classic tale

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

How great to read this classic tale again after recently touring Samuel Clemens boyhood home of Hannibal MO where the story was born! Now on to Huck Finn!

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an exciting and fun tale

Hounded by Kevin Hearne
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

If you have ever wondered what it would be like for a two thousand year old druid to be living in a present day Arizona college town, this is the book for you. Reminiscent of Neil Gaiman's Sandman series, the author incorporates all manner of beings from folk tales, legends and religions into this modern context to achieve an exciting and fun tale as Atticus O’Sullivan and his Irish wolfhound Oberon fight to preserve the druid way of life, fight against evil, and to restore the earth to health and wholeness. Being ignorant of myth and legend, i'm enjoying the ins and outs of these characters from history and legend. This tale is not as serious as Gaiman's tales, but quite fun to read, and it is the kick-off for a series known as The Iron Druid Chronicles.

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wonderful story of epic proportion

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OK - i am fairly sure this will turn out to be the best book i've read in 2018. It took a while, over 1000 pages, and through 2 vacation trips, but this is an excellent story. It is rich and engaging from start to finish. Gone with the Wind fully deserves it's place on the must-read lists and among the classics of American literature. I am itching to see the film again now. What a wonderfully written and told story of epic proportion. 6 stars from me.

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Still chugging

World's End by Neil Gaiman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Still chugging my way through the Sandman series. Mr Gaiman uncovers more tales and legends from all over the world and over history.

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the Mistborn trilogy - part 1

Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"Mistborn: The Final Empire" is the fascinating first installment in the Mistborn trilogy. The tale revolves around an unlikely hero, a young women born into slavery, employed as a thief, and yet endowed with powerful abilities that are part of a complex and creative system of magic that are a part of this world and usually only found in the ruling classes. She is discovered and "called" by an enthusiastic and charismatic freedom fighter into a plot to overthrow the evil and oppressive Lord Ruler of the "Final Empire", and set up an egalitarian and just government in which the skaa (slaves) are considered as equals to the nobility. There is much action and twists and turns in the plot with many surprises along the way. I am looking forward to continuing this adventure in the second installment "The Well of Ascension". The is a great follow up by Mr. Sanderson to "Elantris".

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deserve and demand re-reading

Brief Lives by Neil Gaiman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

More of this great graphic narrative from Gaiman. It has become obvious to me that these stories are deep and penetrating, and deserve and demand re-reading. On to collection #8, "Worlds' End".

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"together" ?!?!?!

i received this ad in the mail from Ford Motor Company yesterday. Someone please explain to me how any of these vehicle occupants are "together" other than their bodies being in the same SUV?

a richly human community

The Memory of Old Jack by Wendell Berry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is my first taste of Wendell Berry's rich fictional world of Port William KY. This tale is the told through a series of remembrances of a crusty old farmer, interleaved with his interactions with the people and events of the present. The character of "Old Jack" is a strong yet flawed, deeply human old farmer who is among of the last of his generation. Jack's life has been spent stubbornly fighting for his independence and for his ties to his land and surrounding country that he both loves and belongs to. This tale is a wonderful incarnation of the wholesome and healthy philosophy that Mr. Berry espouses and lives out in his life and writings. I am looking forward to more tales of this richly human community.

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legends and tales of many peoples and cultures

Fables and Reflections by Neil Gaiman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

More cool tales from the King of Dreams. It seems that Mr. Gaiman has included legends and tales of many peoples and cultures in this interesting series. Really enjoying the stories!

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better with each reading

The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"The Dragon is Reborn" - this story is better with each reading, this is number five or six for me :) I love it. The question is, can i stop with this one, or is "The Great Hunt" next?!?!! :)

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creativity, originality, and beauty

Griffin & Sabine: An Extraordinary Correspondence by Nick Bantock
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This one gets 5 stars for creativity, originality, and beauty. What a powerful story and medium. Loved it.

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better and better

A Game of You by Neil Gaiman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

These stories are getting better and better. Looking forward to the next installment!

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over-the-top outrageous black comedy

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This one was a long haul, and it had me seriously reconsidering picking my books from "classic" must-read lists. This story is an over-the-top outrageous black comedy / satire that takes place near the end of WW-2 on and around an Allies airbase in Italy. All the ridiculousness of war and military operations, politics, and personnel are raised to the nth degree of zany. It took me over half way through before i actually could appreciate the message contained in this story. All in all, it was a little too over-the-top for my tastes, but as the story ends, it leaves the reader with a serious critique of war, politics, and the philosophy of swords and guns in the way our world operates. Serious haunting questions are contained within virtually every wild crazy part of this story. I see why it is on many must-read lists, and i can see how it has influenced other books, films, and television shows, namely M*A*S*H. I'm glad i read it, but i'm taking a break from the must-read lists for a while.

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Let Kids Be Kids

Creative and interesting

The Sandman, Vol. 4: Season of Mists by Neil Gaiman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Creative and interesting take on heaven and hell, and a collection of historical and worldwide deities.

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solid advice - seeking a home in Durham

more cool stories

Dream Country by Neil Gaiman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Cool muse and cat stories. I could do without the Shakespeare.

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love the Cameo

The Doll's House by Neil Gaiman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

this a really cool story! it skips around a bit, and i did not follow all of it, but it's enjoyable and interesting. I especially love the Cameo appearance of G.K. Chesterton as himself :-) Excellent touch.

ps. Even better 2nd time around!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sandman_(Vertigo)


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upon 2nd reading

Preludes and Nocturnes by Neil Gaiman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Very nice upon 2nd reading, it will take some time to get into the story as these volumes progress.

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a valuable story - miserable and tedious to read

Look Homeward, Angel by Thomas Wolfe
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I picked up "Look Homeward, Angel" because it was on one of my "must read" lists, and because i found it referenced in a Ron Rash novel I recently read. "Look Homeward, Angel" is the early life biography of Thomas Wolfe, told as fiction (character name Eugene Gant), changing the names to protect both the innocent, and the not-so-innocent. The story, being firmly rooted in fact, not only lends us personal insight into the roots of one of America's respected authors, but it also gives insight into life in Asheville North Carolina, and the Carolinas in general circa the beginning of the 20th century. The bulk of the story takes place from 1900-1920. The place names have been changed, but having lived in NC for over 30 years, are easily recognized.

Altamont = Asheville
Pulpit Hill = Chapel Hill
Exeter = Durham
Sydney = Raleigh

The Asheville culture portrayed is grim on many levels. The relationships within the Gant family are often strained, resentful, and combative. Illness, both mental and physical are prevalent both within the Gant family and throughout the community. Many people died very young before the widespread practice of vaccination, a fact we easily forget in our age of modern medicine and healthcare. Altamont served as a "sanitarium" for people from other climates suffering from TB and other common and serious maladies. Not a pretty picture. All in all, the story is depressing, yet instructional from the standpoint of history, both general and related to Thomas Wolfe.

So here i am a month later, have finished reading it and find myself wondering "why?". At the risk of sounding disrespectful of a very widely respected author, i found his story telling in "Look Homeward, Angel" too cluttered with extra words and phrases. While much of this "extra" verbiage may be nicely worded, it distracted significantly from the story being told. It is not just length that bothered me. I have read 1400+ pages in the unabridged "Les Miserables" and never got the feeling of pages and pages of extra unnecessary words. This story is overwhelmed with extra, unneeded and confusing material. Much of the time, i got the feeling that he was writing just to "hear himself talk". To me it made a valuable story miserable and tedious to read. I do not recommend this book, it is too much.

http://www.nchistoricsites.org/wolfe/

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