Book Review "The Monkey Wrench Gang"

Often called as the “Thoreau of the West” Edward Abbey's novel “The Monkey Wrench Gang” published in 1975 criticizes harshly the Industrial Development in the southwestern desert of the United States. The novel concerns the use of sabotage against machines in order to protect wilderness. Buried in the middle of his beloved desert after his death 1989 “The Monkey Wrench Gang is one of Abbey's most famous fiction works and most influential work towards environmentalism. It has not lost its timelessness - today it is more current than ever. It had been a great influence for radical  environmentalist groups and the term 'monkey wrench” has come to mean.
The story focuses on four main characters: the Mormon river guide Seldom Seen Smith, an odd but wealthy and wise surgeon Doc Sarvis, his young  female assistant Bonnie Abbzug and the Green Beret Vietnam Veteran George Hayduke. When Hayduke returns from war he finds his beloved southwestern desert threatened by industrial development. So he decides to do something against it. All four characters meet for the first time at a river trip. They all share their love for the desert and the concern about its future threatened by new roads, bridges and more industrial development. This is why they decide to work together to interrupt further industrialization in a desperate try to protect the beauty of the once intact desert and canyons. 
Financed by Doc the 'Monkey Wrench Gang' destroys bulldozers by filling sand in the tank, trains and bridges for example. Their biggest project is Glen Canyon Bridge which they seek to destroy to give the river its natural flow back. During these illegal activities they encounter inevitably with the law. One antagonist, Bishop Love, a person who is only interested in money and business and does not care about wilderness, made it his business to get the “Monkey Wrench Gang” into jail.
During the few weeks that are described in Abbey's book his characters experience more than some people do in a lifetime. Their wish to protect the wilderness by the more and more developing industrialization is more than comprehensible. Abbey's wonderful descriptions of the desert, canyons and river almost lead the reader to protect  the wilderness himself when he discovers how terribly everything already is destroyed by industrialization. Not for nothing the book has inspired many people to go out and to do something. Abbey's political message is as non conventional as the whole book: it is allowed to protest environmentally damaging activities by sabotage. If nobody does anything, how can we stop governments from building new roads and to industrialize wilderness more? If more and more machines get destroyed then companies would get in a financial disadvantage and decide not to go on with their projects. 
All his characters represent Abbey's concerns about wilderness protection; for example: "Hell of a place to lose a cow," Smith thinks to himself while roaming through the canyon lands of southern Utah. "Hell of a place to lose your heart. Hell of a place... to lose. Period".  Through the novel Abbey shows the reader how alive this place is. He shows that it is worth to protect this unique landscape, it is really not a place to lose. In the further course of action the reader really begins to hate antagonists like Bishop Love, people who waste no thoughts about what they are doing against this ancient landscape.
The interaction between the four different characters is very humorous described. Some readers even see this book more as a comic book than a novel. But Abbey's sense for humor does not downgrade the seriousness of the problem. It just values the reader with a good laughter from page to page.

All in  all  this book is a really  commendable book for everyone who is interest in environment, the wonderful landscape of Utah and Arizona or for people who just want to try something new. They want regret it. Abbey's real concern mixed with his sense of humor and his beautiful writing make the book unique and inspire the reader to do something to protect wilderness him- or herself.

A Nine Hundred Page March

or, Sophia’s review of The Mist of Avalon

 

 

Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Mist of Avalon is a retelling of the Arthurian legends, from the perspective of Morgan and Guvenir. Marion Zimmer Bradley was born on a farm in Albany, New York, in 1949. She went to Berkeley, wrote mostly sify, and encouraged fanfiction for her series, “Darkover”. I’m sure there was a lot in between those vents, but these were the facts that interested me.

Only a handful of pages into it and I was smitten. Oh, I wasn’t so much enarourmed with Igraine, Morgan’s and Arthur's mother, whose perspective the book begins from.  I found her thoughts redundant and she seemed to often contradict herself, though she had enough redeeming qualities that I could never quite decide if I liked her character. It was the social commentary that hooked me. The opening of the book had me doing first pumps because I realized this was going to be 900 pages of not so subtle hints that women are superior to men and Christianity has corrupted our society. The raging feminist part of my was very excited by this.

It was refreshing to see Christianity picked apart, rather than slipped into a novel’s backbone, made to suggest it’s a universal truth, as it is many classic novels. I liked what Bradley had to say. She continually referenced that all gods are the same god, even going so far to say the old religion’s goddess would not object to being called Mary. She criticizes the beliefs of Christians, but it’s primarily their narrow mindedness he disapproves of,  not the religion itself. For example, when the High King dies, she talks about how wrong it seems they pray for him to repent his sins in Hell, rather than celebrating the life of a great man.

  Much of the story centered on female power. For example, she continually mentioned the logic in power being passed through the female line, as apposed to the male. In Avalon, the fathers had no say in their children's lives. The Merlin, a great and powerful male sorcerer, even acknowledges that because he is her father, not her mother, he has no right to influence Igraine's decisions. She once points the injustice in woman being judged for sleeping with multiple men, when men have the right to take as many mistresses as they please.

Her writing style was also really interesting. There were a lot of beautiful descriptions, my favorite being a depiction of a prophetic ceremony in Avalon that actually gave me chills. She chose her verbs well, stitched sentences together so they flowed and trapped the reader in the story. My only complaint is that the plot dragged on a bit, there was a lot of filler to the story.

         Over all though it was a great read and I would definitely recommend it.

Celestine's review (The English Patient)

Michael Ondaatje’s The English Patient is a beautifully written story of four lost souls who have been deeply affected by the horrors of World War II. It recounts the lives of Hana the nurse, Caravaggio the thief, Kip the sapper, and the mysterious English patient, who remains unnamed and unidentifiable throughout most of the novel. These four characters come together in a remote Italian villa, wherein they try to recover from psychological and emotional (and in the English patient’s case, physical) effects of the war.

The novel is layered, surreal, and intricately woven to the point of perfection. In fact, it’s one of the most well written books I’ve ever read.  My favorite part of the book was not the plot, but the poetic, dream-like prose that Ondaatje employs. Whether he’s describing Kip’s relationship with his family or Hana’s love for books, he does it in a beautifully poetic way. The novel also has a nonlinear plot, which contributes to the novel’s layered, woven effect. It shifts perspective and tense constantly, but somehow Ondaatje does this seamlessly.

I also really enjoyed the commentary involving war, which served as a central theme in the novel. There are plenty of war novels that praise war and focus on the positive aspects of it (although I personally don’t think there are any), but The English Patient does just the opposite. We see how World War II has negatively impacted all four characters, and society as a whole. It has turned Kip into a constantly cautious soldier. The English patient has become passionless and broken. Caravaggio is self-conscious, a changed man. Hana is now traumatized and guarded. They are all victims of war, without a home or sanctuary or loved ones to provide refuge. They can, however, unite in their quest for self-identity, happiness, and love, all of which have been stripped away from them by the war.

My only problem with the book is that I couldn’t really connect with the characters (especially the English patient), which led to less curiosity about their history, which happened to be the bulk of the novel. The English patient’s story takes up a large portion of the book, and unfortunately I was never captivated by his love affair with Katharine or his adventures in the desert. As a result, I couldn’t appreciate the book as much as some might. At times, I found myself trudging through the novel, wearily counting the pages as I went along, uninterested in what happened next. For me, The English Patient was like a three-hundred-and-two page poem: beautiful, yes, but not captivating throughout.

Overall, I enjoyed The English Patient much more than I expected. Prior to reading the novel, I was somehow led to believe that it was just a sappy romance that would bore me to death (this is probably thanks to the awful things I’ve heard about the movie version). But it had a lot more substance and credibility than that. I might have enjoyed the book more if I had been able to connect with the characters, but overall this didn’t taint my opinion of the book too much. The English Patient stands out because of Ondaatje’s beautiful writing style, which left me awestruck on more than one occasion.

The Power of One

Sample book review of The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay:

The Power of One is a story of a boy growing up in the Northern Transvaal of South Africa. It takes place just before the fall into Apartheid, when the British Government  still controlled the country and resentment festered in the simmering heat. The Afrikaners, men and women who came from the Netherlands but who, after a half dozen generations, thought of themselves as african, hated the English passionately for the conquering of their country. Mentioned over and over again are the 26 thousand Afrikaners who died of disease and starvation in the british concentration camps, a fact that many could not forget. The english on the other hand, where all high and mighty, with their Oaks imported from their homeland, and their wealth wielded like a weapon. They were in charge of the best schools, biggest companies, and altogether, smug in their superiority. At the bottom were the Native black africans, who where  scorned by all as at best stinking monkeys. These people were forced to leave their deep rooted traditions and way of life to come into the white man’s world. Even proud Zulu chieftain airs had to survive off of the crumbs left behind by the English and Afrikaans. All together, the country was ripe with conflict.

This is the home in which the boy, Peekay, grows up. He experiences the injustices of the waring groups in his homeland, but has a unique take on tensions. Instead of holding grudges or building hate, he finds understanding and compassion in the semi arid land. This is because of several different lifestyles he had as a child. His mother was very sick when he was a small boy, so he had a black nannie who breastfed him and took over as a mother figure in his life. He learns the tongues of her people, and of other Black africans, and loves them, without knowing anything about white superiority. His life is good, until he is forced to go to an Afrikaner boarding school at five. There he receives injustice because everyone tries to take out on their hate against the english on him. But later, when he becomes a boxer, his view of the Afrikaner way of life allows him to mingle with the Afrikaner boxers, and gain respect from them. And lastly, his is english, and ends up going to a prestigious private school in Johannesburg. All of these experiences allow him to be part of the three groups, and bridge the gap to connect everyone in fraternity. He even goes so far as to become a leader for all the different groups- a champion boxer for the Afrikaans, top of his class for the english, and a hero and warrior chief of the Black Africans. 

Peekay is really an amazing guy. Not only does he lead others, he challenges himself intellectually and physically. He meets several mentors that push him along the way, and friends that makes him question religion, race, and the political bonds that so clearly segregate everyone else. Additionally, he questions himself, and what he wants to be. Who is Peekay? To help answer his question he takes a motto that he repeats daily, and ends up relying it upon like the rising sun. “First with the Head and then with the Heart,” he says, and whether it is school or boxing, this motto drives Peekay to adventure and love. But it is just one of the many bits of wisdom hidden throughout Courtenay’s book. There are lots of stories, philosophies, and resolutions that will leave a reader end up feeling good and wanting more. They will be rooting for Peekay so much that it will be like saying good by to a hero, or a good friend, when the last page turns and the book is done. For this is the brilliance of South Africa, the land of the beloved country. 

Sara Moles, Stranger in a Strange Land

The Most Appropriate Title for a Book… Ever

            Robert Heinlein was said to be “ahead of his time” and the “dean of science fiction writers, which is clearly evident after having read Stranger in a Strange Land. Heinlein was one of the first science fiction writers, beginning his career in 1939 and dying in 1988. After his death, his wife published a few lost works of the accomplished writer, including the version of Stranger in a Strange Land that I read. Originally, the novel was a piece for the New Yorker, and Heinlein had to cut out about 400 pages of it. The uncut edition is 525 pages, and has a completely different ending. This is the version that I had the fortune to read. The novel begins by telling the story of the first humans to land on Mars. Unfortunately, most of them were never seen again. However, the people on the second expedition discover that there was in fact one survivor: a human child, born of the first people on Mars survived and sub sequentially was raised by Martians. This child of two planets becomes out main character: Valentine Michael Smith. And if that isn’t a big enough twist for you, Heinlein throws in another wrench. Not only is Smith the heir to every crew member of the first voyage to Mars, but according to a law passed many years prior, it can be interpreted that he is also the sole owner of the planet Mars. The novel follows Michael along his journey to understanding human culture (as well as the friends or “water brothers” he makes along the way), and his fight against being a political pawn due to his vast amount of wealth he possesses.

            The novel is brilliantly written, with a sarcastic underlying tone throughout. Heinlein does an excellent job of poking fun at 20^th century society, as characters in the novel struggle to explain to Michael what we see as simple ideas, such as religion, money and the government. I very much enjoyed reading this novel, however some parts of it struck me as odd and I would even go so far as to say that parts of it were unrelateable and of the cult mindset. I would not recommend this book to people who tend to have a closed mind, as I do not believe they would enjoy it as much as I did. However, if you’re into telekinesis and polyamorist ideals, then you will love this book.

• ·         “He has this crazy Martian idea that he can trust utterly anyone with whom he has shared a drink of water. With a 'water brother' he is completely docile and with anybody else he is stubborn as a mule.”
• ·         "Customs, morals — is there a difference? Woman, do you realize what you are doing? Here, by the grace of God and an inside straight, we have a personality untouched by the psychotic taboos of our tribe — and you want to turn him into a carbon copy of every fourth-rate conformist in this frightened land! Why don't you go whole hog? Get him a brief case and make him carry it wherever he goes — make him feel shame if he doesn't have it."
• ·         "You told me, 'God made the World.'" "No, no!" Harshaw said hastily. "I told you that, while all these many religions said many things, most of them said, 'God made the World.' I told you that I did not grok the fullness, but that 'God' was the word that was used." "Yes, Jubal," Mike agreed. "Word is 'God'" He added. "You grok." "No, I must admit I don't grok." "You grok," Smith repeated firmly. "I am explain. I did not have the word. You grok. Anne groks. I grok. The grass under my feet groks in happy beauty. But I needed the word. The word is God." Jubal shook his head to clear it. "Go ahead." Mike pointed triumphantly at Jubal. "Thou art God!" Jubal slapped a hand to his face. "Oh, Jesus H. — What have I done? Look, Mike, take it easy! Simmer down! You didn't understand me. I'm sorry. I'm very sorry! Just forget what I've been saying and we'll start over again on another day. But — " "Thou art God," Mike repeated serenely. "That which groks. Anne is God. I am God. The happy grass are God, Jill groks in beauty always. Jill is God. All shaping and making and creating together — ." He croaked something in Martian and smiled.

The Picture of Dorian Gray Review

Devin Richter

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Oscar Wilde

Dorian gray is a young man of about eighteen who is incredibly handsome. He has a friend who is a painter named Basil who is in awe of Dorian’s youth and innocence, and loves to have Dorian pose for him in his paintings. Upon sitting for Basil one occasion, Dorian meets Basil’s friend Lord Henry, who draws Dorian’s attention by lecturing him on the importance of youth and what it does for you in life, and how those doors are closed when it is gone. Dorian becomes obsessed with Lord Henry’s ideals, and begins to envy the very painting of himself. Dorian declares he wishes that the painting would grow old and display his soul’s sins, while he remain eternally youthful. Though Dorian does not know at the time, his wish is granted. Dorian continues to spend more and more time with Lord Henry, and becomes enthralled by his ideas of the thrills and excitement of a sinful life. Meanwhile, Dorian’s portrait continues to grow older, and to display the damage of Dorian’s sin on his soul with every act Dorian commits.

I really enjoyed Oscar WIlde’s writing style in this book. He uses very vivid imagery and puts a great deal of ornamentation into his words. Reading this book was just as fun as watching a movie of the same story.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone!
Excerpt:

“From the corner of the divan of Persian saddle-bags on which he was lying, smoking, as was his custom, innumerable cigarettes, Lord Henry Wotton could just catch the gleam of the honey-sweet and honey-coloured blossoms of a laburnum, whose tremulous branches seemed hardly able to bear the burden of a beauty so flamelike as theirs; and now and then the fantastic shadows of birds in flight flitted across the long tussore-silk curtains that were stretched in front of the huge window, producing a kind of momentary Japanese effect, and making him think of those pallid, jade-faced painters of Tokyo who, through the medium of an art that is necessarily immobile, seek to convey the sense of swiftness and motion” (Wilde 1).

Bel Canto Book Report

Bel Canto is a novel published in 2001, and written by American author Ann Patchett.  With Bel Canto being the fourth out of eleven novels written by Ann, it by far exceeded any expectations I once had before diving into the 318 pages of emotional ties, and reckless love.  What one doesn’t know before exploring the mystery within , is that this book will shock you with every turn of the page. It tests the limits of love, family, national security, and just about everything you thought you knew about hope. It captivates the meaning of one love, and makes you think about what you would do if the possibility of death were mocking you with every breath you took. But more then anything this book proves that love is stronger then anyone thought.

            I think what really makes this book truly phenomenal is the way it intertwined so many different people, languages, countries and customs to illustrate a story in your mind that one could only hope to never experience. It shows how greed can make you full of regret, and how in the strangest of times you realize what’s truly important to you. Katsumi Hosokawa only agrees to attend a party being thrown in his honor, a party he had declined over and over, because of the presence of one woman, and his greed for hearing her voice lift out of her mouth and fill a room with pure bliss. That woman is Roxanne Coss. He never intended to endanger the lives of hundreds of innocent people, all he wanted was to see Roxanne Coss, and to hear her sing in person like he had when he was once a child. Still, even when things go worse then anyone expected, and a terrorist group from a small South American jungle village takes the party hostage in hopes of kidnapping the president and over throwing the government of the host country, the only person Katsumi cares about is Roxanne.

As time goes on we have to watch as people make decisions that could either make or break their life. You experience  the over powering pain of pressure, and through the deep descriptions Ann Patchett gives through each of the characters perspectives, you come to fall in love with the most unlikely of people. Your heart will bend this way and that as the story comes to a close, and with each word bringing you closer to the end, you will be shock at how people act to protect the ones they love.

            This novel will make you feel things you did not think possible, and all though slow at times, you come to realize how everything happens for a reason. Bel Canto is a book that almost everyone will come to love, and if you give it the chance, you will make connections and realizations about your own life that you didn’t know existed. Ann Patchett is a beautiful author, and after experiencing what Bel Canto had in store, I am very excited to see what other journeys she has created with in the pages of her other stories.