An Ideal Husband was a very entertaining play, as all of Oscar Wilde's are. It tells the story of Robert Chiltern's nearly ruined political career. A An Ideal Husband was a very entertaining play, as all of Oscar Wilde's are. It tells the story of Robert Chiltern's nearly ruined political career. A satire that doesn't fail to be moving, the story is rife with suspense and serves as a good reflection on politics at that time, as well as the present....more
Philip Pullman has described Clockwork as a fairy tale, and I feel that is the most apt description for it. The story is of a small tWhat a cool book!
Philip Pullman has described Clockwork as a fairy tale, and I feel that is the most apt description for it. The story is of a small town in Germany that has a long tradition of turning out Master Clock makers. The main character in the story (if you can call him that) is Karl, who is supposed to turn out a figure for the great clock in the town that evening (he's had months to prepare.) This is where things go wrong.. Karl has not yet created a figure for the clock -- the town's storyteller, Fritz, has not yet finished writing the story he is telling... and everything comes together in a truly gripping series of events.
Clockwork surpasses being a story just a children in the way it excels with it's themes. While remaining, at it's heart, a cautionary tale Clockwork will still be striking by keeping a firm grip on the morals of everyday life and the choices that we all make.
An excellent story and a good read for any college student.
Chuck Palahniuk is overrated. It is no mystery that he's become a cliche, a shadow of himself by turning into the idolized kind of idiot that he tendsChuck Palahniuk is overrated. It is no mystery that he's become a cliche, a shadow of himself by turning into the idolized kind of idiot that he tends to write about. Nowadays Palahniuk is the institution he preaches about. Previous reviews here have talked about hipsters, that is very true, too. Let's all go buy anything by Palahniuk... he understands.
Palahniuk wasn't the first person to use this style of writing, a kind of shock literature for the sake of shocking (i.e. his later books) or something so incredibly subversive that it makes you gasp out loud or faint (i.e. Haunted, the story Guts.)
All the same, Palahniuk is a good author. He tells a solid story that's chock-full of nihilist philosophy that should be more than enough to make any high school student feel brilliant and oh so trendy. It's full of philosophy that is interesting enough to make them start thinking, or at least most of the readers start thinking. It's solid enough plot-wise to make an entertaining read.
Coming at Palahniuk older, I no longer see the genius that I did before, but I do see a book that's entertaining enough to keep me reading -- I see a book that's clever enough to make me smirk as I do, and I read enough of the hardcore philosophy to make me consider some things.
My hat's off to Palahniuk, he's not the first not the last, not the worst and not the best, but man is he making a lot of money doing what he's doing.
Wow. After first finishing this book that was the only thought in my mind -- wow. That articulation alone can't encompass the book that Impulse turnedWow. After first finishing this book that was the only thought in my mind -- wow. That articulation alone can't encompass the book that Impulse turned out to be.
Told only in poetry, Impulse is a book that details the experiences of three kids whose lives cross in a mental institution they are forced into by their parents after they attempt to take their lives. Each kid comes from a different background and has different reasons for trying to take their own life.
Impulse deals with the darker side of society and expresses feelings that at one point or another I'm certain most teenagers have felt. Personally, I wish I had come across this book earlier on in my life -- I feel it would have helped me through my own dark patches.
As it is, I feel this book is an important piece of literature. I feel it's something everyone should read, as vital and cutting as Catcher in the Rye and The Bell Jar were in their own time.
Like most people now, I believe, I watched the television show before becoming aware that it was a book. I got through most of the first season beforeLike most people now, I believe, I watched the television show before becoming aware that it was a book. I got through most of the first season before moving on to other amusements and put it all from my mind. And then the book recomendation came and, having fond memories of the show, I decided to give it a shot.
And I am so glad that I did.
I, for one, found the book far better than the television show for a variety of reasons, the first and foremost being the writing style. Darkly Dreaming Dexter is a playful, almost light-hearted book that takes the reader through the mind of someone fiercely intelligent, and fiercely insane, that plays with the reader while weaving out the tale. The alliteration alone is reason enough to pick up this book and t he style itself is intoxicating.
In addition to this, the story and pacing is fantastic. Darkly Dreaming Dexter is a fast read and nearly impossible to put down. I recommend this book highly and without reservation. And, once more, it is far better than the television show....more
I've long been in love with wolves, the idea of them and the truth behind them. Of Wolves and Men by Barry Lopez examines both oWhat a fantastic book.
I've long been in love with wolves, the idea of them and the truth behind them. Of Wolves and Men by Barry Lopez examines both our conceptions of wolves and the truth of how little we know of the creature. Myths are examined, legislation, and ethology.
This book neatly encompasses the bulk of what we know about wolves, what we think we know about them, and perhaps why we want to know more. It's one of the best books on the topic I've ever come across. I truly treasure this book - it serves as a great reminder of both the good and the bad we're capable of as a species....more
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? was a book that strangely was as humorous as it was effective. The novel took a somewhat sarcastic tone while deaDo Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? was a book that strangely was as humorous as it was effective. The novel took a somewhat sarcastic tone while dealing with deeply ethical and philosophical questions. While essentially being composed of hard sci-fi (i.e. takes place in post nuclear society, deals with androids, electric animals, laser guns, etc.) it doesn't lose itself in the boring details and instead remains comprised of characters that the reader can relate to rather than feel isolated from.
This book was a quick read due to its engaging topics and issues rather than the simplicity of its writing. All in all an engaging, provocative, and rewarding read....more
The Secret Life of Bees often gets a bad rap for ending too neatly, but I honestly enjoyed the end. The book started off a bit slow, but about 40 pageThe Secret Life of Bees often gets a bad rap for ending too neatly, but I honestly enjoyed the end. The book started off a bit slow, but about 40 pages into it it began to pick up. Cliched as it was, it still was enjoyable and held a stronger message in it than I've found elsewhere.
The main character, Lily, got to be a bit frustrating at times due to her stubborn way of holding to false ideas, but this coming of age story all in all was satisfactory and a welcome nod to the female mystique that seems to get overlooked in a good deal of literature.
The first time around I couldn't put it down, but the second time around it was a bit more difficult. I think I had difInkheart is a really good book.
The first time around I couldn't put it down, but the second time around it was a bit more difficult. I think I had difficulty with it the second time around due to the fact I could remember enough of it that nothing was surprising.. while at the same time I had forgotten too much of what happened in it to not need a reread before finishing the series. If that makes sense.
The book's plot is original, if a bit slow-paced. It is a book for people who enjoy books, who have read a lot of the genre.. a sort of homage to fantasy in a way that is nice for both kids and adults to read (as opposed to The Dark Tower which is a homage much more geared towards the adult realm of things.)
Inkheart is a book I will gladly keep recommending people and one I will look back on fondly often. The descriptions are beautiful and the translation is well-done. I can't wait to get through Inkspell again and sincerely hope the movie does this book justice....more
This book is truly incredible. King captures what it is like to be a child frighteningly well and drags it on into the inexplicable loss that all encoThis book is truly incredible. King captures what it is like to be a child frighteningly well and drags it on into the inexplicable loss that all encounter as childhood fades. He taps into fears and the importance of desire, of creation, and in it gives us a book that's sense of loss is as great as the gain....more
Misquoting Jesus was a fantastic book. Ehrman approached a subject that had the potential to be extraordinarily boring (textual criticism) and turned Misquoting Jesus was a fantastic book. Ehrman approached a subject that had the potential to be extraordinarily boring (textual criticism) and turned it into a fascinating read that hit upon all of the issues in regards to the current day Bible.
This book has something to offer everyone, regardless as to the reader's current faith. The Bible, as has been stated in previous reviews, is one of the most influential books in Western Civilization and deserves to be better understood as a text and a cultural phenomenon. To understand this book one has to understand how it has changed, and Misquoting Jesus achieves just that beginning understanding....more
To repeat what previous reviewers have said -- I want to be Mary Roach's friend. The enthusiasm with which she throws herself into her studies is infeTo repeat what previous reviewers have said -- I want to be Mary Roach's friend. The enthusiasm with which she throws herself into her studies is infectious and turns even the more mundane chapters into fascinating treatises on the more technical sides of sex.
She explores a variety of topics which draws the general conclusion of "Women are complicated" when it comes to the more intimate encounters; at times she even volunteers herself as a test subject.
Roach is an entertaining, readable author, and I look forward to seeing more of her publications....more
Mary Roach's first book, ironically, ended up being the one of hers that I read last. Stiff proved to be everything that I was hoping it would be -- aMary Roach's first book, ironically, ended up being the one of hers that I read last. Stiff proved to be everything that I was hoping it would be -- an informative, entertaining, and altogether thought provoking read that left me wanting to donate my body to science when the time finally comes.
Her treatise on cadavers treated them with great dignity and respect, while all the time not losing the perspective that they, in fact, can be put to use without losing the integrity that they command as the people the once were.
It is good to see this book getting the respect that it deserves and I sincerely hope that it continues to stay in as wide a circulation as it has been. This book is an important read and I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.
***
New Review:
I reread this book this year for the Peculiar Book Club, which I highly recommend everyone keen to joins. It's a book club for the curious and slightly macabre, and just right up my alley. That Mary Roach, one of my favorite authors, got to be the first guest was an absolute delight. Thanks to this meeting I learned that this book is getting released later this year in a new and revised edition - genuinely can't wait.
Little can be said about Stiff that hasn't already been said. This book is now considered a classic and is taught in a number of AP Biology courses. This book is many people's first introduction to death, which makes me glad. Between Stiff and Caitlin Doughty's books perhaps modern generations will now view death with less disgust and fear and with more dignity, curiosity, and eye towards the eternal. Are there better ways of dealing with death than we do now? Most certainly. Are there better ways to handle bodies than we do now? Well, with green burials being on the rise I certainly hope that by the time death comes for me it will be no problem at all getting my corpse composted.
Stiff is indeed a story about human cadavers but it is also a lot more. It's a story about how the way that culture deals with death has changed over time and how it might change in the future. Mary Roach goes all over the world seeking out the ways that people deal with the dead. Medicinal uses for corpses, embalming, dissection, and preservation are all covered. There's a rather entertaining chapter about cannibalism, and even a chapter about the soul. It's funny reading this book after having read many of Mary Roach's others are you can see her fascination with various topics coming through... it's really no surprise, after reading this, that Bonk and Spook sprung into being.
All of this is to say... this book is still wonderful, and I loved it even more upon rereading it. It's always a good time to read Mary Roach....more
Spook was my first dive into Mary Roach's writing, and I found it to be a thoroughly enjoyable one. The first chapter I found a bit on the difficult sSpook was my first dive into Mary Roach's writing, and I found it to be a thoroughly enjoyable one. The first chapter I found a bit on the difficult side to read as it was tedious to me, but the rest of the book flowed easily and amusingly through the strange topics of ghosts and the possible afterlife. A self-proclaimed skeptic, Roach managed to keep a fairly non-biased view about the manner and remain open-minded while still voicing her own disbelief in a manner that allowed the reader to make the choice for themselves as to how they felt about things.
I'd recommend the book to just about anyone and am looking forward to getting through her other publications....more
This book was a very easily accessible book, and surprisingly entertaining. It's written in a fun way and many nods are given to entertaining anecdoteThis book was a very easily accessible book, and surprisingly entertaining. It's written in a fun way and many nods are given to entertaining anecdotes interspersed with tips on how to improve your golf game. All in all, quite an amusing read, if a very quick one....more
Hell and Back is probably the best of the Sin City volumes. Instead of telling a story of hideous corruption (which it certainly includes) and dark r Hell and Back is probably the best of the Sin City volumes. Instead of telling a story of hideous corruption (which it certainly includes) and dark resignation, Hell and Back tells the story of moving past Sin City, effectively offering a more hopeful ending for those who have read from the start.
Wallace is an ex-soldider with a heart of gold. He saves a woman, Esther, from suicide only to get far more than he bargained for when he ends up drugged, and her kidnapped the following day. What follows is a hunt down the dark rabbit hole of conspiracy. Human trafficking, sex slavery, the black market of organ selling... any number of things. Wallace is cutting to the heart of it to save the woman he loves. For once, Sin City might just get left behind at the end of it all.
This volume told the most cohesive story, and also offered up some of the most bizarre asides. Here we get the full-color drug trip, the twisting road of conspiracies and the knowledge such things might just always exist. Here we have a hero with a heart of gold, and more, the brains to not fall for so stupid a trap but rather to set his own. It's a satisfying volume, and a fine send off to the series. Well worth the read - it also would make a killer film. ...more
A somewhat difficult read at times, Airframe is a typical Michael Crichton novel. It builds upon interesting, if long-winded, explanations of the builA somewhat difficult read at times, Airframe is a typical Michael Crichton novel. It builds upon interesting, if long-winded, explanations of the building of an actual airframe and creates a story of intrigue and deceit set within the factory itself. Although predictable at times, the book is still entertaining if you want something that doesn't require a great deal of thought but delivers heavily on the drama....more
An entertaining series of two to four page essays written by one of the most amusing authors. The book is lighthearted and witty, a brainless, sometimAn entertaining series of two to four page essays written by one of the most amusing authors. The book is lighthearted and witty, a brainless, sometimes cynical, view of America....more
Hilary "Fox"
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Books:
2008
(47)
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