Ignominia - aNobii

Books (241)

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- Then We Came to the End (216)
- By Joshua Ferris
- Finished on Nov 8, 2012
  
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Then We Came to the End

FUN AND REVEALING

I love Ferris' writing style especially that of The Unnamed. This earlier book is much lighter in tone, but under the humor lies the acute observation of our lives as lab rats, as experiments of social interaction in the workplace. If you have ever worked in an office you'll recognize some of the sc ... (continue)

I love Ferris' writing style especially that of The Unnamed. This earlier book is much lighter in tone, but under the humor lies the acute observation of our lives as lab rats, as experiments of social interaction in the workplace. If you have ever worked in an office you'll recognize some of the scenarios in the book: the crush for a co-worker, the gossiping slacker group, the outsider seen as a coporate-ladder climber, the boss who is not as bad after all, and many more.
I thought of The Office, and other more cynical views of life in the corporate world but Ferris' view is less cynical and over the top and more realistic and compassionate. Each character was recognizable and his/her reasons understood and felt true and with that perception the readers get to revise the ways of the people who once worked with us, in the real places where we held those jobs.

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— Nov 14, 2012 | Add your feedback
- Ishi (3)
- Last of His Tribe (Bantam Starfire Books)
- By Theodore Kroeber
- Finished on Mar 21, 2013
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Ishi

Dropped into another world

The story of Ishi is a fascinating one. Written in the '60 by the wife of Dr. Kroeber (the book is erroneously credited to a Theodore Kroeber in the Anobii entry), who knew Ishi personally, this bigraphy is well written and researched, but still manages to get the real person behind the Anthropologi ... (continue)

The story of Ishi is a fascinating one. Written in the '60 by the wife of Dr. Kroeber (the book is erroneously credited to a Theodore Kroeber in the Anobii entry), who knew Ishi personally, this bigraphy is well written and researched, but still manages to get the real person behind the Anthropological descovery of the century. The reality of the extermination that was meted on the Californian Indians is clerly described without excessive dramatization thus bringing the message home with a vengeance. One wishes there would be more Ishi in our world, but also realizes that there would be very little space and sympathy towards a man coming out of prehistory into the 21st century.

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— Apr 1, 2013 | Add your feedback
- The Unnamed (37)
- By Joshua Ferris
- Finished on Sep 18, 2012
  
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The Unnamed

A BOOK ON MYSTERY AND BEAUTY

The mystery of a life, of any life really, built with words and sentences into unforgetable imagery that will stay in your mind for days. Not unlike the main character in the book, one wants to stop the pull of the story and savor the detail. But motion on you must. The end is just breathtaking, and ... (continue)

The mystery of a life, of any life really, built with words and sentences into unforgetable imagery that will stay in your mind for days. Not unlike the main character in the book, one wants to stop the pull of the story and savor the detail. But motion on you must. The end is just breathtaking, and I found myself holding tears while hovering unseeing on the last 10 lines, unwilling -unable- to continue reading and have the book end.
Ai lettori Italiani che hanno scritto recensioni negative sul libro, posso solo dire che forse la traduzione non rende giustizia alla scrittura di Ferris. Questo libro diventerà un classico della letteratura contemporanea e Ferris è un maestro dello scrivere.

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— Sep 18, 2012 | Add your feedback
- Jesus' Son (29)
- By Denis Johnson
- Finished on Sep 15, 2012
  
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Jesus' Son

COULD BE THAT IT'S POETRY...

problem is I don't get junkies, their way of seeing life, their tolerence for self abuse and misery, so I read this book being on edge all the time, never transported into their world. What could be poetic imagery and aching perception seems to me deranged and allucinated, the effect of substance, s ... (continue)

problem is I don't get junkies, their way of seeing life, their tolerence for self abuse and misery, so I read this book being on edge all the time, never transported into their world. What could be poetic imagery and aching perception seems to me deranged and allucinated, the effect of substance, something that I cannot possibly understand. That is why I don't like to read these kinds of books, even though the last story was quite funny.

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— Sep 16, 2012 | Add your feedback
- The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2006 (13)
- Finished on Aug 8, 2012
  
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The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2006

good selection of stufhttp://www.anobii.com/ignominia/books#f

Enjoyed this collection of articles, a mishmash of fiction, humor and reportage. From the Iraqi constitution to Foster Wallace's Kenyon Commencement address; George Saunders' article on Dubai's luxurious hotels and downtrodden working population and a graphic short on US torture of Iraqi's innocent ... (continue)

Enjoyed this collection of articles, a mishmash of fiction, humor and reportage. From the Iraqi constitution to Foster Wallace's Kenyon Commencement address; George Saunders' article on Dubai's luxurious hotels and downtrodden working population and a graphic short on US torture of Iraqi's innocent people. All peppered by absurd humor and unusual short collections like "Best American Fake Headlines" and Best American 2005 Novel's first sentences.

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— Aug 11, 2012 | Add your feedback

- Farm City (12)
- The Education of an Urban Farmer
- By Novella Carpenter
- Finished on Sep 28, 2012
  
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Farm City

an amusing farming primer

It was fun to have it read to me while cooking, though the hand- wringing about killing the animals she raised felt so far removed for one cooking store-bought ingredients. Some details were overdramatized, like the episode of the bum giving them money while they were scavenging for food in a dumpst ... (continue)

It was fun to have it read to me while cooking, though the hand- wringing about killing the animals she raised felt so far removed for one cooking store-bought ingredients. Some details were overdramatized, like the episode of the bum giving them money while they were scavenging for food in a dumpster. It's a popular survival method for bums-and-not-so-bums in rich areas like the Bay Area, where good food can be found thrown away for being over abundant or a day over expiration day. Nevertheless it was a fun book to read, especially since I was growing my own vegetable garden in Oakland in the 9o's (sans the animals, but with home- brewing episodes).

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— Oct 6, 2012 | Add your feedback
- Ghost train to the Eastern Star (35)
- on the tracks of 'The Great Railway Bazaar'
- By Paul Theroux
- Finished on Jun 20, 2012
  
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Ghost train to the Eastern Star

LONG AS THE TRIP

from Europe to the end of China and back. While I like the Red Rooster account this was a bit of a rehash of the scene, except that now instead of the Charge Schmarney schtick sentence we had Wanna BANG BANG? from motorcycled prostitutes. I found his insisting to the reader that he was too good to h ... (continue)

from Europe to the end of China and back. While I like the Red Rooster account this was a bit of a rehash of the scene, except that now instead of the Charge Schmarney schtick sentence we had Wanna BANG BANG? from motorcycled prostitutes. I found his insisting to the reader that he was too good to hire a prostitute becasue he loved his wife unbelievable, especially on a trip lasting months. Who cares and why are you telling me that? And why so much of the book deals with prostitutes if not becasue he is a little obsessed for not yealding to his needs...
Sorry Paul, you sounded a bit too puritanic on this trip.

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— Jun 30, 2012 | Add your feedback
- Bicycle Diaries (42)
- By David Byrne
- Finished on May 20, 2012
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- A Night to Remember (42)
- By Walter Lord
- Finished on Apr 29, 2012
  
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A Night to Remember

A NOVEL READ ON AN OLD SUBJECT

The ultimate book on a overwritten subject. Wonderful reporting, honest, unsentimental, truthful. The joy was in the details. Unforgettable images. It mast have smart the writer to have the same last name of the captain of the ship who omitted help that could have saved hundreds.

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— May 3, 2012 | Add your feedback
- The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (169)
- By Rebecca Skloot
- Finished in Jan 2011
  
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The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

INTERESTING BUT ...

the scientific parts were particularly hard to listen to while cooking. Still glad I heard her story and how she is part of all of us now...

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— Jan 15, 2012 | Add your feedback

- Tecniche di seduzione (3023)
- By Andrea De Carlo
- Finished on Jun 2, 2005
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- Snow Falling on Cedars (186)
- A Novel (Vintage Contemporaries)
- By David Guterson
- Finished
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- Created in Darkness by Troubled Americans (15)
- The Best of McSweeney's Humor Category
- By Various Authors
- Finished on Jan 4, 2012
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Created in Darkness by Troubled Americans

Quirky

not the humour that makes me laugh (rare event) a collection of odd, original writing that has to be classified somehow... More than anything it made me wonder about the writers, would I like them in person if I were to meet them at a party, and would I find them humorous or just too odd?

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— Jan 8, 2012 | Add your feedback
- Lord of Misrule (2)
- By Jaimy Gordon
- Finished on Dec 2, 2011
  
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Lord of Misrule

A CLASSIC

The book's language was hard to get into at first but having to work to understand forced me to pace my reading and absorb it more deeply. Some passages are poetry in prose form, descriptions are bright, effortless and memorable snapshots. I have some reserve for some final scenes that are a bit too ... (continue)

The book's language was hard to get into at first but having to work to understand forced me to pace my reading and absorb it more deeply. Some passages are poetry in prose form, descriptions are bright, effortless and memorable snapshots. I have some reserve for some final scenes that are a bit too Hollywood for the rest of the mood, still, it is a wonderful read for anyone who loves,if not the horse world, the well honed craft of a gifted writer.

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— Dec 1, 2011 | Add your feedback
- Solar (777)
- By Ian McEwan
- Finished on Nov 2, 2011
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Solar

IRONIC BUT LIGHT

McEwan is one of my favorite writers but the comedic aspects in this book cheapens his great writing talent. Though I found the character in Solar unlikeable in his unbearable humanness, I could still admire the writing which is still amazing in its capacity for description of anyone's internal dial ... (continue)

McEwan is one of my favorite writers but the comedic aspects in this book cheapens his great writing talent. Though I found the character in Solar unlikeable in his unbearable humanness, I could still admire the writing which is still amazing in its capacity for description of anyone's internal dialogue in its minute details. Still Professor Beard reminded me too much of Richler's Barney, yet much more unappealing and transparent in his self-serving path through life. My little affection towards his character and the predictable way the story ends made the last 50 pages an unsavored run to the finish.

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— Nov 2, 2011 | Add your feedback