Member: jasonpettus

Pettus,

Tight reviews! They are really helping me delve more into literature; that's was' up. Also, CCLaP is legit. Will you be reviewing any of Bret Easton Ellis's novels?

posted by s1mulacrum at 8:28 pm (EST) on Jul 1, 2009

A recommendation: Just finished Chandler Burr's You or Someone Like You. First novel by NYT's perfume writer. An insider view of Hollywood elite, mixed marriages and an intelligent Hollywood book discussion group (oh, and homosexuality). I loved it. Don't know if he'll tour.

posted by book_up at 11:03 am (EST) on Jun 15, 2009

Uh, yes indeedy, I do believe I'll be dropping by the CCLaP for part two tomorrow. Wow!

posted by EnriqueFreeque at 1:52 am (EST) on Jun 2, 2009

Regarding Heart of Darkness (good review, by the way), if you haven't read "King Leopold's Ghost" by Hochschild, you might be interested in knowing just how much of the Conrad book was based on actual people and events. The true story is harrowing and fascinating.

Regards

posted by Makifat at 11:44 am (EST) on May 6, 2009

Hi Jason,

Greatly enjoyed your HOD review. I happened to see Apocalypse Now long before I'd ever even heard of (much less read) HOD (watched it several times in fact); and when I finally got around to reading HOD I experienced a bout of deja vu (thinking, have I already read this before? it's so familiar!) and of course, later, happening upon some criticism on the subject, finally made the obvious connection. You are so right that Apocalypse Now - a great, great movie in its own right - is nonetheless a rip off. Why didn't Coppola just title it Heart of Darkness? - and then there goes the rip off criticism in a flash. It's a great movie no matter what he titled it. And Heart of Darkness, in my book, is a superior title too.

Great review (as usual)
Best,
Brent

posted by EnriqueFreeque at 9:55 pm (EST) on May 5, 2009

I read your one of your book reviews when I was doing some work at the library for a patron. Your book project sounds interesting. I haven't had a chance to look at the website yet, but plan to soon.

posted by ShannonMDE at 9:36 am (EST) on May 1, 2009

Just read your review of Running with Scissors, which I am reading now only because I want to make a good-faith effort to read it before I give it away. Bravo! I'm 50 pages in and I think I hate this book. I wish I could give your review 100 thumbs-ups.

--Kris

posted by fannyprice at 7:10 pm (EST) on Apr 26, 2009

Hello Jason,

Do you have a list of the classics you will be reviewing? Can I find it on your website? I have enjoyed all of your reviews so far. I even enjoyed your review of "Just a Geek" and will be looking for a copy. Caroline

posted by craso at 8:49 pm (EST) on Apr 16, 2009

I've been enjoying reading through your reviews for the past couple of days. You gave a positive review to one of my favorites: The Solitudes by John Crowley, and I've just now posted a review of his newest work Four Freedoms, which I got through the LibraryThing Early Reviewer program. I strongly agree with your take on "academic genre" v. "literary" fiction, and although Crowley has a history as a genre author (World Fantasy Award winner even), he is now convincingly established as a "literary" author. The AEgypt cycle certainly exhibits some of the academic genre traits that you've inventoried, but Four Freedoms is surprisingly free of them, despite being even farther from his early SF and fantasy work. There's a wee bit of metafiction, but not in the quantity nor the cleverness you (but not I) found distasteful in The Solitudes. Having read AEgypt over the course of two decades as the books came out, I can vouch that a long breather between them doesn't damage the experience, and I'd encourage you to make Four Freedoms your next Crowley read.

posted by paradoxosalpha at 1:30 am (EST) on Apr 3, 2009

Your review of Mme Bovary makes me want to go read it again. I read it at age 13 or so and hated it. Obviously I need to give it another chance now that I'm a grownup. I am wasting time at work here reading some of your other reviews, particularly the negative ones, so felt I had to tell you how much I am enjoying them.

posted by anna_in_pdx at 1:39 pm (EST) on Apr 1, 2009

Enjoyed your review of Gulliver's Travels and admire what you're doing.

posted by KidSisyphus at 1:06 am (EST) on Mar 8, 2009

That's what I figured. Still enjoying your reviews!

posted by slickdpdx at 1:12 pm (EST) on Feb 26, 2009

I randomly stumbled upon your Gargoyle review and had to respond. Genius! The chocolate/throat image was almost too much for me as I happened to be drinking coffee while reading your review. Choke! Your review rocked! Thanks! Holly

posted by HollyinNNV at 3:49 pm (EST) on Feb 3, 2009

I enjoyed your review of Northanger Abbey so much I bought a copy. Caroline

posted by craso at 9:24 pm (EST) on Jan 3, 2009

Ha ha ha!
I loved the Gargoyle, but your review was fantastic.

posted by valkylee at 11:44 am (EST) on Dec 21, 2008

Great review of Austen as always. I still have yet to read anything by her, perhaps this year. Interesting choice for a first novel, and not one of the better known ones.

> "Let's not forget, before the late 1700s, full-length fictional stories barely even existed"

I believe the first English novel to be self-admittedly pure fiction is `Tom Jones` (1749). Prior to that there are novels of fiction, but they are presented as true stories (or as actual non-fiction) like `Robinson Crusoe`. I'm currently working my way through `Tom Jones` and Fielding starts each chapter with a section apologizing for and justifying fiction, saying he is creating a new artform (although really imitating `Don Quixote`). It's pretty interesting. Maybe you know this, I am just learning about it. Good time of year for old classics. Happy holidays!
Stephen

posted by Stbalbach at 11:13 pm (EST) on Dec 19, 2008

Ativan or Citalopram are helpful for post-Gargoyle-review reflux. LOL...sincerely! Wow. Won't be reading that book.

posted by EnriqueFreeque at 6:58 pm (EST) on Dec 10, 2008

I read Portnoy's Complaint many years ago. Haven't eaten liver since.

posted by santhony at 6:57 pm (EST) on Nov 29, 2008

Hi Jason,

You've only read one Phillip Roth novel?! Really!!?? Oh my, and you, literary critic, freely admit it? Well, far be it for me to be a hippo critter about it, truth be told I've read only one book of his too -- "American Pastoral" -- and my sense about it seems similar to your reaction in The Plot Against America: complex, profound, era-defining, disturbing, can't believe after reading it I haven't read more by this author before. When you do decide on another Roth read, hope you'll give AP some serious consideration; you won't be disappointed.

posted by EnriqueFreeque at 7:36 pm (EST) on Nov 10, 2008

I recently finished A Farewell to Arms and was scanning some of the reviews when I ran across yours. I was blown away. Though our reading tastes don't exactly jive, I'm interested in your project of reading and critiquing "the classics". I am also trying to go back and read more classic literature and will certainly appreciate your take on some of the possibilities.

posted by santhony at 6:19 pm (EST) on Nov 9, 2008

Hi Jason,

While reading your review of "The Faith Between Us" I thought of some our discussions on the Happy Heathens group in Talk part of LT. You might find it interesting.

Cheers,
d

posted by dchaikin at 10:04 am (EST) on Aug 12, 2008

I enjoyed this line in your latest review. Cheers, d

"Of course, as we've all learned over the course of this "CCLaP 100" essay series so far, although Victorian and Edwardian literature still continues to be legible and readable to modern eyes, that's a long way from being entertaining or simply not tedious; "

posted by dchaikin at 9:22 am (EST) on Jul 18, 2008

Hey there. I just finished reading Banana Yoshimoto's "Kitchen" and saw in your review how much you enjoy her writing. This is my first read of hers. Any suggestions where to go next? Carry on with the reviews. Cheers. -Theresa

posted by theresak1975 at 7:23 pm (EST) on Jul 2, 2008

Hey now, it's kind of too soon to be talking about this friend stuff, I mean I only made you an interesting library a few days ago. This all just too fast for me. ;)

Your review of "Tree of Smoke" caught my attention. I thought the review was wonderful and fun to read. I've enjoyed reading other of your reviews as well. I poked at CCLaP website... I really hope I can find more time to spend there.

Cheers,
d

posted by dchaikin at 10:02 am (EST) on Jun 30, 2008

Hi Jason,

I haven't talked for a while, but just letting you know that I have changed my user name from karenwardill to kiwidoc - in case you are womdering who that friend was on your list!

Hope all is well with you.

Cheers,

Karen

posted by kiwidoc at 11:25 pm (EST) on May 8, 2008

Liked your review of the Boy Detective book. I've even added the book to my wish list.

posted by slickdpdx at 4:18 pm (EST) on Mar 27, 2008

Hi Jason - Just wanted to let you know, in case you haven't seen, that LT now has a "green flag" system to flag unjustly given red or blue flags, so I quickly went through and green-flagged all your reviews that were red-flagged (flag, flag, flag....). I don't know what effect this will have, but I hope it goes towards removing the red ones. Always enjoy your reviews!

posted by fannyprice at 8:09 pm (EST) on Mar 9, 2008

Fabulous review of Jezebel: The Untold Story of the Bible's Harlot Queen. I recently finished the book and agreed with many of your points, but you express them so much more eloquently than I do.

posted by valkylee at 10:27 pm (EST) on Feb 19, 2008

Hi Jason,

Thanks for the note. And many thanks for the post on CCLaP. It is Very Much appreciated.

Maybe we'll see you in April when we'll be discussing McCarthy's The Road!

Many thanks and stay well,
Dawn

posted by BookBuzz at 3:30 pm (EST) on Feb 12, 2008

Hi,

My name is Dawn and I am a librarian and the host of Toronto Public Library’s online book club: Book Buzz and a fellow LibraryThing member.

I stopped by your CCLaP site for the first time and got lost there for a while - thank-you! I particularly enjoyed the Paul Hockett picture - and his site's gallery. Again - thank-you.

This month at TPL we are reading Consolation, by Michael Redhill. I noticed that you include Consolation in your library and I enjoyed your thoughtful review of the book.

I’d just like to invite you to visit us and share your thoughts about Redhill’s book. It’s a friendly easy-going book club with over 500 members and we are always looking for new points of view.

We will also be hosting the author himself until the end February.
Post your questions for Michael Redhill and he will answer from his current home in France.

If you are interested, visit us at http://bookbuzz.torontopubliclibrary.ca .

Thank-you for your time,
Dawn
http://www.librarything.com/catalog/Book...

posted by BookBuzz at 3:11 pm (EST) on Feb 8, 2008

I missed your Zardoz review and the link at CCLaP doesn't seem to work. My take on The Maltese Falcon was a little different than yours (and a lot more stupid.)

http://knownunknowns.blogspot.com/2006/0...

posted by slickdpdx at 11:58 am (EST) on Jan 25, 2008

Lovely screencaps in your 2001:aSPO review at CCLaP! Can't wait to read your take on Zardoz.

posted by slickdpdx at 6:00 pm (EST) on Jan 7, 2008

I've just read Houellebecq's work on H.P. Lovecraft and really agree with your review of it. Interesting to hear he's so unknown in the USA. If that ever changes I can't wait to hear how he goes down in middle America!

I'm based in London by the way and have read every misanthropic word he's written - that's been translated into English.

Cheers,
Paul

posted by paulproton at 7:05 am (EST) on Sep 8, 2007

Thanks, Jason! I made the change in my bookcrossing entry for the book so it directs to the website. I appreciate you answering me back, and thanks for the info re the Lovecraft bio. I'm ordering it today!

posted by bcquinnsmom at 9:10 am (EST) on Jul 25, 2007

Jason - thanks for asking to be friends - 'Shucks' that's nice.

Led me to your profile page and your reviews. Hilarous and controversial and hard hitting? Oh and great, too - even if I beg to differ wildly on some of them. We only share 13 books but then you have only 53 catalogued.

What have you written yourself?

Cheers, Karen

posted by kiwidoc at 1:25 pm (EST) on Jul 17, 2007

I saw you reviewed Me and Kev. Came over and I enjoyed reading your other reviews too. With your art world connections and Finley thing you would almost certainly like (maybe already have liked) Simon Black's Book of Frank. Another pretty unique book.

You might like Bruce Robinson's Peculiar Life of Thomas Penman. Also, Cold Dog Soup, by Stepehen Dobyns, is a unique book that doesn't get as much recognition as it deserves. James Gunn's Toy Collector is better, I think, than Lucky Wander Boy. Kung Fu High School by Ryan Gaddis and Battle Royale by Koushun Takami (especially Royale) are insane books.

posted by slickdpdx at 10:37 pm (EST) on Jun 9, 2007