Aaron denDekker

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.

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.

I honestly don't know how to review this book. It's wonderfully written, as expected from Harper Lee. I've read quite a few reviews by other readers and not to rehash the same old thing but the reversal in Atticus Finch's character is appalling. The statements made by Atticus are difficult to read. Being from Kentucky, the ignorant jabber attempting to justify segregation isn't surprising to me. But the way it's presented here makes me sick. Although Scout maintains abhorrence to it, at times it felt like there was a defense for this racial prejudice. As if Harper Lee, herself, was defending the ignorance of the south or, maybe, lamenting it. That being said, I enjoyed reading it for the most part. It was like talking to an old aunt who used to tell you stories. Even though the story wasn't cheerful, it was still good to hear from her.

This is one of the more accessible books in Pynchon's catalog. A postmodern psychedelic noir mystery. All the same Pynchonian devices are there: a seemingly endless list of colorful characters with even more colorful names, paranoia, wacky plot twists, and, of course, song and dance. A lot of fun.

I have to admit that when I first started NW I didn't care for it really. The writing was okay but it seemed like the author was forcing a different type of narrative, it didn't feel natural. But it quickly pulled me in. I realized that the writing was supposed to sort of feel that way and that it was supposed to convey the lives of the characters in ways that couldn't be done with a more “traditional” approach. I really started to enjoy it. This is the first book I have read by Zadie Smith and didn't really have a strong desire to read her after hearing some of the reviews of her previous work White Teeth. However, after NW I will definitely read more.

I read a lot of naysaying about this book. I admit that I'm biased towards Pynchon. It did take me forever to read V. but it was well worth sticking with it to the end. V. takes you on a ride from Newport News to “Nuevo York”, back in time to Florence, Cairo, and Valletta. All the while, weaving the fabric of a plot, connecting countless characters into an overarching storyline that ultimately culminates into the search for something that is unreal. Yes, none of that makes any sense but that's why it can only be experienced by reading the book.

The shortest of all the Pynchon books at only 183 pages, CoL49 still contains more context than most “long” novels. Starts off as a crime noir but soon evolves to unfold a plot within a plot that borders on a bizarre string of subconsciousness. I didn't want it to end.

It's difficult to say what I like about it the most. At first I didn't like any character but as the story went on I came to identify with some of them. The story becomes so much more real as I progresses; moving from hilarious anecdotes about each character to, in the end, a moving statement about war. And the way the premise of Catch 22 underscores every character and scene is amazing. Loved every word.

This book doesn't live up to the hype over it. The first chapter suggests something deep and heart wrenching but ends up lacking. Possibly due to something lost in translation of the original prose. Murakami tells a decent story here but it could have been better.

I admit that the concept of Neuromancer, and assume for the entire Sprawl trilogy, is clever and very well laid out. It sucks you in at times trying to imagine this world that Gibson has created. However, as literature I feel like it is feeble at best. Aside from the protagonist, Case, the characters are only abstractly and incompletely developed. Certain aspects if seemingly central characters thrown in at odd angles. Linda has an apparent hold on Case that is never really made clear while his relationship with Molly is even more vague. Not to mention that the dialogue is completely broken. Maybe my expectations are misguided. Maybe I'm not supposed to care about the characters and their roles with each other. But with it winning all the top honors in SciFi lit, I expected more. I didn't hate it and I will likely read the rest of the trilogy. But, this isn't going onto my “favorites” shelf.

This book will increase your IQ. The subtext isn't overly obvious but only the bible has as much symbolism.