dalewsaville
Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative
dalewsaville's Completed Shelf
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One Flew Over the Cuckoo's NestOne Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Book
by Kesey, KenBook - 2012 | 50th anniversary ed.
Added Apr 10, 2020
Added Apr 04, 2020
The Naked and the DeadThe Naked and the Dead, Book
by Mailer, NormanBook - 1998 | 50th anniversary ed.
dalewsaville's rating:
4.5 out of 5 stars
Added Mar 18, 2020
dalewsaville's rating:
4 out of 5 stars
Added Mar 09, 2020
Comment:
I have the same view as the reviewer from 2018 - this is a frighteningly relevant in 2020. No, I am not comparing Trump to Stalin ("No. 1" in the book). Rather, this thinly disguised novel provides an insight on how people (the masses) create, and tolerate, their governments. The author (Koestler), through the protagonist (Rubashov), develops the theory that technological innovation moves at a faster pace that social maturity. When disruptive technology, for example when the industrial revolution overtook agriculture (the book was written in 1941), people gravitated to autocratic governments (fascism, communism). When social maturity catches up, people gravitate to democracies. In the book Rubashov is prevented from developing his theory through historical research. However, I would speculate the American & French revolutions for democracies coincide with the pinnacle of water and horse power before steam power became prevalent. Likewise, the 21st century swing towards autocratic governments coincides with disruptive information technology. "The Age of Illusion" by Andrew Bacevich states that Trump is not the cause, rather the consequence of America's struggle to find its post-Cold War identity. Putin's control of Russia is a consequence of the loss of the social and economic "stability" of the former Soviet Union. When you use Koestler's lens on the relationship between people and their governments, then Joseph de Maistre's (1753-1821) quote rings true, "Every nation gets the government it deserves."I have the same view as the reviewer from 2018 - this is a frighteningly relevant in 2020. No, I am not comparing Trump to Stalin ("No. 1" in the book). Rather, this thinly disguised novel provides an insight on how people (the masses) create, and…
In Cold BloodIn Cold Blood, BookA True Account of A Multiple Murder and Its Consequences
by Capote, TrumanBook - 1996
dalewsaville's rating:
4.5 out of 5 stars
Added Feb 16, 2020
Comment:
Capote's book deserves the "masterpiece" designation. I found the book to be riveting and suspenseful, despite knowing the story through two different movies ("In Cold Blood" and "Capote"). It reads like a well written novel, opening on "the high wheat plains" and ending on "the wind voices of the wind-bent wheat." In between Capote tells the unbiased, detailed story of two men who brutally murder a family of four and their respective back stories. Normally I'm a slow reader, I finished the book across two days.Capote's book deserves the "masterpiece" designation. I found the book to be riveting and suspenseful, despite knowing the story through two different movies ("In Cold Blood" and "Capote"). It reads like a well written novel, opening on "the high…
dalewsaville's rating:
3 out of 5 stars
Added Feb 14, 2020
Comment:
An amusing book about the origins and changes in "swearing" in the English language (actually starting with Romans). The "Holy" aspect deals with religion-based swearing and the "Shit" aspect deals with body function-based swearing. The author provides a categorization scheme for various types of swearing (sexual, excrements, oaths, etc.) that is interesting; however, the author gets bogged down in dissecting Biblical swearing, ensuring that we understand that original texts may have been translated to English in a more genteel manner that steps over the "Shit" aspects found in the Bible. Overall it is an unusual piece of research that may interest some people. Others will find it too fascinated, and very explicit, about swearing.An amusing book about the origins and changes in "swearing" in the English language (actually starting with Romans). The "Holy" aspect deals with religion-based swearing and the "Shit" aspect deals with body function-based swearing. The author…
Added Feb 13, 2020
Franklin and WinstonFranklin and Winston, BookAn Intimate Portrait of An Epic Friendship
by Meacham, JonBook - 2003 | 1st ed.
dalewsaville's rating:
4 out of 5 stars
Added Feb 03, 2020
American LionAmerican Lion, BookAndrew Jackson in the White House
Book - 2008 | 1st ed.
dalewsaville's rating:
3.5 out of 5 stars
Added Feb 03, 2020
A Confederacy of DuncesA Confederacy of Dunces, Book
by Toole, John KennedyBook - 1987 | 1st Evergreen ed.
dalewsaville's rating:
3 out of 5 stars
Added Feb 03, 2020
Return of A KingReturn of A King, BookThe Battle for Afghanistan, 1839-42
by Dalrymple, WilliamBook - 2013 | First edition.
dalewsaville's rating:
2.5 out of 5 stars
Added Feb 03, 2020
Comment:
While I am a huge fan of Dalrymple's books, I found this one to be a bit tedious - perhaps because this period of history was fraught with some many missteps by the English, Russians, Afghanies, and others. The multitude of different tribes, fluid allegiances, and changing strategies make it difficult to follow the action. Almost two centuries later, it is still difficult to understand what is happening in Afghanistan.While I am a huge fan of Dalrymple's books, I found this one to be a bit tedious - perhaps because this period of history was fraught with some many missteps by the English, Russians, Afghanies, and others. The multitude of different tribes, fluid…
Killing EnglandKilling England, BookThe Brutal Struggle for American Independence
by O'Reilly, BillBook - 2017 | First edition.
dalewsaville's rating:
4 out of 5 stars
Added May 28, 2019
dalewsaville's rating:
3 out of 5 stars
Added May 28, 2019
dalewsaville's rating:
3 out of 5 stars
Added May 28, 2019
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