u/love_me_plenty

Philosophy as a Rite of Rebirth: From Ancient Egypt to Neoplatonism changed my life in many ways, especially coming from an academic background in Western philosophy. I was also quite taken by his Philosophy and Theurgy in Late Antiquity and the book on Orpheus. Need to re-read all of them.

I don't see him mentioned that often here, so I thought I'd ask.

Also, are there any authors similar to him that I can read up on? Please let me know. Thanks.

This is an incredibly beautiful book. I'm not particularly partial to romantic stories, but this is one of the most exposing, visceral, someone-pulling-their-guts-out-on-the-table novels about love I've read. Her linguistic experiment works incredibly here. Her "stream-of-subconsciousness" really pulls the reader in close. The fragmentary jaggedness of the language mirrors the love, the abusive past, the bright lights of London, the sex and boozing, all of it, so so well.

In short, I wanna read everything by her now. Also, I watched an interview of her, and she seemed so self-assured and intelligent. Effortlessly cool af.

Soo many more thoughts and notes tbh. Maybe I'll write them out some other time.

Edit: I'd just like to add a thought here bc a few people have commented and messaged me that they wanna pick up this novel bc of my post. Ofc thats great bc, imo, this is a truly exquisite work.

HOWEVER, I'd just like to warn that it does have A LOT of detailed sex scenes. I'm not a prude, and sometimes even I was exhausted by it. But the sex does serve multiple purposes, considering this novel is an intimate portrait of a tumultuous union.

I haven't even finished it yet. But I highly recommend reading it, especially if you're a woman ofc. I wish I had found Peat earlier, honestly. I previously have also read Peat's Generative Energy: Restoring the Wholeness of Life, and that also changed the game for me. It's philosophical as well.

It was one of the best podcast episodes I've heard recently. JMG has been on the Hermitix podcast many times. This one is called "Tarot and Divination." Highly recommend checking it out. (I couldn't link it on this sub).

I was so deeply immersed while I listened to it on my daily walk. It's actually much more than just about tarot, plus it's also a great intro to divination as a concept.

Is anyone here familiar with the work of John Michael Greer?

I've read his history of the occult, which was a nice outline of Western Occultism. I've watched many of his podcast lectures, and his debate with Nick Land was also super cool. I wanna read him more tho. Especially his work on Druidry.

It's probably one of the better book awards imo. Tbh, I find most of the Booker pretty shit and the Pulitzer is very lukewarm. The Goncourt winners are always pretty interesting, I find.

I've had great experiences reading previous Goncourt winners - Houellebecq, Quignard, Barbusse, Proust, Gracq etc etc. But some of their recent winners like Slimani and Le Tellier seem a bit weird to me. Like very mainstream thriller-esque. But I can't judge either properly bc I haven't read them yet. I've also been recently quite intrigued by Marie NDiaye, who isn't discussed enough, I feel, even tho she's highly regarded in France.

What are cool book prizes you follow? Give me suggestions hehe.

I usually like the French prizes tbh. I think they just have a more sophisticated publishing industry in general. And I also like the Akutagawa Prize too (it's Japanese).

I want to either buy Trois femmes puissantes, Ladivine, or the newly Internatinal Booker nominee La sorcière.

She seems like an interesting author, and she's extremely well regarded in France. She won the Prix Goncourt before, and I've had great experiences reading previous Goncourt winners - Houellebecq, Quignard, Barbusse, Proust, Gracq etc etc. But some of their recent winners like Slimani and Le Tellier seem a bit weird to me. Like very mainstream thriller-esque. Plus, the Booker prize has not wowed me in recent times, either. So I'm a bit unsure if I'll enjoy Marie NDiaye or not.

I've read such great praise for her at NYRB, LRB, and The New Yorker. But she strangely has many lukewarm to bad reviews on Goodreads tho. And she isn't discussed/talked about enough in general. For some reason, the themes in her work remind me of Zadie Smith or Bessie Head.

If anyone has any strong opinions on her work, do lmk.

I think I'll pick up the work that got her the Goncourt, which is Trois femmes puissantes, just to see what the hype is about.

I see some Muzz events pop up on the app, but I never know if actually cool people go there to meet other cool people?