FIVE WEEKS IN THE AMAZON by Sean Michael Hayes has been released through Amazon this month. I was asked to review this book and have done a small review on Amazon. Would I have taken this adventure, probably not. Though I want to visit South America and experience the culture, I do not think that I would take part in the Ayahuasca ritual that Mr. Hayes does for 5 weeks.
This is a journey of self awareness and finding a way to be better, in health, love and overall well being. It is a full of raw emotion about what drew him to this place and the events leading to and after the rituals. There is also plenty of philosophical debates with the understanding of self and existence of a godly being. With all that happening we are given a wonderful description of this trip through the jungle, the people he meets and the life in this small town that is surrounded by jungle. We are also part of the Ayahuasca ritual, living the moment with Mr. Hayes and his struggle with finding what he is searching for with this ritual.
Again, I have a hard time being sick in front of people or taking any type of medicine, let alone going someplace and doing it on purpose. More power to the people who can let go and take that type of adventure. I am content to read about other people's adventures into this realm. I will think of other less risky ways to determine myself. You are a brave man Sean Michael Hayes.
Friday, December 26, 2014
Review: Serena by Ron Rash
SERENA by Ron Rash was a very interesting book. I had to take it back to the library and realized that I had not copied down pertinent information on publisher and date of publication. This book is one of the 16 to read before it comes out in movie form.
The main characters are as the title suggest Serena, a woman who is used to getting her way and will do anything to stop people from stopping her. I lose count of the number of people she had murdered in cold blood. She is the wife of Mr. Pemberton who has a logging camp in North Carolina. Her father also was in the logging industry so she is very comfortable as the ruler of the camp.
You first get an inclination of her character when she comes into camp sees the girl, Rachel and her father. Rachel is pregnant by Mr. Pemberton and her father has come to settle a score. Serena immediately accesses the situation, arms Pemberton and enjoys it when Pemberton kills the father. Then she turns to Rachel and tells her that she is to expect nothing from them. Fortunately, Rachel is mountain strong so she expects nothing.
I did not see the movie, but saw that it got terrible reviews. The story falls apart a little, but the essence is psycho woman will do what she needs to surround herself with yes men and do away with anyone who she feels thwarts her goals, even if that goal is to kill a child and his mother.
I like books with strong women, but do I like strong women portrayed as psychopaths, not so much. However, having said that during the depression if a man murdered someone to get ahead, would we call him a psychopath or just a good business man?
The main characters are as the title suggest Serena, a woman who is used to getting her way and will do anything to stop people from stopping her. I lose count of the number of people she had murdered in cold blood. She is the wife of Mr. Pemberton who has a logging camp in North Carolina. Her father also was in the logging industry so she is very comfortable as the ruler of the camp.
You first get an inclination of her character when she comes into camp sees the girl, Rachel and her father. Rachel is pregnant by Mr. Pemberton and her father has come to settle a score. Serena immediately accesses the situation, arms Pemberton and enjoys it when Pemberton kills the father. Then she turns to Rachel and tells her that she is to expect nothing from them. Fortunately, Rachel is mountain strong so she expects nothing.
I did not see the movie, but saw that it got terrible reviews. The story falls apart a little, but the essence is psycho woman will do what she needs to surround herself with yes men and do away with anyone who she feels thwarts her goals, even if that goal is to kill a child and his mother.
I like books with strong women, but do I like strong women portrayed as psychopaths, not so much. However, having said that during the depression if a man murdered someone to get ahead, would we call him a psychopath or just a good business man?
Review of Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
FAHRENHEIT 451 by Ray Bradbury was first seen in the issues of Galaxy Science Fiction under the title "The Firemen." My copy is from Del Ray books of the Random House Publishing Company. Its was republished several times my copy is from 1996.
I had a powerful reaction to this book for several reasons: The first being my house would be burned because of the treasure trove of books I have on my shelves, second the burning of books just makes my skin crawl, and third is because we have come to a time when people do not like to read as much and would prefer a story on the big screen instead of reading the story.
It is kind of eerie that this story was written in the 1950's originally, because it describes some things that are happening now, big screen TV's that take up a whole wall and commercials that make you believe that you just have to have this item or be incomplete. We do not have spider dogs, thankfully, but we do have the capability to spy on the actions of people. Camera's line the intersections of streets and of course we have the ability to see what others are watching on there computers. Not so far off the mark from this story.
I was at a writer's conference and was told there are two types of writers, ones who want to see their name in print and do not care what they write and those who want to write the best story they can no matter how long it takes. Maybe this is the sentiment of Mr. Bradbury when he wrote this book, so many just write with no substance that people lose interest. I do not know, all I know is that I had a visceral response to this book, I wanted to display the books for all the world to see. Would I burn with my books? No. Life is more important because that is how you are able to write. Enjoyed the reading of this book and liked the writer's comments at the end, especially how if he was inclined to do so he would have changed the book.
I had a powerful reaction to this book for several reasons: The first being my house would be burned because of the treasure trove of books I have on my shelves, second the burning of books just makes my skin crawl, and third is because we have come to a time when people do not like to read as much and would prefer a story on the big screen instead of reading the story.
It is kind of eerie that this story was written in the 1950's originally, because it describes some things that are happening now, big screen TV's that take up a whole wall and commercials that make you believe that you just have to have this item or be incomplete. We do not have spider dogs, thankfully, but we do have the capability to spy on the actions of people. Camera's line the intersections of streets and of course we have the ability to see what others are watching on there computers. Not so far off the mark from this story.
I was at a writer's conference and was told there are two types of writers, ones who want to see their name in print and do not care what they write and those who want to write the best story they can no matter how long it takes. Maybe this is the sentiment of Mr. Bradbury when he wrote this book, so many just write with no substance that people lose interest. I do not know, all I know is that I had a visceral response to this book, I wanted to display the books for all the world to see. Would I burn with my books? No. Life is more important because that is how you are able to write. Enjoyed the reading of this book and liked the writer's comments at the end, especially how if he was inclined to do so he would have changed the book.
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Number left to read.
Of the 100 books I am suppose to read I have 28 left. I have finished SONS AND LOVERS by D. H. Lawrence and have to say that if you want to talk about or read about dysfunctional families, this is the book to read. Oedipus Complex would be a good title for this book. No girl good enough. Life seemingly over when mother dies. Then their are the girls who want to mother him, of course he compares them to his mother. Life, love in all the wrong places. Still a good book. Enough about that book, here are the next books that I will be reading.
16 books to read before they come out at the movies: Unbroken-Hillenbrand and Dark Places-Flynn
From the 100 book list: Fahrenheit 451-Ray Bradbury and Crime and Punishment - Dostoevsky
I have read excerpts or abridged copies of many of the 28 books I have left on the list, but I want to read them again. This includes the two above, so though I have the gist of these books, I feel like I am cheating if I do not read them completely. I hope to have all 4 of these read by the end of the month. We do not have a book for December's book club. I also will probably add a few other books into the mix.
After all of my 100 books from the reading challenge are done I am going to make a list of the 100 books that I wish to read. Ones that are in my personal library that I have been meaning to read or that someone has given to me as a present or that someone wants me to read for a review. It is going to be a very diverse set of books. I may even finish my own book and review it. No bias on my end I am my harshest critic.
16 books to read before they come out at the movies: Unbroken-Hillenbrand and Dark Places-Flynn
From the 100 book list: Fahrenheit 451-Ray Bradbury and Crime and Punishment - Dostoevsky
I have read excerpts or abridged copies of many of the 28 books I have left on the list, but I want to read them again. This includes the two above, so though I have the gist of these books, I feel like I am cheating if I do not read them completely. I hope to have all 4 of these read by the end of the month. We do not have a book for December's book club. I also will probably add a few other books into the mix.
After all of my 100 books from the reading challenge are done I am going to make a list of the 100 books that I wish to read. Ones that are in my personal library that I have been meaning to read or that someone has given to me as a present or that someone wants me to read for a review. It is going to be a very diverse set of books. I may even finish my own book and review it. No bias on my end I am my harshest critic.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)