Scott - The United States (117 books)

Scott gave

to:

The Foundling and Other Tales of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander

The Foundling and Other Tales of Prydain (The Chronicles of Prydain)
by Lloyd Alexander

read in January, 2012

My rating:

I enjoyed this little collection of tales. Each story had a fairy tale or mythic feel, and was fun to read. Although the stories are pretty light and probably don't add that much to the Prydain series, they are a tasty treat, either as an after-dinne...more

Scott gave

to:

Lolita
by Vladimir Nabokov

read in January, 2012

My rating:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

One of my reading goals for this year is to read at least ten books that are frequently challenged or removed from libraries or schools in the U.S. For a while, I've thought about reading Lolita after watching the first movie version a few times with...moreOne of my reading goals for this year is to read at least ten books that are frequently challenged or removed from libraries or schools in the U.S. For a while, I've thought about reading Lolita after watching the first movie version a few times with my wife, who loves it despite agreeing with me that it is nearly ruined by Peter Sellers. I wanted to experience the story without him.

I knew the book is a classic, either loved or hated, often dismissed as dirty or even pornographic by people who haven't read it. I also knew that most readers, love it or hate it, find it disturbing.

What I didn't expect was to fall in love with this book on page 1, and to stay in love with it after it disturbed and disgusted me, frightened me, and became an obsession. If I had a few spare moments, I had to pick it up and read. The short chapters helped with this.

I don't remember reading a more compelling first-person narrative. From the start, I recognized that Humbert Humbert was a sick man, a pervert, who could not be trusted. The way he described his relationship with his little nymphet did not line up with the reactions and words he reported from her, and we frequently get glimpses that her feelings were not what he claimed. He hides behind cynicism, sarcasm, and erudite language full of artistic allusions.

The closest thing I've ever read to this book is The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner by James Hogg, the scariest book I've ever read. No monster is as frightening as a psychotic human who is convinced that he is Right, even if his rightness pits him against the entire world. But unlike Hogg's character, he have some hope for Humbert because of his occasional flashes of guilt, and the Nabokov dashes our hope by showing the character's descent into madness. At times, I thought Nabokov's book belongs in the horror section of a library or book store.

The book is beautifully written, sometimes overblown a bit in a way that is perfect for the narrator. The fancy language and literary allusions are not there to draw attention to the writer, but to the character and the character's emotional story, which is as it should be.

If you can't see past the disturbing relationship between Humbert and his Lo, this book might not be for you. But this is not a story about a middle aged man seducing a 12-year-old girl. It's the story of a sick man who gets continually sicker, ruining several lives in different ways as a slides beyond help.

This one is going to stay with me for a while, like the best books do. It's also going to be hard to follow.(less)

Scott made a comment on his review of Scaramouche

"Good tip! I was planning to read some Dumas this year. I'll look for that one."

Scott gave

to:

I Used to Know That (Stuff You Forgot from School)
by Caroline Taggart

read in January, 2012

My rating:

Interesting little compendium of (mostly) basic knowledge. It's a quick read, and a good thing to have on your reference shelf. Not indispensable, but a fun and interesting way to jog your memory.

Scott gave

to:

Scaramouche
by Rafael Sabatini

read in January, 2012

My rating:

This book almost lost me, but won me back again. I was put off by the flowery, often self-indulgent language used by the author, such ad:

"The venomous scorn it poured upon those worthless rapscallions afforded him a certain solatium against the disco...more

Scott gave

to:

The Two Towers (The Lord of the Rings, #2)
by J.R.R. Tolkien

read in January, 2012

My rating:

Scott gave

to:

Slaughterhouse Five
by Kurt Vonnegut

read in December, 2011

My rating:

Scott gave

to:

The Complete Handbook Of Novel Writing by Editors of Writer's Digest Boo...

The Complete Handbook Of Novel Writing: Everything You Need To Know About Creating & Selling Your Work (Writers Digest)
by Editors of Writer's Digest Books

read in December, 2011

My rating:

Scott gave

to:

Guards! Guards! (Discworld, #8)
by Terry Pratchett

read in December, 2011

My rating:

One of my favorite Discworld books yet. The witches are still my favorite characters, but the Watch promise to be up there with them.

Scott gave

to:

The Gilded Age (Modern Library Classics)
by Mark Twain

read in November, 2011

My rating:

Holding this back to become the last of Twain's novels to be read before being able say I've read them all was not a bad choice. Although the book had its moments, it was, overaa, a disappointing read. Hyped as being an expose of a corrupt time much ...more

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Scott gave to: The Foundling and Other Tales of Prydain (The Chronicles of Prydain) by Lloyd Alexander read in January, 2012	My rating:
I enjoyed this little collection of tales. Each story had a fairy tale or mythic feel, and was fun to read. Although the stories are pretty light and probably don't add that much to the Prydain series, they are a tasty treat, either as an after-dinne...more
Jan 24, 2012 11:15pm · see review
Scott gave to: Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov read in January, 2012	My rating:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Jan 22, 2012 10:33pm · see review
Scott made a comment on his review of Scaramouche "Good tip! I was planning to read some Dumas this year. I'll look for that one."
Jan 21, 2012 10:48pm · see review
Scott gave to: I Used to Know That (Stuff You Forgot from School) by Caroline Taggart read in January, 2012	My rating:
Interesting little compendium of (mostly) basic knowledge. It's a quick read, and a good thing to have on your reference shelf. Not indispensable, but a fun and interesting way to jog your memory.
Jan 15, 2012 04:35pm · see review
Scott gave to: Scaramouche by Rafael Sabatini read in January, 2012	My rating:
This book almost lost me, but won me back again. I was put off by the flowery, often self-indulgent language used by the author, such ad: "The venomous scorn it poured upon those worthless rapscallions afforded him a certain solatium against the disco...more
Jan 14, 2012 10:18pm · see review
Scott gave to: The Two Towers (The Lord of the Rings, #2) by J.R.R. Tolkien read in January, 2012	My rating:
Jan 03, 2012 09:24pm
Scott gave to: Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut read in December, 2011	My rating:
Dec 28, 2011 08:41pm
Scott gave to: The Complete Handbook Of Novel Writing: Everything You Need To Know About Creating & Selling Your Work (Writers Digest) by Editors of Writer's Digest Books read in December, 2011	My rating:
Dec 27, 2011 10:55am
Scott gave to: Guards! Guards! (Discworld, #8) by Terry Pratchett read in December, 2011	My rating:
One of my favorite Discworld books yet. The witches are still my favorite characters, but the Watch promise to be up there with them.
Dec 04, 2011 04:44pm · see review
Scott gave to: The Gilded Age (Modern Library Classics) by Mark Twain read in November, 2011	My rating:
Holding this back to become the last of Twain's novels to be read before being able say I've read them all was not a bad choice. Although the book had its moments, it was, overaa, a disappointing read. Hyped as being an expose of a corrupt time much ...more
Nov 25, 2011 02:20pm · see review

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