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May 04
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New comment on Carole's review of
Anne of Green Gables (Anne of Green Gables no. 1)
(see all 3 comments)
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April 01
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New comment on Marianne's review of
Ernest Hemingway's "The Old Man and the Sea" (The Atlantic Critical Studies)
reply to this comment
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March 09
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HRH
marked as to-read:
Two Histories of England: By Jane Austen and Charles Dickens (Hardcover)
by Jane Austen, Charles Dickens
bookshelves:
to-read
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my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
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HRH
gave
to:
The Chosen (Mass Market Paperback)
by Chaim Potok
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my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
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recommended for: people who liked A Separate Peace
read in March, 2008
HRH said:
"The Chosen tells the story of two Jewish boys, one modern and one hasidic, living in Brooklyn during the 40s and 50s. Told through Reuven's eyes, the boys become friends when Danny attempts to murder Reuven in a baseball game. The story is about deep...more
The Chosen tells the story of two Jewish boys, one modern and one hasidic, living in Brooklyn during the 40s and 50s. Told through Reuven's eyes, the boys become friends when Danny attempts to murder Reuven in a baseball game. The story is about deep friendship, father-son relationships, learning, religion, and what it means to be American and Jewish.
I really, really enjoyed the book. It reminded me in many way of A Separate Peace by John Knowles. It is positive and uplifting while achieving poignancy without being cheesy. It helped me better understand the problems in modern Israel and Judaism in general.
My favorite parts are probably when Reuven is speaking with his father, who is brilliant character. He never gives Reuven answers or reasons but directs him how to act and Reuven just does it. That is ultimate trust and submission. And it works out. Reuven's relationship with his father is about as close to ideal as one could get.
There is definitely an agenda going on. I don't think Chaim Potok, the author, is super stoked about Hasidism, but he is also not a passionate anti-Hasid.
I had a fun time discussing the book with my book club....less
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February 24
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HRH
gave
to:
Detour : My Bipolar Road Trip in 4-D (Paperback)
by Lizzie Simon
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my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
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recommended for: people with bipolar and people who would like to learn about bipolar
read in February, 2008
HRH said:
"The book tells the autobiographical story of Lizzie Simon, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder when she was 17. At age 24, after completely college at Columbia and running a successful theatre, Lizzie decided to go on a road trip to learn about o...more
The book tells the autobiographical story of Lizzie Simon, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder when she was 17. At age 24, after completely college at Columbia and running a successful theatre, Lizzie decided to go on a road trip to learn about other young, successful bipolar people.
This book is good even for readers who don't have any connection with the disorder because it's really interesting generally. I was fascinated hearing about the psychotic breaks everyone had which lead to their diagnosis; I liked hearing about what it is like to live in a bipolar mind; and I liked hearing about overcoming such an engrossing and consuming illness.
I would especially recommend this book to anyone who knows anyone with the disorder or has been diagnosed themselves. It's honest and open about the disorder, about medications, and about not being on medications. It gives hope and role models for young people....less
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February 12
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HRH
gave
to:
The Great Gatsby (Paperback)
by F. Scott Fitzgerald
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my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
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recommended for: Everyone
HRH said:
"This is my absolute favorite novel. Every time I read it I see something new. Gatsby is a really sad character, and Daisy too. I love Nick, because he just sits back and watches the train wreck. The plot is extremely simplistic and the novel can almo...more
This is my absolute favorite novel. Every time I read it I see something new. Gatsby is a really sad character, and Daisy too. I love Nick, because he just sits back and watches the train wreck. The plot is extremely simplistic and the novel can almost come off as a self-evident. But it's not, there are so many deeper things. It's a great commentary on seemingly brilliant and successful people who deep down are pathetic people doing desperate things. ...less
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HRH
gave
to:
Night (Paperback)
by Elie Wiesel
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my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
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read in February, 2008
HRH said:
"This book was short but very difficult to get through. It isn't the sort of thing one likes to read after a hard day at work. It tells the true story of Elie Wiesel, a Romanian Jew who, at age 15, survived the horrors of four Nazi concentration camp...more
This book was short but very difficult to get through. It isn't the sort of thing one likes to read after a hard day at work. It tells the true story of Elie Wiesel, a Romanian Jew who, at age 15, survived the horrors of four Nazi concentration camps between 1944 and 1945. And it ended abruptly which made me scour the internet for more information or some time of happier ending. The book was terrifying. With every incident I had to remind myself that this was not a novel, but a memoir and that, how impossible, Wiesel somehow did survive.
As for what I took from it, that is twofold. First and foremost, we must be watchful that things do not happen when we can do something about it. So often people think that the Jewish Holocaust was a one-time thing and such things do not happen anymore. This is untrue. Things of this nature go on even today. And while I cannot go and personally save everyone, I can do something small. And I can encourage others to do something small. And I can always help those around me.
Second, we can learn that our lives are not so bad. We do have pain, yes, but there is always something to be grateful for. As much as this book told of horrors, it also told of miracles. Ok, it wasn't super positive (Holocaust books that are more positive are Anne Frank or Man's Search for Meaning or the Hiding Place) but it showed the strength of the human spirit. And it demonstrated that maybe those who survived were not the strongest, but those who died when they gave what they had to others.
I would recommend this book to teenagers in order to teach the two above lessons....less
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February 04
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New comment on Carole's review of
The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio: How My Mother Raised 10 Kids on 25 Words or Less
reply to this comment
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January 01
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HRH
is currently reading:
My Life in France (Paperback)
by Julia Child, Alex Prud'Homme
bookshelves:
currently-reading
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my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
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