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A Reader's reviews
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-05-18 09:51:57 for Vita Nuova.
(Language: English)
  
I picked up this book as well after finishing a class on Dante. This book is one of his first books of poetry, in which he not only discusses what influences the specific sonnatas he writes, but also the reasons he styles them the way he does. Dante names the book "the new life" due to the 'new life' he has found falling for Beatrice. He explains both poetically and prosaically how falling in love changes him and his thought process. The tone shifts between lofty, to despondent, to an inspired ending. The only reason I feel it necessary to give it four stars instead of five is I feel something of it is not fully communicated in being translated. Dante's poems in english feel simple and nonrhythmic, however his prose and the charisma he brings to the text make it a very enjoyable read.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-12-08 04:05:56 for The Wake: 10 (The Sandman).
(Language: English)
The Endless, former loves, and adversaries recount memories of Morpheus, as Dream re-finds his place among them.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-12-08 04:04:19 for Kindly Ones: 9 (Sandman Collected Library).
(Language: English)
In retaliation for the abduction of her child Lyta Hall (from Doll's House) seeks Dream to end his life.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-12-08 04:02:57 for Worlds' End (Sandman, Book 8).
(Language: English)
Another collection of stories, this time told by travelers to the Worlds End Inn. A seemingly unprovoked reality storm and visions in the sky foreshadow tragedy to come.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-12-08 04:01:28 for Sandman: Brief Lives: 7.
(Language: English)
Delirium, the youngest of the Endless asks her brother Dream to accompany her in looking for their long-lost brother Destruction. Getting to spend more time with Delirium and her terrifying, muddled yet adorable ways made me love this series.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-12-08 03:58:20 for Fables and Reflections (Sandman, Book 6).
(Language: English)
Another collection of stories (longer this time) about legendary and historical figures and their run-ins with Dream. Near the beginning of this series we see the source of Desire's enmity and once again meet Dream's son. Setting is a thing to admire about this collection; we're taken from the streets of America to Greece, from the forests of Russia to Caliph Haroun al-Raschid's Baghdad.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-12-08 03:52:15 for A Game of You (Sandman, Book 5).
(Language: English)
Barbie, a former acquaintance or Rose (A Doll's House) finds herself caught in her past and nightmares.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-12-08 03:34:43 for The Sandman: Season of Mists: 4 (Sandman Collected Library).
(Language: English)
The Endless (Destiny, Death, Dream, Desire, Despair, and Delirium) meet at Destiny's call. Morpheus is provoked by Desire and Death and seeks to right the wrong of imprisoning a former lover in Hell. Upon arrival he finds Lucifer emptying Hell of souls and demons in preparation to leave forever. Morpheus finds himself with the key to Hell and numerous parties interested in it. I loved this story for a number of reasons. First Gaiman was able, as he does often, to tell multiple stories at once. In this instance Dream not only resolves his problem with Nada but also solves the issue of Hell; while we see the consequences Lucifer has loosed on the earth. Secondly we're once again treated to Gaiman's ability to create and manipulate mythology as he does in American Gods. Seeing Thor drunk and hitting on Bast is of much amusement.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-12-08 03:24:46 for The Sandman: Dream country.
(Language: English)
At this point Gaiman established the Dreaming and its connection to our mortal one, while also hinting at its connection to others. Dream country works as a collection of short stories about Dream within the world established, something he will come back and do often. Here Gaiman intertwines 'realities' adding Greek mythology, the realm of Faerie (as in Stardust), Shakespeare's writings, and more to make a fantastic and enthralling read.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-12-08 03:20:07 for The Doll's House: 2 (The Sandman).
(Language: English)
As Dream sets his realm in order he begins seeking several nightmares and a dream that escaped in his absence. At the same time his younger sister, Desire, plots to destroy her brother. Not my favorite of the series, but introduces numerous important mortal characters who will reappear as major characters the series continues.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-12-08 03:13:14 for Sandman, The: Preludes & Nocturnes - Book I.
(Language: English)
In an attempt to capture Death a group of men accidentally summon, and imprison Death's brother, Dream. When Dream escapes he returns home to find his kingdom in disarray, and sets about to return it to its proper state. Dream's trip to Hell and conversation with Death at the end of his journey were my favorite parts of this collection.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-08-27 08:20:36 for V for Vendetta {New Edition}.
(Language: English)
1984, if 1984 had a man who donned a mask, cape, and Shakespearean verse to oppose the government. About a billion times better than the movie which butchered the ending (hey let's all put on masks woo!).
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-08-27 08:17:14 for The Erotic Poems (Penguin Classics).
(Language: English)
Ovid' humorously cynical and occasionally scandalous take on how to be a lover.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-08-27 08:11:32 for 1984 Nineteen Eighty-Four.
(Language: English)
Beware the savage jaw; of 1984.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-08-27 08:32:29 for The Augustine Catechism: Enchiridion of Faith, Hope and Love (The Augustine Series, V. 1).
(Language: English)
The Enchiridion was quite amazing and a simple read, containing Augustine's direction to a new church leader.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-08-27 08:27:19 for Stardust.
(Language: English)
A young, aspiring man seeks a trinket for the "love of his life" and finds more than he bargained for, caught up in a struggle for power, both kingly and eternal. The book is supremely better than the movie in creating a fairy-tale atmosphere that Gaiman is so excellent at creating.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-08-27 08:25:01 for American Gods.
(Language: English)
As a fan of mythology this book plays out marvelously. The gods of the world, ancient and medieval, folk and established, participate in an epic battle for the fate of the world. As time continues the power of the gods waxes and wanes as the number of believers worldwide shifts. In the modern era technologies and corporations garner more belief, and thus become incarnate waging war against the old gods. Half of the fun of this book was watching Gaiman work with established norms in Gods like Odin or Anubis and mold them into modern world molds and the other half trying to identify them as many are not explicitly named. Also has a great twist which one should see coming a mile away but I missed =/ Cool read.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-08-27 08:19:02 for The Confessions (Oxford World's Classics).
(Language: English)
This is one read I have come back to like clockwork since the day I first read it. Augustine writes of his journey of faith from infancy to adulthood, describing the numerous ways in which he rebelled and subsequently came to rely upon God's grace. "Those who seek the Lord will praise Him, for those who seek shall find Him, and those who find will praise Him." His rhetoric seamlessly blends biblical verses and quotations with his own experience and thoughts on ideas of grace, sin, memory, and many more.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-08-27 08:13:15 for Catch 22.
(Language: English)
This book introduced me to Joseph Heller (as I attempt to read more) and the dark-comedy within makes it my favorite read. In Yossarian both abject misery and 'jumping' hope shine as he goes from mission to "running off." The absurd comedy also always gets a big, stupid grin.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-08-27 08:04:42 for The Divine Comedy (The Inferno, The Purgatorio, and The Paradiso).
(Language: English)
Italian 413 got me into this guy and I attempted, rather haphazardly to read the Divine Comedy. Inferno and Purgatory were pretty easy to get through; and the internet is a great tool to find out who most of the characters are in the cantos, at least with some more detail than the simple footnotes depending on your edition/translation/copy whatever. My favorite part of this story, other than the fact it works both allegorically and as a 'medieval, christian sci-fi novel' is the fact it is basically an epic love story; both of a man for his God and of a woman for her man (and him for her).
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-08-27 08:01:53 for East of Eden.
(Language: English)
I found my parents copy of this book and read through it sometime in the middle of a summer during High School. It's long, full of characters, and a dense text (lots of words!) but hey it's still pretty good.
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