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Liked It “I found the ending to be slightly ambiguous, but a very endearing story nevertheless.” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“I found the ending to be slightly ambiguous, but a very endearing story nevertheless. ”
mark s wrote this review Monday, September 14 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Great story I will never forget. ”
Ethan wrote this review Wednesday, August 12 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Kosinski's satire about wealth and power - and how transient they can both be. Also a fun film starring Peter Sellers and Shirley MacLaine.”
muque and shylock tomes wrote this review Saturday, July 18 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Chance the Gardner's innocence allows him to be a blank slate for the imposed desires of everyone he chances to meet. Chauncy Gardiner for president. i don't think we need him anymore.”
jeannemarie1 wrote this review Sunday, January 25 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Chance was a gardener for a very rich man. He did not know where he was born or who his parents were: all he knew was his garden and his room--and his T. V. T. V. was all he knew about life. He never learned to read or write. A maid fed him everyday and all he did was tend his garden.
ctmock wrote this review Saturday, September 27 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
One day, his master died and as since there were no beneficiaries to the estate, lawyers come and Chance, unable yo prove his employment--for that matter who he is-- is forced to leave the house for the first time in his life.
He packs a suitcase with belongings of his prior master's clothes--and within a few feet from the house he is involved in an car accident with EE, the second young wife of Benjamin Rand--a business magnate and an adviser to the President of the USA.
To prevent a scandal, Chance is asked to recover at the Rand's from his injuries. This chance accident makes Chance hang out with the President. Chance gets to advise him on the economy as if he were tending his garden. This sound so profound and fresh that Chance--under the new name of Chancey Gardiner--becomes a celebrity. As he becomes a bigger personality, Chance gets TV interviews and mixes with ambassador--no one can figure amything about his past.
Jerzy Kosinskt's masterpiece farce is a fascinating read and a convincing metaphor that the best politicians are those that have no skills or background. Considering George W. Bush election and re-election it may not be so fictional at all.
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“its a simple story about how main stream of our people can be influenced, or how their moral or beliefs can be tempered so easily. it is relevent to present life, in which we are influenced to belive what others may wish or want us to. worth.”
jitu rajgor wrote this review Friday, August 29 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Just finished reading this. A probing look into how mass media effects culture, and how people can be so easily deceived by what the media presents to us. If the media praises someone, and if that person knows the right things to say (or, in Chance's case, has no idea what he/she says), people will still eat it up and throw you into a position of authority. I wish I could say that this is a far fetched idea, but in reality it is an all too common occurrence in media and politics. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick, entertaining and political read.”
Daniel O wrote this review Friday, May 2 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Being There is one of my all-time favorite movies. The book is better in some respects, both are a treat.”
Ron B wrote this review Friday, March 7 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“When I picked this up, I didn't know it was a classic. Anyway, a great story that is a critique on our media and how celebrity is so much simply in the timing (luck)!”
Jessica P wrote this review Monday, February 11 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
