Before I read the book, I saw the Spike Lee film. The film was good, the book was great...blowing the film away!! Sadly, "Spikeroo" missed a lot of the raw power and message of the book in the crossover. As I read the book, I constantly thought of the line from the film, "...I decided to dedicate my life to telling the truth to the white man's face." The book tells the truth about everyone and everything they're involved in...white, black, class, money, culture, consumer debt...everything! Many think of Malcolm X as a stubborn militant, but nothing is further from the truth. His life is an epic, and many times painful, journey of body, mind and soul across the vast US social landscape of the 1930's to the 1960's. Alex Hailey penned the book in such a warm and technically inviting way that the reader feels like they're sitting with Malcolm over a cup of coffee, engulfed by this one man's life. Every person of any race who calls themself an American needs to read this book at least once...by any means necessary!

I read this book years ago & sill reread captions of it from time to time. When I first started, it was difficult to put down, I couldn't wait to hear what happened next! The absolute best book & autobiography I've ever read in my life!!! An enlightening look into the life of the most brilliant, progressive, strong, influential & misunderstood leader the world has ever seen! Did more for the human rights revolution than any other African-American in history! A must read for all cultures, should be mandatory reading in schools. Paints vividly the hopelessness, despair & pain of poverty & living in the ghetto as an African-American in the wealthiest nation on earth & how one can remake themselves just by 1 idea, thought or decision! Also, reveals a glimmer of truth about Elijah Muhammad & his motives. (there are other sources that go into more detail specifically concerning that)Portrays how 1 man's tireless & selfless efforts to liberate & educate a nation & then have some of the very people he's helping abandon, betray & ultimately kill him. Put this true story of the evolution of a revolutonary and the american dream on your To DO list & get it now!

Biographies are fascinating works of literature. A good biography is a window into someone's life, as well as what they stood for and who they represented. Malcolm X's Autobiography is no exception. Flawlessly rendered by Alex Haley, it documents the truly amazing life of one of Black America's foremost freedom fighters.

Malcolm's intelligence and convictions are apparent through the whole book, from his retrospective look at his childhood years to the present. What is most fascinating about his life are the changes he went through. He started out at the bottom of society, the starving son of a rape-child and a preacher murdered by whites. He went through a brief period at a reform school, then moved to Boston and fell in love with city life. He lived a life of crime in the Harlem streets until he was caught one day, and thrown into prison. There, he studied like a college student and was converted to Islam by his family. He became the Nation of Islam's most devoted speaker, truly believing that the white race was devilish by nature. It was not until after his pilgrimage to Mecca that he realized the possibility of all races living together without conflict.

Malcolm X's brutal honesty, talent, and intelligence were complimented by his complete devotion to his cause and his religion. Malcolm was not afraid to reveal the disturbing truths about the hypocritical white "puppeteers" who control many black people, from the educated to those living in the ghetto. His humility and his true hope for American society remains powerful: "I know that societies often have killed the people who have helped to change those societies. And if I can die having brought any light, having exposed any meaningful truth that will help to destroy the racist cancer that is malignant in the body of America-then, all of the credit is due to Allah. Only the mistakes have been mine." He has not died in vain. This book is an essential perspective into the Afro-American struggle for true liberty and justice, which continues through today.

William Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing" is brought to life with elegance and grace. Aside from the nudity and [adult] content, this is a great film full of funny humor, a great cast and brilliant filmmaking (Credit for that goes to Kenneth Branagh, who has proven time and again that he is as fine a director as Spielberg, Lucas, and Scorcese, if not better). The second DVD release features a fine digital transfer of the film, complete in it's 1.85:1 Widescreen format. The short featurette "Making 'Much Ado'" is not the best doc ever made, but it does it's job. Other special features include the Theatrical trailer and trailers for the "When Harry Met Sally..." and "The Princess Bride" DVD's. A fine addition to the collection. Get this along with "Henry V."
Movie Grade: A+
DVD Grade: A-

I saw this movie when I was fairly young. I admit that I couldn't understand much of what was going on let along what was being said (I was nine, I wasn't exactly fluent in Olde English). Since then I've watched it many times. Not only do I understand it now, but I fully apreciate how good it is.

The movie is a very good adaptation of the play. The impressive lines that Shakespeare wrote were generally given new life in their delivery. Also, I must compliment Michael Keaton on his role. It isn't a very big one, but if you watch this movie, you'll understand why I mentioned it. Overall, this is simply a fully enjoyable movie, whether you're a fan of Shakespeare or not.

What a wonderful find! The DVD version of this movie is simply splendid! The segment in the DVD version called "Making Much Ado" provides a terrific, brief overview to the film and is well worth the extra dollars to invest in the DVD format. Interviews with each of the actors will help you to appreciate this movie for what it truly is: a cinematic work of excellence! You will fall in love with Shakespeare's wittiest pair, Beatrice (Emma Thompson) and Benedick (Kenneth Branagh), while admiring the absolutely gorgeous landscape of the set. Each character's unique portrayal adds to the lighthearted feel of the movie; Shakespeare's diction is handled so well that the blank verse is remarkably stimulating...even to those who usually find it detrimental. Truly a film you will not want to miss, Branagh's MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING is proof of how modern technology can so enhance the genius of the Bard.

Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut is by far one of the greatest novels of the 20th century. Vonnegut brings this fictional story to life with great detail at every turn. From the creation of ice nine to Bokonism, Vonnegut weaves a complex but entirely believable story. The novel begins with the main character John who is writing a book on the day the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima called The Day the World Ended. His writing this book leads him to his destiny as he travels to the laboratory where the bomb was created and then to San Lorenzo where he becomes president. San Lorenzo's founder, Bokonon, created a religion for the people. This is an average idea except for the fact that Bokonism seems uncannily real, with it's own terms and practices all created by Vonnegut. This novel is a masterpiece.

Cat's Cradle is fast passed, deeply detailed, and very interesting. The novel is very ironic and a must read for everyone. Kurt Vonnegut weaves a great story that never lets you down. Through its outlandish turns and twists Vonnegut makes it seem so very real. This novel is definitely a 5 out of 5.

Cat's Cradle is by far the best Vonnegut novel that I have yet read. Blending his patented wry humor with acute social insight presented in an absurd fantasy world, Vonnegut has written an exceptional novel of love, lies, and the self destruction of mankind. The story centers around the narrator, Jonah, who is called by name once in the entire book. We are told in the beginning that he is writing a book on the events of the day the first atomic bomb was dropped on Japan. His research leads him to a correspondence with Newt Hoenikker, the midget son of Doctor Felix Hoenikker, father of the atomic bomb. After meeting with Newt, destiny leads our protagonist to the impoverished island republic of San Lorenzo, where among other adventures, he finds religion, falls in love, and becomes president. All of this by itself would make for a very entertaining book, but it is not in the story line that Vonnegut's genius lies. Cat's Cradle is rife with painfully accurate insights into the institutions that our society holds so dear, such as, religion, politics, and science. Vonnegut invents for the inhabitants of San Lorenzo a brand new religion based completely and admittedly on "foma", or lies. This wouldn't be so shocking, except for the fact that this "bokonism" seems to make perfect sense. Other Vonnegut ironies pervade the book and are too elaborate to go into. Kurt Vonnegut is my favorite author of all time. Cat's Cradle is one of his funniest, most absurd, and frightening novels. This book truly causes one to stop and think about the things that one holds as unquestionably true. All of the incredible people, places, things, and ideas in Cat's Cradle are intricately woven into a perfect tapestry that sums up and spells out many of mankind's self-created problems in 191 pages.

Cat's Cradle is by far the best Vonnegut novel that I have yet read. Blending his patented wry humor with acute social insight presented in an absurd fantasy world, Vonnegut has written an exceptional novel of love, lies, and the self destruction of mankind. The story centers around the narrator, Jonah, who is called by name once in the entire book. We are told in the beginning that he is writing a book on the events of the day the first atomic bomb was dropped on Japan. His research leads him to a correspondence with Newt Hoenikker, the midget son of Doctor Felix Hoenikker, father of the atomic bomb. After meeting with Newt, destiny leads our protagonist to the impoverished island republic of San Lorenzo, where among other adventures, he finds religion, falls in love, and becomes president. All of this by itself would make for a very entertaining book, but it is not in the story line that Vonnegut's genius lies. Cat's Cradle is rife with painfully accurate insights into the institutions that our society holds so dear, such as, religion, politics, and science. Vonnegut invents for the inhabitants of San Lorenzo a brand new religion based completely and admittedly on "foma", or lies. This wouldn't be so shocking, except for the fact that this "bokonism" seems to make perfect sense. Other Vonnegut ironies pervade the book and are too elaborate to go into. Kurt Vonnegut is my favorite author of all time. Cat's Cradle is one of his funniest, most absurd, and frightening novels. This book truly causes one to stop and think about the things that one holds as unquestionably true. All of the incredible people, places, things, and ideas in Cat's Cradle are intricately woven into a perfect tapestry that sums up and spells out many of mankind's self-created problems in 191 pages. --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

I heard about The Bell Jar from amazon.com and all the reviews seemed to be fairly well so I went out and bought it. From the very beginning I loved Esther. If you're openminded, you can connect with her on this strange level. Sometimes you want to reach out to her and tell her it will be alright. A woman with everything she has has no reason to be depressed. But that's one of my favorite things about the book. Unlike others she doesn't become depressed over a man or a lost loved one, it's just something that happens to her, and even she can't figure it out.

At the beginning Esther is a brilliant young college student with great determination. However something, and there seems to be no explination for it, causes her to become depressed. Over and over she talks about "being her old self again." She goes through many institutions and a few shock treatments after attempted suicide before the "bell jar" is lifted from her head.

I love the way she describes her thoughts. I love the way she reacts to Buddy Willard and the way she stands up for herself to men unlike alot of women. I love everything about Esther, and I think you will too.

Words cannot describe this book as mine seem far from it. Esther almost seems to come alive in this book.

Sylvia Plath entered this world in 1932 and decided for herself it was time to leave, amidst a turmoil of tragedies, on February 11, 1963.


The Bell Jar is basically a semi-autobiographically novel of her madness, self-destruction, and struggle with her oppressor. The bell jar is symbolic for the pressures society has placed on her. This novel shows her inability to free herself from the constrictions placed on her life and thus, this begins her slow breakdown of her mental entity. Her road to recovery begins with shock therapy, which only results in resentment. The novel is mixed with despair, almost a confessional call for help and her insecurity.


Her words are so brilliantly eloquent, yet Plath writes in such a succinct and simple way, that any reader will be able to absorb her works and interpret them in his or her own way.


I definitely recommend this book, whether or not you've ever read any of the other Plath's works.

I cringed when reading the suicidal episodes that Esther Greenwood(Sylvia Plath's alterego) put herself through. I'm thinking, " Why would a witty, tall, charming, intelligent girl on college scholarship and great grades and a loving mother want to end it all?"

I'm a 28 year old male who finds witty and cynical girls like Esther charming so when I came upon the multiple suicide attempts, I'm cringing pissed off thinking, "Why?"

I would be cheating you if I told you - read it and find out. The book was a normal coming of age type book for the first 100 pages, and then all of a suddent Esthter talks of the 19 razors blades she keeps in her purse, and then the entire premise of the novel deepened tenfold and took an unforgettable 180 degree turn into the enigmatic bell jar. When she vividly imagines slitting her wrists I felt nauseous and about to puke wanting to throw the book down. Needless to say, I really got into the novel and the characters -undoubtedly because they're all real people in Plath's life... This classic is deeply disturbing, yet refreshingly redeeming & reinvigorating.

FYI: A must read - not just for chics.

Erich Maria Remarque (1898-1970) served in World War I, where he received wounds five times in battle. The searing images of trench warfare left indelible scars on Remarque, who then attempted to exorcize his demons through the writing of literature. "All Quiet on the Western Front" is Remarque's most memorable book, although he wrote nine others dealing with the miseries of war.

"All Quiet on the Western Front" is the story of Paul Baumer, a young German soldier serving in the trenches in France. Baumer's story is not a pleasant one; he volunteered for the war when his instructor in school, Kantorek, urged the class to join up for the glory of Germany. After a rigorous period of military training (where Paul and his buddies meet the hated drill instructor Himmelstoss, a recurring character throughout the book), Baumer and his friends go to the front as infantrymen. Filled with glorious ideas about war by authority figures back home, Baumer quickly discovers that the blood-drenched trenches of the Western Front are a quagmire of misery and violent death. As soon as the first shells explode in the mud Paul and his friends realize everyone back home is a liar, that war is not the glorious transformation of boys into men but rather the systematic destruction of all that is decent and healthy. As Paul's friends slip away one by one through death, desertion, and injury, Paul begins to wonder about his own life and whether he will survive not only the war but also a world without war.

Remarque's book exposes all of the insanities of war. The incongruities of violent battle versus long periods of boredom repeatedly appear throughout the book. On one day, Paul and his friends sit around discussing mundane topics; the next day they are bashing French skulls during an offensive. It is these extremes that caused so many problems with the psychological disposition of the men. In one chapter of the book, Paul and several new recruits, hunkered down in a dugout, withstand hour upon hour of continuous shellfire until one of the green recruits snaps and tries to make a run for freedom. Where else but in a war could one walk through a sea of corpses while enjoying the sunshine and the gentle cadences of the birds in the trees? That such an unnatural activity as mass murder takes place surrounded by the natural beauty of the world is a theme found in many World War I authors and poets. Remarque's book is noteworthy because he does a better job of showing this strange duality than other writers.

Also of interest is that this book views the war from the German side. From what I read recently, the Germans had a tough time throughout the war with rations, troop rotations away from the front, and supplies. This is apparent in Remarque's treatment of the German war effort, especially toward the end of the book when Germany begins to retreat in the face of overwhelming American military power. Paul's remarks about the evil presence of tanks are an interesting insight into the effect those iron behemoths had on the ill-equipped and exhausted Germans.

The cover of this edition trumpets this as "the greatest war novel of all time." And so it is, but not in the way some people might think. This is the greatest war novel ever because Remarque's book is anti-war. Those that read "All Quiet on the Western Front" will see warfare stripped of its flag waving, parades, and John Wayne glory. War is death, with the glory going to the few who survive. Remarque makes a brilliant contribution to world literature with this riveting novel.

All Quiet on the Western Front, by German writer Eriq Maria Remarque, explores the horrors of World War I through the eyes of a German solider named Paul. Remarque transforms this tale of a young recruit who is thrown head first into a raging war into a lesson about life. Remarque attempts to teach the reader to understand the horror of war, the value of friendship and the absurdity of traditional values.

Remarque includes discussions among Paul's group, and Paul's own thoughts while he observes Russian prisoners of war to show that no ordinary people benefit from a war. No matter what side a man is on, he is killing other men just like himself, people with whom he might even be friends at another time. But Remarque doesn't just tell us war is horrible: he vividly supports his point by assaulting all of the reader's senses. Remarque uses the sight of newly dead soldiers, unearthly screaming of the wounded horses, the smell of three layers of bodies to hammer home the atrocity of war. The crying of the horses is especially terrible. Horses are innocent bystanders, their bodies shining beautifully before being cut down by shellfire. To Paul, their dying cries represent all of nature accusing Man, the great destroyer.

Another message that Remarque attempts to convey to the reader is the value of enduring friendship. The theme of comradeship occurs often and gives the novel both lighthearted and sad moments. Away from battle, the soldiers formed deep bonds, showing not only the importance, but also the strength of the camaraderie between the men. Friendship emerges as an even more important theme at the front. Throughout the book, the reader sees men helping wounded comrades at great personal risk, often with tragic results. The reader can understand how hearing the voices of friends when one is lost or even just hearing their breathing during the night can keep a soldier going. The reader grieves with Paul and almost puts down the book when his dearest friend dies. Friendship was often the last thing keeping a soldier from giving up, and, when it was lost, life seemed to lose its meaning.

Remarque also preaches a rejection of traditional values. In his introductory note, Remarque said that his novel was "not an accusation". Rather, it is a rejection of traditional militaristic values of Western civilization. This denunciation is impressed on the reader through the young soldiers. Represented by Paul and his friends, these soldiers see military attitudes as stupid and accuse their elders of betraying them. Often the spit and polish mind-sets of their superiors put the front-liners in danger. The betrayal by elders can be seen in many instances, including during the Kaiser's visit to the front. This scene hints at some of Remarque's personal grievances with his country's government.

Like All Quiet On The Western Front, most of Remarque's other books were written with the intent of censuring war. This book does an especially good job of this, relying on the wonderful prose of the author to brand its ideas into the reader's mind. It also impresses upon the reader the author's belief in the merit of friendship and the triviality of traditional values. In the end, this book serves its purpose well: it makes the reader wonder why we still tolerate and advocate the atrocity that is war.

The book All Quiet on the Western Front is about Paul Baumer and a few of his classmates enlisting in the German Army. The only problem with this is that the country of Germany is in the middle on the First World War. Throughout the book, the author tries to teach the reader about the horrors of war, values of friendship, and many life lessons. As Paul is traveling throughout Germany and Russia with his friends, he experiences war in the deepest sense. Killing and watching killing as he loses friends as well as the enemy. The book is so detailed it is almost real. One night when Paul was sneaking around behind enemy line he gets stuck in a raid. He ends up spending the night in the bottom grenade hole with a dead Russian solider on top of him. It happens to be one of the solider that he shot. Nothing like shooting a man and then being forced to watch him die. He has been in the war so long that he does not even remember civilian life. He once got the chance to go back to visit his sick and dying mother and he did not know how to act. The war had changed him so much that he did not know what to do off the battlefield. He did not however, tell his mom what war was really like. "It is not as bad as everybody says mom", is al he would ever tell her for the far of her worrying about him. Then the day came when a mortar shell hit both Paul and a close friend and they began their journey home. They moved from hospital to hospital on their way home. That was almost as bad as the war. The hospitals were full of dying people that had very little chance to live. When Paul recovers from his mortar shell wound, he is not sent home like he is expecting but instead he is shipped back to the battlefield. This is were he will remain for the remainder of the war.

I saw this book at the store and picked it up so I mite be smart in reeding it. It looked nice. I reed it when I was littel but didnt remember. So I picked it agin.

The storie unfoles like a flower. Witch mite be how it got the titel. I'm still not sure on that. I know that Charlie Gordon isn't to smart in the begining but later he starts to get smarter. I liked that part. It was after some sort of operashun to his brane.

And then Charlie's knowledge base begins to expand and things start to become clearer. But with this improved clarity comes a realization that previously held friends may not have been so friendly. And growing up as a moron wasn't necessarily such a bad thing. Does he have friends now that he's getting smarter?

Charlie begins his ascent into genius level as his IQ passes 150. But the accumulated knowledge that he soon possesses can't prepare him for the retarded emotional state that he still finds himself in. The barriers he must break down are monumental and seemingly insurmountable. Can he do it? Does he want to do it now that he knows more about the world around him?

Is the operation a success? Or a failure? Will Charlie remain at genius level or slide back into idiocy?

Reed the book to find out more. Its a good book to. I like it a lot. I think Ill reed it agin sumtime. Now I just have to remember were I put it...

This is a very moving novel, but I found it rather unfair. People often ask why God lets bad things happen to good people. I wonder why novelists do the same thing. After one gut-wrenching scene after another (Charlie visits his father, then his mother, Charlie re-lives many painful experiences from his past, et al), I thought that he had earned a happy ending. Unfortunately, instead of anything positive, the author gives us the bleakest conclusion imagineable. I mean, I felt for Charlie so much, it killed me to read that ending. Still, it's a great piece of writing, and totally recommended.

This is absolutely the most important book I ever read in my life. "Travels" by Michael Crichton comes close in some ways, but basically this story is one of the most gripping I've ever encountered. It has been a short story, a novel, a movie, a Broadway play, and (I think) forms the basis for the 70s song "What's it all about... Char-liiieeeeeee..." Daniel Keyes drew upon Plato's cave allegory for a lot of the basic structure of the tale. ..

Keep a box of kleenex beside you as you read this. Charlie Gordon is a retarded man in his 30s, who is selected to be the subject of a new, highly experimental technique which will triple his "intelligence". What he does with the intelligence, and how he deals with it, are up to him, and he certainly runs into a lot of problems. I think in some ways, Keyes is not only writing about the relationship of the individual to capital-K "knowledge", but also about how we can get along with each other when we are all at different levels. Charlie's newfound, firey compassion for others in his old position, e.g. a retarded boy working in a restaurant who gets mocked, is compelling. You will want to meet Charlie Gordon, you can't help but respect hm as he grapples with major human issues... I first read this as a child, I would guess I was 9 or 10, and at that age I was most impressed with the "coolness" of the idea -- you can watch Charlie's intelligence climb steadily as he improves his spelling with each successive "progris riport" he writes. As an adult, I appreciate the different models of Mind that Keyes was playing with here, and how Charlie comes face to face with one human problem after another. The story also has a lot to say about the basic human drive to understand the universe and his place in it. I think this book could be quite inspiring to people with learning disabilities -- the image of Charlie totally flunking out of school, but then years later sitting still in a library, flipping pages of books at one page/second as he reads about the etymology of ancient languages, Hindu history, calculus, etc... It's just so inspiring. Good things happen to him because of his will to keep pushing himself, but also because he is naturally thoughtful, even when retarded, and likes to be reflective.... The ending will make you cry, I guarantee it. I was sort of reminded of the servant that Caesar used to take through the streets with him, when on parade, whose job it was to keep whispering in Caesar's ear "remember that you are mortal". Charlie is mortal too, and as his newfound brilliance wanes, and breaks down in the end, the reader is left feeling bewildered at the magnitude of the loss, and confused as to what to do with all the energy this book stirs up. I'm not sure what Keyes wanted us to do with that energy -- maybe turn it inwards, maybe use it to reach out to others... probably a little of each. Please read this story, and just mull it over a little. You won't regret it.

Since reading One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest recently, it has rapidly become my favourite book. Kesey has managed to tell a story whilst making a complex political allegory, and that is incredibly refreshing. The characters are so vivid, both loveable and sometimes vile, and Kesey finds the balance between making their exploits humorous, and not patronising the patients of the asylum. McMurphy is a classic hero, but far more complex than most so-called Christ-like figures in literature. The Chief however steals the show for me. The writing during the time he tells how alcoholism is destroying his Father is incredibly moving. Using the Chief as the omnipresent narrator is a superb device employed by Kesey, as it allows a unique, personal and sometimes confusing insight into all the proceedings. Like all great literature, it makes you think, but does it with a unique sense of humour and character, and handles its heavy subject matter with ease: this is a simple read but devastatingly effective. The end of the book is both sad and yet also happy. That adjective sums up the book perfectly- happysad.

What is the world you see when you read this book? It may not be real, but that doesn't make it any less true. Here is a place where feelings become sensations and overpower the "real world". On the face of it, the action takes place in a lunatic asylum. It could just as well be our world. It's populated by a lot of characters that feel more sane than the keepers of the place. The maker of all the rules - the Big Nurse - is the scariest of all, in her confidence that this is entirely her world, run as she likes. Enter Randall Patrick Macmurphy. Rules? What rules? They don't exist as far as he's concerned. This world is just another to be moulded to his liking. Within a minute of his entry, he's run up against the Nurse. Every inmate sees something new about life- it's possible not to follow someone else's rules and live to tell the tale. The Nurse's world cracks up, bit by bit. R.P.Mcmurphy too realizes the extent to which it's possible to fall into the games life creates. This is one character you'll remember forever - and the lesson he preaches. All the inmates - you included - learn that the game is a game only as long as you know you're playing it. Get caught up and you're just a token on the board. Ken Kesey talks through Chief Bromden - an indian who plays at being deaf and dumb in an effort to run from the game. Grammar is an easy prey to the Chief's onrushing thoughts as he struggles to keep up with the speed of events around him. The prose sparkles with electricity as he "sees" his feelings and expresses them as events. Hostility in the air becomes a chill, and the sensation of death is falling into a furnace. This is a book that reads like walking through a "hall of crazy mirrors". You look back on yourself and don't know whether to laugh or cry.

This is an amazing book; I honestly wish that I would have read it long before I saw the movie. Try as I might, I still cannot help but picture Jack Nicholson and Louise Fletcher whenever McMurphy or Nurse Ratched were "on stage."

Much more complex than the movie, the novel works on many levels. The characters are gripping, and the psychological undertones amazing. I read this first in high school, again in college, and twice during adult life, and each time I see something new in it that I hadn't seen before. In short, it is a modern masterpiece.

The book is told from the Chief's viewpoint. Chief deeply troubled psychotic, and pulling this off is Kesey's tour-de-force. Every utterance of this schizophrenic character rings true as he moves from the "fog" of fear into the real world. Not only does this progression make the novel more interesting than the movie, it makes you question certain elements of the movie.

For instance, was Mac a savior, or simply a dangerous whacko? The movie points towards savior, but the savior interpretation is merely the interpretation of a troubled mind yearning to be free in the novel. The nurse, too, seems less intimidating when you move back from the Chief's interpretation of her. I imagine that she was more humane than his inner fears and the fog that stands between him and the world would allow him to see. Once this is understood, the characters of Mac and Big Nurse become less "cut and dried," and more real, more vital and much more ambiguous. And Kesey's true purpose seems to surface. The actual characters of Mac/ Big Nurse are not important; how they react on the Chief's psyche is.

Seen in this way, the novel traces one of Joseph Campbell's grand mythic themes: The liberation of the masculine psyche from the chaotic rubble of the mother dominated chaos (can you tell this interpretation is based on my college paper?). This journey, which Campbell describes in his "Hero With a Thousand Faces," is a man's major mission early in life. To be free, a male must liberate himself from the feminine and establish himself in the real world. Mythic literature the world over teems with this theme. A man's inability to liberate himself from this dark, restraining yet safe world is a major cause of many psychoses. Kesey has managed to bring that myth into the modern world, and the effects are just as amazing and relevant as the original myths were.

By the way, I received an "A+" on my college paper, which took the novel apart along these lines. I hope that a student here or there stumbles on this. There is ample room for exploration in this book that seems so simple on the outside, but so deep and complex the deeper you dig. This is, after all, the mark of a truly great work of art.

At the same time, don't let all this "noodling" ruin such a perfectly enjoyable book. [Noodling (v)- The cursed blessing of a liberal arts and science education. :-}]

Life of a fourteen year old, black girl, never been loved, uneducated, and poor named Celie, has never been so harsh. The book The Color Purple shows life in the 1900's as difficult for women. Women were treated like property and sold off for marriage, as slave workers. Celie is the protagonist and the narrator of the book. She writes letters to God everyday due to her father raping and beating her. Twice her father, a boy and a girl, who was taken by her father and supposedly killed, impregnated Celie.
Celie and her sister Nettie learn of a man named Mr.____. Mr._____, wanted to marry Celie's sister, but their father Alphonso denied. Mr.____ has a lover named Shug Avery, a singer at the local lounge, of which Celie falls attracted with. Mr.____ and Celie become married, but Mr._____ treats her like a slave. Nettie eventually runs away from her father and moves in with Mr._____ and Celie. Mr._____ still desires Celie's sister, so when he meets up with her she flees for her safety. She tells Celie of the letters she will write everyday. Celie never receives any of these letters and believes her sister is dead.
Mr._____'s son, Harpo, wants to marry a large woman named Sofia. Sofia and Harpo become parents and both marry. Celie is amazed as a woman is powering over a man, but when Harpo attempts to beat Sofia, he continuously fails. After Shug Avery falls ill, Mr.____ takes her into his home. Shug and Celie, after Celie nurses her, become the best of friends. Celie becomes attracted to her sexually. Shug and Harpo open a juke joint, in which Shug sings nightly. Celie becomes confused over the feelings for Shug Avery. Shug Avery decides to stay with Celie and Mr._____, finding that Mr._____ beats Celie when she is away. Shug and Celie become intimate and start to ask questions of the topic sex.
Harpo's new girlfriend, Squeak got into a fight at the juke joint, after Sofia came back for a visit. Sofia is then sent to jail. Sofia is then sent to work twelve years as the mayor's maid. Shug and Celie become even more intimate after frequently sharing the same bed. One night Shug asked Celie questions about her sister. Celie responded with she thinks she is dead. Celie tells her of the letters Nettie is to be writing, when Shug remembers Mr._____ hiding mysterious letters in his trunk. Celie and Shug find dozens of letters from Celie's sister, and they read them in order.
The letters tell of Nettie's missionary accomplishments in Africa. She also writes of how she had adopted Celie's children Adam and Olivia. After Celie finding that Alphonso was just her step dad in order to inherit the house and property, Celie makes a visit to see him. Celie then looses out on her faith in God, but Shug tries to keep her image of God. Shug, Squeak, and Celie move to Tennessee, where they open a tailoring of pants shop, this was due to the outstanding, anger, of many years with Mr._____. One day Celie returns with a visit to rural Georgia, where she finds that Alphonso has died. She inherits the house and property. She moves back to Georgia, where Adam, his new wife Tashi, Olivia, and Nettie are heading out to America. The mayor releases Sofia six months early from her servitude. Celie and Mr._____ reconcile and enjoy one another's company. Nettie finally meets back up with Celie. Sofia remarries Harpo, working in Celie's clothing shop. Now, Celie and Nettie, even though they grew old will never be with out each other as long as they shall live.

Alice Walker's book The Color Purple, published in 1982, opened a gateway to an experience many woman faced but was ignored by the public, mainly consisting of the male population. This story expresses the harshness of reality and the pain inflicted against many woman of the black race during this time period. It gives the reader a harsh look into the life of a black woman growing up in the twentieth century. The Color Purple is set in the south and spans over a time period of thirty years in the life of the main character Celie, a poor southern black woman. In this story, Walker portrays the life of an innocent young girl who is faced with rape, physical and verbal abuse, child birth, and a teenage marriage. As a young girl, Celie was raised by her father and treated like a salve in her own household. Celie's life was dominated by men and she was a definite victim of sexism. The men in her life felt that to keep her in line and control her how they wanted was the only way a woman was to be treated. One of the things I enjoyed most about the book is the captivating chapters written in the form of letters to God and to and from Celie's sister Nettie. It not only makes the story read quicker, but also makes the reader feel they have a personal relationship with Celie because of the insight into her "journal of letters". This book genuinely makes you feel her suffering and hurt, but it also lets you feel her happiness and joy when she overcomes an obstacle. Even though this book is an oustanding read, I would only recommend the book to high school age students and above not only for the vocabulary, but also for the sex scenes which are described vividly and the mature language. This book is original and amazingly written.

Built around the context of the heated time in American history when one man was not equal to another simply because of his race and no female was equal in any realm, The Color Purple weaves a beautiful story of a African American woman.

Alice Walker breathes life into a young, poor, and ugly girl named Celie. Celie is an amazing character because while she has suffered more than most humans will in a life time, before she was twenty years old, she is not a victim. She is simply living her life, as she would live it any other way. She is simple yet complex, a deep character in a world of confusion.

The background and world that the story is told in reveals the time when whites ruled and blacks survived. The novel deals with racism at its core and prejudice as well, especially against women. This novel will never grow old, the story will always be fresh, because untill we have conquered racism, prejudice, and social injustice and created a world where all are free, black and white, male and female, there is a urgent need for this novel. It is as contemporary as when it was written and the message of this outstanding work is still as needed as always. This is something all of us, especially women, should take a look at.

Everything that you've read so far will eventually fill a deeper meaning!

It was assigned by my English Teacher who seemed to tell us each day what was coming next. At times, it was the most discouraging thing that he could have done, yet in the beginning, it kept the class interested. I sat up many nights reading the book, chapter after chapter.

The novel connects people. As a white Montana girl from the heart of the Rockies, I don't have the culture of Harlem around me. I recommend this literary work of art to any teacher wanting to educate their students. Ellison's book gives insight on the difficulties and betrayal life can hand you. His title adds to the personal side of it. As an Invisible Man the reader never learns the main characters name, simply because it isn't important. A name would not add to the significance of the novel, but the invisibility does. By not having a specific label, the author pulls you into the story line, as if you were the Invisible Man.

Ellison has also incorporated marvelous imagery and breath-taking facts that make this novel a classic. Facts that are told in such a manner that our children will be reading this masterpiece, growing and learning as humans. "As long as there is humanity there will be novel's like this."

"Answer them with yeses." -Grandfather The Invisible Man lives with a haunting rememberance of his Grandfather, and his answer to the indifferences placed on the superiority of the races. Our main character fights with this throughout his life, stuggling to become a man of his own though and disposition. This novel takes you on that journey, revealling one man's ups and downs that eventually leads him into his invisibility.

This is one of those books I was assigned in English class that I didn't want to read. How wrong I was--this makes my short list of the greatest stories ever written. Ellison creates a vivid and shocking picture of America and society's subversion of individual identity in search of something larger. He said soon after the book was published that "Invisible Man" was not just about the black experience in America, it was an account of every person's "invisibility" in a world that tells us how to think of each other. The African-American protagonist is merely a vehicle for Ellison's much broader social commentary. Complex, heart-wrenching, deeply moving and of course beautifully written, this book is a must-read for anyone who thinks they have a grip on the American experience.

"Stephen's task, like ours, was not in creating the uncreated aspects of his race, but of discovering the undiscovered features of his face. Our task is in making ourselves individuals. The conscience of a race is the conscience of its individuals who see, evaluate, record... we create the race by creating ourselves, and to our astonishment we would have created something far more important: we would have created a culture. Why waste time creating a conscience for something that does not exist? For you see, blood and skin do not think!"

Ralph Ellison, INVISIBLE MAN

This book is a treasure. This book is filled with all the elements of masterful storytelling, mythic-level subtext and spellbinding events, psychological depth, multi-dimensional characters and characterizations... it will be patently impossible for you to put it down once you have picked it up. I somehow found a way to avoid this book in high school and college- partly, I'm sure, because it became so fashionable to have a timely opinion on its social relevance that it made not having read it seem subhuman, while simultaneously making the act of reading it seem like an inhumanly boring chore. Thank God the spirit of excellence and truth kept calling me to this book. This one book does for the human soul what the authors of most of the last ten plus years of self-help books, sociological tomes, racial dialogues and popular novels COMBINED have both endeavored to do and practically proclaim could not actually be done in print. I came away from this book feeling rejuvenated, stunned, inspired, engaged, taught, challenged, exhilarated, simultaneously filled with both hope and despair- and never at any time did I stop feeling entertained. I not only felt what the character went through, but the sick side of humanity and how it fought the good in every human being he came across, in an insane, insane world that renders human beings, "invisible".

Ralph Ellison was from the school of writers who endeavored not just to write good, timely books but epic myth/epistles of the human condition wrapped up in the pains, sicknesses and triumphs of the present day experience. He didn't try to write a Black book; he tried to write a human book, about the spirit IN a Black man. He did it. He achieved it. He wrote THE book with this, and made our world that much better.

You will enjoy this book immensely.

Summary of Their Eyes Were Watching God
This book written by Zora Hurston tells the story of a black lady whose name is Janie. The story takes place in the state of Florida apparently after World War II. Janie grew up with her grandmother, who gave up everything to raise her and her mother. Janie's grandmother lived a hard life, which is the reason why she wanted Janie to marry a wealthy person. Janie had her own ideas about love, but she was not strong enough to stand up and defend them.

Life with Logan her first husband was not good because she married him thanks to her grandmother, who forced her to do so. She did not love him and besides that, Logan did not treat her good. She prayed for the end of this relationship. Latter she met Joe, and she thought that he was the man of her dreams, and the type of romance that she was looking for.
One day when Janie and Logan were arguing really bad, Logan threatened her with an ax and he told her that he will kill her. She ran out of the house with Joe, and that afternoon before the sundown she married Joe. They moved to a town where there were a lot of black people. Joe bought land and then he sold it to black people that were moving to the town, he set a store also. After the years went by he became the major of the city. For Janie life was not easy with Joe either. He treated her as an ornament. He was so interested in becoming somebody important in the community that he did not pay attention to Janie, and eventually he became aggressive. Before he died Janie told him that the problem in their marriage was that he did not listen to her. When he died Janie acted like she was sad, but inside her heart she was happy.
One evening Janie met a guy named Tea Cake in the store, they played and flirted for a little bit, and that was the beginning of a new relationship. Compared to the relationship between Janie and Joe, the relationship between Tea Cake and Janie progressed slowly and playfully. The people in the town criticized her relationship because for them it was too soon for Janie to meet another person. Phoeby, Janie's best friend shared all the secrets of the relationship, and sometimes Phoeby wondered how her friend Janie had such a big change because she did a lot of things with Tea Cake that she did not do before.
Tea Cake was a new world for Janie. He took her to places that her Phoeby latter described as "places where she [Janie] had never been". At this point Janie was so tired of not living the life she wanted. Janie often described her life as her "Grandma's way to live". She decided to sell the store and move out of town.
Janie and Tea Cake got together. It is interesting to see that their relationship as a couple was not easy either, but this time things were different because Janie loved him. They overcame a lot of bad situations such as when Tea Cake took all the money from Janie and spent it with his friends. He latter on recovered the money by gambling, even though they had to move out of town because some people were mad against Tea Cake. Latter Tea Cake had an affair with a woman named Nunkie. Janie even forgave Tea Cake for beating her up because he wanted to show Mr. Turner's brother that he had control over Janie. Then in the stormy night Tea Cake get rabies from a dog that bit him on the face. This caused Tea Cake to become quite bit insane, that he even shot Janie with a pistol. Janie shot him with a rifle and she killed Tea Cake. She explained her cause to the court and she got free from all charges. She prepared a nice funeral for Tea Cake and then she returned to her old town, and she shared her story with Phoeby. The book ends describing how happy Janie felt at that time about how she had lived her life.

This is a story about a woman named Janie. Janie is a black woman, living in the south and is taught through her grandmother, that a man must take care of her; she must be married off right away. The book outlines the details of Janie's life and her experiences shared with three different men. Through the book, she must overcome town gossip, traditional roles and gain the freedom to express herself and do as she pleases. In the end, she finds the most satisfaction by living her life in her own way. And walked with her head high and no regrets.

I thought that book was great. Zora Neale Hurston, did not get the recognition she deserved in her time and thank God for the people who fought to get her books re-published. I must admit, the language in this book at the beginning was a bit hard to grasp but after a short while, it became easier to read. I love the main character, Janie. I love her independence and her carefree spirit. Read it!

Several reviews previous to mine mentioned that as high school students they couldn't understand why this book was considered a classic and what was supposed to be so wonderful about it. I too read the book this year for English and I can tell you why. On an anylytical level, Hurston's imagery is astoundingly beautiful. It mirrors her unique and fesh vision of what it means to be a woman. What Hurston says about the emotional turmoil of Janie, without telling the reader directly is amazing. Part of the strength of this book is it's ability to communicate emotion, to reach out to a reader who is emotionally aware (that's the catch for the readers who didn't comprehend the book) and pull them into Janie's life. Then every symbol, such as Janie's tied up hair, begins to communicate it's meaning in a clear and touching way. This book is amazing, and not enough can be said for it. It is a celebration of true love, of self-revelation, and of what it means to live a dream. I can see why some people might not understand it...at least not in high school.