Most of this fell flat. ‘Beach’ and ‘Muscles’ were alright…
Overall: 2.5 stars + honorary ghost point for the Alfred Jarry mention…
This was a posthumous publication of his short pieces put together by other people, so it’s unknown how Bolaño would have ordered these sketches and narratives—from having recently read ‘Antwerp,’ I’d like to give the dead man the benefit of the doubt and assume this would have been much better if processed by him.
I’ve not read something of this sort in a long time. It’s quite sporadic, notably ambiguous, and yet raw. Bolaño gives just enough substance to set the scene but leaves an ambiguous gap for you to interpret the rest. It doesn’t start off impressive but it builds, it builds well and frankly a little nauseating.
A true gem of comparative and limb anatomy. The diagrams are breathtaking and Owen’s 19th century comparisons still offer something to be learnt (past just historical insight).
Reread no.4
Whilst this may not be regarded as one of Doyle’s masterpieces, and is very clearly a transition piece to his lengthier writings and therefore excused of most shortcomings, it still manages to perfectly portray a yearning to write addressed through Doyle’s fabricated counterpart, ‘John Smith.’
Despite a lacking structure as well as a defined plot, it’s still hard to put down—even after the umpteenth reread. The only analogy I can make is being locked in a room with a sagacious, but overly prone to rambling old man.
This really is a gold mine for all the references and details recycled in his later, lengthier works.
A superb comic masterpiece and fierce parable of the Russian Revolution by the author of …
The metamorphosis reimagined by a neuroendrocrinologist not too fond of the Bolsheviks?
5 stars
There seems to be a pattern in my favourite works being written by (practising/former) medics who’d rather not put their opinions out there under their own name… (Looking at you Doyle)
‘The Afterlife cannot be just another room in the same house’
5 stars
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A palate refreshing walk away from the literalism that dominates Islamic theology in the modern day. The sufis have been deserving of the title for the most reflective insights on Quranic verse.
Ghazali does compare niyya/will/power but remains appreciative of the overlap and limitation in drawing any definite distinctive lines between these (kudos to the translators notes where this is well-reflected. I never expected I’d read a non-native understand how ‘حُكْم’ can be power/judgement or a third mysterious thing out of the bounds of the English language.)
Literalism does not have all the answers but neither does Sufism. The difference, however, is that the latter does not claim to do so. There are challenges to this idea of (lack of) intention being able to nullify virtuous deeds entirely (e.g., Bukhari 3321) but it wouldn’t be harmful to be more conscientious about what intent is behind our actions… Ghazali illustrates …
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A palate refreshing walk away from the literalism that dominates Islamic theology in the modern day. The sufis have been deserving of the title for the most reflective insights on Quranic verse.
Ghazali does compare niyya/will/power but remains appreciative of the overlap and limitation in drawing any definite distinctive lines between these (kudos to the translators notes where this is well-reflected. I never expected I’d read a non-native understand how ‘حُكْم’ can be power/judgement or a third mysterious thing out of the bounds of the English language.)
Literalism does not have all the answers but neither does Sufism. The difference, however, is that the latter does not claim to do so. There are challenges to this idea of (lack of) intention being able to nullify virtuous deeds entirely (e.g., Bukhari 3321) but it wouldn’t be harmful to be more conscientious about what intent is behind our actions… Ghazali illustrates enough cases to support this need to be vigilant of our intent.
All in all, this makes things seem more convoluted—but it is just a demand for reflection to avoid mindless behaviour. More effort? Yes. More mindfulness? Also yes.
So far this interpretation of Ghazali has:
Dealt with key problems with the idea of an afterlife where eternal life is seen as a reward when the only idea of (‘worldly’) life is almost indissociable from suffering/hardship.
Provided solution of sorts to the problem of noisy cognition surrounding small and big decisions
Made me realise that inertia I have towards certain decisions in life (good or bad) is really just (lack of) intention. Viva indifference.
Awsten Knight is in a band called Waterparks. Whether or not you know that is …
5/5
5 stars
This gets better the second read (5 years later) after you’ve acquired Knight-level-sober-friend-with-batshit-weird-life-experiences that needs Knight-level-sober-friend-with-batshit-weird-life-experiences wisdom.
Good blend of comedy to advice. I don’t normally do autobiographies (paranoid of ghost writers)…
…but it would be impossible to ghost write for this man. If not impossible, then a nightmare.
