Kim K

• Rated 4 stars

“I enjoyed the fragmentary style, the multiple ways the book showed but in the end, I don't think the end is as open as it has often been considered. Tim O'Brien has a liberal and personal approach of dealing with the trauma of the Vietnam War and this makes it a good read.”

Kim K wrote this review Thursday, November 24, 2011. ( reply | permalink )

0 of 1 members found this review helpful.

• Rated 4 stars

“It resembles a detective story - but it's not that you don't know the murderer but that you don't know whether the murderer is already known. It has long sentences but it's not confusing and really interesting. The book also gives a good insight on Russian culture (at that time). I liked it!”

Kim K wrote this review Tuesday, December 14, 2010. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“The sheeps of George Glenn try to find out who murdered him. They use a very interesting way and rate human's actions out of their own understanding of the world - which leads to quite funny results. They are sure that humans will never be as reasonable as sheeps are and their ways of acting and thinking are really mysterious.”

Kim K wrote this review Monday, November 15, 2010. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 3 stars

“It is a book about being on the road, the age of growing and how to (not) handle things, your wishes and desires, problems and everything that concerns you.
What really impressed me was that even if they tried to do things right they couldn't make it if someone else came and had "another great idea". They go all around the U.S. and even farther. They learn about the country and their lives. But if it is not about something - it's aobut a life with wife and children. They do marry but they aren't married.
They do and go and make and dig. What's left?”

Kim K wrote this review Sunday, October 31, 2010. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 3 stars

“This book contains several poems by Allen Ginsberg - it's main focus lying on "HOwl" which is the longest and most popular. "Howl" is not a poem in the classical kind of way. I think it is more like a description of how living in the US is at that time. It is very long and starts with an introduction of whom he's seen and then describing what happened to them or what they did. It sometimes gets quite confusing because it is based a lot on (auto-)biographical references which you only understand while reading if you're well-known at that topic and the persons involved. But this has also a very positive effect: you're getting to "know" the (to A. Ginsberg) important circle of people and afterwards you're feeling more like you've been there and know what's been going on than as if he had just given a more distant "description". This is naturally a part of a poem which is most of the times rather subjective and personal.
The other poems in this book are shorter. They deal with living in the States as well and are sometimes critically and ironically written.
It gives a good impression on how a certain group in the 1950s responded to the way of living in the US and is also referring to the "American Dream" - all in a very personal manner for it's a collection of poems.”

Kim K wrote this review Wednesday, October 13, 2010. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“"Water for Elephants" gives an impression of what life was like at depression era in the US. Life in circusses is described very detailed and you get the impression you're with the working men from the scene. You donÄt get the picture of what the circus show was like, but circus life. Knowing that it's based on parts of true stories and anecdotes, the feeling while reading gets even more intense.
The only thing I still don't quite understand, even though having researched a little, is the parallel to the Jacob's story in the Bible (Book Genesis). You can find some explanations on the internet but I don't think it's a thing you have to find out / understand. The author also states it's like an 'Easter egg' which you can find and understand and like but don't have to to get the plot.
I'd rather recommend that book if you're interested in learning something about circus life and mentalities in the 1930's (and if you didn't think you're interested in it you'll find yourself richer in that knowledge nonetheless - I haven't thought about it ever before and I probably won't afterwards (except for a circus visit) but it was just awesome to read and get an impression).”

Kim K wrote this review Friday, October 8, 2010. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“It is an interesting book which shows the problems of modern society from the view off an "outsider". Wordly and philosophical questions are discussed which sometimes leads to quiet depressive resolutions for people living now. The art of living is compared to the of 10th century China. Some hints and links to 10th century and earlier living writers and philosophers are given. It's well written and sometimes you get the impression the story is real.”

Kim K wrote this review Tuesday, September 21, 2010. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 3 stars

“I think it's a good introduction into the beliefs of the ancient greeks. It begins by telling how the world was created and ends with the trojan war and the odyssee. One of the best parts is the huge "family tree" which is absolutely confusing at the first look but becomes one of the most helpful parts of the book. Nevertheless all the names and relations are really confusing if you're dealing with that stuff for the first time.”

Kim K wrote this review Thursday, September 9, 2010. ( reply | permalink )