Ramnagel - aNobii

Books (236)

humour Added (Newest) Title (A to Z) Title (Z to A) Rating (Highest) Rating (Lowest) Finished (Newest) Finished (Oldest) Published (Newest) Published (Oldest) Added (Newest) Added (Oldest)

- Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator (298)
- By Roald Dahl
- Finished on Mar 26, 2013
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
- The Zombie Survival Guide (289)
- Complete Protection from the Living Dead
- By Max Brooks
- Finished on Mar 8, 2013
  
  Review
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
The Zombie Survival Guide

Pardon Me Sir, But Your Arm Seems To Have Fallen Off

It is difficult to anticipate how well The Zombie Survival Guide is written. The author is Max Brooks, writer for the Saturday Night Live show and son of the famous comedy icon, Mel Brooks. The writing is flawless: it is very convincingly done. It is exactly what it purports to be: a c ... (continue)

It is difficult to anticipate how well The Zombie Survival Guide is written. The author is Max Brooks, writer for the Saturday Night Live show and son of the famous comedy icon, Mel Brooks. The writing is flawless: it is very convincingly done. It is exactly what it purports to be: a complete guide for protecting oneself against an outbreak of the undead.
Brooks starts the book off by rationalizing what, exactly, a zombie is and how one comes about. He goes on to discuss every aspect of surviving the undead: weapons, transport, terrain, political responses, social responses, survival in a group or solo, defence strategies of all kinds in all circumstances, survival in a post-zombie-apocalypse world, global recovery time, decay rates of zombies in all terrains above ground, below it, and beneath oceans, lakes, or other bodies of water.
The breadth and scope of this small book is breathtaking. It is written with very accessible and lean prose, which goes along way to maintaining the reader's illusion that the zombie threat is, in fact, a real one. Historical cases of actual zombie outbreaks are covered from prehistory to the modern day, where the oddly plausible stories of government cover-ups provides much straight-laced humour by pandering to no doubt to a myriad of extant conspiracy theories. This is where the true humour of this work lies: in the deadpan, serious delivery that lampoons conspiracy nuts and the ridiculous Hollywood offerings in the zombie genre. Brooks effectively and incisively skewers Hollywood zombie movies and horror movies in general by deflating the "myths" about how best to survive against undead monsters. He gives the "true" account of the best tactics and weaponry, thereby showing up Hollywood's movie plots for the silly fluff that they often are.
So, a chainsaw might look cool and formidable in a zombie movie, but in real life, zombies, being mindlessly motivated to devour you, are not able to be intimidated; a chainsaw can stall or run out of fuel; it is heavy and unwieldy; it requires very close contact with the undead and increases the danger of being infected; it makes a huge noise that merely attracts every zombie in the vicinity; and finally, a chainsaw is liable, in close combat with a ravening horde of the undead, to decapitate you as much as the zombie behind you, striving to sink its teeth into your flesh.
A bus might seem a great way of fleeing a zombie infested suburb, but it is lousy at navigating streets strewn with the debris and abandoned cars that inevitably accompany a zombie outbreak. Refueling a bus is also no easy matter and forget about changing a tyre. Even if one does make it out into the country, a bus still cannot travel off-road to avoid an obstacle: it can easily get stuck and essentially turn into a big can full of zombie snacks!
If you would like to find out which weapons are better under which circumstances against a moaning horde of the living dead, then this book is the gold standard. It is written with marginal amounts of explicit humour, but its satirical and pseudo-documentary style is hilarious in a very intelligent way. I have no doubt that some of our more unhinged citizens would actually believe this book. Brooks's historical accounts of actual zombie outbreaks around the world are disturbingly realistic and plausible. They form the last quarter of the book and are not at all repetitive except with the most superficial reading. Each "account" cleverly illustrates a different aspect of zombie attack or defence in action. Brooks ingeniously weaves his zombie-spin into actual historical occurences, giving the accounts that much more plausibility. Even the mummification practices of ancient Egypt are given a plausible "zombie" interpretation!
Reading this book one is inevitably struck with the realization that it contains some very relevant information about survival, weaponry, emergency transport, and hostile terrains in general. It seems to take itself almost entirely seriously, and in doing so, convinces us, while reading at least, of the real and immanent danger of a potential zombie outbreak, coming soon to a neighbourhood near you! I look forward to the successor, World War Z, which seems it may be even darker and more realistic. Brooks is clearly capable of excellent writing, and despite the subject matter of this satirical dissection of Hollywood B-movies and conspiracy theory madness, this book is written with a skill and in prose far above your average pot-boiler thriller or John Grisham-clone bestseller.

Is this helpful?

— Mar 11, 2013 | Add your feedback
- The Married Man's Guide to Adultery (1)
- A Study of Adulterations
- By P. G. Du Plessis
- Finished on Feb 15, 2013
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
Coolie Locati-
on
- Coolie Location (1)
- By Jay Naidoo
- Finished on Nov 8, 2012
  
  Review
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
Coolie Location

Apartheid Years In South Africa

Coolie Location is a diverting read for anyone interested in multi-culturalism and politics, especially the political landscape of the apartheid years in South Africa. It is essentially a compilation of autobiographical stories about Jay Naaidoo's childhood, each chapter roughly being a story. Jay N ... (continue)

Coolie Location is a diverting read for anyone interested in multi-culturalism and politics, especially the political landscape of the apartheid years in South Africa. It is essentially a compilation of autobiographical stories about Jay Naaidoo's childhood, each chapter roughly being a story. Jay Naaidoo is a rather famous political figure in South Africa who has his whole life fought poverty and racial discrimination. He has served in the South African government under Nelson Mandela and has been and continues to be a part of many activist movements and organizations in South Africa and internationally.
His recollections of his childhood are often humorous and populated with a very colourful cast of eccentrics. The "coolie location" of the title refers to the township (an area originally reserved for non-white South Africans typically located just outside a city) Jay Naidoo grew up in outside Pretoria which was reserved mainly for people of Indian descent, of which there are many in South Africa. Gandhi, in fact, was such an Indian and lived, at one time, in a "coolie location," before the South African government "asked" him to emigrate to India.
Though there is no overt plot or point to the book, it was illuminating to read because, as a white South African, I was almost completely ignorant of how the majority of South Africans lived and continue to live to this day. Jay describes the grinding poverty, the violence, the racial discrimination, the separate schooling for non-white children, the massive indifference of the political establishment, and so on. Yet, counter to all this is an undying enthusiasm for life in the township, the jokes, the loves and infatuations of the young boys growing up and coming of age, the rich native heritage and customs, the Indian food, the optimism, and above all, the soccer. Sport was a main attraction for everybody in the township, it seems, and it is the one thread that weaves the entire book together: the teams, the tournaments, the famous losses, the even more famous wins, the star players, and even the mediocre players. Every aspect of the game is covered and adored.
Naidoo covers apartheid and racism with a light hand, and is never too didactic, so the book is an easy read with its plain, straightforward English style. He does not come across as bitter either, which is amazing considering the history of South Africa and what he and his family had to endure. This is well worth the read if you would like to learn a bit more about what apartheid South Africa was like for a bright young Indian boy growing up. It is mainly a straight forward collection of recollections and allows one to draw one's own conclusions. One conclusion I drew from my own reading of the book was that no matter what one's personal circumstances were in childhood, one childhood is pretty much like another at the end of the day. If you are poor you do not spend all your time lamenting your poverty. If you are discriminated against you do not dwell on it. You just live your life as best you can and have friends and play sport and chase girls just like most other kids, rich or poor, free or enslaved. Nevertheless, the book provides precious insight to a world most people would merely wish to sweep under the carpet and ignore, and is therefore highly recommended. Unfortunately, this book is not easy to acquire, even in South Africa. I found mine second-hand for a mere pittance (equivalent of about five American dollars) but I have seen it listed on Amazon for over $100! It is good but not that good!

Is this helpful?

— Jan 17, 2013 | Add your feedback
- Diary of a Nobody (73)
- (Wordsworth Classics) (Wordsworth Classics)
- By George Grossmith
- Finished on Oct 14, 2012
  
  Review
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
Diary of a Nobody

Chuckle Factory Alert!

Diary Of A Nobody was, apparently, an instant hit in its day (1888-89) when it was serialized in Punch magazine. It would do one good to remember that it has never been out of print which is no small accomplishment.
It is an amusing and delightful comedy of Victorian errors and manner ... (continue)

Diary Of A Nobody was, apparently, an instant hit in its day (1888-89) when it was serialized in Punch magazine. It would do one good to remember that it has never been out of print which is no small accomplishment.
It is an amusing and delightful comedy of Victorian errors and manners written in the form of a fictitious diary. It will not take you long to read and it will certainly entertain you if you are in the mood for something light, funny, and genteel. If you have just come off reading a violent or blood-soaked thriller/mystery, then this may be just the ticket to give your adrenal glands a rest and your chuckle factory a bit of a work out instead.
It is out of copyright and therefore, being in the public domain, is available free online. So grab a copy over atwww.gutenburg.org, or read it online at www.authorama.com if you also want the benefit of the original illustrations.

Is this helpful?

— Jan 21, 2013 | Add your feedback

- Mr. Monk and the Two Assistants (16)
- (Monk)
- By Lee Goldberg
- Finished
  
  Review
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
Mr. Monk and the Two Assistants

Another Solid Entry

Another solid entry in the Monk series of books written by the same writer of the television show.
All the usual humour and genius level detective skills are present in this Monk offering. We learn much more about the quirky and brilliant Adrian Monk in this story, which sees a former assistant to ... (continue)

Another solid entry in the Monk series of books written by the same writer of the television show.
All the usual humour and genius level detective skills are present in this Monk offering. We learn much more about the quirky and brilliant Adrian Monk in this story, which sees a former assistant to Monk resurface and, in so doing, putting the fear of losing her job into the current assistant.
One aspect of this book I particularly enjoyed was that it shows the reader more effectively than the previous books just how damaged Monk truly is. He literally cannot function without assistance.
This series seems to be very dependable. Each book has so far been of the same standard and enjoying one of them is an almost sure-fire guarantee that you will enjoy them all. I read one every now and again so that I do not get tired of it. If you are looking for relatively light entertainment with lots of laughs and some dazzling detective work, then, once more, you cannot go too far wrong with a Monk book.

Is this helpful?

— Jan 21, 2013 | Add your feedback
- Star Smashers of the Galaxy Rangers (4)
- (Orbit Books)
- By Harry Harrison
- Finished on Aug 22, 2012
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
Everyo-
ne But Thee and Me
- Everyone But Thee and Me (1)
- By Ogden Nash
- Finished
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
A Beastl-
y Menage-
rie
- A Beastly Menagerie (2)
- Sir Pilkington-Smythe's Marvelous Collection of Strange and Unusual Creatures
- By Sir Pilkington-Smythe
- Finished on Aug 9, 2012
  
  Review
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
A Beastly Menagerie

The Ever So Strange...

A Beastly Menagerie is a delight to read. It is very funny indeed and yet is also very educational. Sir Pilkington-Smythe is, of course, a fictitious persona created to be your hilarious host and narrator as he guides you through some of the stranger tides of nature. Essentially it is a small ... (continue)

A Beastly Menagerie is a delight to read. It is very funny indeed and yet is also very educational. Sir Pilkington-Smythe is, of course, a fictitious persona created to be your hilarious host and narrator as he guides you through some of the stranger tides of nature. Essentially it is a small compendium of the weirdest and most wonderful creatures on earth. The text is extremely funny and mostly scientifically sound. I did come across one or two egregious little errors in its exposition of evolutionary theory but on the whole it was sound.
The entry for each creature is usually supplemented by an informational box or two that really flesh out the main text. There are numerous illustrations and photographs. This was one of the weak points of the book: all the pictures were public domain so they were not the best depictions of the animals available. Clearly the true authors saved boatloads of money by not using copyrighted material and I applaud their ingenuity. Still, better pictures would certainly complement a coffee-table book like this where the pictures are so important in conveying an idea of quite how strange some of these creatures truly are. I would pay more to see such an augmented edition.
The hardcover is very nicely done: sturdy spine, attractive presentation, decent quality paper. It is also much smaller than your average coffee table book, but I found this fine given that the book reads much easier in its current size. The entries cover one or two pages, so it is very easy to read a few now and then in between reading other books. I suspect that most people will read it, and return to it multiple times, if only to read a particularly good entry out loud to a friend with a like sense of humour. There is quite a lot of information in the book so I do plan to dip into it a few times again. There are just too many weird and wonderful facts to take in with only one straight reading.
Some of the text is a bit risqué because of certain of the bizarre mating habits described, so keep that in mind when considering making this a gift to someone, a purpose for which a book like this is eminently suited. Teens and older should thoroughly enjoy it and have a good few laughs while actually learning some pretty decent natural and environmental science.

Is this helpful?

— Jan 21, 2013 | Add your feedback
- John Dies at the End (58)
- By David Wong
- Finished on Jun 22, 2012
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List

- The Complete Far Side 1980-1994 (38)
- (2 vol set)
- By Steve Martin, Gary Larson
- Finished on Mar 29, 2012
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
- Pinocchio (293)
- By C. Collodi, Carlo Collodi
- Finished on Feb 16, 2012
  
  Review
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
Pinocchio

Pinocchio Is Such A Dick!

Having known only the Disney version reading this came as a bit of a shock. When Pinocchio first meets the talking cricket, for example, he throws a hammer at it and kills it. The cricket, along with a host of other strange creatures, does nevertheless make another appearance. The cricket's purpose ... (continue)

Having known only the Disney version reading this came as a bit of a shock. When Pinocchio first meets the talking cricket, for example, he throws a hammer at it and kills it. The cricket, along with a host of other strange creatures, does nevertheless make another appearance. The cricket's purpose is basically to warn Pinocchio that bad things will happen to him if he continues to behave badly and disrespect his father, the carpenter who fashioned him.
The tale is overtly moralistic and it is clearly aimed at boy children only. Apparently little girls were better behaved in Collodi's time (as they tend to be now, too) and did not need the kind of moral lessons the more boisterous and hormone-fuelled boys needed. The tone of the story is very preachy and the scary bits are designed to tell boys that their natural behaviours and likes and selfish thoughts will lead to, if not Hell, some kind of dire punishment and misery. I would therefore recommend this to adult readers who may appreciate the story's literary value instead of boy children, whom I think do not need to be disciplined by scaring them out of their wits with the rather strange events found in the story. I am not sure these fanciful threats and warnings will impress a modern child anyway.
So, Pinocchio is an almost insufferably wilful, stupid, and selfish character. I really wanted to strangle the blighter several times during the story, which, I suppose, is a testament to good writing.
If you keep in mind its moralistic purpose then all the strange creatures and bizarre happenings (and the behaviour of Pinocchio) fall into place. I would recommend this tale to everyone, if only to realize the unnatural extent to which Americans go to Disney-fy their fairy tales. Pinocchio was certainly sacrificed upon a very rude altar of political correctness.

Is this helpful?

— Mar 2, 2012 | Add your feedback
- Mr. Monk and The Blue Flu (17)
- By Lee Goldberg
- Finished on Feb 14, 2012
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
- The Psychopath Test (61)
- By Jon Ronson
- Finished on Jan 29, 2012
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
- Johnny and the Bomb (54)
- By Terry Pratchett
- Finished on Dec 18, 2011
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List