[–] 1 point 3 days ago

I think I'm going to pick up a casio. I generally want mechanical but you have to respct the functionality and durability at this price point. The other ~cheapish watch I'm debating is the moonswatch mission to pluto, doesn't have the same history as the F91 and the value proposition is worse but I like the look.

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  • [–] [S] 1 point 4 days ago

    Squats are primarily a leg/quad exercise but they are irritate my back injury so I’m glad I’m able to get back to them. Squats definitely require back strength even if that isn’t the primary purpose. The classic all around posterior chain/lower back exercise is the deadlift but hyperextensions/good mornings and other variations all are good too.

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  • [–] [S] 8 points 5 days ago* (4 children)

    I think that has been the problem in the past. Worried about losing strength so jumping back in before I'm ready and re-injuring - rinse and repeat.

    I like the tempo work idea, increase intensity without increasing absolute weight/strain. I am doing Romanians and am also focusing on unilateral work with Bulgarians/lunges to try and improve stability.

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  • [–] 1 point 5 days ago (1 child)

    Have you read Anathem by Neal Stephenson? It’s got great world building and is pretty weird sci-fi but definitely not “horror” in any sense of the word so may not be exactly what you’re looking for. Fun read though.

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  • [–] [S] 1 point 6 days ago (1 child)

    Suttree strikes me as being similarly world weary as Maqroll but McCarthy's characterization is much richer than Mutis's and I enjoyed the book more than I'm enjoying Maqroll.

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  • [–] [S] 2 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (3 children)

    You know - I read the comparisons to Don Quixote before I picked up this book and I REALLY disliked Don Quixote. I did finish part 1 but could not bring myself to start part 2 - not sure if that counts as DNF or not.

    In answer to your question, I'm not sure I see strong parallels between Maqroll and Don Quixote, the tone in Don Quixote was much less disenchanted/jaded and more... well, quixotic. I don't think Maqroll as character has the same "humorous" (I didn't find it funny) self-delusion that people appreciate in Don Quixote. Maqroll is a realist his adventures just aren't very believable and I don't think the writing/atmosphere outweighs the trudging plot. I think my main objection to Maqroll (hearkening back to the Dr. Evil reference) is that it comes across to me as if it was written by a person who isn't very worldy but uses obscure/exotic settings to seem like they are. Which is strange because by all accounts Mutis was actually quite well traveled. I guess in my opinion where Melville succeeds in building credibility by delving into the minutia of cetology Mutis fails in establishing his worldliness with his plot/settings (in my opinion of course).

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  • [–] 4 points 6 days ago

    Struggling through the Adventures and Misdaventures of Maqroll - what a drag, feel like I'm reading the same episode over and over again.

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    I was recommended this book on another website and reviews seemed overwhelmingly positive so I picked it up. I was looking for some other latam lit after reading 100 Years Of Solitude (great) Love in the Time of Cholera (good) and 2666 (great) and had high hopes.

    I'm now done with 3/4 and boy is it a stinker, I really push myself to finish books no matter what but this is an absolute slog. Every story feels like Dr. Evil's description of his childhood (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTJj4wbmAhk). Protagonist goes to some far away location and gets involved in some niche scheme (which seem interchangeable with one another) where he meets a beautiful woman who has lots of sex with him. Then she dies and he escapes. Rinse and repeat. The author seems to name drop for the sake of it. Anyone else read and enjoy this one?

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