The Other by David Guterson.

"A beginning with a catch good enough to keep the reader engaged, planting the seed of "I have to know what happens" but overall, the narrative was overly verbose, arrogant and the story itself was a disappointment."

2 Stars

Pros: It was an interesting look at friendship and how the environment in which we grow up can have a profound impact on our lives.

Cons: The frenetic passion of Barry and his behavior overall was both confusing but also curious, so you wanted to find out what happened/All the characters are egotistical and basically pretty obnoxious.

Full Review:

Neil Countryman and John William Barry meet at a track meet in High School. John William beats Neil in the half mile and after a chance encounter the following weekend, a friendship is formed. The book follows the details of both of their lives and how vastly different they are. John William is passionate, paranoid, obsessed, takes unnecessary risks and is determined to be "free" of the world and its obligations. Countryman, on the other hand, is willing to let the dice fall where they will and not question too much about life. When John William decides to start living his life as a hermit in the middle of the wilderness of the Pacific Northwest, Countryman visits him often both to bring him supplies and check on his friend.

In the end, a surprising twist of events leads to Countryman rising to fame all thanks to John William. I believe, in a way, the author was trying to get the point across that friendships, no matter how odd or off kilter they may seem, are important and the bonds we create with others have effects in ways we can't even imagine. I read this book simply to find out what happened, since the curiosity factor of why John William chose to become a hermit, was there, but in the end, it all just boiled down to a lot of egotistical drivel. There were parts where it was promising, where a glimpse of John William's past might bring about some insight, but as a whole, I was left feeling disappointed and confused.

Comments

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick

“Rick Deckard is a Bounty Hunter who's on the trail of six "Andys" (Androids) who have come to Earth illegally. His job is to track them down and "retire" them. Something he found easy to do until he met her, Rachael Rosen. The Android that does the impossible, passes the "Voight-Kampff" test. The story quickly devolves into a slow, drawn out and frankly boring mystery that was putting me to sleep by the end." ⭐⭐ Pros: I was more interested in comparing it to the film, "Bladerunner."/At first I kind of liked the drab, dreary atmostphere but it soon became soporific. Cons: I had no real idea what was going on with Mercerism/The end there had me blinking in bewilderment, like with Herbert's 29th Dune Book/There was a lot of idle chit-chat while they were in murderous/intense situations, it just seemed odd. Full Review: Rick Deckard, a Bounty Hunter, contracted with the San Francisco Police Department hunts down and retires rogue ...

The Glutton by A. K. Blakemore

"Though dark, disturbing and at times, truly disgusting, Blakemore has created an unforgettable character in Tarare and his sad, sordid tale. This is a book that will stay with me for a long time for many different reasons and to me, that's a sign of a great read." ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐ Pros: Tarare wasn't a monster, it just seemed that the world was against him/I liked Lozeau and his strange band of misfits/Dr. Dupuis seemed like a genuinely good person, or at least, he had his moments. Cons: Some of the timeline/people of the French Revolution were just white noise to me/Courville was a despicable man. Full Review: The Bottomless man, the Glutton of Lyon, Tarare the Terrible. The man who has many titles but who's name is simply, Tarare, is dying in a hospital in Versailles. Citizen Doctor Tissier has written to his friend, Dupuis, in hopes that he'll be able to cure this mysterious illness that plagues Tarare. For now though, he lays, chained to his bed and waits for...

Animal Farm by George Orwell

"A blithe and scathing commentary on equality, power, corruption and how everyone is created equal, but...some are more equal than others. Orwell hit the nail right on the head with this novel and it's no wonder it's a staple for most high school curriculums. " 3 Stars. Pros: Benjamin the Donkey is the smartest animal on the farm and it would have done all the others a world of good if they had listened to him in the first place. Cons: The fact that societies like this actually do exist is nauseating and terrible. It's not a con, per se, it's just a gut wrenching fact. Full Review: When the overworked and mistreated Animals on Manor Farm decide to rise up and overthrow their cruel master, they're successful. They rebel and now find themselves with an entire Farm to run. They rename it Animal Farm and are intent on creating a paradise, where work and play are equal, where productivity is key but relaxation is a must and all the lives of all the animal...

All the Books.

Search This Blog