My in laws are huge c-span fans. (fact!) so i wasn't entirely surprised when they gave me this volume as a holiday present. Out of respect to their taMy in laws are huge c-span fans. (fact!) so i wasn't entirely surprised when they gave me this volume as a holiday present. Out of respect to their taste, I read the book, and I found it to be alot like CSPAN: not-ready-for-prime-time enthusiasm about the subject and a missionary/monkish pursuit of a diversity of source material.
This book is comprised of television transcripts that have been edited for printing. It's an interesting way to convey a alot of different opinions in a short number of pages, and perhaps this method deserves some histiographical inquiry? Just an idea....more
Another in my list of "1001 Books to Read." The shame. I enjoyed Defoe's "Robinson Crusoe" much more then I thought I would, so when I read the summarAnother in my list of "1001 Books to Read." The shame. I enjoyed Defoe's "Robinson Crusoe" much more then I thought I would, so when I read the summary indicating that Roxana was Defoe's most complex work, I put it on the fast track to read-town.
The three star rating reflects a general frustration with the pacing of this (as well as other 18th century) early novels. If this was a movie you'd come out saying "That movie did not have to be 3+ hours- they could have got it done in 1 1/2."
I did find some rewards in the frank depiction of a middle class french/english woman who is forced to become a prostitute/mistress. By modern standards she is more in the category of Sex in the City then Confessions of a Call Girl, but this is racy stuff for any century. She has like, a dozen kids, abandons most of them, gets rich, bangs a bunch of dudes and frets endlessly about her status as a "whore" (her words, not mine.)
It's hard to really discuss the meanings of this book without spoiling the ending, but in the end you are left thinking about the relationship between money, morality and parenting, I suppose.
Glad I read it, probably wouldn't recommend it to others....more
This book was at a house rental I stayed out in Hana. It's printed by a speciality press, but has a pretty engaging history/travel guide to the Hana CThis book was at a house rental I stayed out in Hana. It's printed by a speciality press, but has a pretty engaging history/travel guide to the Hana Coast. Useful for its focus and makes a good edition to a library on Maui....more
I'm a fan of the whole "New Yorker" vibe. James Thurber is a classic golden age New Yorker writer- he did articles, stories AND cartoons! Versatile. TI'm a fan of the whole "New Yorker" vibe. James Thurber is a classic golden age New Yorker writer- he did articles, stories AND cartoons! Versatile. Thurber on Crime is just what it says- a collection of (very) short fiction, factual articles about police dogs (four different articles) and his cartoons. At 200 pages, it's a fast, fast read. I skimmed several of the stories near the end- the "childrens book as film noir" story was particularly painful and dated. ...more
Saw this on the shelf at an indie book store in Jackson, WY. and I had to have it. Hamalainen's bold thesis is that the Comanche Empire was the dominaSaw this on the shelf at an indie book store in Jackson, WY. and I had to have it. Hamalainen's bold thesis is that the Comanche Empire was the dominant power in the southwestern US/Spainish Empire/Republic of Mexico area for about two centuries or so. Although many (positive) reviews call Empire "revisionist" it's hard to apply such a pejorative terms to such a comprehensive, well researched work. Hamalainen incorporates trends in both American and European histiography while advancing the thesis along political/economic/social and even ecological lines.
However, it's hard to recommend this to non-specialist's....more
Five stars if you're a criminal defense attorney with a specialty in complex criminal litigation, two stars for everyone else. I got a kick out of thiFive stars if you're a criminal defense attorney with a specialty in complex criminal litigation, two stars for everyone else. I got a kick out of this book, but you probably will be bored to tears....more
I guess if porn sticks around enough it becomes literature? As a fan of both (porn & literature) I have to say that I quite enjoyed fanny hill. Make nI guess if porn sticks around enough it becomes literature? As a fan of both (porn & literature) I have to say that I quite enjoyed fanny hill. Make no mistake- this is some hardcore s**t and it actually has an episodic format that reminds me of contemporary pornographic movies. Fanny Hill is a girl from the country who has a pretty easy going of her (brief) time as a prostitute. The reader is treated to her erotic awakening, a lesbian scene, an orgy scene, a little s&m and even some gay male sex (witnessed through a peep hole.) Throughout Fanny has a surprisingly good attitude and suffers zero consequences for what had to be some pretty risky behavior in the 18th century....more
I would actually recommend this particular edition of Love in Excess because it is explanatory without being overwhelming (Oxford World Classics serieI would actually recommend this particular edition of Love in Excess because it is explanatory without being overwhelming (Oxford World Classics series- I'm looking at you!) Originally published in 1719- the same year as Robinson Crusoe, Love in Excess was one of the first smash british novels, and it's influence on 19th century writers like the Bronte sisters is quite obvious.
Love in Excess tells the story of an amorous French count. In chapter one he gets married, in chapter two he tries to seduce his ward and in chapter three... well- I don't want to ruin the ending.
Despite my trepidation at tackling this predecessor of the victorian romance novel, I ended up quite enjoying it, lack of paragraphs aside. Were paragraphs only invented in the 19th century?...more
This book struck me as the first in the "disaffected young man" series of lit that most americans associate with jd salinger's "Catcher in the Rye." TThis book struck me as the first in the "disaffected young man" series of lit that most americans associate with jd salinger's "Catcher in the Rye." This book had a similar impact in Germany when it was published, i.e. young men emulating the titular Werther and his sorrow. Less then a one hundred pages long....more
I'm making my way through the classics of 18th century lit via the "1001 Books to Read Before you Die" (I know, I know, I'm embarrassed.) Anyway- it'sI'm making my way through the classics of 18th century lit via the "1001 Books to Read Before you Die" (I know, I know, I'm embarrassed.) Anyway- it's been a mixed back. I've enjoyed books like Tom Jones, suffered through books like Pamela & puzzled through but ultimately enjoyed books like Tristram Shandy.
The point of the preamble is that Jacques the Fatalist is the first of these 18th century books that I've really, really loved. I agree with all of the other reviewers- this is a true five star read. Not just because of its endurance over the centuries, but because, frankly, it's a fun read. Check it out- there is humor and bawdiness to keep you enthralled all the way through....more
This book had the misfortune to be published in Germany the same month World War I broke out. Bummer for Fritz Kern. Despite the unfortunate timing ofThis book had the misfortune to be published in Germany the same month World War I broke out. Bummer for Fritz Kern. Despite the unfortunate timing of its initial publishing, this is still an indispensable source for information about the legal theory underlying Kingship in the EARLY middle ages, and is a must read for anyone seeking a broad perspective on the origins or western/constitutional style government. The harper torchbook edition is both functional and stylish- they don't make paperbacks like this anymore!...more
What can I say- I read it because it was on the "1000 Books to Read Before You Die," in its defense- it's short and easy to read. On the other hand, iWhat can I say- I read it because it was on the "1000 Books to Read Before You Die," in its defense- it's short and easy to read. On the other hand, it's kind of a boring book- more like a series of philosophical digressions then a novel per se....more
It should be probably be called "The Contemporary Histories of Latin America." I read this book from the perspective of a generalist with an inclinatiIt should be probably be called "The Contemporary Histories of Latin America." I read this book from the perspective of a generalist with an inclination to learn more about this subject, and I was not disappointed. The occasionally ponderous writing style is only a minor flaw- the book is translated from spanish to english, so I'm willing to cut everyone some slack. The jacket copy bills this as the most widely read single volume history of the area, and based on what I read I imagine it must be favored by universities in the U.S., Latin American and Europe to earn that title.
The history of Latin America encompasses three periods: the colonial period, the emergence of the nation state & the post WWI history of the nations. The idea of a shared "latin american history" for the first two time periods make sense, but only the fact that the nation states developed individual identities quite late in the time period covered makes the third part feel like anything more then a series of tacked on national histories.
As an American, it was interesting to read a take on U.S./Latin American relations that left beyond the Naomi Wolf style histronics of "Disaster Capitalism." I came away from this look feeling a little better about the U.S.'s mixed track record in Latin American foreign policy: It's quite impossible to blame the U.S. for any long term problems in the region- issues of economic underdevelopment and unstable politics have plagued Latin America from the very beginning....more
I hated this book- also it's like 100 pages long. There are no paragraphs! It makes reading this book particularly exasperating. I guess this is suppoI hated this book- also it's like 100 pages long. There are no paragraphs! It makes reading this book particularly exasperating. I guess this is supposed to be the first gothic novel. Bo-ring....more
I actually really dug Gulliver's Travels. It's fairly easy to read for an 18th century book and entertaining/funny/thought provoking. The LilliputiansI actually really dug Gulliver's Travels. It's fairly easy to read for an 18th century book and entertaining/funny/thought provoking. The Lilliputians are only the first chapter- he sees lots of crazy stuff....more
This is a real first class history book- and I don't hand out that accolade lightly. Even though it was written half a century ago, it's hard to argueThis is a real first class history book- and I don't hand out that accolade lightly. Even though it was written half a century ago, it's hard to argue with any point in the entire text. The prose is measured and careful, but ultimately it is easy to see the bias against the Nativist movement on the part of the author. Is that a problem? Not for me, though I imagine the crazies in the contemporary anti-immigration group would froth at their collective mouths if they weren't a bunch of illiterate bumpkins.
I jest, I jest- it is important to distinguish the advent of restrictive immigration policies- which is the END of this book- in comparing then vs. now. The bottom line is that when the legislation passed restricting immigration, the nativists effectively "won" and pro-immigration forces "lost" and so really this kind of "anti immigration" sentiment is the norm, rather then exception.
You need to read this if you care about the debate over immigration policy in the United States. ...more
This is a concise, one volume history of the city of London, very much in the "Annales" school of history. What is "annales" mean in the context of hiThis is a concise, one volume history of the city of London, very much in the "Annales" school of history. What is "annales" mean in the context of history:
[R]elegated the sensational to the sidelines and was reluctant to give a simple accounting of events, but strived on the contrary to pose and solve problems and, neglecting surface disturbances, to observe the long and medium-term evolution of economy, society and civilization.
Basically, it's history without people. The Annales approach focuses on concrete observations about material culture/geography/archaeology and foregoes the "great men" approach and very much has a lesser opinion of intellectual history based on documents.
I appreciate the approach and the conciseness of the book, but in my opinion the most interesting part of london involves the intellectual history and the personalities, so over all the book was a bit of a mixed bag in terms of my satisfaction. This is a book meant for the general reader who is familiar with the general sweep of English history....more
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