Comments for Books Popular http://www.rupplerow.com Mon, 21 Jun 2010 23:30:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 Comment on Wizard: The Life and Times of Nikola Tesla : Biography of a Genius by Anonymous http://www.rupplerow.com/wizard-the-life-and-times-of-nikola-tesla-biography-of-a-genius.html#comment-327 Anonymous Mon, 21 Jun 2010 23:30:31 +0000 http://www.rupplerow.com/wizard-the-life-and-times-of-nikola-tesla-biography-of-a-genius.html#comment-327 This book was not devoted to the life of Nikola Tesla. In addition to Tesla's life, the book contained a brief (and often irrelevant)biography of the many men and women who lived in Tesla's time. Scientist/historians would probably find the technical information in this book interesting. Rating: 3 / 5 This book was not devoted to the life of Nikola Tesla. In addition to Tesla’s life, the book contained a brief (and often irrelevant)biography of the many men and women who lived in Tesla’s time. Scientist/historians would probably find the technical information in this book interesting.
Rating: 3 / 5

]]> Comment on The Norton Anthology of English Literature by Aaron Stiles http://www.rupplerow.com/the-norton-anthology-of-english-literature.html#comment-322 Aaron Stiles Mon, 21 Jun 2010 23:07:11 +0000 http://www.rupplerow.com/the-norton-anthology-of-english-literature.html#comment-322 Don't pick this book up if you want a Sunday read or something. This anthology is for serious minded academic folk who want to school themselves in writing from England. I can't imagine why you would get it if you were not a student. <br /> <br />In any case, it gives you many works, and all are preceded by very well written introductions, including information on the author's life. <br /> <br />I am considering keeping it even though my course is over. Rating: 4 / 5 Don’t pick this book up if you want a Sunday read or something. This anthology is for serious minded academic folk who want to school themselves in writing from England. I can’t imagine why you would get it if you were not a student.

In any case, it gives you many works, and all are preceded by very well written introductions, including information on the author’s life.

I am considering keeping it even though my course is over.
Rating: 4 / 5

]]> Comment on Aspects of the Novel by bronx book nerd http://www.rupplerow.com/aspects-of-the-novel.html#comment-317 bronx book nerd Mon, 21 Jun 2010 20:44:36 +0000 http://www.rupplerow.com/aspects-of-the-novel.html#comment-317 This is the kind of book that humbles a reader. I had always heard great things about this book, that anyone interested in learning profound truths about what makes a good novel and how a novel works needs to read this. I must say that I found the text challenging and had a difficult time grasping the points E.M. Forster was making. I got the parts about the story and the plot fairly well. However, the sections on fantasy, prophecy, pattern and rhythm were somewhat more difficult to digest. Perhaps one needs to read a few more novels, or read them with more attention, to fully comprehend all of Forster's points - the traditional once-over of high school and college literature gruel will not do. I will probably re-read this after reading some of the works Forster uses as examples to get more out of this book, which has been hailed as a classic on the novel. Rating: 4 / 5 This is the kind of book that humbles a reader. I had always heard great things about this book, that anyone interested in learning profound truths about what makes a good novel and how a novel works needs to read this. I must say that I found the text challenging and had a difficult time grasping the points E.M. Forster was making. I got the parts about the story and the plot fairly well. However, the sections on fantasy, prophecy, pattern and rhythm were somewhat more difficult to digest. Perhaps one needs to read a few more novels, or read them with more attention, to fully comprehend all of Forster’s points – the traditional once-over of high school and college literature gruel will not do. I will probably re-read this after reading some of the works Forster uses as examples to get more out of this book, which has been hailed as a classic on the novel.
Rating: 4 / 5

]]> Comment on Wizard: The Life and Times of Nikola Tesla : Biography of a Genius by flamenko http://www.rupplerow.com/wizard-the-life-and-times-of-nikola-tesla-biography-of-a-genius.html#comment-326 flamenko Mon, 21 Jun 2010 20:44:04 +0000 http://www.rupplerow.com/wizard-the-life-and-times-of-nikola-tesla-biography-of-a-genius.html#comment-326 This is by all means the worst book on Nikola Tesla ever! This book portrays Tesla in a way that he never was, a confused lunatic with confused visions and a hard line nationalist attitude. It is no wonder that one reader nicknamed huh concluded that Tesla was stupid and was not able to finish most of his inventions (by the way, this guy sounds like someone from Edison's camp). Tesla was born in an environment of constant clashes between Croats and Serbs, and Ottoman empire (not "Asian barbarians" as this author constantly portrays this great Empire) had nothing to do with Tesla's departure to US. Teslas's father was orthodox priest (a hardliner) who wanted to see his son in the Serbian army (it is the same army who completely escaped into Greece which is unknown example of cowardice in the history and whose king also escaped to England leaving his nation to German mercy, thus Tesla did not see anything great in this "great army"). Tesla refused going to Serbian army and he refused being hard-line nationalist. Tesla once said:" I am proud of my country Croatia and my Serbian nationality". This indicates best that he was not hard-line nationalist (keep in mind that Serbian nationalist even today claim that Croatia is occupied Serbian territory and that it will be wiped off the map). This author actually invented many stories of Tesla's life and even more of them are from second or third hand, totally untrue. <br />On the technical aspect of this book it is not even worth any comments. Someone who does not know anything about electrical tech must be wondering, what the heck did this guy Tesla invent anyway (hence huh reader again)? I would describe the technical portion of this book as a good joke; even Mr. Bean would do it better. Author just could not sustain a certain hatred for Ottoman empire, which by the way was not much different then eg. Roman empire. Stay away from this book, you will not learn anything from it and could be infected with serious hate. <br />This book is a zero mark! Rating: 1 / 5 This is by all means the worst book on Nikola Tesla ever! This book portrays Tesla in a way that he never was, a confused lunatic with confused visions and a hard line nationalist attitude. It is no wonder that one reader nicknamed huh concluded that Tesla was stupid and was not able to finish most of his inventions (by the way, this guy sounds like someone from Edison’s camp). Tesla was born in an environment of constant clashes between Croats and Serbs, and Ottoman empire (not “Asian barbarians” as this author constantly portrays this great Empire) had nothing to do with Tesla’s departure to US. Teslas’s father was orthodox priest (a hardliner) who wanted to see his son in the Serbian army (it is the same army who completely escaped into Greece which is unknown example of cowardice in the history and whose king also escaped to England leaving his nation to German mercy, thus Tesla did not see anything great in this “great army”). Tesla refused going to Serbian army and he refused being hard-line nationalist. Tesla once said:” I am proud of my country Croatia and my Serbian nationality”. This indicates best that he was not hard-line nationalist (keep in mind that Serbian nationalist even today claim that Croatia is occupied Serbian territory and that it will be wiped off the map). This author actually invented many stories of Tesla’s life and even more of them are from second or third hand, totally untrue.

On the technical aspect of this book it is not even worth any comments. Someone who does not know anything about electrical tech must be wondering, what the heck did this guy Tesla invent anyway (hence huh reader again)? I would describe the technical portion of this book as a good joke; even Mr. Bean would do it better. Author just could not sustain a certain hatred for Ottoman empire, which by the way was not much different then eg. Roman empire. Stay away from this book, you will not learn anything from it and could be infected with serious hate.

This book is a zero mark!
Rating: 1 / 5

]]> Comment on The Norton Anthology of English Literature by Steven W. Wantz http://www.rupplerow.com/the-norton-anthology-of-english-literature.html#comment-321 Steven W. Wantz Mon, 21 Jun 2010 20:44:02 +0000 http://www.rupplerow.com/the-norton-anthology-of-english-literature.html#comment-321 It's hard to imagine that one could actually enjoy required reading, but let your mind wander as I explain. This Anthology contains so much reading material, there is no possibility of becoming bored because there is something for everyone within. From Wordsworth to Lord Byron you can enjoy some interesting reads. <br /> <br />This book was purchased for an English literature course which involves a good bit of reading, but I was never once bored with it. Rating: 5 / 5 It’s hard to imagine that one could actually enjoy required reading, but let your mind wander as I explain. This Anthology contains so much reading material, there is no possibility of becoming bored because there is something for everyone within. From Wordsworth to Lord Byron you can enjoy some interesting reads.

This book was purchased for an English literature course which involves a good bit of reading, but I was never once bored with it.
Rating: 5 / 5

]]> Comment on Aspects of the Novel by JypsyJBook http://www.rupplerow.com/aspects-of-the-novel.html#comment-316 JypsyJBook Mon, 21 Jun 2010 20:20:54 +0000 http://www.rupplerow.com/aspects-of-the-novel.html#comment-316 For the first 30 pages, I was surprisingly annoyed with Forster. But for the rest of the book, I wished I were sitting in an Oxford pub with him, having a lively exchange of ideas. I certainly don't agree with all of his opinions (such as when he completely disregards novelists' sociocultural situations--though he describes his idea beautifully: "Empires fall, votes are accorded, but to those people writing in the circular room it is the feel of the pen between their fingers that matters most"), and some of his ideas I began by disparaging but came to understand only in light of later ideas (such as when he describes story as a "low, atavistic form"). But almost without exception, his ideas were fascinating and had merit. That plus his conversational tone (the book is actually a series of transcribed lectures) are what made me wish I were good-naturedly debating with him over drinks. <br /> <br />One of his most interesting ideas was that the difference between real people and characters in fiction is that we can never fully understand the secret inner life of our fellow human beings but fictional characters can be fully known to us. He says that the characters we feel are most "real" are not those who most closely resemble real people but those whom the author most fully knows. Not that the author will always explain everything about the character in the novel, of course, but he/she will express enough that the character will give readers a convincing surprise. He wrote a brilliant few pages in which he praises Jane Austen for her characters' convincing responses to every situation (which is exactly what I love about her). <br /> <br />There are a great many more ideas in the book than that one I mentioned above. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes to philosophize about fiction, truth, humanity, art, etc. And, if you're interested, meet me for a drink and we'll have a good conversation about it. Rating: 4 / 5 For the first 30 pages, I was surprisingly annoyed with Forster. But for the rest of the book, I wished I were sitting in an Oxford pub with him, having a lively exchange of ideas. I certainly don’t agree with all of his opinions (such as when he completely disregards novelists’ sociocultural situations–though he describes his idea beautifully: “Empires fall, votes are accorded, but to those people writing in the circular room it is the feel of the pen between their fingers that matters most”), and some of his ideas I began by disparaging but came to understand only in light of later ideas (such as when he describes story as a “low, atavistic form”). But almost without exception, his ideas were fascinating and had merit. That plus his conversational tone (the book is actually a series of transcribed lectures) are what made me wish I were good-naturedly debating with him over drinks.

One of his most interesting ideas was that the difference between real people and characters in fiction is that we can never fully understand the secret inner life of our fellow human beings but fictional characters can be fully known to us. He says that the characters we feel are most “real” are not those who most closely resemble real people but those whom the author most fully knows. Not that the author will always explain everything about the character in the novel, of course, but he/she will express enough that the character will give readers a convincing surprise. He wrote a brilliant few pages in which he praises Jane Austen for her characters’ convincing responses to every situation (which is exactly what I love about her).

There are a great many more ideas in the book than that one I mentioned above. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes to philosophize about fiction, truth, humanity, art, etc. And, if you’re interested, meet me for a drink and we’ll have a good conversation about it.
Rating: 4 / 5

]]> Comment on The Norton Anthology of English Literature by Amanda David http://www.rupplerow.com/the-norton-anthology-of-english-literature.html#comment-320 Amanda David Mon, 21 Jun 2010 19:55:37 +0000 http://www.rupplerow.com/the-norton-anthology-of-english-literature.html#comment-320 This book is perfect for British Literature classes. I'm an English Lit major and this book has all the important pieces in one place! Rating: 5 / 5 This book is perfect for British Literature classes. I’m an English Lit major and this book has all the important pieces in one place!
Rating: 5 / 5

]]> Comment on Aspects of the Novel by Anonymous http://www.rupplerow.com/aspects-of-the-novel.html#comment-315 Anonymous Mon, 21 Jun 2010 19:13:20 +0000 http://www.rupplerow.com/aspects-of-the-novel.html#comment-315 The guy could write, right? If you want to know Forster, or if you want to know the novel, you have to read this. Read Ian Watt's The Rise of the Novel, too. 'Nuff said. Rating: 5 / 5 The guy could write, right? If you want to know Forster, or if you want to know the novel, you have to read this. Read Ian Watt’s The Rise of the Novel, too. ‘Nuff said.
Rating: 5 / 5

]]> Comment on Wizard: The Life and Times of Nikola Tesla : Biography of a Genius by Apolinar J. Velazco http://www.rupplerow.com/wizard-the-life-and-times-of-nikola-tesla-biography-of-a-genius.html#comment-325 Apolinar J. Velazco Mon, 21 Jun 2010 18:59:46 +0000 http://www.rupplerow.com/wizard-the-life-and-times-of-nikola-tesla-biography-of-a-genius.html#comment-325 If you want to read a good biography of Nikola Tesla I would recommend you two books: Man out of Time or Nikola Tesla: A spark of genius... Rating: 1 / 5 If you want to read a good biography of Nikola Tesla I would recommend you two books: Man out of Time or Nikola Tesla: A spark of genius…
Rating: 1 / 5

]]> Comment on Aspects of the Novel by Sandra Glahn http://www.rupplerow.com/aspects-of-the-novel.html#comment-314 Sandra Glahn Mon, 21 Jun 2010 18:28:33 +0000 http://www.rupplerow.com/aspects-of-the-novel.html#comment-314 I will read this again and again. It's loaded, packed, stuffed with fabulous writerly advice. <br /> <br />Sandra Glahn, Lethal Harvest Rating: 5 / 5 I will read this again and again. It’s loaded, packed, stuffed with fabulous writerly advice.

Sandra Glahn, Lethal Harvest
Rating: 5 / 5

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