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adamgolden's reviews
192 reviews
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
4.0
(4/5★)
Somehow, I have never gotten around to reading A Christmas Carol, despite having seen at least a handful of different adaptations of it over the years. Even knowing what was going to happen beforehand, this Dickens classic was still the perfect tale for the holiday season that it was written for. A brief, cozy read, this is one I'm sure I'll be re-reading every year or two around this time of the year, as it perfectly encapsulates the traditional Christmas spirit that I grew up idolizing.
Somehow, I have never gotten around to reading A Christmas Carol, despite having seen at least a handful of different adaptations of it over the years. Even knowing what was going to happen beforehand, this Dickens classic was still the perfect tale for the holiday season that it was written for. A brief, cozy read, this is one I'm sure I'll be re-reading every year or two around this time of the year, as it perfectly encapsulates the traditional Christmas spirit that I grew up idolizing.
I Am Legend by Richard Matheson
3.0
(3.5/5★)
While I usually enjoy short, concise reads, I would have preferred if "I am Legend" went on for a bit longer, as I felt the true plot of the book and the ending in particular was fairly rushed. A lot of time was spent on the slow character development of Robert Neville, and his months alone during the aftermath of the twisted vampire apocalypse. While I would normally expect more from this particular genre and idea (vampires; which has been done to death at this point), the fact that this was written in the 50's says a lot about how influential this book must of been to many aspiring horror/vampire-focused authors.
While I usually enjoy short, concise reads, I would have preferred if "I am Legend" went on for a bit longer, as I felt the true plot of the book and the ending in particular was fairly rushed. A lot of time was spent on the slow character development of Robert Neville, and his months alone during the aftermath of the twisted vampire apocalypse. While I would normally expect more from this particular genre and idea (vampires; which has been done to death at this point), the fact that this was written in the 50's says a lot about how influential this book must of been to many aspiring horror/vampire-focused authors.
A Fatal Grace by Louise Penny
3.0
(3/5★)
While I found the second installment in Louise Penny's Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series to once again be another cozy, comfortable mystery set in the serene village of Three Pines, I was less impressed with the plot this time around. The real mystery of the novel doesn't really begin until halfway through, and in comparison to the first book, it isn't nearly as thrilling. It's not often that I can accurately guess who the culprit was within the first quarter of the book, but this was one of those cases. While that does tarnish the ending and plot in general, the setting of Three Pines and the down to earth characters still make A Fatal Grace an enjoyable read that was easy to breeze through within a couple of days.
While I found the second installment in Louise Penny's Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series to once again be another cozy, comfortable mystery set in the serene village of Three Pines, I was less impressed with the plot this time around. The real mystery of the novel doesn't really begin until halfway through, and in comparison to the first book, it isn't nearly as thrilling. It's not often that I can accurately guess who the culprit was within the first quarter of the book, but this was one of those cases. While that does tarnish the ending and plot in general, the setting of Three Pines and the down to earth characters still make A Fatal Grace an enjoyable read that was easy to breeze through within a couple of days.
The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells
4.0
(4/5★)
After reading H.G. Wells' The Time Machine and being fairly let down, I thought I'd give another one of his works a try, considering he is lauded as being "the father of science fiction". The Invisible Man, unlike the aforementioned work, is a much more cohesive story that is intriguing from the start but also manages to wrap up quite nicely towards the end. Griffin, the invisible protagonist, isn't exactly a likeable, virtuous person. This makes for a compelling story about what someone like Griffin would do with the powers of invisibility, and how quickly his mind and the scene surrounding him descends into chaos. While the science behind how he became invisible obviously requires some suspension of disbelief (the book was published in 1897!), the story focuses more on the morality of his plight rather than how it transpired. A quick and entertaining read that has me thinking that H.G. Wells bibliography has much more to offer.
After reading H.G. Wells' The Time Machine and being fairly let down, I thought I'd give another one of his works a try, considering he is lauded as being "the father of science fiction". The Invisible Man, unlike the aforementioned work, is a much more cohesive story that is intriguing from the start but also manages to wrap up quite nicely towards the end. Griffin, the invisible protagonist, isn't exactly a likeable, virtuous person. This makes for a compelling story about what someone like Griffin would do with the powers of invisibility, and how quickly his mind and the scene surrounding him descends into chaos. While the science behind how he became invisible obviously requires some suspension of disbelief (the book was published in 1897!), the story focuses more on the morality of his plight rather than how it transpired. A quick and entertaining read that has me thinking that H.G. Wells bibliography has much more to offer.
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
3.0
(3.5/5★)
Growing up in the Salinas Valley (Salinas, particularly), when I attended school, John Steinbeck novels were always on our summer reading lists or read throughout the year. Of Mice and Men was one of my favorites of the few I read, partly because it was short and a breeze to read, but also because of the impact it had on me. The relationship between George and Lennie felt so genuine and loving; their goal on one hand, entirely possible - on the other, a far off fantasy. It's always hard reading the last few pages of this book, knowing that they were so close to their version of the American dream.
Growing up in the Salinas Valley (Salinas, particularly), when I attended school, John Steinbeck novels were always on our summer reading lists or read throughout the year. Of Mice and Men was one of my favorites of the few I read, partly because it was short and a breeze to read, but also because of the impact it had on me. The relationship between George and Lennie felt so genuine and loving; their goal on one hand, entirely possible - on the other, a far off fantasy. It's always hard reading the last few pages of this book, knowing that they were so close to their version of the American dream.
The Shining by Stephen King
4.0
(4.5/5★)
I've always been a fan of the film adaption of The Shining, and have (surprisingly) never read a novel by Stephen King, as prolific and popular of an author as he is. While it's hard compare the book and the film in terms of my personal enjoyment, the book excels in some areas where the film doesn't, and vice versa. The extra depth and layers attributed to the characters in the book make them more relatable and believable, and easier to become attached to in the process. The book also touches on a bit more about "shining", the telepathic ability that seemingly very few people possess, adding to the paranormal aspects of the novel that make it so inherently cryptic and haunting. I also prefer the ending of the novel over the movie, which is saying a lot considering the shocking ending in the film.
I've always been a fan of the film adaption of The Shining, and have (surprisingly) never read a novel by Stephen King, as prolific and popular of an author as he is. While it's hard compare the book and the film in terms of my personal enjoyment, the book excels in some areas where the film doesn't, and vice versa. The extra depth and layers attributed to the characters in the book make them more relatable and believable, and easier to become attached to in the process. The book also touches on a bit more about "shining", the telepathic ability that seemingly very few people possess, adding to the paranormal aspects of the novel that make it so inherently cryptic and haunting. I also prefer the ending of the novel over the movie, which is saying a lot considering the shocking ending in the film.
The Woman in the Dunes by Kōbō Abe
4.0
(4/5★)
If you didn't have ammophobia (a fear of sand) before reading this book, that might change once you've finished it. The Woman in the Dunes constantly reminds you of the barren, anhydrous setting, and what it would be like to live in such a place without any means of escape. The plot is fairly straightforward, and for the most part takes place in the same location, a hut owned by a nameless woman in a deep pit surrounded by sand dunes.
Primarily focusing on the inner monologues of an entomologist named Niki Jumpei, and the volatile relationship between himself and the woman who "captured" him, Kōbō Abe crafts a Kafkaesque story with an open-ended conclusion that leaves the reader in an uncomfortable state of uncertainty. The 1964 film adaption by Hiroshi Teshigahara does a great job of capturing the atmosphere of the book, creating a chilling depiction of Abe's nightmarish vision.
If you didn't have ammophobia (a fear of sand) before reading this book, that might change once you've finished it. The Woman in the Dunes constantly reminds you of the barren, anhydrous setting, and what it would be like to live in such a place without any means of escape. The plot is fairly straightforward, and for the most part takes place in the same location, a hut owned by a nameless woman in a deep pit surrounded by sand dunes.
Primarily focusing on the inner monologues of an entomologist named Niki Jumpei, and the volatile relationship between himself and the woman who "captured" him, Kōbō Abe crafts a Kafkaesque story with an open-ended conclusion that leaves the reader in an uncomfortable state of uncertainty. The 1964 film adaption by Hiroshi Teshigahara does a great job of capturing the atmosphere of the book, creating a chilling depiction of Abe's nightmarish vision.
Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company That Addicted America by Beth Macy
4.0
(4.5/5★)
The opioid epidemic has been gaining a lot of traction over the last few years, as more and more people are giving up their lives for these dangerous drugs, whether they are prescribed by a doctor by way of pills, or found in the more rudimentary form of heroin on the streets. However, as Beth Macy clearly points out, this has been an issue for far longer than just the last twenty years, although the recent rise in overdoses and severe addiction has brought much more attention to the American public conscious. Concentrating primarily on Purdue Pharma's relentless assault on pushing drugs such as Oxycontin to doctors around the country, Macy follows the stories of a handful of different people that have succumbed to these drugs, and how in turn their families are affected. Rehabilitation facilities are also a focus, essentially showing how most of them are scams, and are totally ineffective in the long term.
As someone who has a family member that went through multiple back surgeries and now has to take prescription opioids on a daily basis, there is one aspect that this book could have focused on more - the fact that, just because you take opioids for pain, doesn't mean that you are an addict, or you are taking them for a recreational high. Some people genuinely need pain relief, and while I think we are moving in the right direction by curtailing the use of these medications, people that need them, or have been used to the idea of having them, should not be looked down upon.
The opioid epidemic has been gaining a lot of traction over the last few years, as more and more people are giving up their lives for these dangerous drugs, whether they are prescribed by a doctor by way of pills, or found in the more rudimentary form of heroin on the streets. However, as Beth Macy clearly points out, this has been an issue for far longer than just the last twenty years, although the recent rise in overdoses and severe addiction has brought much more attention to the American public conscious. Concentrating primarily on Purdue Pharma's relentless assault on pushing drugs such as Oxycontin to doctors around the country, Macy follows the stories of a handful of different people that have succumbed to these drugs, and how in turn their families are affected. Rehabilitation facilities are also a focus, essentially showing how most of them are scams, and are totally ineffective in the long term.
As someone who has a family member that went through multiple back surgeries and now has to take prescription opioids on a daily basis, there is one aspect that this book could have focused on more - the fact that, just because you take opioids for pain, doesn't mean that you are an addict, or you are taking them for a recreational high. Some people genuinely need pain relief, and while I think we are moving in the right direction by curtailing the use of these medications, people that need them, or have been used to the idea of having them, should not be looked down upon.
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
3.0
(3/5★)
Treasure Island has inspired so many other works of fiction and movies that it's hard to deny its relevance to the concept of pirates in modern media. Coining such phrases like "Yo, ho, ho, and a bottle of rum!" amongst other pirate cliches that are found in movies and other works such as the Pirates of the Caribbean films, it was certainly a constant source of lore and mannerisms in much of the modern pirate obsession that exists today. The first couple of chapters, introducing the characters and setting the scene for what is to come, were some of the most enjoyable of the book. I would have appreciated a bit more seafaring, as the book focused primarily on the disputes and treachery between the crew on the land and islands they were adventuring upon. While the ending was a bit uneventful, and the story kind of stalled a bit at some points, it was still a very immersive read, especially considering it was a pioneer in the historical fiction genre of the infamous pirates themselves.
Treasure Island has inspired so many other works of fiction and movies that it's hard to deny its relevance to the concept of pirates in modern media. Coining such phrases like "Yo, ho, ho, and a bottle of rum!" amongst other pirate cliches that are found in movies and other works such as the Pirates of the Caribbean films, it was certainly a constant source of lore and mannerisms in much of the modern pirate obsession that exists today. The first couple of chapters, introducing the characters and setting the scene for what is to come, were some of the most enjoyable of the book. I would have appreciated a bit more seafaring, as the book focused primarily on the disputes and treachery between the crew on the land and islands they were adventuring upon. While the ending was a bit uneventful, and the story kind of stalled a bit at some points, it was still a very immersive read, especially considering it was a pioneer in the historical fiction genre of the infamous pirates themselves.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson
4.0
(4/5★)
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas has always been a very polarizing novel. With rampant drug use and (in turn) the hysterical thoughts that come with it, not to mention the "anti-politically correct" nature of the book in general, it can definitely be a turn off for many people. While I was considerably more enamored with this book around the time I first read it in high school, it's still a bizarrely unique read that deserves to be read and talked about, especially if you want to see a clear, albeit disturbing, view of multiple altered states of consciousness.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas has always been a very polarizing novel. With rampant drug use and (in turn) the hysterical thoughts that come with it, not to mention the "anti-politically correct" nature of the book in general, it can definitely be a turn off for many people. While I was considerably more enamored with this book around the time I first read it in high school, it's still a bizarrely unique read that deserves to be read and talked about, especially if you want to see a clear, albeit disturbing, view of multiple altered states of consciousness.