krepitch

I thought this was overrated, too. I read it four years ago (I use Cardinal ticket stubs and similar material as bookmarks and leave them in the book when I am done so I can always go back and see when I read a book) and it still drives me nuts how the guy says that we are all pronouncing the word apartheid wrong. I have never read that anywhere else and I don't know if it's true, but it is slowly driving me insane.

KLL

I really appreciate the effort you've put into these and thank you for sharing them all with us... It's certainly a privilege to read all your well thought-out and extremely articulate reviews......

I once had to do a literary review on "A Clockwork Orange" and I never didnt know until reading the revised edition about how the non-European editions ommited Chapter 21.... I agree...that it was a major travesty/crime that the publisher (mainly here in the US) at the time believed that Burgess was selling-out, but that it deprieved everyone what was essentially his most significant moral/theme (but wont go into detail to ruin any possible suspense for those who may be interested in discovering all of this for themselves).....

It was definitely quite the "Horrorshow" indeed...Just love the 1st person narrative and how he would some times allow Alex to translate his slang at times to provide someone a better understanding... A lot better than what Joyce ever did who always baffles me beyond belief.....

I always loved the film adaptation, however, must admit due to not including Chapter 21 that it lacked the proper climax that it should have had.... However, Stanley Kubrick of course was one of the most outlandish directors of our generation, so he did indeed add his own touch and slight allure to with his radical perspective/interpretation of it......

Again.. thanks for contributing these reviews to us and I look forward to read all of them from here on out... Excellent job my friend!

boondockdrunk

No problem. Glad you guys are enjoying the reviews.

Blindness by José Saramago (Total Pages: 326)

A city is hit with an epidemic of ‘white blindness” which moves through rapidly. Authorities confine the blind to an empty mental hospital where the ‘criminal element’ holds everyone hostage. A select group come into power, steals all the food rations, and assault women. There is but one eye-witness to the horrors in the ward. One woman has not lost her sight, but chooses to remain with her husband, refusing to abandon him or the seven strangers with whom she came with. She leads this group through their new world, acting as their savior and protector.

An allegory of failure and bewilderment Blindness is a vivid expression of the horrors of the twentieth century. It is a representation of man’s worst temperaments and flaws, but also of man’s invigorating strength.

There are times where this book is hard to read not only because of the gruesome rape scenes but also because of the raw translation. The author does not have any quotations within the book as none of the spoken lines are quoted. Also, Saramago uses commas a lot and periods are few and far between. So it can seem that it is choppy at times, but it is a very unique style for a novel.

A very good book, from another Nobel Peace Prize winner, Blindness is a microcosm for the modern world and the prevalent apathetic nature of man.

Link

boondockdrunk

Less than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis (Total Pages: 208 )

The youth of Los Angeles, in the early 80’s have experienced a world of nihilism too early. They are sucked into a setting full of sex, drugs and disaffection. One such youth is Clay, who returns from his East Coast College and reenters this city of untailored nihilism, where everyone’s morals are corrupt and the people he knows all drive Porches. While at home, he tries to rekindle his relationship with his girlfriend, Blair, and his best friend from high school, Julian, who now specializes in hustling and selling drugs. Soon, Clay’s holiday takes a turn for the worst and he suddenly finds himself suckered back into the lifestyle he can to resent.

This book was described as ‘Catcher in the Rye for the MTV generation’ by USA Today; however I found it to be far from that. Maybe I expected too much from this novel as I have loved Ellis’ other novels, but something about this book just made me cringe. The fact that the author uses the exact same lines in it as some of his other books makes one wonder if he is trying to tie them together, or if he was just lazy. For example, one chapter was exactly the same as one taken from American Psycho (while Less than Zero was written before, so it should be the other way around) and, while that chapter was only half a page long, I still found it irritating. Another thing was that the author seemed to want to write this book so that the reader would be depressed, as he never had any light hearted parts as he has done in his other works.

I would love to hear other’s take on this book, because I feel that the only reason I really didn’t enjoy it was because it was too depressing and lacked casual humor.

I would have to recommend this book to anyone who believes in non-conformity and loathes the ‘Hollywood’ scene. While I didn’t enjoy it, take my review with a grain of salt and please if anyone has a different view on this book, I would love to hear it.

Amazon

boondockdrunk

A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin (Total Pages: 183)

(*Note: This book is very different from the mini-series on the sci-fi channel. If you liked the mini-series please pick this book up. If you hated the mini-series, give this book a chance because it was not done justice by the sci-fi channel.)

Before he became to greatest sorcerer in all of EarthSea, Ged was called ‘Sparrowhawk’ in his thoughtless youth. He was hungry for power and knowledge, and meddled with forces beyond his control. While studying magic on the Isle of Roke, he loosed a dreadful shadow upon the world. A Wizard of Earthsea is about this time, when Ged was irresponsible with the words of power, when he tamed a mighty dragon, and fought an enemy he had no way of destroying.

A Wizard of Earthsea is one of the best-loved fantasy novels of this time, with very good reason. It has been compared to J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth and C.S. Lewis’s Narnia, because of the author’s development of the cultures that encompass the world, while also paying close attention to the characters. While it is a very short book, it is also as thorough as longer novels. This is because Le Guin is not as ‘long winded’ as some other authors and she gets to the point while still being descriptive (in fact it still surprises me that the book is so short because there is so much within it).

This book is a must read for fantasy lovers, as they will find a wonderful world within the pages of Earthsea. A world full of dragons, magic, and adventure, Le Guin makes her imagination of an archipelago world come to life.
Link


The Tombs of Atuan by Ursula K. Le Guin (total pages: 180)

A young girl named Tenar is chosen as the new high priestess to the ancient powers of the earth, and everything is taken away from her: home, family, possessions, and even her name. Now known as Arha, the Eaten One, she is the guardian of the Tombs of Atuan. Her first test to protect the tombs occurs when a young wizard, Ged Sparrowhawk, comes to steal the tombs’ greatest treasure. But with him, Ged brings tales of a world that Tenar has never seen. Now she has to make a choice: betray everything she has ever known and help Ged, or remain a servant to the powers she was born to serve.

Another great book by Ursula K. Le Guin, The Tombs of Atuan continues the story of Ged where the previous book left off. However, this time he is not the main focus of the book. That belongs to Tenar, as she struggles with the world she thought she knew.

Again, if you like fantasy books that are full of detail, yet surprisingly short pick up this novel and join the millions of other readers world-wide who have loved the world of earthsea.

Link

boondockdrunk

The Stand by Stephen King (Total Pages: 1152)

The beginning of the end doesn’t start with sirens or a nuclear attack, but with a cough. Stephen King’s The Stand is a horrifying look not at the end of the world, but that which rises from the ashes; A world where only 99% of the total population dies, and the remaining one percent is left to pick up the pieces.

The survivors are chosen to either side with good, and Mother Abagail, or with evil and a man who possesses unspeakable power. Chilling until the final climatic ending, The Stand is wonderfully descriptive and has characters that can seem almost real.

However, The Stand is by no means a book that a person can just pick up and breeze through. At 1152 pages it is extremely long and at times seem very long winded (even the summary needs two columns on the inside cover to give a summary). However, King fans will not be fazed by the length, as they are probably used to it by now. And between the covers they will find a book that is full human emotions, both good and evil.

Link

boondockdrunk

Sorry that I haven't done any reviews for a while. Work has kept me swamped and such. I have 30 pages left in Eragon and I will review it when I finish. I am also going to review some Vonnegut books and perhaps others.

jf-08

I loved this book. It was long, but I just couldn't put it down.

Trashcan man was loco!

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krepitch

Are you a speed reader?

boondockdrunk

No. These books are ones that I have read this year. So I do read a lot, but I am not a speed reader.

I was going to review "Eragon" today, but my car has broken down 3 times today (once going to work, twice coming back) so I am a little tired from being out in the sun all day.

boondockdrunk

Eragon by Christopher Paolini (P. 497)

A poor farm boy, named Eragon, was out on his final hunt before the winter season when he finds a large, polished blue stone in the forest. He thinks of his luck with a precious rock that might have some value in the form of food for his family. But this thought is misplaced when the polished stone brings a dragon hatchling into the world. Soon Eragon falls into a world larger than the Empire he has grown up to know. Overnight his entire life is changed, and he will embark on an adventure beyond his wildest imaginations, with an old storyteller as his only source of guidance.

While this is a good book I have a few minor issues with it. First off, it is very evident at some places that Mr. Paolini started this book when he was fifteen years old. Parts of it seem a little childish at times (i.e. when he gives his dragon a name) and its idea of love parallels Lucas’s in the new trilogy.

Another issue I had with this book was that a reader can see several borrowed ideas from other fantasy novels (i.e. the way a person uses magic – see Ursula K. LeGuin). I also had problems with the idea that dragons never stop growing and can reach the size of mountains (although, as purely an idea or exaggeration would make it better).

Overall this book is rather enjoyable and is quick to grab one’s attention. It is also as easy and not too complex to read, so it should have a wide audience. On a side note, this book’s sequel is planned to be released this August.

Amazon

boondockdrunk

*blame my Greek Mythology 101 Class for these ones*

Metamorphoses by Ovid (P. 364)

In this book, Ovid (43 BC - AD 17) creates a series of narrative poems from Greek mythology, Latin folklore, and legend to link them under a common theme. A harmonious order takes the place of a once chaotic universe; animals turn to stone; men and women become trees, stones, and stars. Ovid is a master of his vocation and his understanding of the human nature is surpassed by few individuals.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Greek mythology. However, a basic background of gods would be needed as Ovid uses the Roman names in place of the more well known Greek names.

Medea by Euripides (P. 43)

Once a powerful woman, Medea has been brought down by the betrayal of her husband, Jason. Now she seeks to harm Jason, without any thought of her own pain. One of the first depictions of divorce in literature, Medea still captivates audiences to this day.

What is seen as a dramatic script to most critics was just bland and too over-dramatic for my tastes. While, Medea is a classic for the time it was written in, it falls flat with the newer generation because of Medea’s ‘struggles’ are seen as trivial (mainly since divorce is more common now).

boondockdrunk

Maybe I like books too much. Finished this one in a day.

Choke by Chuck Palahniuk (P. 293)

Victor Mancini is a hopeless anti-hero for our fanatical era. While he works at a colonial theme park in order to pay his bills, his salary does not cover the care for his elderly mother. So he comes up with a creative con: he pretends to choke on pieces of food at restaurants, then allows people to ‘save’ him, and these ‘heroes’ later send him money as they feel a certain responsibility for his well being. When he is not pulling this scam on people, Victor searches sexual addiction recovery workshops for action.

The reader of this book is fairly warned, as the first sentence states: “If you’re going to read this, don’t bother.” Choke is a novel that starts off as predictable and later slides into a work of art that has ingenious surprises popping out of the most unlikely of places. Nothing is as it seems in Victor’s world, and the only constant in his world is that there is no constant.

Choke is a book that makes one ponder the ideas of materialism and whether anything is worth… well… anything at all. A wonderful work of art that only Chuck Palahniuk can pull off, Choke is one of the most inspiring novels of the new millennia.
Amazon


I would also like to note that if anyone wants me to read something feel free to make suggestions. However, I refuse to read any book by Jenna Jameson or Pamela Anderson.

boondockdrunk

The War of the Worlds by HG Wells (P. 164)

A portrayal of aliens landing on English soil from the red planet in our own solar system, Wells creates an entirely new genre. The first novel to explore the possibilities of intelligent life from another planet, War of the Worlds has been the canon for all science fiction books to follow. The War of the Worlds is truly a classic that has stood the test of time ever since its first publication in 1898.

Although this book is a classic, HG Wells seems to have an impractical method to how people would react to an alien invasion. Since most novels would have people running away screaming or in pure hysterics. However, in this book the narrator sees a ‘meteor’ that crashes into earth and talks to all of his best buddies about it. Then when the ‘meteor’ turns into a giant machine with two aliens controlling it and a giant mirror that shoots flames which engulf a mass of people, the narrator runs home where he promptly has dinner with his wife. The next day, the narrator mingles with some soldiers and even hears about more ‘meteors’ turns killing machines that have landed. I don’t know about other people, but if I saw a group of people turned into charcoal I would probably find a payphone and call a psychiatrist or get out of town.

Some other things that might be a problem with modern readers is the fact that he runs away from the machines on a horse {because it is set in 1898}. While this didn’t bore me, I do think that some people would be bored with a man fleeing a giant alien controlled armed with a flamethrower on steroids using only black beauty.

The book is suspenseful, but some paragraphs can seem a little drawn out or just plain dry. Though if you can get past that then the reader will find a book that was more than worth the time.



Amazon

boondockdrunk

I really hope you guys enjoy this one because it took me the most time to do. I read this book before War of the Worlds, but I worked so long on this review it was just easiest to read and review the other as a sort of break.

A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller, Jr. [P. 338]

Although A Canticle for Leibowitz was published as a book in 1959, parts of it existed years before that. The first part, now known as ‘Fiat Homo’ {‘Let There Be Man} appeared in 1955 and was entitled ‘A Canticle for Leibowitz’. The second part, know as ‘Fiat Lux’ {Let There Be Light} was first published a year later under the title ‘And the Light Is Risen’. The conclusion to these stories was published in 1957 as ‘The Last Canticle’ (‘Fiat Voluntas Tua’ {‘Thy Will Be Done’}). These all appeared in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction.

Since this book is essentially three different books, and can really be read separately (although I suggest that the reader read all three stories together), I will review each own individually.

Fiat Homo (‘Let There Be Man’)
The Order to Leibowitz is awaiting New Rome’s judgment on whether or not their founder (Isaac Leibowitz) is to be canonized as a saint. It was this one man who, during the times of darkness after the Flame Deluge (the atomic war that spurred the world into a rugged radioactive wasteland) set out to preserve learning and texts from a generation bent on ignorance. For trying to save educational materials, Isaac Leibowitz was burn and hanged at the same time.

Many years later, monks of the New Catholic Church have followed Isaac’s example and tried to preserve and copy materials which would help future generations learn from the past. One such monk is Brother Francis who, in the Utah desert, has made a miraculous discovery (with the help of an old man). For while on his Lenten retreat, he has discovered relics of the founder of his order, among which are the blessed blueprint and the sacred shopping list. Brother Francis hopes that these articles can bring a shinning light into an age of ignorance. However, they only bring him contempt and misfortune.

Fiat Lux (‘Let There Be Light’)
Many years have passed since Brother Francis’s discovery of the ‘sacred’ documents, and there is a rumor of war. The king of Texarkana begins the first steps to unite the entire continent under his own flag. However, this provides the king’s cousin, Thon Thaddeo, with the perfect distraction to safely traverse through the plains, unharmed by the barbarians who make them their home.
What the Thon seeks is a treasure guarded by the monk’s of the order of Leibowitz. But how will the monk’s receive the cousin of a genocidal monster?

Fiat Voluntas Tua (‘Thy Will Be Done’)
604 years have passed since the king of Texarkana waged a dishonest war against his neighbors, and the world has risen to heights not seen since before the Flame Deluge. There are space ships, automobiles, and once again rumors of war engulf the entire planet. However, this time enemies now have the means to destroy entire cities in a single flash of light. Radiation begins to take its toll on citizens and the moral question of whether it is better to assist in the suicide of ‘doomed’ patients or to allow them to suffer and die.

*Note: this book is especially intriguing because Miller seems to be arguing against assisted suicide, yet he eventually kills himself before finishing the sequel to A Canticle for Leibowtiz.*

All three of these books are extremely good and Miller’s usage of Latin terms is excellent. Of course, Miller could not anticipate the effect that Vatican II would have upon the Catholic Church (which would remove Latin from mass). What I liked most about this book were two individual characters. First, was the character known as ‘the pilgrim,’ Benjamin, and Lazarus. Even though only one name appears in its own individual book, they all represent the same person.

It is thought that this person was based upon the medieval legend of the ‘wandering Jew.’ According to this legend, when Jesus was carrying the cross, he paused at the threshold of a house. The owner of the house told Jesus to move on and Jesus sadly replied, ‘You move on too, until I come again.’ The householder was then forced to wander the earth, undying, until Christ would come again. Much the same, the pilgrim is a mysterious and cynical man who is forever waiting for someone who he calls ‘the one.’

Another character who made this book especially enjoyable was the Poet from Fiat Lux. The Poet is a cynical man, who gets on the monk’s nerves, and he owns a glass eye that he likes to play with. For example, he scares Thon Thaddeo by taking it out at the end of a fight between the two men, places it on the table, and says, ‘watch him carefully.’

Many critics have claimed that Fiat Homo is the best book, but I enjoyed Fiat Lux the most. This was because of the two great characters and their additions to the second story. Also, the second is the most evident in portraying the book’s overall theme of knowledge verses morality. On the whole this book is exceptionally written with a wonderful storyline. I recommend this book to everyone, but I would like to stress the importance of having the Latin translations handy. They are easy enough to find on the internet.

Amazon