It was fantastic! I had no idea the actual story was so interesting, and all of the extra information Berton adds in to flesh out the story and "set the stage" is a testament to his skill as a writer.
Eep I've only read 14 books this year! According to Goodreads, I am at least 6 behind my goal. I've been going for quality over quantity this year, but despite choosing many well-loved and perennial classics, I haven't come across any five-star fiction. Goals aside, the whole point of this year is to find some new favourites... and I have not even come close! Well,back to work!
Before reading this, I had no idea what the CPR actually meant for Canada. I found the writing engaging and the events involved fantastic; such that I am sure all my acquaintances, family, and coworkers were sick of hearing the minutiae involved. Before, I thought it was simple as building a long railroad across an already united country. Now, I feel new respect and pride for the men involved, and I understand why we name so many roads after Van Horne, Macdonald, Mackenzie, and all the other major players. I feel like a better Canadian, with a better understanding of what that means. And I find myself wondering why this wasn't covered at some point in my high school education?
Sadly, the last novel written by Charles Dickens, left in its unfinished state. The story follows John Jasper, Choirmaster and opium smoker, whom (it appears) has killed his nephew Edwin Drood. As with other Dickens books, supporting characters are numerous and well-fleshed, so the audience can never be entirely certain who the main characters are, until the story is pretty much ended. Things were really starting to get interesting when it left off, with Jasper half-admitting to a murder and the opium peddler following him around. The real mystery will never be unravelled, so this is an entirely fitting title for the last story in a long a prodigious career.
I was expecting something so nonsensical that it would be difficult to read. This wasn't. The prose flowed well and the nonsensical bits were scattered around liberally.
Seize the Day
Overgrown boy-man Tommy Wilhem cannot catch a break, and the story takes us through what may well be his worst day. Broke, overlooked at his former sales position, hated by his father and estranged from his wife, Willy is taken in by a con artist with the last of his money. There is an air of desperation, but with an undertone of the surreal, perhaps even of bemusement, as if Willy cannot believe this is happeneing to him.
An exciting (and lengthy) story about the mysterious influence of the master-mesmerizer Drood on the lives of Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins.
Morpheus
A little extra research to better understand Drood. Also a very interesting discussion of how lack of medical knowledge amongst physicians and lack of scruples among chemists led to the popularity of patent medicines, which opened the way for the various opium addictions. Often read like a laundry list of the who's who in turn-of-the century arts, without the unifying and meaty discussion to unite the story.
Chronicling Professor Moses E. Herzog's coming to terms with his second failed marriage. A very difficult and complex read, with many Yiddish and French passages. I felt like I was reading the James Joyce of philosophers. Moses reminded me of a grown Duddy Kravitz, but with more bleakness and cynicism than his protege. Moses is worn out by the world, and retreats to his ruined country house to begin finding and rebuilding himself (although the story focuses on the lost wanderings rather than the finding).
The rise and fall of the inventor of Tono-Bungay, from poor chemist to millionaire financier, as told from the perspective of his nephew. Very disjointed, as if there were too many divergent ideas stuffed into on plot.
I like the story. Young Victor Frankenstein and his beloved family, and the incident which set him on course for creating a monster. It's a good idea.
I take issue with the flippant way the book is written. I have noticed this book listed as "Young Adult" on some sites, and this may account for the superficial feeling I get from the writing. It was a quick read, and my impression (remembering I am not a writer and have no personal experience thereof, but also know the great James Joyce often took months labouring over a single sentence) is that it was also a quick write. Which I find disappointing, because the interesting story is let down by the writing.
Can a book written as a prequel to a classic ever become a classic itself? Maybe my expectations were unreasonably high, because I so badly wanted this prequel to do justice to the original.
Difficult to follow, mostly because so many of the names were similar and unfamiliar. The story of the Chief Priest of Ulu, his family and community, and the conflicts encountered between their traditional ways and the new way imposed on them by British colonialists and missionaries. The story picks up at a point where the British infringement is just beginning, so we are allowed to see both the traditional life, as well as glimpses of the future. Ezeulu, the priest, is interesting in that despite following his life closely through the story, and often entering into his thoughts, the audience never really gets an understanding of the man himself. His closest friend comments on how he is almost completely unknowable, and apparently this extends to the omnipotent audience as well.
I also enjoyed the descriptions of the traditional ways of living; the compounds, the meals, the festivals and clothing. The rich description makes the story more poignant because the audience can see and appreciate what is about to be lost to globalism.
For these reasons, I believe this a good entry to remain on the Ultimate Compilation.
--> I am considering removing this from the Ultimate Compilation. Will read the final Alice Walker entry, and decide from there. The Colour Purple was much better... and even that wasn't really to my taste.
Not necessarily confusing, but very convoluted with the intertwined lives of the two Zedes, Carlotta, Arveyda, Fanny, Suwelo and others. It is difficult to describe what this story is actually about, because there are also many major and minor themes interwoven. On the surface, I would say this is about love and its many incarnations. There was a lot of magical realism, about reincarnation and about collective consciousness. There was a lot of discussion on racial differences, with the main characters identifying themselves as "of colour".
Why did Zede fall out of the story so suddenly? The author starts to flesh out one character, and then jumps into an entirely different time and begins again. Most of the reading, I felt like I had all these disconnected threads I was trying to piece together. Just one of the story-lines, fully developed, would have been satisfying. Her writing can be so poignant and beautiful, I was completely disappointed.
Pretty good story! Nothing like the movie, so I am glad I actually read it. Tracing the creation, assimilation, and dominance of robots into the human world, as told through anecdotes at key points along their development, from nonverbal nanny-bots to superbrains who make all important economical decisions. Well-fleshed out characters, generally well-written. There was one sentence where the same word was used twice (necessary), which I find extremely irritating. We barely use the hundreds of thousands of English words available, so this type of oversight appears lazy on behalf of the author and his editors. Interesting how when the machines are given control, humans inevitably make the wrong choices and must be corrected. It leaves you with something to think about.
It was fantastic! I had no idea the actual story was so interesting, and all of the extra information Berton adds in to flesh out the story and "set the stage" is a testament to his skill as a writer.
Eep I've only read 14 books this year! According to Goodreads, I am at least 6 behind my goal. I've been going for quality over quantity this year, but despite choosing many well-loved and perennial classics, I haven't come across any five-star fiction. Goals aside, the whole point of this year is to find some new favourites... and I have not even come close! Well,back to work!
The Last Spike
Before reading this, I had no idea what the CPR actually meant for Canada. I found the writing engaging and the events involved fantastic; such that I am sure all my acquaintances, family, and coworkers were sick of hearing the minutiae involved. Before, I thought it was simple as building a long railroad across an already united country. Now, I feel new respect and pride for the men involved, and I understand why we name so many roads after Van Horne, Macdonald, Mackenzie, and all the other major players. I feel like a better Canadian, with a better understanding of what that means. And I find myself wondering why this wasn't covered at some point in my high school education?
Edwin Drood
Sadly, the last novel written by Charles Dickens, left in its unfinished state. The story follows John Jasper, Choirmaster and opium smoker, whom (it appears) has killed his nephew Edwin Drood. As with other Dickens books, supporting characters are numerous and well-fleshed, so the audience can never be entirely certain who the main characters are, until the story is pretty much ended. Things were really starting to get interesting when it left off, with Jasper half-admitting to a murder and the opium peddler following him around. The real mystery will never be unravelled, so this is an entirely fitting title for the last story in a long a prodigious career.
Snark
I was expecting something so nonsensical that it would be difficult to read. This wasn't. The prose flowed well and the nonsensical bits were scattered around liberally.
Seize the Day
Overgrown boy-man Tommy Wilhem cannot catch a break, and the story takes us through what may well be his worst day. Broke, overlooked at his former sales position, hated by his father and estranged from his wife, Willy is taken in by a con artist with the last of his money. There is an air of desperation, but with an undertone of the surreal, perhaps even of bemusement, as if Willy cannot believe this is happeneing to him.
Drood
An exciting (and lengthy) story about the mysterious influence of the master-mesmerizer Drood on the lives of Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins.
Morpheus
A little extra research to better understand Drood. Also a very interesting discussion of how lack of medical knowledge amongst physicians and lack of scruples among chemists led to the popularity of patent medicines, which opened the way for the various opium addictions. Often read like a laundry list of the who's who in turn-of-the century arts, without the unifying and meaty discussion to unite the story.
Notre Dame de Paris and The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo appear to be the same story with two titles... but here are two different entries
Herzog
Chronicling Professor Moses E. Herzog's coming to terms with his second failed marriage. A very difficult and complex read, with many Yiddish and French passages. I felt like I was reading the James Joyce of philosophers. Moses reminded me of a grown Duddy Kravitz, but with more bleakness and cynicism than his protege. Moses is worn out by the world, and retreats to his ruined country house to begin finding and rebuilding himself (although the story focuses on the lost wanderings rather than the finding).
--> Consider removing this from the compilation. Not his best at all!
Tono-Bungay
The rise and fall of the inventor of Tono-Bungay, from poor chemist to millionaire financier, as told from the perspective of his nephew. Very disjointed, as if there were too many divergent ideas stuffed into on plot.
This Dark Endeavour
I like the story. Young Victor Frankenstein and his beloved family, and the incident which set him on course for creating a monster. It's a good idea.
I take issue with the flippant way the book is written. I have noticed this book listed as "Young Adult" on some sites, and this may account for the superficial feeling I get from the writing. It was a quick read, and my impression (remembering I am not a writer and have no personal experience thereof, but also know the great James Joyce often took months labouring over a single sentence) is that it was also a quick write. Which I find disappointing, because the interesting story is let down by the writing.
Can a book written as a prequel to a classic ever become a classic itself? Maybe my expectations were unreasonably high, because I so badly wanted this prequel to do justice to the original.
Arrow Of God
Difficult to follow, mostly because so many of the names were similar and unfamiliar. The story of the Chief Priest of Ulu, his family and community, and the conflicts encountered between their traditional ways and the new way imposed on them by British colonialists and missionaries. The story picks up at a point where the British infringement is just beginning, so we are allowed to see both the traditional life, as well as glimpses of the future. Ezeulu, the priest, is interesting in that despite following his life closely through the story, and often entering into his thoughts, the audience never really gets an understanding of the man himself. His closest friend comments on how he is almost completely unknowable, and apparently this extends to the omnipotent audience as well.
I also enjoyed the descriptions of the traditional ways of living; the compounds, the meals, the festivals and clothing. The rich description makes the story more poignant because the audience can see and appreciate what is about to be lost to globalism.
For these reasons, I believe this a good entry to remain on the Ultimate Compilation.
--> I am considering removing this from the Ultimate Compilation. Will read the final Alice Walker entry, and decide from there. The Colour Purple was much better... and even that wasn't really to my taste.
The Temple of My Familiar
Not necessarily confusing, but very convoluted with the intertwined lives of the two Zedes, Carlotta, Arveyda, Fanny, Suwelo and others. It is difficult to describe what this story is actually about, because there are also many major and minor themes interwoven. On the surface, I would say this is about love and its many incarnations. There was a lot of magical realism, about reincarnation and about collective consciousness. There was a lot of discussion on racial differences, with the main characters identifying themselves as "of colour".
Why did Zede fall out of the story so suddenly? The author starts to flesh out one character, and then jumps into an entirely different time and begins again. Most of the reading, I felt like I had all these disconnected threads I was trying to piece together. Just one of the story-lines, fully developed, would have been satisfying. Her writing can be so poignant and beautiful, I was completely disappointed.
I, Robot
Pretty good story! Nothing like the movie, so I am glad I actually read it. Tracing the creation, assimilation, and dominance of robots into the human world, as told through anecdotes at key points along their development, from nonverbal nanny-bots to superbrains who make all important economical decisions. Well-fleshed out characters, generally well-written. There was one sentence where the same word was used twice (necessary), which I find extremely irritating. We barely use the hundreds of thousands of English words available, so this type of oversight appears lazy on behalf of the author and his editors. Interesting how when the machines are given control, humans inevitably make the wrong choices and must be corrected. It leaves you with something to think about.