The Honorary Consul : A Novel (Simon & Schuster Classics)
by Simon & Schuster
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (11 September, 2000)
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Reviews (6)

God and Love in the Mind of an Apathetic Man
Graham Greene presents the story of a half-English medical doctor, Eduardo Plarr, living in a backwater town in Argentina.The title derives from Plarr's relationship with the Honorary Consul, Charley Fortnum, and his adulterous relationship with Fortnum's former-prostitute wife.This work of literature is very well written and has the taste of art.

Greene's writing expresses the subtlety of his characters - apathetic men who go through life not having been impressed with much.Greene's theme is love and how or whether it is expressed between men and women, and also how it is expressed (if expressed at all) between man and God.Graham puts into the thoughts of Dr. Plarr:

"`Love' was a claim which he wouldn't meet, a responsibility he would refuse to accept, a demand ... So many times his mother had used the word when he was a child; it was like the threat of an armed robber.`Put up your hands or else ...'Something was always asked in return: obedience, an apology, a kiss which one had no desire to give."And again:

"That stupid banal word love.It's never meant anything to me.Like the word God."

Thus, Greene puts these "larger than ourselves" themes on the backs of his self-absorbed characters.The result is masterful.If you are looking to read classic literature - the kind of literature that actually requires the reader to think and ponder the implications of the print - then this book is for you.Highly recommended.

Dull, listless, sad
This is what happens when great authors go to seed. It seems like a cruel mockery of a Greene novel, parading the same old themes around, corrupted more than ever by an unjustified excess liberalism. There isn't a single living character here, and even though the prose is generally competent, I think it has to be buried in consideration of the man's memory.

Great characters
This is a well-written story combining the elements of a political/spy novel with those of a Greek tragedy.Set in Argentina, Greene tells the tale of a botched political kidnapping which provides the context for an interesting character study.The ineptitude of Greene's kidnappers and their gradual self-destruction, to me, symbolized the disarray and tumult in the lives of each character.Greene's interesting cast of characters includes a chameleon-like prostitute who tailors her personality to accommodate the varying expectations and inadequacies of her clients, a fallen priest who cannot seem to shed his former skin, a marginalized novelist who is crippled by his pride, an emotionless doctor whose heart is as sterile as his instruments, and an inconsequential "honorary" consul who fails at everything except loving.This novel is by no means cheery, but I came away from it with an important reminder that life is lived in vain if lived without having loved--even if that love is unrequited. ... Read more

Isbn: 0684871254
Sales Rank: 240613
Subjects:  1. Argentina    2. British    3. Diplomats    4. Espionage/Intrigue    5. Fiction    6. Fiction - Espionage / Thriller    7. Greene, Graham - Prose & Criticism    8. Kidnapping    9. Literary    10. Fiction / General   

A Few Short Notes on Tropical Butterflies : Stories
by HarperCollins
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (04 March, 2003)
list price: $24.95
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Editorial Review

John Murray trained as a doctor, and his debut collection of stories, A Few Short Notes on Tropical Butterflies, reveals its author's background. Not all of his characters are physicians, but they tend to share a doctor's ability to concentrate on details and compartmentalize emotions. In "The Hill Station," the American-born daughter of Indian parents returns to India, where she speaks at a conference on infectious diseases. She is charged with new, ungovernable feelings when she finally meets actual patients with the disease she specializes in; heretofore, she had only known cholera under a microscope. Murray bumps his heroine into a new, looser way of living as she travels deeper into dirty, disease-ridden India. In the title story, a doctor mourns the loss of his sister and comes to terms with his family history, all the while examining butterflies. In "Blue," a climber ascends a Himalayan peak under dire circumstances and encounters ghostly memories of his father. These stories of frustrated, intelligent achievers can recallMark Helprin, and Murray has, too, some of Helprin's ambitious scope. These stories aren't as crystalline as Helprin's, but that's a small complaint to lodge against an elegant first collection. --Claire Dederer ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Terrific Medical Tales Set In Warring&Exotic Locales!
While there may be a surplus of great short stories out there, this collection should definitely rank among the all time greats! If you're looking for some great,terse, to the point writing about the current situation in places like Rwanda, India, and similar exotic locales, this is the best place to start! Mr. Murray tells a great story, and though there is plenty of expert medical procedures and info here, you won't feel condescended to in the least. Yes, we all know how horrible cholera is. Read this first story to REALLY know about it! And the same holds for every tale here. In short, an absolutely top collection!

A gorgeous first work of fiction!
It might be possible to read through this book quickly, just as it might be possible to chug down a bottle of vintage wine, but I wouldn't recommend it. Murray's stories - full of subtleties and set on several continents - deserve to be savored.In particular, I loved "The Carpenter Who Looked Like A Boxer," the story of a man who has built a life for himself and his children after being abandoned by his wife.Most impressive is that, while most of the stories deal with themes of loss, abandonment and difficult decisions about life, their impact is one of beauty and hope - and I hope we'll see more from this writer!

Butterflies
Yet again, i seem to disagree with the majority of Amazon reviewers...it's not deliberate i hasten to add!

This is a collection of short stories that don't seem to be linked by a common thread - all the stories bar one feature fathers, many feature doctors and/or medical dramas (Murray trained in medicine), many feature India or Indian ex-patriates - but there is no one common theme. It could be that these stories are all Murray has written, but if not you have to ask yourself if the editor really thought things through. By halfway through, you start each story wondering if yet again Murray will be using the same themes....the story that is a bit different `Blue' with its austere setting, is all the more striking for not featuring the tropics. By the end, you feel that the writer is being arrogant, and rather than writing for a reader, he is simply working out his `issues' story after story to the detriment of enjoying his work.

Except for the last story, these don't seem to work very well as short stories, rather they feellike chapters from novels; or perhaps ideas for novels that didn't quite grow.

While there is some lovely prose, there is not nearly enough to cover its flaws. The characters are interesting as isolated examples, but they become very boring when then seem to be in each story, just in a different guise - son/daughter dealing with clever and methodical father/grandfather while mother tries to grow as an individual.

It will be interesting to see if Murray writes a novel, and if so if he moves on to exploring new themes. Until then, ... Read more

Isbn: 0060509287
Subjects:  1. Fiction    2. Fiction - General    3. Literary    4. Literature: Classics    5. Loss (Psychology)    6. Physicians    7. Scientists    8. Short Stories (single author)    9. Short stories    10. Fiction / General    11. Reading Group Guide   

On Doctoring : New, Revised and Expanded Third Edition
by Free Press
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (20 August, 2001)
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Reviews (5)

Beautiful, memorable stories and anecdotes!
A nice collection for anyone interested in all things medical.It makes a nice reference book!

Fair Attempt to Expound Literary Art in a Medical Paradigm
I, along with all my other classmates, received this book at the beginning of medical school at our white coat ceremony. It was presented to us as a collection of anecdotal stories and poems that would help us maintain our focus on the humanistic side of medicine and keep our passions for the practice alive while toiling away at arduous scientific study and long clinical hours. There are some excerpts and short works in the book that do just that. I found myself inspired and feeling enlightened after reading these parts of the book. However, this did not comprise the majority of the book for me. Most of it kept me on the verge of reading and sleep. Several of the poems failed to grip me in the way a select few of the stories had done. Although much of health care deals with the elderly, the book seemed to drone on and on with the experiences of the geriatric to the extent that at times, it felt a more apt title would be On Being Old. For the most part, I felt this work tried to pressure literary art on to medicine. There is a lot of rich and passionate literature related to medicine, but I felt that mostly only less than great works were included here. It was an o.k. experience to read through On Doctoring which did have its gripping pages, but I would probably not recommend it.

The Art of Medicine...
...the science of health. The art and science of the human spirit.

These are given every year to first year students by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and in my opinion, it is like a trusted physician's black bag in which you have the practitioner's stethoscope and blood pressure cuff and plenty of simple pharmacies for a house call--one in which the doctor is not in a hurry to run.

Let not the title catch the layperson off kilter--it's chocked full of good stuff for the rest of us humans who just like to read classic and near-classic works. Like some of my favorites: Because I Could Not Stop for Death by Dickinson, Larynx by Neruda, House Calls by Lewis Thomas and A Summer Tragedy by Arna Bontemps. There's a superb essay on wonder and the evolution of the human spirit by Melvin Konner. There's a Vonnegutian reworking of Frankenstein ( "a crass medical genius" with my real supervisor's first name--I'm grinning as I type this). There's a Chekhov piece on the loss of hope and sadness when one loses a child. Then there's copies of art--Munch, Rockwell, Fildes. Plus, lots, lots more.

First year medical students who usually are to busy to read anything for enjoyment, are missing out on a great collection if they don't stop to smell some of these literary roses. We lay folk with a taste for a great read or two will take us this slack and pass the word on how superb is this collection. ... Read more

Isbn: 0743201531
Sales Rank: 126568
Subjects:  1. Essays    2. Literary Collections    3. Literature - Classics / Criticism    4. Literature: Classics    5. Medicine    6. Physicians    7. Special Subjects In Literature    8. Literary Criticism & Collections / General   

Nine Stories
by Little, Brown
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 May, 1991)
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Editorial Review

In the J.D. Salinger benchmark "A Perfect Day for Bananafish," Seymour Glass floats his beach mate Sybil on a raft and tells her about these creatures' tragic flaw. Though they seem normal, if one swims into a hole filled with bananas, it will overeat until it's too fat to escape. Meanwhile, Seymour's wife, Muriel, is back at their Florida hotel, assuring her mother not to worry--Seymour hasn't lost control. Mention of a book he sent her from Germany and several references to his psychiatrist lead the reader to believe that World War II has undone him.

The war hangs over these wry stories of loss and occasionally unsuppressed rage. Salinger's children are fragile, odd, hypersmart, whereas his grownups (even the materially content) seem beaten down by circumstances--some neurasthenic, others (often female) deeply unsympathetic. The greatest piece in this disturbing book may be "The Laughing Man," which starts out as a man's recollection of the pleasures of storytelling and ends with the intersection between adult need and childish innocence. The narrator remembers how, at nine, he and his fellow Comanches would be picked up each afternoon by the Chief--a Staten Island law student paid to keep them busy. At the end of each day, the Chief winds them down with the saga of a hideously deformed, gentle, world-class criminal. With his stalwart companions, which include "a glib timber wolf" and "a lovable dwarf," the Laughing Man regularly crosses the Paris-China border in order to avoid capture by "the internationally famous detective" Marcel Dufarge and his daughter, "an exquisite girl, though something of a transvestite." The masked hero's luck comes to an end on the same day that things go awry between the Chief and his girlfriend, hardly a coincidence. "A few minutes later, when I stepped out of the Chief's bus, the first thing I chanced to see was a piece of red tissue paper flapping in the wind against the base of a lamppost. It looked like someone's poppy-petal mask. I arrived home with my teeth chattering uncontrollably and was told to go straight to bed." ... Read more

Reviews (135)

My favourite story is in this
As with any collection of short stories, the quality will vary, so there's really no point in pointing that out (although I think I just did?).

Anyways, if you're a fan of J.D. Salinger's other works, and not just 'Catcher in the Rye', you'll probably love this.

All the characters introduced in these stories are very Salinger, in their great intelligence and wit.

I would get this book just for the stories "Teddy" (which is my personal favourite story ever) and "Pretty Mouth and Green My Eyes". Damned beautiful works.

Short and sweet
A great, great, great collection of stories---each and every one is a gem!I was reminded of Jackson McCrae's CHILDREN'S CORNER or possibly the Munro collection RUNAWAY----the writing is just that good.This is a must for any Salinger fan, or anyone interested in great writing.Also, you must, must, must read RAISE HIGH THE ROOFBEAM by Salinger.

Salinger was/is a genius
I am floored by Salinger's wit and perception every time I read these stories.As other reviewers have said, he really just might be THE BEST short-story writer of all time.All the stories spring to life--there is nothing contrived or unnatural ever, whereas even in Chekhov (to name another great story-teller that I happen to be reading now) it feels strained or false some of the time.In other words, most short stories are still literature, but Salinger's transcend it and become reality.Everyone has favorites, and I suspect the only reason I don't adore all of them is because I don't fully understand the brilliance in each.

But here goes my list:

For Esme with love and squalor (Everyone's favorite, and not hard to see why!My favorite dialogue. ever.

Esme gave me a long, faintly clinical look. "You have a dry sense of humor, haven't you?" she said--wistfully. "Father said I have no sense of humor at all. He said I was unequipped to meet life because I have no sense of humor."

Watching her, I lit a cigarette and said I didn't think a sense of humor was of any use in a real pinch.

"Father said it was."

This was a statement of faith, not a contradiction, and I quickly switched horses. I nodded and said her father had probably taken the long view, while I was taking the short (whatever that meant).

------------------------------
"Daumier-Smith's Blue Period" (my personal favorite), if simply for this heart-rending line:

"If you have not as yet replied to my letter, please go on refraining.It is possible that I was mistaken and I do not willfully invite any disillusions at this point in my life.I am willing to stay in the dark."The last line tears at me.Always!
--------------------------------

"War with the Eskimos" (so mundane, yet so well-written and keenly perceptive!)

"Pretty mouth Green my eyes" (OK, some people don't seem to get this story.Think about it: is it really hallucinatory, as another reviewer was saying?
If you're still confused, check this article out.You'll look at this story in a whole new light :)
http://www.nytimes.com/books/98/09/13/specials/salinger-song.html

-------------------------

And finally, my favorite physical description ever is from "Teddy" :

"His eyes, which were pale brown in color, and not at all large, were slightly crossed--the left eye more than the right. They were not crossed enough to be disfiguring, or even to be necessarily noticeable at first glance. They were crossed just enough to be mentioned, and only in context with the fact that one might have thought long and seriously before wishing them straighter, or deeper, or browner, or wider set. His face, just as it was, carried the impact, however oblique and slow-travelling, of real beauty."

The last line especially, is such a beautifully clear way of explaining something we all intuitively know.
-------------------------

If this isn't enough to entice you to buy the book, then you may as well give up reading.

Salinger's Nine Stories are the best collection of short stories ever, in my opinion, and Brothers Karamazov is the best novel ever written.

Get the two today.You won't be sorry!
... Read more

Isbn: 0316769509
Subjects:  1. Classics    2. Fiction    3. Literature - Classics / Criticism    4. Short Stories (single author)    5. Fiction / Short Stories (single author)   

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius (Vintage)
by Vintage
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (13 February, 2001)
list price: $14.95 -- our price: $10.17
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Editorial Review

Dave Eggers is a terrifically talented writer; don't hold his cleverness against him. What to make of a book called A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius: Based on a True Story?For starters, there's a good bit of staggering genius before you even get to the true story, including a preface, a list of "Rules and Suggestions for Enjoyment of This Book," and a 20-page acknowledgements section complete with special mail-in offer, flow chart of the book's themes, and a lovely pen-and-ink drawing of a stapler (helpfully labeled "Here is a drawing of a stapler:").

But on to the true story. At the age of 22, Eggers became both an orphan and a "single mother" when his parents died within five months of one another of unrelated cancers. In the ensuing sibling division of labor, Dave is appointed unofficial guardian of his 8-year-old brother, Christopher. The two live together in semi-squalor, decaying food and sports equipment scattered about, while Eggers worries obsessively about child-welfare authorities, molesting babysitters, and his own health. His child-rearing strategy swings between making his brother's upbringing manically fun and performing bizarre developmental experiments on him. (Case in point: his idea of suitable bedtime reading is John Hersey's Hiroshima.)

The book is also, perhaps less successfully, about being young and hip and out to conquer the world (in an ironic, media-savvy, Gen-X way, naturally). In the early '90s, Eggers was one of the founders of the very funny Might Magazine, and he spends a fair amount of time here on Might, the hipster culture of San Francisco's South Park, and his own efforts to get on to MTV's Real World. This sort of thing doesn't age very well--but then, Eggers knows that. There's no criticism you can come up with that he hasn't put into A.H.W.O.S.G. already. "The book thereafter is kind of uneven," he tells us regarding the contents after page 109, and while that's true, it's still uneven in a way that is funny and heartfelt and interesting.

All this self-consciousness could have become unbearably arch. It's a testament to Eggers's skill as a writer--and to the heartbreaking particulars of his story--that it doesn't. Currently the editor of the footnote-and-marginalia-intensive journal McSweeney's (the last issue featured an entire story by David Foster Wallace printed tinily on its spine), Eggers comes from the most media-saturated generation in history--so much so that he can't feel an emotion without the sense that it's already been felt for him. What may seem like postmodern noodling is really just Eggers writing about pain in the only honest way available to him. Oddly enough, the effect is one of complete sincerity, and--especially in its concluding pages--this memoir as metafiction is affecting beyond all rational explanation. --Mary Park ... Read more

Reviews (801)

Definite Worth Picking up!
Eggers tells of the death of both his parents to cancer. He shares his deep love for his mother, and his feelings of ambivalence towards his father. Eggers' story is one of numbing loss. He writes of his mother's death with brutal honesty, but somehow manages to mix in an amazing amount of humor that keeps his book from becoming too painful to read. His book shares his feelings of love and responsibility towards his brother, his anger, and his resentment towards his loss of freedom. The book starts with his mother's death, winds through a number of events and adventures in Dave's young adult life, and ends at a point where he has found some healing and closure.

"A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius" is based on Eggers true-life story, and while liberties have been taken to change some facts, the book is very effective in sharing the story of a young man struggling with great loss and awesome responsibility. The loose storytelling style is not a mark of "sloppiness" in my opinion, it simply imitates natural speech, a kind of oral story-telling (which makes me wonder if Eggers used oral transcription to write some of this [there's all sorts of software out there for this kind of thing]); in any event it's a very entertaining (dare I say "important") book, my favorite since "High Fidelity" by Nick Hornsby and "The Losers Club: Complete Restored Edition" by Richard Perez

this deserves a read
Caution!Plot spoilers below!

Dave Eggers, best known for his position on the editing staff of the humor magazine McSweeney's, makes a stunning debut as an author in AHWOSG, as he has nicknamed this book.He uses several writing styles in this modernist take on the traditional memoir, including stream-of-conscience and plain diction, all in varying tenses.Also making the book interesting are scene shifts as well as shifts in and out of character to establish the big picture.The only detractors from the book's effectiveness are overuse of stream-of-consciousness, mostly at the end, and overanalyzation of his motives in writing the book.He tries to steer clear of pretension by breaking out of character to acknowledge it and explain why he didn't tell the story a different way, but this unfortunately, this does not always help.
AHWOSG is the story of Dave's life after the deaths of his parents within the same month.He and his twenty-something-year-old siblings move from Chicago to California to begin new lives and raise their eight-year-old brother away from the memories of their parents and the gossip about their misfortune.
The first chapter details the deaths of Dave's parents, remaining in present tense until the death of Dave's mother turns the mood hazy and indefinite, marked with a tense change:"We will leave when they take her away and when we come back the bed will be gone, too.We will move the couch back against the wall where it was before the bed came."The reader sometimes does not realize these things are actually happening for a few paragraphs, but the changes keep the book from becoming monotonous.One of Eggers's most outstanding accomplishments is keeping this 375 page autobiographical book from becoming boring.Unfortunately, some of the techniques he uses to do this become tiring themselves.By the end, for example, Eggers' habit of slipping into stream-of-consciousness seems almost an overindulgence.Some of the poignancy is lost as he details his brother's Frisbee-throwing technique and its significance with regard to the fate of humanity:"...I am there, ready to cradle it as it spins just for a second until it stops.I am there.I was there.Don't you know that I am connected to you?"
Another of Eggers' unorthodox techniques is interrupting the story by allowing one of his characters, usually his younger brother Toph, to break out of character and challenge Eggers' writing style or actions within the book.For example, in one scene, Dave is cutting ten-year-old Toph's hair and explaining an idea he had for a piece in the magazine he edits.The idea is to write a fake eulogy of ex-TV star Adam Rich, with his permission, ostensibly to expose people's base nature and scavenger-like dependency on the media for a feeling of worth.Dave explains this to Toph, and Toph replies, "`Huh.Well, to tell you the truth, I think it's kind of sick.'"Toph's responses become more and more sophisticated until the reader realizes he has broken out of character and is providing a voice for Dave's own self-doubt.
For the most part, Eggers' book is well-written, and well, heart-breaking.Despite some less-than-poignant parts, this book definitely deserves a read, maybe even two or three.Eggers gets an A+ for using highly experimental techniques to create a fantastic book that is, sarcasm aside, a heartbreaking work of staggering genius.

One of my all-time favorites
There are only a few books that warrant five stars, I believe, and A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius is definitely one of them.

One of the reviewers here mentioned that one must be in his or her twenties to appreciate this book-- and, he added-- if one is over 30, he or she would dislike it.I have to disagree. As a woman in my late thirties, whose life couldn't be more different than Dave Eggers', I found this book to be excellent-- excruciatingly honest and a most poignant memoir.

One can't help but feel for what the Eggers family goes through.The reader cheers and cries from the sidelines.I was surprised at the vehemence of my emotions when reading this.Dave Eggers certainly drew me in to his and his family's life, and there were so many times that, as a parent, I wanted to find them all and parent them myself.

I would recommend this book, wholeheartedly, to everyone.People have compared Eggers to David Sedaris.As much as I enjoyed the one Sedaris book I read, Running with Scissors, I would put Eggers' book on another plane entirely.Sedaris' life is also interesting, but Dave Eggers is clearly a better writer and more honest with his emotions. ... Read more

Isbn: 0375725784
Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Brothers    6. Death    7. Editors, Journalists, Publishers    8. Eggers, Dave    9. Literary    10. Parents    11. Personal Memoirs    12. Psychological aspects    13. Biography & Autobiography / General    14. Reading Group Guide   

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Vintage Contemporaries)
by Vintage
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (18 May, 2004)
list price: $12.00 -- our price: $9.60
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Editorial Review

Mark Haddon's bitterly funny debut novel, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, is a murder mystery of sorts--one told by an autistic version of Adrian Mole. Fifteen-year-old Christopher John Francis Boone is mathematically gifted and socially hopeless, raised in a working-class home by parents who can barely cope with their child's quirks. He takes everything that he sees (or is told) at face value, and is unable to sort out the strange behavior of his elders and peers.

Late one night, Christopher comes across his neighbor's poodle, Wellington, impaled on a garden fork. Wellington's owner finds him cradling her dead dog in his arms, and has him arrested. After spending a night in jail, Christopher resolves--against the objection of his father and neighbors--to discover just who has murdered Wellington. He is encouraged by Siobhan, a social worker at his school, to write a book about his investigations, and the result--quirkily illustrated, with each chapter given its own prime number--is The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

Haddon's novel is a startling performance. This is the sort of book that could turn condescending, or exploitative, or overly sentimental, or grossly tasteless very easily, but Haddon navigates those dangers with a sureness of touch that is extremely rare among first-time novelists. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is original, clever, and genuinely moving: this one is a must-read. --Jack Illingworth, Amazon.ca ... Read more

Reviews (819)

Haddon writers rock !!
I loved this book.I thought it was a brilliant masterpiece.This is a great read.I also loved WHISPERS OF THE WICKED SAINTS BY VERONICA HADDON.Any relation?I have no idea, but they are wonderful writers.If you are looking for books that will consume your mind I sugest look no further then the Haddon's

A good read
Curious Incident is an expertly written book. I was hooked to this book the moment I started reading it. Within three hours, I was at the end of the last page. It was so touching. Told through the eyes of a boy who suffers from autism, the book captured our failings as humans, the strength of faith, the innocence of childhood, the things we take for granted in our lives, the hopes we cling to, the dreams we want to realize and the love we aspire for in our lives.

Intriguing as it may sound; I was fascinating by the unusual chapter numbering, the use of diagrams, statistics and the use of a first person narrator. It was clever and achieved its desired result of stirring curiosity and eventually keeping the reader hooked. It is a very creative style of writing. In fact, it is a unique reading experience.

By trying to get into the mind of the boy in his narration, I could easily understand his parents who had to deal with his problems constantly. I recommend this novel as a good, enjoyable read and a unique diversion from the other styles of writings that are in the market.LIFE OF PI,USURPER AND OTHERS, DISCIPLES OF FORTUNE , BRICK LANE also have touching stories with strong lessons about life.

Original and Real
The story, simple yet original, is told with a heartbreaking honesty unique to the autistic.It was easy for me to be drawn in and forget, which reading, that this was a fiction.The main character is not always easy to like, and accompanying him through his adventure is often frustrating and emotionally draining, but leaves you with a great sympathy for him and for those who care for him.I've recommended this book to all my family and friends. ... Read more

Isbn: 1400032717
Subjects:  1. Autism    2. Fiction    3. Fiction - General    4. General    5. Literary    6. Savants (Savant syndrome)    7. Fiction / General   

The Unbearable Lightness of Being (Perennial Classics)
by Perennial
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 April, 1999)
list price: $13.95 -- our price: $11.16
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Reviews (190)

For the lover of vocab and beautiful images
As a person in intense hatred for the limitations of the english language, I found this book to be stunning in the ways of translating even the most difficult emotions to comprehend.Though the story itself is very plain, the emotions that go into the story are complex, and Milan Kundera ammends these limitations through the use of beautifully expressed images.

The novel takes place during an era of communist takeover in Czechoslavakia.Having less to do with political statements and bias, the novel deals with deep images within the roots of the movement as well as within character motivations towards their seemingly rediculous actions.

I would reccommend this book to anyone who has been a fan of the classics, but desires something more than just words to express meaning.The book is deeply philosophical, but strays away from the long-winded philosophy fiction that most people are aware of.It is a beautiful novel and extremely easy to read, if you are a romantic and open to the expression of life in images.

everything they said it would be
oh love and its painful realities ! It haswrittenabout andexpounded on since thestart of the printed word but then howcouldyou not beblown away if it comesa -wading to you ina "bulrush basket"? in theheart of Kundera'snarrative cum philosopical musings is really a touching love storyof extraordinary intimacy. Tomas, Tereza, Sabina...you feel that you have been let inthe most private recesss of their lives that you almost flinch, close the book, and hope you have not offended. im glad to have finally readthis brilliant gem as it celebratesalmost 20 years in print.it has met and far surpassed my expectations!

I simply must tell you...
I don't write reviews on Amazon as a hobby, that is to say, I write only when I am compelled to do so by a strong feeling of either like or dislike toward the product (book, movie, cd) in question.I have, as of this writing, reviewed only one work of fiction (Kureishi's 'Intimacy') because it had a very profound impact on me, as few other books have had, until recently...

Interestingly enough, Kundera's "Unbelievable Lightness of Being" lives only a few titles away from "Intimacy" on the shelves of terrestial bookstores, and yet despite returning there often (to browse through Kureishi's other works) I never noticed it.This is unfortunate, because I should have read it ages ago.

There is something very gripping about this story.It can evoke passionate feelings, awaken dormant resentment, and cause you to question your most strongly held beliefs and convictions - all in a span of just a few days (but only if you're a slow reader, like me).

What resonated with me most was how accessible the true thoughts and feelings of the characters were to the reader.I saw the author's frequent meanderings, which some have criticized, as a fascinating journey through the thought process of the protagonists.The reasons for their actions were often very transparent, and thus easy to understand and relate to, which in turn made them difficult to condemn.

Kundera's writing is neither black nor white, it is gray but in its grayness...it is inspiringly human.For this reason, the Unbearable Lightness of Being has become the second work of fiction I felt compelled to review. ... Read more

Isbn: 0060932139
Sales Rank: 2172
Subjects:  1. Classics    2. Fiction    3. Fiction - General    4. Kundera, Milan - Prose & Criticism    5. Literary    6. Literature: Classics    7. Reading Group Guide   

Persepolis : The Story of a Childhood (Alex Awards (Awards))
by Pantheon
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (29 April, 2003)
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Reviews (87)

Amazing book.Read it!
I've heard great things about this book and was afraid I would be disappointed b/c of all the hype.In fact, I was truly touched by the humor, humanity, wit, and tragedy artfully conveyed by Marjane Satrapi.I know the outlines of the Iranian Revolution and this is surely one of the most accessible and powerful works of art to emerge from that period.Regardless of your background and interest in either comics or Iran, you will be engrossed by this beautiful, funny, and graceful work of art.

Girl's Imagination on "Dialectic Materialism"
Satrapi's parents were radicals who fostered a deep sense of curiosity and independence in their daughter. She is deeply inspired and concerned for their safety as her parents protest together in the streets of Tehran and host parties with Communist leaders in the student movements. In the battle for ideology God wins out each time Satrapi overhears of the the Shah's army killing protesters, or when her friends tell her their fathers are away on a trip - something the children tragically discover means the men were executed. When tragedy strikes her own family Satrapi has her final vision of God. She banishes him from her dreams screaming he does not exist. "Get out of my life!" she shouts at God.

Satrapi's deeply inquisitive childhood complements the history of Iran, a small chapter of that history is a second narrative in Persepolis. The book was named for a noted city-center in Persia, the city of Persepolis was founded around 500 BC. Many texts were discovered at Persepolis documenting hundreds of years of Persian history before the city's founding as well as many volumes of Persian poetry.

It is not right to gloss over 1,000 years of history but Iran remained distinctly Persian throughout numerous Arab invasions and the expansion of the Ottoman Empire in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries - I have even heard that Persian influence was evident in languages as far west as Austria a few hundred years later. Because of such preservation of Persian language and identity a strong nationalist history survived in unique poetry and history texts - like some of the most ancient that resided at Persepolis.

Persepolis radiates this legacy. Satrapi's remembrances both offer the reader with a history lesson missing in my American generation as well as a firecracker of a girl's take on events. The memoir radiates literary tradition distinct to the region, not only in Satrapi's writing but also in her stark black and white illustrations that portray our heroine even more warm and endearing than you could imagine a photo to be.

Better than Maus
I enjoyed Persepolis and learned a great deal about events that happened when I was but a child myself. Marjane manages to capture the humanity of her friends and family in the middle of chaotic times. While the subject matter and presentation are very similar to the Maus books by Spiegelman, I think that Persepolis is more effective in its story telling because the people are left people for the good and the bad. ... Read more

Isbn: 0375422307
Sales Rank: 2917
Subjects:  1. 1969-    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Comic books, strips, etc    6. Satrapi, Marjane,    7. Women    8. Biography & Autobiography / Women    9. Satrapi, Marjane    10. Reading Group Guide   

Candyfreak: A Journey through the Chocolate Underbelly of America
by Harvest Books
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (04 April, 2005)
list price: $13.00 -- our price: $10.40
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Editorial Review

Picture a magical, sugar-fueled road trip with Willy Wonka behind the wheel and David Sedaris riding shotgun, complete with chocolate-stained roadmaps and the colorful confetti of spent candy wrappers flying in your cocoa powder dust. If you can imagine such a manic journey--better yet, if you can imagine being a hungry hitchhiker who's swept through America's forgotten candy meccas: Philadelphia (Peanut Chews), Sioux City (Twin Bing), Nashville (Goo Goo Cluster), Boise (Idaho Spud) and beyond--then Candyfreak: A Journey through the Chocolate Underbelly of America, Steve Almond's impossible-to-put down portrait of regional candy makers and the author's own obsession with all-things sweet, would be your Fodor's guide to this gonzo tour.

With the aptly named Almond (don't even think of bringing up the Almond Joy bit--coconut is Almond's kryptonite), obsession is putting it mildly. Almond loves candy like no other man in America. To wit: the author has "three to seven pounds" of candy in his house at all times. And then there's the Kit Kat Darks incident; Almond has a case of the short-lived confection squirreled away in an undisclosed warehouse. "I had decided to write about candy because I assumed it would be fun and frivolous and distracting," confesses Almond. "It would allow me to reconnect to the single, untarnished pleasure of my childhood. But, of course, there are no untarnished pleasures. That is only something the admen of our time would like us to believe." Almond's bittersweet nostalgia is balanced by a fiercely independent spirit--the same underdog quality on display by the small candy makers whose entire existence (and livelihood) is forever shadowed by the Big Three: Hershey's, Mars, and Nestle.

Almond possesses an original, heartfelt, passionate voice; a writer brave enough to express sheer joy. Early on his tour he becomes entranced with that candy factory staple, the "enrober"--imagine an industrial-size version of the glaze waterfall on the production line at your local Krispy Kreme, but oozing chocolate--dubbing it "the money shot of candy production." And while he writes about candy with the sensibilities of a serious food critic (complimenting his beloved Kit Kat Dark for its "dignified sheen," "puddinglike creaminess," "coffee overtones," and "slightly cloying wafer") words like "nutmeats" and "rack fees" send him into an adolescent twitter.

...the Marathon Bar, which stormed the racks in 1974, enjoyed a meteoric rise, died young, and left a beautiful corpse. The Marathon: a rope of caramel covered in chocolate, not even a solid piece that is, half air holes, an obvious rip-off to anyone who has mastered the basic Piagetian stages, but we couldn't resist the gimmick. And then, as if we weren't bamboozled enough, there was the sleek red package, which included a ruler on the back and thereby affirmed the First Rule of Male Adolescence: If you give a teenage boy a candy bar with a ruler on the back of the package, he will measure his dick

Candyfreak is one of those endearing, quirky titles that defy swift categorization. One of those rare books that you'll want to tear right through, one you won't soon stop talking about. And eager readers beware: It's impossible to flip through ten pages of this sweet little book without reaching for a piece of chocolate. --Brad Thomas Parsons ... Read more

Reviews (68)

Funniest Book I ever read
OK, so I am not a candy freak, but certainly a fan. Plus, my hometown is also home to M&M's/Mars Master Foods. And after reading the People Magazine review, I made a mental note to read this book.

I was not expecting it to be so funny. In fact, I didn't know what to expect really. I mean, I book about candy? How coud he write a whole book about candy without it coming off like a technical guide? But he did it. And I am grateful.

Almond might not be so grateful that I have passed my copy on to three others to read (everyone finished it in about 2-3 days). I sure he would prefer everyone buy their own copy. So, I am doing my part in telling you to get your own copy and prepare to laugh. And to have sugar cravings.

Fascinating, Nostalgic Read!
If you have any sense of awe in regard to childhood, and Americana, Candyfreak is worth your time . Reading this book reminded me of growing up, hanging around the candy store (or counter), and the salivation of opening the wrapper of newfound sweetness.

Candyfreak is what its name infers, but aren't we all that way too?

sweet sadness
Almond writes with pulsing personality and sensual joie de vivre.

This book is a unique mix of journalism, obsession, and personal revelations.

The weakness... visits to the candy companies become repetitous.

The strength... scenes of the author's childhood, his frailties, his stabs at adult love, and his disquiet about America.

Almond's most poignant writing involves his sadness and doubt. Read this for his courage and candor, his observations on our individual quests and our strange society.
... Read more

Isbn: 0156032937
Subjects:  1. Almond, Steve    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Candy    5. Candy industry    6. Chocolate    7. Courses & Dishes - Chocolate    8. Food Science    9. Form - Essays    10. Humor    11. Industries - General    12. Technology    13. Topic - Business and Professional    14. United States    15. Business & Economics / General   

Drinking: A Love Story
by Dial Press Trade Paperback
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (12 May, 1997)
list price: $15.00 -- our price: $10.20
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Editorial Review

The roots of alcoholism in the life of a brilliant daughter of an upper-class family are explored in this stylistic, literary memoir of drinking by a Massachusetts journalist. Caroline Knapp describes how the distorted world of her well-to-do parents pushed her toward anexoria and then alcoholism. Fittingly, it was literature that saved her: She found inspiration in Pete Hamill's A Drinking Life and sobered up. Her tale is spiced with the characters she's known along the way. ... Read more

Reviews (113)

A great book, but.....
In "Drinking: A Love Story", Caroline Knapp reveals her story of alcoholism from childhood through rehab. Her story is told from an honest and intellectual perspective. I think this book would appeal the most to other educated, working, female alchoholics. However, people from various backgrounds would benefit from her message. She covers issues including relationships, dishonesty, addictive behaviors, family issues, and maintaining a career while under the influence. I would have given this book 5 stars, but I felt some parts were a bit too wordy and repetitive. The ending was a little disappointing to me because it didn't go into as much detail about her rehab and sobriety as it did her drinking. The book delivered such a strong message but seemed to fizzle out at the end.
Overall, this book is definitely worth reading!

Lost at Sea
The premise of "Drinking: A Love Story" is excellent: life of the over-privileged lost but functional in a sea of alcohol. The author does an excellent job with the story telling. There are elements of the Rikkilee Travolta story "My Fractured Life" in the details as well as in the style of storytelling. The two have a very similar feel and tone and should mutually appeal. There are also a few elements of the Augusten Burroughs story "Dry" but not as many as I expected.

So Clear
"Drinking A Love Story" is a stellar novel that puts a real voice on addiction. More than just being about an alcoholic, it's about being a functional alcoholic which is so incredibly eye opening. While "A Million Little Pieces" and "Basketball Diaries" are very graphic about over the edge, in the gutter, can't function in society addicts; "Drinking: A Love Story" is even more compelling because it's about someone you could well know. "Drinking: A Love Story" equates favorably to the better books in the field, books like "Smashed", "My Fractured Life", and "Dry." ... Read more

Isbn: 0385315546
Subjects:  1. Alcoholics    2. Alcoholism    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Case studies    8. Knapp, Caroline,    9. Recovering alcoholics    10. Specific Groups - Special Needs    11. Substance Abuse & Addictions - Alcoholism    12. United States    13. Women    14. d. 2002    15. Self-Help / Recovery   

The Economist
by The Economist Newspaper Group, Inc.
Average Customer Review:
Magazine
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Reviews (126)

No other weekly like it
This is, plainly put, the best news periodical out there.Sure, others can "report" what's happening in the world, but The Economist includes analysis and puts events in proper perspective to provide the much sought after "why?".Upon hearing of the magazine, the title seemed to suggest a dry, tough read about finance and economics.Not so at all.It's sort of like an international, intelligent version of Time or Newsweek, with a more objective and rational feel.It's a surprisingly easy read as well, with a great informal British style, infused with wit throughout yet always smart and informative.Well worth the price.

If you're going to read only one news periodical . . .
The Economist should be it.It is the most thorough single news periodical out there, period.Enjoy.

It Really Is That Good
Read one Economist article, and you'll know why it's considered in a league of its own, and why everyone from business leaders to Prime Ministers to regular people like you and me love it so much.

One of the best attributes the Economist possesses is its ability to present news and analysis on an unsurpassed intellectual level, while at the same time being very much down to earth, at times even getting comical commentary in. I have never once read an article where I sensed bias. I'm very good at detecting bias, and even when it perhaps is bias I'm inclined with, it ruins the legitimacy for me. You'll notice they do not attribute articles to specific authors. This is because the magazine wants each article to represent the Economist as a whole, and not a particular person. It's a refreshing formula, in an age where some writers feel the need to be long winded and rush to grab individual attention at every turn.

The Economist has been around for 150+ years for good reason. It holds incredible integrity, and it doesn't cater to anyone.

For international news and perspective in particular, I have yet to find a weekly publication on the Economist's level for the mere reason there are none. I'm a student in International Affairs, and the insight and rationality found in the pages devoted to the world, 1/3 of each issue in fact, is the crowning jewel of the magazine. That's in addition to its coverage on business, finance, technology, arts and books. It's truly a complete package.

You probably couldn't do anything better to improve your mind and worldview with a little over $100 than to buy an Economist subscription. ... Read more

Asin: B00005NIP1
Sales Rank: 39
Subjects:  1. News & Politics    2. Business    3. International    4. Business News   

Vanity Fair
by Conde Nast Publications Inc.
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Magazine
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Reviews (41)

I so look forward to each issue
I've had an ongoing subscription to Vanity Fair for about 10 years.It is the one magazine subscription that I won't let expire.I really love it,especially Dominick Dunne's articles and the rabid anti- Bush stance of the entire editorial staff. Well worth the price.

Sex, Drugs, and Rock 'n' Roll... with a Better Vocabulary
I've been an avid reader of Vanity Fair since first subscribing at age 16. How else would I know the goings-on of people like Jocelyn Wildenstein and Princesses Marie-Chantal, Pia, and Alexandra (aka The Miller Sisters)?

Vanity Fair consistently provides a well-balanced volume of investigative reports, society gossip, movers-and-shakers features, and luscious photography. If you care to know the who's who of everything upper-crust -- philanthropy, fine dining, theater and the arts, film, fashion -- Vanity Fair is the magazine to treasure. The photography alone is reason enough to subscribe: they are so masterfully styled and intricately decorated, images from ten years ago still are emblazoned in my (nutty-professor-forgetful) mind.

Sophisticated!!!
This is one magazine in the so-called "general" category (non political and business oriented) magazine that I always find intriguing to read. This is New Yorker meets Vogue.

The articles are thought-provoking but written in a light-hearted manner. Some articles are worthy of the Pulitzer Prize. Yes, the magazine embraces 'superficiality'... but then you should know that by now.

A weekend treat!!!! ... Read more

Asin: B00005NIPX
Sales Rank: 25
Subjects:  1. Entertainment    2. Fashion & Style    3. Women's Fashion