Customer Reviews:
Not 'Hatchet'.......2006-06-29
Since a George Orwell reference is obviously required here, I read 'Animal Farm' directly before Lord of the Flies. And I was foolish enough to think that Animal farm is a great book! It can hardly stand on all four legs when measuring up to Lord of the Flies.
Just as 'Animal Farm' is a parody of the Russian Revolution, 'Lord of the Flies' is more of a parable for mankind than an inspiration for 'Hatchet'. Every (major) character is a symbol of some aspect of human nature. And what is a literal translation of "Beelzebub?" Not devil, as you might suspect -- "Lord of the Flies."
And if the Lord of the Flies is the Devil, Simon is Christ, or pure good -- the only boy brave enough to discover what the beast really is, the only one...crazy enough to understand it, and the one who would be sacrificed by all for trying to spread the words of the Lord of the Flies.
No, I did not read this book for class, thank God, or else I would most likely hate it just for that reason. I despise hearing teachers read aloud, I don't know why, and their stupid assignments (What would you do if you were trapped on an island? What would you bring?) completely miss the entire point of the book. This is not a survival story!
My edition of Lord of the Flies was printed in the seventies,and it is falling apart (I found it in my dad's study in the basement). The scotch-taped cover is blank white, except for the title and a simple sketch of the head and arms of a boy, head bent like a baby, clutching his hair in anguish. He appears to be covered in blood. Is it Ralph at the beginning of Chapter 11 (you'll see what I mean)? Is it a struggling, uncertain Jack?
Lord of the Flies is definitely not a survival story.
'The Lord of the Flies" by William Golding.......2006-01-19
"The Lord of the Flies" is an epic adventure full of fear and suspense that leaves its readers on the edge of their seats, wondering what will happen next. It's about a vast group of boys who are marooned on an island and forced to create their own society. Without parents to guide them, the boys slowly let go of civilization and their savage nature emerges.
My favorite part of the book is where the group of boys are fully consumed by the primal evil that dwells in their hearts. Their feelings of fear and rage rise up and force them over the edge. They snap and kill their friend Piggy by crushing him with a boulder.
I recommend this book because it puts you in a state of mind where logic is bent and twisted. It gives you a peek at insanity. This book has non-stop action and it allows you to vividly imagine what is going on. I couldn't put it down and you won't be able to either.
one of the classics of all time.......2000-01-19
what doesn't this book have. action, adventure, excitement, war, it has everything. it's written in an easy to understand language (tho' that doesn't necessarily mean that you'll pick up on the symbolism that golding put into everything). and you definately get a totally different perception of the book as you get older (this is my third reading of it, and each time, i get something different from it). i think this should be required reading and that everyone should own a copy.
Product Description
This superb fingerpicking reference book features 101 authentic, traditional blues fingerstyle licks for guitar. The goldmine of licks is divided into the following categories: Four-beat licks; Eight-beat licks; Introductions and turnarounds. The licks are written in both standard notation and guitar tablature, and recorded at a moderate speed on the companion CD. This is not a method book for beginners, but a nice collection of licks for guitarists who have some fingerstyle ability and want to do some exploring. Another GREAT guitar book from Red Dog Music Books.
Book Description
The first novel in a brilliantly crafted trilogy. As the King of the Four Kingdoms lays dying, traitorous conspirators prepare a political marriage to ensure their control of the crown. But the young Melliandra refuses to betroth a sinister Prince and flees the castle in the company of a miracle-working kitchen apprentice.
Download Description
An ancient prophecy, court intrigue, and a world war directed by magical means are the basis for this three-book series set in the world of the Four Kingdoms. It stars Jack, a young man of unknown parentage whose magical talents will be either his salvation or his bane; the highborn young woman Melliandra, determined to run away from her life of privilege rather than be married to a man she despises; the tragic knight Tawl, whose mission is doomed from the day he undertakes it; the evil Baralis, traitor to his King; and a cast of many more, all finely drawn. For countless years magic has fueled a conspiracy to capture the crown of the Four Kingdoms. Now, as the King lays dying, traitorous powers prepare a political marriage to secure the taking of the throne. But the highborn young Melliandra refuses to bethroth a sinister prince, and flees the castle with Jack, a kitchen apprentice terrified by his sudden power to work miracles. Stalked by the conniving sorcerer Baralis, Melli and Jack embark on a dark and wondrous journey--in which an ancient prophecy, The Book of Words, will bear frighteningly true.
Customer Reviews:
A little too "formulaic" for my liking.......2007-09-01
This is the first book I have read of J.V. Jones and it has been a little while since I have read some fantasy. The story itself was enjoyable enough, but within a few chapters I began to feel as though the plot was moving through an exacting formula as we are treated to the various characters.
Our hero a baker's apprentice is discovering in himself dark powers, his love interest who is a Lord's daughter wanting to escape the life of the castle, the evil Chancellor with his plotting against the queen, the knight on a hopeless quest and the archbishop who is not all he seems.
We are treated to each of these characters in step 1, step 2, step 3, rinse and repeat. The archbishop is a great example. With EVERY one of his scenes we open with him sampling some kind of delicacy, he's interrupted by his main aid who the archbishop delights in belittling at every chance, gets an update on the situation and then the archbishop proves he knows more than he should, and then sends his aid off on some meaningless task such as sending him to the other side of the city to see a man the archbishop knows isn't there for no other reason than the archbishop wants to annoy him and waste hours of his time...
Looking past these faults I'm still intrigued by the overall story and it's not that the writing is bad as such, I would just like to see some of the characters do something a little *unexpected* to surprise me. I will ultimately buy the next two books in the series so what I've mentioned above is not a story killer by any means, just pulls down what could have been a stronger piece of work.
Best Adult Fantasy!.......2007-02-19
Other reviewers are way off in giving this book such a low review. The trilogy (which includes The Baker's Boy, A Man Betrayed and Master and Fool)kept me reading one book after another. I haven't read fantasy in a long time, so I was pleasantly surprised there were still books out there that would hold my attention. I didn't want to put the books down. Some people are very critical, but you don't see them creating a story with such detail, not just character detail, but historical detail, dialogue, setting, etc. The explanation for this: Others just want to be overly critical out of pure jealousy and spite. Although these books are not sexually graphic, there is quite a bit of violence and graphic descriptions of violent acts. This is not for young children. Some characters are humorous, some very dark, but most characters are quite lovable. I was sad to come to the end of the epic. This trilogy was wonderful! I would highly recommend all three books.
Uneven and disappointing.......2006-01-02
Very uneven writing--melodramatic and cliched, obviously a first novel. The plot itself is interesting enough but most of the characters are flat renderings/caricatures and it makes it painful to read. Skip this one and try J.V. Jones' later works.
Didn't live up to the hype..........2005-01-12
Okay, so if you were snooping around in the fantasy circles circa 1995, you are indubitably aware that this trilogy generated an enormous buzz. That in itself was surprising, since The Baker's Boy was Mrs. Jones' very first novel. In addition, it was published by Aspect (Warner Books), an imprint not particularly renowned for publishing bestsellers.
In any event, to a certain extent taking the market by storm, the series was an instant success. The three volumes were all national bestsellers, which is quite unusual. They all topped the Locus Bestseller List. Okay, so it's not the New York Times, but it is still quite an accomplishment for a new author.
Like a lot of people, I bought the books when they came out. Unlike many, I didn't read them yet. The hype was too strong, and I didn't want it to influence me when I read the series. Of course, I didn't really expect to wait nearly 9 years before reading them, either! For some reason, even though Mrs. Jones wrote 3 more novels since the publication of Master and Fool, she never did create waves the way The Book of Words trilogy initially did. Now was the time for me to see what the buzz had been about. . .
As is usually the case, the series did not live up to the expectations the buzz had created within me. Hence, I'm happy to have waited before reading the novels. Otherwise, I would probably have been VERY disappointed by this series. With the enormous number of books I've read over the years, I'm afraid that I have become definitely hard to please. . .
But although the trilogy suffers from several shortcomings, in all objectivity I must admit that it is still a relatively good read.
My main problem with the series is the fact that it appears to be aimed at a younger crowd. In my mind, it seems to be aimed at readers who are under 18. Being 30 (yes, I AM getting old!), I couldn't quite get into it. But I am persuaded that if I had read the series when I was 16 years of age, I would probably have loved it. There is a certain innocence inherent to the characters and their views of love, honor, obligation, etc, that makes the whole thing not ring true to my "adult" perspective.
The biggest shortcoming of the series, however, is the fact that the characters are far from being three-dimensional. As a matter of fact, they are not "real." The author fell into a popular trap, namely creating "cliché" characters: the innocent boy with immense potential, the beautiful and spoiled young woman who turns out to be stronger and more courageous than she believed herself to be, the evil mage, the power-hungry prince, etc. And some characters are just caricatures, case in point being the Archbishop Tavalisk. And yet, having said that about the characters, they are still a likeable bunch. Which, in the end, helps you enjoy the books.
Several plotlines had a lot of potential (the knights of Valdis, the Seers of Larn, Jake's parentage, etc), but they were not exploited to their fullest. Had they been, this series would have been much better. Mrs. Jones took the easy road instead. . .
In light of all this, I have to admit that I nevertheless like J. V. Jones' writing style. She has a witty way to write, which I truly enjoyed. I think that she must challenge herself a little more with her storylines, and explore a bit more those concepts that she creates. It would certainly give ner novels more depth, which in turn would make them more enjoyable.
I believe that J. V. Jones shows great promise and could be a bright voice in the fantasy genre. Hopefully her other novels will show just how much potential she truly possesses. . .:-)
Check out my blog: www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com
A semi-convert.......2004-08-17
More like 3.5/3.75 stars. I really really loathed this book when I started it & was resentful of having to shell out the dough to obtain the other two installments of the book. However, in retrospect, the images & incidents in this series stayed with me. The Seers of Larn linger in one's imagination. And it strikes you later how complex the political system is which Jones created. It is not the best written, nor does it have the most complicated characters in the history of fantasy, but if you are a fantasy fan, then it is certainly worth your time to see some of Jones' intriguing devices & ideas.
Average customer rating:
- Another Boy Wonder Cultist!
- book of wonder
- Maybe JRB's finest work
- My favorite book
- Hollywood Heaven and Hell
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Boy Wonder
James Robert Baker
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0451165063 |
Customer Reviews:
Another Boy Wonder Cultist!.......2006-09-22
I read this book when it first appeared in paperback, and have read it countless times since. It is truly one of the most savage, satirically funny books ever written. Reading as an oral biography of film director/producer Shark Trager from his birth (at the drive in cinema, no less) to the bitter end, it features some of the most over the top, laugh out loud, "Oh my God!" moments in literary history.
Though not for those of a nervous disposition, Boy Wonder will reward anyone with an interest in Hollywood and the "creative process" involved in making movies. It also has the best Academy Awards scene ever written--why don't the real Oscars ever give us as much real drama!?!
If you do buy this book, guard it carefully. If you loan it out, you will certainly never get it back!
book of wonder.......2004-04-16
This book is among the most impressive I've written. You dive into the story of Shark Trager, become part of his life and wonder, if he really existed. His life is both successful and tragic, and you begin to feel with him - and with all the people seriously damaged by him. The really kick of the book is, that the author makes you believe that all the most bizarre stuff could have possibly happened in real life. If you have a heart and are open to strange insights, you will love to follow shark on his way to heaven and hell.
Maybe JRB's finest work.......2003-05-24
I first read this book when I was 18, back in 1989. I've read it just about every year since and hope to read it every year for the rest of my life. It's one of those books that has you evangelising to your friends, knowing that you're raving like a nutty born-again, but unable to stop yourself.
I can wholeheartedly recommend this book above all others, except maybe "Fuel-Injected Dreams" by the same author. I see that secondhand copies cost a fortune, but if you've read the other reviews here, you'll know that purchasing a copy is a lifetime investment, not just an ordinary purchase.
Rest in peace, Jim, you may be gone but your work lives on and your fans are more devoted than ever.
My favorite book.......2002-05-08
I found this book buried in the back of my local public library, and am extremely happy that I did. I think I can say, without any hyperbole, it's one of the best books I've read in my life. I've read it about a dozen times, and each time I find something new to laugh at.
An oral history of a deranged movie producer's rise to the top, fall from grace, and return to power, there are more laughs and over the top situations in this book than in any other. The discussion of the flying pigs had me on the floor, crying my eyes out because it was so funny. While the situations are over the top, never once does the book cross over into being ridiculous or unbelievable.
I don't know of there being any real problem with the book. As I said, I've read the book many times and each time I finish I'm amazed at how excellent a writer James Robert Baker was. It's a shame he decided to end his life; I've also read his first novel, "Fuel-Injected Dreams," which is quite good as well. ...
Bottom line: if you get a chance to read this, do so immediately. You won't be disappointed.
Hollywood Heaven and Hell.......2000-09-28
Like most people who love this book I read it by accident, picking it up in a seconds shop. To say I was pleasantly surprised as I finished it 10 feverish hours later, would be an understatement. But it would take many readings to fully appreciate the many levels of irony, both subtle and hammer-like, that Boy Wonder functions on. A fictionalised biography of Shark Trager, a monstrous film producer, narrated in addictive chunks by his bizarre family, friends, lovers and enemies; it works as an original character study and laugh-out-loud assault on the movie biz. Basically the whole story is a series of wicked movie parodies as Trager's life mirrors the story of Hollywood in the 60s, 70s and 80s in all its excesses. (I thought this was OTT until I read Easy Riders and Raging Bulls and the Don Simpson biog and realised its a accurate portrait of the era.)
Along with American Pyscho and The Talented Mr Ripley I think of Boy Wonder as an unholy trilogy of great books about sociopaths. Like those novels it's studded with violent death and an inventive use of household implements ( most memorably as Shark makes a slasher movie about his childhood friend/serial killer, employing the pyscho as "Creative Advisor") But it's a lot more fun, satirizing the banal horrors of corporate Hollywood. Basically everyone who stands in Shark's way gets totally destroyed but they do so in ways that are as hilariously unlikely as they as horrible. As the story gets more and more outrageous and operatic, every time you think that Shark (and Baker) has surpassed himself, he manages to trash yet another of our few remaining taboos, right up to the incredible Oscar night finale and Shark's memorable death (I'm not giving anything away: you know he's going to eventually self-destruct right from the first page.)
I often think this would make a great movie except no studio would touch it. This is not an affectionate send-up but all-out attack on everything Hollywood (and America values.) Baker was a frustrated screenwriter and you can just feel his delicious anger directed at the men-in-suits. One of the more surprising things about Boy Wonder, is it's sub-plot about the movies' dilemma between art and commerce as Shark's career veers between personal flops and trite block-busters and in the unanswered question: was Shark an irresponsible genius or "mediocre whore"? So don't hold your breath for the Jerry Bruckheimer version, instead trawl through the second hand shops to find a copy and decide for yourself.
Average customer rating:
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Beans Baker's Best Shot (Step into Reading)
Richard Torrey
Manufacturer: Random House Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Fiction | Emotions & Feelings | Social Situations | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0375828397
Release Date: 2006-06-27 |
Book Description
When Beans hurts his leg in soccer practice right before the big championship game, his best friend Chester thinks it’s all his fault! Beans may not be able to play in the game, but he can still play an important role on the team when he cheers up—and cheers on—Chester.
Product Description
Legendary guitarists such as Jimi Hendrix, B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton, Mike Bloomfield, Hubert Sumlin, T-Bone Walker, Johnnie Winter, Albert King, Freddie King, and Chuck Berry are known to all blues fans for their remarkable soloing abilities. But the complete blues guitarist must do more than shine in the solo spotlight. And that is why every great soloist is also a great fill-in player.Tasteful fill-in licks support and inspire the singer while adding fire and drive to the performance. For example, Blind Lemon Jeffersons string-snapping fill-ins provided the perfect complement for his rough-hewn blues songs. Both Louis Armstrong and Lester Young seemed to talk to the singer with their finely-crafted, jazzy fill-ins. And Henry Sunflower Vestines stinging, buzzsaw fill-ins never failed to drive his Canned Heat bandmates into a psychedelic frenzy.This book is accompanied by a user-friendly split-track CD allows you to sit in with a professional blues band while you learn to play blues fills behind a great singer, Charles Adkins. The Heat-Seeking Missile Blues Band is heard on the left channel; the fill-in licks are isolated on the right channel.This is not just another book of abstract how do I use these licks in real life? licks, but a collection of solid musical ideas that can be applied to thousands of real songs. Another fine contribution from Red Dog Music Books, designed for the early intermediate-to intermediate guitarist. Some of the licks are accessible to highly motivated near-beginners, and the book is an excellent resource for teachers.
Product Description
A turnaround lick is one that is played in the last two bars of of chord progression; for example measures 11-12 in a twelve-bar blues. The 101 authentic blues turnarounds in this book are in the Chicago, or urban, blues style popularized by Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf, and carried on by Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan; the licks can be applied to thousands of real songs. Each lick is written in notation and tablature, and recorded on the companion CD. The material is suitable for an ambitious beginner, intermediate player, blues band guitarist, or pro reference. It is an indispensible book filled with useful information. The book is supplemented with lessons/discussions on the following: Typical blues progression; Turnaround licks and progressions (defined); Typical blues turnaround chord progressions; The 12/8 blues shuffle; Creative projects for the music student; Additional blues progressions. Best of all, this innovative Red Dog Music book from veteran author Larry McCabe costs less than one private music lesson!
Product Description
This superb Red Dog Music Book and CD allows you to learn/play slide guitar fill-ins while sitting in with a crisply recorded blues band and singer. The licks are clearly written in standard notation and tablature, and the companion CD contains all 101 licks, which are applicable to countless blues songs. A guide to symbols and several helpful fretboard diagrams are included. The licks are recorded on electric guitar but can also be played on acoustic. Overall, a very fine book that will provide unlimited learning and enjoyment. Many slide guitar books are confusing because they try to cover too many tunings. Everything here is in open E. Songs include standards such as Joe Turner Blues, St. Louis Blues, Sportin Life Blues, House of the Rising Sun, Midnight Special, along with several new songs written to standard blues changes. Like Hound Dog Taylor, J.B. Hutton, and Elmore James? Then you will like this book.
Product Description
Blues guitar teachers, serious students, and blues band guitarists will all enjoy his large collection of 100% pure blues and boogie solos for guitar. Twenty-five exciting solos are presented here, each played over its own rhythm progression.Every solo is transcribed in both standard notation and tablature, and played note for-note with a full band on the professionally recorded companion CD.This book is for the intermediate, or better, guitarist whose interests include authentic, non-commercial blues musicthe good stuff that is seldom heard via mass-market channels such as radio and television.Guitar teachers might use the book to introduce new hand positions, fingerings, chords, and theoretical concepts. Each solo is made up of many interesting phrases (licks) that can be adapted and incorporated into your own style.The solos are relatively challenging, and can be used in blues jams and on stage. Another SUPER COOL and USEFUL music book by Larry McCabe.
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