sean Greer. It’s about an aging writer who decides to accept a bunch of random invites to events around the world simply to avoid going to his ex-lover’s wedding. I’ve just started it, but it seems fun so far!

I’m about 3/4 through The Devils by Joe Abercrombie. It’s a very enjoyable read, similar in feel to his other books.

I just finished Lute by Jennifer Thorne. I picked this up for the Judge a Book by its Cover bingo square. It wasn’t too bad. I liked how atmospheric and creepy it was, and how the world felt broader than the book’s immediate setting. There was one aspect that I felt was very poorly done, but it’s a bit of a spoiler so I won’t go into detail.

Now I’m reading Slow Horses by Mick Herron. I’m surprised by just how faithfully the show followed this book. There are some differences of course, but many scenes feel practically copy/pasted. This will get me the Jerk with a Heart of Gold square.

Squres still remaining: independent author, saddle up, and cozy read. Open to recommendations for all 3, but especially saddle up!

In an attempt to preserve my own sanity I’ve been reading the entire Discworld series since about October. Just finished Lords and Ladies, which I don’t think I read before and am now re-reading Mort for maybe the 5th or 6th time.

Just finished Red Country by Joe Abercrombie. Best book of his so far (I’m reading them in release order). I liked his other books enough to keep going but on average they were just below 4/5 for me. This one though was a 5/5.

Today I’m starting Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir.

I’ve been reading The Devils by Joe Abercrombie. I am so much on board with this rendition of grimdark fantasy!