Dismal tale of life in the WW I trenches as seen by a young Indiana Jones. If the story does its part to get the message across that "War is Hell" theDismal tale of life in the WW I trenches as seen by a young Indiana Jones. If the story does its part to get the message across that "War is Hell" then it's worth the reading time. Personally I like lighter fare and found the other installments in this series more appealing.
This is well researched, fact based fiction and the reading list provided at the end make it a good educational choice. ...more
Having been introduced to "Young Indiana Jones" by the TV series, I was a bit unprepared for the gritty gloominess of the opening part of this tale. THaving been introduced to "Young Indiana Jones" by the TV series, I was a bit unprepared for the gritty gloominess of the opening part of this tale. The opening chapters are a great description of the insanity of WWI trench warfare and were necessary to set the scene and the world mood but there was very little of the young "whipper snapper" I was looking to spend some quality reading time with.
Once the book got out of the trenches and into Indy's furlough in Paris the real enjoyable parts of the story took hold and this was all that I'd hoped it would be.
I'm now looking forward to finding the next installment. ...more
I am fascinated but it's sort of "car crash fascinated" not the same as I felt when I first read the Lord of theThis story just keeps getting darker!
I am fascinated but it's sort of "car crash fascinated" not the same as I felt when I first read the Lord of the Rings books.
This is a fantasy epic for a "sadder but wiser" ,post-Nixonian time.
Plenty of other reviewers have done this book more justice that I can. In some ways this book reminded me of that chapter heading from Brideshead Revisited, "A Blow Upon a Bruise."...more
These tales are all pretty great examples of the Hercule Poirot genius. They were even turned into a well made series of TV stories under the same titThese tales are all pretty great examples of the Hercule Poirot genius. They were even turned into a well made series of TV stories under the same title. Since each story was expanded to a full 60 or 90 minutes the detail is well done and the adaptation was faithfully and lovingly done. Still, the printed text brings some qualities to the stories that do not make it to the screen.
One difference that I noted is that since the printed series is narrated from the POV of Hastings, he's not as lovably portrayed as in the filmed versions. And his complaints about Poirot's foibles seem somehow more petty.
Still, it's worth the reading time whether you've seen the filmed versions, or not....more
Though I've been familiar with the story for ages I'd never read the original until now.
The story is fantastic. It's engaging and an easy read despitThough I've been familiar with the story for ages I'd never read the original until now.
The story is fantastic. It's engaging and an easy read despite a number of terms that I'm still unfamiliar with. It's justifiably a classic. I was unaware of just how faithfully the old Alistair Simm movie was to the original until now as well. It puts me in the mood to see it again.
Of all Dickens's stories this one seems the most accesible. Well worth the reading time....more
Epic approach to history and the pivotal battle of the U.S. Civil War. The movie is an all time favorite and the movie makers were very faithful to thEpic approach to history and the pivotal battle of the U.S. Civil War. The movie is an all time favorite and the movie makers were very faithful to the book. I listened to this in the audio-format and the reader (Stephen Hoye) did a masterful job - often mimicking the dialects and accents of the parties and even separating younger voices from old in a performance that is one of the best I've encountered.
A timely read in light of the recent events surrounding the removal of statues of Confederate generals. This story stick to the traditional interpretations though it does show Lee in a less venerable light than other histories....more
Another great installment in the Cadfael series. This time Hugh Berringer gets a bit more play and perhaps Saint Winifred as well.
This one varies greAnother great installment in the Cadfael series. This time Hugh Berringer gets a bit more play and perhaps Saint Winifred as well.
This one varies greatly from the TV adaptation so might as well be a new mystery. As is usually the case, the novel is a richer, deeper, more nuanced and ultimately more satifying experience than the TV adaptation but both are still enjoyable.
We also get to revisit a few characters from earlier episodes. Between the familar faces, and the charming evocation of medieval England, this may be my favorite.
Another fun instalment in the Sookie Stackhouse Saga. While the TV adaptation again adds a lot of interseting sub plots and racy embellishments, its nAnother fun instalment in the Sookie Stackhouse Saga. While the TV adaptation again adds a lot of interseting sub plots and racy embellishments, its nice to read the original. They're just different enough that it doesn't matter which you're exposed to first, the other version will still be enjoyable and contain some suprises.
I look forward to getting and reading the third installment. ...more
I liked this book a lot. Due to the uncomfortable nature of the story told, I'll probably never read it again, but I'm glad that I did read it once. II liked this book a lot. Due to the uncomfortable nature of the story told, I'll probably never read it again, but I'm glad that I did read it once. I saw it as the story of one not very likeable boy growing up in a soon to be war torn region and his eventual struggle for redemption.
I was quite surprised to see how popular some of the negative reviews of this book were and I'd like to comment on a few of the comments they contained.
One condemnatory critic said "This is the sort of book White America reads to feel worldly." Ah, if only that were truer. In a study done not long ago, over half of American adult men, when asked, admitted to having read NO books in the last year. Personally, as a white American, this book made me grateful that I grew up where I did, and once again reminded me of how good I've had it, and how little I really know about life outside these insular, isolationist, United States.
Another critic claimed that this book "...portrays Afghanistan as backward" Personally I thought that it portrayed it as a war torn, deeply wounded country that was at one time a bit like our ante-bellum south. It was made quite clear that we saw pre-soviet Afghanistan through the eyes of a doubly privileged class, the rich child.
Another critic claimed "The members of the servant and poorer classes are consistently portrayed as saintly, absurdly self-sacrificing, one-dimensional characters." Yes, that's true. But the viewpoint is a that of an over-privileged, rich, selfish child. Given the ante-bellum south atmosphere that our protagonist sees, it's a wonder that the epithet "uncle Tom" wasn't used.
Finally one critic complained "The book fails exactly where it most needs to succeed - in the depiction of the Taliban." Personally, I felt that while that need may be great, I didn't see that as the purpose of this book.
I saw this book as the story of one man's journey toward redemption against a background of a troubled heritage. I sometimes recall doing things as a child that now makes me wonder about myself, and while I like to think I've become a better human being, I sometimes shudder at the savage, thoughtless child that was once under this skin. For the personal perspective alone, I think this book is a worthwhile, if sometimes uncomfortable, read. If you let it, it may make you a better person. ...more
I've held off reading this because I saw and loved the HBO series and was afraid that this book wouldn't live up to the "new and improved" version as I've held off reading this because I saw and loved the HBO series and was afraid that this book wouldn't live up to the "new and improved" version as broadcast. However, the novel was still enjoyable in its original form and was a fast fun read.
The novel was improved in the series and several of the characters were more fully realized than in the original book. Given that the series came years later, involved scores of talented people and devoted almost 12 hours to a single book, it's not surprising that there were improvements. However the spirit began here with the book and the original ideas are worth reading.
Some, like Gran being a supporter of "the descendents of the glorious dead," came across better in the book than in the series. Also, in some ways Sookie seemed a bit "simpler" here than in the series, but I think that's only because we can hear her internal thoughts. Anna Paquin's on-screen character seemed brighter from the get-go.
While the series was MORE on most fronts there was one character I missed, JB. As the author described him “It was one of God's jokes that such a dumb mind had been put in such an eloquent body.” I kind of liked the character of JB in the book. But I can see why he had to go as Jason was given much of his appeal in the TV series. Also it was interesting to see how Tara Thornton was inserted to give Sookie a foil and to even out the color distribution for TV consumption.
I look forward to reading the later installments and seeing how they compare.
I was a bit surprised at how much more the book felt like a detective story than the series did....more
After straying from the chronology of the first book in the first season, any subsequent Dexter books must be taken as an alternate reality timeline. After straying from the chronology of the first book in the first season, any subsequent Dexter books must be taken as an alternate reality timeline.
The printed Dexter is more mystical, darker and and more insane than the video Dexter and more addicted to alliteration and bad jokes. However, if the reader can get past that, these books do have a certain appeal. It's a look inside an irregular mind, and sometimes one can gain a fresh perception of things only by stepping outside the normal perspective.
In some ways the violence in the book was more graphic, or at least more terrible than that in the series and yet what bothered me the most was Dexter's recognizing the darkness in Rita's children, and his fantasy of nurturing it. I believe that most kids have the capacity to perform dark acts in unthinking moments but that with proper guidance a healthy sense of society's restrictions can be instilled. Where one draws the line between good and evil and right and wrong has always been problematic and somethimes a sense of shame can be healthy.
Dexter often professes that he doesn't feel "human" emotions but that's not entirely true. He does lack some moral constraints that most of us have and there are other "human" qualities that he seems baffled by, but what makes Dexter the kind of monster that we enjoy reading about is that he is human no matter how much he protests that fact.
If you like the series and can tolerate an alternative reality then you'll probably enjoy this book. ...more
Another great installment in a stellar series. As always its a pleasure to spend some time in medieval England during the Civil War between King StephAnother great installment in a stellar series. As always its a pleasure to spend some time in medieval England during the Civil War between King Stephen and his Cousin Maude.
This time Shrewsbury's resident priest has died and Abbot Radolfus brings a new appointee direct from the retinue of Bishop Henry. When the man quickly alienates most of his parishioners and is then found dead on Christmas morning. Cadfael and Berringer must discover if it was murder and if so who the perpetrator was.
This was adapted for TV as part of the Cadfael programs but it diverged so widely from the book that it was pretty much a fresh new mystery. Again, the written characters are more well developed and eminently more likeable than their screen counterparts and there were characters in the TV episode that make no appearance in the book.
This ones worth a read whether you've seen the TV episode or not. And since they are so different they can both be enjoyed....more
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