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September 24
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Becca
gave
 
to:
The Historian (Paperback)
by Elizabeth Kostova
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my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
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read in September, 2008
Becca said:
"Compared to Anne Rice, or even Stephanie Meyer (okay, maybe not), Kostova's representation of Dracula did not fully satisfy my thirst for vampire lore. I needed more "Bram Stroker Dracula" action and less story line about library searches a...more
Compared to Anne Rice, or even Stephanie Meyer (okay, maybe not), Kostova's representation of Dracula did not fully satisfy my thirst for vampire lore. I needed more "Bram Stroker Dracula" action and less story line about library searches and manuscript discoveries. This is not to say that Kostova did not craft a suspenseful adventure, it's just that I wanted Dracula to be more than a historian/scholar interested in cataloguing his evil. ...less
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September 18
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Becca
gave
to:
Feed (Paperback)
by M.T. Anderson
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my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
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read in September, 2008
Becca said:
"M.T. Anderson creates a futuristic world in which every human being has the option of inserting a "feed" or an internet transmitter directly into their brains. Consequently the "feed" takes over the brain and has the ability to ca...more
M.T. Anderson creates a futuristic world in which every human being has the option of inserting a "feed" or an internet transmitter directly into their brains. Consequently the "feed" takes over the brain and has the ability to cater information to specific individual needs. While some of the perks include chatting to friends via the brain or having access to a wealth of information at any given time, Anderson effectively illustrates the tragic consequences of allowing this type of functionality in our brains.
In a world where information is just a "brain click" away, school becomes an unnecessary institution. Without formal instruction, people no longer learn anything beyond what they want to know. For example, kids only learn about WWII if they choose to look it up- not a popular search choice. Not to mention, people cannot even talk properly because their language is reduced to instant message vernacular.
It is only when one girl, and her brainwashed and sometimes non-conforming boyfriend, begin to challenge the "feed" that they "see" reality outside of a media-dominated culture. It is in these moments that Anderson exposes the scary reality of Orwell's "big brother" corporations and Huxley's soma-like "feeds." While this book is fictional, Anderson brilliantly paints a feasible futuristic America.
...less
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September 03
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Becca made a comment on Chris's profile:
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September 02
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Becca
gave
to:
Running with Scissors: A Memoir (Paperback)
by Augusten Burroughs
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my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
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read in September, 2008
Becca said:
"I decided to listen to Running with Scissors on my daily commute to work everyday. As luck would have it, I always happened to listen to the explicit gay sex scenes right as I was pulling up to school- which consequently led to awkward wind...more
I decided to listen to Running with Scissors on my daily commute to work everyday. As luck would have it, I always happened to listen to the explicit gay sex scenes right as I was pulling up to school- which consequently led to awkward window roll ups/track changes. However, Burroughs does a splendid job in capturing his turbulent youth in a comic series of events. His mother is the definition or a train wreck who basically gives her son to her psychiatrist, Dr. Finch, to raise. The Finches are by no means the typical family. As an example, Dr. Finch, the patriarch and esteemed role model of the family, likes to use his feces to read his family's future. If you like books that are funny in an appalling sort of way, this book will work for you. If you are not in the mood to gag or cringe for most of your reading experience, stay far away!...less
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June 25
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New comment on Becca's review of
Montana 1948: A Novel
(see all 3 comments)
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June 24
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Becca
gave
to:
Montana 1948: A Novel (Paperback)
by Larry Watson
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my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
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read in June, 2008
Becca said:
"Honestly, I had no desire to read this book. The title sounded boring, the cover was plain, and my only motivation to read the book was out of obligation as I have to teach it next year. My initial hesitations could not have been further from the tr...more
Honestly, I had no desire to read this book. The title sounded boring, the cover was plain, and my only motivation to read the book was out of obligation as I have to teach it next year. My initial hesitations could not have been further from the truth. Larry Watson crafts a story in which a twelve year old boy, David, discovers that his uncle, the man he looks up to the most, is capable of destroying lives. The story is further complicated when his father, the sheriff, must choose between the law and protecting his own brother. In this bildungsroman, David struggles with what it means to remain loyal to a family who is capable of evil and further what the consequences are for doing the right thing. Similar to To Kill a Mockingbird ,Montana 1948 is an American classic that all high school students should read. ...less
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June 13
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Becca
gave
to:
Of Mice and Men (Penguin Great Books of the 20th Century)
by John Steinbeck
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my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
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read in June, 2008
Becca said:
"Steinbeck shares a story of two friends trying to pursue the American Dream at a time when the world is bleak. George, the intellectual of the two, dreams of owning an acre of land that he can call his own. Lennie, a man with great strength in body b...more
Steinbeck shares a story of two friends trying to pursue the American Dream at a time when the world is bleak. George, the intellectual of the two, dreams of owning an acre of land that he can call his own. Lennie, a man with great strength in body but limitations in mind, looks to George admirably for direction and guidance. When an unfortunate event occurs, Steinbeck forces us to question the sanctity of mercy killing and the role of friendship. ...less
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June 02
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Becca
gave
to:
To Kill a Mockingbird (Paperback)
by Harper Lee
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my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
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read in June, 2008
Becca said:
"This is just one of those books that everyone should read at least once in their lifetime, particularly kids. The story is told from Scout's perspective; a little girl who innocently believes that the world protects good people from bad things. Howe...more
This is just one of those books that everyone should read at least once in their lifetime, particularly kids. The story is told from Scout's perspective; a little girl who innocently believes that the world protects good people from bad things. However, as the novel unfolds her perception of good and evil quickly change when an innocent black man is accused of raping a white girl. Harper Lee exposes the harsh reality of racism and injustice in her novel, but also offers insights on humanity and morality. ...less
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Thanks for the invite! Wow, this is addictive. I need to sign out now...
