Reviews and Comments

I just wanted to read another book by Anthony Bourdain, and it was perfect for the dark winter evenings we have here in the Baltics during January. It delivered exactly what I wanted—like one more, longer episode of those Anthony Bourdain TV shows we used to watch together with my dear wife on similarly dark winter nights not so long ago.

At first, I didn’t know that I liked science fiction.

Honestly, the last one I enjoyed was Orson Scott Card’s ‘Ender’s Game,’ which I read ages ago when my colleague from my previous job published its Latvian translation.

But somehow the style and story immersed me in the book, and I willingly freed up time to read it and find out what would happen next.

We’ll see when I’ll again have the willingness to read something like this. And it will probably be another Peter F. Hamilton book from this series.

This was the second Karl Ove Knausgård book I read.

At first, I was looking for something light, similar to his book ‘Autumn,’ where he reflected on the world around him.

But to my surprise, ‘Spring’ was much deeper. It wasn’t just a letter from a father to his newborn daughter — it was also a reflection on parenthood, family, and his role in his children’s and wife’s lives.

Unintentionally, this book entered my life at just the right time and situation.

Although most of the stories are fictional, this book was really very interesting. It is probably one of the best I’ve read recently.

I realized that there was no point in continuing with this book because every moment I spent on it was torture. It was a brilliantly failed work by the author. I really don't know why The New York Times included it in the '100 Best Books of the 21st Century'.

The book is very exciting and engrossing because it is filled with events driven by anger and hatred. These emotions have so thoroughly consumed people's minds that they lose sight of the causes of injustice and oppression. Consequently, they no longer discriminate in their means to achieve their 'goal,' and those around them are not spared from their actions.

On the other hand, in old age, when they must answer for what they have done, they try to cleanse their consciences by hiding under the guise of the 'great goal.' The former freedom fighters and neighbor shooters have become cowards, preoccupied with their own lives.

I started reading because I was drawn to a story that seemed somewhat similar to The Last of Us. However, I found that The Road is even deeper and more complete, particularly due to the dynamic between the father and son. Perhaps it resonated with me so much because my youngest son is only four years old.

I felt the need to prepare for autumn, so I decided to start reading this.

In the end, I realized that this is the right way to grow old — reflecting calmly and peacefully on what’s around and what’s happening.

As I approach my 40th birthday, the book that resonated with me explores aging, reflection, and the world around us. It also encourages practical action, as demonstrated by Michael Pollan, who built his own small cabin to create space for reflection, writing, or even an afternoon nap. The idea of a small, orderly space resembling the archetype of a hut or shelter deep in the woods appealed to me. Alongside the physical building process, Pollan explores and analyzes the layers of meaning that have accumulated over millennia, shaping our current understanding of home and architecture in general.

As changes with the second Trump presidency are coming, I wanted to read a book about a place that no longer exists (Tangier International Zone), as it feels like the same might happen with the American empire. It was a place where people grifted each other, played shadowy games, and trusted nobody because they knew that those around them were just like them — frauds. So, it’s no surprise that the protagonist went mad while committing acts of grifting, as he was constantly running schemes in his head about how others might grift him.

The ironic part is that the protagonist mistook his madness for clear and rational thinking. I think there are parallels with present-day Americans because those grifters who have just gained power are also in the same mindset.

I really enjoyed this book. That roller-coaster ending was nice.