Archive for ‘February, 2011’

Hunger – Knut Hamsun

Who bought it: Me. What is it: A struggling writer who desperately writes to various publications in order to fend off his own physical hunger. But the money he…

Read article

Independence Day – Richard Ford

Intro Back in my college freshman years, I brought my copy of this book to one of my classes. Our instructor arrived earlier than usual. We…

Read article

War And Peace Diaries, II

Day 5: 201 – 252 It is almost natural for Pierre to get all the attention after inheriting everything from his father. All of a sudden, every father…

Read article

Wandering Star – J. M. G. Le Clézio

Who bought it: Jonathan. I lost track of the number of books that he gave me. What is it: No idea. I didn’t bother knowing what…

Read article

Atomised – Michel Houellebecq

Who bought it: Me. What is it: A novel about an asexual molecular biologist and a his lusty yet unreciprocated half-brother. When: February 19, 2011 Where:…

Read article

The Old Wives’ Tale – Arnold Bennett

Who bought it: Me. What is it: The cover says it’s a classic. That’s all I know of it. When: February 19, 2011 Where: That book…

Read article

The Good Earth – Pearl S. Buck

Intro Right after the 5th Pamiyabe Creative Writing Fellowship back in my college freshman days, I went to a book store and bought a copy of this…

Read article

War And Peace Diaries, I

Day 1: Introduction – 56 It opens with a French dialogue. Introduction excluded, of course. There are footnotes for translation. I don’t know any French so…

Read article

Interpreter of Maladies – Jhumpa Lahiri

Intro As far as I know, this is the first anthology of short stories from a single author that I ever read. My copy was given…

Read article

War And Peace – Leo Tolstoy

Date Started: February 9, 2011. Around 8 PM. My experience with this novel so far is a disaster. I actually started reading last February 7. I was already at…

Read article

Independent People – Halldór Laxness

Who bought it: Me. I am back to the book hoarder that I used to be. What is it: It should be an Icelandic novel. I saw the name…

Read article

Close Quarters – William Golding

Who bought it: Jonathan, who already gave me a lot of books. And I haven’t read a single one of them. But a book is still…

Read article

War And Peace – Leo Tolstoy

Who bought it: Me. I destroyed my budget for this one. What is it: It’s a long, long Russian novel. And seriously, I have no idea…

Read article

Prize Stories 1999: The O. Henry Awards

Who bought it: Edralyn, whom I fondly call Edralini. She was my associate editor in the college paper, my natural successor in that journalism throne, and…

Read article

The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love – Oscar Hijuelos

Intro I do not really know what I was thinking when I picked up this book. Antonio Banderas? No, I am not a fan. The book cover?…

Read article