A Blog on Books

This book is wild. Just reading the back cover, I knew I was in for something crazy, but Outer Dark surpassed even my wildest expectations. Outer Dark back cover: "A woman bears her brother's child, a boy; he leaves the baby in the woods and tells her he died of natural causes. Discovering her brother's lie, she sets forth alone to find her son. Both brother and sister wander separately through a countryside being scourged by three terrifying and elusive strangers, headlong toward an eerie, apocalyptic resolution." This is an extremely dark read, but I loved every word McCarthy wrote. It was fantastic. As I mentioned in my review of All the Pretty Horses , Cormac McCarthy is probably my favourite author. Outer Dark continues to reinforce that belief. Interestingly, as I started reading Outer Dark , a Vanity Fair article surfaced claiming that Cormac McCarthy had a 16-year-old muse late in his life. While I haven’t been able to access the full article due to subsc...

Sometimes, a book's reputation precedes it so much that you wonder if it can ever live up to the hype. For me, Lonesome Dove not only lived up to my expectations—it far exceeded them. I bought the book ages ago but kept putting off reading it. Finally, after finishing All the Pretty Horses for the second time, I decided to dive in. I was on a serious Western kick, but I worried Lonesome Dove might feel lesser by comparison. I couldn’t have been more wrong. The two books are incomparable. While they both fall under the Western genre, comparing them feels like a disservice. They're just too different. This book is a true epic, and I mean that in every sense of the word. It gave me the same sweeping, awe-inspiring feelings I had while reading Ken Follett’s The Pillars of the Earth and World Without End . The scale is immense, the storytelling masterful, and the world so vivid it feels like you’re travelling every dusty mile alongside the characters. The Writing: Breathtaking i...

Carl Sagan is undoubtedly one of the most brilliant minds I’ve had the pleasure of exploring through his writing. Earlier this year, I embarked on a journey through Sagan’s works—a decision that came about almost on a whim. I had made a New Year’s resolution to read more non-fiction, and in January, I picked up Cosmos . I was blown away. From there, I read Pale Blue Dot , followed by The Dragons of Eden , The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark , and Billions and Billions: Thoughts on Life and Death at the Brink of the Millennium . Each book left me more enamoured than the last. Sagan's ability to convey dense, complex concepts with such eloquence and clarity is nothing short of brilliant. Initially, I didn’t plan to immerse myself so deeply in Sagan’s catalogue. But as I turned the final pages of Cosmos , I couldn’t resist diving headfirst into more of his work. His voice, his ideas—they simply resonate with me. When I picked up Contact , it was no different. I wa...

This story caught me completely off guard. I went in with no idea what to expect, and it was much shorter than I anticipated—just 30 pages. But wow, it achieved so much with so little. One of the most intriguing aspects is how little context is provided about the lottery itself. It’s a tradition, but the reason behind it? We’re left in the dark. Even the townspeople don’t seem to remember why it started, and that mystery adds to its impact. Honestly, I think if we were given more explanation, it might not have hit as hard. Shirley Jackson’s writing is masterful. It’s short, sharp, and direct. The prose is sparse, yet it manages to pack in an incredible amount of emotion. The characters are just ordinary people—we don’t know much about them, but that simplicity is part of the story’s strength. What really stood out to me is how the tone shifts as the story progresses. At first, the lottery feels like a festive event, almost exciting. But as it unfolds, a sense of dread creeps in. The te...

I absolutely loved Stories of Your Life and Others ! This short story collection was something new for me. I usually gravitate toward longer works, so I wasn’t sure what to expect from these shorter pieces (the only other short story collections I’d read were the first two Witcher books). But wow—these stories were perfect. They never felt rushed, nor did they overstay their welcome. Each one felt like its own immersive journey, with just the right balance. The collection is rooted in science fiction and speculative fiction, my favourite genres, especially when there’s a philosophical twist woven into the plot. Chiang’s writing explores big ideas without feeling heavy or overly abstract—it’s like he makes you ponder the universe while staying grounded in the human experience. I think that’s what made this such a standout read for me. It’s hard to choose a favourite, but “Tower of Babylon” and “Liking What You See: A Documentary” are definitely at the top. “Liking What You See” especia...

As an avid reader, I've come across many incredible stories that have shaped my love for literature. Here are some of my favourite books that I believe everyone should explore: 1. Hyperion by Dan Simmons Hyperion is a masterful blend of science fiction and fantasy that weaves together the stories of seven pilgrims on a journey to the distant world of Hyperion. Each character shares their tale, revealing deep philosophical themes, rich world-building, and an unforgettable exploration of time and sacrifice. Simmons' intricate narrative structure draws readers in, making it a profound experience that leaves a lasting impression. 2. The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett Set in 12th-century England, The Pillars of the Earth follows the construction of a grand cathedral in the fictional town of Kingsbridge. Follett intricately details the lives of various characters, from architects to nobility, against a backdrop of political intrigue and social upheaval. This epic historical ...