The Book Of Ebenezer Le Page: A Novel by G.B. Edwards
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
"Ebenezer Le Page speaks, telling his story -- a crusty, funny, contrary old man, a man of the Channel Islands, his life bounded by the sea, the rocks, the distant coast of France. And his voice fills the book, is the book, as he moves restlessly through the years, recalling his past, enchanting us with his family ties, the friendships, feuds, loves, and sorrows of a lifetime, until he has given us a whole new world."
~~back cover
I'm not sure what I think of this book. It was interesting, but I never really "connected" with any of the characters -- not until Ebenezer got old. Getting old is hard: the world changes and you're left behind, wondering why the old, good ways are gone and why the new ways seem so alien, so uncouth, so unnecessary.
Most of the characters were unique people, with their own versions of how life should be lived. And most of them were people who didn't wish to be close to any other human being. Ebenezer especially. Although he had at least four people he loved deeply, he didn't seem to me that he ever opened himself completely to any of them, preferring to be independent and beholden to no one all his life.
Perhaps that's why I couldn't really get into this book.
The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
"A preeminent scientist -- and the world's most prominent atheist -- asserts the irrationality of belief in God and the grievous harm religion has inflicted on society, from the Crusades to9/11.
"With rigor and wit, Dawkins examines God in all his forms, from the sex-obsessed tyrant of the Old Testament to the more benign (but still illogical) Celestial Watchmaker favored by some Enlightenment thinkers. He eviscerates the major arguments for religion and demonstrates the supreme improbability of a supreme being. He shows how religion fuels war, foments bigotry, and abuses children, buttressing his points with historical and contemporary evidence. The God Delusion makes a compelling case that belief in God is not just wrong but potentially deadly. It also offers exhilarating insight into the advantages of atheism to the individual and society, not the least of which is a clearer, truer appreciation of the universe's wonders than any faith could ever muster."
~~front flap
This book is designed to get the reader thinking about the ideas and precepts s/he holds, and whether or not to choose to believe in God (even if only a la Pascal), or to conclude that there is no deity.
I agreed with many of his points, but haven't reached any definite conclusion on The Question yet.
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Ashes and Bones by Dana Cameron
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
"Just when everything is going beautifully for archaeologist Emma Fielding -- a position at a respected university, a beautiful home in New England, and the warm love of a devoted husband -- her world starts to crumble. What begins as a series of seemingly innocent gestures -- the anonymous delivery of gifts and flowers to Emma's family and friends -- soon progresses to secret, sadistic acts designed to destroy her reputation, her character, and her career.
"Someone has instituted a brilliantly insidious campaign of personal terror against Emma Fielding, and she is certain she knows who it is: a cunning and dangerous enemy whom everyone but she believes is dead. But with no proof, no clues, and no allies, Emma will have to fight alone in the dark to rescue a life being rapidly reduced to ashes ... if she can survive long enough to do so."
~~back cover
I always think I'll like this series, just because the heroine is an archaeologist. And then I don't. There's not enough archaeology, and WAY too much violence for my taste.
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England, England by Julian Barnes
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
"Picture an England where all the pubs are quaint, the Royals behave themselves (more or less), and the cliffs of Dover are actually white. Now imagine that the principal national treasures -- from Stonehenge to Buckingham Palace -- are grouped together on the Isle of Wight.
"This is precisely the vision that Sir Jack Pitman seeks to realize: a 'destination' where tourists can find replicas of Big Ben, Wembley Stadium, the National Gallery, Princess Di's grave, and even Harrods (conveniently located inside the Tower of London), and visit them all in the course of a weekend. As this land of make-believe takes on its own comic and horrible reality, Barnes delights us with a novel that is at once a philosophical inquiry, a burst of mischief, a hilarious romp, and a moving elegy about authenticity and nationality."
~~front flap
This book just wasn't my cup of tea. I didn't think it was hilarious, and the only philosophical inquiry I noticed was how fast people and nations would sell out to make a profit.
I'm afraid I couldn't recommend this book to anyone.
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Rhinoceros Success by Scott Alexander
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
"Success Is Difficult But ... tomorrow morning, you could wake up as a full grown rhinoceros and
* charge your way to success
* use audacity to reach your goals
* be happier than you've ever been before
* make your life an exciting adventure
* have the persistence and tenacity necessary for success
* never worry again
* succeed at the world's most profitable hobby
* achieve more and have a better balance in the six major areas of your life: FINANCIAL, WORK, PHYSICAL, FAMILY, SOCIAL AND SPIRITUAL
Scott Alexander has discovered the REAL secret of success: becoming a rhinoceros. Read it and go rhino! That's all there is between you and everything you've ever wanted to do or become in your life. CHARGE!"
~~back cover
I'm still puzzled about how this book wound up in my TBR pile. Did I really think it was about rhinoceroses?
It's a very simplistic book -- and the "secret of success" is based on a lot of advice that has already been given by countless other gurus, time and time again. What's different about this one is the exhortation to become single-minded, ruthless, over-the-top enthusiastic, and let nothing deter you from reaching your goal. It does make sense, but seems odd to me: on the one hand, you are constantly getting the rah rah treatment to use every shred of your energy and time to pursue your goal, but then you are also cautioned to pursue success only as a hobby, and to take care of yourself physically and mentally, etc. The two seem conflicting to me.
The only value to be gotten out of this book, imho, is to learn to change your attitude about how to acquire what you want from life. And you probably already knew that.
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