Life Changing. Really.

I know I sound like and annoying convert, but I Am a Strange Loop, a book of philosophy by Richard Hoffstadter (the author of Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid), was a fairly mind-blowing and life-changing experience for me. As one who’s attempted to read his earlier landmark work (GEB) a number of times and failed each time, I was happy to find that this new book is a reworking of the same core thesis, made clearer and more succinct.

Why was it so special? Well, Hoffstadter provides a wonderful way to understand how we think of our selves (and he explains that the title of the book is more correct as "I Is a Strange Loop"), how we have consciousness, and how we internalize other people. He's not working at the bio- or electro-chemical level, but at the epistemological and philosophical level. If you've ever been fascinated and confounded by the question, "Why am I me?", then this is the book for you.

Finally! A Good Gay Romance

Like Gabaldon’s Lord John series, Tigers and Devils offers some things I rarely see in combination. With Gabaldon is was a gay historical novels, this time it’s modern Aussie culture and a good gay romance. Oh, and some Aussie Rules Footy. Sean Kennedy does a great job of creating a believable story that’s good fun, emotionally engaging, and quite witty. There are a occasional clumsy moments in the writing, but these pale in comparison to the enjoyment of reading this book. And don't be turned off by the cheesy lettering on the cover, it doesn't do justice.

And I've put his next book, Dash and Dingo, on my Amazon Wish List. Wink, wink, nudge, nudge.

Something I Didn't See Coming

Somewhere in the landscape between Cormac McCarthy’s The Road and David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas, lies Steven Amsterdam’s Things We Didn't See Coming. With spare, succinct writing, Amsterdam creates a full, if dyspeptic world, though not nearly as brutal as McCarthy’s. The book is made up of chapters that could each be a short story, but nevertheless work as a novel. Plenty there to chew on and then it sticks to your ribs.

And I didn't see it coming? Steve is an old friend of mine from college, but we've been in touch much in recent years. What a pleasure to see this come out and be so good. Cheers Steve!