lazza

early John Irving material confuses, bores..., July 17 2004

'Setting Free the Bears' is an early work by John Irving that would have been normally out of print, and deservedly so, if it were not for his later fame from 'The World According to Garp'. In some ways the book is similar to 'The New Hotel Hampshire', a book I actually didn't care for, but lacks the humor or the huggable characters (or the curious incest sub-plot, thank goodness). So what exactly is wrong with 'Setting Free the Bears'?

Well the plot itself is rather strange and somewhat incomprehensible. A young Austrian college student bumps into a very quirky fellow, and together the tour Austria on motorcycle. Just when you think the book will turn into a funny road story with an… Read more

<sigh> it's so hard being a woman...., July 8 2004

"The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing" is a well-written collection of short stories about the emotional hardships felt by young women in America, mostly involving relationships with family and lovers. The author laces in humor at the right times without having it all spiral into Bridget Jones-like silliness (, which wouldn't be bad per se but it would dilute the emotional impact of the stories). It is unfortunate that because of the it's title and how it is marketed men aren't likely to read this book. The book actually has a balanced (read: non-condescending) view of men which is refreshing from a book which sees men from a woman's perspective.

While a couple of the… Read more

a hybrid of so many other (and better) mystery novels.., July 5 2004

Being a resident Floridian I was hoping for some local Florida 'attitude' in this Randy Wayne White novel, much like what is delivered in the novels by Carl Hiaasen. But Randy Wayne White is no Carl Hiaasen in terms humor or delivering home a green-friendly message in an interesting piece of fiction. Nor does his oh-so-typically-cool investigator leading man, Doc Ford, add any credibility to the story. Unlike the other amazon.com reviewers before me I found 'Sanibel Flats' to be entirely derivative (un-original).

As for the story, it starts of okay with the reader getting into Doc Ford's world of island living in southwest Florida. He has some rather idiosyncratic neighbors, and the… Read more