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Review Date: 8/16/2009
Helpful Score: 2
Culturally, this book was exceedingly difficult to relate to. Except for the scifi references, which I often found amusing. But, The racial slurs (even if in self reference) the profanity both in english and spanish, and other derogatory comments made this book less a bit of a struggle to get through. If you can manage to ignore the language and what not, the underlying story is a good one. Oscar is likable and pitiable. The Dom. Rep background is lamentable but I think the people should be aware of what goes on in other countries.
Review Date: 2/27/2007
Helpful Score: 4
Fun british mystery! If you like tea cozy books that don't go overboard on bloody murder but challenge you to solve the mystery yourself, you will appreciate all of Tey's works. I recommend this for mystery fans of all ages.
Review Date: 8/17/2009
This is a sweet short story about a boy, Ernest, who for the first 1o years of his life, just exists. He is raised by two old women, both of whom don't seem to know how to express emotions other than sorrow. Then one day, a new girl comes to school, . Full of life and spunky she declares that she will marry Ernest one day. Gradually, Ernest learns to explore the world around him, to live and to love and to discover a future ripe with promise.
Review Date: 7/28/2009
This book can best be described as the title itself suggests, as a chronicle. I really enjoyed the leaps from ordinary mundane life, into the surreal dream/nightmare life that the main character, Mr. Okada, finds himself. And then there are the first hand accounts of historical narrative from pre and post WWII! I know I am not nearly clever enough to delve deeply into the book to see how all the imagery connects, the well, and water and love, death, and sex all have in common, but it was sure fun getting to try. what I think Murakami does best though, is paint a scene so that you are there... feeling the heat, hearing the cicadas (or the wind- up bird) or tasting what Okada is having for lunch. I am glad I read this chronicle.. it is unlike anything else I have ever read.
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