Bloom Books

In the literary world it is perhaps blasphemy to say a bad word against Daniel Defoe's most acclaimed novel. So here goes. The fact that the book was originally titled The Life And Strange Surprising Adventures Of Robinson Crusoe illustrates the major flaw in Defoe's literary form. Put simply, this would be a far more interesting and gripping story were it not so superfluously lengthy. The author makes a habit of repeating himself, especially when it comes to the act of dispatching kittens, which seems to be more of an obsession here than octogenarian ladies are to MatronsApron. It is difficult, you may think, to keep the subject matter fresh when describing the daily tribulations of a fellow stranded on an island for thirty years, without occasionally repeating yourself. True, but perhaps a straightforward solution to this diminutive quandary would be to simply truncate the duration of the story. There are some wonderfully intriguing and suspenseful moments, and some juicy action to boot, but sadly these are gratuitously diluted by lengthy descriptions of the unremarkable everyday goings on in Crusoe's life, and rather than serving to build up the suspense, they merely obstruct the reader's relationship with the more exciting parts of the story.
However, those with more patience than my ignorant self will find in Robinson Crusoe a delightful tale, which as well as being a fictional documentary of the most unusual thirty years of Mr. Crusoe's life, also has time to ponder upon philosophical and theological ideas, in a style that makes the reader feel as if they are involved in the conflicts between the functionalist and cynical thoughts going on in Crusoe's mind. It may not be a gripping white-knuckle adventure, being rather more leisurely and acquiescent, but it is still rather easy to see why Robinson Crusoe is regarded by some as one of the greatest novels of all time.

...uncomprehensive. It focused on a few topics, but the essays were really specific. It wasn't really helpful for my research paper, because I needed more general Edith Wharton critisism. This is one to get from the library, not to buy.

On the whole, I can't say I didn't enjoy it, but I had to read various selection of it for my English Honors class (I'm a sophomore in high school) There are some well known essays, some very obscure titles as well. It was interesting, but I wouldnt reccomend it as a recreational reading.

As a New England gardner based outside Boston, I found the prose enjoyable but the recommendations had little relevance to local needs.

If only I lived on Bainbridge Island....

This book complements in a minor way but does not supersede Wilder's FRAGRANT PATH or WILSON's FRAGRANT YEAR.

I must be getting old. Why would I choose to read this book? But I did. Not only that! I recognize all the people it refers to and the comments about the works of GO strike me as just the sort of reaction I would have myself! It makes me want to know how old Harold Bloom is. Perhaps I am becoming too familiar with Harold Bloom and I am beginning to think as he teaches me! If so, who are the THOUGHT POLICE? Harold?

This is Orwell reconsidered and it rings true. It even has me thinking about reading some of GO's things again.

I bought this book on recommendation (thanks a lot, Bob). This is not the book you want to buy if you've already had success in journalism (I'm a freelance magazine and newspaper writer).

I found most of the examples to be what I had already learned in school and just by taking various workshops. A lot of his samples are "duh" to those of us who are looking to deepen our writing skills.

This book of modern critical views provided thought-provoking insight to many, in fact nearly all, of Chopin's literary works, including her many short stories and two novels, the most critically acclaimed being The Awakening. The book helped me to look at Chopin's work with more respect and a totally new perspective and understanding. However, since I have not read all of Chopin's works, some of the analyses were difficult to comprehend, seeing as I had no background for assimulating the information into something coherent. All in all, the novel is a worthwhile read if one is interested in the wonderful works of Kate Chopin.

Feng Jicai's accounts of the Chinese Cultural Revolution are the best that I have ever read and can be found in "Ten Years of Madness" and "Voices in the Whirlwind". I require his work for my course on Modern China. Unfortunately, this book seems to suffer from translation problems that might have been avoided if a more experienced translator had taken on the project. It is still a tale worth reading if merely to remind us of the unpredictability of life and as an addendum to Feng's other works on the Cultural Revolution. I believe that Feng never intended this book to be listed as a book for children.

This book is beautiful, and the artist has been through a lot in her young life. I think it's AWESOME how far she has come in just 12 years of life. I wish I could go that far in my own life. However, I've seen better. If you want to be AMAZED read "Guided By Angels" by: Amanda Dunbar.

Growing up being picked on by a bully because he was 'smart,' Rigby of Pocatello, Idaho, led an upsetting and sad existence. The Sixties were hard on everyone but, most particularly, the sensitive, bright young students during the turmoil which was forced into their existence. No one could escape the horror. Not only was it devastating emotionally and mentally, but physically as well. Rigby had to endure numerous beatings by a dumb neighbor boy from a wealthy family. Money is not everything in this life. It won't buy you scruples, intelligence or morals. You may inherit the iltellect part from your parents, though it is possible to overcome poverty by appreciating good teachers at school and church. You have have to learn the ethical part of life from church, but watch out for the hypocrites who don't practice what they preach.

Rigby's family were overly religious and placed him in a Catholic school where he clearly did not fit in. Like me, he left home at seventeen to spread his wings and learn about the world outside his small existence. Now is the hour to right wrongs, not keep repeating the same old practices. When you pick on someone you think is not your equal intellectually or in status, you only demean yourself and your parents, who should have taught you some principles. If you haven't learned it by the time you're in your forties, it's almost hopeless to think that you will ever change.

The hymn as sung by Ernie Ford, "Now Is the Hour" refers to your entrance into heaven. If you've been a hellion on earth, don't expect God to forgive and forget your transgressions at the last minute. In San Francisco, Rigby found a whole new world deficient in morality. Needless to say, young Rig had a lot of transition in store to grow into a new being full of hope for his future. It's not my choice for a son to go for his coming-of-age regeneration.

All small towns are not like Pocatello (we lived in a good one at a Methodist college), and no other state is like Idaho. He was lucky to have left behind an unhappy childhood young enough to change for the better into a fulfilled adult. He was very lucky. Some men refuse to grow up and learn that equality and tolerance for others who are different is necessary to get along with others. When their "hour" comes to face St. Peter at the Pearly Gates, they will have to account for how they treated their fellow man or woman. We all reach that reckoning in the end. For some, it's a new beginning.