Book #98
The Postman Always Rings Twice
by James M. Cain
A short, simple but thrilling crime drama with all the most delicious elements: sex, love, murder and intrigue. This lovely snack of a novel definitely cleared my palate after the last book I read (The Ginger Man).
This brief, very fast paced story follows drifter Frank Chambers and Cora, the wife of a diner owner, "The Greek" Nick Papadakis. Frank is passing through and decides to stay on at the diner to work when he catches a glimpse of Nick's young, attractive wife Cora. Cora is a sadomasochist femme fatale character. The two fall madly in love and conspire to rid themselves of Nick so that they can be together. Will they succeed and, more importantly, will they get away with it?
I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick read but thoroughly entertaining. This book is oft regarded (and openly acknowledged) as the inspiration for Albert Camus' novel The Stranger which I also happen to love. There are several film adaptations, seemingly one for every generation of film lovers. This book truly is a classic and definitely deserves its place on our list of books.
If you don't read any other book on this list save this one, I'd be happy. This is genuinely worth the time, however brief it may be, that you will invest in reading it.
To purchase The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain please visit Amazon.com or my Amazon aStore below.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
Book #99 The Ginger Man - J. P. Donleavy
Book #99
The Ginger Man
by J. P. Donleavy
In all honesty, I started book #100 last year. I devoured it, then I started The Ginger Man, hoping for the same read-fest experience.
This was not the case. I started and stopped reading this book over a dozen times until I finally forced myself to sit down and finish it in an effort to move on without actually skipping a book.
I really hated this book. I loathed it entirely. I had to slog my way through the writing style which in essence flowed much like the internal monologue of the main character but which I found was too hard to stay afloat in. The story details the life of The Ginger Man, Sebastian Dangerfield, and his life in Ireland. He's attending Trinity College studying law, verbally abuses and threatens his wife and blatantly ignores his infant daughter. He also cheats on his wife and the reader gets to experience his infidelity in graphic detail. He drinks himself stupid, gambles himself into debt and just can't be bothered to actually attend class.
While I am in no way offended by the subject matter, or the graphic depictions of Dangerfield's sex life, I just did not enjoy the book. I found the pacing and style difficult to read and the more I read the more frustrated I was that I was still reading it. I found that I didn't care one iota for Dangerfield, was not endeared to him or his life at all and in the end really wanted to see him punished. But of course, in the end he didn't get punished enough.
Read at your own risk, who knows you may fall in love with the book and Donleavy's style of writing.
To purchase The Ginger Man by J. P. Donleavy visit Amazon.com or visit my Amazon aStore below.
The Ginger Man
by J. P. Donleavy
In all honesty, I started book #100 last year. I devoured it, then I started The Ginger Man, hoping for the same read-fest experience.
This was not the case. I started and stopped reading this book over a dozen times until I finally forced myself to sit down and finish it in an effort to move on without actually skipping a book.
I really hated this book. I loathed it entirely. I had to slog my way through the writing style which in essence flowed much like the internal monologue of the main character but which I found was too hard to stay afloat in. The story details the life of The Ginger Man, Sebastian Dangerfield, and his life in Ireland. He's attending Trinity College studying law, verbally abuses and threatens his wife and blatantly ignores his infant daughter. He also cheats on his wife and the reader gets to experience his infidelity in graphic detail. He drinks himself stupid, gambles himself into debt and just can't be bothered to actually attend class.
While I am in no way offended by the subject matter, or the graphic depictions of Dangerfield's sex life, I just did not enjoy the book. I found the pacing and style difficult to read and the more I read the more frustrated I was that I was still reading it. I found that I didn't care one iota for Dangerfield, was not endeared to him or his life at all and in the end really wanted to see him punished. But of course, in the end he didn't get punished enough.
Read at your own risk, who knows you may fall in love with the book and Donleavy's style of writing.
To purchase The Ginger Man by J. P. Donleavy visit Amazon.com or visit my Amazon aStore below.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Book #100 The Magnificent Ambersons - Booth Tarkington
Book #100
The Magnificent Ambersons
By Booth Tarkington
Starting this list with The Magnificent Ambersons couldn't have been better. I loved this book. It reminded me strongly of The Great Gatsby.
A lovely period piece, this novel was published in 1918 and chronicles the story of three generation of the same wealthy family and it's decline in the industrialization of America. The story centers around George Amberson Minafer, the grandson of the Ambersons' patriarch. George is spoiled rotten by his mother and has little grasp on the average life of a man. We see George struggle with family histories, declining wealth and the shift of industry in his home town. After sabotaging a relationship of his mother's George must adapt to an entirely alien existence.
I was in love with this book from page one. The writing and plot are as rich as the focal characters. Tarkington had me simultaneously caring for and hating George. Decades of progress unfold before the reader, involving you in the budding industrialization period in American history. This book gave life to a period in history that so often focuses on machines and products.
This book secured itself a place in my library very firmly. I would absolutely recommend this book and if ever I find myself on a quiet afternoon with nothing else to read, I'm confident I will happily reach for this book again.
To purchase The Magnificent Ambersons by Booth Tarkington please visit Amazon.com or visit my Amazon aStore below.
The Magnificent Ambersons
By Booth Tarkington
Starting this list with The Magnificent Ambersons couldn't have been better. I loved this book. It reminded me strongly of The Great Gatsby.
A lovely period piece, this novel was published in 1918 and chronicles the story of three generation of the same wealthy family and it's decline in the industrialization of America. The story centers around George Amberson Minafer, the grandson of the Ambersons' patriarch. George is spoiled rotten by his mother and has little grasp on the average life of a man. We see George struggle with family histories, declining wealth and the shift of industry in his home town. After sabotaging a relationship of his mother's George must adapt to an entirely alien existence.
I was in love with this book from page one. The writing and plot are as rich as the focal characters. Tarkington had me simultaneously caring for and hating George. Decades of progress unfold before the reader, involving you in the budding industrialization period in American history. This book gave life to a period in history that so often focuses on machines and products.
This book secured itself a place in my library very firmly. I would absolutely recommend this book and if ever I find myself on a quiet afternoon with nothing else to read, I'm confident I will happily reach for this book again.
To purchase The Magnificent Ambersons by Booth Tarkington please visit Amazon.com or visit my Amazon aStore below.
Defining Myself
"This hypnagogic condition. Attention-faculty diminished so that twilight state obtains; world seen merely in symbolic, archetypal aspect, totally confused with unconscious material." - Philip K Dick
I have always loved to read. Summer days often found me lurking in the corner of a couch my eyes flickering from word to word, deep in the cavern of literature. I set out to read The Modern Library's 100 Best Books (both the Board list and the Reader list). I also thought, as many of these books have already cemented a place in my heart, that I would share my thoughts on each novel, try and put words to why I thought they had made the list.
I had originally intended only to read those books that I had not already enjoyed, but I have since decided to read them all. Starting at book #100 on the Board's list I will work my way up to the best book then start over again on the Reader's list, this time skipping any books that were previously included on the board list.
I hope in coming here, in reading, that you will find my reviews entertaining, helpful or in some way insightful.
May my literary joy be contagious.
I have always loved to read. Summer days often found me lurking in the corner of a couch my eyes flickering from word to word, deep in the cavern of literature. I set out to read The Modern Library's 100 Best Books (both the Board list and the Reader list). I also thought, as many of these books have already cemented a place in my heart, that I would share my thoughts on each novel, try and put words to why I thought they had made the list.
I had originally intended only to read those books that I had not already enjoyed, but I have since decided to read them all. Starting at book #100 on the Board's list I will work my way up to the best book then start over again on the Reader's list, this time skipping any books that were previously included on the board list.
I hope in coming here, in reading, that you will find my reviews entertaining, helpful or in some way insightful.
May my literary joy be contagious.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)