This book is pretty damn good. I started reading an earlier translation, and was able to compare and contrast with this edition quite a bit, and let me tell you, this edition won awards for a reason. It's a little heavy, and it might put you to sleep, but it's worth it as it's a classic tale with a plot that has very few parallels. There are a lot of characters, but it's not too hard to keep straight. I read it as part of a class so we had in-class discussion and quizzes, which made it easier to keep the story straight and to get as much as possible out of it.
Chang scores a horrifying depiction of the atrocities committed upon the people of Nanking by the Japanese in your gray matter. Many of the facts in this book are still left out of Japanese teachings. It's an incredibly sad tale, but it shows that people from all walks of life can unite under one roof when complete inhumanity runs rampant.
First of all, I wouldn't recommend this to the average person. It's a very long read (I'm only half-way through it), and it has a lot to do with Alan Turing and the revolutionary work he was doing with the Enigma machine during WWII. It also has about 4 subplots which, as far as I have gotten, haven't really crossed paths completely yet. The jumping around between the plots made me lose some interest, but I have a feeling this complexity will be rewarding in the end. It's also a very long read. But, if you're interested in the subject matter, the first few pages will hook you.
A book about an old man and his obsession with catching a fish. Pretty sad chain of events. His fish gets pwnd by sharks. Then, they dump the carcass in the bay and people look at it. It's about epic failure, and it's pretty depressing. I don't think I'll read it again.
I remember liking parts of this book, but like most Hemingway, it's long-winded and a little boring in spots. I need to re-read it so my post-highschool brain can reinterpret what happens...
I was forced to read this in school, and didn't find it very engaging or exciting. It has historical value, but it wasn't fun to read. I remember the ending being anti-climactic even though someone died...