Danns - The United States (153 books)

Danns is currently reading:

The Mantel and Other Stories
by Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol

My rating:

Danns gave

to:

Lord of the Flies
by William Golding

read in January, 2012

My rating:

Wow, what a powerful book! For some reason it surprised the wife that I had not read this book back in primary school, as it seems to be on a lot of curriculum; but alas I did not. The imagery was astounding and the pace well suited. My only criti...more

Danns gave

to:

The Perennial Philosophy
by Aldous Huxley

read in January, 2012

My rating:

I picked this book up almost two decades ago coming off a run Robert Anton Wilson and a deep interest in Eastern Philosophies, particularly Taoism. I had never finished the book at the time as the real life of a young adult took sway. Coming back a...more

Danns is currently reading:

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
by Mark Twain

My rating:

Danns gave

to:

The Sea Fairies
by L. Frank Baum

read in January, 2012

My rating:

I must be honest, after reading the Oz series, this book did not live up to the tradition. I would think that this would be right up my alley, taking place in the ocean depths; but alas, not so much. That is not to say it was not a good story, just...moreI must be honest, after reading the Oz series, this book did not live up to the tradition. I would think that this would be right up my alley, taking place in the ocean depths; but alas, not so much. That is not to say it was not a good story, just not great.

Both Avery and myself were not at all impressed with Trot. She came off as a sassy, spoiled brat who was too often combatitive and rude. Given that she is merely a little girl, her manners could have been more forth coming and yet never was there a chastising.

Captain Bill on the other hand is always a hoot. He brings joy and patience, every bit the foil of the pom-pass Trot. Why do I harbor such ill will to this character? She did not elicit such emotion from either Avery or myself in the Oz books.

Anway, Trot and Captain Bill explore the ocean depths with mermaids only to get caught up in the throws of the most wicked being at the bottom of the sea: Zog, the wicked magician. Although I have to say, for how wicked Zog was supposed to be he was presented as not unlikable. Every bit of his despicable demeanor was tempered with compassion which made for an odd juxtaposition.

The denizens of the deep blue sea were treated rather callously, very much beneath the way any bit of life was treated in the Oz books. Painted with idiocy and a callous manner, most seemed nothing more than a swimming snack to be forgotten rather quickly.

There was much to do about slaves in this book. Whether it was the poor souls brought to the ocean's bottom to serve Zog, or the forced servitude of the simple animals of the deep for the Mermaids, Zog or King Anko, the magnificent sea serpent; very little was said about the predicament; and what was proffered was readily accepted as fate.

There were some other odd, dark moments in this book: Some talk of suicide and a bit more violence towards the favourite of my ocean dwellers: Squid; or as they book denoted them - sea devils.

While I am glad I did get to read his book, I am hesitant to read another tale of Trot. If it was Captain Bill alone, I'd jump a the opportunity.(less)

Danns gave

to:

The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams

The Velveteen Rabbit: Or How Toys Become Real
by Margery Williams

read in January, 2012

My rating:

A quick read, and a very powerful read. I recall seeing the movie in grade school and how it brought a tear to my heart. This story still produces that effect and my heart was heavy by the end. Truly a great classic of children's literature, if yo...more

Danns gave

to:

Glinda of Oz
by L. Frank Baum

read in January, 2012

My rating:

And 14 marks the end of L. Frank Baum's run on Oz books. What a fantastic journey, so full of adventure and so fun. This final tale begins with Dorthy and Ozma traveling to the far reaches of the Giliken country to the land of the flatheads and ske...more

Danns gave

to:

Guidelines and Other Unsolicited Advice
by Anthony Souza

read in December, 2011

My rating:

Souza presents 8 guidelines for leading a carefree, successful life. Following the dialogue of the first book, his presentation continues to be simple yet succinct. What are the eight guidelines? Well put simply they are: Acceptance, Commitment, ...more

Danns gave

to:

Eternal Truths and Other Myths
by Anthony Souza

read in December, 2011

My rating:

This was a very interesting read and fit nicely with Huxley's Perennial Philosophy. This book was an introduction to concepts of the Esse. The author was very frank and succinct. It is a quick read and very light-hearted yet covers some heavy mate...more

Danns gave

to:

The Magic of Oz
by L. Frank Baum

read in December, 2011

My rating:

While ferreting out the order of the books I happened upon the fact that this was one of the darker books of the Oz series, and I must agree. Now granted, darker is a bit subjective here, and it's not "King" or "Barker" dark, but for a children's bo...more

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Danns is currently reading: The Mantel and Other Stories by Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol	My rating:
Feb 01, 2012 04:55am
Danns gave to: Lord of the Flies by William Golding read in January, 2012	My rating:
Wow, what a powerful book! For some reason it surprised the wife that I had not read this book back in primary school, as it seems to be on a lot of curriculum; but alas I did not. The imagery was astounding and the pace well suited. My only criti...more
Feb 01, 2012 04:45am · see review
Danns gave to: The Perennial Philosophy by Aldous Huxley read in January, 2012	My rating:
I picked this book up almost two decades ago coming off a run Robert Anton Wilson and a deep interest in Eastern Philosophies, particularly Taoism. I had never finished the book at the time as the real life of a young adult took sway. Coming back a...more
Jan 25, 2012 04:59pm · see review
Danns is currently reading: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain	My rating:
Jan 23, 2012 07:41pm
Danns gave to: The Sea Fairies by L. Frank Baum read in January, 2012	My rating:
I must be honest, after reading the Oz series, this book did not live up to the tradition. I would think that this would be right up my alley, taking place in the ocean depths; but alas, not so much. That is not to say it was not a good story, just...more
Jan 23, 2012 07:41pm · see review
Danns gave to: The Velveteen Rabbit: Or How Toys Become Real by Margery Williams read in January, 2012	My rating:
A quick read, and a very powerful read. I recall seeing the movie in grade school and how it brought a tear to my heart. This story still produces that effect and my heart was heavy by the end. Truly a great classic of children's literature, if yo...more
Jan 05, 2012 07:34pm · see review
Danns gave to: Glinda of Oz by L. Frank Baum read in January, 2012	My rating:
And 14 marks the end of L. Frank Baum's run on Oz books. What a fantastic journey, so full of adventure and so fun. This final tale begins with Dorthy and Ozma traveling to the far reaches of the Giliken country to the land of the flatheads and ske...more
Jan 05, 2012 07:32pm · see review
Danns gave to: Guidelines and Other Unsolicited Advice by Anthony Souza read in December, 2011	My rating:
Souza presents 8 guidelines for leading a carefree, successful life. Following the dialogue of the first book, his presentation continues to be simple yet succinct. What are the eight guidelines? Well put simply they are: Acceptance, Commitment, ...more
Dec 25, 2011 08:38pm · see review
Danns gave to: Eternal Truths and Other Myths by Anthony Souza read in December, 2011	My rating:
This was a very interesting read and fit nicely with Huxley's Perennial Philosophy. This book was an introduction to concepts of the Esse. The author was very frank and succinct. It is a quick read and very light-hearted yet covers some heavy mate...more
Dec 25, 2011 08:32pm · see review
Danns gave to: The Magic of Oz by L. Frank Baum read in December, 2011	My rating:
While ferreting out the order of the books I happened upon the fact that this was one of the darker books of the Oz series, and I must agree. Now granted, darker is a bit subjective here, and it's not "King" or "Barker" dark, but for a children's bo...more
Dec 12, 2011 07:12pm · see review

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