Readernaut: Notes from Scott Robinsonhttp://readernaut.com/quad/notes/A feed of Readernaut notes.us-enFri, 22 May 2009 05:20:00 -0500Spoiler, remark: The Satanic Verseshttp://readernaut.com/quad/notes/6387/Saladin's father is twisted. In fact, the entire cast surrounding Saladin's backstory are twisted.

And, I mean "in fact." The point of how Saladin's father only created him, and isn't responsible for his behavior as an adult, wasn't lost. However, we (meaning mankind) stand on the shoulders of those who came before us. It is this way in all aspects: culture, technology, religion, etc.. Saladin may be responsible for following his own path; but, his father most definitely started him down it. There is no relativism or lack of guilt to be found there.

Worse, I can't help but to break the fourth wall in the same vein. The novel is fascinating thus far. But, it's also a conveyance of memes. Now, I carry the same twisted concepts; and, am capable of their execution or imagining worse further down the same path. Am I better for it?

Humanity has no shortage of wretched behavior. But, what is gained from sensationalizing it? Ostensibly our societally instilled morals act as a bulwark to such indulgence.

And we all know how well that works in practice.

  • Reader: Scott Robinson
]]>Fri, 22 May 2009 05:20:00 -0500Remark: The Satanic Verseshttp://readernaut.com/quad/notes/6321/I am pretty psyched about reading a book that ranked a fatwa for its author.

  • Reader: Scott Robinson
]]>Tue, 19 May 2009 07:04:48 -0500Spoiler, review: Neverwherehttp://readernaut.com/quad/notes/6320/Man has boring life. Goes on wild and fantastic adventure in fairytale land. Grows as a person. Returns to boring life; but, finds he has outgrown it. Returns to fairytale land.

  • Reader: Scott Robinson
]]>Tue, 19 May 2009 07:02:11 -0500Remark: Draculahttp://readernaut.com/quad/notes/6257/I was pulled into Dracula by the Dracula Feed. But, it was so engrossing that I couldn't handle having the story presented in real-time.

  • Reader: Scott Robinson
]]>Mon, 18 May 2009 06:02:25 -0500Remark: Ovidhttp://readernaut.com/quad/notes/6256/I lack the refined taste to appreciate Ovid.

  • Reader: Scott Robinson
]]>Mon, 18 May 2009 05:59:37 -0500Spoiler, review: Eyes of the Calculorhttp://readernaut.com/quad/notes/5975/This is, quite possibly, the worse book I have ever read. It's like a non-stop sequence of adolescent D&D fantasies.

It was almost too much that, with the exception of two, every female character had no personality or plot relevance. They existed to throw themselves upon one of the main male characters. "I am an independent and self-reliant persona. But, the moment walked into this room, I felt myself consumed with the need to fuck you." "Lady, no, I have the emotional responses of an awkward teenage male." "Too bad, I'm still going to fuck you." "Ok." I only wish my dialog was so far from the truth...

Oh, and those two characters? One had some semblance of depth as a protagonist. But, she still forced herself upon someone who was, ostensibly, her subordinate. And the other was A MAN who had possessed a rape victim's broken mind.

I left my copy of this book sitting in the international terminal of Sydney airport. It's probably still there, if you're curious...

  • Reader: Scott Robinson
]]>Wed, 6 May 2009 07:03:25 -0500Remark: Anastasia Krupnikhttp://readernaut.com/quad/notes/5974/I couldn't figure out why this one is so frequently banned. The other preteen books had clear themes that could be construed, in a more prudish sense, as risqué.

Pregnancy? That's the only one I could figure.

  • Reader: Scott Robinson
]]>Wed, 6 May 2009 06:54:30 -0500Spoiler, review: The Pleasure of Finding Things Outhttp://readernaut.com/quad/notes/5918/Typical Feynman book. Pleasant. It'll make you smile. But, very repetitive because it revisits the same topics but in multiple forms (letters, speeches, etc.).

Also, did you hear he was scientist who figured the O-Ring thing out on the Challenger?!

... I wonder if any of the Feynman books don't devote a chapter to that.

  • Reader: Scott Robinson
]]>Sun, 3 May 2009 23:35:35 -0500Review: McMafiahttp://readernaut.com/quad/notes/5916/An enjoyable tour through organized crime the world-round. And, where Glenny is biased or promoting public policies, he's upfront about it.

  • Reader: Scott Robinson
]]>Sun, 3 May 2009 23:33:11 -0500Remark: Freakonomicshttp://readernaut.com/quad/notes/5915/Reading the original analysis that have prompted so much criticism is nice. But, the masturbatory quotations found in the beginning of every chapter was too much. I get it, Steven Levitt is a genius.

  • Reader: Scott Robinson
]]>Sun, 3 May 2009 23:31:39 -0500Review: Blinkhttp://readernaut.com/quad/notes/5914/I read this while flying between Sydney and Auckland. My hopes were it would be more edifying than watching whatever terrible documentaries they had on the in-flight computers. Sadly, this proved not to be the case.

Blink came out in 2005. And, if you've followed social media then you've already heard the anecdotes. Presumably, it's Gladwell's analysis of the primary sources that is the value behind the book. But I have read all the primary sources and already came to my own conclusions. Gladwell's weren't persuasive.

  • Reader: Scott Robinson
]]>Sun, 3 May 2009 23:26:57 -0500