Mere Mortals Book Reviews

What is the experience of reading English literature in Spanish? 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer' is the classic fictional account of carefree youth in the American antebellum south. We follow Tom and his faithful companions through adventures of piracy, playing hooky and finding buried treasure. The book evokes the childlike naivety/innocence that we all once experienced as well as the superstitions and simple mindedness of the people in the American south.Kyrin had this to say of the tale. "I read the translated Spanish version of this book and the iconic Mark Twain style still resonates throughout. He is amazingly witty and the storytelling from scene to scene is superb. I highly enjoyed the adventures and also gained more respect of Samuel Clemens after learning about his own adventures through his life. A superb book written by a superb human being!"Timeline:(0:00) - Introduction and overview(2:20) - Childlike naivety and innocence(5:24) - Superstitions and simple mindedness(11:22) - Reading Mark Twain in Spanish(13:58) - Amazing storytelling and an amazing person(16:39) - A superb book(17:02) - Pragmatic takeaway: become a doerAs always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!Connect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcastSupport the show

How does one become a 'Philosopher King'? Plato's 'Republic' is one of the seminal works of philosophy and one that has had a tremendous impact on critical thought and culture. It follows Socrates as he converses with friends and interlocutors on the purpose of defining the nature of 'justice'. As part of his argument, Socrates develops the concept of a perfect 'Republic' led by his Philosopher Kings. Another famous cultural icon to emerge from the book was his allegory of the cave (Plato's Cave), a way to describe the effect of education and seeking higher knowledge.Kyrin had this to say about 'Republic': "It was hugely influential and a pivotal book that requires attention and work. This isn't the sort of book that you can read flippantly and think that you've got it. For me it was largely not enjoyable but did provoke some insights. I feel this is one of those books you need to read a couple of times to really delve into all of its themes."Timeline:(0:00) - Introduction & synopsis(2:17) - The nature of 'justice'(5:07) - Philosopher Kings and finding the true reality(7:43) - The 5 types of regimes(10:25) - Personal observations(14:14) - Summary(15:18) - Pragmatic takeaway: compassionAs always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!Connect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcastSupport the show

If you enjoy long, boring, tedious, conversation filled books, then look no further. 'Sons And Lovers' is the fictional story of a lower class English family living in the 19th century. It revolves largely around Gertrude Morel's two sons (William & Paul) and their unsatisfying relationships due to their overbearing mother. Her prolonged estrangement from her husband and vicarious living through her sons ultimately ends in a ruinous end for the whole family.I summarised the book as follows. "I take full responsibility for my lack of enjoyment and even the harshness of this review. After reading 10% I pretty much knew that this book had very little to offer me, but I stuck through it for the sole purpose of achieving my arbitrary yearly goal of reading 50 books. I found the writing overly descriptive and honestly think the same result could have been achieved in half the pages. Not my favourite book and one of the worst reviews I have given out in the past year."I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Intro & upcoming changes(1:10) - Synopsis(5:18) - Stifled ambition & vicarious living(8:25) - Asexuality; divorcing the soul from the physical(14:09) - Evocative and enchanting scenery(14:47) - Interactions between the characters(18:05) - A long, boring, tedious book(18:50) - Pragmatic outcome; no book goalsConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Is there a price for everlasting life? 'Dracula' by Bram Stoker is the origin story of the most famous vampire in literary and movie culture. We follow Dr Van Helsing and other intrepid heroes on their mission to destroy the undead creature after his relocation from Transylvania to London in the pursuit of fresh victims. The story evokes our fear of the unknown and the everyday qualities of normal people who transform into heroes.Kyrin had this to say of his reading experience. "It was great to read the original source material of the infamous Count Dracula and see just how different he has become in the modern cultural scene. It really is a masterful story and the character development is wonderful to behold. Personally I don't enjoy the gothic/scary genre so much but I was able to appreciate where the legend came from."Timeline:(0:00) - Introduction and overview(2:57) - That which we fear is the unknown(4:23) - A hero voluntarily faces their fears(6:04) - Natural laws and the desire for immortality(8:22) - Personal observations(10:36) - In summary; a masterful story(11:28) - Pragmatic takeaway: research origin storiesAs always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!Connect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcastSupport the show

How would your perspective change in the world of the giants or amongst the little people? 'Gulliver's Travels' is the classic 18th century travel adventure by Jonathan Swift. The book follows Lemuel Gulliver across his four adventures in strange lands amongst strange people. It deals with contrasting perspectives changed by viewpoint, the different types of government and the practicality of misanthropy.Kyrin had this to say of the book. "I found the book to be more enjoyable and thought provoking in hindsight. Unfortunately the actual reading experience is dampened by the outdated satire and old English language. Nevertheless it contains some real gems, highlighting why it has become a enduring classic for nearly 300 years."Timeline:(0:00) - Introduction(2:08) - Synopsis of the four adventures(4:04) - Contrasting perspectives changed by viewpoint(7:51) - No form of government will be perfect(9:32) - Can misanthropy be useful?(11:55) - Personal observations(15:12) - Summary and pragmatic takeawayAs always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!Connect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcastSupport the show

Were the ghosts real or was the Governess crazy? 'The Turn Of The Screw' & 'The Aspern Papers' are two novellas written by the uber-prolific Henry James (seriously, the dude wrote a lot). Both stories deal with a central character losing themselves in their situation, whether it be an uncertain horror transported into everyday reality or a man single-mindedly pursuing what he wants.Kyrin had this to say of the two tales. "I really don't like horror and thrills so these probably weren't the best of books for me to read. Of the two I preferred 'The Aspern Papers', however both are written in an manner that incites intrigue and suspense. Unfortunately I didn't find that the tales ignited any new ideas or viewpoints and my actual enjoyment level while reading was minimal."Timeline:(0:00) - Introduction & synopsis(3:11) - Hysteria & madness(6:17) - What is ethical in the pursuit of value & truth?(7:52) - Kyrin is a scaredy-cat(9:24) - Creating a memorable character(10:42) - Overall summary and rating(11:28) - Pragmatic takeawayAs always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!Connect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcastSupport the show

The most enjoyable book that I have read all year! 'Life On The Mississippi' is a non-conventional book, alternating between memoirs, story telling, historical facts, reminisces of the past and cultural observations. Mark Twain gets the chance to recount his old adventures as a steamboat pilot on the Mississippi river in his youth and explore some of the changes that he has seen from before and after the American Civil War and the effects of the Industrial Revolution.I summarised the book as follows. "I came into this book expecting it to be a descriptive but maybe somewhat boring recount of the American past. However, I had so many moments of deep belly laughs and became fascinated with the vivid picture that Mark Twain painted of this era. Not only that but he touches upon some of the questions we still ask ourselves today about technology, losing certain human abilities and adapting to the present moment. A great book if you are looking for an entertaining read and a transportation into the past."I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Introduction(1:42) - Life in different eras and vestiges of the past(4:05) - Not preparing for life's changes(6:42) - Technology and losing human abilities(11:28) - The fascinating intricacies from passionate people(13:10) - A wild time in history(14:10) - Mark Twain is hilarious(15:55) - An amazing book doesn't need to be conventional(17:42) - Pragmatic takeawayConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

"He smote his breast, and thus reproached his heart. Endure, my heart; far worst has thou endured." If you are looking for an uplifting tale of a man's struggle through life, then look no further. 'The Odyssey' is the second of the epic poems by the Greek author Homer. Kyrin from the Mere Mortals crew has already reviewed the well renowned 'The Iliad' and herein contains his opinions of the journey of Odysseus."The poem brings forth suggestive questions still applicable to a modern context. What is a hero? Why is the call of home so strong? What are the limits that a single person can endure? Though not answered implicitly, we can gain knowledge of these from the behaviour and speech of Odysseus and his companions. In comparison to 'The Iliad' I personally found this story a bit too drawn out and lacking in the specific details that we see when we follow the adventure of Achilles. Nevertheless it is a decent read and worth knowing the general tale, if for no other reason that it's still talked about and parodied (The Simpsons for example) in modern times."Timeline:(0:00) - Introduction(3:53) - What is a hero?(6:06) - The call of home and why people move(9:01) - Hospitality and how it can be abused(10:19) - Comparison to The Iliad(13:05) - Summary and pragmatic takeawayAs always, we hope you enjoy, Mere Mortals out!Connect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcastSupport the show

Are great men born or made? Fyodor Dostoyevsky explores this question amongst many others in his extraordinary novel 'Crime And Punishment'. Published in 1866 this Russian masterpiece is still considered one of the greatest books ever written. It tells the story of Rodion Raskolnikov and his psychological undoing after committing a horrific crime in an insane intellectual pursuit. Raskolnikov's subsequent subconscious guilt and near descent to insanity is beautifully captured in a book that does not lack in thought provoking themes.I summarised the book as follows. "If you are even minutely interested in psychology this book is a must read. Dostoyevsky is probably one of the greatest writers to ever express the monologue and internal states of his characters. A personal highlight for me was Raskolnikov's rant at Sonya in Part 5 - Chapter 4. The book is long and deals with dreary themes but keeps delivering the reader new developments to consider."I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!Timeline:(0:00) - Introduction(3:34) - Do morals exist beyond the individual?(5:27) - Comparison with Thérèse Raquin(8:04) - Are great men born or made?(12:43) - Master of the monologue and psychology(14:26) - The quirks of fate(15:23) - Russian names and long reading(16:44) - Pragmatic lessonConnect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show

Following on from the review of What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami, Juan from the Mere Mortals digs into the learnings that he found through the book.As always, we hope you enjoy!Connect with Mere Mortals:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/Support the show