I loved this book so much, it’s also one of my favourites. I haven’t even thought about a deeper meaning, I just like the crazy, all over the place plot. You should try some of his nonsense poetry, like Phantasmagoria or The Hunting of the Snark.

I mean, bad reading comprehension might

I have zero local bookstores near me :(

Even the nearest b&n is 30minutes away.

I used to have a little of that compulsion to finish any book I start but tbh in my case it was totally meaningless because I can’t say I ever gained additional insight or appreciation by forcing myself to finish. Probably because I’d be skimming and not paying proper attention … but still. So I’ve stopped doing that.

Yup, i want it for everyone too, but i don’t have money to support every bookstore everywhere, so i choose to support the one close to me.

Not every book has A Deeper Meaning™️ sitting behind the text—this is a simplification employed by high school English classes to make literary analysis easier. Some books (IMO the best books) have no one meaning, and instead allow the reader to freely interpret the story as they wish, and therefore gain/take away different things.

Alice is one of my favorite books—what I took away from it is a sentiment about storytelling and childhood. Another person could read it and find something completely different.

:-) Thanks for the insight.

Libro has been a wonderful partner for indie bookstores!

I can only speak to my own experience with them as a bookseller and customer (I buy audiobooks every month from them without touching the credit system), and it's been nothing but positive.

However, I cannot speak to the author's experience! Do you have a source you could point me to? I always want to learn more.

I’m on the Stephen King sub, and initially I felt inadequate because I seemed to be missing the “deeper meaning” of his books. People would write about what “the book really means” and I would think, “they got all that out of this book?” I was perplexed.

Then I decided if they want to look for these deeper meanings, more power to them. I don’t read a lot of fiction, but I don’t try to analyze them either. I read superficially - for entertainment- and no longer apologize for it.

I think you do have to look at the story through one of the lenses of literary criticism in order to find deeper meaning. In many ways, it is just a funny story to tell children, and it's more than fine to leave it at that. Personally, I think a lot of "meaning" found in it comes from viewing it in it's historical context; the narrative completely subverts the style of children's stories at the time. There's no moral truth demonstrated or revealed, no lesson to be learned, no characters who function as paragons for admirable/detestable qualities, and so forth. Historically, it's a marked departure and new direction for children's literature, and derives importance from that. Past that, Alice in Wonderland (to me, anyway), does an incredible job of reflecting the absurdity of real life in a way that literature often doesn't. Who are the heroes/villains and why is it so hard to tell? Why does it seem that no matter how hard I try, I'm still stuck where I am? Why did I decide to chase this rabbit in the first place, and where is it taking me? These sorts of questions have real-life parallels, and when taken in that regard, the story becomes a fantasy retelling of real life.

Oh yes for sure. It’s definitely not intended for a treatment of any sort. I just found it a hard read and triggering.

Edit: Maybe I should just take it more lighty though and perhaps I would have found it more comical and enjoyable bc as you point out, it’s just a fiction book. Good point!

372 pages I’ll never get back is a fun podcast basically shitting on the book

My goal last year was 52 books I'd never read before, I ended up hitting 70 and ~22k pages. And it was kind of exhausting. The last six weeks I have been reading whatever I could quickly because I wanted to pile up the completed number which isn't a good way to pursue the hobby I think. On the other hand, I read The Kite Runner yesterday and Moneyball today and they were probably two of the best books I've read all year.

This coming year I have resolved that I'm not going to browse my shelves for something to read. I'm going to keep a much smaller (around a dozen books) TBR stack on my nightstand and read from there. If I want to put something else in there, I have to read something to make the space.

I'd like to read 40-55 books next year, including completing my circumnavigation of the Aubrey-Maturin novels (14 to go). I want to finish Jim Butcher's Dresden Files (1 book), Colleen McCullough's First Man in Rome series (3 books), William Gibson's Sprawl Trilogy (1 book) and Charles Stross' Laundry Files (5 books).

Amen to that.

One of my favorite books in classical literature. It was an epic covering the tumultuous history of France through the scale of common people like Jean Valjean. On a social bases, it showed how an unjust society could transform a man to a criminal, a women to a prostitute and children to devastation. On a personal bases, it showed the path of redemption of Jean Valjean.

I hope that I could read the original verses in French one day.

[removed]

No, you’re not dumb. I read for fun, and I read superficially. Stephen King is my favorite author. I have every book he published. I’m also on a SK sub on Reddit. I read people’s reviews about his books, and I think to myself, “They got all that outta that book??

I used to worry about it, but not anymore. If they want to pick apart his books looking for hidden meanings, then by all means, go ahead. I read for pleasure and I will continue to do so. So the only thing I get out of it is nothing but pure entertainment.

I don’t try to analyze, or interpret, I just superficially read. If you’re reading for yourself for fun, don’t worry about deeper meanings.

Wait a second… are you saying that because I don’t think The Bible is a good book, that means that I don’t like “the arts” and I’m therefore not a real adult?

for people who read surrounded by psychopaths, can you tell me if this article is correct?

I need to write a book report for school and this is ai generated, I haven't read the book so I don't know if this is correct

"Surrounded by Psychopaths: Or, How to Stop Being Exploited by Others" is a timely and relevant book that offers valuable insights into the complex world of psychopaths and their impact on society. Written by renowned psychologist Dr. Thomas Sheridan, the book is a must-read for anyone seeking to better understand and protect themselves from the manipulative and often harmful actions of psychopaths.

One of the most fascinating aspects of the book is the exploration of the various types of psychopaths that exist. According to Dr. Sheridan, there are three main categories of psychopaths: primary, secondary, and tertiary. Primary psychopaths are individuals who are born with a lack of empathy and a desire for power and control. These individuals can be difficult to spot, as they are often charming and able to manipulate those around them. Secondary psychopaths, on the other hand, are individuals who develop psychopathic traits as a result of their environment and experiences. They may have experienced trauma or abuse in their early years, and their psychopathic behaviors may be a coping mechanism to deal with these difficult experiences. Tertiary psychopaths are a rarer type, characterized by their deep sense of empathy and desire to do good, but who ultimately succumb to the dark side and become corrupt or abusive.

Another fascinating aspect of the book is Dr. Sheridan's discussion of the ways in which psychopaths can exploit and manipulate others. From gaslighting and emotional abuse to exploitation in the workplace and beyond, Dr. Sheridan provides valuable insight into the tactics that psychopaths use to gain power and control over their victims. He also offers practical advice on how to recognize and avoid these manipulative behaviors, as well as how to protect oneself from exploitation.

In addition to discussing the various types of psychopaths and their tactics of manipulation and exploitation, the book also examines the impact of psychopaths on society as a whole. Dr. Sheridan argues that psychopaths are often drawn to positions of power and influence, where they can wield significant control over others. This can have serious consequences for society, as psychopaths are often more concerned with their own self-interest than the well-being of others.

Overall, "Surrounded by Psychopaths" is a must-read for anyone seeking to better understand and protect themselves from the harmful actions of psychopaths. With its comprehensive analysis of the various types of psychopaths and their tactics of manipulation and exploitation, the book is an invaluable resource for anyone looking to navigate the often treacherous waters of human interactions. Whether you are dealing with a psychopathic colleague, friend, or loved one, this book will provide you with the knowledge and tools you need to protect yourself and maintain your own well-being.

The musical is somewhat misleading, as it may depict Javert as being assigned with the only mission of pursuing Jean Valjean in his life.

And it missed out some interactions between ABC friends, espcially between Marius the Bonapartist and others republicans

Sometimes if you reach out there is a way to purchase drm free versions of the audiobooks directly from the author.

As long as you aren’t rude reaching out directly to the author is never bad. Sometimes you can purchase directly from them and they get a bigger cut.

When I think of all the unnecessary chapters that Hugo was begged to cut out and refused, I think of how I will never read these superfluous chapters again - except for the bit about the under-city sewers. Fascinating chapters and something most of us don’t ever think about, and Hugo came in hot, so passionate about the topic. I love it.

I read the book summer 2021 and really enjoyed it. First, I was just LMAO about how casually our main character was popping sleep-inducing drugs. Then that crazy "doctor" that she found, I also found hilarious. Deeper than that though...our main character is traumatized. Yes she is pretty, rich, privileged...and she acknowledges that and uses it...that's how she's able to quit her job and sleep (well, sort of) for a year. I surely don't think the author is recommending this as a course of treatment for depression at all...the author wrote a book of fiction.

Yeah but now that I've calmed down from remembering diane Kruger in that film that was the B plot the A plot was the trojan war in the last 3/4's of the movie.