M. Sarki's Blog: Mewl House, page 3

God On My Side

Future Missionaries of America by Matthew Vollmer

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The book wasn't "amazing" in the goodreads level of five star reviews, but it certainly was "I liked it a lot!" of the four star category. But in truth, this collection is much better than four stars. I really have never read anything quite like this book of short stories. What threw me was the different voices. I was so prepared to hear the voice of "the deceased" from Inscriptions for Headstones that I was quite taken aback. But I write pretty extensively about the book and few specific stories in it, not to mention some personal stuff, here:
http://mewlhouse.hubpages.com/hub/Whi...



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Inscriptions for Headstones

Inscriptions for Headstones by Matthew Vollmer

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Five stars at least in goodreads terms is supposed to mean "amazing" which is exactly what this bit of work is. I wish I would have been the one to write this book. But I wasn't and the good news is Vollmer is young enough to give us more of this sort of quality he has set himself the bar for. Three cheers for Matthew Vollmer. I explain myself more personally here:

http://mewlhouse.hubpages.com/hub/Vol...



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James Crumley

The Final Country by James Crumley

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Pretty disappointed in this potboiler, but it wasn't James Crumley's fault. I will take the blame. And I explain why here:

http://mewlhouse.hubpages.com/hub/Dim...



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D.H. Lawrence Story of Sex

D.H. Lawrence by Brenda Maddox

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A far better book than expected. A thoughtful and controversial exploration of the life of D.H. Lawrence focusing on his marriage to Frieda and his basically suppressed homoerotic, or homosexual, tendencies in respect to his long non-monogamous marriage to the love of his life. I offer a different perspective on this subject as Brenda Maddox instilled in me a new passion for learning all I can about Lawrence, and in this arduous but interesting process, I learn about myself. My full thoughts and review can be found here:

http://mewlhouse.hubpages.com/hub/DH-...



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Yasmina Reza Does It Again!!!

Hammerklavier by Yasmina Reza

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Yasmina Reza does it again!!! My review can be read in total here:

http://mewlhouse.hubpages.com/hub/The...



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Living and Dying

The Thing About Life Is That One Day You'll Be Dead by David Shields

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Despite both positive and negative reviews regarding this book and its subject, I think it is worth reading. I explain why, among other things, here: http://mewlhouse.hubpages.com/hub/One...



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Blake Butler's SKY SAW

Sky Saw by Blake Butler

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


I can't even honestly say the book was OK (two stars) as I really did not like it much after the first forty pages or so. There are no spoilers here in the following review, and really it is quite impossible to achieve with a work of this nature anyway. I tried hard to give this novel a good going over as it was my first venture into the work of Blake Butler, but it was just not my cup of tea. Here I explain in full why I feel this way:

http://mewlhouse.hubpages.com/hub/Ult...



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Updike is Heterosexual?

U and I: A True Story by Nicholson Baker

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


A little too much for my tastes. Is it possible the dude has low self-esteem? That he is a bit of a poseur? I write about the book here and I would love for you to read about it:

http://mewlhouse.hubpages.com/hub/A-S...



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Ted Kooser, Poet Laureate

Local Wonders: Seasons in the Bohemian Alps by Ted Kooser

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Oh god, what did I ever think? I believe I have a contrary opinion here:

http://mewlhouse.hubpages.com/hub/Ted...



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Embers

Embers by Sándor Márai

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


"No, the secret is that there is no reward and we have to endure our characters and our natures as best we can, because no amount of experience or insight is going to rectify our deficiencies, our self-regard, or our cupidity."___From EMBERS

My review may be read in total here:

http://mewlhouse.hubpages.com/hub/EMB...



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