Amazon.com
When The Grapes of Wrath was published in 1939, America, still recovering from the Great Depression, came face to face with itself in a startling, lyrical way. John Steinbeck gathered the country's recent shames and devastations--the Hoovervilles, the desperate, dirty children, the dissolution of kin, the oppressive labor conditions--in the Joad family. Then he set them down on a westward-running road, local dialect and all, for the world to acknowledge. For this marvel of observation and perception, he won the Pulitzer in 1940.
The prize must have come, at least in part, because alongside the poverty and dispossession, Steinbeck chronicled the Joads' refusal, even inability, to let go of their faltering but unmistakable hold on human dignity. Witnessing their degeneration from Oklahoma farmers to a diminished band of migrant workers is nothing short of crushing. The Joads lose family members to death and cowardice as they go, and are challenged by everything from weather to the authorities to the California locals themselves. As Tom Joad puts it: "They're a-workin' away at our spirits. They're a tryin' to make us cringe an' crawl like a whipped bitch. They tryin' to break us. Why, Jesus Christ, Ma, they comes a time when the on'y way a fella can keep his decency is by takin' a sock at a cop. They're workin' on our decency."
The point, though, is that decency remains intact, if somewhat battle-scarred, and this, as much as the depression and the plight of the "Okies," is a part of American history. When the California of their dreams proves to be less than edenic, Ma tells Tom: "You got to have patience. Why, Tom--us people will go on livin' when all them people is gone. Why, Tom, we're the people that live. They ain't gonna wipe us out. Why, we're the people--we go on." It's almost as if she's talking about the very novel she inhabits, for Steinbeck's characters, more than most literary creations, do go on. They continue, now as much as ever, to illuminate and humanize an era for generations of readers who, thankfully, have no experiential point of reference for understanding the depression. The book's final, haunting image of Rose of Sharon--Rosasharn, as they call her--the eldest Joad daughter, forcing the milk intended for her stillborn baby onto a starving stranger, is a lesson on the grandest scale. "'You got to,'" she says, simply. And so do we all. --Melanie Rehak
Book Description
One of the greatest and most socially significant novels of the twentieth century, Steinbeck's controversial masterpiece indelibly captured America during the Great Depression through the story of one Oklahoma farm family, the Joads. Intensely human yet majestic in its scale and moral vision, tragic but ultimately stirring in its insistence on human dignity, The Grapes of Wrath (1939) is not only a landmark American novel, but it is as well an extraordinary moment in the history of our national conscience.
Dorothy Allison on John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath: "
"John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath is a novel completely of it's time-but that time is as much the concrete nineties as the dust bowl thirties. With language that echoes the poetry of the gospels and characters who cling to simple human decency under the most horrific assaults, it is both a work of social criticism and a celebration of the American character. The Joad family speaks to us of all the homeless and displaced families on our streets today, and to the fears and prejudices that tempt so many of us to close our eyes or look away. In telling the story of the Joads, John Steinbeck has retold the story of this nation. We are not a small mean people, Steinbeck's work proclaims, and to prove it he showed us the courage and grace in the poorest of us."
Customer Reviews:
Powerful, memorable, beautifully written........2007-10-07
I loved this book, period. I was "forced" to read it in high school, and we all know how much teenagers appreciate great American literature. (wink wink.)
I am so glad I decided to pick it up and read it again, because it was as if I'd never laid eyes on the book before. This book is beautifully written, powerful, and heartbreaking. I did not fully realize the plight of the migrant workers in the 1920's and this book made me grow to respect and empathize with the Joad family and others like them.
This book stayed with me for a while after I read it; I kept thinking about it and analyzing it. I couldn't wait for my husband to finish reading it so we could talk about it. If anyone is intimidated by the phrase "classic novel" or has bad memories of being forced to read classics in high school, I strongly urge you to read this book--I read everything from People magazine to Patricia Cornwell to chick lit--and I LOVED this book.
Simply an Amazing Book.......2007-09-11
If you haven't read The Grapes of Wrath, do yourself a huge favor and read it!!! Since it's that good, I can't think of any more words to describe it...
The Grapes of Wrath.......2007-09-06
I read this book in high school and did not pick it up again until I was 50. What a difference a few years makes! This book is about hope while facing incredible challenges. If there is hope, there is life. When the voices of the suffering come together, they simmer, begin to boil and rise up (hence, the wrath of the migrant workers). It is about finding strength in different sources (a mother surfacing as the leader of her family). It is about families circling the wagons and holding onto to each other because often that was all they had. This story has been told many times in the course of history of laborers and is the backbone of the unions. Chapter 29 says it all. Very moving. A must read over and over again.
Politically charged and blatantly biased, but still powerful and affecting .......2007-09-01
Detractors of this novel will tell you that The Grapes of Wrath is melodramatic, contrived, and relentlessly preachy - and I can't argue with them. The Grapes of Wrath is overwrought and about as subtle as a hand grenade, but it is also a powerfully affecting novel. I challenge even the most cynical reader not to be moved (at least a little) by the tragic story of the Joad family.
The novel is often described as a `sweeping epic' (which means it is longer than the average book). It is undeniably a classic and well worth reading, but is not without its flaws. The novel is compelling and I found myself having trouble putting it down as I neared the final chapters, however it does get bogged down in spots and some of the dialogue is repetitive. Steinbeck is unquestionably one of the most important writers of the 20th century, but (and let's be honest here) his prose is largely unremarkable (certainly when compared to Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby").
And then there are the politics...
Personally, I don't have a problem with an author having a strong point of view and expressing it in a novel. Yes, Steinbeck portrays a complex issue as if it were clear-cut. He portrays the migrants as good and noble (the men-folk may behave badly at times; drinkin', brawlin', and womanizin' but they are inherently good). Meanwhile, the banks and the land owners are evil personified. There is no middle ground in The Grapes of Wrath.
Despite what some reviewers would have you believe, The Grapes of Wrath is not a communist manifesto. It does however, question how a country so plentiful can allow so many to starve and suffer and Steinbeck doesn't hesitate to point his finger at those he feels are to blame. Reality is considerably more complex. The plight of the dustbowl farmers was inevitable as the economy changed and small family farms became unsustainable.
Steinbeck's narrative alternates between the Joad family's story (the even numbered chapters), and a series of expository chapters (the odd numbered chapters) that provide a broader perspective of the migrant experience. These expository chapters are the most politically charged and blatantly biased of the novel, but they also feature some of the best writing.
My review sounds mixed because I have mixed feelings about the novel. It is bold, but contrived, compelling, yet melodramatic, powerful, but preachy. All in all though its strengths outweigh its shortcomings. The Grapes of Wrath is well worth reading, just don't set your expectations too high. This isn't one of the best novels ever written, in fact, it isn't even Steinbeck's best.
the epitome of the American novel.......2007-08-22
An incredible tale of the aftermath of the Great Depression coupled with factory farming.
Definitely in the top quarter of books I've read, my only complaint was in the ending - I'm not saying it should be different, it fits the story very well, but darn it I wanted to see a little more happiness in the end for a family that had struggled so.
One of the top American novels ever.
Customer Reviews:
The biblia.......2006-03-13
This is a book that everyone who works with water analysis have to buy.
Easly Understood by Geochemists.......2006-02-20
The "Standard Methods" is very well understood even for those in the non-Chemistry area that deals with environmental chemistry/geochemistry of natural waters. Besides the analytical work, many important aspects related to sampling and data interpretation are there. The 2005 Edition makes these tasks much easier.
Average customer rating:
- A modern Classic on Individualism
- A must for all who believe in freedom and liberty
- Those who preach selflessness do it for selfish reasons
- An Inspiring Classic
- Atlas Shrugged - Ayn Rand
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Atlas Shrugged (Centennial Ed. HC)
Ayn Rand
Manufacturer: Dutton Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Rand, Ayn
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Book Description
The year 2005 marks Ayn Rand's Centennial Year.
The astounding story of a man that said that he would stop the motor of the world—and did. Tremendous in scope, breathtaking in its suspense, Atlas Shrugged is unlike any other book you have ever read.
“A writer of great power. She has a subtle and ingenious mind and the capacity of writing brilliantly, beautifully, bitterly.”
—The New York Times
Customer Reviews:
A modern Classic on Individualism.......2007-10-07
I read this book in 1985, and found that it had an enormous influence on my thinking for a long time. As a result, I snapped up all her works that came to the Indian book shops. Ms. Ayn Rand was a staunch believer in individual freedom, and an enlightened capitalism. She opposed, in principle, that one man be expected to serve another, either through private charity or through enforced socialism. However, as I grew up, I found that this philosophy had a limited relevance to one's life.
The novel, nevertheless, is extremely well-written and has a very unique plot. It traces the lives of individual entrepreneurs in the land of freedom, who are being held back by laws and people who want them to serve others instead. Ayn Rand uses the characters to make long, powerful, speeches about her philosophy. She also weaves this in very deftly with the lives of the heroes, and shows what can happen when we put creative, dynamic people in bondage. There is a pleasant, surprising ending, which affects you like a fresh dawn
As fiction, the book suffers from these long speeches. As a book on Ayn Rand's philosophy, the story helps us understand her philosophy better. Her skill is such that each is meaningless without the other. Therefore, if you just read the story, skipping the speeches, you will miss most of the flavour. And if you read some of her other works, without having read this novel, you will find it very difficult to visualise the implications of her complex arguments.
While I am sort of glad today that I found a more, multi-faceted, multi-hued approach to life (than what Ms. Rand offered), I do envy you, if you haven't read this book so far. If you buy this book, you are sure to be in for a treat.
And later, even if you move on, some of her philosophy will perhaps always remain with you. And you will find yourself to be richer for it.
You may also find some of her other works interesting. I particularly recommend (The Fountainhead, Anthem, and The Virtue of Selfishness.
A must for all who believe in freedom and liberty.......2007-10-01
I first read this in 1957 and find it compelling after 50 years.
It is even more pertinent a message from my present perspective in view of the past 50 years and the evolving cultural changes in our nation.
Those who preach selflessness do it for selfish reasons.......2007-08-11
In today's political clime Rand's writing is must reading. We are currently experiencing a resurgence in the war on the individual, with Hillary Clinton dropping quotes right and left that sound remarkably similar to statements made by Stalin and Lenin. Enough is a enough. Those who preach collectivism are trying to subjugate you. Those who preach altruism typically have their hand in someone else's pocket. As Rand says in Atlas Shrugged, "public welfare" is the banner that looters hide behind. Here Rand argues that capitalism is the ONLY just political system. The problem with many conservatives, as Rand saw them, is that though they defend capitalism they usually ground their defense in some vague notion of "God-given rights." Since religious beliefs are not rationally defensible this move greatly risks placing reason on the side of the anti-capitalists. No, Rand said, we must do what's right because it's right and not because we are told to or want to get into heaven. We must defend capitalism not because of some bizarre notion of being mandated by a supreme being but rather because it is the only political system that allows man to rise to his potential, to choose for himself, to bargain with others freely and to exercise his volition. Liberals who defend "minorities" (all the while ignoring that in one out of three of the most populated counties in America today whites are actually the minority) while engaging in collectivist attacks on "the cult of the individual" and "egoism" must contend with Rand's statement that one cannot claim to defend minorities while attacking individualism, for the smallest minority is ALWAYS the individual. People always act with selfish reasons. In order for charity to even be of any help the recipient must selfishly accept the charity. Bad competition, which levels the playing field by inhibiting the performance of rivals, drags achievers down to the mean. All the good such achievers can do for society as a whole is then eliminated, as in the "Anti-dog-eat-dog" agreement in this book. Good competition, in which people compete by perfecting their own skill and knowledge, improves everyone. Even if you are beat by someone else you are left more knowledgeable and able. I only have one question: Where is Galt's Gulch? I would like to move. This novel, originally entitled The Strike, is brilliant. The Fountainhead was about the individual vs. the collective, and this is about the producers vs. the parasites. What if the reviled "rich," those who produce the amenities others take for granted or expect the "government" to pay for, all went on strike? What then? By the way, if you like this book you will probably also like a book called Camp of the Saints. Check it out.
I love the party scene in this book. Rand perfectly points out the ultimate irony of parties: A party is supposed to be a celebration, but those who have done things worthy of celebration typically are not the kind of people who find any enjoyment in parties, whereas those who love partying are not the kind of people there is anything worth celebrating about!
The point of this book was ably made by Jon Hanson, author of a nifty little book called Good Debt, Bad Debt. The point is this: NEVER in history has there been a society that was socialist BEFORE it went capitalist. This has never happened because it would be impossible. It can only be the other way around. FIRST capitalists must BUILD and MAINTAIN a society BEFORE socialists can come and leech off of it parasitically. Socialists don't build or produce anything. They only appropriate. This is why socialism can only follow capitalism. Further, if the last remnant of the capitalist elements of society completely disintegrate, the entire structure collapses. It's not the socialists that keep things going, they just feed off of open sores.
An Inspiring Classic.......2007-08-10
Bottom Line: This is a L O N G, but interesting book. Read it to understand the conservative sensibility.
What You Will Learn: Capitalists and money makers, although celebrated in our country, are often ridiculed as well. Atlas Shruggled really is a reminder that our society does very much benefit from having huge numbers of smart, aggressive, confident, and wealth-seeking individuals to build things that people want to buy. I hope they make the movie starring Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt so this fascinating book reaches a larger audience.
Parting Shot: If you read this you will rightly feel like you have accomplished something important.
Atlas Shrugged - Ayn Rand.......2007-08-01
If you believe that a book can change your life - then you've read this book.
On the other hand, if you don't believe that a book can change your life - read this book (go ahead... you've nothing to lose but your conviction).
I first read Atlas Shrugged when I was 16 years old. In the 21 years since my first reading, I've read it cover to cover 3 times more and keep referring to it for quotes.
Few books have been able to define so clearly what's right and what's wrong (of course, from the authors perspective)and it constantly challenges the reader to agree - or not. Either way, you're sure of what your decision is. You'll never be more convinced about a decision in your life. That's the greatness of this book - it makes you as great as Hank!
Average customer rating:
- A discussion of the ending *Spoilers below*
- Speak up for those who can't speak for themselves, because someone is advocating for their death
- Tragedies
- Steinbeck does wonders with so few pages. This is a great touching story
- Big
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Of Mice and Men (Steinbeck Centennial Edition)
John Steinbeck
Manufacturer: Penguin
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Binding: Paperback
Steinbeck, John
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ASIN: 0142000671
Release Date: 2002-01-03 |
Book Description
MAXnotes offer a fresh look at masterpieces of literature, presented in a lively and interesting fashion. Written by literary experts who currently teach the subject, MAXnotes will enhance your understanding and enjoyment of the work. MAXnotes are designed to stimulate independ ent thought about the literary work by raising various issues and thought-provoking ideas and questions. MAXnotes cover the essentials of what one should know about each work, including an overall summary, character lists, an explanation and discussion of the plot, the work's historical context, illustrations to convey the mood of the work, and a biography of the author. Each chapter is individually summarized and analyzed, and has study questions and answers.
Customer Reviews:
A discussion of the ending *Spoilers below*.......2007-10-02
*WARNING: Don't read this review if you haven't read the book and don't want to know the ending
The book has three surprise events in the ending. The first is Lennie's killing of Curley's wife. This is shocking because Curley's father owns the farm, so Lennie could get into serious trouble. The second is when Lennie is hiding in the brush waiting for George, and he sees and hears Aunt Clara's ghost talking and later a rabbit talking. The third is not when George shoots Lennie, but when George walks away with Slim, as if the two are best pals now. This makes it seem that George did not take his friendship with Lennie very seriously, because instead of mourning his death alone, he hangs on to Slim, as if Lennie is easily replaceable and that Slim has taken Lennie's place now. I thought the ending makes George seem like a shady character, not bad enough to be called the villain, but still not good enough to be called hero of the book.
Speak up for those who can't speak for themselves, because someone is advocating for their death.......2007-09-24
You won't get any complaint from me that this book is skillfully written, in it's vivid descriptions of settings, detailed descriptions of characters, and realistic dialogue.
However, I believe this book has a bad message, and the bad message is about how it's ok to put the weak, infirm and dependent to death. It started with the discussion of Candy's aged dog. The book gave the impression that the dog's age made him no good to even himself, the "quality of life" argument that has been advanced to support euthanizing the elderly, weak and infirm.
After discussing Candy's dog, the argument proceded to Candy himself, where he longs to be euthanized when he can no longer work.
Finally, we come to George's murder of the retarded Lennie, which is completely justified by Slim, the voice of the one sympathetic character in the book. I believe that George was looking for an opportunity to divest himself of Lennie, and that opportunity presented itself when Lennie killed Curley's wife. It was also mentioned that if Lennie was institutionalized, it would be worse than death. I realized there are conflicting opinions about the moral nature of George, but I don't believe he was a good character.
As I was writing this review, I recalled Proverbs 31:8-9 "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." Of Mice And Men describes a world where the advocates for euthanizing the weak and infirm prevail.
Tragedies.......2007-09-16
This is a well-constructed, tightly-crafted novella by Steinbeck telling the story of George and his simple-minded companion Lennie, who arrive at a farm looking for work so they can save enough money to achieve their dream of buying their own property. You know something is bound to go wrong.
Although much of the plot might be well-signalled before it occurs, I thought that it did not detract from the quality of the work. As a short piece of fiction should, it holds the reader's attention throughout. It also seemed to me that by this time, Steinbeck seemed to be producing high-quality work. "The Grapes of Wrath" were just around the corner.
G Rodgers
Steinbeck does wonders with so few pages. This is a great touching story.......2007-09-10
Steinbeck writes beautiful prose in this very short book. The story unravels rather quickly and the strong connection one feels with the characters is created from the very first pages. The story is about two friends that travel together looking for work on farms in California. Lennie is a very large man with a feeble mind and George is Lennie's keeper who dreams with Lennie about eventually having a small piece of land where they can have animals and live from it. The book is written using the slang of the 20's and Steinbeck uses incredible imagery throughout the book. The quick story is bound to touch your heart and linger in your mind days after the last page has been read. Enjoy!
Big.......2007-09-01
What makes a big book? Not physical length. Knowing this novel's reputation as one of Steinbeck's masterpieces, I was astounded to lay hands on its mere hundred pages. Not scale of setting, either. The entire novella takes place in and around the bunkhouse of a California farm, and contains fewer than a dozen characters; it is so compact that it might almost have been made for film, television, or the stage (and it did in fact succeed in all these media). The people, furthermore, are by no means important or powerful; Steinbeck tells of ordinary itinerant laborers, bindle stiffs, living precariously from job to job. In this, the book is similar to THE GRAPES OF WRATH, but deliberately avoids its epic scope, preferring to show a few characters in intimate detail rather than to suggest the displacement of multitudes.
Yet I have no hesitation in calling the book big. Without any effort or overt symbolism, Steinbeck shows something simultaneously particular and vast. His characters are individuals, very real yet bound to one another and to us through their common humanity. The novel speaks to a particular time -- the American West in the late thirties -- and yet seems timeless. It takes a specific corner of California ("A few miles south of Soledad, the Salinas River drops in close to the hillside bank and runs deep and green") and makes it a kind of oasis of simplicity, as in the marvelous opening scene where the principal characters choose to spend a night sleeping under the stars rather than arriving too soon at the farm.
And nothing could be bigger than the heart of Lennie, the simple-minded giant who comes to the farm with his friend and protector George, but whose confused feelings and ignorance of his own strength get him into trouble. The bond between him and George is not fully explained, but it is palpably filled with a kind of love. Lennie's inability to articulate his feelings is shared by all the other characters to some extent; this is a world in which men keep themselves to themselves and move on alone. But their very inarticulateness gives their underlying emotions an almost primal power. Truly, this is a big book.
Amazon.com
Since its publication in 1946, George Orwell's fable of a workers' revolution gone wrong has rivaled Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea as the Shortest Serious Novel It's OK to Write a Book Report About. (The latter is three pages longer and less fun to read.) Fueled by Orwell's intense disillusionment with Soviet Communism, Animal Farm is a nearly perfect piece of writing, both an engaging story and an allegory that actually works. When the downtrodden beasts of Manor Farm oust their drunken human master and take over management of the land, all are awash in collectivist zeal. Everyone willingly works overtime, productivity soars, and for one brief, glorious season, every belly is full. The animals' Seven Commandment credo is painted in big white letters on the barn. All animals are equal. No animal shall drink alcohol, wear clothes, sleep in a bed, or kill a fellow four-footed creature. Those that go upon four legs or wings are friends and the two-legged are, by definition, the enemy. Too soon, however, the pigs, who have styled themselves leaders by virtue of their intelligence, succumb to the temptations of privilege and power. "We pigs are brainworkers. The whole management and organisation of the farm depend on us. Day and night, we are watching over your welfare. It is for your sake that we drink that milk and eat those apples." While this swinish brotherhood sells out the revolution, cynically editing the Seven Commandments to excuse their violence and greed, the common animals are once again left hungry and exhausted, no better off than in the days when humans ran the farm. Satire Animal Farm may be, but it's a stony reader who remains unmoved when the stalwart workhorse, Boxer, having given his all to his comrades, is sold to the glue factory to buy booze for the pigs. Orwell's view of Communism is bleak indeed, but given the history of the Russian people since 1917, his pessimism has an air of prophecy. --Joyce Thompson
Book Description
As ferociously fresh as it was more than a half century ago, this remarkable allegory of a downtrodden society of overworked, mistreated animals, and their quest to create a paradise of progress, justice, and equality is one of the most scathing satires ever published. As we witness the rise and bloody fall of the revolutionary animals, we begin to recognize the seeds of totalitarianism in the most idealistic organization; and in our most charismatic leaders, the souls of our cruelest oppressors.
With a new forward by Gore Vidal.
Customer Reviews:
A Brilliant Satire of Government Politics!!!.......2007-10-07
George Orwell was not only the author of 1984 but Animal Farm as well as written numerous essays, articles, etc. about his take on politics. In 1984, society was in the future under a totalitarian dictatorship where nothing was sacred or left to chance. In Animal Farm which I think it's more effective and definitely better reading material than 1984 is the story about a farm of animals who take over the farm against Jones, a drunken, abusive farmer and master of Manor Farm. At first, the rules were applied but slowly changed according to the leaders' rules. The animals in charge were symbolically pigs named Napoleon and his right-hand man, Snowball. Napoleon begins breaking the rules by sleeping in the main house and having parties with the other pigs. The rules or commandments are representative of Moses and the Jews when they were going to the promised land and received the ten commandments. Also, the rules begin to change when the pigs in charge become more like Jones by abusing alcohol and even killing other animals when they disobeyed. Slowly, the animals that were once united by their hatred towards Jones were becoming divided again amongst themselves. The story is quite a classic novel and better suited for younger readers than 1984.
The Rise of Totalitarianism.......2007-10-07
Animal Farm is a strong metaphor for the rise of tyranny using the model of a failing communism after the deliberate overthrow and subsequent breakdown of capitalism and democracy. In Orwell's story oppressed farm animals rebel against their masters only to find themselves falling prey to the inherent problem of an escalating despotism following emancipation that culminates in an even vaster gap of inequality between upper and lower classes with the wants of the very few outweighing the needs of a neglected majority that are slowly turned into isolated brainwashed slaves controlled by fear.
The ideology of equality is sound but in overthrowing the ruling elite who cannot say that yet another privileged will not emerge? An even stronger dictatorship that can control the masses with the intimidating thought that if the populace doesn't obey any order then the old ways can come back? What makes Animal Farm so good is that it explains how revolutions designed to close the differences in rank can be easily exploited. This is the inevitable dilemma faced by all civilizations that desire governed order and is especially true of socialism and communism. Nobody has captured the difficulty of the exploitation of trust and power any better than Orwell has done with Animal Farm.
Animal Farm doesn't answer any questions but makes lots of them and is all about awareness of these possibilities, a conundrum born out from our systemic need to consolidate power socially.
Orwell based his work on a combination of the Bolshevik revolutionaries and Stalinism but the overall message is a one of warning about how any system of political control can become corrupt if it is allowed run with carte blanche.
It is also a message about how awareness of one's own strength can suddenly change the balance and for this reason has been seen as subversive material. Animal Farm is often banned by most totalitarian regimes and even some governments had banned it because they didn't understand it or believed that its anti-communism message was considered too strong for public consumption.
A historical commentary.......2007-09-30
Best book ever written. It's important to note that it is not only about Russian Communism but equally about the French revolution. Orwell himself was a disillusioned socialist, so to view this book (as conservatives do) as a simple polemical against Communism is a distortion. Rather it is a tragedy about many years of history.
Orwell correctly never denies that Mr. Jones abused his animals. He correctly recognizes the socialist dream as exactly that. It's worth noting that the theme song of the revolution, "Beasts of England" is an exact parody of the old Socialist poem "Men of England" by Percy Shelley from the early 19th century. The character Napoleon the pig is both Napoleon Bonaparte and Stalin. Orwell's relentless cynicism portrays most of the animals as far too stupid to realize what's happening as the revolution betrays its original principles. The most sympathetic character is the old donkey who knows better, but can only watch helplessly as the dogs and pigs establish their tyranny. Its ending corresponds closely with Napoleon (Bonaparte) crowning himself king.
As far as advice, Orwell offers none. Figure it out yourself.
All Animals Are Equal But Some Animals Are More Equal Than Others........2007-09-23
_Animal Farm: A Fairy Story_, fist published in 1946 by George Orwell (pen name of Eric Blair), is a satirical tale of a farm taken over and run by animals meant to satirize the totalitarianisms of the day and in particular communism and Stalinism. George Orwell (1903 - 1950) was the pen name of the British author Eric Blair, who developed an early enmity towards those in power and their abuses of power. Orwell was a socialist but came to witness the horrors of the Soviet state and the betrayal of his ideals by Stalinists. As such, Orwell came to loathe totalitarianism in general and wrote novels, including this book and _1984_, showing the degrading effects such societies (and in particular the communism of the Soviet state) had on people. Orwell's books are indeed prophetic and show us a world in which the very life-force has been sapped out of mankind by those in power. Orwell imagines a highly efficient totalitarian state, capable of enforcing political correctness at the highest levels, tampering with the memories of men (or animals as is the case in this book), and maintaining a total disregard for the truth. Orwell shows how under such regimes the very notion of truth becomes suspect and the individual can no longer distinguish between fact and state propaganda. This particularly applies to the Soviet Union under Josef Stalin, which is the primary setting for Orwell's stories. During the Second World War, when Stalin was regarded as an ally by many British, Orwell's stories came as a shock in that they showed the vile nature of the Soviet regime.
_Animal Farm_ begins as the Manor Farm of the human farmer Mr. Jones, who the animals believe exploit them. As such, the animals on the farm gather together and stage a rebellion against the human exploiters so that they may together own the farm to work for the benefit of all animals. The story begins as Old Major, a prize white boar near the end of his life, tells of a future society in which animals work together free from the exploitation of man. It has been suggested that Old Major very likely represents either Marx or Lenin, the precursors of the Russian revolution. Following this, all the animals join together in singing the traditional folk song "The Beasts of England", expressing their hope for a better society. Following this, the animals stage a revolt against Mr. Jones and drive him from the farm, assuming ownership of the farm themselves and re-naming it "Animal Farm". In particular, two pigs named Snowball and Napoleon come to play prominent parts as leaders; however, soon there develops rival factions surrounding each of these pigs. Together the animals create the Seven Commandments of Animalism, which maintain that all animals are equal and that those who go upon four legs or have wings are friends while those who go upon two legs are enemies. However, as the story continues, all seven of the commandments are eventually to be broken by the pig leadership. The animals then begin working together on the farm and design their own society ruled by animals. However, a rivalry develops between the pigs, Snowball and Napoleon. Snowball advocates building a windmill while Napoleon opposes it. Eventually, Napoleon and his dogs are to drive Snowball from the farm; however, the memory of Snowball is to forever come back and haunt the animals and he is systematically blamed for whatever goes wrong on the farm. It has been suggested that while Snowball represents the character Leon Trotsky from the Russian revolution, Napoleon represents the vile dictator Josef Stalin. Napoleon then begins consolidating his power and little by little takes over all aspects of the farm. Napoleon also uses propaganda and uses the pig Squealer to manipulate the animals and provide an alternate history which places Napoleon at the center of the rebellion. Other characters on the farm include the work horse Boxer (whose mottos "I will work harder" and "Napoleon is always right" serve to illustrate his persistence but whose role on the farm is cruelly exploited by the pigs and who is eventually cruelly killed by them - perhaps reminiscent of the Soviet Stakhanovite movement), the horses Clover and Mollie, the sheep (perhaps reminiscent of the proletariat), the raven Moses (who preaches of a "Sugarcandy mountain" in the sky where animals go after death - reminiscent of religion and the churches), the dogs (Napoleon's private guards), the cat, and Benjamin the donkey. As time passes, the pigs led by Napoleon begin abusing their power and breaking the Seven Commandments. They drink alcohol, they have dealings with humans on other farms, the stage a great show trial in which they slaughter animals believed to be spies for Snowball, etc. Throughout the book Napoleon continues to engage in negotiations with human owners of other farms and in particular a conflict develops between Mr. Frederick and Mr. Pilkington, reminiscent of other leaders that Stalin engaged in negotiations with. Meanwhile, life on the farm continues to grow worse and worse, with longer and harder working hours and less benefits, though the animals have forgotten whether life was better or worse under Mr. Jones. At the end, the animals see for themselves exactly what the pigs have wrought, as it is shown that the pigs are no different than the humans. This book also shows the collaboration between the big capitalists and the communist leaders, both of whom plotted against the people to consolidate power in the hands of a few. The book ends on a very disturbing note, in which we see the complete abandonment of the ideals which launched the rebellion by the pigs.
Orwell's books provide classic and disturbing accounts of the horrors of Soviet totalitarianism. They show us an efficient bureaucratic apparatus capable of sapping the life from the very people it claims to represent. As such, they are classic tales of the dangers that lurk behind totalitarianism and the manner in which human idealism is exploited by evil dictators. They are to be highly recommended to each new generation who seeks to understand the world in which we live today.
Postscript: In a truly disturbing fashion, this "Centennial Edition" comes with a pro-communist foreword by Ann Patchett which rails against the evils of "McCarthyism". I believe that this foreword is best ignored in light of the fact that this is an anti-communist work of fiction.
Best book I was ever forced to read.......2007-09-21
I'm quite old now, but many decades ago I was forced to read this in school. It was the first time I loved a book I was forced to read, and to this day it was the one I enjoyed the most at least until college.
Amazon.com
The Fountainhead has become an enduring piece of literature, more popular now than when published in 1943. On the surface, it is a story of one man, Howard Roark, and his struggles as an architect in the face of a successful rival, Peter Keating, and a newspaper columnist, Ellsworth Toohey. But the book addresses a number of universal themes: the strength of the individual, the tug between good and evil, the threat of fascism. The confrontation of those themes, along with the amazing stroke of Rand's writing, combine to give this book its enduring influence.
Book Description
A special edition hardcover in celebration of Ayn Rand's centennial.
When it was first published in 1943, The Fountainhead--containing Ayn Rand's daringly original literary vision with the seeds of her groundbreaking philosophy, Objectivism—won immediate worldwide acclaim. This instant classic is the story of an intransigent young architect, his violent battle against conventional standards, and his explosive love affair with a beautiful woman who struggles to defeat him. This centennial edition of The Fountainhead, celebrating the controversial and eduring legacy of its author, features an afterword by Rand's literary executor, Leonard Peikoff, offering some of Ayn Rand's personal notes on the development of her masterwork.
“A writer of great power. She has a subtle and ingenious mind and the capacity of writing brilliantly, beautifully, bitterly.”
--The New York Times
Customer Reviews:
Amusingly Ironic. Though thought provoking........2007-10-10
Although Ayn Rand seems to take herself too seriously to ever incorporate irony into her work, I find The Fountainhead to be ironic in that Rand has written an elitist manifesto for the masses. Let's look at writers: In my experience, works of genius are immediately apparent, and few whose opinions are worth considering contend otherwise. On the other hand, I know a great number of mediocre (and I'm being generous in several cases) writers who rail against mediocrity and "the herd" because no one but they have the vision to see how brilliant their work is. These are the people who love Ayn Rand, because her philosophy of objectivism allows them so sit in aloof condescension of others yet places no burden on them to reach any level of achievement or recognition in their given field. After all, only mediocre writers get published, sell books and win awards. True genius gets suppressed by the herd, (or "Mediocre Mafia," as it is commonly referred to in Objectivist circles) lest the masses be shamed by the existence of such magnificence. By Rand's own reasoning, the popularity of The Fountainhead would seem to contradict the ideas it espouses. At most, The Fountainhead is a fun and thought-provoking enough read. At worst, it is meager justification for bad art.
Meh........2007-10-03
I'm entirely too selfish to write a review here. So I won't. Hey, what's in it for me?
Read this in 2 days.......2007-09-20
I was on a 24 hour train through india, and read most of this book during that time. The characters are magnets to your soul.
One of my favorites..........2007-09-11
This is one of my favorite books, right up there with 1984 and Atlas Shrugged.
Where to begin.......2007-09-10
When reading a novel or philosophical treatise you become absorbed into the mind of its author. The author's thoughts emanate throughout all characters and are apparent in all the pages. Upon reading this novel be prepared for this one person's controversial thoughts, (with holes in her philosophy), on politics, ideals and livelihood for the long 700 plus pages.
Taken as a novel, the book is far from being brilliant. Lacking realistic characters, lacking character development and change, this novel simply lacks. The two dimensional characters are set out to be a certain way and that is the way they remain. This stagnation in my opinion makes poor novels. Good novelists create real people experiencing a wide range of believable emotions and a deep penetration into their psychosis. Great novelists can create these characters and document a change throughout the course of the novel keeping to the deep penetration into the psychological insights of the characters.
The weakest part of the novel was the melodramatic dialogue and unbelievable character interactions. What were Roark and Dominique doing to each other? Their relationship went beyond even the ideals of romanticism to the ideals of nonsensical. It was not hot or passionate or seeking the highest concepts of love but rather was over the top, unrealistic and just plain weird.
The writing has no aesthetic value, no beautiful use of words or combination of word, no mood enhancing sentence rhythms, no flow from sentence to sentence or chapter to chapter. The primary purpose of the writing was to get the point across, similar to an averagely written article.
Setting the book as a novel and the writing style aside, I think Rand's intention was to express her philosophy. This can explain why she creates the characters as they are and as I described them, not as real people but rather as ideals, and notions. This fact that the characters are unreal is not only the flaw in the novel but the flaw in the philosophy.
It fails because she creates a human being that is perfect. No one can create a building as good as Roark. He is never wrong and it is taken for granted anything he touches is perfection. In real life no one is perfect. People can be great at what they do but not perfect. Therefore, it is possible that a real person who is a genius, (but not perfect) might miss something or make a mistake. Therefore, it is necessary that other people are needed to create things as close to perfection as possible. Getting many minds together working COOPERATIVELY is more powerful and greater than one. Rand confuses creating works of art, where the one artist makes his/her personal expression versus a thing of practicality and necessity such as buildings.
Rand promotes the idea of working only for yourself and having selfish goals. While working or caring for others is the most horrid, base premise only for the weak or the corrupt. She contrives to make the one who helps other, (Toohey) the epitomy of corruption and I would even go as far as to say Diabolically evil (which is also stupid, characters like that should only be in stories like star wars or lord of the rings).
I would like to ask Rand, can you create and work for yourself and yet for others. Can it be possible that a human being can have a heart, likes people and gets the greatest personal reward (or selfish goal) from seeing other peoples lives improved or alleviating suffering or hardship? Can the only reward someone gets is producing/creating some inanimate object such as a building? Maybe people make you happy. An individual can have a selfish goal to make people happy, it is what makes this individual happy, and it has an affect of making people better off as well.
Her philosophy promotes the creator or the genius. How many people in society does this encompass? In other words, it is a philosophy for the elite. It makes sense and sounds good on paper, similar to her antithesis (Marx and Lenin); however these are philosophies not for this world. A combination of the philosophies or a meeting in the middle is the most realistic. It seems at times like the purpose of this novel was to put down a theory of government she was against.
The books greatest achievement is the creation of a character we can all try to emulate. Roark's intense individualistic spirit is something we can all strive for. He knows what he wants and asserts himself one hundred percent never compromising who he is no matter what circumstances befall him or who attempts to manipulate him.
Her philosophy on livelihood is also displayed in the book. All actions, words and movement have the most vital dramatic purposes creating a very heavy tone and being devoid of all humor. I believe she promotes this intense profoundness in life. I on the other hand believe living this way can lead to unhappiness. I'd be curious to know if Rand was a happy person. It is important to be able to laugh at life and even yourself and take things some what light heartedly since there are so many unforeseen circumstances completely out of ones control.
Despite all of this the philosophy was obviously thought provoking, has substance and really is saying something. It is controversial material and I thought I saw a tremendous amount of holes in her reasoning which further reinforced my own beliefs. However Howard Roark's individualism and integrity is something that all can look to strive towards and I thank the person for bringing this book to my attention for all the thought derived from it.
Book Description
Today, nearly forty years after his death, Nobel Prize winner John Steinbeck remains one of America's greatest writers and cultural figures. We have begun publishing his many works for the first time as blackspine Penguin Classics featuring eye-catching, newly commissioned art. This season we continue with the seven spectacular and influential books East of Eden, Cannery Row, In Dubious Battle, The Long Valley, The Moon Is Down, The Pastures of Heaven, and Tortilla Flat. Penguin Classics is proud to present these seminal works to a new generation of readers—and to the many who revisit them again and again.
Customer Reviews:
Not An Intense Story, But Overall It Is An Interesting Read.......2007-08-26
If you read some of Steinbeck's work, you will soon discover that he has some wonderful short stories and some interesting novels, i.e.: his writing is much more extensive than a few good novels. The present work is an novel but it is under 200 pages in length.
John Steinbeck (1902 - 1968) was among the best known American writers of the 20th century. His 1939 Pulitzer Prize winning novel, "Grapes of Wrath," has over ten million copies in print. Steinbeck was born in rural California, went to Stanford, and spent most of his life in California. He has been associated with the plight of farm workers and others. His books have been very popular and many were made into movies and stage productions. He won an Academy Award nomination for best story in 1944.
I have read a number of his novels and am still surprised with the stories, which are exceptional. In general, his stories are very detailed and descriptive, and it is clear that he had a natural flair or gift for writing.
The story dates from 1945 and is primarily the residents of Cannery row in Monterey, California. The street is near the ocean and used to process or can fish. The story is about a resident Mack and a biologist called Doc, both who live on the same street and the interaction between those two and others, including Lee Chong who owns a general store. Doc makes his living by picking up sea creatures from the beach and selling them by mail order. This is not an intensive nor a dramatic story but rather it describes a few weeks in the life of the street. The prose and character descriptions are excellent. The story takes place mostly in the Monterey and Carmel areas, and in an era before commercial development.
This is a quick short read and an excellent introduction to Steinbeck. It is among his better works and one of his top selling books. In any case, do not stop with the present work since he has many more great novels including "The Grapes of Wrath," and "Of Mice and Men," or any one of a few dozen novels and short stories.
A slimmed-down saga.......2007-08-06
Is the length of this book the reason that English teachers assign it? I suspect so, but Cannery Row is definitely not a good introduction to Steinbeck. However, as a character study, it's miles above just about any American book out there.
Steinbeck fans.......2007-07-14
I had read most of Steinbeck's books, but somehow I missed reading this one until now. It was as good as any of his other works--almost as good as my favorite East of Eden, but in a different way. I highly recommend it to any Steinbeck fan.
A Novel with a Lovely Theme.......2007-05-31
Cannery row is a straight-forward book filled with memorable characters. It seems to lack a plot yet it is very challenging to put down. The novel tells the story of many different characters and how they live and interact with one another. Some of the characters are truly magnificent people with a good heart. Most are doing the right thing for a great person. And some are crazy, but would do anything for someone they love. There are chapters that introduce us to new characters that seem to have almost no part in the story, but somehow are related to a character form before. In the end their stories are all woven together.
The novel is wonderfully written and I could visualize everything that was going on. There are times when I just had to laugh and times when I was close to tears. This is a quick read because it is simple and clear-cut, but the story could very well stay with you forever.
A Book That Creates A World.......2007-05-21
"Cannery Row" is an unusual book in that it has almost no plot, which would seem essential to a short novel. However, rather than focusing on constantly moving forward in time, Steinbeck uses the novel to explore his setting in three dimensions and in all senses. The interchapters, which at first are rather bewildering and seem basically irrelevant, are entertaining and serve to enlighten the reader as to what is going on outside of the adventures of Mack and his boys, a few of the many inhabitants of Cannery Row. "Cannery Row" is highly underrepresented and undervalued in the world of literary criticism. It's a very rich and rewarding book in all its layers.
Amazon.com
This is serious stuff. The most widely used medical text in the world and the hypochondriac's bible, the Merck has the lowdown on the vast expanse of human diseases, disorders and injuries, as well as their symptoms and recommended therapy. It's intended for physicians and medical students, but though the type is tiny and the language technical, the Merck's a valuable volume for anyone with more than a passing interest in bodily ills.
Book Description
The most widely used medical reference in the world-more than 10 million copies sold in 18 languages since it was first published in 1899-revised, updated, and redesigned with more changes than any edition in the past twenty years.
Customer Reviews:
Merck Manuel review.......2007-09-21
This product came quick and well packaged. It was sealed well and then packaged in a sturdy cardboard box. It arrived in perfect condition.
great book.......2007-07-14
is easy to understand all the condition very quick... you have also picture to help you... really it's a great medical reference to use.
VERY UNHAPPY CAMPER.......2007-06-26
I ordered this book to be shipped to Puerto Rico. Was told that it would be there by 06/25. Still don't have it. According to Amazon's online tracking the book arrived in Puerto Rico yesterday but still has not been delivered. Customer service tells me that it was shipped via ParcelPool. I made an inquiry at ParcelPool and was told that they work "in partnership" with the US Postal Service. The representative told me that the EARLIEST that we will get delivery of this book will be on Thursday!! Explain to me how that is considered 06/25 delivery and how on earth anyone would consider that good customer service!!!!
UPDATE 06/27/07: STILL NO BOOK!!
Merck Manual 18th Edition.......2007-05-12
The Merck Manual 18th Edition
I have been in the medical field for 50 years, but this is my favorite textbook - I always get the new edition when it becomes available. This book has something about every possible diagnosis - I wouldn't be without it.
MERCK MANUAL IS A VERY INFORMATIVE BOOK.......2007-05-07
I am a medical editor and I find the Merck Manual very, very helpful in my profession. The new one tht I just received has so much information that I use on a daily basis. It is one of the best medical information books that I have in my library.
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