Reviews Written By: A3P8ZDHC7XSKSEprovided by Amazon.com |
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 | Villette (Modern Library Classics) | |
 | "Ugh - I don't speak French" | 2009-09-11 |
| I don't speak French... and as such I was unable to fully enjoy large portions of this book. It is a long tale of Lucy from childhood visiting with her Godmother through her life as a teacher and her ever proud determination to be dependant on no-one. Her friends weave in and out of her life and Bronte has an almost musical way with weaving the English Language - the problem is that there is so much French, and so many important conversations are had in French that I really felt like I was missing out on huge parts of the book.
If you don't speak French, be sure to search for a version of the book that is fully translated into English. The book, though tediously slow, is well worth the read for fans of the Bronte Sisters. | ||
 | 2001: A Space Odyssey | |
 | "Still a struggle to stay focused" | 2009-08-23 |
| Hmmm... I'll be honest - I've never been able to make it through this film from beginning to end, I ALWAYS fall asleep even though I admit that it's a fantastically made film. So I thought, surely the book will fill me in on everything I always sleep through (the part I enjoy the most is HAL) but since I had a long road trip for work ahead of me I picked up the audiobook.
I'll admit that I'm not big on Science Fiction other then a handful of novels (Ender's Game, Day of the Trifids etc). Once I made it past the monkey people in the beginning, I was okay with the dude going to the moon (though the technical detail started making me nod off I prevailed) then on to our dear astronauts headed to Saturn with HAL in tow. I was happy as could be with that part. But once we moved on beyond it... it was an uphill battle to the end. I know that the idea and concept were amazing, the writing was beautiful, but I had to struggle through every last bit of it. I don't think I could have actually read the book, had it not been on my IPOD I think I would have probably lost interest. I can see why people love this book. And I appreciate it for all that it is... but I can't for the life of me say that I really enjoyed it as much as everyone else seems to. Though the book WAS written at the same time as Kubrick was filming the movie, the book will enlighten the reader (or listener) on many of the parts of the film that leave the viewer of the film scratching their head. For those interested in the Audiobook quality - the audiobook does include the intro, narrated by Mr. Arthur C Clark himself. The book is read by a very skilled and clear reader without an overbearing accent (so many of them do) and I couldn't have been any happier with the quality of the recording and would recommend it to anyone interested in the story. | ||
 | Freckle Juice | |
| "My 7 year old son howled with laughter" | 2009-07-14 |
| Since his big brother had to do some summer reading - I ordered a few books for the little guy to keep up his skills. He read Superfudge a few months ago, so I charged him with reading Freckle Juice, all by himself. I told him that if he could answer 5 questions when he was done, that the last pudding pop was all his. Never one to back down from a challenge when a pudding pop is on the line, the little guy sat down on the family room floor and started reading. As I made dinner I could hear him howling with laughter as he read. He came running out and told me that "Andrew wanted freckles so he gave a nasty girl in his class 50 cents to buy a freckle juice formula. When he drank it he turned Green because it was so gross. Then he used a marker an put freckles all over himself, but his teacher gave him a secret formula to make them go away. I think it was just soap" He got his pudding pop - and I even threw in a lifesaver since I was so impressed as his ability to remember fine details from the book (he could list ALL of the ingredients in the freckle juice and remembered the names of every character in the book). Is there any great moral? In our house it's an important one - Don't blindly listen to some kid in your class. If he had read this before then we may not have suffered through the "Penny Incident" a few months ago. This is just a cute little book that 2nd-3rd graders can easily read by themselves. There was only one word in the whole book that he needed help with. Highly recommended for moving your kids out of the baby books and into "Chapter Books" as he likes to call them. | ||
![The Godfather Collection - The Coppola Restoration Gift Set (The Godfather / The Godfather Part II / The Godfather Part III) [Blu-Ray]](product_images/4943000/4943971-the-godfather-collection-four_t.jpg) | The Godfather Collection - The Coppola Restoration Gift Set (The Godfather / The Godfather Part II / The Godfather Part III) [Blu-Ray] | |
 | "One of the few movies that I would honestly rate 5 stars" | 2009-07-13 |
| It is my personal opinion that The Godfather 1 & 2 are probably the greatest films ever made. So of course I owned them on VHS... then I bought them again on DVD... and Now I'm the proud owner of the entire trilogy (plus a bunch of extras and an over sized booklet) on Blu-Ray. Was it worth the money to buy this set again? I guess it depends on who you are and what you like. First of all, I generally prefer theatrical versions to any other versions of films - there are a few exceptions of course, but on the whole I prefer the theatrical release - which is what these BDVDs are. Many people will not be huge fans of the graininess of the film or the orange hue of the film. Expecially if you are used to watching the extremely sharp and crisp newer movies released on Blu-ray. But there is something about that grainy texture and warm lighting that makes this film seem all the more immediate, they welcome the viewer in and you quickly forget yourself in the rise and fall of Michael. So yes to me the investment was well worth the purchase, we have watched these movies hundreds of times and it feels like every time I catch yet another subtle nuance, gesture or deeper meaning. Others will find this to be a waste of their hard earned money - they just want to see the movie. Some people are content to just watch it when it comes on A&E - but to the true fans, the upgrade to Blu-ray is a must. | ||
 | Jule Styne ,Stephen Sondheim ,Bette Midler - Gypsy (1993 TV Soundtrack) | |
| "How I want to give this 5 stars" | 2009-07-02 |
| I own a different copy of Gypsy that is terrible, not the songs, but the recording. So after chatting with some old friends from school (we did Gypsy, I was lucky enough to play MaZeppa) I decided that I needed a version of the musical that I could really sing along with. Having seen the TV movie I decided to go with the Bette Midler version, as it seems to have the majority of the songs on it and Bette is always good for some loud, crisp, belted out vocals. What was great - -With the songs haveing been recorded for TV, the sound quality is the best of the CDs that I have heard (there are a few versions out there that I have NOT heard so take that with a grain of salt) -The kids are fantastic - all of them, Tulsa's "All I need is the Girl" is smooth and vocally wonderful. "If Mama was Married" and "Little Lamb" show off the young girls voices and are so touching... "Little Lamb" almost brings me to tears. -Bette Midler belts it out as we expect her to. What kept this from being 5 stars: -I wanted ALL of Gypsy's first show... it is cut down so much that all you have is the intro, the guys stating the cities, and her brassy ending. -Herby, though played by a FANTASTIC actor, is NOT a good singer. Granted it's a weak part. -Bette Midler plays a very loud, Rose... which is fine, but her volume and determination to belt it out at the top of her lungs costs us... we loose much of the subtly and the emotion of Rose, particularly in "Roses Turn" I didn't feel the pain and agony that many of the other actresses brought to that specific song. Still - If you enjoy musicals, this is a MUST OWN. | ||
 | The Jungle Books (Penguin Modern Classics) | |
| "The magic is alive in these tales of the Jungle" | 2009-06-01 |
| No this is not your Disney movie - Kipling wrote a fantastic series of short stories, only a few of which include Mowgli. Baloo is not a lazy idiot, Kaa is not a bad guy, SherKahn is killed rather then run off, the wolves are not always the noble good guys... this is VERY different then our cotton candy Disney film. And so much more enjoyable for it. Also included are the tales of Rikki Tikki Tavi, the Elephant Dance, and the White Seal. I would have to say that my favorite is Rikki Tikki Tavi, he's just so loveable and wonderful. There is a sense of magic in Kiplings animals, every reader will find themselves dreaming of being raised by wolves and taught the law of the jungle by Baloo. I know that this was written as a children's book - but I have a hard time believing that my 11 year old son would be able to read and enjoy it, the beauty of the language will be lost on many of the younger readers who are used to the forward speaking newer YA books. But I would assume that by middle school they should be able to fully enjoy it. | ||
 | The Jungle Books (The World's Classics) | |
| "The magic is alive in these tales of the Jungle" | 2009-06-01 |
| No this is not your Disney movie - Kipling wrote a fantastic series of short stories, only a few of which include Mowgli. Baloo is not a lazy idiot, Kaa is not a bad guy, SherKahn is killed rather then run off, the wolves are not always the noble good guys... this is VERY different then our cotton candy Disney film. And so much more enjoyable for it. Also included are the tales of Rikki Tikki Tavi, the Elephant Dance, and the White Seal. I would have to say that my favorite is Rikki Tikki Tavi, he's just so loveable and wonderful. There is a sense of magic in Kiplings animals, every reader will find themselves dreaming of being raised by wolves and taught the law of the jungle by Baloo. I know that this was written as a children's book - but I have a hard time believing that my 11 year old son would be able to read and enjoy it, the beauty of the language will be lost on many of the younger readers who are used to the forward speaking newer YA books. But I would assume that by middle school they should be able to fully enjoy it. | ||
 | The Wee Free Men | |
| "Crivens! Pratchett does it again!" | 2009-06-01 |
| This book may be marketed to YA or Children, but I can't think of a woman who wouldn't enjoy it - not that men won't like it, but it's just so rare to find a story of a smart little girl who no one notices that ends up saving the world through her wits (and she saves the nasty old boy too). Tiffany Aching is a wonderful addition to the Discworld pantheon, I avoided reading this for the longest time because I was so upset that it wasn't going to be about one of the groups I already loved (the Guards and the Witches) and I just couldn't imagine loving any new character as much as I loved them. But I should have had faith in Pratchett. Tiffany is wonderful, funny and the perfect little heroine for a tale including the Nac Mac Feegle. I can imagine little girls all over the world wishing they had the Wee Free Men on their side, and that they could go and save the world from an evil queen. The story is funny, adventureous and forced me to stay up way too late at night to finish it in a single sitting. You don't have to have read any of the other Discworld books to read this one, and for those of you who are "anti-witchcraft" I would advise you read this before harping on it - Pratchett has a very different view of witchcraft then most... I highly recommend this book - I wish I hadn't read it so that I could have the pleasure of reading it again for the first time. | ||
| Jungle Books | |
| "The magic is alive in these tales of the Jungle" | 2009-06-01 |
| No this is not your Disney movie - Kipling wrote a fantastic series of short stories, only a few of which include Mowgli. Baloo is not a lazy idiot, Kaa is not a bad guy, SherKahn is killed rather then run off, the wolves are not always the noble good guys... this is VERY different then our cotton candy Disney film. And so much more enjoyable for it. Also included are the tales of Rikki Tikki Tavi, the Elephant Dance, and the White Seal. I would have to say that my favorite is Rikki Tikki Tavi, he's just so loveable and wonderful. There is a sense of magic in Kiplings animals, every reader will find themselves dreaming of being raised by wolves and taught the law of the jungle by Baloo. I know that this was written as a children's book - but I have a hard time believing that my 11 year old son would be able to read and enjoy it, the beauty of the language will be lost on many of the younger readers who are used to the forward speaking newer YA books. But I would assume that by middle school they should be able to fully enjoy it. | ||
 | Jungle Book | |
| "The magic is alive in these tales of the Jungle" | 2009-06-01 |
| No this is not your Disney movie - Kipling wrote a fantastic series of short stories, only a few of which include Mowgli. Baloo is not a lazy idiot, Kaa is not a bad guy, SherKahn is killed rather then run off, the wolves are not always the noble good guys... this is VERY different then our cotton candy Disney film. And so much more enjoyable for it. Also included are the tales of Rikki Tikki Tavi, the Elephant Dance, and the White Seal. I would have to say that my favorite is Rikki Tikki Tavi, he's just so loveable and wonderful. There is a sense of magic in Kiplings animals, every reader will find themselves dreaming of being raised by wolves and taught the law of the jungle by Baloo. I know that this was written as a children's book - but I have a hard time believing that my 11 year old son would be able to read and enjoy it, the beauty of the language will be lost on many of the younger readers who are used to the forward speaking newer YA books. But I would assume that by middle school they should be able to fully enjoy it. | ||
 | The Jungle Book (Classic Literature With Classical Music. Junior Classics) | |
| "The magic is alive in these tales of the Jungle" | 2009-06-01 |
| No this is not your Disney movie - Kipling wrote a fantastic series of short stories, only a few of which include Mowgli. Baloo is not a lazy idiot, Kaa is not a bad guy, SherKahn is killed rather then run off, the wolves are not always the noble good guys... this is VERY different then our cotton candy Disney film. And so much more enjoyable for it. Also included are the tales of Rikki Tikki Tavi, the Elephant Dance, and the White Seal. I would have to say that my favorite is Rikki Tikki Tavi, he's just so loveable and wonderful. There is a sense of magic in Kiplings animals, every reader will find themselves dreaming of being raised by wolves and taught the law of the jungle by Baloo. I know that this was written as a children's book - but I have a hard time believing that my 11 year old son would be able to read and enjoy it, the beauty of the language will be lost on many of the younger readers who are used to the forward speaking newer YA books. But I would assume that by middle school they should be able to fully enjoy it. | ||
 | The Jungle Books (Penguin Popular Classics) | |
| "The magic is alive in these tales of the Jungle" | 2009-06-01 |
| No this is not your Disney movie - Kipling wrote a fantastic series of short stories, only a few of which include Mowgli. Baloo is not a lazy idiot, Kaa is not a bad guy, SherKahn is killed rather then run off, the wolves are not always the noble good guys... this is VERY different then our cotton candy Disney film. And so much more enjoyable for it. Also included are the tales of Rikki Tikki Tavi, the Elephant Dance, and the White Seal. I would have to say that my favorite is Rikki Tikki Tavi, he's just so loveable and wonderful. There is a sense of magic in Kiplings animals, every reader will find themselves dreaming of being raised by wolves and taught the law of the jungle by Baloo. I know that this was written as a children's book - but I have a hard time believing that my 11 year old son would be able to read and enjoy it, the beauty of the language will be lost on many of the younger readers who are used to the forward speaking newer YA books. But I would assume that by middle school they should be able to fully enjoy it. | ||
 | The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling, ISBN 0582421152 | |
| "The magic is alive in these tales of the Jungle" | 2009-06-01 |
| No this is not your Disney movie - Kipling wrote a fantastic series of short stories, only a few of which include Mowgli. Baloo is not a lazy idiot, Kaa is not a bad guy, SherKahn is killed rather then run off, the wolves are not always the noble good guys... this is VERY different then our cotton candy Disney film. And so much more enjoyable for it. Also included are the tales of Rikki Tikki Tavi, the Elephant Dance, and the White Seal. I would have to say that my favorite is Rikki Tikki Tavi, he's just so loveable and wonderful. There is a sense of magic in Kiplings animals, every reader will find themselves dreaming of being raised by wolves and taught the law of the jungle by Baloo. I know that this was written as a children's book - but I have a hard time believing that my 11 year old son would be able to read and enjoy it, the beauty of the language will be lost on many of the younger readers who are used to the forward speaking newer YA books. But I would assume that by middle school they should be able to fully enjoy it. | ||
 | The Jungle Books | |
| "The magic is alive in these tales of the Jungle" | 2009-06-01 |
| No this is not your Disney movie - Kipling wrote a fantastic series of short stories, only a few of which include Mowgli. Baloo is not a lazy idiot, Kaa is not a bad guy, SherKahn is killed rather then run off, the wolves are not always the noble good guys... this is VERY different then our cotton candy Disney film. And so much more enjoyable for it. Also included are the tales of Rikki Tikki Tavi, the Elephant Dance, and the White Seal. I would have to say that my favorite is Rikki Tikki Tavi, he's just so loveable and wonderful. There is a sense of magic in Kiplings animals, every reader will find themselves dreaming of being raised by wolves and taught the law of the jungle by Baloo. I know that this was written as a children's book - but I have a hard time believing that my 11 year old son would be able to read and enjoy it, the beauty of the language will be lost on many of the younger readers who are used to the forward speaking newer YA books. But I would assume that by middle school they should be able to fully enjoy it. | ||
 | Jungle Book by Pavilion Books, ISBN 1857939980 | |
| "The magic is alive in these tales of the Jungle" | 2009-06-01 |
| No this is not your Disney movie - Kipling wrote a fantastic series of short stories, only a few of which include Mowgli. Baloo is not a lazy idiot, Kaa is not a bad guy, SherKahn is killed rather then run off, the wolves are not always the noble good guys... this is VERY different then our cotton candy Disney film. And so much more enjoyable for it. Also included are the tales of Rikki Tikki Tavi, the Elephant Dance, and the White Seal. I would have to say that my favorite is Rikki Tikki Tavi, he's just so loveable and wonderful. There is a sense of magic in Kiplings animals, every reader will find themselves dreaming of being raised by wolves and taught the law of the jungle by Baloo. I know that this was written as a children's book - but I have a hard time believing that my 11 year old son would be able to read and enjoy it, the beauty of the language will be lost on many of the younger readers who are used to the forward speaking newer YA books. But I would assume that by middle school they should be able to fully enjoy it. | ||
 | The Jungle Book | |
| "The magic is alive in these tales of the Jungle" | 2009-06-01 |
| No this is not your Disney movie - Kipling wrote a fantastic series of short stories, only a few of which include Mowgli. Baloo is not a lazy idiot, Kaa is not a bad guy, SherKahn is killed rather then run off, the wolves are not always the noble good guys... this is VERY different then our cotton candy Disney film. And so much more enjoyable for it. Also included are the tales of Rikki Tikki Tavi, the Elephant Dance, and the White Seal. I would have to say that my favorite is Rikki Tikki Tavi, he's just so loveable and wonderful. There is a sense of magic in Kiplings animals, every reader will find themselves dreaming of being raised by wolves and taught the law of the jungle by Baloo. I know that this was written as a children's book - but I have a hard time believing that my 11 year old son would be able to read and enjoy it, the beauty of the language will be lost on many of the younger readers who are used to the forward speaking newer YA books. But I would assume that by middle school they should be able to fully enjoy it. | ||
| Jungle Books | |
| "The magic is alive in these tales of the Jungle" | 2009-06-01 |
| No this is not your Disney movie - Kipling wrote a fantastic series of short stories, only a few of which include Mowgli. Baloo is not a lazy idiot, Kaa is not a bad guy, SherKahn is killed rather then run off, the wolves are not always the noble good guys... this is VERY different then our cotton candy Disney film. And so much more enjoyable for it. Also included are the tales of Rikki Tikki Tavi, the Elephant Dance, and the White Seal. I would have to say that my favorite is Rikki Tikki Tavi, he's just so loveable and wonderful. There is a sense of magic in Kiplings animals, every reader will find themselves dreaming of being raised by wolves and taught the law of the jungle by Baloo. I know that this was written as a children's book - but I have a hard time believing that my 11 year old son would be able to read and enjoy it, the beauty of the language will be lost on many of the younger readers who are used to the forward speaking newer YA books. But I would assume that by middle school they should be able to fully enjoy it. | ||
 | Cover by Jack Ketchum, ISBN 1887368280 | |
| "Vietnam may be long from over for some" | 2009-06-01 |
| It's kind of hard to lump this book into the horror section - I would consider it more of a horrifying thriller. A vietnam vet has determined that he is too dangerous to live in society and has removed himself far into the wilderness. He lives secluded from society with his wife and dog. His wife helps him to keep his last grip on his sanity - but when she leaves to go stay with family, his last grasp is gone. Meanwhile we have a pack of well to do upper crust individuals, and author, a playwrite, a model, an agent and a photographer who are all planning on a camping trip. Their intermingled dramas are very realistic and border on annoying (much like real people). Unfortunately when they select their camping spot they may find themselves mistaken for a couple of Uncle Ho's minions by a man who has long ago left his sanity behind him. The chapters from the vet's eyes are disturbing and all too real - frightening. Ketchum did a fantastic job of building him and making us care about him even though we are utterly terrified of him. Although this is no "Girl Next Door" this is a wonderfully written book that will shock the casual reader, and be loved by the avid horror/thriller fan. | ||
 | The Wee Free Men | |
| "Crivens! Pratchett does it again!" | 2009-06-01 |
| This book may be marketed to YA or Children, but I can't think of a woman who wouldn't enjoy it - not that men won't like it, but it's just so rare to find a story of a smart little girl who no one notices that ends up saving the world through her wits (and she saves the nasty old boy too). Tiffany Aching is a wonderful addition to the Discworld pantheon, I avoided reading this for the longest time because I was so upset that it wasn't going to be about one of the groups I already loved (the Guards and the Witches) and I just couldn't imagine loving any new character as much as I loved them. But I should have had faith in Pratchett. Tiffany is wonderful, funny and the perfect little heroine for a tale including the Nac Mac Feegle. I can imagine little girls all over the world wishing they had the Wee Free Men on their side, and that they could go and save the world from an evil queen. The story is funny, adventureous and forced me to stay up way too late at night to finish it in a single sitting. You don't have to have read any of the other Discworld books to read this one, and for those of you who are "anti-witchcraft" I would advise you read this before harping on it - Pratchett has a very different view of witchcraft then most... I highly recommend this book - I wish I hadn't read it so that I could have the pleasure of reading it again for the first time. | ||
 | Jungle Book | |
| "The magic is alive in these tales of the Jungle" | 2009-06-01 |
| No this is not your Disney movie - Kipling wrote a fantastic series of short stories, only a few of which include Mowgli. Baloo is not a lazy idiot, Kaa is not a bad guy, SherKahn is killed rather then run off, the wolves are not always the noble good guys... this is VERY different then our cotton candy Disney film. And so much more enjoyable for it. Also included are the tales of Rikki Tikki Tavi, the Elephant Dance, and the White Seal. I would have to say that my favorite is Rikki Tikki Tavi, he's just so loveable and wonderful. There is a sense of magic in Kiplings animals, every reader will find themselves dreaming of being raised by wolves and taught the law of the jungle by Baloo. I know that this was written as a children's book - but I have a hard time believing that my 11 year old son would be able to read and enjoy it, the beauty of the language will be lost on many of the younger readers who are used to the forward speaking newer YA books. But I would assume that by middle school they should be able to fully enjoy it. | ||
 | Everything You Pretend to Know and Are Afraid Someone Will Ask You | |
| "Outdated but fun" | 2009-03-05 |
| I ran across a used copy of this book and had a blast reading it. It is full of the most random information and the majority of it is still applicable today. I mainly selected this book because my 7 year old is coming up with some bizarre questions and I hate telling him "I can't remember." Now before you go and spend your good hard earned money on this book... it was printed in 1996, and there is a large chapter in it on computers and the internet - that you might as well rip out of the book. There are some other references through out the book that are also extremely dated, but then again some of the info is timeless. The chapter that I actually gained the most out of was the chapter on food - who knew? I had no clue what a caper was, other than I wasn't going to eat them. There were also lists telling you which shape of pasta goes by which name. Plenty of historical facts as well, particularly in the political arena; granted I knew why the Dems are called the left and the Reps are the right, but it was new info to my mom. This is 100% set it next to the potty reading... lots of little tidbits. I do wish they would do an updated version of this book. It was quite fun. | ||
 | War and Peace | |
| "Worth it! " | 2009-01-23 |
| Reviewing classics is always a touchy thing to do... but I'm so freakin proud of myself for reading this book that I had to document it some way. How did I do it? Simple, I read it online with little bits being sent to my email each day... that way I never knew how many millions of pages I had left, and believed that I was making progress. I have had this book mentioned to me, and quoted to me for years, but I have never met anyone who has actually read it. True the size is daunting... but then again... so is the material. To be honest I didn't have the first clue what this book was going to be about. It turns out that the reader follows several people, of nobility through the Napoleonic invasion of Russia. When I say several, I mean it... you'll want to keep a list, and leave lots of room because each person has several variations of their names that are used interchangeably. We follow about 12 main characters and a few other extraneous ones from before the invasion through the end of the conflict. Most of them are nobility and they go through all kinds of soap opera drama, generally self inflicted. Guy A is in love with Girl A but she's poor, so he marries Girl B who's really in love with her brother (Guy B I guess) who loves Guy A's sister (Girl C?), but she tries to run off with Guy C who was just screwing with her head, so now she's tainted and no one wants to marry Girl C. But Girl C is best of friends with Girl A so they hang out and throw little pity parties for themselves. Meanwhile Guy D is everyone's pal, who's married to Girl D who's really a bit of a hoe, so he wanders about joining clubs and thinking to himself. Then Guy D figures out that he's in love with Girl C, but she's still in love with Guy B. Then the war breaks out and all of the guys other than Guy D go to war, and the Girls whine and cry about it... oh, and they move around a lot... seems like they are always packing up and moving... not that they do any of the packing... that's what servants are for! So just when we think we are getting a handle on who is who, who they are in love with at the moment, and what the heck is going on... we have a cut scene to - history class... Tolstoy will rant and rave for a bit about war in general, Napoleon, or the idiocy of both Historians and the Russian Military leaders. Okay you think, I can deal with a bit of sarcastic Russian historical education, but just as soon as you get your mind in gear for that - BAM you are knee deep in fighting and trying to remember just who the German guy was and how he was related to all of the people you were reading about before the cut scene. This book ends up feeling like 3 books mixed into one - a satirical historical text, a family drama, and a wartime epic. Now each in its own is a very interesting tale, but when mashed up together, they can be rather jarring to the mind. I do have to agree with the others that the battle scenes are very well written, and I did enjoy Tolstoy's commentary on the Russian leadership during the war... and after a while I liked some of his characters. But don't get too attached to them... Tolstoy has no problem killing off the people you like, and when you get to the end, and are expecting a huge revelation, or some sort of major explosive dynamic finale... the curtain closes without even a spark. Still, this is a brilliant work... I'm glad I read it, and I wish I knew someone else who had because it would be interesting to discuss it with someone. It will never go down as one of my favorite novels, but it will go down as one of my lifelong accomplishments. Tolstoy's writing appears excellent (remember, we're reading a translation so we have to give them credit too) and he has a brilliant wit and handle on his subject matter. I don't agree with much of his philosophy but it is certainly an interesting topic to read on. If you can make it through 1300 pages of one book, I recommend at least giving this a try. | ||
| War and Peace | |
| "Worth it! " | 2009-01-23 |
| Reviewing classics is always a touchy thing to do... but I'm so freakin proud of myself for reading this book that I had to document it some way. How did I do it? Simple, I read it online with little bits being sent to my email each day... that way I never knew how many millions of pages I had left, and believed that I was making progress. I have had this book mentioned to me, and quoted to me for years, but I have never met anyone who has actually read it. True the size is daunting... but then again... so is the material. To be honest I didn't have the first clue what this book was going to be about. It turns out that the reader follows several people, of nobility through the Napoleonic invasion of Russia. When I say several, I mean it... you'll want to keep a list, and leave lots of room because each person has several variations of their names that are used interchangeably. We follow about 12 main characters and a few other extraneous ones from before the invasion through the end of the conflict. Most of them are nobility and they go through all kinds of soap opera drama, generally self inflicted. Guy A is in love with Girl A but she's poor, so he marries Girl B who's really in love with her brother (Guy B I guess) who loves Guy A's sister (Girl C?), but she tries to run off with Guy C who was just screwing with her head, so now she's tainted and no one wants to marry Girl C. But Girl C is best of friends with Girl A so they hang out and throw little pity parties for themselves. Meanwhile Guy D is everyone's pal, who's married to Girl D who's really a bit of a hoe, so he wanders about joining clubs and thinking to himself. Then Guy D figures out that he's in love with Girl C, but she's still in love with Guy B. Then the war breaks out and all of the guys other than Guy D go to war, and the Girls whine and cry about it... oh, and they move around a lot... seems like they are always packing up and moving... not that they do any of the packing... that's what servants are for! So just when we think we are getting a handle on who is who, who they are in love with at the moment, and what the heck is going on... we have a cut scene to - history class... Tolstoy will rant and rave for a bit about war in general, Napoleon, or the idiocy of both Historians and the Russian Military leaders. Okay you think, I can deal with a bit of sarcastic Russian historical education, but just as soon as you get your mind in gear for that - BAM you are knee deep in fighting and trying to remember just who the German guy was and how he was related to all of the people you were reading about before the cut scene. This book ends up feeling like 3 books mixed into one - a satirical historical text, a family drama, and a wartime epic. Now each in its own is a very interesting tale, but when mashed up together, they can be rather jarring to the mind. I do have to agree with the others that the battle scenes are very well written, and I did enjoy Tolstoy's commentary on the Russian leadership during the war... and after a while I liked some of his characters. But don't get too attached to them... Tolstoy has no problem killing off the people you like, and when you get to the end, and are expecting a huge revelation, or some sort of major explosive dynamic finale... the curtain closes without even a spark. Still, this is a brilliant work... I'm glad I read it, and I wish I knew someone else who had because it would be interesting to discuss it with someone. It will never go down as one of my favorite novels, but it will go down as one of my lifelong accomplishments. Tolstoy's writing appears excellent (remember, we're reading a translation so we have to give them credit too) and he has a brilliant wit and handle on his subject matter. I don't agree with much of his philosophy but it is certainly an interesting topic to read on. If you can make it through 1300 pages of one book, I recommend at least giving this a try. | ||
 | The Epic of Gilgamesh: An English Version With an Introduction (Penguin Classics) | |
| "Excellent Prose Translation" | 2009-01-11 |
| I'd heard of the Epic of Gilgamesh over and over again from history classes, to the use of it to confirm events in the Bible, but had never bothered to read it before. Perhaps it is the word "Epic" in the title that had conjured up mental images of a giant tome written in verse that deep down I knew I would never comprehend. Then suddenly one day I decided that I needed to at least OWN a copy, even if I never managed to read it. When I opened up my amazon box, imagine my surprise when I pulled out a thin little book of only 128 pages. The introduction is well worth the read, and actually makes up the majority of the book. For people like myself who had no prior knowledge of what the Epic of Gilgamesh really was, this intro is invaluable. It gives not only the history of the tablets, but also goes into the meaning of the tale, and tons of historical information that really added to my enjoyment of the story. The actual Epic goes from page 61-119 and is very interesting to those who have read other mythologies. The characters are very human though I won't say that in today's frame of mind that they are entirely likeable. The story follows King Gilgamesh who is 1/3 human and 2/3 god though the discovery of his brother, their quest to fight Humbaba, their battle with the Bull of the Heavens, and Gilgamesh's search for immortality. To be honest, I wouldn't say that this is a "must read" but it is certainly a very interesting read, simple to follow (at least in this translation) and a real eye opener to the beliefs and customs of the time. I highly recommend this version to those that are reading it outside of a classroom or discussion setting, because the intro was a lifesaver with the background and historical context that it gave. The version I read was the Penguin Classics translated by N. K. Sandars. | ||
 | Monty Python: Rabbit with Big Pointy Teeth 6" Plush - Baby - MP025 | |
| "Great fun though he is a bit small." | 2009-01-11 |
| I bought this little guy for my 7 year old son as a stocking stuffer for Christmas... inside the bunny is something that feels like one of those clothes pins that open and close. This allows my son to squeeze the bunny's bootie and his mouth opens and closes. So far we've found the bunny hanging from just about everything. The size of the bunny is also just about the length of a clothes pin so if you are looking for something for them to snuggle with in bed, go for a bigger bunny. Still, my ADHD 7 year old still knows where this is (which is a major feat in our house) and plays with it regularly. | ||
 | Spider-Man 28-Inch Skateboard, Helmet, and Protective Pad Combo Pack | |
| "Okay for the little ones, provided they go slow" | 2009-01-02 |
| You won't be doing any tricks on this skateboard... my son can walk faster than it will roll.. but that my loosen up with time and use. What disappointed me was the shoddy quality of the pads and helmate that came with it. The elbow and knee pads are thin with no actual padding, they are simply a plastic shell that velcros on. This will protect against road burn, but not broken limbs. The helmet is a farce. Cheap flexible plastic wrapped over some foam that straps on. One trip into the mailbox and the helmet will be shattered. If you are buying for anyone older than 5, you will want to buy actual pads and a helmet to go with it. The skateboard itself is fine and worth the price asked, just don't count on the pads that come with it. | ||
 | Childrens's Guitar Chord Book | |
| "Good for 10 and up" | 2009-01-02 |
| What I wouldn't give for this book to teach my child to use a tuner to tune a guitar... I bought this for my sons to share, aged 7 and 10... the 7 year old is completely lost but my 10 year old seems to be able to pick up what is written. Do NOT expect most children to be able to teach themselves from this book... mom or dad will have to help out. It is also a VERY thin book, I would have liked a little more to it, still it's a good starting place. | ||
 | Rogue Starter Acoustic Guitar, Blue Burst | |
| "Excellent Starter Guitar" | 2009-01-02 |
| I bought this for my 7 year old for Christmas... he's thrilled. First of all it's one of the most attractive starter guitars I've seen, second, once we changed out the strings for some slightly higher quality, the guitar sounds great (well as great as a 7 year old with no training can sound). I loved the low cost simply because we have no idea how long he'll enjoy messing around with it. I'll agree that this guitar is a bit big for him, and a bit smaller than your average acoustic, but he'll grow into it sooner than later. I highly recommend this guitar for parents who's children have no experience with an instrument, but are harassing you night and day for one. This looks like a much more expensive guitar than what you have paid, and sounds as good as any other starter guitar I've heard. | ||
 | Great Expectations | |
| "Wait until you're 25, then read" | 2008-12-05 |
| Yes, Dickens was paid by the word when writing this. Yes, this is a big book Yes, if you were forced to read it in school, you probably hated Yes, if you read it on your own at or after age 25... you probably loved it. I for one, thought this book was great, sure it was wordy, but it was not wordy in that "what the heck is he trying to say" way that gets many other wordy books (Crime and Punishment - though I blame the translators for that one). Short Summary: This is the story of Pip, starting from a young age after his parents and many younger siblings are deceased and he is being raised by his militant sister and her lovable but slightly dense husband, Joe. Pip has very little hope of a future other than an apprenticeship with Joe as a Blacksmith. Suddenly... doors start opening for Pip, and opportunities present themselves to him. He accepts but never knows who or why strings are being pulled in the background to open these doors for him. We follow Pip through his life as he accepts these opportunities, and they lead him down a strange but wonderful path of self discovery, maturity, and opening his eyes to the real world. The reason this book is so effective is because Pip is so real. We follow him through his blunders and successes, we dread his putting his foot in his mouth, saying the wrong things to Biddy, or Ms. Haversham, and we rejoice when he commits selfless acts and hate him when he commits selfish ones. It is my personal opinion that this book will have more of an affect on the late twenty year olds and up because by then you have suffered a bit, and made some of the same mistakes as Pip, you have wandered through finding your way in the world, and the confusion of who you are, wishing you were something else, loving what or who you cannot have, and figuring out what path to put your life on. The rest of the cast of characters is quite a collection of multifaceted, entertaining, and interesting people. Ms. Haversham is a favorite of many, so strange, so tortured, so heartless, and so intriguing... then we have Dear old Joe, so Simple, and mild, and encouraging. Joe's love is unconditional and unwavering. Biddy, is so loyal, so kind, and so honest, then you have her polar opposite, Estella. There are so many other characters that are interesting, fun to read about and that you will have strong feelings for one way or another. I highly recommend this book, even though it is over a century old, the language is not difficult to read (very little work required) and the plot and characters are stellar. True there are no explosions, but a book can be engaging with out them. Give it a try. | ||
 | Great Expectations | |
| "Wait until you're 25, then read" | 2008-12-05 |
| Yes, Dickens was paid by the word when writing this.
Yes, this is a big book Yes, if you were forced to read it in school, you probably hated Yes, if you read it on your own at or after age 25... you probably loved it. I for one, thought this book was great, sure it was wordy, but it was not wordy in that "what the heck is he trying to say" way that gets many other wordy books (Crime and Punishment - though I blame the translators for that one). Short Summary: This is the story of Pip, starting from a young age after his parents and many younger siblings are deceased and he is being raised by his militant sister and her lovable but slightly dense husband, Joe. Pip has very little hope of a future other than an apprenticeship with Joe as a Blacksmith. Suddenly... doors start opening for Pip, and opportunities present themselves to him. He accepts but never knows who or why strings are being pulled in the background to open these doors for him. We follow Pip through his life as he accepts these opportunities, and they lead him down a strange but wonderful path of self discovery, maturity, and opening his eyes to the real world. The reason this book is so effective is because Pip is so real. We follow him through his blunders and successes, we dread his putting his foot in his mouth, saying the wrong things to Biddy, or Ms. Haversham, and we rejoice when he commits selfless acts and hate him when he commits selfish ones. It is my personal opinion that this book will have more of an affect on the late twenty year olds and up because by then you have suffered a bit, and made some of the same mistakes as Pip, you have wandered through finding your way in the world, and the confusion of who you are, wishing you were something else, loving what or who you cannot have, and figuring out what path to put your life on. The rest of the cast of characters is quite a collection of multifaceted, entertaining, and interesting people. Ms. Haversham is a favorite of many, so strange, so tortured, so heartless, and so intriguing... then we have Dear old Joe, so Simple, and mild, and encouraging. Joe's love is unconditional and unwavering. Biddy, is so loyal, so kind, and so honest, then you have her polar opposite, Estella. There are so many other characters that are interesting, fun to read about and that you will have strong feelings for one way or another. I highly recommend this book, even though it is over a century old, the language is not difficult to read (very little work required) and the plot and characters are stellar. True there are no explosions, but a book can be engaging with out them. Give it a try. | ||
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