In the Novel Dog Soldiers, by Robert Stone, John Converse bought and stored heroin on his friends Merchant Ship. John was a journalist in the Post-Vietnam era, he realized that the American soldiers would get addicted to heroin, so he planed on smuggling some into the U.S, using his wife as a dealer and Ray Hicks, the Merchant Ship Sailor, to smuggle pass U.S customs.
John pays Mr. Hicks to give it directly to John’s wife on arrival in Los Angeles.
Mr. Hicks makes it through to the land but quickly discovers he is being followed. Mr. Hicks thinks about two scenarios of why they could be following him, John had been double-crossed by his suppliers or if John betrayed him to get him caught. Marge, addicted to painkillers, is John’s wife and she sells the drugs once in L.A.
I’m not going to ruin the end for you but I hope this gives you a clue about the book.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami
Over break I read The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, written by Haruki Murakami. It starts with a very normal man named Toru Okada, and his not-so-normal wife, Kumiko. Their cat, Noboru Wataya(named after Kumikos brother), has just disappeared and to Kumiko, this is somewhat upsetting. This single event, the disappearance of the cat, sends Toru Okada off on an exploration of Japanese mysticism and a journey through his own dreams. This novel highlights a personal struggle and the things it takes to bring Toru Okada closer to the meaning of the strange events unfolding all around him.
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle is written in a very sporadic style. When dealing with Toru Okada, the passive protagonist, it is all told from a first person point of view. This makes parts of it very high-paced and unpredictable. It is a very effective way to tell this particular type of story because it limits what you know to almost nothing. You know what Toru Okada knows and nothing more. The style in which many of the characters socialize also has a very surreal, dreamlike articulation to it. There are many points in the novel where even Toru Okada cannot discern dream from reality.
Haruki Murakami was born in Kyoto, Japan and has lived all over the western world. That is one of the many things that has attributed to his world renown and extensive collection of works. To date, Murakami has written 16 novels and a handful of short stories. Not much is known about Murakami due to the fact that much of his life is yet to be translated from Japanese. His 16 novels have been translated, but most literary critics will argue that, by reading it in any language other than Japanese, you are being screwed. It is a fact that the English translation of The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, done by Jay Rubin, is missing 2 chapters and an endless list of small details. That is one down side to the version I read and it is something to take into account.
As far as a clear recommendation goes, I highly recommend that you read this book. If you like erratic, metaphysical storylines this book will keep you wide awake and intrigued, although, it is not a short read by any means. It runs at about 610 pages and took me about 4 or 5 days of intense reading to complete. It is meant to be read quickly and in large chunks. There are too many small details, and it is far too interesting to be read over the course of a long time. Simply put, you will either finish it quickly, or not finish it at all. So, once again, I recommend that you go pick up a copy of Haruki Murakamis The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle.
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle is written in a very sporadic style. When dealing with Toru Okada, the passive protagonist, it is all told from a first person point of view. This makes parts of it very high-paced and unpredictable. It is a very effective way to tell this particular type of story because it limits what you know to almost nothing. You know what Toru Okada knows and nothing more. The style in which many of the characters socialize also has a very surreal, dreamlike articulation to it. There are many points in the novel where even Toru Okada cannot discern dream from reality.
Haruki Murakami was born in Kyoto, Japan and has lived all over the western world. That is one of the many things that has attributed to his world renown and extensive collection of works. To date, Murakami has written 16 novels and a handful of short stories. Not much is known about Murakami due to the fact that much of his life is yet to be translated from Japanese. His 16 novels have been translated, but most literary critics will argue that, by reading it in any language other than Japanese, you are being screwed. It is a fact that the English translation of The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, done by Jay Rubin, is missing 2 chapters and an endless list of small details. That is one down side to the version I read and it is something to take into account.
As far as a clear recommendation goes, I highly recommend that you read this book. If you like erratic, metaphysical storylines this book will keep you wide awake and intrigued, although, it is not a short read by any means. It runs at about 610 pages and took me about 4 or 5 days of intense reading to complete. It is meant to be read quickly and in large chunks. There are too many small details, and it is far too interesting to be read over the course of a long time. Simply put, you will either finish it quickly, or not finish it at all. So, once again, I recommend that you go pick up a copy of Haruki Murakamis The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle.
Three Deffinates
First, I read "Mister B. Gone" by Clive Barker. For those of you who read this and dont recognize Clive Barker, he is mostly a horror and grusome writer. He does indeed know how to draw in a reader though. The first sentence says "Burn this book." He says how it will make you mad. Thats what intregued me. As i got ferther and ferther into this book, I could not put it down. I dont want to give it away though, so im only going to say what its about. It was about a Deamon who got caught by a human and brought from the ninth circle to the world above, and it goes through his struggles and how he got trapped inside the pages of the book. Now I know, I know you think that it sounds lame and cheezy, but it's better than it sounds. I for instance, really liked it. But if you don't like things that are about death, murder, blood...... just grusome things, then you arent going to like it. But I find humor in it somehow, so I really liked it. I'm not sure how many people besides me, and perhaps Christian (hehe), would like this book.
I went through that book so fast, and was so exited to not have an assigned book, that I chose another.
Second, I read "Thirteen Reasons Why" by Jay Asher. This was a really easy read. I finished it in about 3 days. It was really enjoyable for me. By reading my reviews, I'm sure that you are going to think I have a really messed up mind, and am really into sick things, (and I'm not saying im not cause I am), but I like these kinds of books WAY more than books on love or war. So Jay Ashers novel was about a girl named Hannah Baker who made thirteen tapes to explain her death. It was put in perspective of one of the people that were mentioned in the tapes, and who really liked her. She sent these thirteen tapes to all of the people mentioned in the tapes, in the order of disaster. She called it the "snowball effect." She stated how one persons actions lead to others which made her miserable and lead to her suicide. It is a really good book as well, but I really liked it. In fact, I could read it again!
So for the third book that i kind of wanted to read was going to be one that I could possibly actually use on an AP exam. It is called "The Stranger" by Albert Camus. Im not done with it yet, but so far its not bad. It's a little hard to get into, I'll admit that, but I know that it is going to get better, becuase there are only good reviews on it. It is about a man whose mom just died, and he gets drawn into his own murder. Now im still in the first 50 pages, so it's still slow, but im excited to finish it. It's just getting interesting and even though I'm not that far into it, It, i do recommend it as well.
I went through that book so fast, and was so exited to not have an assigned book, that I chose another.
Second, I read "Thirteen Reasons Why" by Jay Asher. This was a really easy read. I finished it in about 3 days. It was really enjoyable for me. By reading my reviews, I'm sure that you are going to think I have a really messed up mind, and am really into sick things, (and I'm not saying im not cause I am), but I like these kinds of books WAY more than books on love or war. So Jay Ashers novel was about a girl named Hannah Baker who made thirteen tapes to explain her death. It was put in perspective of one of the people that were mentioned in the tapes, and who really liked her. She sent these thirteen tapes to all of the people mentioned in the tapes, in the order of disaster. She called it the "snowball effect." She stated how one persons actions lead to others which made her miserable and lead to her suicide. It is a really good book as well, but I really liked it. In fact, I could read it again!
So for the third book that i kind of wanted to read was going to be one that I could possibly actually use on an AP exam. It is called "The Stranger" by Albert Camus. Im not done with it yet, but so far its not bad. It's a little hard to get into, I'll admit that, but I know that it is going to get better, becuase there are only good reviews on it. It is about a man whose mom just died, and he gets drawn into his own murder. Now im still in the first 50 pages, so it's still slow, but im excited to finish it. It's just getting interesting and even though I'm not that far into it, It, i do recommend it as well.
A Thousand Splendid Suns
The novel A Thousand Splendid Suns is a moving tale written by Khaled Hosseini that tells of two girls' stories as they experience struggles in Afghanistan. The novel opens with on of the girls, Mariam who begins her troubles young as she lives with shame of her parents not being married. After a lonely childhood Mariam travels despite her mother’s order with intentions of finding her father. When Mariam arrives she is not allowed inside her father’s house. After being ordered home Mariam is devastated when she finds heart-wrenching news, which leads her back to live with her father. Once Mariam is sent to live with her father, an arranged marriage is set despite Mariam’s protests. As Mariam struggles with the married life we are introduced to Laila, a lonely young neighbor who lives down the road from Mariam.
Slowly Laila and Mariam begin to confide in each other and build a relationship that provides them with hope through their hard times. As Laila discovers a love for someone that leads to a pregnancy she loses multiple members in her life, leaving her lonely and confused. Mariam and Laila’s relationship takes a unique turn when Mariam’s husband has a request that complicates the situation between the three characters. Laila is forced to live against her beliefs in order to survive as she keeps a grave secret that could potentially put her life in danger.
An unexpected visitor causes a horrific fight between Mariam, Laila, and the husband, Rasheed. The consequences of this argument costs one of them their life. The events of the novel show that the friendships you develop in life can surpass the most challenging obstacles. The intriguing plot leaves the reader on the edge of their seat while providing for a loving and honorable story that brings the reader’s emotions to the pages. This complicated and emotion filled plot creates an insight to what life would be like in a third-world country. Hosseini creates a story that involves the culture of an unfamiliar world with the familiar emotions that we are faced with everyday.
I would recommend this novel to those who like a suspenseful and beautiful story. Hosseini creates a unique plot that keeps the reader intrigued while providing descriptions of a culture that most people are unaware of. Through out this novel, the characters are taken on an emotional journey of what it takes for a friendship to survive while enduring the hear break of loses and surprises. If you enjoy a quick read that creates a new plot while also connecting with the characters, then A Thousand Splendid Suns is a great read for you. This book is interesting and is extremely humbling for those who have never been exposed to an alternative lifestyle. I recommend this book to everyone because of the emotional connection you develop with the characters while enjoying an interesting plot.
The Grapes of Wrath Book Review
Despair, poverty, and determination take on a whole new meaning in John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath. The true emotions of the 1930’s American citizens are captured by Steinbeck as he follows one man’s journey through the infinite dust bowl. The effects of the Great Depression, the consequences of the Industrial Revolution, and the results of excessive cotton production have taken their toll on rural Midwestern farmers. As dust accumulates on dehydrated crops, money dissipates from people’s pockets. Thus, the giant move west occurs. Steinbeck gives the reader a genuine taste of life at this time.
The Grapes of Wrath won the Pulitzer Prize, and Steinbeck later won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962 “...for his realistic as well as imaginative writings, distinguished by a sympathetic humor and a keen social perception.”. Steinbeck wrote this piece in California, where he spent much of his childhood. After working for nearby farms and truly getting a sense of the working class, Steinbeck went on to attend Stanford University. After discovering his love for literature, he moved to New York, only to discover that the publishing of his works there would be nearly impossible and returned to the West Coast. Many of his books were about the human psyche in relation to national events.
Although The Grapes of Wrath starts slow at first, it builds as one reads on, while at the same time engaging the reader. The detailed descriptions of life in the thirties are unsettling, yet also enlightening. As one reads the minute depictions of the “dirt crust [breaking] and the dust [forming]” (2), one begins to understand how treacherous life was at this time; the time when a penny meant a whole lot, and hard work stood for something. Steinbeck tells it like it was in a style that is entrancing. While marveling at Steinbeck’s imagery, one is also captured by his style of writing. Chapters begin to intertwine and sentences start to overlap, creating a puzzle-like feel throughout the novel.
This classic should be read world-wide, for it gives readers an idea of life beyond their own. An accurate depiction of 1930’s life in the Midwest, this book portrays what it was really like to be an American farmer at this time. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is willing to expand their range literarily.
The Grapes of Wrath won the Pulitzer Prize, and Steinbeck later won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962 “...for his realistic as well as imaginative writings, distinguished by a sympathetic humor and a keen social perception.”. Steinbeck wrote this piece in California, where he spent much of his childhood. After working for nearby farms and truly getting a sense of the working class, Steinbeck went on to attend Stanford University. After discovering his love for literature, he moved to New York, only to discover that the publishing of his works there would be nearly impossible and returned to the West Coast. Many of his books were about the human psyche in relation to national events.
Although The Grapes of Wrath starts slow at first, it builds as one reads on, while at the same time engaging the reader. The detailed descriptions of life in the thirties are unsettling, yet also enlightening. As one reads the minute depictions of the “dirt crust [breaking] and the dust [forming]” (2), one begins to understand how treacherous life was at this time; the time when a penny meant a whole lot, and hard work stood for something. Steinbeck tells it like it was in a style that is entrancing. While marveling at Steinbeck’s imagery, one is also captured by his style of writing. Chapters begin to intertwine and sentences start to overlap, creating a puzzle-like feel throughout the novel.
This classic should be read world-wide, for it gives readers an idea of life beyond their own. An accurate depiction of 1930’s life in the Midwest, this book portrays what it was really like to be an American farmer at this time. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is willing to expand their range literarily.
The Alchemist Book Review
Every time you open a new book, you open a new world. A world where possibilities are endless, where the unimagined is imagined, a world that can be anything you want it to be. That’s the beauty of books; they’re always up for interpretation. When my dad first handed me The Alchemist my mom told me it was a "stoner" book. Instead of discouraging me from reading this “stoner” book I was enthralled. Needless to say it turned out to be one of the best books I’ve ever read. We open on a scene of a young man, sixteen or seventeen, trying to use a book for a pillow. We are quickly engulfed in this young man’s thought tangent. We quickly learn that this young man is a shepherd, wandering the open fields of Andaluasia with his flock of sheep. From just the first few pages we learn so much about this young man’s life. We learn of his love for adventure, his lust for new things. We learn of his past and a little about his future. Half way into the first part our main character goes from a shepherd to a treasure hunter. Like all treasure hunters our character runs into some problems. Thieves, war, love, and settling for less than what he's worth, however, as with all heroes our hero overcomes these many set backs. The beauty of the Alchemist isn’t that this young man overcomes set backs to get what he wants, but rather it’s the manner in which he overcomes them. Instead of looking for guidance from an outside source, this young man looks within himself to find his answers to his problems. What I found to be the best part of this book wasn’t the adventures that Santiago embarked upon, or his amazing ability to bounce back from misfortune, but rather his amazing faith in himself.
Originally the book The Alchemist was published in Portuguese and translated into English, among other languages. Author Paulo Coelho has written 18 books including the Alchemist and his most recent novel The Winner Stands Alone. Before Coelho dedicated his life to literature he was a bit like Santiago, he traveled the world looking for secrets, studying oriental culture, and looking for some kind of spiritual guidance.
Since I had no preconceived sentiment regarding The Alchemist I was able to receive the author’s words without judgment. I was able to find meaning the perhaps would have otherwise been lost. I’m not going to say that every person should read The Alchemist, and I’m not going to say that it was the best book I’ve ever read. I will say that it held an inspiration that no other book I’ve read has ever held. I could tell you to pick the book up, I could help you decide whether or not it’s worth reading, but that would defeat the entire purpose of the book. One day if you happen to stumble upon The Alchemist in a book store, and you have fifteen dollars you might as well pick it up, who knows maybe you’ll find something in it that I didn’t.
Originally the book The Alchemist was published in Portuguese and translated into English, among other languages. Author Paulo Coelho has written 18 books including the Alchemist and his most recent novel The Winner Stands Alone. Before Coelho dedicated his life to literature he was a bit like Santiago, he traveled the world looking for secrets, studying oriental culture, and looking for some kind of spiritual guidance.
Since I had no preconceived sentiment regarding The Alchemist I was able to receive the author’s words without judgment. I was able to find meaning the perhaps would have otherwise been lost. I’m not going to say that every person should read The Alchemist, and I’m not going to say that it was the best book I’ve ever read. I will say that it held an inspiration that no other book I’ve read has ever held. I could tell you to pick the book up, I could help you decide whether or not it’s worth reading, but that would defeat the entire purpose of the book. One day if you happen to stumble upon The Alchemist in a book store, and you have fifteen dollars you might as well pick it up, who knows maybe you’ll find something in it that I didn’t.
Purple America
Rick Moody's work, Purple America, has one of the most exciting and at the same time seemingly pointless plots. Though the book is drawn out for many pages and it feels as if time is passing at an incredible rate, the author manages to make a years worth of hardships fit into a single weekend for one poor young man and his family. Moody throws in some interesting descriptions and perspectives to make time seem to have passed, or to relate to the past in such a way that time seems to flow just as easily backwards as forwards. In some scenes the book takes on a weird narrative perspective, in one point there is a page long sentence written entirely as a doctor's report. This young man, Hex (Dexter, who goes by Hex because of a fairly bad stutter that prevents him from saying D's and T's with ease) is summoned home by his long-time ailing mother who is only capable of speech and almost no movement. He is summoned home because Lou Sloane, his mother's husband recently became fed-up with her inability to talk, dress herself, or move, has left her to hit the road. Hex's problems all seem to revolve around alcohol, and he can't help himself especially when he comes to face the problems that he inherits by agreeing to take care of his mom. As he gives up his old life and prepares for a new one filled with dirty diapers and bathing his own mother, he also awakens a host of problems that time after time leave the reader with a feeling similar to "oh, so much has happened already, there's no way anything else could happen." However it does, and it continues to happen throughout the book. There are many ridiculous scenes, Hex up in a tree. Hex going to a bar with a sudden girlfriend who feels sorry for him. Hex attempting to have sex with this girl, and at times the book can be rather disgusting. The book also focuses on Lou's point of view and his own problems working at a nuclear power-plant, and the struggle in his mind about running away from a woman who cannot take care of herself. Billie Raitliffe also has a say in this book as it jumps from perspective to perspective, shedding light on what each character feels and thinks, and the problems they have in their own lives. The story ends with a wonderful gathering of the members of the family, a police officer, and the young girl that Hex spent the night with.
Overall the book left a fairly good impression on me, and there were some moments where I laughed out loud(received a few strange looks), something that is rare for me. It has the feel of an interesting literary read while at the same time following an exciting and intriguing plot. The narrative perspective adds an interesting flair to time, and also allows the characters, who at times are, or seem vocally handicapped an ability to share their thoughts. It incorporates such a strange plot that from the first moment on feels like a documentary in bad fortune. I recommend the book to people who are in to things that are a bit off the beaten path plot wise and at the same time enjoy some interesting literary switches. The reader must also have an ability to deal with strong language and a very strange sex scene. But the requirements for this book are few and most readers will probably enjoy this book and likely laugh out loud as well.
Overall the book left a fairly good impression on me, and there were some moments where I laughed out loud(received a few strange looks), something that is rare for me. It has the feel of an interesting literary read while at the same time following an exciting and intriguing plot. The narrative perspective adds an interesting flair to time, and also allows the characters, who at times are, or seem vocally handicapped an ability to share their thoughts. It incorporates such a strange plot that from the first moment on feels like a documentary in bad fortune. I recommend the book to people who are in to things that are a bit off the beaten path plot wise and at the same time enjoy some interesting literary switches. The reader must also have an ability to deal with strong language and a very strange sex scene. But the requirements for this book are few and most readers will probably enjoy this book and likely laugh out loud as well.
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