Another one of my "well I really need to read more to solidfy my opinion on Iraq" book purchases, I was expecting a long heavy book full of facts and footnotes.
I was pleasantly surprised to find this book incredibly interesting and easy to read! With an overview of the military campgaigns that the US has been involved in from WWII through to 2003, this book offers some insight into the military and economic motives of various campaigns.
A bit of an eye-opener into the politics of war without getting bogged down into the inherent statistics and facts of this.
As the Iraq conflict is more of a "pre-emptive" war, the book shows how over the last 50 years America has become more and more concerned of itself rather than other countries. Reading this in the light of the current potential problems in Iran made me feel that I would live to read an update with this in mind.
This book is extremely pointed, and I would recommened it to anyone who wants to know more about why the US are STILL in Iraq, why they went into Iraq in the first place, and how they continue to justify this past the "WMD" agrument that was proven to be null and void. It also show an understanding of how the US ethos of the last 50 years will continue to have an effect in all future military conflicts across the globe.
I'm still surprised how much I enjoyed reading this book. I for one have fingers crossed that a much more democratic leader is in power in the US in 2008, and that America does not continue it's empire-like pre-emptiveness and hegemony in regards to overseas conflicts.
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Girl, Interrupted - Susanna Kaysen
I wasn't quite sure what to expect with this book. It's short (160 or so pages) with relatively large text.
It is about a girl who is essentially sent to an institution for two years after being diagnosed with Borderline Personality disorder. Rather than being a road through the therapy and life in an institution, the book seems to float around various parts of the life, without settling down on any specific part to settle on and explore.
I guess I was hoping for more detailed information of how mental illness was handled in the 60's - and with more of a focus on how she managed to get essentially hold on to a relationship whilst inside.
I suffer from Borderline myself so was expecting the mental illness part to be more apparent, and there seemed to be a "I should never have been brought here" theme throughout? and maybe a tinge of 'One flew over the cuckoo's nest' everyone here is crazy but me as well.
The characters felt relatively thin, with no real explanation or development of who they are and why they are there. I guess this was more the style rather than needlessly left out.
It's written in a relatively lyrical style which I enjoyed, but to be honest I was expecting much more. I would be interested in seeing the movie which may explore the subject matter further.
I still enjoyed it, and it did feel like relatively light reading...
It is about a girl who is essentially sent to an institution for two years after being diagnosed with Borderline Personality disorder. Rather than being a road through the therapy and life in an institution, the book seems to float around various parts of the life, without settling down on any specific part to settle on and explore.
I guess I was hoping for more detailed information of how mental illness was handled in the 60's - and with more of a focus on how she managed to get essentially hold on to a relationship whilst inside.
I suffer from Borderline myself so was expecting the mental illness part to be more apparent, and there seemed to be a "I should never have been brought here" theme throughout? and maybe a tinge of 'One flew over the cuckoo's nest' everyone here is crazy but me as well.
The characters felt relatively thin, with no real explanation or development of who they are and why they are there. I guess this was more the style rather than needlessly left out.
It's written in a relatively lyrical style which I enjoyed, but to be honest I was expecting much more. I would be interested in seeing the movie which may explore the subject matter further.
I still enjoyed it, and it did feel like relatively light reading...
Friday, April 20, 2007
Sole Survivor - Derek Hansen
A book written by an Australian about Great Barrier Island in the 60's. Insert themes of over fishing by Japanese trawlers, 1 man who has come back from the war a complete wreck, one male childrens writer, and one woman who magically is a doctor/psychologist/incubator all in one.
I like to be able to believe in my characters, and this novel felt a little contrived as everything seems to work out conveniently every chapter. While the examples of Red's lapses into mania due to traumatic wartime experiences appear to be well written, the novel has a sexism and underlying sexuality that did not sit well with me.
I did not enjoy the portrayal of women in this novel at all - the behaviour of the two main female characters does not make any sense, even when considered as a sign of the times (based in the 60's).
While the novel did grip me occasionally, I came away feeling I didn't exactly enjoy it and don't knowif I really took anything from it! I'm sure if the same subject matter was handled by a female author it would have had quite a different spin.
I don't think I would read this novel again either.
I like to be able to believe in my characters, and this novel felt a little contrived as everything seems to work out conveniently every chapter. While the examples of Red's lapses into mania due to traumatic wartime experiences appear to be well written, the novel has a sexism and underlying sexuality that did not sit well with me.
I did not enjoy the portrayal of women in this novel at all - the behaviour of the two main female characters does not make any sense, even when considered as a sign of the times (based in the 60's).
While the novel did grip me occasionally, I came away feeling I didn't exactly enjoy it and don't knowif I really took anything from it! I'm sure if the same subject matter was handled by a female author it would have had quite a different spin.
I don't think I would read this novel again either.
Biography of Sir Peter Blake
I'm not a yachtie, but like all kiwis ended up following the Americas Cup, Whitbread races and then once that was all over, was interested the final Peter Blake venture, Blakexpeditions.
I was relatively disappointed with the Biography, as it often felt like a play by play yachting race novel. Like I said, I'm not a yachtie, so reading a book full of yaching terms, boating terms, sail terms past the standard "sail" and "spinniker" I was lost.
I found myself skim reading, the only interesting parts were the Russel Coutts, Brad Butterworth team swap, and the final small part about Blakexpeditions. I was disappointed at the length of this last part, as preserving our world became a real focus for Sir Peter, and I felt like this was rushed in at the last minute without much thought. There was no reasoning why Peter became so heavily interested in the preservation of the environment, why the Amazon river and other places such as this were his new focus.
Considering what a figure that Sir Peter Blake has been in New Zealand over the last 20 years, I really did think that it should have been written in a more user friendly style, It would have had a lot more validity to the general public in that respect.
Definitely not a novel I would try to read again, sadly I was very disappointed in this Biography.
I was relatively disappointed with the Biography, as it often felt like a play by play yachting race novel. Like I said, I'm not a yachtie, so reading a book full of yaching terms, boating terms, sail terms past the standard "sail" and "spinniker" I was lost.
I found myself skim reading, the only interesting parts were the Russel Coutts, Brad Butterworth team swap, and the final small part about Blakexpeditions. I was disappointed at the length of this last part, as preserving our world became a real focus for Sir Peter, and I felt like this was rushed in at the last minute without much thought. There was no reasoning why Peter became so heavily interested in the preservation of the environment, why the Amazon river and other places such as this were his new focus.
Considering what a figure that Sir Peter Blake has been in New Zealand over the last 20 years, I really did think that it should have been written in a more user friendly style, It would have had a lot more validity to the general public in that respect.
Definitely not a novel I would try to read again, sadly I was very disappointed in this Biography.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
The bride stripped bare
I don't read trashy romance. I can't abide it. I cannot handle the whimsical pathetic loveydoveyness. They are never true to life and give most women the concept of "omg happy ever after" and "there is the perfect man out there".
In a nutshell - they are completely ridiculous.
After seeing a book that had been fairly well advertised, notes written that I had seen in all my local bookstores coming up cheap - I decided on a spur of the moment purchase while buying a book for my Fathers' birthday, to buy it.
I have learnt my lesson - I must check out what genre it is - well before purcase.
This book is about a woman (suprise, surprise) who finds out her husband is cheating with her best friend, who is a free loving, life filled woman (who you end up finding out is a sex therapist), (goodness does this spell trouble? *sigh* subtlety is beyond authors such as this), and woman goes to try and find herself.
Cue young man from the library group who she ends up teaching about sex. And Cue random hotel room group sex, that is sadly misplaced, ridiculous - and comes across like a pathetic attempt for the animalistic woman in us all to feel empowered, yet is weak, unrealistic, and completely unlike what a real experience like that would be like.
Seriously - the sex is god awful, the content dripping with femibullshit "I have the power" crap - I cannot believe this book has become the sleeper hit that it is.
I look at quotes from reviews like "intelligent and accomplished exploration of female sexuality and the social landscape it inhabits”, and "The blurb describes it as "an explosive novel of sex, secrecy and escape" - I find blurbs rarely live
up to their descriptions, but this one does." - and I want to vomit.
The characters have no depth - and it comes across like a pathetic launch through a woman's attempt to justify her previous affairs.
This book is the most atrocious novel I had ever read, I wish I could get that hour and a half back.
In a nutshell - they are completely ridiculous.
After seeing a book that had been fairly well advertised, notes written that I had seen in all my local bookstores coming up cheap - I decided on a spur of the moment purchase while buying a book for my Fathers' birthday, to buy it.
I have learnt my lesson - I must check out what genre it is - well before purcase.
This book is about a woman (suprise, surprise) who finds out her husband is cheating with her best friend, who is a free loving, life filled woman (who you end up finding out is a sex therapist), (goodness does this spell trouble? *sigh* subtlety is beyond authors such as this), and woman goes to try and find herself.
Cue young man from the library group who she ends up teaching about sex. And Cue random hotel room group sex, that is sadly misplaced, ridiculous - and comes across like a pathetic attempt for the animalistic woman in us all to feel empowered, yet is weak, unrealistic, and completely unlike what a real experience like that would be like.
Seriously - the sex is god awful, the content dripping with femibullshit "I have the power" crap - I cannot believe this book has become the sleeper hit that it is.
I look at quotes from reviews like "intelligent and accomplished exploration of female sexuality and the social landscape it inhabits”, and "The blurb describes it as "an explosive novel of sex, secrecy and escape" - I find blurbs rarely live
up to their descriptions, but this one does." - and I want to vomit.
The characters have no depth - and it comes across like a pathetic launch through a woman's attempt to justify her previous affairs.
This book is the most atrocious novel I had ever read, I wish I could get that hour and a half back.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Foucault's Pendulum
Being an avid reader of Templars, Holy Grail palaver, Masonic Lodge assumptions, and other esoteric writings, I looked forward to this literary piece of fiction. Preceding the Da Vinci code by several years, I was astounded to find how similar the two pieces of work were.
While not speicifcally about "San Gral", Foucault's Pendulum is still about the quest for knowledge, what is real and what isn't, and also how it is so easy to get sucked in amongst avid believers.
I enjoyed the literary style, the slight mockery of itself (almost), and the ability to feel that I came away knowing a heck of a lot more than initially.
Because of it's vivid style, it can be easy to get confused, with places, names and occultism, however persevering enables the reader to become heavily involved and even interested in how the plot plan finally climaxes. In fact, so complex are the esoteric topics introduced within the novel, there is a wikipedia entry dedicated to them wiki list
A novel that you need to read in a short space of time to ensure places, names and subject content don't slip by the wayside...
All in all a thoroughly enjoyable novel!
While not speicifcally about "San Gral", Foucault's Pendulum is still about the quest for knowledge, what is real and what isn't, and also how it is so easy to get sucked in amongst avid believers.
I enjoyed the literary style, the slight mockery of itself (almost), and the ability to feel that I came away knowing a heck of a lot more than initially.
Because of it's vivid style, it can be easy to get confused, with places, names and occultism, however persevering enables the reader to become heavily involved and even interested in how the plot plan finally climaxes. In fact, so complex are the esoteric topics introduced within the novel, there is a wikipedia entry dedicated to them wiki list
A novel that you need to read in a short space of time to ensure places, names and subject content don't slip by the wayside...
All in all a thoroughly enjoyable novel!
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Less than zero - Brett Easton Ellis
After reading Glamorama, Amerian Psycho and Rules of Attraction, I was looking forward to reading Bret Easton Ellis's first book - Less than zero.
I like his writing style, it's always been blunt, sardonic - I guess "edgy" when you read the novel in regards to the time it was written, but that didn't prepare me for Less than zero.
The novel is about Clay, who returns home from college for 4 weeks and tries to hang out with old friends. What ensures is a dark run through an almost underworld, belnding rich and the non-rich in an unusual way. It touches on prostitution, homosexuality - well more androgyny, drugs, relationships - and the way that people chage when you move away from them
Rather than looking through the violence (written and implied) I found it abhorrent. The thinly veiled cruelty throughout came across as distant anger, disconnected from each of the major plot situations, it almost seemed if it was directed at the self.
Don't get me wrong - the book is well written, and it got under my skin (here I am still thinking about it 4 days later) but I still found it incredibly depressing, with an overal feeling of emptiness... I felt ever so slightly dirty from reading it.
Less than zero
I like his writing style, it's always been blunt, sardonic - I guess "edgy" when you read the novel in regards to the time it was written, but that didn't prepare me for Less than zero.
The novel is about Clay, who returns home from college for 4 weeks and tries to hang out with old friends. What ensures is a dark run through an almost underworld, belnding rich and the non-rich in an unusual way. It touches on prostitution, homosexuality - well more androgyny, drugs, relationships - and the way that people chage when you move away from them
Rather than looking through the violence (written and implied) I found it abhorrent. The thinly veiled cruelty throughout came across as distant anger, disconnected from each of the major plot situations, it almost seemed if it was directed at the self.
Don't get me wrong - the book is well written, and it got under my skin (here I am still thinking about it 4 days later) but I still found it incredibly depressing, with an overal feeling of emptiness... I felt ever so slightly dirty from reading it.
Less than zero
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