The book is so different in plot than any of the film adaptations I have seen, and yet the characters are exactly the same. The witty dialogue and excThe book is so different in plot than any of the film adaptations I have seen, and yet the characters are exactly the same. The witty dialogue and exciting sword fights an obvious carry-over. I love good dialogue, and was not dissapointed to see the Musketeers produced here as I already knew them.
Some of the plot elements were a bit dated, which is okay but a bit of a yawn to read through, and the ending was an absolute surprise (compared to how it ends in the movies). I think one has to read this with an open mind, and not critique it as if it were made today, speaking mostly about Dartanian's bed trick with Lady De Winter. Oh man is it messed up and doesn't put him in a good light.
But thats to be expected when you read a book from another time, writing about another time even before that. Dumas writes well with a very big brush, and even warns us frequently throughout the book that thoughts of deceny were different in the times of the Musketeers, and must keep an open mind and not judge.
A fun book that I read on my phone while holding my napping newborn!...more
This book made me want to buy a gun. And stockpile canned goods. Though I doubt i'll do either of those things. Butler doesn't shy away froHoly crap.
This book made me want to buy a gun. And stockpile canned goods. Though I doubt i'll do either of those things. Butler doesn't shy away from the ugliness of the post-apocalyptic world she created, the brutal violence is told in a journalistic manner (the book is in diary-form), which adds to the realism of the book, everything is a document rather than a piece of fiction. There's hardly any melodrama, the book is very focused on its core theme, which I definitely appreciated. Earthseed, a new religion amid a world ripping itself apart.
It's a fascinating concept, as faith and belief play deeply amid times when everything is chaotic, uncertain. I think it'd be fascinating to see how this new religion plays out, though it's a shame there's only one more book....more
A Well crafted collection of short stories, bookended by a trilogy with the book's title. The stories are written in a humorous but also personal stylA Well crafted collection of short stories, bookended by a trilogy with the book's title. The stories are written in a humorous but also personal style, a kind of confession (ironic since some of the stories deal with the idea of faith, in particular Catholic faith), especially when in first person. The stories are short, but have enough in them that could easily be expanded they are so personable and, dare I say, alive. A good, solid collection....more
A fun collection of western stories I didn't expect to enjoy as much as I did. This was my second L'Amour outing, and even though it was riddled with A fun collection of western stories I didn't expect to enjoy as much as I did. This was my second L'Amour outing, and even though it was riddled with cliches ("you calling me a liar!?", etc) it was still fun outing. ...more
Krapp's Last Tape was my strongest favorite among these, especially since the video performance I saw of it after I read it had John Hurt in the titleKrapp's Last Tape was my strongest favorite among these, especially since the video performance I saw of it after I read it had John Hurt in the title role. Always a delight. I wanted to explore some more of Beckett's work after my reading of Waiting For Godot a couple years back, and I feel like this collection of radio and stage plays is a perfect companion book of his other types of work.
I am caught off-guard with how playful with language Beckett is, his characters who seem so depressed yet very rambling and wordy. His world view is bleak, like four straight shots of espresso. What I love most about his work, however, besides the absurd, is the humor. ...more
I read a majority of the book all pent up and anxious awaiting my operation for my hernia. My frantic anxiety evened out with the pace of FerlinghettiI read a majority of the book all pent up and anxious awaiting my operation for my hernia. My frantic anxiety evened out with the pace of Ferlinghetti’s rant. Though I had to underline and scribble some parts still, to keep myself focused. I finished the book while recuperating at home, laying on the couch eating soda crackers.
I wanted to like the book more but the ranting middle of the book goes nowhere, which is probably the point. A large portion of the text is wonderful, playful and interesting, as to be expected, but I couldn’t help but feel this emotional outburst was like hot air, nearly reaching a new level but not quite getting there. I think at the end of the book he is saying, i have lived this long and I am just as lost as you are. He complains frequently about overpopulation and Twitter. He also name drops classical music compositions, books and movies, which I added to my to watch list.
Anyway, I wanted to read Ferlinghetti’s books since I heard about his passing. I obtained my copy of this book from his 100th birthday celebration at City Lights books, and its stamped on the inside. Thank you for all you’ve done for us, Lawrence Ferlinghetti. ...more
This is about WW2 but I'd go far to say that it is a story about how occupations are bound to fail. I read that this was a stage play first, and it reThis is about WW2 but I'd go far to say that it is a story about how occupations are bound to fail. I read that this was a stage play first, and it really shows in the structure of the novel, but I think even in its simplicity the novel makes it a light but enjoyable read. ...more
A good dramatization of the original story. Good acting, and easy to follow along. Ever seen Treasure Planet?
Anyway, listening to this made me realizA good dramatization of the original story. Good acting, and easy to follow along. Ever seen Treasure Planet?
Anyway, listening to this made me realize just how much I enjoy this story. Treasure! Pirates! An annoying talking bird! I do wonder though, what kind of man Jim Hawkins turned out to be? ...more
My first memory of enjoying a scary story was watching the Disney animated version of this tale. I watched it in the living room, alone, in the dark, My first memory of enjoying a scary story was watching the Disney animated version of this tale. I watched it in the living room, alone, in the dark, stubborn in my desire to watch it. Since then I am fond of the story, even the Tim Burton film that deviated from the original. So I purchased an unabridged copy at Wal-Mart, back in the late 90's. It says so in the corner cover that its only for 98 cents.
I need to reread this to see if I still love the story. I just now, in 2020, found this tiny Wal-Mart copy, so it's been quite a while. ...more
A good, quick read that can be read multiple ways. Some of it felt bland and other times clunky, but I enjoyed the writing most of the time and I thouA good, quick read that can be read multiple ways. Some of it felt bland and other times clunky, but I enjoyed the writing most of the time and I thought it was an interesting take on the Grail legend.
My wife told me to read the book, as it is one of her favorites, and so read it I did. It’s not really my cup of tea, but I was still able to enjoy my experience of reading it.
I wish there was more about the Grail here, the book assumes you are overtly familiar with the legend. And the character motivations are a bit vague, however the relationship between Cal and his mother was a major emotional strength for the story, mostly due to the fact that it was the only one. ...more
When I heard that this was Shakespeare's farewell to the dramatic arts, my interest in this play grew. The fact that audiences seem to walk away afterWhen I heard that this was Shakespeare's farewell to the dramatic arts, my interest in this play grew. The fact that audiences seem to walk away after the play in puzzlement did the same. Though parts are problematic (namely Caliban), I enjoyed reading this. I mostly viewed it through the lense of Shakespeare's last big hurrah, whether that be the historical truth or not. I do think that, in a sense, this is Shakespeare passing the torch.
Reading this gave me insight into Shakespeare and how he viewed his own work. At least, that's the way I'm interpreting it. Prospero's epilogue, I think is Shakespeare speaking to the audience about his art, that it is a temporary fantasy, a spell that breaks with the applause. That his main goal was to please. Even though the play pales in comparison to some of this greater works, it's still important as an endnote, in my opinion. And though as time passes the audience will see the play in a different light than when it originally was performed, there are various aspects of the play that will capture the imagination, or if it anything, cause a lot of speculation....more
A somewhat parallel to Alice In Wonderland, this is the story of how one man rescues a hare, and goes down his own rabbit hole into another world. A cA somewhat parallel to Alice In Wonderland, this is the story of how one man rescues a hare, and goes down his own rabbit hole into another world. A civilized man gone wild. A good picaresque novel. ...more
This book is very clever and gives you a lot of commentary on racial identity & history to digest. I laughed awkwardly a lot. But it's also a bit of aThis book is very clever and gives you a lot of commentary on racial identity & history to digest. I laughed awkwardly a lot. But it's also a bit of a mess story-wise, I felt kind of lost in the later quarter of the book. But the book has a lot of work put into it, from the first sentence to the last, and any book that gets me to laugh is a plus. It's sharp, it's intelligent, and it'll twist your brain in all directions with each turn of the page. I'm still spinning. ...more
I enjoy Bond films from time to time, and have always been curious about Fleming's work. I received this audiobook from the library for my commYikes.
I enjoy Bond films from time to time, and have always been curious about Fleming's work. I received this audiobook from the library for my commute to work.
and....yikes.
The misogyny and light racism hasn't aged well. Not that Bond is really a feminist character in the first place, but I really didn't know how far he'd go with such a negative view of women. The book beyond that is fun, but when you're hero speaks more harshly towards women than his target, it kind of rubs off wrong. However, there are moments were Bond speaks more philosophically than we're used to in the films, and that was a bit refreshing and unexpected. ...more
Could easily be a book thrown at the wall kind of book but it turned out okay. Funny, clever, confusing, funny, it's a good book but I feel like its aCould easily be a book thrown at the wall kind of book but it turned out okay. Funny, clever, confusing, funny, it's a good book but I feel like its a weird book to start Lipsyte's work with, its like a meal that tastes good but gives you a bit of the rumbly tumblies afterwards. ...more
Any book that goes out of its way to prove how smart it is i instantly get suspicious of. But somehow, Pynchon charmed me. Any work that can get me toAny book that goes out of its way to prove how smart it is i instantly get suspicious of. But somehow, Pynchon charmed me. Any work that can get me to laugh, in multiple succession, on public transit full of people, wins my heart. i mean seriously, you should have seen their faces. Honestly though, the humor is what took me by surprise the most. Everything else I pretty much expected (I've never read Pynchon before, but i have viewed the Inherent Vice the film, twice). Sure i was a bit frustrated with the denseness from time to time, but i still enjoyed Pynchon's writing style, the absurdity and surrealist leanings, and above all, the humor. I tend to write in the margins LOL in order to mark where I found amusing for future readings. It's the only appropriate usage of LOL for me. There was something very contemporary about the work too, when I started it I kept thinking about Infinite Jest and how this could have been written in the 90's. Something very contemporary about it, not necessarily timeless but definitely of modern times.
I wanted to read this first as it sounded like a good toe-dipping book into Pynchon's work. That, and as a long-time Radiohead fan, I've always wondered what the W.A.S.T.E. thing was referencing. Now I know. ...more
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