In his own words
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Letters on England
Review: Surprisingly readable despite its age and translated French prose. Sort of a collection of a French Man (of Letters) writing this thoughts on England and the English approach to life, science, education, etc. Not too short, not too long-winded. Learned a lot about the Quakers and how they came to America. This book made…
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Confessions of an English Opium Eater
Review: Well worth reading, a unique glimpse into 19th century life and drug use. Starts out well, gets rapidly pretentious, and then rambles on quite oddly for the last bit. Reminded me of ESVM and her copious amounts of drugs consumed. The story is told with personal conviction, but never descends into vulgarity, and is…
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Heartbreak House
Review: A good play, probably very good, but I need someone to explain it to me. Also, maybe it needs to be acted, performed for the meaning to come through. It’s trying to make a statement on something, maybe it’s war or the leisured classes, I’ll have to look it up. This book made me…
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Metamorphoses
Review: A wonderful and timeless classic. All the stories, all the myths, all the legends of the Hellenistic and Roman world in one volume. It is literally about metamorphoses, people get changed into everything from magpies to mountains. I am glad I read Illiad prior to this so I was able to understand all the…
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Carl Barks’ Library Set I Vol III
Review: “Lost in the Andes” is a masterpiece. “Old Castle’s Secret”, glorious and the castle drawings are so good. Even the essays in this one were less odious and pedantic. This book made me want to: eat eggs (square or round, either) Overall rating: Readability: Plot: n/a Other: Egg craveability
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The History of the Peloponnesian War
Review: After Herodotus, the second great Classical work. Unlike Herodotus, Thucydides does not admit of the intervention of Gods, so it is essentially the first science based history. It was a tough read, it’s long and very dense. I needed my atlas of classical history to keep the numerous place names sorted as to location…
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The Making of Americans
Review: So utterly awful I can barely contain myself. Utter and total waste of ink, pixels, trees, time, air, space and energy. I, Neilos, made it 26% of the way through, and I feel like suing the estate for damages. Zero stars. Ugh. Barf. Yecch. This book made me want to: open a vein and…
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The Toughest Show on Earth
Review: 5 stars throughout. Could not put this down. I love, love, love opera but there is no way I could do any of the jobs involved in pulling one off. The story of a man married to his Metropolitan. So much more than a book of anecdotes (although it does not lack for those).…
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Waiting for Godot
Review: An extraordinary piece of literature. Challenging, touching, depths of meaning and yet still humorous and readable. Reading the study guide was helpful in supplying context about the play, the author, the background. Wouldn’t add or change a single word. Brilliant This book made me want to: read or see other works by this remarkable…
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Cranford
Review: Charming little portrait of a little English village and circle of ladies, old, widowed or spinsters that live a quiet, polite, genteel existence. Little adventures, little tragedies, little triumphs all play out around the quiet streets and homely firesides of pastoral Cranford village. It’s beautifully written, and it could easily be read in one…