Kelsey's reviews
| My Reviews - Page 1 of 7 |
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Kelsey posted a review at 2011-06-17 09:32:30 for The Ghost.
(Language: English)
 
The Ghost is a thrilling, page-turning book based on Tony Blair's rise and fall in the guise of character Adam Lang. Even his wife is a dead ringer for Cherie, but this obvious similarity ruins the novel's ending. The final twist is so ludicrous when applied to the real Blairs that it makes the book's comments on Lang/Blair as a prime minister equally ridiculous. A compelling novel that had a grain of truth completely wrecked by its unbelievable ending. Too bad for a book with so much potential!
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Kelsey posted a review at 2010-12-03 07:56:51 for American Psycho.
(Language: English)
This was... a hard book to get through. The repetitiveness of situations and dialogue, the mindless rambles on musicians, the repulsive descriptions of acts violent and sexual creates a ground-up mess of sights, smells and sounds that never touch your heart. This is, of course, done purposefully. Ellis has a message about the hedonism and materialism of the '80's, one where men are always mistaken for other men, where women only care about exercise and makeup and dinner and where the same events permeate the conscious every day- Les Miserables, the Japanese insurgence in business, restaurants and drugs are always prevalent... Patrick Bateman is just a man who wants to feel something, to fight against this blanket identity that everyone seems to share. "I'm a mass murderer," he tells someone, and the man simply does not listen. It's frightening to see someone need to act out in this way, but even more frightening to see how the rest of society acts-- by simply ignoring it. In spite of the difficult writing style, the themes throughout the novel are thought-provoking.
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Kelsey posted a review at 2010-12-03 07:54:13 for Notes from a Small Island.
(Language: English)
Very sweet, nostalgic look at Britain from one of the most talented and humorous authors of our time. Bryson certainly shows his affinity for England through small vignettes and anecdotes that never fail to amuse. Unfortunately, he can be a bit scattered at times in his tale, and towards the end of the novel, the locations begin to blend together as he moves more quickly. Overall, a cute read about England from an American's eye.
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Kelsey posted a review at 2010-12-03 07:50:39 for Infidel.
(Language: English)
Is Islam *honestly* that bad? This is the question that Ali poses in her autobiography, and to her, the answer is yes. For her defense, she cites her life, full of men beating their wives and women forced into submission as to not send men into lustful passion- and she lived as a moderate Muslim, not as a fundamentalist. Ali mainly focuses on this mistreatment of women, but also veers into the violent statements the Quran makes about the non-believers. She offers her own insight to September 11th as a former Muslim-- and it is one of the most probable theories out there. It is hard for us Westerners, so politically correct, to hear someone blantently say that a religion is morally wrong. It is their culture- this is what they believe in! We have no right to mess with their personal beliefs. But Ali brings up some good points, and it is hard to ignore the close-mindedness of society in some Muslim countries. She reminds me of Oriana Fallaci in many different ways, but holds the distinction of actually having been raised in a Muslim country. I don't know. She gives you so much to think about, but it seems so wrong to judge an entire religion. Ali does not give the impression of an extremist, however- on the contrary, she cites that it is people who have warped Islam, and although there are inexcuseable verses in the Quran, she feels that with a period of reflection Muslims should be able to come to terms with what should be used in life and what should not. After all, the Bible certainly has some verses that may sound violent, but we generally put those aside and focus on the main message. But Islam (especially Islam in in some Middle Eastern and African countries) does not endorse differnt interpretations of the Holy Book... and this, Ali says, is a major problem. It definitely sparked my interest on the subject, however... for those that have detracted from her and said that she lied about Islam in these Muslim countries.. well, I can only hope so.
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Kelsey posted a review at 2010-11-26 10:04:51 for Drood.
(Language: English)
This book had the potential to be a true masterpiece. Simmons's wonderful writing combined with his talent for suspense should have resulted in the fantastic, but due to meandering and a quickly resolved plotline, the novel merely becomes good. The sensations that Simmons puts the readers through-- especially at the beginning of the novel, such as Dickens's and Collins's descent into the Underworld-- will chill you to the bone and make you marvel at his prowess. However, these moments seem too far and few between, as Simmons chooses to focus more of his time on the day-to-day life of Collins. Although I highly enjoyed the "side plot" of Collins, from his mistress to his second mistress and his opium addictions, it drastically took away from the main plot of Drood. But perhaps it wasn't even the presence of Collins's day-to-day life that made the novel drag, but the lack of Drood. Hundreds of pages go between sightings of him, and as the reader, you begin to wonder whether he has disappeared all together at points. The somewhat weak ending (although making up for some of the stranger portions of the novel), also contributed to my disappointment. Overall, Drood is a beautiful novel-- just not as great as I would have hoped for after reading the first two hundred pages.
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Kelsey posted a review at 2010-11-26 10:04:48 for A Single Man.
(Language: English)
Without a doubt, A Single Man is the saddest book I have ever read. I don't mean the continually weepy, tissue-craving book, but a book whose whole text wallows in alienation and despair. Never once does Isherwood mention George's (the main character) depression, but with every rambling train of thought, with every stilted conversation, we feel George's pain even when he does not accept it. It's for this that the book should be read-- the manipulation of mood and tone when the words themselves don't seem to indicate any pervasive problem. It's a brief look at a man in mourning, and a man who cannot share his grief due to society. So many times, you can feel George begging to let people know, to tell others about his love, Jim, but no one pries, and George is left alone. The lack of plot is a problem, but the novel is primarily intellectual, more to be studied in the classroom than for entertainment. A vivid piece looking at loss and the even worse pain when a loss cannot be shared.
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Kelsey posted a review at 2010-11-26 10:04:43 for Diplomacy (A Touchstone book).
(Language: English)
Henry Kissinger knows his stuff, and he knows his stuff well. It really is a gift to have a book written by the greatest American foreign policy maker of our time, and Kissinger does not disappoint in "Diplomacy." His prose writing, though dense and curtly worded, is compelling for a non-fiction book and his occasional appearances in his own book (Nixon and Ford era) provide interesting and occasionally amusing anecdotes (like Charles de Gaulle ripping on him!). The book is so unique for both its overview of foreign policy starting from Richelieu to the present as well as its author having been a living part of that very history. Kissinger gives a clear, enticing look at realistic foreign policy while not completely condemning Wilsonian views. This sense of unbias combined with a plethora of facts makes absolute must if anyone wishes to have a well-rounded understanding of international relations.
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Kelsey posted a review at 2010-11-26 10:04:41 for When Heaven and Earth Changed Places: Tie-In Edition.
(Language: English)
The beginning of "When Heaven and Earth Changed Places" was fantastic. It was the Vietnamese "Wild Swans," and the sharp, brutual memories tempered with almost philosophical musings from the matured Hayslip made me know I had a real treat in my hands. Unfortunately, after the first hundred or so pages, things began to slow down. After Hayslip's connection to the Viet Cong ends, the book becomes a meandering, almost self-gratifying look at Hayslip's life. Instead of focusing on a larger picture, she describes herself and her situation without connection to the condition of the country as she had been doing previously. I'm sure Ms. Hayslip is a wonderful person, but in writing, the reader doesn't become quite connected enough to her plight to continue reading about her various employments and housings. The flashes to the present, at the start enticing and interesting, once again slow, and I realized that I didn't care too much for her siblings and other relatives. Perhaps that is the major fault of the book-- the characters simply aren't compelling enough. But the story is, and Le Ly's grand tale of living through the vicious war is interesting enough to read, even if the characters can't carry the memoir.
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Kelsey posted a review at 2010-11-26 10:04:40 for The Help.
(Language: English)
A fantastic novel! Stockett slips into the deep South in the 60's with ease, the mood and flavor of its society never absent with her characters' strong voices and bold actions. It's the feel that truly gets you hooked- whether it's the delightful descriptions of cooking with Minnie, the fiesty maid, or the slightly air-headed newly-wed who dresses like Marilyn Monroe, every character is limned with precision and love. Bubbling in the backdrop is the start of the new Flower-Power era, which comes to affect every single character in this small town. The injustice done to the African-Americans is disgustingly fascinating as well (seperate toilets within the house??), and it's almost impossibe to imagine that things like this were happening only fifty years ago. Although the ending left me slightly unsatisfied, the book was well worth the read for anyone interested in a plain good book.
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Kelsey posted a review at 2010-11-26 10:04:29 for Stone's Fall: A Novel.
(Language: English)
Pears writes an air-tight novel-- the plot is fast-paced and has been cleverly planned out. Set in the past, Pears takes on an elevated diction which seems to slow the story down at bits, but the mini-plots that fall under the large still move quickly and effortlessly. I was more impressed with the organization and ending of the novel than of the actual characters themselves, but after reading, I want to read more of Pears work.
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Kelsey posted a review at 2010-11-26 10:04:26 for The Passage: A Novel.
(Language: English)
Wow-ee!! So rarely do you come across a thriller that so completely takes you away to another world and leaves you craving for more... but Cronin has done it with skill and style. Although the novel is huge, it took me two days to read it, and I couldn't stop talking about it the whole way through. Cronin is brilliant at his art-- in short, curt sentences, he creates likeable characters and intense situations in a remarkable small amount of time. The only criticism I have is that the story changes abruptly after a few hundred pages, and that this switching of the main cast unfortunately is for the worse. Not to say that the other section of the story is boring-- not by far-- but the first portion (and cast of characters) certainly enticed me more than the second half. Hopefully in the second book, Cronin will be able to expand on the characterization of this second round of fellows to match the likeability of the first. This has the making of a grand story, and one that I can't wait to finish!
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Kelsey posted a review at 2010-11-26 10:04:21 for Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher: A Political Marriage.
(Language: English)
A nice, easy look into the lives and respective politics of Reagan and Thatcher, as well as their political relationship. The kind letters sent between the two as well as their humorous interactions (Reagan calmly listening to Thatcher chew him out after the US acted without UK consultation) add to the mostly political scene (although these interactions are far less than Wapshott hints at in the introduction.) It's a cute, short book that doesn't have any revelatory information, but illuminates the closeness in policy that the US and the UK had during the '80's.
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Kelsey posted a review at 2010-11-26 10:04:18 for The 19th Wife: A Novel.
(Language: English)
The 19th Wife is a fascinating look at the history of Mormonism as well as the outer fringe sects of the religion in the present day. The writing is concise but engaging, and the polygamy parallels throughout the novel works well through the time shifts. At times, the portion focusing on the past becomes a little dull, but as a whole, the novel is highly engrossing and gives wonderful insight into Mormonism both in the past and present.
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Kelsey posted a review at 2010-11-26 10:04:16 for Ragtime: A Novel.
(Language: English)
Doctorow has a style. It's not a style I particularly like, although everyone has their own tastes, and thus, getting through this book was a chore rather than a pleasure. The simplistic, dry diction gave the story a detached air, and although the connecting storylines certainly were interesting, it was just not enough to pull me in.
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Kelsey posted a review at 2010-11-26 10:04:14 for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Vintage).
(Language: English)
A pretty standard thriller throughout, but is set apart by an interesting twist at the end. Hype has been huge for this series, and, although I'm not sure I completely understand the love, I did find it compelling.
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Kelsey posted a review at 2010-11-26 10:04:10 for The World is Flat: a Brief History of the Twenty-First Century.
(Language: English)
Friedman starts out with a fabulous premise-- globalization is changing the world, and it's changing it fast. How is this going to change the world? How are we going to change to accomodate this world? He swiftly moves from category to category, from how the United States should handle the challenge to how corporations, and eventually, individuals will as well. Friedman clearly has a strong grasp on his information, but at times, I feel he has some bias. This isn't overwhelming, but his negative comments on Bush when he is speaking of something rather unrelated makes me wonder how neutraly he's presenting the material. At times, he also has a tendancy to repeat himself, which makes the book at times a bit repetitive. Overall, I feel Friedman has an important point. Globalization is occuring, and it's not disappearing anytime soon. We need to get something done, and done soon. Whether it's by exactly the means he outlines here, I'm not sure. But understand what's awating the U.S. in the world, "The World is Flat" is a great place to start.
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Kelsey posted a review at 2010-11-26 10:04:03 for City of Thieves: A Novel.
(Language: English)
Easy, interesting read. The characters are fun, and the background exhilerating. The fact that it is somewhat based on true fact makes it all the more enjoyable-- overall, a nice book, not one that would elicit showerfuls of praise, but a step above your standard fare.
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Kelsey posted a review at 2010-11-26 10:04:00 for China Shakes the World: A Titan's Rise and Troubled Future -- and the Challenge for America.
(Language: English)
China Shakes the World isn't the best book on China's rise onto the world stage, but it does bring something that is often missing to the table-- an insider view. Kynge lives in China and speaks the language, giving invaluable insight into the Chinese systems and customs. Unfortunately, Kynge doesn't use this unique view often, and often rehashes what others have to say about the subject. His strong points are towards the end of the novel, when he brings out reasons for why China's awakening may not be as strong as we think. During these sections, he brings out his personal knowledge of China, and it is for this that the book can be considered an original look at this oft-discussed topic.
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Kelsey posted a review at 2010-11-26 10:03:57 for The Alienist.
(Language: English)
The Alienist is your standard thriller-- a murder, a desperate rush to solve it and a romance along the way. The addition of the setting being in the late 1800's makes the novel even better, as Carr delves into the corruption and poverty of the society at the time. Unfortunately, the murder isn't much of a mystery, and the way the team goes about finding the murderer is based almost exclusively on psychology-- and rather wishy washy psychology at that. The book isn't bad by any stretch of the imagination, but simply good-- not amazing, not jaw-dropping, but a perfectly pleasant read that should carry you all the way through without hungering for any more.
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Kelsey posted a review at 2010-11-26 10:03:12 for Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid.
(Language: English)
I love Bill Bryson. Whatever he touches is gold, whether it be science, the English language and its evolution or his own childhood. With each topic he brings to the table, Bryson treats with care and humor, making for a heart-warming and amusing book. The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid is no different. His anecdotes range from laugh-out-loud funny to quiet grins, but no matter what page, you are guaranteed to be amused. He paints a loving, quirky picture of 1950's America, and to this day, I still think of small facts he sprinkled around the novel whenever I happen to glance at an old diner or a picture of Disneyland. Although the story meanders almost aimlessly at times (especially during the last few sections), Bryson is always funny and provides us a good few hours with his memories.
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Kelsey posted a review at 2010-11-26 10:03:10 for Frankenstein, Or, the Modern Prometheus (Changing Our World).
(Language: English)
A staple in the Western consciousness, a novel chock-full of themes that are still important today.... Frankenstein is a novel that deserves to be read. Unfortunately, it seems far more dated than some of its contemporaries. Whereas Dickens artfully masters characterization and can play an audience's heartstrings like a violin, Shelley falls into the Romantic trap of pathos. Frankenstein wallows in his misery, his elevated style of diction never allowing us to feel too close, and the monster's equally eloquent speech makes us feel as though we are listening to a politician's keynotes rather than an actual person discussing their emotions. Vastly important, but vastly dated in ways that other Victorian-era novels at not, I couldn't completely enjoy Frankenstein.
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Kelsey posted a review at 2010-11-26 10:03:07 for Guns Germs and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies.
(Language: English)
Absolutely brilliant. Diamond fully pulled me into the world of anthropology despite my reservations by clearly illustrating all of his points in sparse, but pointed and compelling language, and never forgetting his thesis. Any questions I had-- "Well, what about China then? They were on the Eurasian continent, why did they not rise to power as the Europeans did in the colonial age?"-- were quickly answered, and in such a complete way that I could only remain stunned by his logical prowess. Diamond's idea that because the Eurasian continent is more temperate, hosts more tameable mammals and provides more crops than other continents allowed for the rise of Europe is explained in breath-taking detail, and backed by such extensive facts that you will be throughly convinced. Not only is it informative and interesting, but also important-- the idea that some peoples are not sophisicated enough to compete on the global scale is seen throughout the world today, and should not be. Diamond's book dispells such theories rightfully, and also provides such a great history that everyone should read it.
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Kelsey posted a review at 2010-11-26 10:03:03 for How to Be an American Housewife.
(Language: English)
Easy, breezy read that has some nice looks at the differences between American and Japanese culture, but whose characters and plot are just not fleshed out enough to really bring you fully into the story. It's not hard to get through, but not particularly rewarding- just a sweet, nice book.
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Kelsey posted a review at 2010-11-26 10:03:00 for King Lear (The New Folger Library Shakespeare).
(Language: English)
One of the best Shakespeare plays I've read- to see it on stage would make it or break it for me, I feel.
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Kelsey posted a review at 2010-11-26 10:02:56 for American Pastoral.
(Language: English)
A magnificent book, and one that deserves to be considered a modern classic. Roth picks apart at the American psyche during one of our most volatile times, the Vietnam War. How can a group of people, whose parents had devotedly and simplistically followed the American Dream, become so disillusioned, so angry? Where had the dream failed? Where had America failed? Roth delves into the generational gap, the cultural mindset, and the politics of the era deftly, leaving no stone underturned. American Pastoral was one of those novels that I wish I had read in class or in a book club, just so I could discuss the plethora of themes and ideas. I most definitely plan to reread this, and I know that each time, there will be something new to pull from this marvelous work.
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| My Reviews - Page 1 of 7 |