Book Review - The Enthusiast

Just finished "The Enthusiast" by Charlie Haas. Very interesting read, and very different.

The premise is that the main character, Henry, is a writer who drifts from 'enthusiast' magazine to 'enthusiast' magazine - 'Crochet World' to 'Kite Buggy' to 'Spelunk'. Although he himself is not any particular sort of enthusiast, he is intrigued by those who are.

The book, though light on actual plot (in terms of conflict and resolution), is a thoroughly engaging read and leaves the reader with a sense of peace, despite everything that happens. The characters are realistically flawed and very well fleshed-out, so much that you could see yourself having a conversation with them, like with a real person. The dialogue is clever and tongue-in-cheek, the subject matter is enlightening - overall, I'd recommend this book to anyone looking for a short but intelligent read.

A Very Educational Entry

Hello, my three followers! This is a Very Educational Entry, as I'm sure you could tell from the title. Book recs!

See, this is what happens when I'm on summer break. I still somehow get educated. Blast.

Book Recommendations

Soon I Will Be Invincible by Austin Grossman
Soon I Will Be Invincible follows both a supervillain and a superheroine along their respective journeys through a world where Supers are on the same level as celebrities. The villain, Doctor Impossible, is a genius, but has trouble keeping his tendency to monologue under control. Fatale doesn't think she fits in with the other superheroes because she doesn't have any actual superpowers, apart from being a cyborg.

This is an engaging read with plenty of laughs but a truly important message embedded in the text. Even though these characters are superhuman, they remain poignantly human behind their powers of flight, superstrength or invisibility. Despite being glorified in the media of their world, each of these characters has their own individual problems. Having massive destructive battles with giant robots is something any superhero can handle, but romance, friendship, secrets, and the sheer human desire to fit in are what make these characters incredible.

Want more?
Did you enjoy the book, or does it sound interesting? Then you would probably love Doctor Horrible's Sing-Along Blog! This tongue-in-cheek three-act musical will place you alongside the hero (or rather, sympathetic villain) Doctor Horrible as he strives to win the affection of the girl from the laundromat - and of course, take over the world. Featuring Neil Patrick Harris as Doctor Horrible and Nathan Fillion as his arch nemesis, Captain Hammer, as well as Felicia Day (of 'The Guild' fame) as Penny, I am pretty confident that this will be one of the best forty-five minute segments of your life.

The Wanting Seed by Anthony Burgess
The Wanting Seed, a novel by the author of A Clockwork Orange (which I haven't read yet), is a short read, but by no means a light one. I tend to just interpret words I don't know from the context, but my vocabulary was increased over the course of this book by considerable dictionary reference, and I also learned a lot about the natural cycle of the phases of a government. But don't be nervous, just because the book is intelligent and you might learn something doesn't mean it's not great leisure reading. This is a book that makes you think, makes you laugh, and makes you nervous.

The book takes place in a society where overpopulation has become so out of control that families are limited to one birth (alive or dead) and homosexuality is encouraged. Food is scarce and it's difficult to succeed if you have children or are heterosexual simply due to prejudice. Although I'm not sure I agree with every message this book sends, it really made me think about what lengths we're willing to go to in the name of protecting the human race. Under heavy, exaggerated themes of fertility, cannibalism and government deception, there are countless tiny messages - little warning signs to the human race of what could happen. The characters are relatable and yet flawed - far more than most main characters seem to be in recent literature. The writing itself is complex in its conciseness - where one author would write a simple paragraph, Burgess writes a high-density single sentence. Don't let the vocabulary and structure throw you off; if you listen, this book is making a very simple and very clear point.

Want more?
Did you enjoy this book, or does it sound like something you'd like? If you haven't already (you slacker), I'd highly encourage you to read George Orwell's 1984. Although Burgess and Orwell have slightly different interpretations of possible futures and the people who will bring them about, both share a dark, warning tone that at the same time intrigues and terrifies the reader. If you enjoyed 1984, definitely pick up The Wanting Seed.