I just finished Robert Heinlein's
The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress. This is a story about what is really a libertarian revolution attempt on the part of the Moon and its inhabitants against Earth. I bought it on a whim with a Christmas or birthday Amazon gift card. I just loved it and will sincerely miss a few of the characters now that the book is over. I wish I were a Loonie, too
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif)
Aside from some parts of their culture that I don't care for, the author did a good job of building a nation of people that are believable and different from those we know. Interestingly enough, since the book is written in first person, Heinlein messed with grammar rules a little bit - generally shortening sentences and phrases in a way that he imagined would be an evolved form of our language in a different time and place. It bugged me some at first but I got used to it and ultimately accepted it and its place in this book.
I also finished William Godwin's
Caleb Williams. This was a recommendation from our own Kong Wen from a long time ago that I finally got to. I enjoyed the heck out of it. I hadn't heard of this book or even its author prior to the recommendation and, as I read it, I had to be halfway through the book before I really knew what it was about. This is due to a creative and evolving story line - not due to any issues with the author's writing style, which was generally outstanding. I hate to spoil anything for anyone considering reading this - it does have revenge, lies, some nasty surprises, prison breaks, and on and on. I had mixed feelings about the ending but overall I did like it and the book quite a bit. I understand that there was an alternative, and much darker (and realistic) ending but I did not read it so I can't opine on that except to say that it is interesting that that was the initial take of the author.
Next up: Chaucer's
Canterbury Tales!
That’s the way it works when it’s not working. That’s the way it hurts before it starts hurting.