Wanted to knock a few big ones off my list

Dune- I do not see what the hype is about on this one. The only thing this book had going for me was the atmosphere and the foreign universe the Herbert created, but after around 600 pages when the planet comprised of sand and worms got stale, I wanted something more. The characters are one dimensional, the men all stoics and the women all seductresses, and the tribe living on Dune is a blatant mishmash of Middle-eastern cultures with hints of Buddhism. Not very philosophical or heavy as a book, so I did not really see the point of its existence or why everybody likes it.

Catcher in the Rye- Probably my favorite book. Salinger writes Holden so well that it genuinely feels more like a diary than a novel. Holden’s struggles also translate very well to every generation across time, which makes this book seemingly timeless. Not to mention how subtly dark it is with the later themes of child molestation and abuse.

Brave New World- Pretty intelligently written, I could tell he knew exactly where he was going with every word. It shocking how the world depicted does not seem completely evil at first and even kind of attractive to some people. It is also very similar to today in terms of how people view art. It seems everyone just reads/listens/watches what makes them feel good instead of stepping outside their comfort zone.

the Hobbit- Pretty much nothing I can add. Something about Tolkien makes him much more impactful than other fantasy authors. His work just feels special. I loved the scenery in every chapter, as well as the strange episodic creatures encountered throughout the journey. It felt like anything could happen. Bilbo’s character arc was simple but very sweet to watch as well, going from deadweight to someone that I genuinely knew could have control over a situation. I also liked how the whole journey was on foot. I’m not sure why that specifically, but it just made the whole book more fun.