Sterne - Tristam Shandy

Title: Tristam Shandy
Author: Sterne, Laurence
Year: 1759 - 1769
B's Stars: 7 of 10

Plot:
Tristam Shandy's life - and the stories of those revolving around him.

Review:
Sterne deserves credit for being brave (bold) enough to write a screwball comedy in 1759. To one up all the life stories being published at the time, Sterne starts with Tristam's conception instead of birth. His point of not ever being able to write about one life in a vacuum is highlighted by the fact that Tristam isn't born until volume III. Sterne has lots of fun. For example, one page he asks the reader to describe how fair a woman is, then leaves the next page blank so you can fill in your description. Another page is all black in morning for Yorick.

I read this book as part of an English novel class - and I got a lot more out of it due to the class. This is a difficult read, and would be hard without assistance. Still, enjoyable and funny.

Posted by Brendan Lane at 11:02 AM 0 comments

Buckely - Thank You for Smoking

Title: Thank You for Smoking
Author: Buckely, Christopher
Year: 1994
B's Stars: 8 of 10

Plot:
Nick Naylor is a lobbyist for the tobacco institute - not because he believes in the cause, simply because he is good at it and it pays well. He meets with the other "Merchants of Death" (guns and alcohol lobbies) to discuss their woes. How does he get young people to start smoking with so much public pressure against him.

Review:
Christopher Buckley has written a lot of great Washington satire, and this may be his best. Through Naylor Washington, Hollywood, and big business are all fair game. For example, Naylor comes up with the slogan, "Do what your parents tell you to do - never start smoking." This is brilliant because no teen likes to do what their parents say and the last 2 words are 'start smoking.' If you enjoy satire I highly recommend Buckley - and this is a great place to start.

Hamilton - A Map of the World

Title: A Map of the World
Author: Hamilton, Jane
Year: 1994
B's Stars: 8 of 10

Plot:
Alice Goodwin moves with her husband and two daughters to a farm in Wisconsin. Rejected by all but one family - her life, and those around her are changed forever because of one, brief moment.

Review:
The Book of Ruth received more publicity, but I think this is Hamilton's best work. A tragic story with comments on family, marriage, friendship, the justice system, small town America. Hamilton does not have a bright outlook. Alice's family fails her, her husband is non supportive, her lone friend tries, but cannot cannot remain friends, the courts punish her and not others who deserve it, and America is all to blame. Ouch! A very good book - well worth reading.

Smith - A Simple Plan

Title: A Simple Plan
Author: Smith, Scott
Year: 1993
B's Stars: 6 of 10

Plot:
Hank Mitchell, suburbanite, and his brother happen across a plane crash, and a lot of apparent drug money. They realize they cannot just spend it, so they decide to hold it for a year - and if no one comes for it, split it up. But, the simple plan goes awry - Hank's wife spends some and Hank realizes the money is marked - so he must retrieve it. That leads to even bigger problems and crimes. The money corrupts all those it touches.

Review:
A pretty good plot, with a plausible scenario on how they found the money - and how they came about the 'plan.' The characters' actions are all believable too. My only complaint about this book is the characters seem pretty static.

Rowling - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Happy birthday Naguib Malfouz (Cairo trilogy) and Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich)

Title: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Author: Rowling, J.K.
Year: 1988
B's Stars: 8 of 10

Plot:
Year 2 at Hogwarts - a monster is terrorising the school and it's up to Harry and sidekicks to stop it. Harry, Ron, and Hermione suspect Malfoy and even Hagrid before they figure out the truth and have to defeat not only the monster but a bit of Lord Voldermort's soul.

Review:
This is the one of the most plot driven Harry Potter books. In addition to some clever twists and turns in the plot the overall story is advanced with the some of the dark history of Tom Riddle revealed. What makes this book is the parallels between Harry and Tom Riddle. Similar to Luke/Darth Vader, Frodo/Gollum and others I cannot pull off the top of my head - Harry and Voldemort are the good/bad of a similar personality and upbringing - and it's their choices that define them. A good read.

Rowling - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Title: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Philosopher's Stone in the UK)
Author: Rowling, J.K.
Year: 1988
B's Stars: 9 of 10

Plot:
A young orphan discovers on his 11th birthday that he is a wizard, and headed to a wizarding school. Upon entering the wizarding world he begins to learn of his dark past and destiny that awaits him. Amidst all this - Harry and his trusty sidekicks Ron and Herminoe must stop whomever is trying to get the Sorcerer's Stone - which gives the holder immortality.

Review:
Rowling's success with Harry Potter is not without merit. She has created a classic work of juvenile fiction. What separates her works from most others are:
1. The characters. Other the Voldemort, there are no flat characters. No one is 'good' or 'bad' - they are all complex, flawed, imperfect characters. What makes Harry likable, his confidence, bravery, and being a man (boy) of action also are his weaknesses. He is hot headed, likes the spotlight, doesn't always listen to advice. Every character is similar in that they are flawed - and it makes them more interesting.
2. Rowling's book grow in complexity and depth as the characters do. Sorcerer's Stone is written for 10 - 12 year olds, but by the end of the series, it is written at a near adult level.
3. Snape - one of the great characters in literature.
4. Good plots - plenty of twists, turns, and surprises. Characters lie, cheat, steal, live, die - it's all fair game.

If you have not read these books - do yourself a favor and read them

Shelley - Frankenstein

Title: Frankenstein
Author: Shelley, Mary
Year: 1819
B's Stars: 8 of 10

Plot:
A brilliant and driven doctor uses body parts from various corpses to bring a dead man back to life. The 'monster' is an outcast because of his physical appearance. The monster asks the doctor to create a companion for him, since there is no way he can exist in society. The doctor refuses, he does not want to repeat his mistake of making a monster. The monster, feeling abandoned - vows revenge on the doctor and then kills the doctor's best friend and wife on their wedding night. The doctor then vows to kill his monster - and goes on a vendetta hunt after him.

Review:
This is a fantastic book. The first third of the book is the doctor at school and is slow. After that, this book is amazing. Shelley was way ahead of her time in her look at what is science's moral responsibility when pushing forward. Michael Crieton does a lot worse with this theme in Jurassic Park. What makes this book truly special is the complexity of the characters. The monster is a sympathetic character because the doctor did create and abandon him, giving him no chance to fit into society. But, his vow and subsequent murder of the doctor's friends and family is hard to justify. Similarly, the doctor's choice not to repeat his mistake of creating another monster is appluadable, but can be blamed for creating a life then leaving it without support. If you have not read this book - you should. Just be prepared for a slow start, plow through it - it's worth it.

Wood - Lottery

Title: Lottery
Author: Wood, Patricia
Year: 2007
B's Stars: 3 of 10

Plot:
Perry Crandall, a slow (but not retarded) man wins $12M in the lottery. Shortly after winning Perry must decide who are his friends, who are not - and what to do with his new life.

Review:
This was on a 'best book of 2007' - and if this is a best book, 2007 was a down year!
I have to think Forest Gump is Ms. Wood's favorite movie. Shall we compare her book to that movie?
1. Slightly above retarded hero.
2. Vietnam plays a large role.
3. Family member sacrifices everything to keep them in the mainstream.
4. Comes into a lot of money.
5. Unaware sex scene
6. Ends up with his love (even if that love isn't reciprocated)

I hope for her next book she watches a better movie first! I was not impressed.

McCullers - Heart is a Lonely Hunter

Title: The Hart is a Lonely Hunter
Author: McCullers, Carson
Year: 1940
B's Stars: 8 of 10

Plot:
The book revolves around 4 characters and their relationship with John Singer, a deaf man in a small Georgia town. They four characters are an alcoholic, a restaurant owner, a young girl, and an African American doctor. Each of them sees in Singer what they want (since he cannot talk back), but in reality they are each alone, and Singer's feelings do not match what each character believes them to be. In true Southern Gothic style - it does not end well for any of the 5 main characters (Singer +4).

Review:
McCullers does a great job creating memorable characters, beautiful Southern Gothic. If you are a fan of that style (Williams, Faulkner, O'Connor) and are not looking for a Hollywood ending - this book delivers.

Not Another Blog

I have a number of friends who blog, and enjoy reading them. Most are people's thoughts on day to day life - some profound, funny, wise, or whimsical. My goal is not to add to that pile, but to start a list of my personal book reviews, of books I have read. I am always looking for suggestions for books, and often give suggestions to others. This is a good way to capture those thoughts. Hopefully you may find something you enjoy, or avoid a dud. Feel free to agree/disagree with my thoughts. Reviews to follow!