Book reviews from pazzobooks

Massachusetts, United States

Browse books offered for sale by Pazzo Books
Number of reviews
10
Average review
pazzobooks's average rating is 3 of 5 Stars.

Venus in Furs

by Sacher-Masoch

On Aug 9 2006, Pazzobooks said:
pazzobooks rated this book 3 of 5 Stars.
Really deserving of four stars but not enough actual sex - not any really. A well written and translated tale of perversion, depression and madness by the namesake of Masochism. An important and quickly read novel - surprisingly light but effective. If you liked Joanie loves Chachi, you'll love Venus in Furs.
On Dec 7 2004, Pazzobooks said:
pazzobooks rated this book 4 of 5 Stars.
A concise and fascinating account of the first great North American revolt against a colonial power. The Pueblo revolt is an incredibly important event that has been virtually forgotten everywhere outside of New Mexico. American History is incomplete without mention of the Pueblo revolt and its consequences.

Mean Spirit

by Hogan, Linda

On Dec 7 2004, Pazzobooks said:
pazzobooks rated this book 5 of 5 Stars.
Fiction, but a fascinating account of the trials of the Osage when oil was found underneath their reservation in Oklahoma. One of the finest historical novels ever written by a seminal voice in Native American fiction. Linda Hogan's The Book Of Medicines is also not to be missed.

The Tale of Genji

by Murasaki

On Dec 7 2004, Pazzobooks said:
pazzobooks rated this book 2 of 5 Stars.
If you like cherry blossoms, guys with rotten teeth, and 1000 page medieval soap operas, this is the book for you. Otherwise, better avoided.

Atlas Shrugged

by Rand, Ayn

On Dec 7 2004, Pazzobooks said:
pazzobooks rated this book 1 of 5 Stars.
If you liked The Fountainhead but thought the philosophy took a back seat to character development and plot, Atlas Shrugged is great - not concerning itself with such outmoded details like characters who might exist and avoiding exposition, Atlas Shrugged is the most pedantic, two-dimensional book ever. Huzzah.

Ethan Frome

by Wharton, Edith

On Dec 7 2004, Pazzobooks said:
pazzobooks rated this book 1 of 5 Stars.
Other than an unmitigated desire to smack the whiny lady upstairs, Ethan Frome had virtually no impact on me. While most books I really detest are extremely long, Wharton managed to flip the switch in what is basically a novella. Impressive.

Confederacy of Dunces

by Toole, John Kennedy

On Dec 7 2004, Pazzobooks said:
pazzobooks rated this book 3 of 5 Stars.
One of the most built up novels of all time - while it didn't fall flat on its face by any means, the build up ruins it. Extremely funny at times, but impossibly uneven. If no one has ever told you it's the best book ever, give it a try.

The Great Gatsby

by Fitzgerald, F. Scott

On Dec 7 2004, Pazzobooks said:
pazzobooks rated this book 2 of 5 Stars.
Not even his third best book, and one of the most overblown pieces of literature ever written. Critics and high-school teachers have turned what is essentially an interesting period piece into one of the unquestioned giants of literature. Try Tender is the Night.

Purple Sun

by McAuliffe, Lawrence

On Dec 7 2004, Pazzobooks said:
pazzobooks rated this book 4 of 5 Stars.
A different take on the Vietnam conflict with a more psycho-spiritual bent. The characters are believable and sympathetic, and the air of existential gloom that pervades the book is effective but manages to avoid being oppressive. Written by a former Marine Chaplain stationed at Da Nang, the novel is a window into a facet of Vietnam that is rarely if ever mentioned.

Cruel and Unusual

by Crispin Miller, Mark

On Dec 7 2004, Pazzobooks said:
pazzobooks rated this book 4 of 5 Stars.
An important book in light of the recent election, the author of The Bush Dyslexicon takes on some of the seamier aspects of the current administration. With an investigative reporter's eye for detail and sources, and the soul of a conspiracy theorist, Crispin Miller skewers the Bush adminstration and their propensity for projecting their own psychoses on to their enemies. Fascinating. While reading the book, I thought he went overboard about voter fraud and the possibility of rigging the election using the new computerized voting systems, but now, I'm not even so sure of that.