Considering that I bought this book in an airport I was really expecting something trashy. This isn't a trashy book at all. It's actually an excellent...moreConsidering that I bought this book in an airport I was really expecting something trashy. This isn't a trashy book at all. It's actually an excellent book. The only draw back to it is that towards the end of the book it starts feeling long. That isn't really something good for most books. There are enough very strong sections of the book though that it holds together quite well.(less)
I love this book. I love the snot out of it. Not only is it one of the seemingly least truly understood books out there (right up there with Dracula a...moreI love this book. I love the snot out of it. Not only is it one of the seemingly least truly understood books out there (right up there with Dracula and Dante's Inferno at this point), but it is also just a flat out great piece of Romantic period literature. When coming at this book I would really try to come at it with all the movies and culturally "known" bits about it and just set them aside. This book really needs a great refresher beyond academia.(less)
I was surprised by this book. I didn't know anything about it before picking it up (how I got an English degree and didn't hear about this book I'll n...moreI was surprised by this book. I didn't know anything about it before picking it up (how I got an English degree and didn't hear about this book I'll never know). I would have to put this book in the same strain as 1984, Clockwork Orange, and A Brave New World. Of the distopian future books I think this is one of the simplest, most true, and best.(less)
I'm a little torn. I'm going to review all of them all at once even though the version that I own are the seven separate books. The over all plot of t...moreI'm a little torn. I'm going to review all of them all at once even though the version that I own are the seven separate books. The over all plot of this series is epic and it comes to a conclusion that you don't see often in children's literature. Having said that some of the books really aren't that good. Silver Chair and The Horse and His Boy both come to mind. Without those two books the series would be much stronger. It almost feels like those two were thrown in to get to the number 7 (for symbolism and all that). If you're into allegory and you want a mostly harmless series to read to your children I would recommend books 1-6. Save book 7 until they're older because... Well at the very least read it yourself before reading it to them.(less)
I'm a huge fan of this poem. I read the Burton Raffel version, which while not as poetic as the Seamus version, it's more readable. Either way Beowulf...moreI'm a huge fan of this poem. I read the Burton Raffel version, which while not as poetic as the Seamus version, it's more readable. Either way Beowulf is a great piece of literature.(less)
The nerd in me want this to be a great book. I desperately want this to be as great as The Hobbit or his trilogy. But let's face it. This book is litt...moreThe nerd in me want this to be a great book. I desperately want this to be as great as The Hobbit or his trilogy. But let's face it. This book is little more than a collection of unfinished short stories with little connection to each other. They don't have the same polish as his other works and all in all this just isn't all that good. The only reason I gave this a three is because of the author that wrote it. Otherwise I'ld really just read a wikipedia entry about this rather than reading the actual book.(less)
This book is always going to have a warm spot in my heart. I admittedly haven't read any of Christopher Moore's other works, but this one is great. If...moreThis book is always going to have a warm spot in my heart. I admittedly haven't read any of Christopher Moore's other works, but this one is great. If you like rewrites of history this book is right up your alley. If you don't like people poking fun at religion I would probably avoid this one. Take it with a light heart and it's great.(less)
I'm starting to think that Jon Krakauer has a problem, and that problem has to do with the stories he choses to put together. What he writes about mor...moreI'm starting to think that Jon Krakauer has a problem, and that problem has to do with the stories he choses to put together. What he writes about mormon history is interesting and compelling. The other story is not all that interesting and comes off as childish. Honestly I'm not sure why he put the history into this book. Wouldn't it have made more sense to assume people were familiar with mormon history, recommend some mormon books, or just make a brief overview. It is such an extensive history that it overshadows everything else in the book.(less)
I know what you're thinking. The Exorcist? A four? You're darn toot'n. This book is actually written pretty well and it is actually very frightening....moreI know what you're thinking. The Exorcist? A four? You're darn toot'n. This book is actually written pretty well and it is actually very frightening. I've never seen the movie so I can't compare the two, but this book will stay with you for a very long time. Read it during the day, it was a little much for me at night.(less)
If you saw this movie you must feel like this story is a complete waste of time. Luckily on the book side that assumption would be glaringly wrong. Wh...moreIf you saw this movie you must feel like this story is a complete waste of time. Luckily on the book side that assumption would be glaringly wrong. Who says that scientists can't write truely great literature. This is one of the best books I've ever read. Easily.(less)
Not only do I absolutely love the Divine Comedy, but I love this edition of the book. The introduction and translation are wonderful works in and of t...moreNot only do I absolutely love the Divine Comedy, but I love this edition of the book. The introduction and translation are wonderful works in and of themselves. This is a very hefty addition (nearly a thousand pages), but it is also the best edition.(less)
As far as afterlife stories this is one of the best I ever read. The imagery is clear and strong. The telling of hell is stronger than the telling of...moreAs far as afterlife stories this is one of the best I ever read. The imagery is clear and strong. The telling of hell is stronger than the telling of heaven. I'm not going to give this a five though just because there isn't really a story in this. It's just kind of... C.S. Lewis describing a couple of settings. Even then it's a good read.(less)
You know sometimes comics really are literary. This is one such book. It's surprisingly long for one comic (that's right the whole thing is just one c...moreYou know sometimes comics really are literary. This is one such book. It's surprisingly long for one comic (that's right the whole thing is just one comic), but it is also a surprisingly deep look at growing up in a very conservative household. I'ld recommend this to anyone.(less)
Maus is one of the greatest comics ever made. The plot is amazing and the art work is striking. Not everyone reads comics, I know, but even if you are...moreMaus is one of the greatest comics ever made. The plot is amazing and the art work is striking. Not everyone reads comics, I know, but even if you aren't into comics this is a story that is a must read.(less)
I actually have the version that is split in two, you know because I'm snobby and artsy or something. At any rate this is a top notch comic. The drawi...moreI actually have the version that is split in two, you know because I'm snobby and artsy or something. At any rate this is a top notch comic. The drawings are on the childish side, and the movie is actually drawn better. It's a really interesting way to tell the story of the revolution in Iran though. I would recommend this to anyone.(less)
I hate this book so hard. I know that I'm probably the only one, but there is no subtlety in this book what-so-ever. The Divine Comedy is so much bett...moreI hate this book so hard. I know that I'm probably the only one, but there is no subtlety in this book what-so-ever. The Divine Comedy is so much better than this. So is Mere Christianity and a slew of other books.(less)
Surprise, a muslim that doesn't like this book. But I don't like it for different reasons. This book is boring. The premiss isn't bad. I like the idea...moreSurprise, a muslim that doesn't like this book. But I don't like it for different reasons. This book is boring. The premiss isn't bad. I like the idea of this story. It's just too long and too boring. It drags out and in the end I just didn't find it very good. Guess it's a preference thing.(less)
This book is mostly harmless, and mostly forgetable. The cover is really the best part. I don't have much to say about the book. It wasn't stellar, bu...moreThis book is mostly harmless, and mostly forgetable. The cover is really the best part. I don't have much to say about the book. It wasn't stellar, but it wasn't terrible either.(less)
I know she's famous for her vampire fiction, and now I guess her Christian fiction, but this is my favorite book of hers. It really approaches a mytho...moreI know she's famous for her vampire fiction, and now I guess her Christian fiction, but this is my favorite book of hers. It really approaches a mythology that isn't touched on very often, and it does it in a way that is alluring. The ending is... meh, but the beginning is strong enough that I feel this book deserves a four.(less)
I am a huge fan of Craig Thompson's work, so the moment I found out this book was published I bought it. Like his other works the art style is top not...moreI am a huge fan of Craig Thompson's work, so the moment I found out this book was published I bought it. Like his other works the art style is top notch. There were times that I missed the looser style of Blankets, but the detail work in Habibi more than makes up for it. This book really let me down on the story side though. I just wasn't that interested in what happened during the story. On top of that I found it a little on the offensive side. I don't think it was intended to be that way, but after seeing the female lead put into the situation where she had to use her body to have food to eat for the fortieth time I really started to get mad. On top of that the use of the LGBT/aesthetic characters isn't very delicate or nice. Finally, as a Sufi myself, I couldn't help but feel like something was missing in the narrative. Again, I don't think any of this was in there on purpose, it's just how I began to feel as I was going through. The other problem is that the story is kinda boring. It goes much too long, and there are entire movements that feel a little bit out of place. The magic that was in Blankets wasn't really in this work. I'm still a fan of Craig Thompson's work, but this book just wasn't something I found a lot of enjoyment in. If you're a fan of Craig Thompson's other work I would say buy it simply to have it and enjoy the art work. It really is amazing, and the hardcover edition has one of the most beautiful covers I've ever seen. If you want to read an Islamic graphic novel I would say you're better off with Zahra's Paradise.(less)
This book can be a bit much to approach if you aren't familiar with Islam, or if you aren't familiar with Egypt's history. Luckily when I read this I...moreThis book can be a bit much to approach if you aren't familiar with Islam, or if you aren't familiar with Egypt's history. Luckily when I read this I had a professor letting me know what all the background behind the book was. This is one of the best books I've ever read. I highly recommend it, and I recommend that you read up on Islam and Egypt's history to get everything you can out of it.(less)
I'll admit it, I have a thing for religious literature. So it's no surprise that I like this book. It is extremely well thought out and very thought p...moreI'll admit it, I have a thing for religious literature. So it's no surprise that I like this book. It is extremely well thought out and very thought provoking. Hanh does an amazing job bringing these two faiths together. I would recommend this to anyone.(less)
If you love pretty pictures and obscenely quick over views of the wisdom traditions that this is the book for you. If you want to know in depth inform...moreIf you love pretty pictures and obscenely quick over views of the wisdom traditions that this is the book for you. If you want to know in depth information on the main and wonderful faiths out there look else where. Houston Smith has done much better work than this. (less)
I'm actually not a fan of non fiction. I usually avoid it like the plague. This book was very insightful and written in a way that connected with me....moreI'm actually not a fan of non fiction. I usually avoid it like the plague. This book was very insightful and written in a way that connected with me. If you're the least bit curious about Islam this is one of the best introductions I can think of.(less)
I read this directly after reading Living Buddha, Living Christ. I might be a bad person for saying this, but this is not a good book. I like the Dala...moreI read this directly after reading Living Buddha, Living Christ. I might be a bad person for saying this, but this is not a good book. I like the Dalai Lama, he's a wonderful man that does wonderful things. This book is not one of them. It feels like the kind of book some one would leave on their coffee table to seem spiritual, or they would bring up in conversation to seem deeper than they might actually be. If you are serious about books on the various religions out there this book will leave feeling empty, and not in the enlightened way.(less)
This is a mostly harmless book. It's a good read if you're looking for a piece from this time. If you're looking for something life altering then read...moreThis is a mostly harmless book. It's a good read if you're looking for a piece from this time. If you're looking for something life altering then read Shamela or A Sentimental Journey.(less)
This book is amazing. I can't say it's one of the best works I've ever read. It is pretty much Candide set in the Israel/Palestine conflict. I highly...moreThis book is amazing. I can't say it's one of the best works I've ever read. It is pretty much Candide set in the Israel/Palestine conflict. I highly recommend this book for anyone curious about that part of the world, or just looking for a truely wonderful book that doesn't get talked about too much.(less)
This is a very enjoyable book. I would give it a five if they would have bothered to edit it a little bit more before the final printing. This was ori...moreThis is a very enjoyable book. I would give it a five if they would have bothered to edit it a little bit more before the final printing. This was originally written by the author as a zine and it was hand copied and handed out to friends. This is book started a movement among Islam's youth and it will probably come to define that movement. Hopefully in later additions they just fix some of the obvious grammar mistakes.(less)
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