One of a kind masterpiece
343308
Written for the youth market (it's got illustrations), this book is so much more.  It should be read by ANYONE who is fuzzy about why the Civil War happened, how it unfolded, and how it was fought, and that includes millions of Americans who sludged or slept their way through dull American History classes. If history were presented in slices like this, I guarantee no one would be sleeping.  This book fills in the backstory of the war with thrilling, unfamiliar occurrences and anecdotes as well as bringing new understanding and even depth to events more familiar.  My biggest compliment for the book is this: for the first time I can truly understand the emotions of the people during this time, some of what they were thinking and feeling, and WHY.  This is one masterful, meaty, engrossing overview that would go a long way in getting kids and adults interested in history again if they would simply take the two or three hours to read it.  Sheinkin is brilliant.
768301
Truly a masterpiece. A work of art and one of the best games of all time. The story, visuals, soundtrack, and controls all come together to create a sense of discovery that I have not experienced in other games for a long time.

Nier: Automata is a 10/10 experience, and can sit confidently alongside classic games like Ocarina of Time.

If you are on the fence about playing this game, pick up a copy right now. You will not regret it.
3070694
This novel is a treasure trove. One can read and reread it because one simply cannot grasp all of the gifts that it offers. The symbolism is poetic and profound, and constantly enables the reader to deeply reflect on the existence of us all and what it truly means to be alive. Yes, we suffer... but what we do with this suffering is what counts... and this novel has very interesting conceptions on that. Eloquently written by a novelist who studied under the late and great James Dickey, it is a work that deserves to see more attention. A work of art, indeed. Please get a copy and enjoy it.
3560330
Trout Mask Replica is one of those sublime masterpieces of a record that only comes along every once in an eon or so.  Like Thelonius Monk before him, many of the Captain's songs sound like untrained, unrestricted romps of unmusicianship with very little skill, but there is an incredible amount of great musicianship that goes into every note of music on this album.  Things that are heard here in many cases wouldn't even occur to someone who only has rudimentiary knowledge of music, and that is only one of the things that makes this album so challenging for the listener to appreciate about it.  As a musician, I find the music incredibly moving on many levels.  From the opening track of "Frownland," which changes up time signatures more than most people change their socks to the bluesy-psychedelic romps of "Moonlight In Vermont" and "Dachau Blues" this album has everything, from spazzed out free jazz to bizarre fractured poetry.  The players all seem to be duking it out through the course of this mammoth album in an "every man for himself" type of scenario, but it's all so fascinating, and with the Captain's incredibly volatile voice on top, its even more entertaining.  I really can't say enough good things about this record.  I've had a copy since '96, and its one that I continue to find new things about every time I listen to it.  It's one of those albums that I wish now that I'd never had heard, so I can re-discover it all over again.  If you don't at least try to appreciate Beefheart's genius, you'll have only yourself to blame, my friend.
3355234
10 stars if I could. One of the best of all time.
4959168
This is a magnificent masterpiece.  Every human should give themselves the honor of reading this extraordinary work of art.
4311373
Charles Dickens's acknowledged masterpiece, Great Expectations, is rightly considered one of the greatest novels of all-time. It depth and breadth are staggering, as it follows its protagonist, Pip, from his early childhood through his later life. During the course of his life, we encounter a vast catalog of raw human emotions:  love, hate, jealousy, hope, sadness, despair, anger, pity, empathy, sympathy -- and on and on. The story is treasured and revered for many reasons. One of its main strengths is its plot:  after a somewhat slow introductory section, Dickens puts his story in fifth gear and delivers a fast-paced and exciting story that gallops along without ever losing interest or clarity. The incredibly complex plotline, full of separate stories and incidents that seem totally unrelated to each other, but are then all harnessed together as the book heads straight toward its denouement, is also full of constant plot twists, which continue up until, literally, the last paragraph. But, of course, as with all of Dickens's major works, it is the characters that make the book. Like Shakespeare, Dickens preferred to have the story develop through the characters, rather than having the characters be mere set pieces inside of an overriding story. And what great characters they are:  the perennially paradoxical but essentially human Pip; the bitter and mysterious Miss Havisham; the beautiful and haughty Estella; the simple and saint-like Joe; the kind and benevolent Herbert; the very human convict, Magwitch -- and all of the other wonderful characters. Dickens excelled in creating well-rounded, very human characters who harbored very real and very complex emotions -- that is, human emotions. We identify with Pip as he winds through his life, because we have been there, too -- the disappointments, the surprises, the loves, the anger, the sadness. In whatever way his story may differ from our own, it is still essentially human, as is ours. For all of his complex and paradoxical emotions and sentiments, Pip is a recognizably human character -- and that is why we love him and this book. A masterpiece for the ages, which will endure for years yet to come, Great Expectations is a great book that can be loved by one and all, for, at its heart, is that grain of simple truth that says so much about what is human in all of us -- whether we have great expectations or not.
2577815
So many awesome reviews have already been left for Shaun Tan's The Arrival, so I'll keep this one brief.  This is a gorgeous, evocative work of art and storytelling.  I kind of hate that it is being lumped into the category of "graphic novels", because this book entirely transcends that genre, it pretty much transcends every genre.  It is a work of genius. A beautiful, multilayered, visual, emotional, and intellectual treat. One of the best children's books ever published, but of course it is not just a book for children, this is a book for humanity.  It makes the best gift for anyone you know- child, or adult, who appreciates art, literature, story-telling, creativity, and the avant garde. This is a book you must own, and a book to gift, over and over again.
3570106
This is one of the most unique books I have ever read. The touching story pulls us in; we get interested in Charlie's life and find the book hard to put down. It is remarkable to watch Charlie's progress through the increasing complexity of his progress reports, and, eventually, the downward spiral. Though the book is ultimately touching, it is sad at times. The parts where Charlie is picked on by people he thinks are being nice  will surely jerk a tear or two from most. This is one of those rare works that can make you cry, laugh, and smile. It is a highly recommended literary masterpiece.
3621717
Truly, a Masterpiece. A little girl's journey in the world where reality and magic are fused together. I do not recommend this film for little children, it has some graphic violence scenes difficult even for an adult to watch. The cast, storyline, camera work - everything to the highest standard. I've watched this film multiple times throughout the years, it is fantastic.
3235933
As the review says, I believe this is one of the best books ever written. If one has the patience to delve  into this amazing tale, they will be richly rewarded with elements like: loyalty to country, God, love, comrades, and true friends; drama; romance; action; and beautiful works of art.
2649291
This film is not for everyone.  But over time I am highly confident this will be remembered as a masterpiece.  This is a deeply Christian film that almost no Christian will recognize as such.  This is an incredibly tightly constructed, meticulous work that most people will find loose and disjointed.  Firmly rooted in the tradition of classic film noir, but set in 1972 California with Philip Marlowe replaced by a chain pot-smoking hippie detective played perfectly by Joaquin Phoenix, this film will befuddle you the first time you watch it, entertain you the second time, and amaze you with each successive viewing.

It's also hilarious, and probably contains the most humane and kind message of any film I have ever seen.  Yes, sex and drugs appear throughout the film.  But make no mistake, Phoenix's character "Doc Sportello" is a holy man on a quest.  He never takes money from anyone, and instead is searching for goodness and the truth.  Halfway through the film, if you are paying attention, you will realize that all the coincidences, details, and clues don't really matter.  There is a logic to them, and there is a real detective story here.  But as you journey with Doc, you begin to realize as he does that there is another story beneath and interwoven with the surface detective story that matters more.  And as Doc begins to pick up those strands and ultimately fulfills his quest, he reveals that the truth he has been searching for is his own redemption through acts of pure, unselfish kindness, performed at great risk to himself.
216946
This is, to put it simply, one of the most beautiful records I have ever listened to.  Genuine beauty is a pretty rare quality in modern music, and this has it by the barrel.  It is also complex and original enough to be highly engrossing, though "old fashioned" in tone.  The different waltzes are so evocative and so varied that you could practically score a whole film with them.
This album stands outside of almost every recognized category of style or taste... and rather than making it an obscure niche work, instead this makes it universal.  Just about anyone will find something to like about it.
512611
A serious masterpiece. Not just one of the best novels about war but an outstanding novel in every way. The author should have followed with a sequel. I give this one five stars but it should have been ten.
2501319
Every event, even every word is a vital part of the whole.  It is a masterpiece of a ghost story. Having just finished, I want to read it again right now in order to see how all the parts predict all the other parts. The author wisely spends more than the first two- third of the novel setting up of necessity the end.  It is truly a work of art.
2718739
Probably the best work of RK Narayan, this novel has a beauty that transcends time and space. Its written in a simple and mellifluous style and yet, has an underlying profundity that is incomparable. Anyone can identify with Chandran, the protagonist as he goes through the emotions of love, hatred and detachment. And 'callous realism' - that one's for the ages. One can see RK Narayan, a true master at work in this novel.
4393684
I can not say how much I loved this film.  It is a work of art.  It is near perfect in so many ways.