I loved Red Dragon and Silence Of the Lambs, and even though this book wasn't on the same level, it was enjoyable until Thomas Harris decided to ruin Clarice Starling.
I can't remember another ending to a series that so thoroughly destroyed the 1200 or so pages before it.
I can't remember another ending to a series that so thoroughly destroyed the 1200 or so pages before it.
Transcends the spy genre and reaches the classic fiction genre. A complex and thought-provoking story masterfully told. There aren't many novels I'll read a second time, but this is one of them.
My first Le Carre book, and I will read many more.
I've heard Le Carre described as "too slow"; I would say instead that he's very deliberate. I can handle deliberate if the author/narrator say enough interesting things along the way (see Nelson DeMille). And while it does feel as if it's developing slowly at times, by the time you're done it's clear that he's packed an awful lot into just 353 pages. Great characters and scene descriptions, some absolutely brilliant turns of phrase, and a solid ending make this an easy recommendation.
I've heard Le Carre described as "too slow"; I would say instead that he's very deliberate. I can handle deliberate if the author/narrator say enough interesting things along the way (see Nelson DeMille). And while it does feel as if it's developing slowly at times, by the time you're done it's clear that he's packed an awful lot into just 353 pages. Great characters and scene descriptions, some absolutely brilliant turns of phrase, and a solid ending make this an easy recommendation.
It's 166 pages that could've been 100 pages if not for the large type and all the wasted space. And the content is really only enough to fill maybe two or three articles in a poker magazine.
Should be called Hold'em Wisdom For Complete Beginners Who Haven't Read Any Other Poker Books At All.
Should be called Hold'em Wisdom For Complete Beginners Who Haven't Read Any Other Poker Books At All.
It doesn't unseat The Stand as King's best offering, but it's easily among his five or ten best.
The story features excellent and efficient character development and a really outstanding narrative style. King tells a story as well as anyone, especially in his epics, and he's at top form here. It is brilliant at times.
My only critique would be that this is an amazingly-well-told good story, not an amazingly-well-told great story. The cause of the dome is a little predictable if you've read King's other stuff. And with all the religious overtones throughout, I guess I was hoping he would make an epic point to end this epic novel, and he doesn't. About 800 pages in, I was dreaming up all sorts of ways he could end this thing, and the one that does end it was frankly a little "meh, okay, that works, but...".
In my opinion, it's an A story with a B ending. That still makes it worth a read for pretty much anyone -- you will be entertained for sure.
I give it 4 stars out of 5, and if we had a 10 scale I'd go with something like an 8.5 or 8.75.
The story features excellent and efficient character development and a really outstanding narrative style. King tells a story as well as anyone, especially in his epics, and he's at top form here. It is brilliant at times.
My only critique would be that this is an amazingly-well-told good story, not an amazingly-well-told great story. The cause of the dome is a little predictable if you've read King's other stuff. And with all the religious overtones throughout, I guess I was hoping he would make an epic point to end this epic novel, and he doesn't. About 800 pages in, I was dreaming up all sorts of ways he could end this thing, and the one that does end it was frankly a little "meh, okay, that works, but...".
In my opinion, it's an A story with a B ending. That still makes it worth a read for pretty much anyone -- you will be entertained for sure.
I give it 4 stars out of 5, and if we had a 10 scale I'd go with something like an 8.5 or 8.75.
This book provides an excellent foundation for vipassana, anapanasati, or any other type of meditation, Buddhist or otherwise. Bhante G is a terrific writer who has put together a meditation manual that isn't as dry and clinical as most. The instructions are excellent without being overly technical; even those who know nothing about Buddhist practice or terminology can benefit from this book. Anyone interested in meditation would do well to start here, this is a classic.
Expanded version has an afterword on metta meditation.
Expanded version has an afterword on metta meditation.
In the Buddha's Words: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon (The Teachings of the Buddha) by Venerable Bhikkhu Bodhi
A great collection of suttas arranged by topic, with introductions by Bhikkhu Bodhi for each section. Suitable for complete beginners and still useful as a quick-lookup resource for experienced practitioners.
If you are Buddhist, especially Theravadin, or even just curious to learn about the Pali Canon, this book is indispensible, one of the best ever put together.
See also Ven. Gunaratana's Mindfulness In Plain English and Ven Walpola Rahula's What the Buddha Taught.
If you are Buddhist, especially Theravadin, or even just curious to learn about the Pali Canon, this book is indispensible, one of the best ever put together.
See also Ven. Gunaratana's Mindfulness In Plain English and Ven Walpola Rahula's What the Buddha Taught.
An excellent summary of the practice of the Eighfold Path.
You can't go wrong with anything with this monk's name on it.
You can't go wrong with anything with this monk's name on it.