Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert

 The second volume in the original six, although the first volume is actually 3 books, Arakis, Muad Dib and Prophet. David Lynch was going to base Dune 2 off this volume, but it never saw the light of day. Although the first volume (with the three books, which are sometimes published separately, but are still one volume) is proclaimed one of the best science fiction ever created, the second volume, Dune Messiah, is not praised very highly usually. The reason for this is maybe because it is a much more contemplative module, without too much action, and at the end Paul Atreides, Muad Dib, dies voluntarily. 

Alia, Paul's sister, has a large part in this volume, even describing her religious role and the cult she's leading in great detail, however she doesn't seem to influence the events until the very end when she orders the death of all conspirators.  The "ghola' (zombie) of Duncan Idaho also has a prominent role and at the very end the becomes first resurrected zombie which actually returns his old memories and old self-awareness.  The Bene Tleilax which create gholas and artificial metal eyes have a bargain for each possibility, whether Pail dies or not, Chani dies or not, and even Alia, while at the same time tryng to be the driving force of the conspiracy through the conditioning of the ghola of Duncan Idaho and the complementary dwarf Beijaz.

All of these conspiracy fall apart at the end of the book when Paul chooses death over and over again.  Death for himself, death for Chani, death for Beijaz and all Tleilaxu conspiracies, while they counted on his wish to live and not be destroyed as the strongest motivating force, as it is probably for them.  Paul became truly divine by consciously choosing his own death and permanent destruction, all in the manner of the Fremen where a blind person goes into a desert to die in order not to be a burden to their seich. This assured permanent loyalty of the fremen to Paul and his descendants (twins instead of just a a daugher, and the son born with full consciousness and powers), ensuring the survival of the Atreides imperial line.

I personally like this book a lot since it made a lot of sense within the universe building, but I can see why people who are mostly interested in the action sequences would be disappointed. Some people also complain about the extensive use of Islamic concepts and imagery throughout the books, but I find that to be a strength since it gives a reality to the world builidng and also originality, since Islam is very rarely used as a positive force within science fiction books. However, from what I've seen in the Villaneuve movie with Timothee and Zendaya, the Islamic world building has been reduced to a mere minimum, if at all. Sad. 

Beyond Order: 20 More Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson

I liked the first 12 rules book a lot and it helped me during a difficult period of my life, so I was very excited to read the sequel.  Although this book directly continues the same style and substance of narrative like the first one, I found it less enlightening and life-changing and more of a commentary on Peterson's ideas and expounding of his world view, especially Christian religion with the abundant material taken from the Bible. 

I am generally very impressed with the body of knowledge Peterson has created, especially his university lectures and the first 12 rules book. I find it very profound in the way he understands modern life, especially that of modern men, who have lost many of the rites of passage, meaning, purpose and infrastructure that has existed for thousands of years in multiple societies across time and space.  Men were to be warriors, shamans, scientists, engineers, builders, protectors, but always with a defined role within society with defined expectations and life path.

All that has been broken down since the end of WW2 and with each passing decade everything gets further muddled and deconstructed.  Some would say that this process was useful for women, in order for them to come to the forefront of society, and that is good, however what is to be done with all the millions of broken men out there, trying to find a purpose and a meaning in their existence? If the old structures are destroyed, then the old ideals are destroyed too.  This means loyalty, honor, bravery, experience, suffering for the greater unit, etc. are destroyed as well.

Although I don't agree with everything Dr. Peterson says,and especially disagree with the drama-filled, reality-television-style of how he goes after his opponents and generally humans who seem to hold a worldview he abhors - his main ideas, and early expositions are still very useful for young, disillusioned men to find something to believe in and be, that could also help society and everyone living within.

Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin

Yes, we've all seen the HBO show, and it was great, but I also wanted to read the book which is much more extensive and goes in much greater deal in describing the characters, the events, and the background. The sex the Lannister siblings are having in the tower at the Stark castle is described in great detail, with much more dialog, and how Bran got pushed out for peeping. In the show it is all within one scene, but in the book there are several pages of text describing just that event.

Also the relationship between Ned Stark and Robert Baratheon is described in great detail, with much more background information from their younger days and their war against the Mad King. Cersei's motives and background is described in detail and it makes more sense than the short information given in the show (although Lena Hedley is superb in the role).

Although I've seen the entire show twice, including the last two horrible seasons, I wanted to read the book in order to get more in depth into the world building and the character development.  Some of the characters feel different in the book than on screen, for example Arya Stark, even though the actress is superb. It's just a different take and different interpretation of the material.  The book wins in most contests for character and background development compared to the show, but that's only to be expected as one hour episodes can only hold so so much content.

Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie

This is supposedly the best novel by Agatha Christie, and is third published to feature Hercule Poirot, although he is already retired in the plot. It is a well written book. It flows well and the language is clear and intriguing. I am not sure if the plot twist is so unexpected. I guessed the doctor and narrator was the murderer about 25 pages in. The best part about the book is the delves into the side-stories of all the characters and how each story becomes novel-worthy on its own, though subservient to the main plot in this book. 

The plot is that somebody murdered Roger Ackroyd, who is rich but miserly and very difficult with money, not giving her sister in law and her niece enough to cover their expenses, but wanting a justification for each spend.  Also he is quite stingy towards his own adopted son (as he never married), who is at his wits end and gets secretly married, though it is not explained why the son couldn't just find a proper employment that would allow him to pay his expenses by himself, without having to beg his step father. 

Roger Ackroyd is also tangentially guilty of the suicide of a woman who was in love with him and poisoned her abusive husband. Ackroyd could not get over the poisoning and the woman, while also being blackmailed, killed herself. There are other illustrious characters, each of whom with something to hide. At the end Poirot tells the doctor that he knows he committed the murder and advises him not to attempt to murder him (Poirot) as well, which is strange because that would be the logical thing to do for the doctor who is already a murderer.

Also Poirot tells Dr. Sheppard that he might choose to kill himself instead of surrendering to police the next morning, which is a very controversial suggestion (that the doctor actually acts upon). Even if he is a murderer he can have his time in court and be sentenced according to the law. The plot happens in 1920s England, which is unlikely to have had automatic death sentence for murderers at the time. Poirot says it is to spare the doctor's sister, Caroline, the embarrassment. Who cares about the embarrassment of some old spinster - a human life is worth much more than that.  Poirot also comes across as not-very-sympathetic person throughout the book, but the incitement to suicide at the end, because of some 'honour' preservation is completely bonkers.