Fates Worse than Death by Vonnegut
During college and first year at work (the first year i began to afford more expensive books on my own), Salman Rushdie, Philip Roth, and Kurt Vonnegut were my triumvirate of favorite writers. In Vonnegut's case, it started when I was able to borrow a tattered copy (with some borrower's uncalled for doodles and comments!) of Cat's Cradle from UP Main Lib. Since then, Ive read Slaughterhouse, Hocus Pocus, Timequake, Breakfast of Champs, Slapstick, most of Welcome to the Monkey House (Reminds me of Tobias Wolff's declaration that it is very hard to find a perfect novel; there's greater chance of success in hunting for a perfect short story. Harrison Bergeron, in this collection, is a perfect short story). It's only now that Ive realized, outside the scattered articles and speeches that Ive browsed through (including that brilliant commencement speech wrongly attributed to him), that this is my first time to read a nonfiction by him. I'll be able to finish this for sure.
The Sense of an Ending
Ive tried Barnes once in a New Yorker collection of love stories. That one is not the best in the collection, but the story has the sense of masterly control (you know some things are intentionally pruned and left out for the reader to fill-in and be gratified in filling-in) and overall well-craftedness. Then Ive read accolades for this book last year. Immediately grabbed it when i saw the 70%-off sticker on the shrink-wrapped copy.
How I Became a Famous Novelist
On our way to work Im always listening to Freshair Podcast interviews. In one old episode, Hely, a writer for the Simpsons and Late Show with Davem was promoting this book. The plot seemed funny enough, and the writer was bursting enough in natural funniness during his interview, so after seeing it in the marked-down bin. I grabbed this one without hesitation.
Luka and the Fire of Life
Ah, Salman Rushdie. First read Satanic Verses (because of the controversy during the 90's, my copy then has to be shipped from London), then Moor's Last Sigh, and then Ground Beneath her Feet. All three are brilliant. I bought Shalimar and Enchantress of Florence, but these two just yellowed in my shelves because of other books that bumped them out. But I'll finish this shorter offering for sure. Rushdie knows how to write beautiful sentences. But the key is: you know they are not just there artificially to beautify but to support the emotions and rhythm on the page. Prose is like music when woven by Salman.
Too Big to Fail
I enjoyed Michael Lewis's Big Short and Liar's Game, and the discount on this one is big enough. I hope to finish some chapters at least. Or if I really get that chance to do my MBA, I should finish the whole thing.
Secrets of Power Negotiating
By the foremost pioneer of Negotiation studies. This is for work, and I reimbursed its cost.
Our Kind of Traitor
John leCarre is the best in the genre he revolves in bar none. Since Our Game, Ive read Tailor of Panama, Constant Gardener, Absolute Friends, Our Kind of Traitor. All are good, fast reading. But the last three, I dont like how the endings are rushed and seem brutalized. But I'll also finish this one for sure.
Discovering Ancient Egypt
A sort of toy pull-out book for Raya, which she discarded promptly
All are 70%-off, except the two business books which was at minus-50%. I like how National really have stocks of 70%-off books when they hold a sale, unlike SM where when they say "70% on selected items," it usually means "10 pcs of keychains or 5 dirty underwears placed in one small bin inside a decrepit department store marked 70% off. The rest are 5-10% off."
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