Valis Part 1

This is the second book that we've read now that has a common theme of drugs. Horselover Fat is the main character we follow and in the beginning of the novel he says the novel will be in third-person so that he can gain "much needed objectivity". At first, I thought this would be a good idea for him to take a step back to get more insight into being able to tell what is reality and what is not. But later through the novel, Horselover Fat seems to be struggling with how to tell what is and what isn't reality. He seems strong in his faith but then he starts doubting. By trying to remain objective though, he ends up not being able to tell what is reality. He has these conflicting thoughts which reminded me of A Scanner Darkly and Bob Arctor/Fred ending up having the two hemispheres working independently from each other. Fat ends up constantly arguing religion with people. I am very confident in my faith/relationship with God but what starts to irk me is when people start trying to shove their religion down others' throats or arguing why certain beliefs are right and others are wrong. It just creates unnecessary hostility and everyone has a right to believe in what they want. It shouldn't be about what they say, but how they live. 

Back to the novel though, it is very interesting to see the inner and outer workings as the character descends into madness. Sometimes confusing, but still interesting.