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RE: Book Review - 8/8/2009 5:09:13 AM
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E_Lin
Posts: 1099
Joined: 9/14/2008
From: Cincinnati, OH
Status: offline
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Recently finished reading "T.H.U.G L.I.F.E" by Sanyika Shakur. It is his second book, folowing his autobiography Monster. This one is actually a work of fiction.
This book caught my attention because the author is actually serving time in California state prison. He is a former Crips gang member who writes based on his personal experiences. What I knew about gang life in South Central L.A. I learned from listening to NWA when I was younger. So I thought I might glean some insight from the book.
I learned a few new things, but not much. Honestly, the book is a testament to how sad life is growing up as a minority in a rough inner city like that, not being able to trust anyone, and hating others simply because of the neighborhood they lived in. The book glorifies the lifestyle of drug use and casual murder, as if that is a normal way of life anywhere in the world. But sadly, it seems the author, and any who might agree, don't seem to get that the rest of the world doesn't operate like that. In fact, the "hero" of the book, ends up getting away with multiple murders, and all the while the author tries to justify it by claiming "crooked white society" and "a gangsta's conscience"...
The content of the book is controversial, and clearly not for everyone. The violence is at times graphic, and a few times the sexual daliences of the main characters are described a little too vividly. Yet I have to give it up to the author for his knowledge of the subject he wrote about. He has actually lived it. So I believe I can take him at his written word. And as such, I can honestly say I am truly glad to have never grown up in a neighborhood like that.
_____________________________
"Human beings make life so interesting. Do you know that in a universe so full of wonders, they have managed to invent boredom? Quite astonishing..."
- Death (from the book "Hogfather" by Terry Pratchett)
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RE: Book Review - 10/26/2009 12:25:40 PM
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Auben
Posts: 1145
Joined: 4/13/2005
From: Where pines tower and cranberries float
Status: offline
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Sorry, I've been ignoring this since I started school in the fall. I'm way down in reading, however, I have a few.
* Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton 3.5/5~reread of an old favorite. Yes, its ridiculous at times but oooo so good.
* Clan of the Cave Bear 2/5~finally decided to read it after 20 years. Lots of interesting information about neanderthals (some of it kind of kooky) but the writing needed work. I hear the next few have a lot of sex so I'll just stop here. Curiosity satisfied.
* Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett 3/5~totally hilarious fantasy. Great for reading aloud.
* Breads from La Brea Bakery by Nancy Silverton 5/5~excellent for sourdough breads
* Flatbreads & Flavors: a Baker's Atlas by Jeffery Alford 4/5~interesting international bakery goods, good pictures
And I just finished
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Well written story about a California boy who transfers to a New England college in the early '80s (late 70s??) with visions of white churches and Walt Whitman. He becomes involved with a tight-knit group of classicists (Greek/Latin) and in a murder. Everything unravels from there. Nicely paced. Not too obvious what is going to happen. Lots of drugs and alcohol. A little sex.
Well done. Recommended.
Grade: 8/10
_____________________________
Tamara
~Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time~
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RE: Book Review - 10/26/2009 10:33:40 PM
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uponeagleswings
Posts: 675
Joined: 4/12/2005
From: Out here in the desert
Status: offline
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Auben- I read the entire Clan of the Cave Bear series over the course of quite a few years (the last one came out a while after its predecessor). They were all interesting and I enjoyed them. Whoever told you there was a lot of sex in the rest of the books was spot on. Its also rather graphic. My feeling is that the author is a bit of a nympho  and that the books would have been better if that had been left out.
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