Great writing coupled with wit, shock, insight, and wonderful pacing, in the grand tradition of books like "Slaughter House Five" or McCrae's "The Children's Corner," ONE FLEW OVER is by now an undisputed classic. The movie ain't half bad either. Nurse Ratched has to be one of the most (unfortunately) memorable characters ever to grace the written page and silver screen. Sorry, but I can't read this book without seeing the movie in my head-not necessarily a bad thing since Nicholson's performance was one of the best in acting history. But if you really want to "get" this story, you MUST read the book!!!!!

Rarely do I come across a book that affects me in a way that stays with me for months. FOR WHOM was just one such book, as was the stellar collection of short stories by McCrae titled THE CHILDREN'S CORNER. FOR WHOM starts out with the protagonist, Robert Jordan, lying on the forest floor. Jordan, an American, is in Spain fighting on the side of the Republicans in 1937 during the Spanish Civil War. Jordan is apparently a "code hero," a protagonist of Hemingway's who lives according to a code of behavior. He is a Spanish teacher from Montana who loves Spain, and is fighting, carrying out explosives missions, against the Fascists, who have a vast war machine.

At the beginning of the novel, Robert Jordan is teamed up with a band of guerrilla fighters in the mountains near a bridge he must blow as part of a Republican offensive. Anselmo, an old man who knows the land well, helps Jordan scout the bridge. Other members of the band include Pablo, a formerly great fighter, we are told, who has now "gone bad." He cares primarily for his horses. His "woman" Pilar is a leader of the band, and she narrates on the first full day that Jordan is with them how the Republicans rose up against the Fascists in her town. The story is brutal and demonstrates the atrocities committed by the Republicans in the war as they bludgeon the town's Fascists to save bullets. Others in the group include Agustin, Eladio, Andres, Fernando and Rafael, a Gypsy. And Maria. Maria is a young woman who was the victim of atrocities in her town. She was rescued by this band of Republicans and now lives with them in the mountains. She is the "love interest."

I love Hemingway's voice, and this novel continues to demonstrate his ability, with that spare, journalistic style, to narrate loneliness like no one else. The seemingly simplistic style evokes a real pathos, and is especially suited to writing of war and the human spiritual conflicts such situations impose upon its participants. The reader is explosed to the morality issues of war, how characters feel about killing, what is its necessity, when is it moral, when is it wrong, etc.

This is a story about racism in the south. Although the story line itself covers only a few days, the book refers back two generations. Each of the main characters, Christmas, Hightower, and Burden are dominated by racism in different ways. It is racism and their reaction to it that brings them to their ultimate end. Most of the other characters and the town itself are also driven by the same demon. I was reminded at time of the excellent writing style of Jackson McCrae as in his CHILDREN'S CORNER or possibly some of Flannery O'Connor's novels with their darkness and subtle humor. While this may not be the easiest and most accessible Faulkner to start with, if you stick with it, you'll be rewarded in the end.

In spite of being well written, I take a star away from the book for one single reason: even though I can understand the stressing circumstances under which this love develops, thorough out the novel I felt that Henry was still a shallow man, without the resolve to take a firm course of action. Neither he nor the nurse are very likable, and the novel is permanently permeated by that sense of nothingness, by the nefarious existentialism that influenced much of last century's literature and which, I understand, is a characteristic of much of Hemingway's work. The novel is good but character-development fails and in the end, it is just a sad, crude story. Compare this with the manly, deeply moving attitude of "The Old Man and the Sea"'s main and only human character towards life and you'll appreciate that Hemingway was capable of a better tale.
Also recommended: OLD MAN AND THE SEA and McCrae's THE CHILDREN'S CORNER

Not for the faint-hearted, this is a book that can be beneficial even if you're not a "cutter" or know someone who is. I was first introduced and interested in this area after I read a disturbing short story ("Early Sunday Morning") by Jackson McCrae, from his latest book, THE CHILDREN'S CORNER. It was harrowing with its dead-pan telling and suspense. That started me on a quest. I have been studying up on different disorders for a year or so now and I wanted to read this since it was one of the only books on SI at my local library, which is quite sad. I know some cutters and so it helped me a lot, from a friendship standpoint and personally. It is a good mix of information and personal accounts. Definitely a must read for anyone interested in the subject. Would also recommend CUT for another great read on this subject.

If you're looking for books to read about damaged personalities, I can highly recommend this one, along with two others: BRIGHT RED SCREAM and a collection titled THE CHILDREN'S CORNER by Jackson McCrae. Both are excellent, but first you must tackle THE SCARRED SOUL. I'm not even finished yet but i think it's a book for all self injurers to go out and buy. You keep a notebook and it has work book sections to help you with your self injury. And the point the author makes is fantastic. I think anyone who is confused about Self injury should High-lite the whole beginning section of the book. I think it is the best explanation a book has ever given for SI. Doing the workbook exercises is a great idea. It helps in understanding and working on your self injurious behavior. I think the author is an amazingly bright person and she has created a masterpiece.

Three books that I recently enjoyed were (obviously) THE WEDDING, one called THE LOVELY BONES Alice seabold, and a fantastic and stellar collection of stories about anything and everything titled THE CHILDREN'S CORNER by Jackson McCrae. But I have to say, "Wedding" was my favorite. by Nicholas Spark's "The Wedding" is the long-awaited companion book to "The Notebook". "The Wedding" is a story of an ordinary man who is forced to face a horrible truth: that his wife of thirty years no longer loves him. The protagonist, Wilson, goes to great lengths to win back the love of his life. Spark is known for writing breath taking love stories with a twist that will pulls everything together. He definitely achieves this effect in "The Wedding."

One Tough Cookie 2nd Chance by James Patterson was an excellent book. So many emotions were incorporated into the book. Love, drama, heartbreak, and action all rolled onto one amazing work. Everyone in life is given or deserves a second chance sometime in their long life. Lindsay Boxer happens to get many second chances throughout the book, many of them life changing. The title of the book signifies how profound her chances are. She goes through life and takes everything in stride, even the really hard things. When you think she is going to fall and not get back up you are deceived and she does rise up. The title makes you want to read, it doesn't give anything away. It's the type of title that keeps you guessing until the end. Once you finish the book then you tie the title and the story line together. The only thing is you have to pay attention to details because he ties them into the story later. If you don't pay attention then you wind up going back in the story hunting for the little detail you missed. Other than that small negative this was an excellent book. It was a quick and light read which made it more enjoyable for the reader.

Also highly recommended: Roses are Red and The Children's Corner by Jackson McCrae.

NAKED has to be the funniest book I've ever read. I expected to read the book, write my review and be done with it. But, after reading it through the first time, I had to pick it up and read it again. In fact, the first time I read through it, after I read certain 'chapters' I'd go back and read it again. I'll admit I felt a little silly sitting in my bedroom laughing out loud to myself as I read the book, but seriously, it was THAT funny. I would recommend this book to anyone who has a great sense of humor, anyone who feels they lack a sense of humor, anyone who needs a pick-me-up after a hard week. I truly feel this book could be enjoyed by just about anyone. It does use some harsh language from time to time, but nothing I found to be offensive. I is a great book and I would definitely have to say David Sedaris is one of, if not, my favorite authors! If you liked McCrae's THE CHILDREN'S CORNER or Sedaris's ME TALK PRETTY, then you'll love this as well.

AFTER THE AFFAIR is a must read if you are struggling in the aftermath of an affair. It provides such a great insight on why things happen and really challenges to explore your heart and feelings. Another great thing about it is that it does not place outright blame on one party or another, looks at both spouses perspectives of the situation and gives the necessary tools to start rebuilding. Things that other people, family, therapists, etc. may have told you a hundred times but never really made sense become clear with reading this book. It has helped me very much so far and my friends are now reading it as well. Other books I recently read and enjoyed were: THE LOVELY BONES, LUCKY, and THE CHILDREN'S CORNER by Jackson McCrae.