Customer Comments

gooser114 has commented on (16) products.

Wasteland (JPS Gems of American Jewish Literature) by Jo Sinclair

gooser114, September 1, 2011

A story of a man coping with his religion and family life. The main character learns about the struggles of his family members and the beauty behind his religion. His place in the family is defined by his role in the Passover Seder. He feels trapped by his family and his religion. This is his story of reconciling independence and family values. The secondary characters were intriguing and their individual stories revealed bit by bit throughout. This makes for a wonderful story of self realization and acceptance.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

Number9dream by David Mitchell

gooser114, September 1, 2011

The main character, Eiji, is searching for his mysterious father whom he has never known. Through his quest Eiji encounters obstacles from every angle including the Yakuza. Eiji's journey takes him from his rural home to a large city. This is a coming of age and fish out of water story. This book is a wonderfully imaginative modern quest through Japan. I really enjoy Mitchell's writing style and this book made me want to visit Japan.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

A Spot of Bother (Vintage) by Mark Haddon

gooser114, September 1, 2011

A story about a dysfunctional family told through each of their points of view. I liked the fact that the story was told from different characters view points, but overall I think this book dragged on. The characters were interesting, but not memorable. Their individual stories were appealing, but I just wasn't engaged by the story and was unable to connect with the characters. I was expecting more after reading The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

At the Villa of Reduced Circumstances by Alexander Mccall Smith

gooser114, September 1, 2011

This third installment of Professor Dr. Von Igelfeld books is similar to the others. The story is outlandish and the characters are eccentric. Heading to Colombia to be inducted into a prestigious group Professor Dr. Von Igelfeld is entangled in a revolution that ends with a surprising outcome. This was a light and humorous read. I truly enjoyed the series and this book was a nice end to the series.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

In Defense of Anarchism

gooser114, September 1, 2011

Robert Paul Wolff’s “In Defense of Anarchism” is a well-organized fresh look at anarchism. Wolff discusses the conflict between authority and autonomy, the problems with democracy (with particular emphasis on the American democratic system), and the legitimacy of a State. While I do not subscribe to anarchism, Wolff puts forth an argument in this book that I found intriguing. I was not particularly knowledgeable about anarchism before reading this book and found Wolff’s theory of Marxism and anarchism easy to understand. I would recommend that anyone who has read or wants to read this books should also read Robert A. Dahl's "Democracy and its Critics" (specifically chapter 3 titled "Anarchism") for a critique of Wolff's theory.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No
(1 of 1 readers found this comment helpful)

report this comment