Tag: Book Reviews
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Teacher Man by Frank McCourt – A Book Review
I avoided this book like the plague for as long as I could until my brother-in-law bought it for me last Christmas. Many people told me I would love it because it was basically my life (without the illicit behavior, of course), which is why I tried to keep away. However, my loyalty to my…
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Cell by Stephen King – A Book Review
Oh, Stephen, you make this so hard on me. I’m a big fan, a HUGE fan, but we have to face facts-you’re not the fiction writer you once were. Cell is just another recent Stephen King book. I compare it to kettle corn-taste great, really look forward to it and enjoy it immensely, but there…
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This Boy’s Life: A Memoir by Tobias Wolff – A Book Review
This book proved a superb read. In all seriousness, I cannot recommend this book highly enough. I do so because, beyond his instinctive narrative style that both captivates and delights, Wolff substantiates the hard and fast rule in life that no matter how difficult of a childhood, one can always improve upon oneself. Wolff is…
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Mr. Vertigo by Paul Auster – A Book Review
I have to tell you, I am more than impressed with Paul Auster. The only other work I’ve read of his is the collection The New York Trilogy, and I took him as essentially an experimental writer who deals more with theme than storyline. Mr. Vertigo proved me wrong and then some. The plotline is…
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The Barracks Thief by Tobias Wolff – A Book Review
Tobias Wolff has written a brief yet powerful tale concerning a young man awaiting deployment to Vietnam. During his wait at Fort Bragg, a thief emerges, stealing from his fellow troops. The tale goes on to offer reactions to the thefts, then, in true original Wolff style, switches perspective half way through to give insight…
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Where I’m Calling From by Raymond Carver – A Book Review
Where I’m Calling From is a collected edition of Raymond Carver’s short stories. Carver died from lung cancer in 1988, but before doing so he was said to have been one of the writers responsible for bringing back the glory of the short story. Where I’m Calling From is certainly the work of an expert. …
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The Night In Question by Tobias Wolff – A Book Review
Tobias Wolff has written yet another fantastic collection of short stories with The Night in Question. Wolff has yet to disappointment me with any of his writings thus far, and since I believe I’ve read all of his works but for one or two, it does not seem as though that may be a possibility. …
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Falconer by John Cheever – A Book Review
John Cheever is very good at his craft. His main characters as well as his supporting characters are very well developed; he is an expert at description and dialogue; he knows the way the human minds works in all its logical and illogical glory. That being said, while I appreciate all of Cheever’s talents, I…
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Beck At Bay by John Updike – A Book Review
John Updike is one of those names I had always heard of but had never checked out. Finally, a few weeks ago, I decided that it was time for me to get acquainted with Mr. Updike. I must say that the first work I chose to read of his did not disappoint me. Bech at…
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Out Of the Silent Planet by C.S. Lewis – A Book Review
I am a big C.S. Lewis fan. He won me over as a child with his Chronicles of Narnia books, but it was his thought-provoking and inspiring Mere Christianity that solidified his genius in my mind. That being said, it is with great vacillation that I must reveal I did not care for his science…
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