Prong's 13th Review - Cat's Cradle

Hey there marauders. Hope your week is going well so far. Ours sure is! We are getting really excited over the completed website we are about to have up, as well as BBAW which is only a few weeks away! In a few days we will have a short post up about all of the nominations we received (thanks in advance!!) and as well as a special giveaway in honor of the BBAW week. I should have another review up hopefully by this weekend of Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar so make sure to keep your eyes peeled for that, as well as some literary links.

Also make sure to put your vote in over on our side poll, as it will greatly affect the amount of items we have for sale once the site is up and running!! --> As always, we WANT to hear YOUR ideas about any literary t-shirts or mugs that you would like to see! Ok enough of me babbaling, here is what I am sure you really came for:

“She said his mind was turned to the biggest music there was, the music of the stars.”
Cat's Cradle
Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

So this will be my second review of a Vonnegut work that I have done for this site. After reading Mother Night, I promised myself there would be at least 5 more reviews in between ‘Vonneguts’, and trust me it was hard to not just dash that whole notion and devote this site entirely to this mans work. Thankfully, my 5 reviews have since passed and I am able to sit down and focus again on the author who with every turning page, seems to be recalculating my entire equation on life. Prepare yourselves because you are about to hear some serious gushing over this novel and author. So with out further ado, here is my extra-anticipated review of Kurt Vonnegut’s, Cat’s Cradle.

Cat’s Cradle was written in 1963 by Kurt Vonnegut Jr., and like many of his other works, it explores the satirical implications of war, religion, science, love and the end of the world. As a WWII survivor, it is not a far stretch to read Vonnegut’s own personal biased into apocalyptic nature of the work, which ultimately shows the absurdity of all that man has made out of life. Each character and event could be considered a separate string in Vonnegut’s own personal cat’s cradle, and in the end all of the strings work together to reveal themselves as the illusion of something bigger; a false picture that one must look carefully to see.

"No wonder kids grow up crazy. A cat's cradle is nothing but a bunch of X's between somebody's hands, and little kids look and look and look at all those X's..." "And?" "No damn cat, and no damn cradle."

Vonnegut writes from the perspective of John, a writer who is trying to collect information for a book about what important people were doing the day the atomic bomb was dropped. John is a narrator who talks in retrospect, looking back over his recent past; giving insight to the events that seemed random but fell together into a purposeful whole. His research, or possibly destiny, crosses his path with the children of a deceased Dr. Hoenikker; the (fictional) creator of the atom-bomb. As the strings of the story begin to loop and twist, John dives further into the life of this ingenious, but morally empty man, and begins to unravel some frightening truths about what the Doctor was working on just before his death.

What follows after that is a race through the land-mine minds of all that surround John, as he frantically tries to make sense of the world he has been thrown into. The writing is quick and explosive and leaves the readers smacking their own hand for laughing at some of the truly tragic black humor that occurs. Make sure to take a look at the chapter titles in the table of contents because those alone are enough to send you into fits of laughter. The chapters are short (at times less than a page) which makes the entire work fly by in a matter of hours. For anyone looking for a short, honest, creative read; this work is for you.

"She hated people who thought too much. At that moment, she struck me as an appropriate representative for almost all mankind. The Fat woman’s expression implied that she would go crazy on the spot if anybody did any more thinking."

While the characters and events are enough to carry this book alone, what truly pushes this work into the top 5 satirical works I have ever read is the made up religion of Bokononism. Have you ever been drawn to a person or place with out a real knowledge of why? How about believing a simple lie to make yourself feel safe or strong? Vonnegut tackles all of these ideas in his fictional religion, as he acknowledges the absurdity of life and religion as well as giving us ways to deal with it. Vonnegut, in all of his imagination and irony, explains the fantastical religion where the followers recite calypsos instead of hymns and press the soles of their feet together, which in turn presses their souls closer together. Bokononism focuses less on the worship of a higher power, and more on the reverence of man and all that we get the pleasure of experiencing in life.

I should note that the vocabulary of the new religion can be a bit tricky at times so it might be best to find a list of definitions and keep them with you. (However it is worth it in the long run, and I can pretty soundly say I am now a proud follower of Bokononism.)

He resolved to let the adventure run its full course, resolved to see just how far a man might go, emerging naked from salt water. It was a rebirth for him

Cat’s Cradle is pure genius; with the ever-growing fear of doomsday and loss of logic, Vonnegut gives us his best satirical writing when he raises questions about the consequences of religion and science. With the invention of Ice-9, a substance that turns water instantly to ice, the cloud of destruction hangs over the entire novel, pushing the reader away from science, back to the religion that Vonnegut has already deemed pointless. With this tug-of-war between logic and faith, your brain will reel (in a good way) from the constant bombardment of expectation vs. reality. Where else can you find mad scientists, midgets, prostitutes, WMDs, and cults pulled together in such a cohesive and compelling commentary on life, than in the works of Kurt Vonnegut?

While the laughs are many and the witticisms great, at the core of this work Vonnegut raises many questions about the dangers of science, life and love; and what can happen when all three things are taken for granted. When we don’t stop question life or logic, we are left with nothing more than the inevitability of total destruction!!! But not to worry, total destruction comes with one two many laughs as the satire and social commentary rolls on, long after the world, as we know it is gone. Good Books Inc Approved xs10!!

(quotes from Cat's Cradle)

Prong's 13th Review - Cat's Cradle

Hey there marauders. Hope your week is going well so far. Ours sure is! We are getting really excited over the completed website we are about to have up, as well as BBAW which is only a few weeks away! In a few days we will have a short post up about all of the nominations we received (thanks in advance!!) and as well as a special giveaway in honor of the BBAW week. I should have another review up hopefully by this weekend of Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar so make sure to keep your eyes peeled for that, as well as some literary links.

Also make sure to put your vote in over on our side poll, as it will greatly affect the amount of items we have for sale once the site is up and running!! --> As always, we WANT to hear YOUR ideas about any literary t-shirts or mugs that you would like to see! Ok enough of me babbaling, here is what I am sure you really came for:

“She said his mind was turned to the biggest music there was, the music of the stars.”
Cat's Cradle
Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

So this will be my second review of a Vonnegut work that I have done for this site. After reading Mother Night, I promised myself there would be at least 5 more reviews in between ‘Vonneguts’, and trust me it was hard to not just dash that whole notion and devote this site entirely to this mans work. Thankfully, my 5 reviews have since passed and I am able to sit down and focus again on the author who with every turning page, seems to be recalculating my entire equation on life. Prepare yourselves because you are about to hear some serious gushing over this novel and author. So with out further ado, here is my extra-anticipated review of Kurt Vonnegut’s, Cat’s Cradle.

Cat’s Cradle was written in 1963 by Kurt Vonnegut Jr., and like many of his other works, it explores the satirical implications of war, religion, science, love and the end of the world. As a WWII survivor, it is not a far stretch to read Vonnegut’s own personal biased into apocalyptic nature of the work, which ultimately shows the absurdity of all that man has made out of life. Each character and event could be considered a separate string in Vonnegut’s own personal cat’s cradle, and in the end all of the strings work together to reveal themselves as the illusion of something bigger; a false picture that one must look carefully to see.

"No wonder kids grow up crazy. A cat's cradle is nothing but a bunch of X's between somebody's hands, and little kids look and look and look at all those X's..." "And?" "No damn cat, and no damn cradle."

Vonnegut writes from the perspective of John, a writer who is trying to collect information for a book about what important people were doing the day the atomic bomb was dropped. John is a narrator who talks in retrospect, looking back over his recent past; giving insight to the events that seemed random but fell together into a purposeful whole. His research, or possibly destiny, crosses his path with the children of a deceased Dr. Hoenikker; the (fictional) creator of the atom-bomb. As the strings of the story begin to loop and twist, John dives further into the life of this ingenious, but morally empty man, and begins to unravel some frightening truths about what the Doctor was working on just before his death.

What follows after that is a race through the land-mine minds of all that surround John, as he frantically tries to make sense of the world he has been thrown into. The writing is quick and explosive and leaves the readers smacking their own hand for laughing at some of the truly tragic black humor that occurs. Make sure to take a look at the chapter titles in the table of contents because those alone are enough to send you into fits of laughter. The chapters are short (at times less than a page) which makes the entire work fly by in a matter of hours. For anyone looking for a short, honest, creative read; this work is for you.

"She hated people who thought too much. At that moment, she struck me as an appropriate representative for almost all mankind. The Fat woman’s expression implied that she would go crazy on the spot if anybody did any more thinking."

While the characters and events are enough to carry this book alone, what truly pushes this work into the top 5 satirical works I have ever read is the made up religion of Bokononism. Have you ever been drawn to a person or place with out a real knowledge of why? How about believing a simple lie to make yourself feel safe or strong? Vonnegut tackles all of these ideas in his fictional religion, as he acknowledges the absurdity of life and religion as well as giving us ways to deal with it. Vonnegut, in all of his imagination and irony, explains the fantastical religion where the followers recite calypsos instead of hymns and press the soles of their feet together, which in turn presses their souls closer together. Bokononism focuses less on the worship of a higher power, and more on the reverence of man and all that we get the pleasure of experiencing in life.

I should note that the vocabulary of the new religion can be a bit tricky at times so it might be best to find a list of definitions and keep them with you. (However it is worth it in the long run, and I can pretty soundly say I am now a proud follower of Bokononism.)

He resolved to let the adventure run its full course, resolved to see just how far a man might go, emerging naked from salt water. It was a rebirth for him

Cat’s Cradle is pure genius; with the ever-growing fear of doomsday and loss of logic, Vonnegut gives us his best satirical writing when he raises questions about the consequences of religion and science. With the invention of Ice-9, a substance that turns water instantly to ice, the cloud of destruction hangs over the entire novel, pushing the reader away from science, back to the religion that Vonnegut has already deemed pointless. With this tug-of-war between logic and faith, your brain will reel (in a good way) from the constant bombardment of expectation vs. reality. Where else can you find mad scientists, midgets, prostitutes, WMDs, and cults pulled together in such a cohesive and compelling commentary on life, than in the works of Kurt Vonnegut?

While the laughs are many and the witticisms great, at the core of this work Vonnegut raises many questions about the dangers of science, life and love; and what can happen when all three things are taken for granted. When we don’t stop question life or logic, we are left with nothing more than the inevitability of total destruction!!! But not to worry, total destruction comes with one two many laughs as the satire and social commentary rolls on, long after the world, as we know it is gone. Good Books Inc Approved xs10!!

(quotes from Cat's Cradle)

Ray Bradbury loves me more than you....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RAY BRADBURY!!

Hey there all you Bradbury fans! Prongs here bring you a very special post about on of my ALL TIME FAVORITE AUTHORS EVER. As you may or may-not have known, today is the immortal Ray Bradbury's 89th birthday! Not only is Bradbury one of the most important contemporary writers of our time, he is in our humble opinion one of the most important writers ever. With his most popular work Fahrenheit 451, Bradbury ignited the mental fires for thousands of readers with his provocative look at censorship and (godforbid) the burning of books. In his other novels, short stories, and poems Bradbury writes with such a poetic prose that Shakespeare might be looking down on him with envy. Here is a bit of information on this amazing talent of a man:

In 2007, Bradbury received the French Commandeur Ordre des Arts et des Lettersmedal.

For his contribution to the motion picture industry, Ray Bradbury was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6644 Hollywood Blvd.

An asteroid is named in his honor, "9766 Bradbury," along with a crater on the moon called "Dandelion Crater" (named after his novel, Dandelion Wine).

On April 16, 2007, Bradbury received a special citation from the Pulitzer Board, "for his distinguished, prolific, and deeply influential career as an unmatched author of science fiction and fantasy."

On November 17, 2004, Bradbury was the recipient of the National Medal of Arts , presented by then-President G.W. Bush and Laura Bush. --Wikipedia

Wow, what a career!!! Not only has Ray Bradbury touched the imagination of millions in the literary world; he has been an infinite source of inspiration for your beloved marauders. In fact I am not afraid to say it but Ray Bradbury was my first true love. That's right folks, my greatest regret in life will be that I never married this man. Not only did have I said that multiple times, but I put it in a letter to him not to long ago. Here is a brief passage from the letter that I hand wrote him, expressing my undying love for this man and his writing:

I have had an ongoing flirtation with the English language for many years now. I have cried with it, slept with it, plunged head first into the darkness…but have each time come up dry. It was not until I first read your wok that I became submerged, head and heart, with the dripping draw of literature. I know that letters, especially ones of this nature are fairly outdated at this time, but it seemed only appropriate to express my self in the way that you have so greatly touched me.

Recently, I finished reading ‘Something Wicked’ for about the fifth time. It dawned on me just now that possibly I had this budding letter addressed to the wrong man. Perhaps instead I should be writing my saccharine sentiments care of Mr. Halloway. However, since I only know how to find him in the depths of my head, and the core of your writing, I am hoping that you can give him my message. I have to assume that somewhere inside you the thoughts and beliefs of this every-young man dwells either silently or violently. If this is the case I have never found a character, real or alive, that has been so tainted with my own thoughts and imperfections. Even at the ‘tender’ age of 20, I have felt the suspended outline of time and death in every corner of every room, of every thought, of every person I have ever known…that has propelled me closer to my perpetual friend. The only relief I have from the tug-of-war-of-time, is in the works of your stories and others like it. Also in my own desperate attempts at writing. It is this relief and catharsis, which I promise to give my love. Pick up the phone Mr. Bradbury, I am calling in to pledge to you the greatest amount I can offer.

Hopefully my heart felt sentiments to Bradbury might inspire you to pick up one of his works for yourself. And just in case that has not inspired you enough here are some of our favorite quotes that can be attributed to his master mind. You can also check out our collection of quotes specifically from Fahrenheit 451.

• I wonder how many men, hiding their youngness, rise as I do, Saturday mornings, filled with the hope that Bugs Bunny, Yosemite Sam and Daffy Duck will be there waiting as our one true always and forever salvation?
• "My stories run up and bite me in the leg— I respond by writing down everything that goes on during the bite. When I finish, the idea lets go and runs off."
• Recreate the world in your own image and make it better for your having been here.
• We were put here as witnesses to the miracle of life. We see the stars, and we want them. We are beholden to give back to the universe.... If we make landfall on another star system, we become immortal.
• The gift of life is so precious that we should feel an obligation to pay back the universe for the gift of being alive.
• We are the miracle of force and matter making itself over into imagination and will. Incredible. The Life Force experimenting with forms. You for one. Me for another. The Universe has shouted itself alive. We are one of the shouts.
• The women in my life have all been librarians, English teachers, or booksellers. If they couldn't speak pidgin Tolstoy, articulate Henry James, or give me directions to Usher and Ox, it was no go. I have always longed for education, and pillow talk's the best.
• Why would you clone people when you can go to bed with them and make a baby? C'mon, it's stupid
• A life's work should be based on love.

Wow some amazing quotes there. Now finally I thought I would all share this final bit of excellent-ness with you. Remember that letter I mentioned earlier? Well at the end of that letter I let Ray in on a bit of information. His two main characters of my favorite book (Something Wicked this way Comes) have birthdays that are a day apart from each other. It just so happens that Ray Bradbury and I share that same quality. That is right folks, my 21st birthday was yesterday; a day before Ray Bradburys. When I told him this in the letter, not only was he kind enough to respond with all kinds of amazing things.... he INCLUDED A BIRTHDAY CARD! JEALOUS!?! That is right folks, and here is my proof. Me with my new prized possestion, a signed birthday card from Ray Bradbury. I will give you time to quit drooling while I go frame this! Hope you all have a wonderful day and make sure to check out some more of this literary masters work when you get a chance!

Ray Bradbury loves me more than you....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RAY BRADBURY!!

Hey there all you Bradbury fans! Prongs here bring you a very special post about on of my ALL TIME FAVORITE AUTHORS EVER. As you may or may-not have known, today is the immortal Ray Bradbury's 89th birthday! Not only is Bradbury one of the most important contemporary writers of our time, he is in our humble opinion one of the most important writers ever. With his most popular work Fahrenheit 451, Bradbury ignited the mental fires for thousands of readers with his provocative look at censorship and (godforbid) the burning of books. In his other novels, short stories, and poems Bradbury writes with such a poetic prose that Shakespeare might be looking down on him with envy. Here is a bit of information on this amazing talent of a man:

In 2007, Bradbury received the French Commandeur Ordre des Arts et des Lettersmedal.

For his contribution to the motion picture industry, Ray Bradbury was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6644 Hollywood Blvd.

An asteroid is named in his honor, "9766 Bradbury," along with a crater on the moon called "Dandelion Crater" (named after his novel, Dandelion Wine).

On April 16, 2007, Bradbury received a special citation from the Pulitzer Board, "for his distinguished, prolific, and deeply influential career as an unmatched author of science fiction and fantasy."

On November 17, 2004, Bradbury was the recipient of the National Medal of Arts , presented by then-President G.W. Bush and Laura Bush. --Wikipedia

Wow, what a career!!! Not only has Ray Bradbury touched the imagination of millions in the literary world; he has been an infinite source of inspiration for your beloved marauders. In fact I am not afraid to say it but Ray Bradbury was my first true love. That's right folks, my greatest regret in life will be that I never married this man. Not only did have I said that multiple times, but I put it in a letter to him not to long ago. Here is a brief passage from the letter that I hand wrote him, expressing my undying love for this man and his writing:

I have had an ongoing flirtation with the English language for many years now. I have cried with it, slept with it, plunged head first into the darkness…but have each time come up dry. It was not until I first read your wok that I became submerged, head and heart, with the dripping draw of literature. I know that letters, especially ones of this nature are fairly outdated at this time, but it seemed only appropriate to express my self in the way that you have so greatly touched me.

Recently, I finished reading ‘Something Wicked’ for about the fifth time. It dawned on me just now that possibly I had this budding letter addressed to the wrong man. Perhaps instead I should be writing my saccharine sentiments care of Mr. Halloway. However, since I only know how to find him in the depths of my head, and the core of your writing, I am hoping that you can give him my message. I have to assume that somewhere inside you the thoughts and beliefs of this every-young man dwells either silently or violently. If this is the case I have never found a character, real or alive, that has been so tainted with my own thoughts and imperfections. Even at the ‘tender’ age of 20, I have felt the suspended outline of time and death in every corner of every room, of every thought, of every person I have ever known…that has propelled me closer to my perpetual friend. The only relief I have from the tug-of-war-of-time, is in the works of your stories and others like it. Also in my own desperate attempts at writing. It is this relief and catharsis, which I promise to give my love. Pick up the phone Mr. Bradbury, I am calling in to pledge to you the greatest amount I can offer.

Hopefully my heart felt sentiments to Bradbury might inspire you to pick up one of his works for yourself. And just in case that has not inspired you enough here are some of our favorite quotes that can be attributed to his master mind. You can also check out our collection of quotes specifically from Fahrenheit 451.

• I wonder how many men, hiding their youngness, rise as I do, Saturday mornings, filled with the hope that Bugs Bunny, Yosemite Sam and Daffy Duck will be there waiting as our one true always and forever salvation?
• "My stories run up and bite me in the leg— I respond by writing down everything that goes on during the bite. When I finish, the idea lets go and runs off."
• Recreate the world in your own image and make it better for your having been here.
• We were put here as witnesses to the miracle of life. We see the stars, and we want them. We are beholden to give back to the universe.... If we make landfall on another star system, we become immortal.
• The gift of life is so precious that we should feel an obligation to pay back the universe for the gift of being alive.
• We are the miracle of force and matter making itself over into imagination and will. Incredible. The Life Force experimenting with forms. You for one. Me for another. The Universe has shouted itself alive. We are one of the shouts.
• The women in my life have all been librarians, English teachers, or booksellers. If they couldn't speak pidgin Tolstoy, articulate Henry James, or give me directions to Usher and Ox, it was no go. I have always longed for education, and pillow talk's the best.
• Why would you clone people when you can go to bed with them and make a baby? C'mon, it's stupid
• A life's work should be based on love.

Wow some amazing quotes there. Now finally I thought I would all share this final bit of excellent-ness with you. Remember that letter I mentioned earlier? Well at the end of that letter I let Ray in on a bit of information. His two main characters of my favorite book (Something Wicked this way Comes) have birthdays that are a day apart from each other. It just so happens that Ray Bradbury and I share that same quality. That is right folks, my 21st birthday was yesterday; a day before Ray Bradburys. When I told him this in the letter, not only was he kind enough to respond with all kinds of amazing things.... he INCLUDED A BIRTHDAY CARD! JEALOUS!?! That is right folks, and here is my proof. Me with my new prized possestion, a signed birthday card from Ray Bradbury. I will give you time to quit drooling while I go frame this! Hope you all have a wonderful day and make sure to check out some more of this literary masters work when you get a chance!

Sons and Lovers - Prongs 12th Review

'To be rid of our individuality, which is our will, which is our effort—to live effortless, a kind of curious sleep—that is very beautiful...'

Sons and Lovers
D. H. Lawrence

As I am currently working my way down the Modern Library’s list of Top 100 books, I knew that soon or later it meant I had to tackle a work by D. H. Lawrence. As I had never heard rave reviews about his writing before, I will be honest in saying that I was not thrilled when I hit him on the list. Sons and Lovers was the first work I have read by D. H. Lawrence. It is his 3rd novel and is considered to be by most to be the novel that really pushed Lawrence into the literary lime light. The work was published in 1913 and for many, is considered to be autobiographical in nature. Sons and Lovers is a work that centers on the Morel’s; a middle class family trying to make ends meet in the early 1900’s. The children and the father work together much like a wheel, revolving completely and entirely around the love they feel for their mother.

The first half of the novel focuses aptly on the ‘Sons’, which are the backbone of the family unit. With a drunkard of a father, it is left to the three sons of the Morel family to provide and care for their mother in many ways that her inept husband never could. In opening, Ms. Morel finds herself becoming mentally and emotionally drawn to her middle son Paul, the son who was her intellectual and emotional match in every way. Paul, in response unconsciously develop what is one day known to many as an ‘oedipal’ complex, and as time progresses finds himself unable to break away from the psychological ties that hold him to his mother.

He leaned with his back against the side of the chimney-piece, his hands in his pockets. He was a big, raw-boned man, who looked as if he would go to the world’s end if he wanted to. But she saw the despair on his face.

This type of extreme attachment between Paul and his mother is what makes the second part of the book so intriguing and heartbreaking. Mrs. Morel’s son becomes a man and with that starts to feel unhinged by the fact that he cannot truly give his love to another woman, for a reason that he cannot seem to understand. Paul falls as deeply as he can in love with a wide-eyes girl named Miriam, but cannot resolve himself to let her possesses him fully. He also has a heated, passionate affair with a married woman; but both relations only satisfy him physically, and Paul can never truly find peace with another woman.

‘He had come back to his mother. Hers was the strongest tie in his life. When he thought round, Miriam shrank away. There was a vague, unreal feel about her. An nobody else mattered. There was one place in the world that stood solid and did not melt into unreality: the place where his mother was. Everybody else could grow shadowy, almost non-existent to him, but she could not. It was as if the pivot and pole of his life, from which he could not escape was his mother.’

And in some ways, who can blame him? If your soul is married to someone, in the ways that a body can never be… how could you expect to ever be at peace with another lover? Freud would have a field day with this one, but it is hard in the end not to sympathizes with the love that Paul can never realize.

While D. H. Lawrence does spin a beautiful yet heart sick tale of an impossible love, and a doomed man, he makes the time go by quickly with his beautiful prose and in-depth look into the psyche of the English middle-class, something that was groundbreaking for his time period. Although I was never rushing to pick up this book, it did go fast during the times that I sat down with it and has made me realize that I might have been a bit quick on judging ole D.H.

Make sure to check out in the next few days by reviews of Cat's Cradle, The Bell Jar and A Confederacy of Dunces!! Ah so much reading how exciting. As well, don't forget out to check out all the new quotes!! Have a wonderful day Marauders.

Sons and Lovers - Prongs 12th Review

'To be rid of our individuality, which is our will, which is our effort—to live effortless, a kind of curious sleep—that is very beautiful...'

Sons and Lovers
D. H. Lawrence

As I am currently working my way down the Modern Library’s list of Top 100 books, I knew that soon or later it meant I had to tackle a work by D. H. Lawrence. As I had never heard rave reviews about his writing before, I will be honest in saying that I was not thrilled when I hit him on the list. Sons and Lovers was the first work I have read by D. H. Lawrence. It is his 3rd novel and is considered to be by most to be the novel that really pushed Lawrence into the literary lime light. The work was published in 1913 and for many, is considered to be autobiographical in nature. Sons and Lovers is a work that centers on the Morel’s; a middle class family trying to make ends meet in the early 1900’s. The children and the father work together much like a wheel, revolving completely and entirely around the love they feel for their mother.

The first half of the novel focuses aptly on the ‘Sons’, which are the backbone of the family unit. With a drunkard of a father, it is left to the three sons of the Morel family to provide and care for their mother in many ways that her inept husband never could. In opening, Ms. Morel finds herself becoming mentally and emotionally drawn to her middle son Paul, the son who was her intellectual and emotional match in every way. Paul, in response unconsciously develop what is one day known to many as an ‘oedipal’ complex, and as time progresses finds himself unable to break away from the psychological ties that hold him to his mother.

He leaned with his back against the side of the chimney-piece, his hands in his pockets. He was a big, raw-boned man, who looked as if he would go to the world’s end if he wanted to. But she saw the despair on his face.

This type of extreme attachment between Paul and his mother is what makes the second part of the book so intriguing and heartbreaking. Mrs. Morel’s son becomes a man and with that starts to feel unhinged by the fact that he cannot truly give his love to another woman, for a reason that he cannot seem to understand. Paul falls as deeply as he can in love with a wide-eyes girl named Miriam, but cannot resolve himself to let her possesses him fully. He also has a heated, passionate affair with a married woman; but both relations only satisfy him physically, and Paul can never truly find peace with another woman.

‘He had come back to his mother. Hers was the strongest tie in his life. When he thought round, Miriam shrank away. There was a vague, unreal feel about her. An nobody else mattered. There was one place in the world that stood solid and did not melt into unreality: the place where his mother was. Everybody else could grow shadowy, almost non-existent to him, but she could not. It was as if the pivot and pole of his life, from which he could not escape was his mother.’

And in some ways, who can blame him? If your soul is married to someone, in the ways that a body can never be… how could you expect to ever be at peace with another lover? Freud would have a field day with this one, but it is hard in the end not to sympathizes with the love that Paul can never realize.

While D. H. Lawrence does spin a beautiful yet heart sick tale of an impossible love, and a doomed man, he makes the time go by quickly with his beautiful prose and in-depth look into the psyche of the English middle-class, something that was groundbreaking for his time period. Although I was never rushing to pick up this book, it did go fast during the times that I sat down with it and has made me realize that I might have been a bit quick on judging ole D.H.

Make sure to check out in the next few days by reviews of Cat's Cradle, The Bell Jar and A Confederacy of Dunces!! Ah so much reading how exciting. As well, don't forget out to check out all the new quotes!! Have a wonderful day Marauders.

Mugs Mugs and more Mugs.

Hey there everyone!

Padfoot and Prongs here with a really quick update about the business! We have officially begun to print our shirts and mugs with the book covers!! Eeee! We are so excited and are already falling in love with the products we have made so far. Just wanted to show those of you who have been so wonderful in displaying interest twords our ideas, that we are getting there step by step. The website (which is being worked on by an amazing guy!) should be done sometime within 2 weeks and you will all have your chance to own your very own Good Books Inc. mugs!

Now remember folks, all of the designs you see are just basic ideas. Some are being finalized, and there are still a few new ones being worked on.
However if there are any ideas you have, quotes, or pictures that you want to be, be sure to let us know so that we can try and get something in the works for you. We would love for nothing more than this to be a creative collaboration between all book lovers, where you can see your favorite books and quotes every morning when you get dressed or have coffee. A nice way to start the day I think.

Until every thing is finished up, be sure to keep checking the GBI Designs tab as well as our Twitter for more by-the-minute updates. Once again, thank you every one for your support and excitment over what we are doing!!!

Mugs Mugs and more Mugs.

Hey there everyone!

Padfoot and Prongs here with a really quick update about the business! We have officially begun to print our shirts and mugs with the book covers!! Eeee! We are so excited and are already falling in love with the products we have made so far. Just wanted to show those of you who have been so wonderful in displaying interest twords our ideas, that we are getting there step by step. The website (which is being worked on by an amazing guy!) should be done sometime within 2 weeks and you will all have your chance to own your very own Good Books Inc. mugs!

Now remember folks, all of the designs you see are just basic ideas. Some are being finalized, and there are still a few new ones being worked on.
However if there are any ideas you have, quotes, or pictures that you want to be, be sure to let us know so that we can try and get something in the works for you. We would love for nothing more than this to be a creative collaboration between all book lovers, where you can see your favorite books and quotes every morning when you get dressed or have coffee. A nice way to start the day I think.

Until every thing is finished up, be sure to keep checking the GBI Designs tab as well as our Twitter for more by-the-minute updates. Once again, thank you every one for your support and excitment over what we are doing!!!

You likey the books? Then you clicky the links.

Hey there folks.
Padfoot and Prongs here bring you a nice short post to kick off your Mondays. If you are at all like us, you are craving a little literature in your life to make the beginning of the week move a little quicker towards Friday, so we are here to provide you with a few links that will hopefully help you push through the day! Before we get started we wanted to give you a reminder to check out all the other cool random things you can click around our blog. This is including but not limited to, past reviews, our friends over at Gelaskins, as well as our link to twitter! GBI is every where kids so don't pass up an opportunity to become evern moreee obsessed with us!! But seriously, the most important link we want you to focus on right now is our Quotes page. You can also see it right up there^ Now...we here at GBI have been doing a decent (ok kind of awful) job at updating the site with all of our favorite quotes from recent books we have tackled. However our goal is to one day have a comprehensive site where any one who has just read, or is looking to read a book can glance on up and check out some quotes, which will hopefully spark their desire to read more...
BUT WE CAN'T DO IT ALONE!!!

Yes that is right folks, for total domination in the literary quote world (suck it Wikipedia) we need YOUR help!! So put those highlighters to good use, and when ever you get done with your most recent novel make sure to send us a few of the passages that really touched you! We will include them in the blog (giving you credit for finding them of course) and the blogosphere will be a happier, more literary place!! Thanks so much for all of you who have helped so far!

(You can click all pictures for links as well)
Ok now lets get down to it. We promised you links and by jebus you are going to get some.
First for your reading delights we have an interesting site for you: Electric Literature. Here you can find an assortment of the most intersting new short stories, authors, and pleanty of literary goodies. Here is their description:
"We are a bi-monthly anthology of short fiction. We select stories charged with wit and emotional gravity right from the first sentence. You choose how you want to read them. We deliver content in every viable medium."

Now how great does that sound? Make sure to head on over there and subscribe today! Wonderful literary things await you!!

Next for you we have one of the funniest things we have come across in sometime. Ever sat around thought to yourself 'Why aren't my favorite classic novels in an easier to read - comic book style?' I know I have. Well fret no more fellow marauders because the day has come when this dream has reached it's reality!! That is right here you can find "(a) preview of R. Sikoryak's new book, which reimagines classic literature in the styles of well-known comics." Personal favorites...Action Camus. So which of your favorite classics is still missing from this site? Let's hear them!

Finally, incase you haven't heard we thought that we would update you on Hollywood's latest attempts to butcher classic novels. What is the victim this time? Looks like it is going to be Brave New World.

"The "Blade Runner" director is joining forces with Leonardo DiCaprio to take on one of the most highly regarded dystopian works of literature, Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World." Says an article from Reuters. Let us all keep our fingers crossed for this one folks.

Well readers that is all we have for you for today. Don't cry because there are pleanty more fun literary things to come this week. Make sure to keep an eye out for a review of both Sons and Lovers by D.H.Lawerence as well as Cat's Cradle by Vonnegut; as well as new news on the t-shirts (which we will start printing this weeeekkk!!!)
Have a happy Monday fellow marauders, and as always...

You likey the books? Then you clicky the links.

Hey there folks.
Padfoot and Prongs here bring you a nice short post to kick off your Mondays. If you are at all like us, you are craving a little literature in your life to make the beginning of the week move a little quicker towards Friday, so we are here to provide you with a few links that will hopefully help you push through the day! Before we get started we wanted to give you a reminder to check out all the other cool random things you can click around our blog. This is including but not limited to, past reviews, our friends over at Gelaskins, as well as our link to twitter! GBI is every where kids so don't pass up an opportunity to become evern moreee obsessed with us!! But seriously, the most important link we want you to focus on right now is our Quotes page. You can also see it right up there^ Now...we here at GBI have been doing a decent (ok kind of awful) job at updating the site with all of our favorite quotes from recent books we have tackled. However our goal is to one day have a comprehensive site where any one who has just read, or is looking to read a book can glance on up and check out some quotes, which will hopefully spark their desire to read more...
BUT WE CAN'T DO IT ALONE!!!

Yes that is right folks, for total domination in the literary quote world (suck it Wikipedia) we need YOUR help!! So put those highlighters to good use, and when ever you get done with your most recent novel make sure to send us a few of the passages that really touched you! We will include them in the blog (giving you credit for finding them of course) and the blogosphere will be a happier, more literary place!! Thanks so much for all of you who have helped so far!

(You can click all pictures for links as well)
Ok now lets get down to it. We promised you links and by jebus you are going to get some.
First for your reading delights we have an interesting site for you: Electric Literature. Here you can find an assortment of the most intersting new short stories, authors, and pleanty of literary goodies. Here is their description:
"We are a bi-monthly anthology of short fiction. We select stories charged with wit and emotional gravity right from the first sentence. You choose how you want to read them. We deliver content in every viable medium."

Now how great does that sound? Make sure to head on over there and subscribe today! Wonderful literary things await you!!

Next for you we have one of the funniest things we have come across in sometime. Ever sat around thought to yourself 'Why aren't my favorite classic novels in an easier to read - comic book style?' I know I have. Well fret no more fellow marauders because the day has come when this dream has reached it's reality!! That is right here you can find "(a) preview of R. Sikoryak's new book, which reimagines classic literature in the styles of well-known comics." Personal favorites...Action Camus. So which of your favorite classics is still missing from this site? Let's hear them!

Finally, incase you haven't heard we thought that we would update you on Hollywood's latest attempts to butcher classic novels. What is the victim this time? Looks like it is going to be Brave New World.

"The "Blade Runner" director is joining forces with Leonardo DiCaprio to take on one of the most highly regarded dystopian works of literature, Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World." Says an article from Reuters. Let us all keep our fingers crossed for this one folks.

Well readers that is all we have for you for today. Don't cry because there are pleanty more fun literary things to come this week. Make sure to keep an eye out for a review of both Sons and Lovers by D.H.Lawerence as well as Cat's Cradle by Vonnegut; as well as new news on the t-shirts (which we will start printing this weeeekkk!!!)
Have a happy Monday fellow marauders, and as always...

Padfoot - Eighth Review - The Stranger

Howdy ya'll.

Padfoot here...bringing you a short review, which happens to be something I have not done in many a' moons. I recently stumbled upon my battered copy of Albert Camus's The Stranger, and after hearing many good things about it, I decided to give it a shot.

With big print, small format, and only 140-some-odd pages, this book flies by. The story is about a emotionally detached man, Meursault, who kills an Arab man on a beach in France; it starts out with this man recognizing the recent death of his mother:

"Mother died today. Or maybe yesterday, I don't know."

These opening lines are very haunting, and show the impassive nature of this newly introduced French man. The story is a short glimpse of his life before the murder, of his joys of frolicking on the beach with his lover, Marie, to the period of his trial and sentence, where he is still lacking emotion.

But, at the very end of the story, you get a short but satisfying conversation with a religious man who visits Meursault in jail. This tiny part of the story left me smiling when I closed the book. Here's a small quote from the end to quench your literary thirst:

"I, too, felt ready to start life all over again. It was as if that great rush of anger had washed me clean, emptied me of hope, and, gazing up at the dark sky spangled with its signs and stars, for the first time, the first, I laid my heart open to the benign indifference of the universe. To feel it so like myself, indeed, so brotherly, made me realize that I’d been happy, and that I was happy still. "

Told you it was a short review! I am a simple being who like to get to the point and move quickly, and Prongs is good at going in depth critically. That makes us fit together nicely, with a view from both sides :) All in all this is a wonderful must read and is 100% Good Book Approved. Get in touch with your absurd-existential side and check this out!

Moving on...
I am currently reading The Godfather by Mario Puzo, and boy howdy it is fantastic. Look forward to a (short) explanation of my feelings on it in a week or so when I have finished. Until then: homework...watch the movie!

ALSO.
Exciting news...we are further along in the process of tshirt making. We know many of you have expressed interest in our designs so if you can just hold you excitment for a few more weeks...(stop camping out on our lawns! they will be done when we say so!!) in a week or two we should have some finals actually made, and ready to be ordered. We will keep you updated.

As always.....

Padfoot - Eighth Review - The Stranger

Howdy ya'll.

Padfoot here...bringing you a short review, which happens to be something I have not done in many a' moons. I recently stumbled upon my battered copy of Albert Camus's The Stranger, and after hearing many good things about it, I decided to give it a shot.

With big print, small format, and only 140-some-odd pages, this book flies by. The story is about a emotionally detached man, Meursault, who kills an Arab man on a beach in France; it starts out with this man recognizing the recent death of his mother:

"Mother died today. Or maybe yesterday, I don't know."

These opening lines are very haunting, and show the impassive nature of this newly introduced French man. The story is a short glimpse of his life before the murder, of his joys of frolicking on the beach with his lover, Marie, to the period of his trial and sentence, where he is still lacking emotion.

But, at the very end of the story, you get a short but satisfying conversation with a religious man who visits Meursault in jail. This tiny part of the story left me smiling when I closed the book. Here's a small quote from the end to quench your literary thirst:

"I, too, felt ready to start life all over again. It was as if that great rush of anger had washed me clean, emptied me of hope, and, gazing up at the dark sky spangled with its signs and stars, for the first time, the first, I laid my heart open to the benign indifference of the universe. To feel it so like myself, indeed, so brotherly, made me realize that I’d been happy, and that I was happy still. "

Told you it was a short review! I am a simple being who like to get to the point and move quickly, and Prongs is good at going in depth critically. That makes us fit together nicely, with a view from both sides :) All in all this is a wonderful must read and is 100% Good Book Approved. Get in touch with your absurd-existential side and check this out!

Moving on...
I am currently reading The Godfather by Mario Puzo, and boy howdy it is fantastic. Look forward to a (short) explanation of my feelings on it in a week or so when I have finished. Until then: homework...watch the movie!

ALSO.
Exciting news...we are further along in the process of tshirt making. We know many of you have expressed interest in our designs so if you can just hold you excitment for a few more weeks...(stop camping out on our lawns! they will be done when we say so!!) in a week or two we should have some finals actually made, and ready to be ordered. We will keep you updated.

As always.....