Children of Men

Children of Men is billed as an exciting thriller and a look at a possible future. Instead I found it depressing and boring. I nearly gave up on it half way through. I admit, I picked up this book because the movie did look exciting - perhaps with some re-writing.

The book is divided into two parts. The first part develops the background of the main character and sets up the story. The first part takes up over half the book. It is the most boring part of the book and the reason I nearly gave up on it. It drags at a snails pace. And when the worst happens to humanity, people turn into the worst of humanity. People all of sudden give up their freedoms and hopes and begin to participate in mass, organized, suicide - the most depressing part of the story.

The second part of the book finally picks up speed and interest. I don't quite get the love angle that is introduced. It makes no sense, IMO. The main character and scooby group experience violence as they flee from authorities. Frankly, I didn't get the second half of the book either. It speeds along, assigning actions and events to people randomly.

The story has so much potential. But why does tragedy have to bring out the worst in people every stinking time. Please, somebody write a futuristic story that brings some HOPE. This story ends with pseudo-hope, but I doubt the altruistic motivations of the main character. Is he really any better than the evil ruler of Britain?

Book Rating: 2 1/2 stars

Up next: Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns

Don't Worry, Make Money

I read a lot of business related books. Some are better than others, but they all repeat the same information. Don't Worry, Make Money by Richard Carlson takes a completely different approach. Dr. Carlson is a motivational speaker and small business owner. Even though his business is about motivating people, he still has to deal with the every day, mundane details a business requires. Gaining new clients, balancing the books, developing new ideas. Anyone in business can relate.

It is the daily worries about starting or running a business that Dr. Carlson tries to help with. This book is divided up into about 100 small mini-ideas. If you need a quick boost, you can read a quick one page idea about how to worry less and focus on the task at hand. Read two or three chapters in about five minutes and feel good for the rest of the day.

Because of the style of the book, I have yet to finish it. I am still only on Chapter 34 after a month. It is not the kind of book that you can sit and absorb in a short time. Instead, I will list this as one of my business must-have books (someday).

Book Rating: 5 Stars


Up next: Children of Men by P. D. James.

Elvis in the Morning

Elvis in the Morning is a book with a split personality. I am amazed I read nearly the whole thing. One part of the book is centered around the character of Orson, a young boy who meets Elvis, who is stationed in Germany. The other half of the book is a biography, of sorts, about Elvis Presley and his downward spiral.

The book is written by William F. Buckley, Jr., a conversative writer and thinker. I didn't realize that Buckley has written several fictional books. I was very interested in seeing what kind of fiction he would write. Unfortunately, I was very disappointed in this recent attempt. I guess I was expecting his writing to be as charismatic as his television personality and as conservative as his political views. Instead, this book is very confusing.

Many writers use a famous personality or fictional character to wrap their stories around. I find the practice a bit annoying, especially in this book. The story line of the main character, Orson, could have been very interesting. The conversion of a socialist to a conservative. Or the journey of a liberal hippy into a family man, while overcoming tragedy. Instead, we are given the self-implosion of a famous person. What was the point? Is there a point?

For Elvis junkie fans, check-out Elvis in a pop-up book. Peer into his kitchen cupboards or look at the closets of Graceland. Includes a forward by Priscilla Presley. Only for truly devoted fans of Elvis.

Elvis in the Morning Book Rating: 2 Stars
Graceland (Elvis Pop-up) Book Rating: 3 Stars


Up next: Don't Worry, Make Money, by Richard Carlson.

The Good Earth

This is perhaps Pearl S. Buck's most critically acclaimed and famous novel. The story is centered around Wang Lung, a dirt poor farmer and his transition into a wealthy land owner. There are many aspects of Chinese culture explored in the book - arranged marriages, caring for extended family, and more. It is set in the transitional period between the old Chinese traditions and the movement toward Communism. The family is untouched by most of it because of their rural location and necessary industry.

(spoiler alert)

Where Pavilion of Women was a love story, I would describe this story as a story of pride. Wang Lung recognizes that by investing his money in land, he could grow his wealth. As Wang Lung slowly expands his farms and survives drought, the current wealthy landowners, Hwang's, falter because of their excessive lifestyles. Wang Lung is able to take advantage of their failure and buy their land.

Even though Wang Lung works hard, along side his wife, the pride in his heart grows. As his wealth increases, he receives the respect, admiration, and fear of the locals. His appearance changes with wealthy clothes. He frequents expensive tea houses and flower houses. Under pressure from his prideful son, his family moves into the Hwang's estate and they become the wealthy landowner's he had once feared.

Late in life, Wang Lung is unhappy. He sees where his pride has taken him and his family. His family is split with family battle lines and selfish pursuits. He realizes that by moving away from the land and not working it as he has previously done, he has lost his connection to the earth - the good earth which had sustained him.

I have not seen the 1937 movie based on the book. It has received many positive reviews.

Book Rating: 5 Stars



Up next: Elvis in the Morning by William F. Buckley Jr.

Pavilion of Women

I never knew much about Pearl S. Buck. I knew she was an author, but that is about it. Pavilion of Women was my first of Pearl S. Buck, and it won't be the last. I can't say I like everything about this particular story, but I did enjoy reading it.

The story is an unconventional love story. Madame Kang decides to retire from married life and find her husband a concubine. In her mind, she has reached an age where she has fulfilled her duty to her husband and family. Her remaining time will be about pursuing her own interests. Little does she know that her decision will cause major repercussions with her family. The changing political landscape of China plays into the cultural changes her family is facing.

The love story is unconventional because it has little to do with relations between men and women. Of course, it is discussed. Rather it is about Madame Kang learning to love and respect others. Specifically, loving her family and friends enough to let them choose their life path for themselves. Forgetting oneself to serve others, in some cases.

The story is not without controversy. I disliked Madame Kang's initial decision to retire from married life. For her husband, it is a slap in the face and a huge form of disrespect. There are other situations that I also disagree with, but I won't detail it all here.

Despite my dislike of parts of the story, I did enjoy the storytelling of Pearl S. Buck. She is a very good writer and one I will read from again. A movie was made off this book, which I haven't seen. Based on the reviews, it doesn't seem to follow the book all that much.


Book Rating: 4 stars
Up next: The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck

Paper Moon

Paper Moon, written by Joe David Brown, is a story about a girl and her father. There is a famous movie based on the novel starring the father-daughter team of Ryan and Tatum O'Neal. The story begins with Addie Pray meeting up with her father, Long Boy. Together they are supposed to travel to a relative's home for her to live after the death of her mother. Instead, the two team up and travel around the south working as con artists.

There is a certain charm between the two characters. The depression-era south is brought vividly to life as they go from one adventure to the next. Addie's quick thinking gets them out of trouble time and again. Some of it is laugh out funny.

The book, however, left me a bit trouble. You could say it suffers from the Ocean's 11 syndrome. You end up rooting for the bad guys. Even, in the end, when Addie and Long Boy use their con artist skills to right a wrong - they are still doing wrong. The worst thing is that Addie, while cute and charming as a young girl, will eventually grow up and the only thing she knows is a life of crime.

I have only seen a few minutes of the movie, so I can't really comment on it. Perhaps I can catch it the next time it is on TCM.

Book Rating: 4 stars

Next up: Pavilion of Women by Pearl S. Buck

Twilight

This is my first post here. As you will see when I write my book reviews, I don't follow the alphabet. Perhaps there will be some kind of disclaimer each time I write. Perhaps "Review by Jettboy" will work.

Reading Young Adult novels is hard for me. When it is mixed with romance, reading can become next to unbearable. I am happy this wasn't the case with the well-written "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer. My interest in reading the book was the combination of critically acclaimed, Vampires, and the author has a similar background as myself.

The story is about a high school girl, Bella, who moves to a new town and falls in love with Edward. He ends up a Vampire and the two try to reconcile their differences. The tortured love affair is palpable. It is easy to feel the constant danger created by a human and vampire wanting to get close, but realizing he might end up doing something horrible to her. The reader is constantly, and with well-crafted scenes, reminded of how close death is from love.

Edward belongs to a Vampire family who has given up on living off of human blood. Bella's visits to the house are among the most interesting parts of the novel. It is here that the author's imagination runs wild with all kinds of new definitions of what it means to be a vampire. The characters are likable and twisted enough to make them stand out from other angst teenagers. I gradually grew fond of the two and hoped they could get together. Among the least interesting sections of the novel where when Bella describes her normal life. It is filled with the usual navel-gazing, parental disassociation, and peer group pressure commentary of the Young Adult genre. Fine, if you like that sort of thing.

Things pick up to a fast pace once the more immediate danger arrives. A group of human blood drinking vampires show up during a vampire family get together. Bella is present and the family must protect her against them. More than that, they must protect the town and still keep the secret of their identity. Slowly the action builds toward a rather violent confrontation. The second half of the book is much better once we are introduced to horrors that are much worse than falling in love as a teenager. Everyone, and not just Bella and Edward, is in danger.

It is not hard to see the book is about keeping our desires in check. Giving in could bring about consequences beyond our control, even death. Falling in love, especially as a teenager, is a constant battle between what we want to do and what we ought to do. Those most worthy of love are the ones who recognize the danger and work hard to control themselves. It will be interesting to see if the next book continues this theme.

Book Rating: 3 stars