Book Reviews
More opinions than you can shake a stick at!
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Black House (5)
It was a book I bought in London. I read about half of it until I lost it. Alas, it wasn't good enough for me to buy another copy. But after borrowing someone's copy, I was able to finish it. I don't care what others say, it's definitely not King's best work. It was enough to keep me going, but I really never found it that exciting. The main characters were well developed though, and that's what got me to finish the novel.
Last Man Standing(7)
It was a good read and should make a good movie. An FBI tough guy watches his entire assault team get wiped out and seeks out just what exactly happened. Some interesting things about camaflauge and hostage rescue assaults are covered. It's a good suspense thriller. I would recommend it.
Sir Francis Drake(5)
I only picked up the book for a school report, but was glad I did. The book covered the life of one great pirate, one who had his pirating backed by England itself. The book reads mostly as a biography though, so don't expect 400 pages of swashbuckling adventures.
The Red Dragon(6)
Predictable, but fair. I found it a worthwhile read. I'm quite interested in seeing the movie now. The cover is deceptive. The books has almost nothing to do with Hannibal Lector. He's essentially displayed because of the popularity of the 2nd and 3rd installments. On Writing(8)
I think it's his only nonfiction book. He gives memoirs from his life and discusses how he got started writing. King also speaks on what he believe works in being a writer. I got a lot out of the book and was left wanting more. I would recommend it to anyone with a desire to write (especially fiction) The Blue Nowhere(7)
Came to me with a very strong recommendation from a good friend. Covering the dark side of the technology revolution, it's a disturbing look at how much personal information we all floating around in cyberspace. I found it a good read, however not one of my most favorites. The Shining(8)
Ah, now things make sense. If you want to better understand the movie, you have to read the book. You may even like the ending better. And yeah, RedRum is still the same thing. Fast Food Nation(9)
A stunning read. I rarely visit fast food joints, but now I have more solid reasons than, "The food is fattening." It's a true wakeup call to a world where the golden arches is the most recognized symbol. This book should be on everyone's must read list. And I wouldn't mind seeing it as required reading in every classroom.
Blackhawk Down(8)
Two words... In Tense. Okay, squeeze them into one word. I don't care. Anyway, great book, though one has to have the stomach for it. War is messy. Bullets, RPG's and flesh don't mix very well. Lots of blood. Still a great look inside the chaotic battlefield of urban warfare. Harry Potter(8)
I call it the 'Candy of Literature'. They were fun and addicting to read. I did get a little bored in book four though. Maybe too much, too fast. Simple effective stories made for light and enjoyable reading. And as much as I tried, I could never figure out the endings beforehand. Can't wait for another one. Dr. Zhivago(7)
A tough TOUGH read! I took over 6 months to finish this book. It just didn't suck me in. I'd get in, wander around for a page or two, then want to leave. But something did keep me coming back to it. Hard to recommend it though. Just not too catchy. It's also one of the few stories that I'd suggest seeing the movie first. There are so many names to have to memorize.
IT(8)
Not really scary for me, yet it was very suspenseful at times. Plenty of gore too. And all the offensive things King could muster up. However, I was drawn in deep. Over 1,000 pages seemed to just fly by in this novel. One of his better books. Hannibal(6)
Better than the movie. I liked it. Hannibal didn't have the same scare factor as the first one. But it was nice to see what he would do on the outside.
The Brethren(9)
This one is good. Very suspenseful and clever. I hated to see it end. Many twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. The Brethren scores high on my top list. One would never guess that prison could be so much fun.
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon(4)
Hmmmm...interesting. But that's about it. It's a walk through the woods. Still, it isn't a long book. Has a few good moments too. There are better choices though.
Hearts In Atlantis(8)
Much much better than the movie. There are several stories in this book. Each one has a faint connection to the rest. The characters and stories work much better than the onscreen version. Forget the movie, and try the book.
Timeline(9)
After I finished the book, I KNEW it would make a great movie (provided they didn't screw it up). And now (2002), it looks like it's finally happening. The movie is being filmed as I type (literally? well, maybe). I was drawn in to the journeys of the archeologists. It's a wonderful story and the action scenes do come alive in the story. I could nearly hear the swords clanking and smell the powder burning. Don't see the movie without reading the book first.
Tuesdays With Morrie(9)
Sure there's a good movie, but READ THE BOOK! This is one of those stories that will give you a small (or large) shove to change your life around a bit. You'll end up seeing what the important things are, and maybe what they aren't. Yeah, this one is a deep moving story. The Princess Pride(9)
Everyone's seen the movie, but how many have read the book? There's much more to this story than what was crammed into two hours. It's just as funny too. Want the details on the history of how Inigo Montoya's father died? Gotta check out the written version. Killing Pablo(8)
There are things that go on in this world that I never knew about. Wow. This was a good story. It's by the same author as Blackhawk Down. I was fascinated by what went on down in Columbia. A Painted House(9)
Grisham takes a different road this time. The journey takes place in mid 20th century. The characters really comes to life and I had a great time immersing myself in this book. Catch-22(10)
I had always heard about this book, but never read it. Now, I've heard about it AND read it. The book is a marvelous piece of work. It's quite comical and had me laughing heartily at times. I'd never found such humor in a book before -- even from books written by comedians. Catch-22 deals with a bomber group near the end of WWII. I highly recommend it. Great Expectations(8)
Took me long enough, but I've finally read a Dickens book. Much better than I expected (I had good expectations, but not great ones). Anyway, I would recommend the book. It's slow and tough at times, but well worth it in the end. The characters are very well developed and the language is full of life and color. Oliver Twist(7)
This was the second Dickens classic that I've read in full. It's difficult to follow at times. The ending gets complicated as well. Nevertheless, it was a worthwhile read. David Copperfield(7)
While I only read the book for a 19th Century British literature class, it was a good read. I could relate to the characters and the joys and pains they went through. DC is over 800 pages long. It's no quick read, but anyone making the journey should end up growing some by the time the journey ends-- if for no other reason than that it takes months to read. Hamlet(8)
Words, words, words. That's what Halmet says. He also rambles on about death and remembrance. Having studied the play for a college class gave new meaning to everything. One valid argument was the "To Be or Not To Be" speech was not a sincere reflection of Hamlet's depression, but clever words to throw off the suspicions of those he knew were spying on him. It's certainly a notable stand once the issue has been explored and does change the meaning of the passage. I would suggest that any English major be adaquately versed in Shakespeare; and what better place to start than Hamlet. I rate it at 8 for the poetic creativity in the writing and the well-structured plot. A Shakespeare play doesn't automatically suggest a 10 every time, but this one is pretty good. For Whom the Bell Tolls(7)
Taking place during the Spanish Civil War, it is a powerful story of a few individuals who regard their own lives as nothing in order to better the good of the country. The time passage is only about 4 days, but so much is said in that period. Anyone thinking war is a good thing should take alongside Robert Jordon and observe how every life is important -- even when the killing is necessary. The messages aren't in your face, but they're very clear through the dialogue and actions the men and women take in the novel. Absalom, Absalom!(6)
A book I was supposed to finish for a college class was finally completed over a year later, but nevertheless, it is done. Why did I finally finish it? There was just something compelling about the writing. In a word, it's "disturbing," but not in a Stephen King way. I do recommend it, but with some reserve. The prose is quite tough to understand at times, and occasionally I was quite lost. That said, the writing is still powerful. And the idea of one person obsession with completing a distorted dream is fun to follow. I'm happy to have read it. Moby Dick(7)
This scores high in oh so many ways. The pictures are vivid. The allusions and metaphors are spectacular, and it really forces you to think deeply about things. I would have ranked it higher, but for the fact that it took me two years to read it. This was primarily because Moby Dick is a tough book to read. It was just hard to pick up and easy to put down. The reason being it came off as a 'how to whale' guidebook many times, which would be great if I was planning on taking up whale hunting in the 19th century. Nevertheless, despite the more difficult areas, the chapters were short and the topics changed frequently. My favorite object was the 'life buoy/coffin' that comes near the end. Lots of great stuff to analyze there! Complete Stories of Flannery O' Connor(6)
I got this book for class and we only ended up reading about three of her stories. Since I had the book, I decided to read them all. Her work is good, though not 'great' for me. I particularly enjoy her use of simile and the clever descriptions of people. What really worked for me was her writing on a sentence and passage level. What didn't always work was the complete story. Her style was seemed to be a time where tales were simply snippets of stories, but not full stories. I suppose that's why they are called Short Stories. If anything, almost all her stories were very interesting and there are many that I'd be inclined to read again. The Sound and the Fury(4)
This book was recommended by a professor, so I was willing to buy it and jump in. I might have been better off with a second opinion. I guess I’ll just have to add my own. It’s not awful, and Faulkner does do some clever things. But overall, it just doesn’t ever go anywhere particularly special. It’s extremely easy to get lost in regards to time and place. Everything is assumed way too much that possibly becomes clearer during a second reading. Still, while I was somewhat tempted into rereading the novel, I had to put it aside to start another one. As far as novels go, I’m done with Faulkner. He’s interesting, but odd. A Tale of Two Cities(10)
I’m not a person that goes around saying, “This is so fabulous!” or “it’s amazing!” But in this case, it is fabulous and amazing. If you’re looking for suspense, drama, action, a love story then look no further. It’s all here. Sure, there are a few slower chapters, especially towards the beginning, but once it takes off, it soars. I even went back and reread sections just so I could say, “Oh yeah! That’s right!” He was a master of his craft by Tale and it shows. Along with the entertaining aspects, the social commentary is strong in this one, whereas I was constantly saying to myself that some things just never change. Also, the displays of divine love are evident and my eyes “sweated” more than once. I recommend this one to all. Everyone should know what happens beyond the “it was the best of times; it was the worst of times.” Animal Farm(8)
To think I had never read this quick little novel. It's worth the time and effort. Well, it really was no effort. The story read smoothly and was highly entertaining at times. The Iliad(8)
It's a masterpiece alright, but does end a little abruptly. I found it much easier to follow that I had anticipated. If you really want to learn about Hector, Achilles, Paris, Agamemnon, and the others, this book is for you. Battles are somewhat gory at times, yet the war is full of honor, respect and revenge. It’s difficult to root for either side, yet it somberly demonstrates how futile war can be. The Odyssey(8)
Forget Harry Potter! Really! This is much better. Okay, it’s different and a little difficult at times. But the adventures this guy has are awesome. He lands on an island with Cyclops. He deals with sea monsters and witches. He gets held hostage by a beauty. It’s great! Sea adventures! Spear battles! Outwitting foes and slaying others. The Odyssey is a journey worth undertaking. All Quiet on the Western Front(9)
The narrator's German, but could have been any man in any war. It's like a documentary of a cold depressing place where no one wins and everyone suffers whether they survive the war or not. I experienced the story through an audio book and would often just turn the stereo off and think in the silence. Sure, it’s depressing, but a depression that necessary to undergo. Remarque does a masterful job of placing one in the trenches of World War I with no way out but in a wooden box. The Sun Also Rises(7)
Every year, I hear about this book in July. The news report talks about the Running of the Bulls event in Spain and always makes reference to this book. A Cheers episode also used the book once. So I finally gave in to curiosity and read it. I liked it and found it overall, very enjoyable. If anything, I now want to visit Spain and run with the bulls.
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But with a really big head start.
The Great Gatsby(8)
Finally, I read it, after watching the movie so many times. The book is very well done and I can now see why they tried to make me read it in high school. If only I did. Er, maybe I did. I don't remember. I think I started it and never finished. At any rate, I'd recommend it. The characters are superb and very engaging, if not extremely frustrating with their decisions. Ah, if only they'd listen to me! Robinson Crusoe(9)
Yeah! This is another great adventure story! Hard to believe it was written in 1719. I eagerly awaited my chances to return to Paul and the island. The Christian messages were nice to hear and it reminded me how we just don’t have any of that (openly) in our mainstream literature any more. I was awed by how much Defoe put into that epic novel, and how easy it was to understand considering it’s nearly over 300 years old now. Ethan Frome(7)
The story is fairly short, but with a very surprising ending. Avoid the movie, they mess everything up. Wharton’s small novel is well done, with good depictions of the cold eastern winters. If you don’t already know the ending, have fun trying to guess what happens. It’s shocking, but interesting. Dante's Inferno(5)
Don't get me wrong, I read it only for a grad class. Still, it was creative and imaginative. Hard to believe it's a poem. Hard Road to Freedom(4)
I started the book for a Black History class and decided to actually finish it weeks after the quarter ended. The book is informative and enlightening. Hopefully, history classes are focusing on more of the realy US History, warts and all. Most of the book is done well, though it gets somewhat editorial at times and loses steam after WWII. It wasn't easy to finish. The Aeneid(7)
Many will have never heard of this book. Until college Mythology, I certainly never had. Only three of its Books (chapters) were requried for class, but since I now had the thing sitting around, I decided to finish it. Written around 40BC, it's a little slow at times, but finally picks up about halfway through and continues strongly until the end. While you won't find any movies about the novel, the battle scenes are great and the characters really come alive. Written almost a thousand years after Homer's epics, Virgil seamlessly continues the stories of what happened after the fall of Troy. Well, that's in there too. You'll also meet Camilla, the Amazon-like warrior who joins Turnus in the climactic final battle. Oh, and who can forget the love story between Aenius and Dido. Yeah, he broke her heart, but wait and see what she ends up doing. English and How It Got That Way(6)
I found this laying around my parent's house so I nabbed it and brought it home. The writer does a great job explaining the nuances and history of the English language. It's a good read. 1984(7)
Big Brother -- I'd heard that term all my life, and knew what it meant, but yet I had never actually read the book. Most people I've spoken with say they read it in high school. I, on the other hand, did not. I don't know. My high school English program seemed adequate, but now I'm not so sure. Still, there are many great novels and only so many can be read. Anyway, be that as it may, I've now read it. There are many things to think about and many ways to analyze the work. I specifically remember, 'You do not exist' and its paradoxical meaning. Also powerful, was the idea of how Winstron wasn't learning anything that he didn't already know. It was just being systematized for him. And how true. Some books teach, others reinforce. Nevertheless, the 'year' has come and gone and wasn't as, well, predicted. The closest and biggest society to the book's allusion has even crumbled (though it wasn't until several years later). Wuthering Heights(7)
Took a while to stop calling it Withering Heights, but I finally accomplished that. Overall, I enjoyed the book and its narrative style. I would rate it as one of my all-time favorites, but it does a great job with fantastic and interesting characters. Sense and Sensibility(4)
I read this as an audio book so maybe it was the narrator's aging female voice that just didn't work for me. This book drove me senseless. The story just didn't seem to really go anywhere. The characters were very well developed, but never really captivated my attention. She could have killed everyone off in the end with carefully aimed cannons and I wouldn't have shed a tear. I guess it was her first novel, so maybe it was just a tough start. I wouldn't read this one again. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe(7)
First had this read to me as a kid, so I was happy to see it listed for a Children's Literature grad school book requirement. The memories came back of the images I had from childhood. Lewis does a great job, though the novel was more exciting when I was young. Howl's Moving Castle(6)
I'd never heard of it, but read it for class. Decent book with an interesting story. Not sure I'd recommend it though. Perhaps. Paradise Lost(7)
It's not an easy read, but does have some good poetic imagery. Being a "poem," there's plenty of sentences to drive one crazy figuring out the correct order of the sentence parts. I studied it fora Masters class so I'm not certain I'd have gotten as much out of the book had I read it solo. Still, combing the work with studying the time period (17th century) does make it rather interesting. Another apsect is how many other authors have used the work's themes in their writings. It's a handy novel to have on the bookshelf. The Faerie Queene(7)
The title of The Faerie Queene brings odd things to
mind. I had no idea what to expect when signing up for the class. In essence,
it’s a 1000-page poem written around 1596. I guess I should add that it’s an
epic poem containing six allegorical books. Still, what’s it about? Well, it
deals with knights on quests, damsels in distress, jousts, Prince Arthur, evil
villains, dragons and more. Skillfully done, Spenser has such scenes as a joust
on a bridge when the bad knight opens trap doors sending the combatants down
into the river to fight in the water. The creativity of the work is masterful.
One character is Talus, who is made of iron and essentially uses his mace to
off heads right and left. Britomart is a powerful female warrior who cannot
lose a joust due to her enchanted lance. Yeah, for a great piece of work on
this genre, it’s a fun read, full of lessons on avoiding excess by eating well
and maintaining control, lessons on being courteous, lessons on being holy and
more. It’s entertaining, though quite long. Oh, and the title is a tribute to
Queen Elizabeth I, who isn’t directly featured in the book, but represented
through the good female characters and the queens contained within. Harry Potter - Deathly Hallows(8)
Well done. A good finish to the series. I simply plowed through this book taking very few breaks for silly things like sleep and food. Mainly, I just didn't want to accidentally find out the ending beforehand. I appreciated her formula change whereas the prior books had been stories building up to great climactic scenes, this one started off at high speed and moved like a roller-coaster until the end. Again, well done. I'll miss the characters and stories as I'm not one to re-read books when so many great ones never get read even once. Harry Potter - Order of the Phoenix(8)
Possibly the best one, this one really had some great elements. The evil Professor Umbridge worked quite well as a character we loved to loathe. Most impressive was Rowling's ability to capture life--in the form of relationships--so remarkably well. Page 30 did have a grammatical error though. I was shocked to see that! Harry Potter - Half-Blood Prince(6)
Somewhat weaker than the others, it was still quite entertaining. I did find the clues and structure not as tight as her other books. I did enjoy the experience, but found it really was just the first half of the 7th book. As usual, the relationships came across more interesting than the whole "good versus evil" aspect. War and Peace(9)
Finally, after two years, I finish it. Excellent novel! Captures an immense amount in its few pages (over 1400!), and offers many insights into the human experience. The man was a master wordsmith--a term I seldom like to use. But everyone should read this book at least once. Well, maybe only once. It's huge! Howards End(7)
"Only Connect!" -- once phrase says it all. And the more I investigated its meaning, the more I found it...everywhere. It's all about connects and disconnects, in literature, in relationships, in life. The book does a good job of bringing you into a somewhat privileged lifesytle of the period. Orlando(7)
What I thought would be a boring read turned out quite interesting. Her novel is creative and interesting as you race through a 400-year time period from Queen Elizabeth to the early 20th century. Bloomsbury Recalled(4)
It's nowhere near great and very biased at times, but if you want an insight into the lives of the Bloombury group, there aren't too many sources to turn to. Thus, he offers his memories as to what the eccentric people were like. Note that he wrote the book far late into his life so I really question how much actually happened compared to what he "thought" happened, or what he just plain invented. The Good Soldier(7)
I don't think my fellow grad school classmates found this novel as good as I did, but I really liked it. The story is slow at times, but life was often slow back then. It was like being on an extended vacation in Europe with some odd people you wanted to strangle only half the time. The Waves(6)
I think I'll need to reread this one. We did it in a week and I practically raced through it. The characters are fairly interesting, but the story is rather cryptic. Still, I imagine a second reading will help a lot. All Passion Spent(6)
It's a fine read, though I don't think I'd read it again. Importantly, is the life and emotion she gives the main character who is quite old. The irony is how beautiful and quaint she makes this tiny house when the real author lived in a mansion with 365 rooms. Next time I'm in England I simply must visit this place, which still exists today (the mansion). The Moon in Its Flight(0)
Short stories by Gilbert Sorrentino
For a long time, I assumed that if one’s writing made it so far as to be accepted by a publisher and printed in a book, then the writing must be at least somewhat good...
I was wrong.
Sorrentino’s book is easily the worst book I’ve ever read. Perhaps the stories appeal to people who are into what he writes, but frankly, I founding it quite boring from cover to cover. The stories are just meaningless with a “life sucks and we’re all wretches” attitude. Why did I even read all of it? Well, it was used for a class I was taking in college. It was unavoidable. The worst part is that over a dozen copies of it were sold solely because it was required for that class. The instructor liked it (at least most of it, so he claims) and one other student (maybe – she may have just been defending it just so not everyone would hate the work), yet most found it agreeably awful. The defenders found it “real” and “brave.” I just found it dull and empty.
However, maybe that was the author’s intention: to write a book everyone dislikes. The sad part is all the lost time, but some things are unavoidable. Anyway, my experience with Sorrentino’s work is finished forever.
On Writer's Block(0)
The thing I liked most about this book was the author’s first name, Victoria. It’s just a name I’ve always thought would be cool to name a daughter.
But the book? Well, the book is mostly a lot of varied opinions and psychological reasoning. The biggest problem is that the author really has 40 pages of good information to give and it’s watered down with words to fill 161 pages. That leaves the reader with a lot of unhelpful dribble to wade through. Guess the trouble is that people don’t like to publish 40-page books. Quite a shame.
Bird by Bird(0)
What is shocking is that she gets off to a really great start, but things go downhill soon after. Half the chapters could be lopped off and the book would probably be okay. Some parts are roaringly funny, but others parts fall flat and wait to be swept away. There’s too much psychobabble, which seems like a good thing for writers, but many writers have too much head-trauma as it is. Notably, in one chapter, the author expresses contempt at how one “less talented” writer was more successful than herself. Her final solution was to avoid being friends with that person. That’s helpful? We should avoid our problems and they’ll just vanish? No, no, no. Perhaps that was one chapter that unfortunately escaped deletion. Jealously and bitterness need better answers than that. Sister Carrie(5)
This is a long book. It was required for college and I had a great time with the class discussions and interpretations of the content. The ending is somewhat weak and it’s not really a book I would recommend for a good read, but I did get so curious as to what would happen next, I stayed up all night finishing the last 250 pages, missing class the next day. The Woman in White(6)
I found it a good read with a nice variety in writing techniques. Plus, it’s a fun crime-solving type mystery with good, bad and indifferent characters. It also has one of those “hmmm—that’s very interesting” endings. Jane Eyre(7)
The book so cool, they even made it into a musical! Well, so I’m told. I’ve never actually seen in and I’m not sure I really want to. Still, the book is a fun read with great characters. It’s over 400 pages, but does go by fast. Sure, I read it for a college class, but it’s one that I might even read for fun. The Spanish Tragedy(6)
A dozen murders, maybe more. It’s really the precursor to Hamlet. There are so many similar things. Filled with revenges, betrayals, murders, and misunderstandings, it moves along with lots of death. Pick up your copy today! 'Tis a Pity She's a Whore(6)
Buckets of blood! Well, that was our mantra during the course. This play occurred at a time of more blood = better show. Word is the playwrights were constantly competiting to outdo each other with more wild and extravagant acts (see Hollywood today). It’s an story with incest, murder, betrayal and so forth. You won’t find it on too many stages today. On Writing Well(1)
Eh, it's hard to like this book. He does a few things well, but 80% of it is probably useless. It's a book on (big surprise) writing well, though I wonder if the author might be getting a little out of touch with today's society. Hard to say. Gulliver's Travels(5)
I picked up this book because I was reading another book, Bleak
House, and Dickens alluded to it, which he's done before, so alas, I needed
to find out what the full story was. It's...well...okay. Swift is very creative and does fantasy well, but it just
wasn't one of my favorite reads. Don't get me wrong--I'm glad I read it. It's
great to know exactly what people are talking about when they refer to Lilliput
and the other characters. Most of the work is imply a political commentary on England in the early 17th century. Comical how many problems still exist today:
people overeating, people drinking too much liquor, lawmakers fouling up the
law. Yeah, it's timeless. All in all, I'd have to recommend reading it only if you're
really curious about the story or how 18th century writing differs
from 19th century. Little Women(7)
Little Women Review
(warning: contains spoilers)
I really liked this book. And I only read it because…well,
there are several reasons…
First of all, I enjoy the classics. Writers, from books to
television to movies, allude to the classics frequently, and I prefer being “in
the know.” Moreover, there’s often a good reason why a classic became a
classic. It may be a great and powerful story, a moving message or simply a fascinating
depiction of life in that period. As well, movies haven’t been around for very
long, so if you want to know what life was like in Renaissance times, you’ll
need a good book. Okay, you could watch a movie or documentary about the
period, but then, where did the writers of the movie get their information
from?
Also, I’d known of Little Women for many years. The
extent of my knowledge was this: it was a classic novel with four girls in it. But
in recent years, I’d seen more references to it: a Friend’s episode
where Joey is traumatized by the sad events in the novel, or even the making of
it into a musical (still unsure if that was a wise idea). Nevertheless, people
were referring to it, and I was being left out.
Finally, I figured being an English grad student in
literature, I should be aware of the story. It’s always a bonus if the story is
a good one.
And it is. I found the novel moving and inspiring. A bit of
confusion was alighted once I realized that it took place in America and not England (“Washington Hospital” makes so much more sense that way). I guess I had
just assumed it was another “English” novel.
The characters are well done and I suppose I’m only stating
the usual—I mean of course they’re well developed—it’s a classic, after all! So
what can I say that’s interesting and new? Probably not a whole lot.
Thus, I’ll say what I liked. Frankly, I enjoyed their constant pursuit in being
the best person they could be. Each girl had flaws and worked to overcome them.
Some may argue that they weren’t flawed enough and maybe too “good,” but then
maybe we expect people to be too violent, angry and mean nowadays, but I
actually know very few people like that!
Perhaps I’m just an easy sell, but I really got into each of
the characters and cared about their choices and lives. I knew about the
impending fate of one, yet still found it a very emotional episode when the
time came. And the poem she dedicated to her sister…wow, that hit hard.
And when they became ladies in Part Two, I wondered which
one I would have chosen had they been real. Certainly not Meg—too dull for me.
I suppose it was between Jo and Amy, and truth be told, I’d have to choose Amy.
Sure, she was a little vain at first, but her ladylike qualities just
eventually win out over Jo’s feistiness. It wasn’t an easy choice, mind you, Jo
had that best friend “someone you wrestle with” quality, which seemed nice, yet
the quality of being a lady was just a stronger sell. Anyway, that’s just my
preference; yours may be Jo or even Megan. Heck, I suppose it could be Beth,
but she’s dead, and conversations wouldn’t be too fun after a while.
Thus, I’m quite happy having read it. I almost wish it were
longer. I hear there is another novel, a continuation, by the same author, yet
one was enough. There are others classics to explore and the list is longer
than anyone’s lifetime.
A Room of One's Own(5)
When I first acquired this book, it wasn't for any college class. I just wanted to read it --- to know what it was about. A friend at school told me she had the book and offered to loan it to me. I accepted. So I had the book for about half a year and never even opened it. Then I was in another grad class and the book which required. So I picked up another copy. You see I wanted to get the edition that we were reading in class. It was cheap, though maybe $10. But the problem was we had to read the book in a week and I had four other classes. There was just no way. So I dropped the class, but kept the book. And several months later I finally read it.
My thoughts?
It's pretty good. I wouldn't really call it a feminist book. Certainly, she wanted equality, but moreover, she simply wanted women to write more—or to be published more. Obviously, it's a moot point for early history, but it did apply to the early 20th century, and likewise, the present. Still, a lot of it didn't apply directly to me, though I do like a book that takes me to a different time and place. So, while I'm glad I read it, it's probably not something I would read again -- for fun at least.
Treasure Island(8)
Want to find out where a lot of pirate lore comes from? Read this book. Or if you just want a great pirate adventure, it's a fun outing with Jim Hawkins, Long John Silver, and others. It'll probably make you yearn for a tropical vacation as well. If it's a location with buried treasure, so much the better! Cheri(7)
Cheri
By Colette
I read this book as a dual
language book. I simply wanted to learn French better. (I'm always wanting to
learn French better.) The left side of the pages have the text in French; the
right side in English. You can switch back and forth and learn what you don't
know. The French person could learn English much better and vice versa.
But about the content itself.
This story is very well done. It's mainly a character study since there's not a
lot of action, and the people rarely do much more than sit around and chat, which
is what I imagine many people did back then when they had a fair amount of
money and didn’t have to work fulltime. After a while, the characters become
very engaging and interesting. You begin to hope for the best, knowing that
it's an impossible situation. And when another female comes along, everything
is hopelessly ruined. Love triangles are the worst kind of math.
This is a book that I thought
would make a great play. But alas, that's been done. Apparently it wasn't
done very successfully, for it ran for a short time and I’m not sure anyone is
putting it on today. As far as movies go, that's been done as well…several
times. After some research I've found it's been done about six or seven times,
most recently with Michelle Pfeiffer last year. I may actually try and see
that on.
Nevertheless I'll keep the book
around. I think it still has a good shot of the play.
Addendum:
So
I finally read the introduction. I do that only after I’ve read the story since
some introductions give away too much or ruin things. Turns out that the author,
Collette, did begin Cheri or some form of it as a play or with a drama in mind.
Ah! That makes sense. That’s why it fits so well into that genre. The introduction
writer commented on several reasons why the play format was so prominent in the
story.
So
yeah, I guess there was a really good reason why I kept thinking of this book as
a play.
Our Mutual Friend(7)
Our
Mutual Friend Charles Dickens 1865
Well, months later I've finished with what
I’ve started. Our Mutual Friend has been completed.
I recently picked this book because of a very
strong recommendation. Now, for starters, I like reading any Dickens novel,
though some are certainly longer and not as exciting as perhaps others. Given
that, they're all great works.
The recommendation to read this actually came
from an episode of LOST. One of the characters had a copy of the novel
and intended to read it as the last thing he ever did in life. He proclaimed that
it was Dickens's best work and so forth. Certainly, I know it's a fictional
character on a fictional show, but I figured if the writers chose that book for
whatever reason, then I should investigate why. I mean, would they have picked
a lousy novel to glorify as one’s last literary quest in life?
I went to a bookstore to pick up the book.
Well I tried to. It seems the bookstore (Borders) didn't carry that particular
Dickens novel. No problem. I went to another bookstore and they had just one
copy of it. For some reason, not a lot of people carry it.
Nevertheless, I possessed a copy and was
anxious to start. I dived in. It opens well, but gets complicated pretty fast. Our
Mutual Friend was the last complete that Dickens wrote. In many ways, it is
his most advanced work, yet it's also difficult to read. Sometimes, it’s tough
to tell what supposed to be taken literally, and what’s just creative wordplay.
Still, the question remains: Is it Dickens’s best
novel? Hmmm. It's really hard to say. It doesn't have the same gripping plot as Great Expectations or A Tale of Two Cities. However, it still has
some wonderful and terrific features. The characters are very well done and
quite interesting. There are people that should be good, and yet, they’re bad.
And vice versa. And the plot is good, with surprises here and there and some rather
shocking events. I'd say I was at about page 300 when things really got going. That’s
when I started to look forward to reading it.
Of course it does have Dickens's usual
commentaries on society, but a few really come to mind. He definitely focuses
on how money changes people, which is sometimes sad to see—especially when it
happens to good people in general.
There are also some striking acts of kindness
that had me completely moved, such as when a little boy gives away his only
possession in the world to another orphan. For those who have read Oliver Twist,
there's a complete antithesis of Fagan in this story (Riah). It appears that
Dickens goes out of his way to portray a good Jewish person, and there's even
some didactic text stating how one person doesn't represent an entire race of
people or division of society. It turns out that this was intentional,
resulting from some flak the author got for his portrayal of Fagan. I guess he
was trying to undo some of the damage and make nice with some of the critics.
Very well. Why not please the masses?
Another timeless comment was about how people
don't live within their means. In fact, they even use that exact phrase (“living
within one's means”). Turns out it's been around a long time. A couple was
spending way more than they made and not saving properly. When they got into
hard times, the other folks in society were simply shocked that these people
have been had let themselves get in such a disaster. Funny how things don't
change much.
There's also a strong commentary on how too
many people foolishly try to please fashionable society and how even folks
within fashionable society can't even seem to please each other. It's just a
futile quest. Why bother?
So there you have it. There are many great
things about OMF. Do I recommend it? Actually I do. It contains some prose
that's just amazing, for lack of a better word. There are passages so
descriptive and beautiful, that it would make any writer envious to see how
masterfully crafted written work can be. It's also got some great reminders
about enjoying the simple things. Granted, money is nice to have, but as the
saying goes, it doesn't buy happiness.
Be that as it may, should this novel be the
last one you read before departing in life? Hmmm…well, I suppose it’s not a bad
one to go out on.
Never Let Me Go(8)
I saw this on a top 10 list somewhere for recent books or something. I can’t remember exactly. I wanted to delve into something modern again. Too many classics can be draining after time. It’s a great short novel. It’s only about 300 pages and after slogging through other 800-page novels, it’s nice to be done early. I raced through it in a week. The characters are what really sell this novel for me. It has that type of social bonding aspect that really connects with many readers. It also (very subtly) raises certain social issues, but in a mild manner. I’d strongly recommend it. My “used” copy was very cheap on Amazon and appeared as if never opened before. Nice.
Old Arcadia(6)
I'll be honest. I only read this because of my exit exam requirement in grad school. However, I still enjoyed it. It offers adventure, humor, drama, and so forth. It's hard to find, but a good work in its own respect. A Separate Peace(9)
I think I read it in high school or junior high. Truth be told, I can’t remember a thing from before, except there was a tree or something.
But I knew it was part of the cannon for a good reason. I also had a strong desire to read it (again?). I ordered the audio version so I could listen to it while running, which I did.
And before bed. And in the afternoon. And while driving.
The book was what I want every book to be: addicting. I don’t remember getting anything out of it before—not surprising since I didn’t recall even reading it for sure. This time was different. This time I discovered compelling characters, characters who held such deep meaning in a pivotal time in life. I found it easy to identify symbols, themes, and motifs, both about the War and other events in life. As well, it can be just enjoyed as a good book.
Mind you—it’s tragic. There’s a war going on. Still, I suppose life can often be tragic with or without a war. It’s only the placement of the enemy that changes.
It’s worth rereading. Alas, it’s almost nonsensical to read it during adolescence. Life experience is necessary to make meaning of all the twisted and impending events.
Though I imagine that’s true of most novels.
Hard Times(5)
Sandwiched between Bleak House and A Tale of Two
Cities, Hard Times is not bad, but not terribly exciting either. It
starts at a slow pace and maintains the same speed until the final chapters.
Once there, it takes off and has a very heart-warming and inspiring ending.
Some of its more interesting themes involve a young lady leaning towards
adultery (shocking considering it’s the Victorian Era) and workers upset at
factory conditions.
So I would recommend it, just to get acquainted with another
Dickensian aspect of that time period. As well, it’s short—roughly a third of
what Bleak House is. Feels almost like a pamphlet when comparing both.
If you read the B&N Edition, avoid the Karen Odden
introduction until afterwards as she gives a little too much away. However, do
be sure to read it. Many great observations are made, especially regarding
binary viewpoints and modes of thought. Also the idea of fact versus fantasy
(or imagination) is discussed. Great stuff!
Shutter Island(6)
Sometimes a book can spoil a movie and likewise, vice-versa. In this case, the movie was pretty much a waste since the ending destroys the suspense of the story. I suppose the book is always the better path, but I’m not so sure. I did sort of want to withhold reading and ending and just watch the full movie, but decided to complete the written story first.
I don’t regret watching the movie, for it was fun to watch the characters come to life and to actually “see” the island. However, I must say that Leo was completely miscast as Teddy. Not that he’s not a great actor; he just didn’t fit the type of character that Teddy needs to be. It’s hard to describe, but if you read the book, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about.
I do recommend it, but only if the movie has not been seen.
Water for Elephants(8)
A great story. I did enjoy this one from start to finish. The characters and atmosphere are fun to follow and the animals have so much depth as well. If you liked Carnivale, you’ll love this engaging tale of the circus life set in the Great Depression. The Last of the Mohicans(6)
I certainly knew about the movie (an adventure masterpiece!), but there was a book? Okay, I decided it needed to be read. I mean especially if it's an American classic. It did take a while to finish. Don't get me wrong; the book was interesting and sometimes quite exciting, but it wasn't something I just couldn't wait to get back to again, although oddly enough I did sort of look forward to getting back to it. Perhaps, it's because I was just exhausted by the time I got around to reading it, so my sessions didn’t last long.
But as for the book, it was pretty well done. Cooper actually does paint a surprisingly sympathetic portrait of many Indians. Granted, one could analyze the things that aren’t so positive, but read it and make your own calls. The author weaves in some fairly contemplative subjects to ponder over.
It’s vastly different than the movie, with superior complexity in the characters (Alice notwithstanding).
The Jungle(7)
Anyone who complains a lot about his or her job a lot needs to read this novel. The immigrant in America around the turn of the century had a horrendous road ahead of him-especially if he worked in the meat-packing industry. The author intended to enlighten readers on the workers’ plight and the health issues of the meat, but many simply focused on the latter problem. Regardless, change did come and we’re much better off today. It’s one novel that should remain required reading. A nice concept is the quote about using everything from the hog except the squeal. You can take away everything a man has, but trying to silence his voice is altogether another issue.
Granted, the socialistic ending is a little queer, but doesn’t kill what’s a shocking and enlightening experience.
Tess of the D'Urbervilles(6)
A classic or not, I had never heard of this book until I was auditing an AP English Class during grad school. Since I’d never taken AP English, I wasn’t exposed to it. But I figured it must have some valid importance to warrant reading within the program. When I saw it at Borders months later, I picked up a copy.
It’s rather shocking, not in today’s terms, but when considered during the time period it was written: late nineteenth-century. One might say it’s very anti-establishment and involves some very serious themes. Granted, nothing is graphic; however, implications are often just as strong, even more so when her age is considered.
Overall, I enjoyed it. One can get an idea of the rather difficult farming and dairy farm life during that period. That said, when compared with the alternative of leaving the farm and taking up factory work (as in The Jungle), the former seems downright paradisiacal.
I read the Barnes & Noble Classic edition, which has an odd error in a footnote. The word Pandemonium is used in the book, and the footnote explains the origin of “pan” as pertaining to the crafty god of the woods. However, the “pan” is actually relating to the word “many” and is combined with “demons” (many demons). It is the name of a building that Milton simply made-up in Paradise Lost. Not sure where the editor got his definition from. Perhaps he also simply made it up.
Utopia(6)
A pretty good read. One gets and idea of the "ideal" life imagined by Thomas More. Unless he's being ironical, in which case all bets are off. Hard to tell what the true message is. Alas, the author's ending fared poorly as well. Anna Karenina(4)
After being enthralled with War & Peace, I wanted to dive into another Tolstoy novel. Someone strongly recommend Anna Karenina. I knew of this novel, but no real details. Sure, why not. I’ll read it. Yeah, two years later. Why not? Because it’s slow and quite boring. Hard to believe it’s the same author as W&P.
It’s long—way too long. Complete sections just drag on and on with a frequent nudge for you to wake up. It’s tedious. Some areas just drone on about political meetings—I mean just the most minute uninteresting things you could think of. Yeah, they’re all in there. It’s almost comical how some of meetings just get into such mundane tasks.
The characters are certainly deep and complex, but most aren’t really likeable—unless you’re into affairs where innocent hard-working mothers get hurt. I found myself not caring what happens to some of the key principals. In fact, some of the suicides are almost welcome just to put the reader out of his misery. And let’s face it—half the people in the novel are far from happy. They’re sad, whiny people, who seek love in the wrong places, and expect you to listen to their pathetic rationalizing.
That said, there are some good things too.
Many of the players are simply searching for the truth or enlightenment. Thus, they look in the wrong places. They become frustrated with not finding the right solutions. They seek God; they seek answers. It’s a timeless quest and constant throughout the novel. You’re repeatedly teased when they come close to getting it right, but then digress over and over.
Certainly, you get a fantastic glimpse of the period. That’s well done. Classes are represented nicely with a strong yearning of connection or at least better understanding from the upper to lower class. It’s as if the peasants hold more of the answers to happiness.
All in all, it wasn’t a novel that I enjoyed reading. Nevertheless, it was one that I needed to read.
Wives of Henry VIII(8)
For anyone enjoying the Showtime series The Tudors, this book is a must read—or any good historical biography of the era. It’s necessary to correct the problems, inaccuracies, and mistakes of the four-year series. Not that the series is bad—it’s actually a lot of fun. And the creators don’t claim, “This is 100% accurate!” They sought to entertain, and they did. I sought to learn the rest of the story.
The novel focuses on, yes, the wives of the king. In general, the series (and other recent movies) do well in summarizing and generalizing the key characters. Although Henry’s final obesity problem is practically ignored. That said, he was supposed to be a good-looking lad in his younger years. The book gives all the interesting details and really provides a good insight into each of the six women and her relationship with the king.
What makes this book work particularly well is the author’s willingness to keep speculation and fact separate. She notes when it might be myth and states when something is commonly believed to be true. This is quite helpful in that gossip and rumors were as prevalent back then as today. Many attributed quotes may not have actually been spoken, but at least were rumored to be true—either at the time, or in later years.
Overall, it’s a great novel and simply enlightens readers to that time period and those players. The events are better than most fiction and often hard to even believe. The guy certainly did have an adventurous life.
Unbroken(10)
There are very few books that I've read this quickly (in about five days), and none that has moved me this much. If I were rich, I'd buy a copy for everyone I know. While I'm aware it may not move others as much as it did me, if it even moves people half as much, life will seem altered. There's really not much need for fiction when history is this impregnated with heroism, sadness, atrocity, salvation, humor, and truth. His story is miraculous and inspiring, illustrating the alarming atrocities of mankind and the awesome greatness as well.
This is definitely a story you’ll tell others about. I know I am.
The Magnificent Ambsersons(7)
I am discovering so many classics that I’ve never heard of. This is one of them. Well, it was. Now I know a little more about the book and author and the time period too since that’s a nice bonus of period books. It takes place in a time when grand balls are winding down and the automobiles are edging out the horses. The story itself deals with the pitfalls of pride. While it’s not a new concept, it works well here because you really pull for the main character, while still wanting some humility to befall him. His counterpart is almost unbelievably wise in some of her comments and observations. If anything, they seem like the oddest of pairings.
It’s timeless in its lessons: we’re allowing modern inventions to speed up our lives to displace human interaction, gossip wrecks lives unless we simply ignore it, idleness is a dangerous habit, and life is nothing without goals and risks.
Freakonomics(7)
This book hopefully gets people thinking differently, asking different types of questions. It’s a fascinating wild ride on exploring data sets and seeing where the correlations lie. That said, some may find some of the findings distasteful or offensive, mainly when it comes to abortion and the discovery that the crime rate was lower years later when any unwanted children were, in fact, never born. It doesn’t suggest that it’s the best or most moral solution; it merely observes the data. Other stories are about the business and danger of drug dealing, the ineffectiveness of obsessive parenting, and cheating in the school system. It’s a great and informative read. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo(5)
About 120 pages into this book, I was done. It was slow and somewhat boring. I was convinced to keep going. So I did.
And after finishing it?
I found it slow and somewhat boring.
There are some shockers in the “best seller” lists. Sometimes I think books are not there because they’re great, but because everyone else is reading them. This isn’t to say it’s an awful book. The prose itself is well done and the characters are fully fleshed out. It’s just that the story isn’t terribly exciting or interesting. I never really cared or had to know what would happen next.
It’s also very wordy. There are nearly 600 pages, but it’s not a 600-page story. Frankly, it would have been fine at 300. Even after the climax, it just would not stop. I was close to screaming “JUST END ALREADY!” on many occasions. The climax happened way too early, so the denouement just dragged on and on. As well, some characters didn’t need to be so developed as they really didn’t further the story. Cut, cut, cut. Like to sit around reading about people sitting around reading? Then this book might be for you.
Again, the main characters are fleshed out; however, they’re just not very interesting or likeable. For the most part, the narrator could have off’ed anyone in the novel and I wouldn’t have blinked an eye. For some of them, I would have danced a jig at the funeral.
And okay, it might just be me. I had just completed books like “Unbroken,” “Water for Elephants,” “A Separate Peace,” and so forth. This one just doesn’t compare in any way. Also, the “whodunit” motif wears a little thin with me. John Grisham crime solver phase is over with—got my fill years ago. This novel was just loaded with so much meaningless, dull information. I think the list of suspects was over 30 (!). The plot itself isn’t novel or riveting. When you discover the secret truth, it’s met more with “Ah, I see,” than “OH MY GOSH!”
I wanted to enjoy it. I really did. But after a long, arduous, month of reading it (it was hard to pick it, easy to put down after 10 minutes), I have to conclude that it’s just not that good.
I hear his subsequent works are better, but nah. Not for me. I’m not heading down this long, wordy road again.
Survival in Auschwitz(8)
Having been there, it helps when reading such a book, but it’s certainly not necessary.
Survival is a powerful recount of a young (he was 24) man’s survival in a place where most did not. His tale is even more miraculous considering that he became sick just when the Germans were “evacuating” the camp, leading thousands to disappear forever.
The story does exactly what you’d expect: evokes emotions and forces you to really appreciate all you have in life. That said, it also teaches one how to survive and persevere in the toughest (and possibly most horrific) conditions. There isn’t too much more to add to that, except that when visiting Auschwitz in 2009, my main question was simple this: “How did anyone find the strength to survive?” And it wasn’t just fighting the elements (it was dreadfully cold there even in March), but finding any hope to go on as well. I’ve copied down a few passages that help illustrate some of the many answers:
“Sooner or later in life everyone discover that perfect happiness is unrealizable, but there are few who pause to consider the antithesis: that perfect unhappiness is equally unattainable. The obstacles preventing the realization of both these extreme states are of the same nature: they derive from our ever-insufficient knowledge of the future opposes it: and this is called, in the one instance, hope, and in the other, uncertainty of the following day. The certainty of death opposes it: for it places a limit on every joy, but also on every grief. The inevitable material cares oppose it: for as they poison everlasting happiness, they equally assiduously distract us from our misfortunes and make our consciousness of them intermittent and hence supportable.” (17)
Hope is a powerful thing. While it can be diminished greatly, to extinguish it completely couldn’t even be done by mass genocide. It survives by careful optimism, the act of finding something, anything to look forward to:
“It is lucky that it is not windy today. Strange, how in some way one always has the impression of being fortunate, how some chance happening, perhaps infinitesimal, stops us crossing the threshold of despair and allows us to live. It is raining, but it is not windy. Or else, it is raining and is also windy: but you know that this evening it is your turn for the supplement of soup, so that even today you find the strength to reach the evening. Or it is raining, windy and you have the usual hunger and then you think that if you really had to, if you really felt nothing in your heart but suffering and tedium – as sometimes happens, when you really seem to lie on the bottom – well, even in that case, at any moment you want you could always go and touch the electric wire-fence, or throw yourself under the shunting trains, and then it would stop raining.” (130)
What’s interesting is that the beatings were not the worst part—that one needed to converse strength and energy at every moment, for almost no one consumed enough food to remain strong enough to battle the cold weather and overwhelming work. Levi speaks of a newcomer, who had not yet learned the way to survive and is working far too hard:
“He does not yet know that it is better to be beaten, because one does not normally die of blows, but one does of exhaustion, and badly, and when one grows aware of it, it is already too late.” (132)
Yet, work itself is not a bad thing, but moreover, a necessary part of life. Near the end, in a short interview, Levi offers these insightful words:
“I am persuaded that normal human beings are biologically built for an activity that is aimed toward a goal and that idleness, or aimless work (like Auschwitz’s Arbeit), gives rise to suffering and to atrophy.” (179)
No rainstorm lasts forever.
Vengeance: The True Story of an Israeli Counterter(8)
If you saw the movie Munich, you know exactly what this book is about: the retribution for the Olympic massacre in 1972. And the book reads like a suspenseful thriller. The movie does seem to capture the action-based facets of the book, and I did enjoy it; however, the book offers so much more of what was going through the leader’s mind the whole time. It also deals with the constant question: Is this really going to make a difference?
The premise, for those who don’t know, regards a commando/counter-terrorist team who goes autonomously into Europe around 1973 (supplied with an especially large bank account) and assassinates people on a list of known terrorists (mainly those behind the Munich massacre). But the same way they’re finding the targets allows for them to be targeted as well. The problematic issue arises: once you begin inquiring about people, you leave yourself vulnerable for tracking as well.
It’s an exciting, suspenseful, and somewhat disturbing retelling of a dark period in history—although terrorism is anything but over. At one point, they equated things with a many-headed monster (a la Hydra) where a new head (or two) grows in the place where one is eliminated. Combined with that is the acceptance that despite the fact that fingernails grow back, they still need to keep being clipped.
Again, the novel offers much to think about and discuss.
The 4-Hour Body(6)
Me: You should read “The 4-Hour Body.”
Friend: Actually, I’m reading the 3-Hour Body. Saving myself a whole hour.
Ha! An allusion to the joke from There’s Something About Mary. But yeah, I can see the rationale. Still, four hours isn’t a lot of time. The title is based on the idea of a short workout each week for a massive muscle gain and fat reduction in just a few weeks. Oh yeah, with some vitamins and an eating change too.
The book offers a lot of information—too much in fact. The author is trying to cram way too much information in there (e.g., a chapter about hitting a baseball better). While this isn’t a totally bad thing, it inflates the book, making it harder to obtain the useful information, and easier to get overwhelmed and lost. If anything, the book just gets bogged down in too much superfluous data.
However, there is good information in there, and it even backs up many of my own theories on weight loss and muscle gain. As well, I didn’t mind the extra chapters on running better, though they’re a little inflated too. Most importantly is how the author really states the idea of take away what you will. You don’t have to agree with everything he writes to obtain some good stuff from this book.
I would strongly suggest perusing it first at a book store before buying it. Some may find a few of the chapters objectionable. I had no problem with it though. Again, take away what you find useful. It’s not a bad thing to have as a reference manual on the shelf.
The Survivors of the Chancellor(6)
Sometimes the stories of how I came to acquire a new book are more interesting than the book itself. Well, I dunno. This book was pretty cool; however, it never completely drew me in. If not for the personal ties, I might not have enjoyed it so much.
So how did I choose this book?
Weeks before, I had been watching an episode of LOST. The scene was out on the small ship and I believe a character walking by a “security guard” pointed out that her book was upside down (she may even have been sleeping). She righted the book and the scene moved on.
Obviously, I paused the DVD, backed it up and stopped it at the point where it showed the upside-down book. I took a moment and finally made out the title: “Survivors of the Chancellor.” Now one thing about great writers is that they don’t do a lot of random meaningless things (yes, I know the show seems like that at times), but I knew this book was chosen for a reason. I Googled it and found it to be an old novella by Jules Verne. My next stop was ABE.com. It arrived in the mail in about a week.
A few days later, I was mentioning this to my father. He asked if I bought it in French. Oops! Did not even think to do so. Clumsy me. Thus, I read the English translation. However, I probably would not have finished the French version by now.
As for the book? Like I said, it’s good, but not great. It reads as a diary telling of a shipwreck and includes all the gruesome details of having to survive such conditions. Verne reminds me somewhat of Defoe in that his story-telling is done so well that it comes across as more fact than fiction. It also borrowed from some true events, which never hurts a story’s verisimilitude.
The characters aren’t very dynamic in that they don’t really change much over the course of the adventure. But I got to thinking that it’s pretty common for real life people to remain who they are for the most part. Perhaps leopards can change their spots, but most of the time, they just don’t. And if the style is meant to be realistic, it should mimic real people.
What was pretty interesting, however, was the creative ways people tried to acquire food and water. I’ve often pondered such questions. How would I catch fish or sharks as a castaway? Could I make a still to desalinize the salt water? At one point, they laid out large sails to catch rainwater, but found the soaked up water undrinkable because the ocean had infused too much saltwater into the sails as the days had passed. Plus, there were examples of the necessity of temperance, as seen when a small storm was a blessing in that it provided much needed water, but a large tempest would destroy the raft and take lives. A lost life could serve as bait or food, but morality issues would arise when those situations did. Tough questions and even tougher answers.
Oh, and for the “LOST” ties? Well, there are explosives on board the ship and a fire is out of control. The passengers are destined for hard times ahead. There are several untrustworthy characters. Yeah, the book has some fine connections to the television series.
And above all, it’s still ironic for someone to want to be reading about a shipwreck when she’s on a boat in the ocean.
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