Rook’s Books, Vol. 1

I read a lot. My parents raised me on lots of books, keeping my mind away from time-wasting activities like TV and video games. Of course I rebelled when I grew up, but now realize that books are worth the time. So I will give mini reviews on my recent reads. A rating above 3 stars means that I recommend the book.

———-

The Meaning of Night – Michael Cox

A pauper is cheated out of his inheritance, and struggles to get it back. Set in 19th century London, the main character builds a decent life, finds a harem mistress, then sets out to get what he’s due. You know the main character is serious. He commits a murder in the first few pages.

What a fabulous read. It’s quite long, but keeps you in through the end. The author knows how to distract, entertain, and develop the characters as they are in the real world. One of the best books I’ve ever read, and hopefully a modern classic.

5 stars.

———-

I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell – Tucker Max

An obvious must-read for guys who want to get laid. Tucker shows that being a complete asshole will do nothing but get you laid.

Tucker spends many a night with his wingmen, guys who are so terrible with women that they should be costing Tucker dozens of notches, but he does fine most of the time because his targets are sufficiently interested. It’s amazing that the other girls put up with the friends’ crap longer than what would seem normal.

The version I read is tied in with the movie, which I have not seen. I’ve heard that the movie is good, but the book is better. That’s usually the case with books adapted to movies. But the book includes some stories that aren’t as good as others. Instead of being a collection of “best of,” it has all of stories.

4 stars.

———-

The Picture of Dorian Gray – Oscar Wilde

Dorian is an incredibly handsome man, and is granted a gift of eternal youth. As a central theme, one of Dorian’s friends states how youth is the best thing any guy could hope for. Dorian exploits this by becoming a degenerate. However, a painting of him becomes old and ugly, revealing the disturbing soul of the pretty boy.

Considered a classic, I picked this book because of the obvious ties to guys seeking to bang a bunch of girls. Overall I thought it was a disappointment. The author spends a lot of time saying that Dorian is doing despicable things, without really describing what they are. Most of the time I’m begging for some detail. Ultimately, Dorian doesn’t appear that bad by today’s standards: a druggy asshole who dumps a highly sensitive girl. Perhaps it would have been shocking during Wilde’s life, but to me it came off as pretty tame. But I would still recommend it because of its classic standing. And it is light reading.

3.5 stars.

———-

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies – Jane Austen, Seth Grahame-Smith

Who doesn’t love zombies? And what better way to enjoy them and a classic book, at the same time? Seth Grahame-Smith takes Jane Austen’s original novel and adds flesh-eating monsters. Elizabeth and her sisters are no longer simple girls looking to get married. They are trained in marshal arts and have killed more zombies than Rambo killing humans.

It is not especially a great read, but it adds an element of testosterone to a book for girls. I’ve never read the original Pride and Prejudice, but after watching 2 movie adaptions of the book (thanks, Mom), I can safely say that the core is intact. If you like zombies, you should be entertained.

3.5 stars.

———-

The Long Goodbye – Raymond Chandler

Considered one of his best, The Long Goodbye is also one of his last in an apparent series. I could be wrong, I don’t know. I just haven’t researched or read his other works.

Here, a P.I. is hired to investigate a strange death, a death that some seem uninterested in solving. The P.I. gets tangled in the web of a dysfunctional family, and pays for the intrusion. Chandler keeps you guessing on the death, while dealing with the realities of failed relationships, and what drives women.

I enjoyed this read, and will add more Raymond Chandler in my Amazon queue.

4 stars.

———-

The Revenant – Michael Punke

This book is based on the true story of 19th century mountaineer Hugh Glass, who is viciously attacked by a bear and is left for dead by his group. After Glass awakens and surveys his condition, he thinks of only revenge, and begins the 3000 mile journey crawling on his hands and knees.

The writing isn’t all that great, but it’s the possibilities of what could have happened to a defenseless man in the wild west that drive this story. Lions, and tigers, and bears snakes, and disease, and hostile Indians pose as just some of the dangers Glass must overcome to kill those bastards.

Worth a read, especially if you hold grudges.

4 stars.

———-

Keep your eyes open for more Rook’s Books reviews. And go out and read some books. If you need some motivation, check out this sight.