http://www.goodreads.com/review/list_rss/1047810 en-US Sat, 26 Jul 2008 09:15:23 -0700 60 http://www.goodreads.com/ 200 41 http://www.goodreads.com/images/layout/gr_logo.gif 28349278 Sat, 26 Jul 2008 09:15:23 -0700
author: David Sedaris
name: Ryan
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2008
rating: 3
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date added: 07/26/08
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]]> 28285092 Fri, 25 Jul 2008 12:58:26 -0700
author: Nam Le
name: Ryan
average rating: 3.83
book published: 2008
rating: 4
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date added: 07/25/08
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]]> 28284691 Fri, 25 Jul 2008 12:55:45 -0700
author: James Joyce
name: Ryan
average rating: 3.69
book published: 1916
rating: 4
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date added: 07/25/08
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]]> 28284615 Fri, 25 Jul 2008 12:55:20 -0700
author: J.D. Salinger
name: Ryan
average rating: 4.24
book published: 2001
rating: 5
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date added: 07/25/08
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]]> 24063484 Mon, 09 Jun 2008 10:09:09 -0700
author: Dave Eggers
name: Ryan
average rating: 4.28
book published: 2006
rating: 4
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date added: 06/09/08
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"What is the What" is the latest novel by Dave Eggers, and like "A Heartbreaking Work..." it is based out of real life, only not Eggers'. Instead, this book follows the life of Valentino Achak Deng, a Sudanese boy (now a man), who experienced the worst of the genocide and refugee camps. Eggers befriended Deng, who was one of the many Sudanese selected from his refugee camp to come to the United States to escape the brutal, impovershed conditions of the camp. Eggers writes of Deng's story from a first person point of view, which is fascinating and makes the book. To expereince the life of one of the Lost Boys of the Sudan through a first-person narrative opened my eyes to their plight and what they have had to go through far better than any news story or third person account could have. I was able to feel what Valentino was feeling, instead of hearing it objectively. It is a sensitive and delicate issue, but Eggers handles it with the utmost respect and admiration for Valentino and the other Lost Boys who found themselves growing up in make-shift refugee camps. Eggers takes you not only the obvious hardships Valentino had to deal with, but also his issues with love and girls as he goes through puberty in the camp. Another issue that I was impressed that Eggers covered that I feel gets lost in discussion of the Lost Boys is how it is for them to make cope with the culture shock of American life after growing up in a refugee camp with no parents. Several of the Sudanese who were fortunate enough to be granted passage to the United States were unable to deal with life in America, as many of them were taken advantage of, got into drugs, or even committed suicide. Though this novel is unique and well-written, I found it more valuable as an educational tool, which delves deeper into the lives of the Sudanese than any article or piece of non-fiction would be capable of. I only give this four stars because there are not a lot of major shifts in action once Valentino is living in the Kenyan refugee camp, and to some readers it might drag at times. I would, however, highly recommened this to anyone as it serves as not only an enthralling and unique piece of fiction, but also as an eye-opening account and history lesson of Sudan.
]]> 20266632 Mon, 09 Jun 2008 09:46:59 -0700
author: Gregory David Roberts
name: Ryan
average rating: 4.36
book published: 2004
rating: 4
read at: 06/08
date added: 06/09/08
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This book was unlike anything I've ever read. It's over 900 pages, and has pretty much has everything you could imagine. I guess it would be considered fiction based on a memoir, as it chronicles the story of Lin (more or less based on Gregory David Roberts' life) and his time as a fugitive in India and beyond. There is something in this book for everyone, as Lin is a prison-hardened, street-wise, sensitive, insightful smuggler, warrior, lover, traveler, philosopher, among other occupations. Shantaram is a book about life, and all the emotions, struggles, and joys that come with it. Roberts takes you through all of his revelations and realizations on what life is all about as Lin experiences pretty much the widest array of experieces I could imagine happening to someone in the time that passes throughout the course of the book, which is several years. The reason I only give it four stars, however, is that it is oftentimes longwinded, and tends to drag a bit, especially in the middle. It seems like a lot of times Roberts is just writing about stuff because he can, not because it necessarily advances the story. The book could easily be cut down a few hundred pages and very little would be lost. If you're not down for the 900+ page marathon, I'd even suggest just reading the first few hundred pages solely for his descriptions of India, Bombay in particular. It sweeps you up and puts in an a foreign, unfamiliar place about as effectively as possible, and India is now near the top of my list of places to travel after reading Shantaram. The scene describing his escape from prison in Austrailia is perhaps the most gripping fiction I have ever read, and my heart was pounding and I was literally gripping hold of the pages as Roberts took me through the daring escape. All of Roberts' beautifully written bits of wisdom throughout the book are also priceless. It comes as no surprise that Shantaram is going to be made into a movie starring Johnny Depp, and I can't wait to see it. I highly recommend this book to anyone. My only advice is to have patience as the action slows down in the middle.
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