Some books have already come and gone

I just finished The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, by Michael Chabon.

What a great book! Probably one of my favorites. Mostly because it was so well written. I'd say, it was "thick" though. It took me a long time to get into it. I renewed it from the library - for each 3-week period - many times. 5 or 6 I'm sure. Michael Chabon was so great with words, though clearly I am not. Such vivid descriptions that make me wonder if many other people are observant and detailed in their perceptions and feelings of the world... or even if he is in his own life, not just in writing. Really, really good book. Quite long, but I'm so glad that I read it. It came as a recommendation from my instructor of Good Books at WMU, Spring of 2006 that I took with Hannah. Ike Turner. Yup. I loved every book that we read in that class - Geek Love, Snow Crash, White Noise, The Corrections, and The Things They Carried (which wasn't my favorite book, by any means, but it was still good and semi-mind boggling). So I admired Ike's book choices, and still occasionally consult him online for suggestions.

Another suggestion of his, which I also already conquered, was A Confederacy of Dunces, by John Kennedy Toole. I believe that this book was published after he had died, at a young age. This book was also really good... but quite strange. Frustrating. The main character, Ignatius, is just... ridiculous. A fat slob that is, perhaps unfortunately, quite intelligent - or at least, intelligent enough to know how to successfully manipulate others. He's mostly unemployed, living with his mother, and controlling the poor woman. She forces him to get a job, so the book is mostly about his search for jobs, many of which he goes through, and leaves his employers and companions in confusion. The book is frustrating just because, well, Ignatius is not a hero. He made me uncomfortable, and quite bothered. Yet, I read it all. And loved it, actually.

I also did read Indecision, by Bejamin Kunkle. I had bought this once from Barnes & Noble when I was looking for a book to read. Fiction yet again, as that tends to be my preference. (maybe I should look into other such reading? biographies? Science fiction? I have delved into fantasy with Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings, and Piers Anthony from my childhood reading) So I started this book, was pretty bored for awhile, and then just stopped reading it. Then I found it, figured that I should give it another go. I did enjoy it. It's about the main character who takes an anti-depressant-type medication which is supposed to help him make decisions for once in his life (hence Indecision), unsure if he's in the control or experiment group. And then he flies down to South America to try to be more decisive and visit a female friend from high school. Goes on some weird adventure, finding new confidence in his supposed decision-making skills. The book was alright. Nothing particularly memorable, but interesting nonetheless.

Currently reading Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. I think it'll be a valuable read for my spiritual and emotional self.