This was my first John LeCarré novel. I remember older reviews saying that this was as good as his earlier Smiley novels. I don't even remember buying this book, but likely an old roommate lent it to me. The book was intricate, and stealthy, and one of the points in this book is the great difficulty of being "human intelligence".
This funny book of angst describes the life of a man who saw only negative things in his life. It doesn't help that his brother was a classic overachiever. Set in snowy Cambridge, MA, it can't help but bring the reader smiles as the protagonist slowly recognizes his place in life.
A modern film was made of this book about an affair that took place during the war torn England. This was a brooding book, with a powerful woman and weak men. Faith and love are examined, as well as how one remains creative in the face of jealously.
The story of The Legion of Doom (LOD) and Masters of Deception (MOD), hacker "gangs" that sprang up from the fertile cyberspace of the late 1980s. The young men in this book were questioned by the police on charges of fraud. A great primer on the computer culture of that period.
I loved this movie, and I originally planned to read the book then rewatch the film. Instead, I went through the book, and skipped the film. The book did have a few extra twists compared to the movie. But in this case, I felt the movie was better rendered (if only because the photography in the movie was spell-binding).
An older woman decides to spend a few months alone in the stark Maine coastline. What does one think about with space like this? Ms. Grumbach reflects on past lives, culture, and the difficulty of expansive time.
Strong literature, sweeping and majestic in scale. This is story of the life and times of Clyde Griffiths, his rise in social stature, and his dramatic fall. A murder and an execution tie this book to The Executioner's Song. The book harkens back to a simpler time, but delves into the temptation and peril of reaching above your station in life.
A somewhat disappointing memoir about a woman who grows up in Jersey City. Ms. Stapinski blames the city for her jaded and cynical attitude towards petty crime, when she should be looking at people as the source of attitude. Her historical bits on Jersey City were nice.
This was a Holocaust survivor's story. I'm fascinated by this era, and the survivors of that era. A few years ago, I had read Maus, and Maus II, graphic novels of the Holocaust. Then I watched Schindler's List and read Man's Search for Meaning. This slim novel describes horror on an unimaginable scale, and how one discovers the essence of humanity when all dignity is stripped away.
Super Clancy! A pop-novel to be sure, but once again, the delivery is perfect. I had forgotten how compelling his storylines were, and his humanizing of the protagonist, Jack Ryan, was welcome also. Many issues raised about intelligence, and the nature of chain of command, that seem pertinent to our troubled times.
Literature of a very high order. A tour de force in scope and scale. The "fictionalized narrative" is reminiscent of In Code Blood. This is the definitive book on Gary Gilmore's life, the murders he committed, and his unexpected acceptance of the death penalty sentence. The circus of the media is captured perfectly here. This Pulitzer Prize winner has been hailed as Norman Mailer's finest work, and I don't question it.
Another story with a murder, but the twist is intertwined with deliberations on fidelity in marriage, the notion of secrets, and the way our past informs us. Very compelling first-person narrative. It takes place in Massachusetts, with scenes in Inman Square and the Ritz Carlton. This is a book you'll feel.
A book that brought back vivid memories of college angst. Chip Kidd also writes about the graphic arts sensibilities, and I learned a good deal of what makes for good 'graphic arts' (it moves you).
A much-heralded book when it came out in the late 1990s, I skipped it as a "woman's book". When my wife rented the movie with Renée Zellweger, I watched bits and pieces of it, and was fairly inspired to give it a try. I don't regret it: it's a fantastically funny story, full of wonderful sardonic humor. It reminded me of the dating scene, and how the pursuit of love is frought with peril. Terrific way to end the year.