The Green Book

 This was just an ok children's book back from 1982.  It's about a dying Earth and a family escaping and going to another planet.  There are some cool things in the book like sugar trees and moth people.  The problem with this book is that it wasn't a page-turner.  It wasn't exciting.  Still, like to read forgotten children's books but this isn't Ruth M. Arthur.  This is also labeled science fiction although it's far quieter than the usual science fiction book.  

More than Human

 

This science-fiction book by the great Theodore Sturgeon is one of my favorite books.  The main reason why is because of the middle part "Baby is Three" where a sociopath talks to a psychologist.  It's very engaging and each time I've read this section it's been a real page-turner.  Ultimately the book is about how six individuals build up a whole and finally the sociopath Gerry gains a conscience, the last part.  I like how he isn't left behind and there is still redemption even after all of his acts.  Each of the six individuals contains a gift, one is telekinesis for example and the twins deal with teleportation.  I have this rule to myself that I can only reread a book once three years have passed.  I broke that rule.  It's been one since I've read this book.  This should be recommended reading to anyone who doesn't see the artistic value that science fiction has.  This is proof that it can be literature.

Laughter in the Dark

 Nabokov wrote more than Lolita.  In fact, he got books published for many years.  I wonder if he didn't write Lolita if his books would just have faded into the abyss kind of like Jean Rhys' books did before Wide Sargasso Sea.   Laughter in the Dark is about a man named Albinus who has a good life: a great respectable wife and child yet he wrecks it all to have an affair.  The other woman Margot is easily one of the most obnoxious women I have ever read in literature.   Why he doesn't dump her to the side is mysterious and sometimes infuriating to the reader.  There's a scene where Margot purposefully sends a love letter to his house which sends the wife packing.  Why he didn't leave Margot then and there is beyond me.  Margot also carries on a relationship with an artist Rex and they try to live off all of Albinus' remaining income.  You feel sorry for Albinus but know also that he caused his own ruin.  He should have been grateful for what he had. 

Momo

I made the mistake of throwing this away when I was trying to free up space in my apartment.  I thought well the library has it anyway.  However, it's the Coronavirus and the library is closed.  Momo is not even on Kindle yet so I bought a paperback copy.  This time I will keep it.  Michael Ende hasn't had that many books of his translated even though he did a ton.  That's a shame because this is amazing just like The Neverending Story.  Momo is about an imaginative girl named Momo who finds her world destroyed when grey men convince adults that they need to save their time.  In other words, they are a time bank.  What they are actually doing is robbing people of their time.  Soon children are being completely ignored.  Adults aren't being social either.  Everything is rushed because they can't waste time.  With the help of Professor Hora and a turtle that can see in the future, Momo is determined to get everyone's time back to them.  This book is an excellent example of how life is about more than work and productivity.  It is also about enjoyment, creativity, reflection, and friendship.  Michael Ende is spectacular.  I really liked this the first time I read it at nine years old.