The Great Adventure: Theodore Roosevelt and the Rise of Modern America

Author: Albert Marrin

This was an interesting read. It is refreshing to read a story about a person I have absolutely no interest in and find commonality. Theodore Roosevelt had something about him that appeals to me. He acheived great successes in life and ignored warnings and did what he thought was good regardless.

A tough guy. A "real" man. Someone you might have wished was your father. A person you can model your self after, to show toughness, and truth at the same time.

This was a good read.

Slaughterhouse Five

Author: Kurt Vonnegut

I was told that this was a great war story... And with the title Slaughterhouse five. I was hoping that it was going to be a story about five friends who took on the German army single handed.
WRONG!
This is a story about a guy who is abducted by aliens. ?? He becomes unstuck in time and tells his story the way he flip flopped through time. It was interesting, but not a great story. I'm sure that when it was written it was cutting edge, but now I can't say that it was worth the time.

I can appreciate the fact that the story was written decades ago. It was written not to glorify war, and it did just that. But really... snore. I kept waiting for something amazing to happen.

I really don't get it. Maybe if I tried reading it again in 20 years or so? Or maybe I can't appreciate it because I have no understanding of what it means to go to war? Or live through a war? To me it is all something that happens in other places.

It is not a long book, and if you are looking for something strange and choppy to read, you should spend the time getting into this book. Otherwise, forget about it.

1984

Author: George Orwell

This was also another book that turned out to be something that I did not expect. This story was explained to me as a book that had predicted the future. The book that was written 40 years before its time. I was expecting to read about all the machines and gadgets that existed in 1984. And styles like rap music and the violence, and the freedom of religion and so on... but instead this turns out to be a story about the government controlling peoples thoughts.

Also I was a bit disappointed to find out that a large portion of the story was a romantic interlude. I guess it could have been worse. And I had to keep reminding myself that the story was written in the 40's.

I story became interesting in the end when the character was being tortured and manipulated. I found it interesting because he convinced them that he had been rehabilitated. But in truth, I don't believe that he had.

The end of the story was disappointing.

Save yourself the time and watch the movie.

Animal Farm

Author: George Orwell

This story is messed up?? Its a short read. And I think its about politics and how people are like farm animals... I think?

The story is about a farm, where the animals take over and kick out hte farmer. It goes through a series of years and you can see how the animals are eventually manipulated and treated worse than they were before they rebelled. The pigs take over and in a way abuse the rest of the animals.

It shows how we can be turned by propoganda and manipulation. The masses think they might be doing something good, when in fact they are being lied to and worked to death.

This was a strange read, and I thin there is alot more to this story than I was able to grasp.

This book woul dbe good for people that are interested in politics and how to manipulate large groups of people.

The Prince (second attempt)

Author: Niccolo Machiavelli

Second time is a charm. I had trouble getting through this the first time. It is not a story. It is an account of wisdom for the prince. It goes over the history of the time and explains the do's and don'ts of being a prince, obtaining land, ruling the people, etc.

It was a tough read. It was boring on the most part. But I can say that there was an interesting section that spoke about character and morals. As well, I found it interesting when he compared ruling by love or by fear.

This is not a story, it was about history pre 1600's. This book is interesting but not for everyone. I found out while reading this book that it is required reading for poli-sci students in university. Sucks to be them, I can't believe picking this stuff apart would be much fun.

I don't recommend this to anyone, unless they are interested in pre 1600 Italian and European history. Or the pro's and con's and the how to of being a prince.

The Call of the Wild

Written by: Jack London in 1903

A written from a dog's perspective. I thought this story was going to be lame. It turned out to be a really nice story. I thought that the dog was going to talk and communicate with other animals and that it was going to be like a Disney movie. The author was very smart when he wrote this piece of work.

The story for me was more about survival, and a call that is in each of us. The call to be more, to be better, greater... that we are a part of something larger. It was a real story. when I say this I am talking about how characters die unexpectedly and there are bad things that happen without reason.

It was a touching story at times. The dog "Buck" is a survivor. He respects the way things are, and deep inside knows that there is more. He succeeds in his endeavors and at points is holding on to a thread of life. Things are bad for him at points and at others he is in ecstasy.

I found this story very real and true to life. It was not graphic... though there were some fight sequences that go into detail. It was not disgusting. All the characters were very true to life as well. This story is great.

Into Thin Air

Written by : Jon Krakauer

This book was really interesting. I used to rock climb a bit (mostly indoors). It never interested me to climb a mountain. But after reading this book I have a spark that has begun in me, and I feel a need to get to the top of a mountain. I don't want to climb Everest... but something high.

This is a story about the author, and a trip that he took to the top of Mount Everest. It was a catastrophe. A large number of people died; it was sad. I was very compelled to understand why and how and what happened as a reader. The author did a great job explaining all of the above. He gave his account of what had happened, and it was very interesting to read. I think that he felt compelled to write this story to help himself cope with the horrible & wonderful event he experienced.

The detail in the book is magnificent, it lead me to google many beautiful images. He explained the climb in a way that any juvenile read would understand. It was an exciting and wonderful read. I felt like I was breezing through the 300 pages.

What I found most amazing in the story was how much the human spirit can withstand. And how determination and drive can compel a person to risk so much for a goal. And that success and defeat are not important in the end when lives are on the line.
I was also amazed at the descriptions of what the people involved in story could endure. Truely amazing.