In her 2003 novel Oryx and Crake, Margaret Atwood describes a future after humanity had been almost entirely wiped out by a plague. Jimmy, aka Snowman, lives...
Continue »
Steinbeck doesn't get enough credit for how funny he is. This book is a great example of his humorous style. It also demonstrates his gift for dialog, his love for his characters, and his knack for telling simple stories that touch on universal themes. I loved it. Also check out Cannery Row and Tortilla Flat if you like this one.
Although seemingly little known in the english-speaking world, this is one of the greatest novels of the nineteenth century. Like Madame Bovary or Tess, Effi is a naive but sympathetic woman who is completely destroyed by the oppressive society in which she lives. Fontane takes a more nuanced, even ambivalent view of these events than either Hardy or Flaubert, however. Instead of raging against puritanical society, Fontane explores the mutual dependency of that society with the individual. The film version by Fassbinder is also brilliant.
A dreamy but intense novel that takes its time revealing its secrets. The murder mystery at the core of the story is entwined with deep meditations on the nature of art and the gulf between East and West. Each chapter is told from a different character's point of view, which creates a sense of dislocation in the reader without undermining the unity of the story. Not for those who lack patience, but a very good read.
Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No
(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
Very long and detailed, as might be expected of a book that recounts the entirety of human history, but well worth the effort. The author convincingly rebuts the notion that military conquest alone controls the fate of languages, instead asking far more nuanced questions about why languages survive, change, and prosper. Not just a fascinating way to look at language, but a fascinating prism through which to view history. Finishing this book is like coming to the end of a long journey and marveling at how far you've come, and how much you've changed.
Like Calvino's other hero Mr. Palomar, Marcovaldo tries to see the world in unusual ways, and fails, but fails in interesting ways. Trapped in a drab life of poverty, he seeks the solace of nature in the city, while scheming for his own improvement. His continual setbacks only reinforce his desire to try again. Calvino resembles his characters in that he isn't always successful, but his failures are always instructive. My favorite writer.
Powell's City of Books is an independent bookstore in Portland, Oregon, that fills a whole city block with more than a million new, used, and out of print books. Shop those shelves — plus literally millions more books, DVDs, and eBooks — here at Powells.com.
Don't Miss
Customer Comments
manwith7talents has commented on (21) products.
Sweet Thursday (Penguin Classics) by John Steinbeck
manwith7talents, November 9, 2009
Steinbeck doesn't get enough credit for how funny he is. This book is a great example of his humorous style. It also demonstrates his gift for dialog, his love for his characters, and his knack for telling simple stories that touch on universal themes. I loved it. Also check out Cannery Row and Tortilla Flat if you like this one.Effi Briest by Theodor Fontane
manwith7talents, October 14, 2009
Although seemingly little known in the english-speaking world, this is one of the greatest novels of the nineteenth century. Like Madame Bovary or Tess, Effi is a naive but sympathetic woman who is completely destroyed by the oppressive society in which she lives. Fontane takes a more nuanced, even ambivalent view of these events than either Hardy or Flaubert, however. Instead of raging against puritanical society, Fontane explores the mutual dependency of that society with the individual. The film version by Fassbinder is also brilliant.My Name is Red by Orhan Pamuk
manwith7talents, October 8, 2009
A dreamy but intense novel that takes its time revealing its secrets. The murder mystery at the core of the story is entwined with deep meditations on the nature of art and the gulf between East and West. Each chapter is told from a different character's point of view, which creates a sense of dislocation in the reader without undermining the unity of the story. Not for those who lack patience, but a very good read.(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
Empires of the Word: A Language History of the World by Nicholas Ostler
manwith7talents, September 1, 2009
Very long and detailed, as might be expected of a book that recounts the entirety of human history, but well worth the effort. The author convincingly rebuts the notion that military conquest alone controls the fate of languages, instead asking far more nuanced questions about why languages survive, change, and prosper. Not just a fascinating way to look at language, but a fascinating prism through which to view history. Finishing this book is like coming to the end of a long journey and marveling at how far you've come, and how much you've changed.Marcovaldo: Or the Seasons in the City by Italo Calvino
manwith7talents, July 31, 2009
Like Calvino's other hero Mr. Palomar, Marcovaldo tries to see the world in unusual ways, and fails, but fails in interesting ways. Trapped in a drab life of poverty, he seeks the solace of nature in the city, while scheming for his own improvement. His continual setbacks only reinforce his desire to try again. Calvino resembles his characters in that he isn't always successful, but his failures are always instructive. My favorite writer.1-5 of 21next