Thoughts on “Circe”

I wanted to seize her by the shoulders. Whatever you do, I wanted to say, do not be too happy. It will bring down fire on your head. Can I get an amen? Circe is a retelling of the Greek Goddess/witch's eventful life. It is also the story of a woman who believes that being …

Thoughts on “The World According To Garp”

What can I say about Garp that John Irving hasn't already said about Garp? 'Most books you know nothin's gonna happen,' Jillsy said. 'Lawd, you know that. Other books,' she said, 'you know just what's gonna happen, so you don't have to read them, either. But this book,' Jillsy said, 'this book's so sick you know somethin's gonna happen, but you can't imagine what. You got to be …

Thoughts on “Bir Dinozorun Anilari”

I enjoyed this immensely. This lady is funny, a know-it-all, mean and just plain amazing. I'm angry with her - much of this review will be ranting about how much Mina Urgan likes to show off her communist beliefs. But also, I love her. I feel some sort of kinship with her. Maybe if I …

Thoughts on “The Song of Achilles”

I think I'm too old for this teenage romance stuff. Too old for all this talk of beautiful boys, golden fiery hair ruffling in the wind, and their feet. I can't read without my eyes rolling to the back of my brain. But I do love a good retelling, so I'm glad I sludged through …

Thoughts on “A Ladder To The Sky”

A delicious study of a truly evil, selfish, piece-of-shit person. I've never met a monster such as Maurice Swift, not even in other works of fiction. This might be my closest encounter with an actual psychopath: at first sight, he's charming. You desperately want him to like you. Then his true colors show - and …

Thoughts on “Small Gods”

The best thing about this book is Brutha, (Brother Brutha, heh). The second best thing is how the church tries to kill a man for declaring that the world is a disc on top of four elephants which are standing on a turtle. And the turtle is swimming through space. This is what science declares. …

Thoughts on “Carter Beats the Devil”

First off- what a cover! I saw this lying on a table at a library book sale and I was instantly drawn. It's flashy, it's bold, it's charming - all a good representation of what's to come. The book follows the magician Charles Carter, who was a real person. It's supposed to be a fictionalized …

Thoughts on “Mother Night”

Howard Campbell is a Nazi propagandist, and a very good one at that. He is also an American spy, using his radio show to send coded messages to America during WW2. He is very good at both jobs. He manages to stay alive and help the US efforts. But he also plays a big part …

Thoughts on “The Name of the Wind”

“I have stolen princesses back from sleeping barrow kings. I burned down the town of Trebon. I have spent the night with Felurian and left with both my sanity and my life. I was expelled from the University at a younger age than most people are allowed in. I tread paths by moonlight that others …

Thoughts on “The Great Gatsby”

One thing that has stayed with me from this book was this quote: “They were careless people, Tom and Daisy- they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had …