Jesse Atkinson reviewed The Passenger by Cormac McCarthy
Review of 'The Passenger' on 'Goodreads'
2 stars
Cormac I love you but what the fuck was this.
Reviews and Comments
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Jesse Atkinson reviewed Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
Review of 'Killers of the Flower Moon' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
Holy mother of god…
How is this not taught in schools? I know. That’s a rhetorical question.
One of the best (???) non-fiction books I’ve ever read. Incredible journalism.
I wish I could make everyone read this. Yes. It is enjoyable to read despite the subject. It is a page turner as thrilling as Girl with the Dragon Tattoo; but it’s also a history lesson. The skillful writing and narrative is the hot dog and the horrible history of white supremacy and pure unblinking evil is the pill.
The silver lining is that there are some good ones out there. Some of us aren’t monsters.
Jesse Atkinson reviewed The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler
Review of 'The Big Sleep' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
Pretty phenomenal. I enjoyed that Phillip was smarter than me (and likely most readers). I still have questions about a few loose ends. It is a bit too messy at times. But an incredible novel. Amazing prose. Basically invented a whole genre (or electrified it). Obviously reading this in 2022 I could’ve done without some of the slurs, but it didn’t ruin it for me. Made sense in context and character. Just made me like Phillip a little less.
Jesse Atkinson reviewed True grit by Charles Portis
True Grit is Charles Portis' most famous novel--first published in 1968. It tells the story …
Review of 'True grit' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
AAAAHHHHH!!!
I love this book. It is a proper romp. An unpretentious western. Mattie Ross is my new role model.
Jesse Atkinson reviewed Cities of the plain by Cormac McCarthy (The border trilogy ;)
Review of 'Cities of the plain' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
Indulgent Cormac. For the converted only. I found it deeply moving and upsetting and beautiful. Seeing Billy Parham and John Grady Cole together feels almost like fanfic at first. But then it turns into a standard Cormac story. If you’re lucky you get a friendship like there’s once or twice in your life.
Jesse Atkinson reviewed Heat 2 by Michael Mann
Review of 'Heat 2' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
THIS BOOK ROCKS SO MUCH. FUK YEAH.
In this quintessential Shakespeare tragedy, a young prince's halting pursuit of revenge for the murder …
Review of 'The Tragedy of Hamlet Folger Shakespeare Library' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
Pretty pretty pretty pretty good.
Jesse Atkinson reviewed My Struggle by Karl Ove Knausgård
Review of 'My Struggle' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
I've slowly read Karl One Knausgaard's "My Struggle" series over about 6 years. I'm not a fast reader and I've taken breaks between each book. The sixth book, the longest by over triple the next longest book in the series, was a slog to get through at times — more than his previous books. The infamous 800+ pages on Hitler and the third reich while ridiculously fascinating and interesting is admittedly tough to get through. And it is only Knausgaard's ability as a writer that keeps you reading.
I don't really know what to say other than these books made me feel the way that the best art has always made me feel — less alone. To say I relate with him is an understatement. And the parts where we are very different people he writes in a way where you completely get his headspace and logic.
I know the …
I've slowly read Karl One Knausgaard's "My Struggle" series over about 6 years. I'm not a fast reader and I've taken breaks between each book. The sixth book, the longest by over triple the next longest book in the series, was a slog to get through at times — more than his previous books. The infamous 800+ pages on Hitler and the third reich while ridiculously fascinating and interesting is admittedly tough to get through. And it is only Knausgaard's ability as a writer that keeps you reading.
I don't really know what to say other than these books made me feel the way that the best art has always made me feel — less alone. To say I relate with him is an understatement. And the parts where we are very different people he writes in a way where you completely get his headspace and logic.
I know the entire premise of this project is controversial and if you wish to throw the whole thing out because you think it's exploitative I won't try to change your mind. But Karl Ove has given me one hell of a gift with this series and made me feel a lot less alone. Reading this series has deepened my love for my wife in ways no traditional romance film or book could've; it has reignited my passion for reading; and it has helped immensely with my depression.
I cannot recommend this series though. Like a lot of great art, you have to be open to it and interested. It can't be forced upon you. If this series sounds at all interesting pick up vol. 1. It's a hell of a read on its own. And if you do read this series and know me I'd love to talk about it.
Thanks for this hellish, harrowing, beautiful, naked, raw, boring, dull, selfish, narcissistic, exploitative, heart-wrenching gift, Karl Ove.
Jesse Atkinson reviewed The Crossing by Cormac McCarthy (Border Trilogy (2))
Following All the Pretty Horses in Cormac McCarthy's Border Trilogy is a novel whose force …
Review of 'The Crossing' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
Not his best book. This one McCarthy gets up his own ass a bit. All traits & tendencies that make his best writing masterpieces here he indulges in without restraint. After part 1 I lost interest but kept reading. The main character isn’t terribly known or likable other than he’s a tough and resourceful young man. I didn’t give a shit about the brother. At least three sections where some random person he encounters tells a 20+ page story that’s filled with riddles and cryptic bullshit.
Cormac is a master. And extremely worth reading. But like Bob Dylan’s Christian era this book is for completionist only. Here’s hoping “Cities on the Plain” is more reigned in.
Jesse Atkinson reviewed How to Do Nothing by Jenny Odell
In a world where addictive technology is designed to buy and sell our attention, and …
Review of 'How To Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
I wish I could make everyone read this book. It’s just so damn good and very powerful.
It’s short. Please read it. I’ll be revisiting sections of this probably for the rest of my life. And also reading this has ballooned my “to read” pile immensely.
Jesse Atkinson reviewed American Pastoral by Philip Roth
As the American century draws to an uneasy close, Philip Roth gives us a novel …
Review of 'American Pastoral' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
Forgot I hadn’t reviewed this one on here. Read about 11 years ago. It stuck with me. The movie isn’t terrible, but it works best as a novel. Few books deal with the questions raised by this novel.
Jesse Atkinson reviewed All the pretty horses by Cormac McCarthy (The Border trilogy ;)
All the Pretty Horses is a novel by American author Cormac McCarthy published by Alfred …
Review of 'All the pretty horses' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
Fer cryin’ out loud.
Good god.
Maybe my favorite book?
Holy hell.
My heart is wrecked.
Cormac. Why you gotta hurt me?
Jesse Atkinson reviewed Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
Charles Bovary, médecin de campagne, veuf d'une mégère, fait lors d'une tournée la rencontre du …
Review of 'Madame Bovary' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
I really want to see a remake of this in the Instagram influencer age.
What a damn good book.
Jesse Atkinson reviewed In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
Review of 'In cold blood : a true account of a multiple murder and its consequences' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
Yeah. That’ll do.
This really is just the absolute bedrock of true crime. Stephen King, Cormac McCarthy, Thomas Harris, etc., all owe a huge debt. But unlike many things that serve as a template or the first of something that is later improved upon, this is still a damn well-written book.
I appreciated that Capote only showed you the violence when necessary. It’s clear he himself didn’t want to go there, but also needed to understand why. And he, Dewey, Susan, and the reader are all left without a satisfying answer.
Good lord. Good book.
