Synopsis: The nephew of an eccentric Professor of Anthropology discovers the horrors of the inter-galactic, flying cephalopod worshiping “Cthulhu Cult” while investigating the circumstances of his grand-uncle’s death. First-rate, tongue-twisting horror.
My Take: While I’m not much of a science fiction fan (relative to its real adherents), as a general principle I do try to give [...]
Entries Tagged as 'Fiction'
“Flowers for Algernon”, Daniel Keyes
November 23rd, 2009 · No Comments · American, Fiction, Sci-Fi
Synopsis: Intellectually impaired factory cleaner undergoes experimental surgery to triple his IQ, dramatically changing his inner-life, his relationships and his outlook on the world. “Of Mice and Men” meets “Frankenstein”.
My Take: You know you’ve written a story that has really had an impact on popular culture when it forms the basis of not one, but [...]
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“The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao”, Junot Diaz
November 2nd, 2009 · 1 Comment · American, Fiction, Japanese
Synopsis: Overweight Dominican uber-nerd battles a ‘fuku’, a Caribbean curse that has beleaguered his family across two countries and over three generations, in his quest for love and the fame of becoming “The Dominican JRR Tolkien”.
My Take: Strangely enough for a recent Pulitzer Prize winner, I only heard about Junot Diaz’s “The Brief and Wondrous [...]
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“The Dice Man”, Luke Rhinehart (George Cockcroft)
August 29th, 2009 · 1 Comment · American, Fiction, Nihilist, Over-Rated
Synopsis: Bored New York psychiatrist begins living his life according to the roll of a dice in order to escape the constraints of his personality. Unpredictable, but ultimately boring.
My Take: There’s promise in the premise of this book. I first heard of “The Dice Man” gimmick via the highly entertaining Discovery Channel travel series of [...]
Tags:Luke Rhinehart
“Things Fall Apart”, Chinua Achebe
August 28th, 2009 · No Comments · African, Fiction, History, Literature, Philosophy
Synopsis: A tribal patriarch in pre-colonial Nigeria is forced to confront the changes to his society brought on by the arrival of European settlers. The Anti-“Heart of Darkness”.
My Take: “Things Fall Apart”, Chinua Achebe’s first novel, is a seminal work in the modern literary cannon. Released in 1958, it was one of the works [...]
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“Spring Snow”, Yukio Mishima
August 20th, 2009 · 1 Comment · Asian, Fiction, Japanese, Literature
Synopsis: Dilettante son of a nouveau-riche family seeking societal acceptance meets the refined daughter of an aristocratic family struggling to adjust to the changes in Japanese society brought on by the Meiji Restoration. A deeply intense and culturally significant story of forbidden love.
My Take: “Spring Snow” is generally regarded to be Yukio Mishima’s greatest masterpiece. [...]
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“Gone With the Wind”, Margaret Mitchell
August 18th, 2009 · No Comments · American, Fiction, History, Trash
Synopsis: The world of Scarlet O’Hara, an intemperate, ruthless and self-centred plantation owner’s daughter is turned upside down by the US Civil War and further, by that scoundrel, Rhett Butler. It’s a hell of a story apparently – 30 million people can’t be wrong.
My Take: The things we do for those we love. When my [...]
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“Fatherland”, Robert Harris
August 16th, 2009 · No Comments · English, Fiction, Trash
Synopsis: Twenty years after the Nazi’s have won WW2 a criminal detective in the SS starts investigating the deaths of a number of senior party officials in the lead up to celebrations for Adolf Hitler’s 75th birthday. It’s Agatha Christie meets George Orwell.
My Take: Let’s face it – the main appeal of historical fiction [...]
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“Ulysses”, James Joyce
August 10th, 2009 · 1 Comment · Fiction, Literature, Owned But Unread, Unfinished
Synopsis: Leopold Bloom spends a day wandering through Dublin on June 16, 1904. Modern literature will never be the same again.
My Take: Ulysses is my literary white whale. I’ve sat down to try and read it a couple of times, but have never had the requisite endurance or appreciation. I get the feeling that I [...]
Tags:James Joyce