by Sophocles
What can I say..I love mythology...but in no way am I trying to review the tragic story against modern values...if that were the case then of course zero stars..but since I found out that Oedipus literally means "swollen feet" in Greek I have a new way to cuss people out without resorting to MF....that alone is worth 4 stars. ]]>
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bookshelves: to-read
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As my cursor hovered over the 4th star that I was about to click and the little text box appeared saying "I really liked it" i had a moment of reflection. Did I really like it?
This is a book of big ideas. Big slow moving like molassas ideas. Big meaty ideas that one must chew for a long time before digesting ideas. Foucault posits his theories of how our criminal penal system since the times leading up to the French revolution until now our institutions of disciple and punishment evolved. The look is hardly cursory and very relavatory. He carefully explains why schools, hospitals, and other social institutions look like prisons and why prisons function much like these instutions with the exception of being pushed out of site and therefore everyday consciousness. How putting peoples bodies in prison is an extension of both societies power and powerlessness. How our punishemnts evolved from torturing the body to confineing it.. How power flowed from the king tothe judge to the prison industrial complex. And this is just the tip of the tip of the iceberg of themes and ideas and theories explored in this book. Which is why I could only give it 3 stars as a read. If I had built a semesters course work and class disscusions around it I would have been able to 5 star it. ]]>
This is a really tough book to read. Its about cancer, death, family dysfunction, and betrayal. Not a lot of things to smile about in these pages. But its also very true and lyrical. Anyone who has gone through sickness and pain will see themselves or someone they know in this book. The denial, the rage, the misplaced blame and places we go to seek solace are all accurately recounted in the story. Can't say that I loved the book, it being such a downer...but it has its moments of redemption and small humors..just like life in trying times. ]]>
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William wrote: "Thats whats so great about a discussion group....I'll sing to you about the merits of Oscar and deba...more " |
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