A funky gem of a book, if you accept it on its own terms
594320
The Air-Conditioned Nightmare was my introduction to Henry Miller, and it inspired me to read much of his other work.  I don't love everything he has written, but I always appreciate him, and this book is a great  find.  Miller isn't constrained with his writing here; not by a plot, storyline, or even always making sense.  I felt like sometimes he was writing words to have an impact on the reader separate from their meaning.

The beginning of the book is great; Miller doesn't pull any punches about how he sees America after his long stay in France.  If you are one of those conservative folk who have a hard time listening to people criticize the United States you probably won't like much of what he says, but he eloquently writes of his keen observations and the parallels to be drawn to problems we face today could fill a book of its own.  Although Miller tends to go on long-winded tangents, the book stays light, and the writing is honest, sassy and generally fun to read.

If, like with a friend, you can accept this book on its own terms, I think you will find it very enjoyable.
2308425
I enjoyed the quirkiness of "Motherless Brooklyn" and found this book even more of a pleasure. The bulk of the text deals with the 70s and evokes much of that era in terms of mood, race relations, and music. The book also captures the atmosphere of a gentrifying neighborhood and the world of offspring of self-conciously outre' parents. The book is strongest in dealing with Dylan & Mingus' younger years. The prison section proceeds oddly and the very end seems like a "tack-on" drawing on themes from Lethem's other writing. Ditto Robert Woolfolk's death and the lame set-up. For someone whose main character is a music writer, there are odd errors like attributing a Supremes classic to Gladys Knight & the Pips. Also, any place with a Bloomington, Indiana Rural Route is unlikely to be even close to the interstate and the Kinsey Institute's creepiness (a likely byproduct of Hoosier repressiveness) would have helped set-up the oddity of the mother winding up in a  southern Indiana commune (though such places existed). Bloomington hipsters are people too narrow and afraid to go some place like New York, and a Brooklyn kid would not have lasted very long there. Unlike other reviewers, I did not find the book particularly slow. Nor did I find it pretentious with regard to its subject matter. The book's lampoons of hipsters (of various stripes), self-indulgent parents, the insularity of Berkeley, the shallowness of music journalism, and the sliminess of real estate people are all on target. Yes, the last 40-50 pages could have re-written or even deleted, but the rest of the book is a great piece of fiction. It captures how difficult it can be to escape our past and how we can overcome the most problematic of attachments. In a very naturalistic way, it also describes the fragility of race relations and manages to make a proto-slacker into a likable protagaonist.
1629592
SHE IS NOT INVISIBLE isn't a perfect book. It's got a meandering plot and a funky ending, but it's a book that I found to be a satisfying read. It had characters I liked, and most importantly it brought something extra to the table, so that I was happy to go along for the ride.

The something extra was some wonderfully pedantic conversation about Coincidence and the deep thinkers that have studied it.

Now don't worry, we're not talking boring math tables. We're talking about some very interesting facts about why some things that 'seem' like coincidences, aren't. And better yet, how some exceedingly brilliant guys in the past have become so enthralled by the study of coincidences, that they lost their grip-- losing their credibility in some cases, their minds in others, and even their lives as their obsession became too much and they took their own lives.

quote--
"Our heroine, Laureth, points out that you only
need 23 people in a room (school or party) for
there to be a better than 50/50 chance that two of
these people have the same birthday!"

and,

"...that if you work it out, and define a miracle as being a 1-in-a-million event,
that you can expect to experience 'a miracle' once every 35 days."

The topic of coincidences arises in SHE IS NOT INVISIBLE because Laureth and Benjamin's dad has become a bit obsessed with the topic himself. And as the book progresses, it's this that adds a creepy element, as we readers begin to wonder if Mr. Peak hasn't joined others in giving in to despair.

But I'm backing into the story. It doesn't begin with coincidences or anything other than a feeling Laureth has that something is terribly wrong. And when her mother makes it clear that she doesn't care one way or another if something is amiss with her dad, Laureth grabs her little brother and her mom's credit card and buys plane tickets from England to NYC.

quote--
"One final time I told myself I wasn't abducting my little brother."

Possible the best opening line I've read this year.

But in any case, you should know that Laureth is bringing her 8 year-old brother because she absolutely needs him. You see, Laureth is blind. Very capable, but at 16 years-old she doesn't feel competent to navigate airports and slums without her brother.

And this brings a second element that I enjoyed. Laureth's perceptions of the world, and her observations on how seeing-people view the visually impaired. That even in her school, there was a hierarchy based on how much limited-vision one had. I found her to be a smart character who was imminently believable.

------------
SHE IS NOT INVISIBLE is a YA mystery that would work for many middle-graders. (There's a bit of cursing)

I found it to be a satisfying read, although the ending seemed a bit abrupt and ill-fitted. The characters that were introduced were interesting. Laureth and her dad felt very real. Benjamin wasn't fleshed out as much, but he was sympathetic, as was the enigmatic Michael.

I'm already looking to see how I can squeeze into my schedule another book by this author. I like how he writes.

--a review copy
4219144
some good advice, but also a little strange...
86630
A wonderful book, it fills a huge gap that nobody else could or would have filled...and if they'd tried, it wouldn't have succeeded nearly as well. It's not a book of facts, though there are facts in it, and although it's billed as a book-o-rants, it's way more than that, I'd say.

If you take it sentence by sentence or section by section, you won't fully appreciate its contribution, which is that here, now, in the midst of sharply dilineated cycling factions, against each other as much as we are against the non-cycling world, BikeSnob shakes us all by the shoulders, gently slaps our faces to get us to snap out of it, and says "Look at what you're doing and laugh at yourself and reexamine everything you think about the totem pole of bike riders."

It is funny, but not trying-too-hard funny, and that's a tough little tiny dot to hit. Eben comes off as casual, one of us, but has a way with words that belies his mid-30s age and his authorookieship. He has a style, it's polished, and I like it a lot. It's a cheap book--$16.95. You'll get many times that out of it in a new personal and global bike perspective, information, and entertainment. A whopping success, I'd say.

GP
3393520
What can I say? Its a fun little book that you can read in bite-sized chunks, but, well, its a philosophy book based on Black Sabbath. There is a very strong sense that the writers went looking for ways to match Sabbath up to anything approaching philosophical questions. Id never put the two together and its worth the slight cost of admission.

There are essays on evil, on musical genres, and even one on my favorite philosopher ol Art Schopenhauer. The most interesting questions center around definitions and identity: what makes a thing a thing? Who or what is the real Black Sabbath? The writers use the large number of changes of band members over the years as a spring board to question the reality and definition of a thing  any thing  even a kind of silly albeit successful group of doping musicians from Britain.

Its a fun and light read. Probably won't lead to any real revelations or Oprah a-ha moments but just might get you thinking about question of mastering reality, cranky German philosophers, and war. So I say give it a go.
1351860
This is not a "literary" novel.  It is, most definitely, an extension of the "novel of manners" in such a way as to illuminate differences in perceptions of reality.  Don's likely Aspergers allows him to see the world in a much different, very literal way, whereas Rosie's unconventional worldview allows space for Don's oddities and makes her a fascinating foil to his literalism.

One or two sequences could have been improved by being shortened, but as a whole the book's pacing is excellent.  Simsion achieves a balance between opposites that if applied more broadly to human relationships might go a way toward tolerance and understanding of others.  It is a very funny read with an underlying seriousness about both the burden and the joy of eccentricity.

For those who have been tagged as "quirky," or "eccentric," this book will affirm the value of being different.
1502578
This book is well-written and very nicely designed. Beyond that, it's hard to see what the fuss is about.

First of all, and on the one hand, the book isn't the torrent of Machiavellian amorality you may have been led to believe. The author does go out of his way to make it _sound_ as though he's presenting you with sophisticated, in-the-know, just-between-us-hardheaded-realists amoral guidance. But as a matter of fact almost every bit of this advice _could_ have been presented without offense to the most traditional of morality.

(For example, the law about letting other people do the work while you take the credit is made to sound worse than it really is. Sure, it admits of a "low" interpretation. But it's also, read slightly differently, a pretty apt description of what any good manager does.)

Second, and on the other hand, the advice isn't _that_ good; it's merely well-presented. How it works will depend on who follows it; as the old Chinese proverb has it, when the wrong person does the right thing, it's the wrong thing.

And that's why I have to deduct some stars from the book. For it seems to be designed to appeal precisely to the "wrong people."

Despite some sound advice, this book is aimed not at those who (like Socrates) share the power of reason with the gods, but at those who (like Ulysses) share it with the foxes. It seeks not to make you reasonable but to make you canny and cunning. And as a result, even when it advises you to do things that really do work out best for all concerned, it promotes an unhealthy sense that your best interests are at odds with nearly everyone else's. (And that the only reason for being helpful to other people is that it will advance your own cloak-and-dagger "career.")

No matter how helpful some of the advice may be, it's hard to get around the book's rather pompous conceit that the reader is learning the perennial secrets of crafty courtiers everywhere. Even if only by its tone, this volume will tend to turn the reader into a lean and hungry Cassius rather than a confident and competent Caesar.

In general the book does have some useful things to say about power and how to acquire and wield it. Unfortunately its approach will probably render the advice useless to the people who need it most. Readers who come to it for guidance will come away from it pretentiously self-absorbed if not downright narcissistic; the readers who can see through its Machiavellian posturing and recognize it for what it is will be the very readers who didn't need it in the first place.

Recommended only to readers who _aren't_ unhealthily fascinated by Sun-Tzu, Balthasar Gracian, and Michael Korda.
1677689
Reviews like this are tough, because the people who agree with the contents of the book will appreciate how elegantly Dawkins frames the universe and our existence in the distinct absence of "God" as most people think of God today.  The people who disagree probably won't bother reading the book to begin with.  But if you are unsure of your faith, and why you believe what you do, and the inconsistencies and problems with religion that you've seen first-hand, this book is for you! You aren't alone, and for good reason.  Dawkins instills a humorous dry wit about this book, mixing facetious yet exacting commentary with indelible logic to produce something that truly appeals to the rational and reasonable human.  I could read it over and over again.
3162036
Part comic book, part spiritual parable, and part storybook (complete with calligraphy and gorgeous watercolor art), "Into Shamballa" is a real treat for longtime Doctor Strange fans looking for a different take on the Master of Mystic Arts.

J.M. DiMatteis' tale transforms a typical challenge to the Sorcerer Supreme into something much more personal, subjective, and reflective. DiMatteis is a devotee of Meher Baba, and the story is rich with symbolic reflections and insights on the struggle faced by any spiritual aspirant. It's a book to read and then ponder.

Dan Green's illustrations are evocative and graceful, and the use of color is excellent. The panels have a vaguely Asian quality to them, but are firmly rooted in the Marvel universe. The story takes Strange from Tibet to South America to Britain, and all locations are rendered with subtle, loving care. Another reviewer compared the book to an illuminated manuscript, and that captures the feel of "Into Shamballa" perfectly.

Many longtime Doctor Strange fans (this reviewer included) are of a more philosophical bent, and this graphic novel is a must-read for them. That said, the book is far from action packed, and readers looking for slam-bang spellcasting will find this a fairly dull exercise. But the idea of taking the figure of Doctor Strange and turning him into the protagonist in a deeply symbolic spiritual parable is one I find deeply appealing.

This is a rewarding work. Just make sure you read it with the eye of Agamotto.
16664
I very much enjoyed this unique and ghostly little book, as to give it the rare five stars.

Much of my acclaim for 'Kwaidan' is, admittedly, subjective in nature, stemming mainly from my own personal perceptions of it (and, the personal circumstances in which I read it); but I will present my impressions, for what their worth. I found the book, first, to be enchanting and engaging, in a whimsical, simplistic way that is rarely encountered in contemporary literature. The classical, no-nonsense storytelling forced me to suspend all disbelief, which, combined with the book's archaic age and matching tone, left me in a state of childhood acceptance, as few books can (even vastly more-elaborate ones). Additionally, the book contains an overarching surreal quality, with its antiquated folklore being recounted by a nineteenth-century scholar of Japan, now himself antiquated; reading it, I felt to be observing an observer observe somebody (who was themselves observing the world, through their storytelling). Finally, the book's last chapter threw me for a loop, in a positive sense, being so suddenly philosophical and profound (yet with an odd relevance that only contributed to the book's overall allure). All in all, I loved 'Kwaidan' (though I could see someone of different tastes being wholly unimpressed -- or even myself being so, had I read the book under different circumstances).

My thanks goes out to the book's author (posthumously), subjects, and publishers. I am grateful for, and have benefited from, your work and service.
1571482
Give it a try, you'll probably like it. . .
4358460
This book has a 1-inch hole through its center. That might seem like a publisher's gimmick, but the hole is the core of Chuck's message: Like the *hole*, your true nature is formless clarity. Like the *whole*, you are complete, lacking nothing. Hole as fullness, whole as emptiness. The first half of the book is like a guided meditation, allowing you to grok how this clarity is actually your present experience. The second half of the book is a potpurri of puns, quotes from world teachers, and illustrations that provide visual metaphors for the the hole as wholeness. Chuck writes with infectious good cheer, like a sagely best friend who happens to be a tour guide. Because of the book's clever construction, it becomes sculpture as well as text, and deconstructs dualisms of inner vs. outer, self vs. other, and part vs. whole. (W)holely recommended!
379573
Every once in a while a gem of a book like this one comes along. Buy it (try for a first edition)
2727169
People seem to either love or hate this book, which is usually a good sign that a book has something to say beyond mere entertainment. I'm not knocking entertainment, but when it is combined with insight and intelligence, then you've really got something. I'm the first to admit that Zelazny often paints scenes with a pointilistic detail that sometimes reads more like a director talking to a cinematographer after a long night in the pub, but I'll grant him that small fault for the brilliant commentary on relgion, decadence, and the ambivalence of heros. It's one thing to give your life for a cause, but would you also give your self respect?
I think this book makes its points without hitting you over the head with them. If you can find the meaning without having it spelled out for you, then you will enjoy it. If you're looking for messages in neon, don't bother.
I loved this book for its contradictions. My experience of life is that it often doesn't make sense, people are not simply good or bad, and there are very few situations free from ambiguity. If you want a George Lucas style neatly tailored space yarn, this book is not for you. But if you've read Sartre, then this book belongs in your mind and your library.
4638461
*MILD SPOILERS*

This is a sneaky book.  It starts off one way--as a comic recount of eccentric, genteelly arrogant Brits (the narrator's Aunt and a high-church Anglican priest) on a quixotic mission to convert and reform Turkey.  As told by the crazy Aunt's niece (?), Turkey itself (and the Turks' reaction to the Brits) is beautifully evoked.  Then, a hint here, a little more explication there, then a major plot twist as the Aunt and the Priest disappear into the Soviet Union, and the book evolves into a profound rumination on love and faith, and the conflicts the two can engender.

The story is always told in an arm's length, almost unemotional, way.  And I think the last page of the book, on the "eternal dilemma" of searching for the City on the Hill is one of the most moving and profound pieces of writing I have ever read.

The book is also hilarious.  There is more than one LOL moment, but my favorite is when the narrator from her (?) Turkish phrase book confuses, "I don't speak Turkish well," with "Can you connect me with Mr. Yorum"--and then is introduced to a Mr. Yorum.

Kudos to whomever it was that noted that the gender of the narrator is never clearly identified.  One tends to assume it is female, from the voice of the book, yet when you look back, you really don't know.  The ambiguity just adds one more layer to an already many-layered book.

I'd like to conclude by noting my thanks to New York Review Classics.  I have read something like twenty of them now, none of which I would have heard of, much less read, without their publication through this series.  The editors have done a magnificent job in bringing back to new and more-than-deserved life these forgotten classics.
1146741
He Who Shall Remain Shameless is probably the oddest thing I read in 2015. Within the first couple vignettes I was scratching my head and wondering what, exactly, Id gotten myself into. Mind you, this isn't a bad book at all.  Its just different enough that I was never quite sure if I liked it or not. The absurdity and grimness that quite often went hand in hand both appealed to, and repulsed me.

In my mind, this is definitely a niche book. If you favor the absurd, and finding out random stuff about people youve probably never heard of, youll love it. If you fall outside of that niche, you're either going to hate it, or be reading it in bemused confusion as delusion, facts, and the internet weave in and out of the various vignettes.

I cant say Id highly recommend it, but I will say its not badly written. Its on Kindle Unlimited, so if you're a member of that, go ahead and give it a try if absurdist writing is your thing. Otherwise, definitely read the reviews first, and approach with caution.

 Disclaimer: Received a free copy from the author for review consideration.