This was a pretty quick read, that keeps you entertained from beginning to end. It's easy to see why the movie based on the book has become a classic.This was a pretty quick read, that keeps you entertained from beginning to end. It's easy to see why the movie based on the book has become a classic. Mattie is definitely one of the more interesting child characters I've read in awhile. ...more
A little dry in the middle, but overall pretty enjoyable. I think this is the book I was hoping Shirley Jackson's The Haunting would be.A little dry in the middle, but overall pretty enjoyable. I think this is the book I was hoping Shirley Jackson's The Haunting would be....more
This actually held up a lot better than I'd expected it to. There's not really a lot to go into on this one. This is easily one of the most influentiaThis actually held up a lot better than I'd expected it to. There's not really a lot to go into on this one. This is easily one of the most influential science fiction/horror stories of all time. It has four direct movie adaptations (with a fifth on the way) and countless rip offs and inspired stories. I think just about everyone is familiar with the plot of the book and pod people.
The ending is a little different than what you see in the movies, but that makes sense seeing as the book is written about McCarthyism. Some of the poor decisions by characters in the book falls under that same category. It makes sense in the context of the story being told, but in hindsight, wasn't as satisfying as it could be. That's really about all that kept if from being a 5 star read for me. ...more
Enough has been written about this, so I'm going to keep this short. I think I actually liked this better than 1984 and Brave New World. I could have Enough has been written about this, so I'm going to keep this short. I think I actually liked this better than 1984 and Brave New World. I could have done with fewer ellipses, but that's really my only major complaint. It's a shame this book gets overshadowed by those dystopian novels it inspired....more
This was a pretty solid collection of short stories. The first third was a little hit or miss, but the final 2/3 was strong. Most of it is a little daThis was a pretty solid collection of short stories. The first third was a little hit or miss, but the final 2/3 was strong. Most of it is a little dated, like most science fiction written in the 40's and 50's. Everybody smokes everywhere, most of the women are nagging killjoys or helpless damsels, everyone is white and $1000 is a LOT of money. If you can forgive these for the time they were written in, then it's a good read. There were even a few at the end, like Zero Hour (my favorite in the collection) that felt like they could have been written recently. ...more
This was the first time I'd ever read the book. I've seen the Disney movie a few times (which also has parts from Through the Looking Glass), so was kThis was the first time I'd ever read the book. I've seen the Disney movie a few times (which also has parts from Through the Looking Glass), so was kind of familiar with the story. I think my favorite part of the book that didn't really make it's way into the movie version, was Alice's interactions with the people/creatures of Wonderland. She manages to piss off just about everyone she talks to. I don't know if it was intentional or not, but I kept finding it funnier and funnier every time she met someone new and puts both feet in her mouth. ...more
Okay, this one was kind of weird. In the original, Alice made her way through Wonderland and it more or less made sense. In this one, I guess we all kOkay, this one was kind of weird. In the original, Alice made her way through Wonderland and it more or less made sense. In this one, I guess we all know that Alice is dreaming, so Looking Glass land works more like a series of dreams. Alice will be on a train, then she's laying on the grass, then she's in a store and then a canoe with no idea how she got from one place to another. ...more
This was a tough one to get through. I ended up stopping a couple times and reading another book before I came back to this one. The entire plot is drThis was a tough one to get through. I ended up stopping a couple times and reading another book before I came back to this one. The entire plot is driven by characters making stupid decisions and then getting lucky to get out of it. Ben Gunn seems to be the only one to make an intelligent plan and not screw it up and then he pretty much gets shafted on his share at the end. The rest of the "heroes" should have been killed a dozen times for their stupidity, except for the pirates being even dumber....more
This wound up being much, much better than I expected. I already knew the basic story, including the ending, since this book gets referenced so much iThis wound up being much, much better than I expected. I already knew the basic story, including the ending, since this book gets referenced so much in other works. I just remembered reading the Grapes of Wrath in high school and hating it, so was kind of expecting more of the same.
This wound up being a pretty quick read and the writing flowed pretty well. Definitely worth a read if you've never read it before....more
I've been re-reading a lot of the classics that we were forced to read in middle and high school, and for the most part, I enjoy them much more as an I've been re-reading a lot of the classics that we were forced to read in middle and high school, and for the most part, I enjoy them much more as an adult. However, I just couldn't get into the Great Gatsby. Honestly, it kind of felt like watching some reality show like Keeping up with the Kardashians; I don't like, relate to or sympathize with any of the characters, but I was still entertained. The whole novel just felt like rich, pretty people doing rich, pretty things and the rest of the world be damned. We're told that characters are in love with each other, but all we see are conversations that border on small talk. I've seen more chemistry between workers and customers at the post office. ...more
