Reviews (55)

Efron Is Real
As a university professor originally from New York City and definitely past the "baby Boomer" stage, I still found time to read Nora's essays and thoroughly enjoyed them."Sleepless in Seattle" and "You've Got Mail," are not "Hilarious" as so many people expect, but rather poignant portrayals of real-life human dilemmas presented in a lighter voice.Nora has been the one who can capture the rare moment within the chaos of reality, and her essays in the "neck" book do just that. This was obviously not meant to be the "book of the year," but a snapshot of the woman behind the captivating novels and films.The essays allow us to see that, she too, is aging with the rest of us, and it comes on all so quickly.I plan on gifting this book for the holidays, along with Gangi's "Forget The Cures, Find The Cause," and "Crazy Salad."The combination will help to get many minds and bodies on a better track.

A disappointment
I ran to get a copy of Nora Ephron's newest book, as I always liked her work. I'm glad I didn't spend the money, and instead got it from the library. I expected a very funny book that would be filled with wisdom and wit. Instead I found a slightly funny book that lacked originality and really had nothing to say. It would be too harsh to call it self-indulgent, but in a way it was. So she had a rent-controlled apartment that she loved, so parenting has changed,and so she has to dye her hair (often). Yawn yawn.
Women (and men) Will Love This Book
I was one of the 5 women in Azzarella's car going to Rayna Gangi's book signing(another great book, by the way) and all of us are at least over 50.Nora, the Golden Girls, even Oprah, will love these stories. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Aging    2. American Satire And Humor    3. Form - Essays    4. Humor    5. Women's Studies - General    6. Humor / Essays   

Reviews (69)

there are better Turkish novelists
Pamuk's Nobel Prize caught me a little more than halfway through this book. I find it rather disappointing that the Nobel Committee picked Pamuk over a much more deserving Turkish novelist, Yashar Kemal. Even by the political criteria that often seem to be more important to the Nobel Committee than literary criteria, Kemal trumps Pamuk: instead of merely talking about historically oppressed peoples like the Kurds and Armenians, Kemal is himself a Kurd, and rather than merely having had charges brought against him as a political dissident, Kemal has actually been to prison. But much more importantly, Kemal is a much finer writer.
He is Nobel Prize Vinner...
What can I say? He got the Nobel!
A Turkish denizen returns to his homeland after having spent years in exile in Germany.
I thought that this book would be one that would be mediocre when I started it, but good gracious, was I mistaken! It was an exhilarating tale down which I could not put. It was so easy to connect with Ka, Ipek and the rest of the characters and to follow their lives. Pamuk's writing style just flowed and his descriptions of the people and places just filled my mind with the incentive to know more.I rarely read such interesting stories and the one featured here in "Snow" is a gem. If you only read one book this decade, then this should be it! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Fiction    2. Fiction - General    3. General    4. Literary    5. Turkish (Language) Contemporary Fiction    6. Fiction / Literary   

Reviews (12)

To Be Or Not To Be, That Is The Problem.
To Each His Own, But To Deface History in This Way.
Horrible
After reading Inheritance of Loss, I immediately turn to read Salman Rusdie as a way of reminding myself what great Indain writing is.
Ambitious but Satisfying
Cho Oyu, a crumbling old house in the foothills of the Himalayas is home to the main characters of Kiran Desai's Booker shortlisted The Inheritance of Loss.
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Subjects:  1. Asian American Novel And Short Story    2. Fiction    3. Fiction - General    4. Literary    5. Popular American Fiction    6. Fiction / Literary   

Reviews (66)

World War Z Makes This Reader Want MORE
Max Brooks' shamblingly good World War Z made this zombie-genre-fan want more, more, more. This "oral history" chronicles the stories of many who fought in and survived the zombie wars. If any one of their stories were expanded into a full-length novel, I would snap it up. I'm sure he's already been asked, but I must add my voice to the clamor: Please, Max Brooks, if youhave a third zombie book in you, write one that follows a protagonist from start to finish so we can go even further into the scary, creepy, wonderful world you've created.
A cut above genre
Zombies as a genre fit overwhelmingly into a visual medium, and there have been quite a few great zombie movies, "Night of the Living Dead", "Sean of the Dead", "28 Days Later",as well as some fun zombie graphic novels, "Marvel Zombies".Zombies are simple creatures that translate well to visuals with their sole moviation of kill, eat and infect. In "World War Z" Max Brooks takes on the zombie genre in the form of an intelligent oral history from the survivors of the global epidemic. Each chapter is the story told from a different survivor and organized chronologically from the start of the infections in China, throught the rise of zombies globally, the human resistance, and eventual human triumph. How do you translate the zombie genre from their success in the visual mediums into prose form? Mr. Brooks does exceedingly well by telling the human side of the horror story.
Worthy Read for Zombie Lovers
A fun read that has a bit of difficulty maintaining a tone. Is this serious, sometimes its very serious, at others a bit comicbooky - as the narrative of war against the undead unfolds we have some rather uneven snap shots - but the highs definitely outweigh the lows. Recommend reading for Zombie or survival fiction enthusiasts. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American Satire And Humor    2. Fiction    3. Fiction - Men'sAdventure    4. Humor    5. Humorous    6. War    7. War & Military    8. Fiction / General   

Reviews (166)

Absolutely Fascinating!
I was hooked after reading only the first line!What a wonderful picture of Life in 19th Century China.Gloriously written.I've not read anything by Ms. Lee before, but I'm definitely going to explore some of her other books!

Touching and informative
The setting of this book is 19th. century China, a time when men's and women's roles are rigidly defined by age-old customs and rules.The two main characters are Lily, the narrator, and Snow Flower, her "laotong", who are bound together by contract and by love developed through many shared experiences.They are closer than husband and wife, or parent and child and they give one another much-needed love and support in a society where they are women and therefore useless for anything other than producing sons.Lisa See reveals details about many practices of the day, including foot-binding and nu shu, a specialized "women's writing" which is used by Lily and Snow Flower to communicate.They write hearfelt messages to one another on a fan, which becomes a chronicle of their intertwined lives and their most priceless possession.This is a fascinating look at what life was like for Chinese women in the 19th. century, and on another level it is a timeless lesson on the necessary components for a successful friendship between women.I highly recommend this book.

Intriguing Look into A Different World
What I thoroughly enjoyed about Snow Flower and the Secret Fan was becoming engrossed in the time period of the novel, learning about a culture I knew little about, and coming to understand the role of women in the Chinese society of the day. The friendship between Snow Flower and Lily was very well drawn, but the relationships between all of the female characters in the book was intriguing. This novel proved to be an excellent choice for my women's book club! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Asian American Novel And Short Story    2. China    3. Female friendship    4. Fiction    5. Fiction - General    6. Fiction - Historical    7. General    8. Historical - General    9. Popular American Fiction    10. Psychological    11. Reminiscing in old age    12. Women    13. Fiction / General   

Reviews (21)

He doesn't deserve that Nobel.... It was a political decision!
He doesn't deserve that Nobel.... It was a political decision!

Roller Coaster Ride

A river through time
Pamuk spans the distances of time and memory in this novel as he searches for the meaning of the melancholy, or huzun as he calls it, of the city of Instanbul.Born into a wealthy Turkish family, Pamuk slowly watches his family's fortune dissolve in the hands of his father.He recounts his memories as his family moves from one quarter to another, interspersing personal accounts with various literary observations.Through it all we experience the uneasy balance between Islamic and Western forces that have shaped the city over the centuries.He explores through the writings of Europeans, how foreigners perceive the city, and how Turkish writers have attempted to respond to these views.Pamuk has such an elegant way of writing, with many undercurrents, like the Bosphorus which he so much loves.I particularly liked his literary chapters, like that of the four melancholy writers of Istanbul, and their attempts to forge an identity for the city.These attempts may have fallen short of their grand expectations, but the books became treasures, and helped to define modern Turkish writing.There are also his amusing observations on Flaubert, Nerval and other French writers and painters, who became absorbed in the city and to whom he felt modern Turkish writing owes a substantial debt.While Pamuk tries to escape this melancholy in his painting, ultimately finding a muse on which to hang all his hopes, he can never fully escape it, as he too becomes absorbed in this great city, which proves to be his literary release. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography/Autobiography    3. Description And Travel    4. Essays & Travelogues    5. Europe - Baltic States    6. Literary    7. Middle East - Turkey    8. Travel - General    9. Turkish (Language) Contemporary Fiction    10. Biography & Autobiography / Personal Memoirs   

Reviews (61)

Troubling
In STORM the Germans are an impersonal calamity, like Katrina.We see French of every class and sort scatter like ants whose anthill has just been stepped on. There's good sardonic social observation here and I'm afraid it's probably accurate.But as a reader you sit and feel rather smug at the spectacle.In DOLCE we meet the German occupiers. They are not the evil Huns we have met hundreds of times in the war movies. They have names, faces and, be it confessed, impeccable behavior.(The irony of what was in store for the author is heavy here.) But the troubling part is how naturally so many of the French in this particular village fall into the routine of collaboration.Without judging or condemning, Nemirovsky shows us how it must have happened.The scenes are so vivid here you can't help placing yourself there, and wondering if you would have been a whit more heroic. Or, for that matter, if you had been one of the Germans, would you have been much different than they? Be honest.
How it was possible
Reading these two novellas was, for me, like standing for hours, looking at painting after painting by a great artist.For every page, every chapter was filled with amazing colorful details; the details that make up the lives of those populating these novellas--lives torn apart by the terrible earthquake that results from a defeat.
Novel of the year
Storm in June is the best book I've read since Vikram Seth's An Equal Music.The second part of Suite Francaise is good, but Storm in June is a gem everyone will love.I didn't expect to laugh out loud with the Nazi's at the door.Happy reading.I'm wondering when Nemirovsky's earlier novels will be translated into English. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Fiction    2. Fiction - General    3. France    4. French Novel And Short Story    5. German occupation, 1940-1945    6. Historical - General    7. History    8. Literary    9. World War, 1939-1945    10. Fiction / Literary   

Reviews (64)

As informative and insightful as his TV show!
Olbermann - whose journalistic work could prove him to be this century's Edward R. Murrow - has written a fine alternative to Bernie Goldberg's "100 People Who Are Screwing Up America" that's far more witty and not nearly as one-sided...for those who deride him as another lackey of the "liberal media", I suggest you take a look back @ his coverage of Lewinskygate during the Clinton administration.
Bill O'Reilly wannabe
Give me a break. . . People you have got to be more intelligent than this.All this guy does is essentially ride Bill O'Reilly's coat tails.He's looked at what Mr. O'Reilly has done with his career, realized that he is not even CLOSE to being able to beat him at his own game, so he becomes the "anti-O'Reilly" wow - what a novel (and idiotic) concept.Keith Olbermann is a Bill O'Reilly wannabe - and can't even come close to measuring up.I thought this book was more of a typical liberal whining session.BORING and TERRIBLY PREDICTABLE!!Don't waste your money on this one. . . go check your neighbor's trash dumpster for a copy.

Great book coffee table book
While this book does not look like the typical coffee table book (no pictures) it is a great book to keep somewhere handy for those moments when you have a little time to kill.The stories are incredibly funny and enjoyable, and don't take very long to read at all.While all of them appeared on tv during Keith O's show, the ones I remembered were still funny the second time.Love his show, and love his book!
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Subjects:  1. American Satire And Humor    2. Celebrities    3. Conduct of life    4. History & Theory - General    5. Humor    6. Miscellanea    7. Politics / Current Events    8. Topic - Political    9. United States    10. Political Science / General   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (1561)

The classic classic... that I still don't get why it's one.
This is another of those books that everyone tells you how wonderful and incredible it is. I read it, and... okay. It's a book. And a not-bad one at that. But is it amazing? Is it the greatest, most thought-provoking book of all times? Is it truly just overrated?
"It's a great book....."

A Classic Can Be Interesting
Scout Finch is a girl that wants to be just like her father, even though the rest of the world wants to see her as a young lady. She worries that when she's away, Calpurnia, her cook and friend, will not have anything to do. She is also very protective of her family, especially her father Atticus.
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Subjects:  1. Classics    2. Fathers and daughters    3. Fiction    4. Girls    5. Legal    6. Literature - Classics / Criticism    7. Literature: Classics    8. Race relations    9. Trials (Rape)    10. Fiction / Classics   

Reviews (7)

Other than Kenyon, awful compilation
I didn't like one story in this book other than Kenyon's, and even that wasn't her best.The book was actually so bad that I resent the money I paid for it.And to add insult to injury, the other book I bought that was a compilation including Kenyon was even WORSE.Just a total waste of money.Two of the stories are written in the first person -- and come on, are you a 12 year old writing a story for composition class? -- and all of them are hokey and, to be blunt, lame.

severely disappointed
Severely disappointed is the only way to describe my reaction to this anthology.I ran right out to buy this book because of all the positive reviews.Save your money and buy it used.

Some are silver and the others gold, but all GREAT!
To say that I was looking forward to this book for the authors that I already know and love is an understatement.I couldn't wait to read L.A. Banks' story and Sherilyn Kenyon's.However, I have to say that I not only enjoyed the stories from the authors that I am already familiar with and love, but I enjoyed the stories from the authors who were previously unknown to me as well.What a great introduction to something new!I am definitely going to be broadening my book collection with some new authors and of course will continue on with the ones I love and know already.This was a book filled with interesting, romantic and exciting tales and I would recommend it to anyone.KUDOS to these writers for a capital accomplishment.
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Subjects:  1. Fantasy    2. Fantasy - General    3. Fantasy - Short Stories    4. Fiction    5. Fiction - Fantasy    6. Horror tales, American    7. Occult    8. Weddings    9. Fiction / Fantasy / General   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (1150)

The politically correct shall inherit the earth
Mr. Bradbury's prophetic work has come to pass in the politically correct world of thought controlled by political expediency and special interests.
Thought provoking, but not amazing
What made me pick up this book in the first place was everyone's fixation on how "thought-provoking" and "different" it was. I read it, and found myself agreeing with some aspects, confused by others, and downright bored by some.
read me
Fahrenheit 451 is a read rich with a delicious story and social commentary.Guy Montag lives in a world made ironic because of the stark contrast to the way we wish our society was today.Firemen don't keep people safe from fires, they bust into houses starting fires.Scholars and professors live on the outside of society because of their love for books, philosophy, and sociology where in our world professors are on the inside and the ignorant majority are on the outside because of their lack of interest for the said disciplines.
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Subjects:  1. Classics    2. Literature - Classics / Criticism    3. Science Fiction    4. Science Fiction - General    5. Book burning    6. Censorship    7. Fantasy    8. Fiction    9. Fiction / Science Fiction / General    10. Science fiction, American   

Reviews (33)

You're kidding me, right?
Not insightful, not even humorous. I am willing to admit that maybe I just don't get his writing style, whatever that might be. I hope Mr. Rakoff gets into a new line of work

Well Written, but Non-Productive
This is some brilliant writing.It moves right along, it keeps you interested, and it has a very clear voice and strong point of view.I defintely think it's worth reading, but it's like a bucket of KFC -- delicious, satisfying, but probably bad for you.

ShoppersParadise
If you're like a man like me, you hate to shop. But my wife is a shopaholic, that's why I've found this book to be so delightful, I didn't actually have to leave the house, to go shopping. Too bad it doesn't really count with my wife, I'm going to the mall where I'll sit on anything stationary this afternoon
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Subjects:  1. American - General    2. American Satire And Humor    3. Essays    4. Form - Essays    5. Humor    6. Social Science    7. Sociology    8. Social Science / Essays   

Editorial Review

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• Unabridged

Reviews (2665)

Nothing incredible
This book rather disappointed me. It wasn't able to catch my attention, and didn't really have a point. There wasn't really a plot, and the character was a rather flat, bland young man. The writing style was interesting, certainly, but it got extremely annoying and repetitive after a while. Too many things were used again and again, which didn't help this story one bit.
American Classic
This coming of age story should be read by everyone. However, smart young people will gain more from it than less observant (or more stupid) young people. Take the test, if you like the book, then chances are you are smart. If you didn't like the book, or you didn't read the book, then you are probably stupid.

"...incredibly attractive breakdown."
Some people really hate this book -- I can see why you think Holden is irritating, but...it's not that he's right about things, or that you're meant to think he's right. Or that you should even BELIEVE half the things he says. He's not going to come out and say,
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Subjects:  1. Classics    2. Fiction    3. Literature - Classics / Criticism    4. Literature: Classics    5. Fiction / Classics    6. Modern fiction   

Reviews (4)

Mix of the fantastic and the mundane
Neil Gaiman weaves the threads of fairy tales, mythology and archetypes throughout his fiction, which, combined with a writing style that's simple and adorned with elegant turns of phrases, has made him one of the leading figures in fantastic fiction. "Fragile Things," his collection of short stories and poems, contains excellent stories about desire and loss, a few wonderful riffs on genre fiction, a bunch of middling stories and poems and a few bones for Gaiman completists and Tori Amos fans.
Wonderful and Entrancing
You could probably spend hours hunting down these various stories online. Why do that when this book collects some of Neil Gaiman's best work in one easy-to-find source? Filled with award-winning shorts this book is awesome to say the least. It is worth it solely for the American God's story involving Shadow, but this book contains many more enchanting, enticing and otherwise delicious stories ready to be devoured. If you haven't read Neil's work - you should. I have yet to find an author who matches his prose style and dreamy quality of writing (no pun intended). Terribly unique as an author, Neil Gaiman continues to delight in this book. You won't be disappointed with Fragile Things.

Great
I just purchased this, so I haven't had the time to read all the stories yet.However, what I have read, was classic Neil Gaiman, by which mean, very good.Every story is amusing or disturbing, in only the way that Gaiman can write.He has an amazing imagination and a distinct voice.
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Subjects:  1. Fiction    2. Fiction - General    3. General    4. Popular English Fiction    5. Short Stories (single author)    6. Fiction / General   

Reviews (30)

Need to be a Turk or better to understand!!
The book is not for everyone who lacks imagination and emphaty to understand others. It is all about two personalities in one person; the Modern Turk who is divided between two personalities; Western and Eastern. It is not about the Italian captive and his Turkish master but the legacy of Ataturk, the Turk who has two souls, who is divided between two cultures, two sides of the world. Two personalities , Italian and Turk are the same...Well, it is all about Orhan Pamuk, and his recognition of being a Turk. That is he he got the nobel prize, that is why he is the best writer of this Century. He is not writing about others but "him-selves"...

What determines a 'great' book
One of the pleasures of reading is the ability to get inside someone else's mind.Especially interesting, for me, are the writings of someone who is from a totally different culture then mine.(The only caveat, of course, is that the translator, has the ability to reproduce the original author's intent and not supersede them with their own.An example of a 'poor' translation would be the first translations of Kafka by the Muirs.)
Early work but still good
This one is not in the same league of Snow and My Names is Red but it is still worth the read.If for nothing else, in reading The White Castle you can see the evolution of a truly great novellist and the man who should have won the Nobel last year instead of that Pinter. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Fiction    2. Fiction - Historical    3. Historical - General    4. Literary    5. Fiction / Literary   

Reviews (20)

Brilliant!
I loved this book.It is pee-your-pants funny, tragic, insightful, and in all other ways wonderful.Don't take my word for it, try this book out for yourself.I can't wait for Mark Haddon's next novel.

Out, damned spot
"A Spot of Bother" certainly wasn't what I expected, not that I had any expection other than that the book would have well turned phrases and wry humor.I had read "The Curious Incident..." shortly after it was published and before it became such a success.It was an unexpected joy to read."A Spot of Bother" was not.I certainly did laugh out loud occasionally in public places as I read it, and it did keep me engaged enough to be finished in a few days, but all in all it was not a pleasant read.The spot of bother in the title is the main character's perception of what is happening to him in the midst of a complete and multi-faceted breakdown.It was like watching an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm in which one thing after another inevitably and frustratingly goes wrong in a somewhat humorous way ---except that what is going wrong here is intense depression, self-mutilation, extreme hypochondria, prescription drug overdoses---sort of serious subjects.That it all finally ends in a just peachy way is not reassuring.
Dark Farce: most bothersome
OK, everyone seems to agree that "Curious Incident" was very, very good. There is a wider range of response to this new book, and I'm sorry to be one who can't recommend it very highly.
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Subjects:  1. Fiction    2. Fiction - General    3. General    4. Literary    5. Middle-aged men    6. Mortality    7. Popular English Fiction    8. Fiction / General