Goodreads All Sorts discussion

This is the chosen book for Ben & Melody, anyone else reading this book is more than welcome to join us.

Ben, I was looking over the Table of Contents and though this would be a good schedule:
Fiction through "The Secret Miracle, 10th
Fiction to the end, 20th
Essays, 25th
Parables, 31st
In other words, no spoilers before those dates. Agreed?

Melody wrote: "Ben, I was looking over the Table of Contents and though this would be a good schedule:
Fiction through "The Secret Miracle, 10th
Fiction to the end, 20th
Essays, 25th
Parables, 31st
In other words..."

Good idea that should work. I am looking forward to it!

OK starting today. Going to have to read quick to get to "The Secret Miracle" by tomorrow but will give it a go.

Have you started Melody? How are you finding it?

I am really looking forward to this book, so many great reviews on GR and average of 4.47 stars. I haven't seen many books that well received!

Well half way through and this book is not really like anything else I have read. I expected to be able to race through a book of short stories but every story is so densely packed with ideas and thought experiments that you really have to work at them.

The stories are so varied too. Some are historical, others theological, some reminiscent of old detective stories (like Death and the Compass). All are in some way fantastical. I would suggest if you are not enjoying a story skip on to the next.

I think my favourite so far was the first story Tlön, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius. It challenages so many taken-for-granted ideas about the relationship between perception and reality and between language and thought.

I am expecting to be giving this 5 stars when I finish and will definately follow up by reading more Borges in future (although may be after a break to read someting less intense).

Wow, that sounds good. I love things that make me THINK (and debate myself, lol.) I think I will check out the author. Thanks for sharing!

So finished Labyrinths a couple of days ago. By half way through I was expecting to give this book 5 stars and eventually did (although I got a lot less out of the essays and parables - but that is probably me).

The Fiction short stories were fantastic and so varied but when you sit back and reflect you see that they are really just different angles from which Borges interigates aspects of a couple of key philosophical questions. It has definately pique my interest in learning more about the works of Berkeley and Schopenhauer.

Melody if you did not get a chance to read it this month I would certainly recommend it in future.

Great insights, everyone! I'm very interested in this book!

I'm with you on the densely packed comment. In school (I was a creative writing major) most of my time was spent writing or reading short stories and I don't remember ever being as exhausted emotionally and mentally by any of that as this book.

Seeing as how I'm currently reading House of Leaves and loving every word, I'm even more fascinated with labyrinths.

Dustin wrote: "Seeing as how I'm currently reading House of Leaves and loving every word, I'm even more fascinated with labyrinths."

Just seen your comments on House of Leaves and have added it to my TBR list. It sounds like a 'project' rather than a light read though.

Yes, it certainly isn't light reading, but at the same time, not nearly as difficult as I thought it would be. I'm glad you added it, and based on my statuses, no less. I feel honored!