Scathing Book Reviews of 1421: The Year China Discovered America, by Gavin Menzies

1421: The Year China Discovered America by Gavin Menzies is also known as 1421: The Year China Discovered the World, by those unfortunate enough to not live in America. (I keed, I keed…)  Seriously, that is its title overseas, and whether you agree with the thesis of 1421 or not, it’s safe to say that [...]

Scathing Book Reviews of the Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien is many things to many people. To some, a fun fantasy. To others, the cornerstone of their reading list. To an unfortunate few, a way of life, and to Peter Jackson, an admirable achievement and cash cow.
I read the Lord of the Rings for the first time [...]

Scathing Reviews of Watchmen by Alan Moore

Watchmen, by Alan Moore is an award-winning graphic novel currently being adapted into a “Watchmen Movie” by Warner Brothers. We will all know this and more by the time the Studio’s marketing machine finishes it job, and will no doubt be giving each other Watchmen DVDs during Christmas 2009, and probably even Watchmen Watches.
I read [...]

Scathing Book Reviews of Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare

Romeo and Julietby William Shakespeareis certainly a story you can’t avoid. They say the story of star-crossed lovers was old even when Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet, but even if its true, its never been done so indelibly.
Take Romeo and Juliet away and you also lose West Side Storyand a good hunk of Shakespeare [...]

Scathing Book Reviews of “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is one of those books that hovered about the edge of my male consciousness, vaguely associated with “Wuthering Heights”, men in Top Hats and PBS.
Then my wife and I somehow got into a “Jane Austen movie” viewing jag, or let’s say she did and I was along for the [...]

Scathing Reviews of Hamlet, by William Shakespeare

My first introduction to Hamlet by William Shakespeare was, like millions of other kids, from that redoubtable source of literary insight, Gilligan’s Island.
No, I’m serious… There was an episode guest starring Phil Silvers as a Hollywood Producer who came to the Island to get away from it all. The castaways put on a [...]

Scathing Book Reviews of 1984, by George Orwell

1984 by George Orwell was once broadly viewed as a warning of things to come in a possible future. Now its seen, more correctly, as a criticism of forms of both thinking and political behavior, specifically of the Soviet Union, but of all governments in general. I read it simply because back in [...]

Scathing Book Reviews of Lord of the Flies, by William Golding

Lord of the Flies by William Golding is one of those books that you read as a kid and think “Oh, that couldn’t happen…” And then you grow up and you’re not so sure. (Poor Piggy). Now CBS has a reality show with some Lord of the Flies overtones. Here’s a [...]

Animal Farm, by George Orwell

Animal Farm, by George Orwell has one of the most misleading titles you could ever imagine. Bottom line, no matter how much your child likes farms, animals or Charlotte’s Web, don’t give this book to them as a birthday present. If you do, they may start singing “Old MacDonald” to the tune [...]

Scathing Book Reviews of A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is probably more often seen than read, with movie adaptations featuring Alistair Sim, Albert Finney, George C. Scott, Scrooge McDuck, the Muppets, and even Kelsey Grammer of Frasier for crying out loud.
The book itself is a quick read and quite enjoyable, at least to most. One surprise to [...]