| Four stars for content |
Review: 5/10 by Dorian
A narrative journal of Professor King's journey in Asia around 1908 to examine the agricultural practices of the Koreans, Japanese, and Chinese. There is an abundance of quantitative data, tabulated within the text, that demonstrates the significance of reutilizing all organics to retain soil fertility. The book is loaded with pictures, though many are grainy and often difficult to decipher. A four star rating for content, as - from an agricultural perspective - the material contained within is invaluable for research considerations.
| Dorian | 21 Jul 2008 - 07:38 |
| Edge of your seat |
Really good book keeps you on the edge of your seat. If you are a mystery buff like me I would highly recommend you read this
| Dawn Knight | 21 Jul 2008 - 03:12 |
| I enjoyed this much more than than 'The Shifting Fog' |
This is a book to curl up and read on a winters day and let the characters envelop you.
The story follows three women spanning over 100 years, the chapters jump from woman to woman but as they are all linked, I found it very easy to follow and you could feel their pain, sorrow and happiness…a very satisfying read, perfect holiday reading.
| Marlene P | 20 Jul 2008 - 20:44 |
| Which book did you read? |
In writing ‘Lolita’, Vladimir Nabokov has chosen a very difficult topic to demonstrate his writing prowess. Why? Because many - if not most - readers have formed views about the subject matter and the characters before they have read the book. My review is not of the content but of the writing and the ambiguity of language.
Words are used to both summarise facts and to create fiction. Differentiating the two is not always easy, especially if the subject matter is distasteful. Our own views colour our relationship with the book, but should they also influence our assessment of literary worth?
Much of the journey with ‘Lolita’ is undertaken from within the mind of Humbert Humbert, a paedophile, and his fixation on the eponymous Lolita. This is a book which, in my view, cannot be effectively translated into a movie. It is a book where the power of language and the images and reactions created at an individual level have the most impact. We are usually in Humbert’s mind and, for me. that is not a comfortable space to occupy. And yet amidst Humbert’s scattered, fixated thoughts and cunning but ultimately doomed plans are glimpses of beauty. The butterfly references can be read on a number of different levels: I choose to see the symbolism of transient but elusive beauty.
So what is it about ‘Lolita’ that makes it worth reading? Simply, the power and beauty of Nabokov’s writing. But that particular beauty depends upon which book you choose to read.
I have read this book twice in 40 years. Each time, I have formed different views. This book is not a paean to paedophilia: it is an illumination of the labyrinths of the human mind.
| Jennifer C | 19 Jul 2008 - 12:47 |
| ‘Even noon is evening to she who waits.. |
This is a hauntingly beautiful novel. Simultaneously filled with hope and despair, Ms Samarasan gives us characters who are never just stereotypes (although sometimes the accurate depiction of certain characteristics comes dangerously close to a stereotypical presentation). No, what Ms Samarasan has delivered is a novel peopled with individuals who are generally disappointed in the past and present and occasionally hopeful for the future.
The story finishes in Malaysia in 1980, but circles through the family history, aspirations, hopes disappointments and secrets of the Rajasekharan family since Appa’s grandfather emigrated across the Bay of Bengal in 1899. We view the present through the eyes of Aasha, the youngest of the three Rajasekharan children. Aasha is secretive and far from impartial: she doesn’t want her older sister Uma to leave Malaysia for the USA and is reacting to tensions and other secrets within the family that, at 6 years of age, she can observe without necessarily understanding. By contrast with the relative life of privilege of the Rajasekharan family, is the sad tale of Chellam: the exploited, underprivileged and wronged servant girl who is the same age as Uma.
This novel is primarily about family: secrets, relationships and aspirations. But it is also about life in Malaysia over a century which encompassed independence, race riots and significant migration. Each of the Rajasekharans struggles to find his or her own happiness in a world which is changing rapidly. My favourite character was the 8 year old son, Suresh. He brought a perspective to the story and a hope, perhaps for a collective future that was less apparent from the views of the other characters.
| Jennifer C | 19 Jul 2008 - 12:43 |
| Scattered Review |
I found the book to be a good mix of facts regarding ice and its users. It was interspersed with the stories of ice users which while horrific were really well written without being over-run with emotion. A recommended read and it was interesting to note that most ice users were not the stereotyped images we are shown in the media.
| Jackie N | 18 Jul 2008 - 12:47 |
| For everyone |
More than a guitar hero Satch is definitely a great educationist. This book is a compilation of short exercises you can practice on a daily basis. It's really different from what you can find in a standard guitar method (that is not) so it's a good complement I think.
| Vincent G | 18 Jul 2008 - 10:15 |
| "The adventures of Orgy Girl" |
I've been waiting to read this book for over a year. I walked into my favourite specialist bookstore last week - my friend was too sick to go to the movies, so I decided to spend my money on a book (so predictable!) so I walk in, have my usual chat with the shop assistants, and then went to look at books - i normally spend over an hour there, but I saw that The Harlequin was finally in paperback! The chick at the desk (I really should ask her name - we chat at least once a week LOL) anyway, she said "The adventures of Orgy Girl" LMAO so bloody true!!
Okay, this book rocked! they last couple of books have just been the sexual adventures of orgy girl - no horror themes at all! But this one finally gets back to it! The Harlequin come to St Louis - they are the big bad police of vampire kind - if you've been a bad little vampire this is who will punish you! Anita is first presented with a white mask - which means she is under watch. However, the Harlequin go on the offensive, without presenting the red or black masks (in otherwords they are breaking the rules). Anita calls on new and old friends to help her and her people survive. We finally see Edward again (Edward rocks!) he brings his soon-to-be-step-son Peter, and the serial killer Otto as his back up. Which means it is a good solid book, lots of intrique, lots of fighting, horror scenes - terrific! its the best book since Obsidian Butterfly!!
| Jacquelynne C | 17 Jul 2008 - 10:28 |
| An eye opener! |
Review: 7/10 by Carol T
I found this book interesting, enlightening and a little tedious when statistics were quoted, but they are an essential part of the information departed to the reader.
It has certainly changed my view of the ice user. I always imagined an ice addict to be poorly dressed with bad hygiene, the typical image of a junkie. To discover that this drug is used regularly by all classes and the effect it has on society is quite a revelation.
I recommend this book to everyone. It has helped me understand why people are too scared to help others when openly attacked in the street, the increasingly dangerous challenges that our police and medical staff endure each day, and most importantly, even if my children grow up to be lawyers and accountants, they have just as much chance at falling into a dangerous and addictive party habit as a homeless teenager constantly exposed to drugs.
| Carol T | 14 Jul 2008 - 14:09 |
| ‘The world is full of stowaways.’ |
This novel is indeed beautifully written and I found myself pacing my read so as not to finish too quickly. There are a number of themes in this story: each of which are explored to varying degrees.
But to start at the beginning, in 1903 a young woman who is newly widowed is escaping the consequences of both the murder of her husband and the events that led to it. She carries with her demons from her past and some of her recollections are not entirely reliable. But the widow (as she is generally referred to in the book) knows that there is no safe place for her within the confines of what passes for civilisation and so she flees across the Rocky Mountains. Along the way, she meets some interesting characters and learns how to survive. Can she find an enduring happiness?
At times, the widow’s mind is a confused and confusing space. It isn’t always clear where the boundaries of reality are. This is not an easy novel to read, but it is beautifully written and well worth the time.
| Jennifer C | 12 Jul 2008 - 20:34 |
