Winston Smith is an excellent member of the Outer Party: he's a dutiful civil servant, able to rewrite news releases and revise older reports to match...moreWinston Smith is an excellent member of the Outer Party: he's a dutiful civil servant, able to rewrite news releases and revise older reports to match the current political climate. Oceania has always been at war with Eurasia; why would anyone think differently? Winston is pretty skilled with the Newspeak, but he has a secret: he is a rebel, engaging in Thoughtcrime regularly. Winston writes the revisionist histories but he does not believe them; he remembers evidence of the earlier truths and cannot bring himself to accept the Party's reinventions. He is not alone: finding Julia gives him an outlet, the knowledge that he's not alone in his thoughtcrime, in his distrust of Big Brother and the Party and newspeak and everything else that goes along with their world. They have their love affair and eventually get caught; from there it's the horrors of Winston's reeducation at the hands of the Party, until Winston is confessing to everything and nothing and betraying everyone he's ever known.
Unquestionably dystopian: totalitarianism, nationalism, thought control, revisionist history. Classic usually encountered in high school classes; upper high-school students and adults will appreciate it most.
Readalikes: Fahrenheit 451 for hoarding of old-world artifacts; Candor for brainwashing, Brave New World and Delirium for forbidden romances and emotionless, government-mandated pairings. (less)
First off, I just want to say how disturbed I am by all the review quotes on the front and back covers talking about how funny, comedic, and hilarious...moreFirst off, I just want to say how disturbed I am by all the review quotes on the front and back covers talking about how funny, comedic, and hilarious this book is. It's not. It has some clever turns of phrase, some good chuckles, but it's not the laff-a-minute romp the pull quotes would have you believe. This is the story of four deeply troubled people helping each other (whether they know it or not) through those critical days after planning to jump off the top of a building. The characters are sympathetic and well-developed, as with all of Hornby's books (it's why I read him), and honestly I think this one is a little stronger than the others I've read, because we're looking at such damaged people so sympathetically. (less)
Here we go--a post-apocalypse that isn't sci-fi. A.D. follows seven people from just before hurricane Katrina hits until a few weeks afterward, and th...moreHere we go--a post-apocalypse that isn't sci-fi. A.D. follows seven people from just before hurricane Katrina hits until a few weeks afterward, and then jumps in to check on them all about 18 months later. You get a good feel for why some people stayed in spite of the evacuation order, and what other people were leaving behind. Very relatable people who lost everything and continued anyway.
Post-apocalyptic in that--well, their entire city, their whole lives, just got flooded out. There is nothing left, and starting over means waiting for help that may never arrive.
No discussion of the politics of the event, and I think the book is stronger for it--let the peoples' stories speak for themselves. High school and adult appeal.(less)
When what I'm looking for is a fluffy, warm-fuzzy read, Nick Hornby is my go-to guy. It's "chick lit" that isn't cloyingly sentimental, but isn't some...moreWhen what I'm looking for is a fluffy, warm-fuzzy read, Nick Hornby is my go-to guy. It's "chick lit" that isn't cloyingly sentimental, but isn't something I need to analyze to death to truly appreciate. About a Boy has a certain heaviness to it--a suicidal mother, a man getting mixed up in a kid's life despite is best intentions--but it still manages to be reasonably light. It's exactly what I was looking for in an airport read (because standard chick lit would make me want to hurl myself from the plane).(less)
This is only the second of Perotta's books that I've read (Little Children is the other), and I don't think this is his strongest. I enjoyed it, sure-...moreThis is only the second of Perotta's books that I've read (Little Children is the other), and I don't think this is his strongest. I enjoyed it, sure--he's basically taking a long stick and poking abstinence-only sex ed and fundamentalist Christianity--but I was conscious of the stick the whole time. I never really connected with the characters--the fundie, for instance, could have been a very sympathetic identity character, but Perotta keeps him at arm's length with the "but he's a FUNDIE!" poking. The church is presented as a bunch of perfectly normal people, as long as we're putting "perfectly normal" in the context of evangelical, proselytizing Christianity. I walked away from this book not knowing whether I was supposed to be more understanding of fundamentalism, or less.
All that said, it's an engrossing, quick read, and includes a fair bit of suburban sexuality and lust, so it's hard to go totally wrong here.(less)
I half-expected to hate this and find it a chore, and in some parts, I did and it was. But I was also secretly hoping I'd love it, and in parts I did....moreI half-expected to hate this and find it a chore, and in some parts, I did and it was. But I was also secretly hoping I'd love it, and in parts I did. Which is a bit odd, since it's not a particularly uneven book, except insofar as it alternates between "Huck having adventures" (which I enjoyed), and "Huck floating on a river" (which was god-awfully boring). I like Huck, a good deal more than Tom Sawyer, who makes everything unnecessarily complicated--Huck is more down-to-earth, more practical, less manipulative, and as a result, seems more like a real character than the What-I-Wish-My-Childhood-Had-Been Tom.
I understand why it's considered the Great American Novel; it puts together the boyhood spirit of adventure with a snapshot of the American south, with all the values and foibles that includes. It's not a romanticized account of life on the river, in a positive or negative direction, but a more straightforward account of what was (or at least, what could have been).(less)
I may be one of the few people who really liked this book. It's not the best book in the world, sure. But it was the first grown-up Handler book I rea...moreI may be one of the few people who really liked this book. It's not the best book in the world, sure. But it was the first grown-up Handler book I read, so that might make me a bit kinder toward it. It's a collection of interrelated short stories that collectively tell the story of a romance, or several romances. It doesn't really come together cohesively--but when has a relationship ever done that?(less)
Coming-of-age in an apocalyptic world, in which the earth's rotation has slowed and days balloon to 28, 42, 60+ hours. The rise and fall of pre-adoles...moreComing-of-age in an apocalyptic world, in which the earth's rotation has slowed and days balloon to 28, 42, 60+ hours. The rise and fall of pre-adolescent friendships and relationships, the gradual understanding of parents' shortcomings.
A great sci-fi for the literary-fiction crowd.(less)
Post-apocalyptic only in that we're in a post-apocalyptic world, but the story is less about that than the sci-fi/fantasy elements, with supernatural/...morePost-apocalyptic only in that we're in a post-apocalyptic world, but the story is less about that than the sci-fi/fantasy elements, with supernatural/psychokinetic powers and all that.
Will probably watch the movie; not super-inclined to read the rest of the series right now. Sad but true.(less)
I loved Part 2 of this book, when we were exploring Burt's flawed relationships with his family, the meeting and courtship of his wife, the coping wit...moreI loved Part 2 of this book, when we were exploring Burt's flawed relationships with his family, the meeting and courtship of his wife, the coping with the even-then-apparent hatred and bitterness of his eventual mother-in-law, all in the context of his own foibles and obsessions. The first part had laid out those obsessions, Burt's interest in medieval re-enactment and the distancing effect on his family, but I never really felt invested in any of them. Part 2 is where Burt becomes emotionally three-dimensional, but by then, I wasn't sure I cared at all about him.
Maybe if I'd read this at a different time I'd have loved it. For now? Eh. Good but not great.(less)
Sometimes I think I'm in the minority with how comfortable I am eating alone, be it at home or in restaurants. But if the authors collected here are i...moreSometimes I think I'm in the minority with how comfortable I am eating alone, be it at home or in restaurants. But if the authors collected here are in fact a representative sample, I'm not alone--not even close. The essays here range from memories of the first restaurant meal taken solo to the joys of eating crackers over the kitchen sink, and as an anthology, it holds together surprisingly well. There's only one essay in here that I'd consider a dud, and that's mostly because it's written in this sanctimonious, pitying tone by someone who believes anyone who says they enjoy dining alone sometimes must be lying.
Many of the essays (probably about half) have recipes with them. I'm planning to photocopy several of these before returning the book to the library--impressive when so many of these authors are preparing foods Princess Pickypants (AKA, me) doesn't like. Pasta in a tomato cream sauce? Yes please. Italian-style grilled cheese and ham? Sign me up. There's an interesting-looking chili recipe, several ways of preparing black beans, and at least two versions of crispy potatoes I'll be trying soon. The down side of food writing: I've been hungry all weekend.
As an example of the humor that appears consistently throughout this collection, I present this paragraph, from Jeremy Jackson's "Beans and Me":
"Most beans are lowly, of course, but it seems to me that the pinto, the lentil, and the black bean are the lowliest of them all, and all the more charming because of it. Sometimes I picture these three beans holding hands and chiming together, 'We're lowly! We're of the earth! We're beans for the people!' And sometimes, when I envision this trio, the black-eyed pea waddles into view and says, 'Whaddabout me, guys?' and the pinto, the lentil, and the black bean say, 'Hiya, black-eyed pea! Get in here! We didn't forget you!' Then they all sing some kind of bean song."(less)
Eh, what can I say? Michael J Fox is a likeable guy, personable and funny. This is his second memoir, and focuses more on particular things--faith, fa...moreEh, what can I say? Michael J Fox is a likeable guy, personable and funny. This is his second memoir, and focuses more on particular things--faith, family, politics, not in that order--than a general This Is Who I Am kind of thing. Enjoyable, if brief. (A note on the audio: he narrates this himself, and he's entertaining to listen to.)(less)
After World War III, soldier Deunan and her cyborg partner Briareos have been living in an abandoned city, making their plans for their future surviva...moreAfter World War III, soldier Deunan and her cyborg partner Briareos have been living in an abandoned city, making their plans for their future survival in Badside. They've been on their own for some time, so it's a shock to discover that there's someone else in their city, a hulking cybernetic machine who has been taking surveillance photos and monitoring the couple. Together, Deunan and Briareos take down the creature and open the battle armor. The girl inside it, Hitomi, has been sent from Aegis, the Central Management Bureau, to collect them. This is the first Deunan and Bri have heard of the end of the war, and of the new political organizations. Arriving in the new city of Olympus, the travelers find jobs with ESWAT (Extra Special Weapons and Tactics), and start to uncover the secrets of the utopian city.
Post-apocalyptic (WWIII), high school audience (some nudity), but overall not super interested in the rest of the series. Not my thing, i guess.(less)
Ostensibly about her mother, but more about her experiences with psychoanalysis and her own research into that topic. Sure, it comes back to her mom f...moreOstensibly about her mother, but more about her experiences with psychoanalysis and her own research into that topic. Sure, it comes back to her mom from time to time, but I didn't get a sense of the family relationships the way I did with Fun Home.
Worth a read but not something I'd bump to the top of my list, if I had to do it again. (less)
This compendium of invented facts is funny, mostly, though a little wearing on the nerves. Hodgman reads in his usual deadpan, which I enjoy, and his...moreThis compendium of invented facts is funny, mostly, though a little wearing on the nerves. Hodgman reads in his usual deadpan, which I enjoy, and his reading is musically punctuated by the book's Official Troubadour, Jonathan Coulton. I am glad to report that Hodgman's reading skips over the list of 700 hobo names (that might be at the very end; Hodgman just told me the book ended, but there's another hour of the file--haven't listened to it yet to know what it is). If I'm really curious about the hobo names, though, I'll refer back to the 2006 Best American Non-Required Reading, where the list was reproduced in full.(less)
Well-written, but not particularly engrossing. There's not much of a plot here--if I had to describe it, it's sort of a coming-of-age book, but it goe...moreWell-written, but not particularly engrossing. There's not much of a plot here--if I had to describe it, it's sort of a coming-of-age book, but it goes beyond that, well into adulthood. It's mainly how never knowing her mother (who died when the narrator was born) shaped her whole life, made her who she became. It's not a bad book, or even mediocre; the writing is compelling, even if the story isn't.(less)
I was really enjoying this book at the beginning. It’s funny! It’s a take on Alice in Wonderland! It has math puns! But the closer I got to the end, t...moreI was really enjoying this book at the beginning. It’s funny! It’s a take on Alice in Wonderland! It has math puns! But the closer I got to the end, the happier I was that I was almost done. When the author (Noon--remember that; it’s important) inserted himself into the story as Mr. Zenith O’Clock, I almost walked away. But it’s a quick read, and fun, but there’s not much plot to hold the wordplay together. A good chilly afternoon read when you’re not up to something strenuous.(less)
This book was good--a fairly quick, engrossing read. I'm hesitant to say too much about the plot, as it was very reminiscent of another book--but to m...moreThis book was good--a fairly quick, engrossing read. I'm hesitant to say too much about the plot, as it was very reminiscent of another book--but to mention the title will totally ruin The Basic Eight, so you're best off just reading it for itself, and waiting until you're finished to put it down and rant, "That was just like ______________!"
In fact, the ending is why I only gave it 4 stars, instead of the 5 I was thinking it deserved until that point.(less)
**spoiler alert** How to spot a dismal Batman book:
(a) Jason Todd is Robin, and/or (b) Superman makes an appearance.
What saves it is the obvious (that...more**spoiler alert** How to spot a dismal Batman book:
(a) Jason Todd is Robin, and/or (b) Superman makes an appearance.
What saves it is the obvious (that Jason Todd bites it), but it's still pretty bad. The writing is mediocre, and the art--well, thank god for costumes, because otherwise everyone looks pretty much the same. Bruce Wayne and Jason Todd are nearly indistinguishable--a problem because Todd isn't supposed to look 35 years old--and they blend in with every other male face drawn.
Favorite moment: Batman and Robin are dressed as Arabs, to infiltrate a terrorist training camp. (Yeah, this was the '80s.) After the terrorists-to-be have been neutralized, Batman remarks "I see no need for these disguises anymore!" and they strip down to their Batman & Robin garb. Yes, in the middle of the desert, that's much more subtle.
I always believed that, if a non-superhero writer could write a good Batman story, it would be David Lapham of Stray Bullets fame. His dark, gritty no...moreI always believed that, if a non-superhero writer could write a good Batman story, it would be David Lapham of Stray Bullets fame. His dark, gritty noir style, everyday-meets-crime-fiction kind of stories--I really thought he'd be a good choice.
This book proved me wrong. It's not awful, but the story is convoluted and complicated (and I'm not just whining it's too harrrrrrrrrrd! I'm a girl!!)--there are too many red herrings and dead ends, too many twists and turns, to really keep track of in a story. I'm left with the impression that Lapham was trying too hard to write episodes that would become a full story, once his 12 issues of Detective Comics were done. It just didn't work.
The art was pretty good, though, so it gets 3 stars instead of 2.(less)
Goodness, this was longer than I'd expected. Clocking in at nearly 400 pages, we manage to see nearly every Batman villain (maybe it was all of them,...moreGoodness, this was longer than I'd expected. Clocking in at nearly 400 pages, we manage to see nearly every Batman villain (maybe it was all of them, come to think of it) following a break-out from Arkham. And yet somehow that's not the thrust of the story. It somehow manages to be more political in some ways, more a mystery than some of the other Batman titles.
I think this might be getting 4 stars because it's another Loeb/Sale book. Also because anything I couldn't follow is being blamed on the late hour and my sleepiness. But I did enjoy this--more than Haunted Knight, though less than The Long Halloween.(less)
Another Jeph Loeb/Tim Sale Batman, so right from the start I had high hopes. There are three stories in here--the first was...moreI finally finished a book!
Another Jeph Loeb/Tim Sale Batman, so right from the start I had high hopes. There are three stories in here--the first was really good, the second surreal and intriguing, and the third was just eh. Still, a nice way to give my brain the satisfaction of finishing a book again. I miss that feeling!(less)
Sam Keith has a lot of good ideas. He's just ... well, not a very good writer. His dialogue tends toward the clunky, and he needs an editor like nobod...moreSam Keith has a lot of good ideas. He's just ... well, not a very good writer. His dialogue tends toward the clunky, and he needs an editor like nobody's business. (I had more than a few instances of "huh? who?" in these ~120 pages, as characters morphed from Mooley to Dooley, Deborah to ... Dinah, maybe?)
In this particular story, Batman and the Joker reminisce about old times--particularly, about The Killing Joke and Batman's biggest secret, revealed a little at a time throughout the original five issues--passing the time between flashbacks to Joker's parole from prison and his subsequent framing of Batman-as-villain in the court of public opinion. It's an interesting idea, but it doesn't work. Keith's pacing doesn't gel with the Batman universe and he seems to have only a cursory idea of how the characters speak.
While he tries to keep his art style close to the gritty noir Batman requires, there are occasional bursts of Maxx-esque bright, bold colors--yellows, hot pinks, the occasional electric blues. It throws off the visual rhythm of the page, with all the focus going to (say) a blanket, instead of the action happening in the shadows.
Where this book does shine, though, is Keith's depiction of The Joker. While Keith's Batman looks almost cartoony, his Joker rivals Dave McKean's in pure creepiness. Yikes, this is a scary-looking Joker--even when he's just sitting around at home doing nothing.(less)
Batman hung up his cape 10 years ago. Since he's been in retirement, Gotham City has been run into the ground, overrun with crime and corruption. Bruc...moreBatman hung up his cape 10 years ago. Since he's been in retirement, Gotham City has been run into the ground, overrun with crime and corruption. Bruce Wayne is stuck in his past, reliving the night of his parents' murder over and over. With Gotham falling apart around him and his mental state falling apart within, he comes out of retirement, determined to clean the city and cleanse his troubled mind. Unfortunately for him, he's been away from crime-fighting for ten years--and his body is a decade out of practice for hand-to-hand combat with thugs. And if he manages (with the help of a new Robin) to take down Gotham's most notorious psychopaths, will he survive the subsequent war among the superheroes?
I guess you could make a case for this being post-apocalyptic, but it's dicey--the only apocalypse is that crime has been allowed to run rampant without its caped crusader. And I feel like there are a couple of stories getting jammed together here--the one of Batman coming out of retirement to clean up Gotham, and the one where he lures other superheroes in just to (he hopes) defeat them. Even though he's been off his game for a decade now.
I want to love this. Every fiber of my Bat-Nerd self should eat this book up. But ... it just doesn't do it for me. And that makes me sad. Do I only like crappy Batman comics, and not the good ones? Is this it for my erudite disguise? (less)
Comic Shop Guy said this was worth reading for free.
Comic Shop Guy lied to me.
This is a jumbled story that makes no sense and pulls in every conceivab...moreComic Shop Guy said this was worth reading for free.
Comic Shop Guy lied to me.
This is a jumbled story that makes no sense and pulls in every conceivable superhero, whether they're relevant to the story or not. Not that I can tell what the story is supposed to be, granted. This may be one of the least interesting Superman books I've read. (It was a Superman book, right? Since he was in it way more than Batman?)
Ugh. This was a library read and I still want my money back.(less)
Didn't love it, didn't hate it. There were parts I really liked and some parts that didn't work for me. I'm not feeling articulate about it.
I did enj...moreDidn't love it, didn't hate it. There were parts I really liked and some parts that didn't work for me. I'm not feeling articulate about it.
I did enjoy the little references here and there, like the existence of pictorial evidence of Batman starting from 1939. A good conspiracy story, but a little too neat in how it wrapped up each plot thread.(less)
I picked this up based on the fervor over "OMG The Hunger Games so totally ripped this off." And for the first half of this book, I agreed: I thought...moreI picked this up based on the fervor over "OMG The Hunger Games so totally ripped this off." And for the first half of this book, I agreed: I thought I knew exactly where BR was going, and how it would get there. It's the story of 40 teens who are instructed to kill each other until only one remains, and are each given a bag containing food, water, and a weapon--some as great as machine guns, others as worthless as forks. Early on some alliances are made, then broken; people are betrayed and killed.
But about halfway through, Battle Royale and The Hunger Games part company. By the end, I don't think it's the same story at all. It's a similar story, definitely, but BR's strength is that most of the 40 characters manage to be sympathetic characters. We get backstory on just about all of them, find out who they were before they were thrown int this crazy game, what motivates them to do certain things, and we even see their individual battles against each other. There are a couple of factions we return to multiple times, the ones who are clearly our heroes, but with only one or two exceptions we don't have villains. Hunger Games, everyone who wasn't from District 12 was a villain, someone to be avoided and distrusted, and that was easy because we didn't know who those other characters were. In Battle Royale, we know all these people--they're classmates, some dating back to elementary school. There are histories here, friendships and crushes and romantic entanglements, and that makes the killing that much more horrible.
Oh, and for those who thought Hunger Games was a violent book? Whooooooooo boy. This was absolutely horrifying at times. The gunfights were bad enough, but the graphic descriptions of hand-to-hand combat were particularly brutal. It's not the violence that's gratuitous, exactly, but the lengthy descriptions of it, and even that goes a long way toward world-building and accurately conveying the horror of the situation.
A bit on the writing: This is not Shakespeare. There's a lot of "basically" and "of course" and "in other words," and there's a LOT of use of the passive voice. Whether this is a writing issue or a translation one is a mystery to me, but you'll roll your eyes at the writing at least once a chapter, I'd say. (Note that I remember seeing at least 70 chapters here... start your eye exercises now, so you're prepared for all the rolling!) But writing quirks aside, this is really engrossing, the kind of book I blew bedtime by several hours for three nights running.(less)
Some kind of plague is running through an unnamed city. The transvestite owner of a beauty salon has transformed her business into The Terminal, where...moreSome kind of plague is running through an unnamed city. The transvestite owner of a beauty salon has transformed her business into The Terminal, where she takes in men (and only men) who are close to death (and only those; if you look like you have too much life in you yet, she sends you away until you're closer to the end). She used to have several tanks of brightly-colored, exotic fish as decor; she's down to a handful of hearty guppies in a cloudy tank.
There's no character arc here, no big moment of growth and understanding. This is a novella more concerned with getting an accurate snapshot of the setting and main character than with developing anything and making the reader comfortable. It's a quick read (at 63 pages) but a long digestion; it's one that will gnaw on the corner of your brain for a while after reading it.(less)
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