Aaron denDekker

I tend to be generous with reviews and “stars” but White Noise is Post-modernism in top form. The way DeLillo illustrates the information overload of the 80's is still relevant. All the information/misinformation, commercialism, consumerist, for-profit BS that fuels society is painfully familiar. Couldn't put it down.

I've seen the Blade Runner film countless times but until now had not read Sheep (as PKD refers to it). I had known that there were some differences between them but did not realize how drastic they were. The book merely provides a setting for the film but even that was modified. Dick's version emphasizes a conscious awakening by Deckard. The post-script describes that PKD apparently likened the androids to Nazi officers and their inhuman nature and found it deplorable. I feel like this is not conveyed much in the writing. Most of the interactions between humans and androids highlight the similarities. There are clear descriptions of lack of empathy but it doesn't sell the story. The religious/spiritual concept of Mercerism is at times overdone and a little hokey. And the love story, if you can call it that, was so paltry. I respect PKD and enjoy his stories but I expected a little more from Sheep. I gave it 3 stars because it is great conceptually but lacks some in execution and is a bit disjointed at times.

This is not the kind of book a typically read but it has gotten a big mainstream push so I figured what the hell.

I was pleasantly rewarded. It starts off somewhat slow with what feels like is going to be a Don Draper/Mad Men sort of affair thing but it really turns into a great story about how these things impact the children's lives. I'm not going to elaborate as the story should remain in the book but I have to say that Patchett is a wonderful story teller. Almost to the point that it feels that some of it may be based on true events. At least I felt that way. I gave it 4 stars because I don't feel that it was life changing enough to warrant 5 but I highly recommend it.

Being the grandchild of Dutch immigrants who barely survived occupation in the Netherlands it's difficult for me to read something where the narrator openly states his, not just affiliation with, but allegiance to Hitler and Nazi mindset. It's clear, however, Grass wrote this memoir to come clean. He demonstrates the pain that has come with years of retrospection. I have no doubt he was ignorant to many atrocities committed. And he describes his regret at not being more affected by it when he was first exposed. Maybe I want to let him off the hook too easily because I think his writing was brilliant.
Throughout Peeling the Onion Grass describes an epic life that seems almost too fantastic. He questions his own recollection at times and admits his tendency to embellish. But, the journey he describes was indeed epic and despite his affiliation with the Third Reich, he was one of the greatest writers of the 20th century. Peeling the Onion is either the most amazing life story ever told or another one of Grass' masterpieces of prose.

Very simply written. I felt at times it was meant for grade schoolers. But this story describes possibly the craziest episode in US history, the current state of the White House notwithstanding. I could not even believe some of this actually happened it was so over the top. Is this taught properly in school? I do not remember learning about this. At least not like this. In the aftermath of the Snowden/NSA scandal I believe that this is a must read.