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| 2003 |
| Section B, Page 1 |
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| Lit/Writing B |
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| Book Review: Expensive People |
| Novella Idea |
| Editor |
| 4-11-03 |
| This is a book about a child murderer. No, not about a person who murders children. An actual child murderer. Maybe. Possibly. Who knows? The book is Expensive People, by Joyce Carol Oates. The child murderer's name is Richard, and from page one he will repeatedly tell you that he is a child murderer, that he is now fat, and that at the end of this memoir he will kill himself. Thus, knowing the end, it is the "getting there" that is the most interesting. That said, this is not to be read by someone who cannot handle "wierdness" or seemingly unrelated deviations. If you don't like "wierd," don't read this book. Expensive People is really a book for writers, or at least people who understand writers and writing. Those who have studied the craft will notice awesome little devices that Oates uses, and will delight in the chapter about writing. There is an especially fun section about book reviews concerning the book you're reading. Expensive People is dark, funny, pathetic, and interesting. Most of all, it's uniquely mind-engaging. READ IT. READ IT NOW. ~ |
| Books You Should Read: |
| ~ Atlas Shrugged Ayn Rand BN.com has "Atlas Shrugged" for $8.99 in paperback. I recommend getting it in paperback so you can write in it. Seriously. You must write in this book. This isn't for the easily distracted, but it's quite a reward for the persistent reader who still enjoys the memorable characters of light reads but wishes for something more. This book has it. Awesome characters and an interesting philosophy that I don't completely agree with but I'm willing to learn more about. This is the best book I have ever read. ~ Cry the Beloved Country Alan Paton I believe I paid approx. $13 for this one. If you like stories about Africa, faith, and Apartheid, this is for you. Warning: Paton uses Steinbeck's (I think it was Steinbeck) method of dashes that indicate dialogue instead of quotation marks. ~ Dive From Clausen's Pier Ann Packer You can get this one on Amazon.com for $11.20 right now (originally $14). I rented it from a public library. This is probably a girl book. It's not necessarily the BEST book, but I enjoyed reading it, and it ends satisfyingly (to me, at least). In it, the main character's fiancé becomes quadruplegic after a stupid accident. Dive From Clausen's Pier answers the question as to whether or not one is morally obligated to stay in a relationship when the other party suffers a life-altering injury. |
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