The night has a thousand eyes, And the day but one; Yet the light of the bright world dies With the dying sun.
The mind has a thousand eyes, And the h The night has a thousand eyes, And the day but one; Yet the light of the bright world dies With the dying sun.
The mind has a thousand eyes, And the heart but one; Yet the light of a whole life dies When love is done. ~Francis William Bourdillon
This old poetry is not necessarily my cup of tea (throw some Bukowski in there with a cup of whiskey and we're talking) but I still rate this a solid 5. This is poetry in which you will find some of the most famous lines in history. This is poetry, but in a sense, it is a piece of history as well. The book is capped off with some famous historical documents....more
This is Steinbeck's only satirical work and if I may say so, he pulled it off quite nicely. It's a political piece, a subject in which he is knowledge This is Steinbeck's only satirical work and if I may say so, he pulled it off quite nicely. It's a political piece, a subject in which he is knowledgeable, but instead of the darker, dramatic side of the topic that he has always portrayed, John gives us the scenario in a way that we can laugh at. Which, to me, is the only way we can sometimes survive the bullshit. ...more
I'm not sure if this book made me feel like I was stoned or if I needed to be stoned to really appreciate it.
It really was pretty hilarious and it 3.5
I'm not sure if this book made me feel like I was stoned or if I needed to be stoned to really appreciate it.
It really was pretty hilarious and it was quite a wild ride. The reason I don't rate it higher even though I compliment it as a hilarious, wild ride, is because aside from the entertaining craziness, there didn't seem to be any cohesive story here. Nothing that had a point (although I think that was the point). Just a couple of fucked up guys in Las Vegas believing they were on a quest to find the American dream while under the influence of one of the most radical concoctions of drugs and alcohol imaginable.
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas... including your traumatized maids and grapefruit rinds. ...more
The author didn't bother with useless filler in this telling of his experience during the Holocaust. He went straight to the point... and the point is The author didn't bother with useless filler in this telling of his experience during the Holocaust. He went straight to the point... and the point is horrifying. It's stories like this that need to be remembered if humankind ever has a hope to evolve beyond our tendencies to war, murder and hatred. ...more
There's not a soul out there who doesn't know what this book is about, so without the bother of rehashing it I'll just leave my opinion. Also, conside There's not a soul out there who doesn't know what this book is about, so without the bother of rehashing it I'll just leave my opinion. Also, considering 99.9% of you have seen the movie, I will use it as a comparison for my opinion.
Overall I liked the book slightly better than the movie, but it was mostly the beginning I enjoyed. I must admit I did not care for the ending as much as it was portrayed (changed considerably) in the movie.
The book was action packed, full of adventure and fun to read. I can't imagine anyone being disappointed with this one. ...more
I have read that the English translation is not nearly as good as the original French but the only French I know is 'French fry', so I had to settle. I have read that the English translation is not nearly as good as the original French but the only French I know is 'French fry', so I had to settle. Not that that is a bad thing because in my opinion this was still a great classic from Hugo. This was the final work of the author of such masterpieces as Les Miserables and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, telling of the French revolution of 1793. Admittedly, I had never heard of the book and only know about it because I came across an old copy of it in an antique book shop. And I'm glad I did because it is another wonderful piece of classic literature for my collection....more
Is it possible to catch magic in a bottle? Sunshine or the stars in the sky like captured fireflies? Maybe not, but Bradbury certainly captured a boysIs it possible to catch magic in a bottle? Sunshine or the stars in the sky like captured fireflies? Maybe not, but Bradbury certainly captured a boys summer in a bottle and it was sweet as Dandelion Wine.
There is something about Bradbury's style that makes me reminisce about my boyhood like no other writer has. Similar to what he did with Something Wicked this way Comes and The Halloween Tree, Bradbury pulls me into his story with his poetic, symbolically descriptive style in a way that does what true readers of fiction literature love; he transforms me from my world of reality into his story, and being a man, these stories are something to treasure because it is easy with age to forget your childhood, but when I am captured and taken up into these stories, I am reminded what it's like to be a boy again. I remember the adventures, running through fields, leaping fences and climbing trees. I remember the feeling of rolling in the grass and swimming through murky ponds. I can actually smell the aromas of the darkened movie theater, the county fair, and grandmas cobblers baking in the oven.
This story was a breath of fresh air, a sip from the fountain of youth, and it brought back some memories about life and loss that touched me in a way that I can only give this my highest rating. I admit, Dandelion Wine is not an epic, not an action packed adventure or thriller to tantalize a readers fancy. But what it accomplished in the heart this reader makes it deserving of the best I can offer. ...more
So, this was my first Sherlock Holmes novel and it happens to be the first of Doyles classic series. I enjoyed the story and have to admit I was caugh So, this was my first Sherlock Holmes novel and it happens to be the first of Doyles classic series. I enjoyed the story and have to admit I was caught off guard by the transition from Holmes and Watson in London, to the characters revealed in the Mormon territory of Utah. I thought Doyle had left me hanging and went into another short story. It wasn't until the description of the suspect entering Europe, seeking revenge on the murderers of his true love, that I made the connection. it was well done, entertaining and I know I will have to add some more of the series to my list. ...more
Classic Elmore Leonard. I was really into this book at the start, impressed as usual by the character dialogue and building excitement to the story 3.5
Classic Elmore Leonard. I was really into this book at the start, impressed as usual by the character dialogue and building excitement to the story. Unfortunately, the build-up faltered and the story, which began to lag toward the end, came to an abrupt end with an anticlimactic close... as does this review....more
"I know your race. It is made up of sheep. It is governed by minorities, seldom or never by majorities. It suppresses its feelings and its beliefs and "I know your race. It is made up of sheep. It is governed by minorities, seldom or never by majorities. It suppresses its feelings and its beliefs and follows the handful that makes the most noise.” ― Mark Twain, The Mysterious Stranger
Satan, the young nephew of the fallen Satan pays a visit to a few of the human race. A humorous if not indicting novella addressing the immorality of man and the futility of his existence. For a short piece, there are some powerful thoughts penned by Mr. Twain who at his end shows in this story why he was a master unsurpassed in his craft.
There are a few short stories at the end of this collection but I base my 4 stars on the main piece. As a whole I would give it a 3.5 ...more
I don't know why, but I was not prepared for how much I enjoyed this novella. I shouldn't be surprised. After all, this is Steinbeck!
Kino, a Mexic 4.5
I don't know why, but I was not prepared for how much I enjoyed this novella. I shouldn't be surprised. After all, this is Steinbeck!
Kino, a Mexican native, finds 'the pearl of the world' off the coast of his little village and his world is about to change. The discovery of this pearl was comparable to one of us winning the lottery and I thought it amusing that the first visitor that he got after striking it big was the church.
For a novella, 97 pages, The Pearl is a powerhouse of emotion. There were some characters who really pissed me off and I felt like they were some loose ends that were never wrapped up or I would have easily given this 5 stars. Still, this is entertaining. I don't want to get into 'the moral of the story' and all that rot, yada yada yada... yeah, a poor man striking it rich and the repercussions that follow. I'll spare you that and just say, take my word for it, this is a damn good yarn!...more
Sandwiched between some humor unlike anything I have read from CM is a tale that in its brutality could stand toe to toe with the likes of Blood Merid Sandwiched between some humor unlike anything I have read from CM is a tale that in its brutality could stand toe to toe with the likes of Blood Meridian.
Cormack McCarthy is simply a brilliant writer. I had considered giving this a 4 star rating for only one reason: he uses a lot of Spanish language in the story, and well, me no abla... no speakie. But, by the time I finished there was only one rating I could possibly give this book and that is a solid 5 stars. (That's cinco staro's for those of you who do speakie) And no, I am not mocking the Mexicans. After all; my children are half Mexican. So if any of you start giving me a hard time be prepared for them to start verbally abusing you with words like, joto, puto and Taco Bell lover.
Okay, so now that I've got my own humor out of the way let me tell you about a book that y'all aught to read. All The Pretty Horses is a modern western that encompasses romance, adventure and some hardships expressed in a language (writing, not Spanish) that only a master like CM could pen.
The story is book 1 in The Border Trilogy. By the time I reached the conclusion of the first book I was completely mesmerized by the character of John Grady Cole. This guy is only 16 years old and even John Wayne couldn't have walked off into the sunset with more swagger.
"It may be that the life I desire for her no longer even exists, yet I know what she does not. That there is nothing to lose.” ― Cormac McCarthy, All the Pretty Horses ...more
I guess if I wanted to be nit-picky I could give this book a 4...maybe 4.5 star rating, but I'm not going to. I'm slapping a 5 on this baby regardless I guess if I wanted to be nit-picky I could give this book a 4...maybe 4.5 star rating, but I'm not going to. I'm slapping a 5 on this baby regardless of any shortcomings I might have perceived.
For one thing, I could never do proper justice to this masterpiece of literature with one of my lowly reviews and secondly, there are so many profound thoughts penned here that any one of several of them justifies giving this the highest rating possible.
We live our lives with history trailing us and the closer that history is to our tail the more that history has impact on our lives. It is no secret of the influence on Bradbury by events such as Stalin's destruction of literature and McCarthy's witch hunt against, not only so-called communists, but also against anything that, according to his moral standards, was obscene in literature.
Our generation is much farther removed from that of Bradbury's but the underlying warnings within Fahrenheit 451 are a very real threat that could be ignited by the smallest of sparks. Especially a spark set off by radical religious or political beliefs that might set itself up as judge of the past and future of mankind's freedom to decide for themselves what they want to digest or not.
“There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. Books are well written, or badly written. That is all.” Oscar Wilde~
Simply put, Fahrenheit 451 is a classic novel that is not only entertaining but is a lesson and warning to all mankind. Keep these wonderful stories alive within yourself because one day our minds and memories may be the only books we have to look forward to. ...more
I'll be honest, the only reason I read this book was because of the reference to 'Shardik' in Stephen King's Dark Tower series. If you are a DT fan 1.5
I'll be honest, the only reason I read this book was because of the reference to 'Shardik' in Stephen King's Dark Tower series. If you are a DT fan like me and plan to read this one, let me give you some advice; don't bother. The book is long and boring...end of review. ...more
Matheson's classic haunted house horror felt like a combination of Shirley Jackson's Haunting of Hill House and Stephen King's The Shining. Not onl 3.5
Matheson's classic haunted house horror felt like a combination of Shirley Jackson's Haunting of Hill House and Stephen King's The Shining. Not only did the story line feel like a combination of the two but its affect on me was similar as well. I wasn't a big fan of Hill House but loved The Shining and the journey through this book was at times boring but at others, entertaining. During the first half of the book I was scratching my head after reading all the great reviews and wondering what I was missing, but then the action picked up and overall the book ended on a pretty good note.
Hell House was worth the read for my Halloween season and now I have another classic under my belt that I have been meaning to read for years. ...more
I grew up reading Howards work and loved his sword and sorcery tales, but this collection of horror stories didn't thrill me. Maybe if I was still 2.5
I grew up reading Howards work and loved his sword and sorcery tales, but this collection of horror stories didn't thrill me. Maybe if I was still 12. ...more
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