Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (31 October, 2000)
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Editorial Review

She may not break new ground with Stories from the City, Stories fromthe Sea, but Polly Jean Harvey proves one thing: she sure knows how to tendto her plot. Hard-rocking, guitar-driven numbers, mesmerizing vocal wordplay,and plenty of noisy atmospherics prove that Harvey is still the queen ofrock-noir. --Jason Verlinde ... Read more

Features

• Explicit Lyrics

Reviews (194)

Her Worst Work
Although not surprising, it's rather ironic that an artist as groundbreaking and original as Harvey is getting a commercial and critical recognition for her most mediocre release.
This is not a bad album it contains good tracks ('Big Exit', 'Whore Hustler') and at time strokes an emotional chord ('We Float') but most of the time it sounds predictable and disturbingly catchy. Both lyrically and musically the album is far behind the level that most Harvey fans are use to and it's understandable that a lot of them alienated her for it.

PJ Harvey's best album
PJ Harvey's fifth album "Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea" is the singer/songwriter's finest album and should please fans of her older albums and new fans alike. "Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea" is somewhat slicker, less rough-around-the-edges than her other albums. I would recommend this album to start off with, as it is probably her most assessable work.

I personally feel that this album has her best collection of songs. From the opening rocker "Big Exit" to the beautiful "We Float," every song is a winner. There isn't any filler to be found. Each song is well written and memorable. It's a good mix of fast paced rockers, mid-tempo songs, and slower ones. The listener never gets bored. This CD deals with themes of love, relationships, etc, but never gets tedious or trite. Everything on this album is sincere and straight from the heart.

The album opens up strong with "Big Exit" an excellent rocker with a good, infectious hook. "Good Fortune" keeps up the momentum. "A Place Called Home" is a beautiful, somewhat morose, slower number whose enchanting background vocals stay with the listener long after the song has ended. The album slows down a bit for the next few songs. The mid-tempo "One Line" leads in perfectly to the dark, atmospheric "Beautiful Feeling." The pace is picked up with "The Whores Hustle, and the Hustlers Whore." "The Mess We're In" features a duet with Thom Yorke. Their overlapping vocals work nicely together. "You Said Something" is another softer number in the vein of "A Place Called Home," only slightly more upbeat. The pace picks up considerably with the excellent rockers "Kamikaze" and "This is Love." The album starts to wind down with the beautiful "Horses in my Dreams" The duel piano and guitar make "Horses in my Dreams" enchanting. The album ends with its' finest track, the majestic "We Float." The verse serves mostly to build up the song and it's mesmerizing chorus totally engulfs the listener.

If you don't own any PJ Harvey albums, this is a good place to start. It's a really good album and should please old and new fans alike.

Mature PJ - like good wine
I feel that this is a very personal album of Polly Jean's.I can feel that the songs came out of her experiences, as if they had come right out of her skin.That's what makes this so great.I also think that it's an album that anyone leaving their twenties and entering their thirties can truly relate to.PJ's grown up and lightened up about a lot of things, but is, as always, very intelligent, emotional and perceptive."We Fall" is a masterpiece.This is an album I keep coming back to. ... Read more

Asin: B00004YW6I
Subjects:  1. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Alternative Pop/Rock    3. Pop    4. Rock    5. Rock/Pop   

Rising Stars : Born In Fire (Vol. 1)
by J. Michael Straczynski
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 January, 2001)
list price: $19.95
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Reviews (26)

Amazing!
Think of XMen, then add a writer who is GREAT!Each of the characters has depth and seems like a real person (unlike other comic book heros who are 'A' typical ect.) and their are a tons of different story lines running congruently that add a whole extra level of depth to the book.

I like XMen, and I apologize to Hardcore XMen fans, but I think XMen has met it's match, and that's J. Michael Straczynski.(Good thing he freelances for Marvel, LOL!)

Rising Stars
Story is pretty amazing, JMS' reputation is upheld, very impressed by this variation on super-hero books.

What happens is 113 kids or born with special powers, they're feared and monitored by the US government, and the worst comes to happen when they are falsely believed to plot to overthrow the government.. this is a quick summary but there's a lot more that goes into it

The art is pretty even for a couple of different artists working on the series.. nothing stellar though, the main constant is JMS

I gotta voice a little complaint that the characters were not differentiated enough and there's a bunch of em to keep track of

Weak and cheaply done art hampers a good story.
How many guys can you put in trenchcoats with long hair in a panel? Enough to not know who is talking.

Top Cow cheaped their way through a number of artists to bring us a less than stellar tale. Chronic lateness, long term hiatus, dreadful art, cliche and insulting character design, the fact that we are givenbetter writing and better art in Supreme Power and mostly the same story means don't bother.

By the time a regular and decent artist was given the job it was to late and people were leaving this monthly title like rats leaving a sinking ship. I'd like to see Gary Frank start the whole series over at #1 so we can forget completely the first few issues. You will notice in the Amazon listing there is no mention of the artists on the first TP, only that there is a new cover by Gary Frank, the only highlight for Born in Fire.
Dollar for dollar your payoff is Supreme Power. ... Read more

Isbn: 1582401721
Sales Rank: 83695
Subjects:  1. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    2. Comics & Graphic Novels - General    3. Fiction - Fantasy    4. General    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic   

James Joyce (Oxford Lives S.)
by Richard Ellmann
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 November, 1983)
list price: $27.50 -- our price: $18.15
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Editorial Review

Although several biographers have thrown themselves into thebreach since this magisterial book first appeared in 1959, none havecome close to matching the late Richard Ellmann's achievement. To befair, Ellmann does have some distinct advantages. For starters, there'shis deep mastery of the Irish milieu--demonstrated not only in thisvolume but in his books on Yeats and Wilde. He's also an admirablestylist himself--graceful, witty, and happily unintimidated by hisbrilliant subjects. But in addition, Ellmann seems to have an uncannygrasp on Joyce's personality: his reverence for the Irishman's literaryaccomplishment is always balanced by a kind of bemused affection forhis faults. Whether Joyce is putting the finishing touches on Ulysses, falling downdrunk in the streets of Trieste, or talking dirty to his future wifevia the postal service, Ellmann's account always shows us a geniusand a human being--a daunting enough task for a fiction writer,let alone the poor, fact-fettered biographer. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

A masterful biography of a major master
Ellmann tells the story of Joyce's life, his family life and his creative life. He tells the story chronologically and the book despite its being very detailed has strong narrative power. He makes us understand how deep Joyce's devotion was to his art. And he also provides insight into all of Joyce's great work.
There is never a substitute for reading the work of the writer, but this biography significantly aids in understanding both the man and the work.
Lovers of the work of Joyce should definitely have and read this work.

Portrait of the artist as a young and old man
Twenty two years ago I was enrolled in Richard Ellman's class on James Joyce at Emory University and when I was introduced to him by the head of the English Department I was informed that Ellman was the best informed authority on Joyce since 1941 when that person was of course Joyce himself.

This expertise is demonstrated in this, the definative work on Joyce and his work.In it Joyce not only recounts the particulars of his life (he also edited collections of Joyce's letters so he was more than familiar with the twists and turns of that extraordinarily disorderly life).Professor Ellman was also an authority on the Irish literary scene, producing studies on Yeats, Becket (with whom he regularly exchanged letters) and Wilde.To master not only the works of Joyce is a feat in an of itself, but to master the works of all of the leading Irish modernists probably is a unique accomplishment unknown in scholarship.

It is perhaps a facile observation to note the numerous biographical details with which Joyce invested his life.The date of 16 June 1904, known as "Bloomsday" was the day when Joyce first "stepped out" with his companion/wife Nora.It does provide a great deal of insight into what Joyce chose to put into the books and what he chose to discard.This book provides unprecedented insight (except perhaps Leon Edel's books on Henry James) into the creative process.

What is sad about this book is the difficulty one can have in locating a copy.I was fortunate in finding it readily available when I spent six weeks studying all of Joyce's works with Professor Ellman.It is unfortunately difficult to locate now.There are other books on Joyce that are out there, but few have been accepted as universally as this one.

If you want to know all the twists and turns of the mind that gave the world Dubliners, Portrait of the Artist and Ulysses, there is no better work than this one.

Learn about the Dublin Ulysses' Odyssey through Life
Richard Ellmann the late author of many scholarly biographies of literary luminaries (such as Oscar Wilde and William Butler Yeats) has written a classic work on James Joyce (1882-1941). The paperback version I read was an updated edition based on the 1959 book,This latest edition adds news material on Joyce.
James Joyce was a wanderer who never saw Dublin after 1912. The expatriate author lived in lower middle class circumstances with his longsuffering wife Nora Barnacle who he didn't marry until 1931. The Joyce family lived in Trieste, Paris and Zurich where the author died in his late 50s. Joyce eked out a living as a teacher of English and translator. He spoke several languages as was the most erudite major author of the century.
Ellman's work is very detailed with footnotes and letters on almost every page.This may prove distracting to the general reader.Be warned that this work is scholarly and is not written in a popular style.
Ellmann discusses the genesis of such classics as Joyce's
Dubliners, Ulysses and the almost incomprehensible Finnegan's Wake. Joyce's life was centered around his writing and his family of Nora and the two children Georgio and Lucia )who had severe mental problems). His life was not an exciting one but a journey of the human intellect and soul to the mountaintop of the most innovative writing of the age. Joyce had severe difficulties in his eyesight suffering over a dozen operations to help his eyes. He was an eccentric Irish bard who sang his songs to all who would seek to explore his world. No one is more associated with Dublin that this Dante of the Irish capital.
This biography took me over a week to read.It is slow going and not a page turner.It is, however, the one work you must read if you seek to understand Joyce. Ellmann has done his homework and produced a literary life masterpiece. ... Read more

Isbn: 0195033817
Subjects:  1. 1882-1941    2. 20th century    3. Authors, Irish    4. Biography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh    8. Joyce, James,    9. Literary    10. Novelists, Irish    11. Biography: general    12. English    13. Ireland    14. Joyce, James    15. Literary studies: from c 1900 -    16. Novels, other prose & writers: from c 1900 -    17. c 1800 to c 1900   

V. (Perennial Classics)
by Thomas Pynchon
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 April, 1999)
list price: $15.00 -- our price: $10.20
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Editorial Review

Having just been released from the Navy, Benny Profane is content to lead a slothful existence with his friends, where the only real ambition is to perfect the art of "schlemihlhood," or being a dupe, and where "responsibility" is a dirty word. Among his pals--called the Whole Sick Crew--is Slab, an artist who can't seem to paint anything other than cheese danishes. But Profane's life changes dramatically when he befriends Stencil, an active ambitious young man with an intriguing mission--to find out the identity of a woman named V., who knew Stencil's father during the war, but who suddenly and mysteriously disappeared. ... Read more

Reviews (63)

theme but no story
When it was published, V. won something called the William Faulkner Prize for First Novels.At the time Faulkner was at the pinnacle of his reputation, if not his writing career. He'd recently won the Noble Prize. Faulkner has always been known as a relatively difficult read because of his fragmented plots.He often gives a few chapters of a story and then suddenly he seems to begin another story. Only later do you realize the stories are weaved together.I think Pynchon's receiving this award says something of the book V: in terms of plot, V is Faulknerian to an extreme, and to a fault, in my opinion.Someone has said in these collected reviews that V is a theme in search of a story.That is true. Pynchon does not deliver a story, which is one very important measure of the genre, i.e. the novel.

I think the book is also short on character development.Though there are many memorable characters (Profane seems to be most people's favorite), none is central to the story.Neither Profane nor Stencil carry the action of the story. Other lesser characters take up so much of the book that there is no center. The centrifugal nature of the storytelling flings everything and everyone to the fringes. Things happen to the characters, but the characters seem to have very little influence on what happens.That depiction of fragmentation is another theme at work, I would say: i.e. Pynchon's philosophical hobbyhorse that states existence and events are entropic, and humanity is simply another bit of flotsam buffeted by it all. This is a bonafide theme of modern and postmodern literature, but still I'm left wanting more of a story, more of central character to study.

Well-written but unfocused
I have mixed feelings about this book.At the level of words, sentences, paragraphs, the writing is excellent.Pynchon is undoubtedly a master of the language. Also, there are many very fine scenes, images, characters, moods in the book.

But, for my taste, on the whole V. is too unfocused. There are too many characters, the book jumps around too much, too much is left unresolved. I had a hard time keeping in mind who was who and who had done what.

The problem may very well lie with me instead of with the book.Readers with more spacious heads--capable of keeping straight myriads of events and characters--may not have the difficulities I had.

A review from the author of YEARS OF RAGE
"Suppose truth were a woman..."
-Friedrich Nietzsche, Beyond Good and Evil

All readers undergo a voyage to discover hidden meanings-a voyage which is also a passage of self-discovery.Like most meta-fictional narratives, Thomas Pynchon's first novel, V. (1963) is intensely preoccupied with the act of reading itself and the possibility of self-reading.

Never has reading seemed so lugubrious.The plot concerns Stencil, the son of a now-deceased British foreign officer, who, accompanied by eponymous "schlemihl" Benny Profane, half-heartedly searches for the elusive "V."-who may be a woman, a thing, a concept, a sewer rat, or nothing at all.Stencil is a reader, broadly understood: he attempts to interpret the meaning of an initial.Reading is here a process without progress and without terminus: Stencil never succeeds in identifying the initial's referent.As his name implies, Stencil can only trace the outlines of that which he seeks; his search is, to a certain extent, a fruitless yearning for truth.

To put an end to the process of reading would be to lose one's human spontaneity.For this reason, "V." must never be found.If "V." were found, Stencil would become indistinguishable from an inanimate object.The search for "V." is the only thing that he distinguishes him from a thing: "His random movements before the war had given way to a great single movement from inertness to-if not vitality, then at least activity" [55].Both Profane and Stencil are terrified of the world of objects.They fear its stasis, its contagious inanimateness.The inanimate objects that populate Pynchon's narrative often resemble human beings, such as the beer tap that is shaped in the form of a "foam rubber breast" [16].Human beings, conversely, are themselves often functional and machinelike: eg., Benny Profane's jaunts resemble the idiotic up-and-down movements of a yo-yo; Rachel's words are described as "inanimate-words [Profane] couldn't really talk back at" [27], etc.All of the "characters" in the novel are threatened by the lifeless world of things.Stencil needs to search for the inaccessible in order to separate himself from the inanimateness of objecthood, in order to avoid freezing into a thingly state: "He tried not to think, therefore, about any end to the search.Approach and avoid" [55].If "V" were found, it would be necessary to lose it again and reinitiate the search.

Readers are implicated in this impossible quest, involuntarily placed in the position of code-breakers.Like Stencil, they obsessively ask themselves, "Who, then, is V.?"Because the identity of "V." is never completely given, the solution to the code seems to withdraw abyssally into darkness.Without an answerable meaning, the "alien hieroglyphic[-]" [17] seems to exist on its own terms.The book's center, it would seem, is not some intentional content that would lie behind or beyond the code, but, rather, the code itself.The cipher itself is illuminated, not its meaning.The point of interpretation is no longer to identify a transcendental meaning or theme, but rather to sift through the fragments and details of the narrative, the ill-fitting pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.The unanswerable question, "Who, then, is V.?" incites us to return to the forgotten or neglected world of appearances.Bluntly stated, the disconnected pieces of Pynchon's narrative are what is essential, not the "whole" to which they would belong.
Pynchon's novel is an anti-adventure story about the plight of reading.It challenges us to interpret something-the initial "V."-without thinking in terms of a whole: the particular clues in the story do not relate to the context of the universal.Any interpretation that thinks in terms of the universal, in this context, is doomed to failure.V. concerns the failure of reading and self-reading.Stencil's obsessive yet ultimately grim and joyless quest is to discover his own provenance (the search for "V." is, to a certain extent, the search for his own father, der Vater in German) and therefore to discover his own identity.And yet there is no definitive conclusion to the process of self-reading; therefore, there is no definite self-understanding.Stencil's identity is determined by the impossible which he seeks: "[H]e was quite purely He Who Looks for V." [225].If this process had any finality, he would be nothing at all-that is to say, nothing more than a thing, one thing among others.

The task of reading, then, must remain an infinitely provisional task.Brenda remarks to Profane in Malta: "`You've had all these fabulous experiences.I wish mine would show me something.'/`Why.'/`The experience, the experience.Haven't you learned?'/Profane didn't have to think long. `No,' he said, `offhand I'd say I haven't learned a goddamn thing.'" [454].Stencil and Profane are led on an issueless quest-as are those of us who follow them.The absence of anything like a decipherable meaning forces us to think about why we read: the book reveals our desire to discover order in chaos, to impose structure and coherence on entropy, to implement systems where there is none.

According to the metaphorics of V., the search for meaning is more vital than the meaning that is sought.Such is the significance of the non-questions that populate the book-questions that are unshelled of the interrogative form: "What are you afraid of" [36]; "Do you like it here" [40], etc.These questions without questions remind us that, when approaching this book, we must pose questions without hankering after results.The question is its own answer.

Joseph Suglia, the author of YEARS OF RAGE, the novel inspired by the Columbine High Massacre ... Read more

Isbn: 0060930217
Subjects:  1. Classics    2. Fiction    3. Fiction - General    4. Literary    5. Fiction / Literary    6. Reading Group Guide   

Trainspotting
by Irvine Welsh
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 May, 1996)
list price: $13.95 -- our price: $10.46
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Editorial Review

Irvine Welsh's controversial first novel, set on the heroin-addicted fringe of working-class youth in Edinburgh, is yet another exploration of the dark side of Scottishness. The main character, Mark Renton, is at the center of a clique of nihilistic slacker junkies with no hopes and no possibilities, and only "mind-numbing and spirit-crushing" alternatives in the straight world they despise. This particular slice of humanity has nothing left but the blackest of humor and a sharpness of wit. American readers can use the glossary in the back to translate the slang and dialect--essential, since the dialogue makes the book. This is a bleak vision sung as musical comedy. ... Read more

Reviews (169)

Like a Moth to a Flame
Like many people, I read "Trainspotting" after seeing the eponymous film.The movie was just a great ride and the book was too.The book, however, was darker and more nihilistic.The humour blacker and landscape even bleaker.

The essence of "Trainspotting" is a series of events revolving around the main character, Mark Renton, and his drug addicted mates.It is set against the backdrop of Edinburgh and its working class slums where work is resisted and drugs are accepted as part of day to day life.

The language of the book is coarse yet plausible.The jargon and argot of the junkie weaves its way through out the book.As for the dialogue and grammar, this is the rough brogue of the streets.At first, this is difficult to grasp but after a few pages, it gradually makes sense and becomes more familiar.It is like a twentieth century and bastardised version of what Mark Twain was trying to do with Huckleberry Finn.

"Trainspotting" is not a book to be read by the easily shocked or the self-righteous moraliser.It is a book that confronts our sensibilities as it slowly draws us into another world.The scenes often make the reader cringe but there is always something within the characters and the settings that acts to mesmerise.This is a book that acts like a flame to the moth.Its attraction is over powering.Take a gulp of air and be truly challenged.Read the book!

Entertainment Plus...one Mad Cool Book
This is simply one of the best written, laid out, and especially entertaining books I've ever read. "Trainspotting" is basically one of the only books that I've ever read that had the ability to actually capture the characters, which is I think, the most important part of the story.

The best thing about "Trainspotting" is that it allows you, the reader, to see everything not only from Renton's eyes (as it was in the movie) but also all the other characters. And it's this that gives you that insight into how all the other characters actually think.

Then to top it off, Irvin Welsh, (the writer) went ahead and wrote most of it as if they were actually talking to you. So, when all these Scottish people are talking to you they don't say, "I drank down twenty beers and got drunk," they say, "Ah drank doon tweinty bevvs and got bevvied." It's a writing style that I haven't seen very many other times, and was greatly impressed/entertained with it.

Other than the incredible writing, it's an overall cool story. The best part, is that it's not confined to one set plot. When hearing 'Trainspotting' you probably just thought about heroin. In truth, the book also has a whole lot about drinking in bars, getting along with 'yer mates' and just living. It's just a story about a bunch of guys, their problems, their needles, their beers and how they manage to get away with most of it.
Yeah, so this book is definitely worth reading. It's now in my top ten list, but try it for yourself! Pick up a copy! Another book I need to recommend -- completely unrelated to Welsh, but very much on my mind since I purchased a "used" copy off Amazon is "The Losers' Club: Complete Restored Edition" by Richard Perez, also an exceptional, highly entertaining little novel I can't stop thinking about.

Wow!
I loved this book.It was gruesome and sick at times.The Scottish dialect made the characters come to life when I read the book.My favourite story was the second - eew!Not for the light hearted! ... Read more

Isbn: 0393314804
Subjects:  1. Black humor (Literature)    2. Drug addicts    3. Edinburgh (Scotland)    4. Fiction    5. Fiction - General    6. General    7. Humorous stories    8. Popular English Fiction    9. Young men    10. Modern fiction   

Is This It
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (09 October, 2001)
list price: $17.98 -- our price: $9.99
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Editorial Review

With all the media hype that dogged the Strokes before the release of their debut album, it's rather apt that they chose the title Is This It. On the strength of just five songs released on two singles, the Strokes were being hailed as everything from the saviors of rock & roll to the Savior himself. Surely, few bands could live up to the impossibly high standards set for this young five-piece, but the band needn't have worried: Is This It is one of the most exciting and energetic debut albums to spring from New York's long-dormant club scene. In fact, the Strokes are a New York City band through and through; like the Velvet Underground, these are a bunch of uptown artsy types elegantly slumming downtown to the tried and tested themes of sex, drugs, and rock & roll. Their singer-songwriter, the fantastically named Julian Casablancas, delivers his lyrics with a weary nonchalance that belies his age on songs like the title track, "Soma," "Hard to Explain," and the altogether wonderful "Barely Legal." And the band recalls the likes of Television and the Stooges on "Last Nite" and "The Modern Age." Let's hope this sexy, stylish, and undeniably cool band is the future of rock & roll. --Robert Burrow ... Read more

Reviews (868)

The Strokes should be called the electric shock thereapys
Yes This Is It...And It Sucks.

Best Strokes album so far
I had bought Room on Fire first because I had heard some of the songs before.I really enjoyed it so I went ahead and bought Is This It.Turns out, Is This It is a better album in my opinion.My favorite songs are Soma, The Modern Age and Hard To Explain.If you buy this album, you wont regret it.

a masterpiece
is this it is one of best recent rock album along with the albums from jet and the darkness which are certainly anydays better than the awful nu metal albums which are being released.my rating five stars. ... Read more

Asin: B00005QIPH
Subjects:  1. Garage Rock Revival    2. Indie Rock    3. Pop    4. Rock    5. United States of America   

Sony In-Ear Headphones (MDRED228LP)
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $25.99
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Features

• Anti-bacterial earpiece material
• Groove design/bass booster earpiece shape
• Pouch Case Supplied
• 16mm drive units

Reviews (9)

Not That Good
I bought these based on the reviews on Amazon.I have to admit to being a bit disappointed.While these earphones are fairly good (better that most stock earbuds) they did not match what people have been saying about them.I found the mid and upper ranges to a bit cold and flat.They were clear, but lacked some dynamics.The bass is almost non-existent.I thought that from these reviews that I'd be wowed.I wasn't.

Don't believe everything you read, try them first.These earbuds are okay, but not of the quality I was hoping for.

Exceptional Quality!!!
Over 6 years ago when I first heard these...I knew these would be the last pair of earphones I would ever buy.I was shocked they still carried these through Amazon, I've repurchased a new set, along with an additional 2nd and 3rd (I've been through many in the past).I've gone through tons of other earbuds and headphones, but none of them come close to matching the clarity and quality these produce.What I particularly like about these compared to others, is that the design is made to go partly down the ear canal making the sound more crisp and defined.The dynamic range is exceptionally wide, and sensitivity is excellent (if you particularly like music at high volumes, these do the job).

One word of caution, never walk through a metal detector listening to these (the ones you find like at Circuit City).It cost me about 4 pairs over the years.

Amazing, cheap, comfortable ear-buds
I was looking for some comfortable, inexpensive ear-buds to use when traveling and picked up a pair of these Sony's. I was just blown away! I usually listen at home via a Headroom Cosmic amp and Senn HD600 headphones, or over an audiophile system with Mark Levinson, Bryston, Wilson and B&W components. I have tried Etymotic ear buds, even with custom earmolds, and just don't like the sound balance and imaging. These cheap Sony's are so close to the balance and imaging of my Senn HD600's that I am amazed. Yes given a choice, I'll use the Senn's. But for travel, man are these buds awesome! Give yourself a treat and try a pair. ... Read more

Asin: B00005T37W
Sales Rank: 31615
Subjects:  1. Headphones    2. Accessories (Accesssory)    3. Headphones (Headphone, Head Phones, Phone)   

Nikon N60 35mm SLR Camera
Average Customer Review:
Electronics

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Features

• 28mm built-in speedlight
• Focus tracking for moving objects
• SLR 35mm camera (body only)
• Point-and-shoot operation
• Exposure-mode select dial

Reviews (12)

Great Entry To World of Nikkor Lens
Nikon was recommended to me by a knowlegable coworker. I was very impressed when he told me that Nikon manufactures their own glass. He initially recommended the N80, but all I could afford at the time was the N60. It seemed like a good entry level camera for someone new to 35mm SLR photography. I bought it from Amazon in the spring of 2000. I also found the Magic Lantern Guide to the Nikon N60/F60 Camera at B&H Photo Video in New York. It was much better than the manual that came with the camera. I highly recommend the Magic Lantern Guide to Nikon Lens as well, as you are probably going to get more than one lens before you are through! I wound up getting a wide-angle 28mm f2.8, a fast 50mm f1.4, and a classic 80-200mm f2.8 zoom lens.

Anyway, the N60/F60 has been a great introduction to the world of serious photography. It doesn't have the cable release opening, debth of field preview button, multiple exposure capability, or manual DX ISO setting of the N80 but since I didn't even know what half of those things were at first I didn't miss them!

In fact, the N60/F60 has some things the upgraded N65/F65 doesn't- like a 1/125 maximum flash sync versus the N65/F65 at only 1/90, and an Exposure Lock button. In fact, both the F65/N65and N80/F80 only have an onboard flash with a guide number of 40, vs 49 for the N60/F60!

The N60 also feels hefty but not heavy- it's sturdy and well-built but easy to hold and use. I will always be glad I that I had the pleasure of owning this camera.

I love this camera
I've been using this camera for several years and I've been very pleased with the results.It is a great value and a fantastic blend of features and convenience.I'd highly recommend this model as a first SLR for someone interested in more serious photography.Plus with Nikon, you know that when you do replace the camera body, you'll still have some of the best lenses on the market.

A good value- but understand its limits.
The N60 is one of a number of new budget made-in-China cameras bearing the Nikon label. On the plus side, they're a great entry into the Nikon system, and they're backed by the Nikon organizations,m with worldwide service available. On the minus side, these are not built to the same level as the classic Nikon SLRs. They're plastic, they lack the ruggedness of real Nikons, and they won't be around in 10 or 20 years. And the lenses they come with, while they use the Nikon mount system, aren't of the optical or mechanical quality of Nikkor lenses.

But if you're not a heavy user, this is a good way to get access to the Nikon system, and to the hundreds of used Nikon lenses out there at attractive prices. If you understand the plusses and minuses, the N60 can be a good deal. ... Read more

Asin: B00001ZUNQ
Sales Rank: 5599
Subjects:  1. Cameras (Camera)    2. Single Lens Reflex (SLR)    3. N60SLR, N, 60    4. Camera (Cameras)    5. SLR (Single Lens Reflex)    6. Photograph (Photography)    7. Autofocus (Auto Focus)   

Glow 2
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (25 September, 2001)
list price: $14.98 -- our price: $13.99
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

The Microphones are a one-man band in which Phil Elvrum (Old Time Relijun) makes soft, psychedelic nylon-stringed guitar jangle sound both humble and heroic. While operating in an all-analog "lo-fi" mode, in the vein of Elephant 6 collective bands such as Olivia Tremor Control, Elvrum's no wannabe. The Glow, Pt. 2, his fifth release, is his most cohesive yet. All the musical elements gel with concept (in this case, fire) and breathe with the sort of spooky, misty clarity that arguably can only be captured in an intimate, non-digital production. The solitary quality of the Microphones could be compared to that of Bright Eyes, Syd Barrett, and Graeme Jefferies on Messages for the Cakekitchen. On the soothing opener, "I Want Wind to Blow," Elvrum's plaintive whisper-singing might lull you into a dream--but the bloodcurdling commando-style distortion of the second and title track will shake your senses. The Glow, Pt. 2 is like a giant ocean liner on which the songs and all their disparate elements--stark solace with violent, beautiful, otherworldly weirdness lurking beneath--control the ebb and flow of your emotional response. --Cyndi Elliott ... Read more

Reviews (28)

Essential Buy, Among Best of decade
I had the album for a couple weeks and tried to listen to it as much as I could but it wasn't until just this last complete run though that I really saw this as a masterpiece, not just a work of art.It is though, no questions about.Anyone reading this already knows that this is very highly acclaimed and I am here to tell you to listen to everyone.This record is absolutely enthralling (The Glow Pt. 2), absolutely fun (I Felt My Size), absolutely adventurous (The Moon), absolutely haunting (The Headless Horseman), absolutely captivately (Something #1), absolutely psycho-pop (I Felt Your Shape), absolutely...well... what I think we all look for in music.The lyrics are great, the music is spectular, and the production/mix is amazing.This is an emotional but lighthearted rollercoaster that works on an individual song level but even better as a whole (66 minutes).I am suprized to say that I even like it better when turned down low since the headphones are optimal for it.Obviously, this record is multidimentional.And at this risk of being cheezy, "I'll not contian you" but this record will?

Phil Elvrum - this generations Brian Wilson?
I believe that Phil Elvrum is a modern day production genious, and this may be his masterpiece - thus far anyway...I just can't help but think of him in the same light as Brian Wilson or Curt Boettcher - he's so unique and inspired. This album absolutely requires headphones to be fully appreciated - it is so intimate and lovely - it is not mainstream, though it is pop, just unique pop which requires a bit more attention - but its rewards are substantially greater - so try it, I think any true music fan would appreciate this haunting and warm collection of brilliantly produced music.

Intimate and holy
This album is a miracle.When I listen to it, I find myself barely breathing, afraid that the least bit of motion will somehow disturb its gentle equilibrium.

What's it sound like?Lo-fi, to be sure, though meticulously produced (the acoustic guitar on 'The Glow Part 2,' and its masterful panning never fail to give me chills).The mood is decidedly melancholy and hushed, and then exploding into rapturous noise.

But I'd sum up the whole album with a single word: intimate.It's as if you opened an undiscovered door in your living room, to find an unknown room, filled with Phil Elvrum and company, making this blissfully ramshackle noise, with Phil whispering something enigmatic in your ear (and, related to that, this album is, lyrically, superb).

All in all, listening to this is as close as I come, on many days, to a religious experience.Excellent. ... Read more

Asin: B00005NB2Q
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

Ágætis Byrjun
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (22 May, 2001)
list price: $17.98 -- our price: $13.99
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

Reykjavík-based noise quartet Sigur Rós are the biggest band in their native Iceland, which should say much, much more about the collective insanity of that earthquake-ridden, blizzard-beaten crag of an island than anything to do with Sigur Rós's sound. But in their music, Sigur Rós reflect all the breathtaking glory of the Icelandic wastes--a fairy-tale explosion of unhinged elemental majesty that's finally crystallized here, their debut European release. Poised somewhere between the haunting soundscapes of Labradford and the lilting Celtic falsetto of Enya, Agaetis Byrjun is a truly breathtaking listen. Frontman Jon Por Birgisson sings in a language that Sigur Rós dub "Hopelandic"--an otherworldly mutation of Icelandic, sung in the falsetto cadence of angels; similarly, he plays his guitar with a violin bow, opening the floodgates for brilliant waves of feedback. And while it's the opening "Svefn-G-Englar" that's Sigur Rós' moment to date, there's far more that they have to offer; listen to the pomp and flourish of a full orchestra on "Flugufrelsarinn," or the awe-inspiring near-religious mantra of "Ny Batteri." --Amazon.co.uk ... Read more

Reviews (252)

Wow
I'm not going to use technical words, merely because I am no good at using them. Simply put, in my opinion this album is excellent. Sigur Ros don't cease to amaze me with every album they release. Well done chaps.

AMAZING
This album is unbelievably beautiful. Amazing vocals with a cool reverb soaked guitar and the strings are also great. I encourage anyone to listen to this. They are also MINDBLOWING live.

I... Heart this album.
Three of my favourite adjectives should be sufficient to some up this album, and they are: spiffing, smashing, and wizard.

The sounds on Agaetis Byrjun are ethereal, unearthly, and simply beautiful. I fell in love with it at first listening, and still listen to it at least once a week. Some people dismiss Sigur Ros as boring, but I think the minimalistic approach to music-making that they have merely adds to the infinite charm of their stuff.

Buy this album, I urge you. ... Read more

Asin: B00005IC2H
Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Ambient Pop    3. Chamber Pop    4. Iceland    5. Pop    6. Post-Rock/Experimental    7. Rock    8. Space Rock   

Leatherman 74204003Juice CS4
Average Customer Review:
Tools & Hardware
list price: $69.99
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Editorial Review

Packing 14 individual tools into a remarkably compact, metallic blue, anodized-aluminum body, Leatherman's cool new CS4--a.k.a. the Glacier--is a midsize member of the company's exciting, new Juice line of multitools. Only 3-1/4 inches long, and weighing a mere 5-1/2 ounces, the Glacier really is small enough to carry comfortably in your pocket. Like other Leatherman tools, the Glacier butterflies open, exposing the needle-nose pliers/wire cutters/wire stripper, with access to three flat-head screwdrivers, a Philips driver, and a lanyard attachment--the same tools you'll find inside Leatherman's KF4 Solar. The Glacier's handles, however, harbor a different combination of tools that are perfect for picnickers: scissors, a can/bottle opener,corkscrew, a saw, an awl, and a straight knife. Like the entire Leatherman's Juice line, the Solar positively snaps into the open position, and the individual tools are all made of high-grade stainless steel. The Juice multitools do lack the blade-locking mechanism found on Leatherman's Wave, but the blades click crisply into place and hold securely. Looking for a gift for your favorite technophile or gadget lover? You can't go wrong with the Glacier. Made in the USA. --Jon Groebner ... Read more

Features

• 25-year warranty
• Blue anodized handles feature contour sides
• Contains 14 tools--including pliers, wire cutters, saw, screwdrivers, and cork screw
• Scissors feature a serrated tip for gripping materials
• Stainless steel construction guarantees a long life

Reviews (18)

Leatherman CustomerService, Take 2
Clearly, I owe the fine folks at Leatherman an apology.I had dissed Leatherman's customer service in a prior review (scroll down..), whining about a minor, self-induced problem.Come to find out, they (including the Main Man, The Head Honcho, The Connection - Tim Leatherman)had made several attemts to contact me in effort to address my complaint (whine), but all their attempts were deflected courtesy of my email blocker settings.Through their continued efforts they were able to contact me through other means.Sooo, here I stand, embarrassed for badmouthing such a fine company and terriffic product.Sorry.

The CS-4 and I remain inseparable - it's an integral part of my everyday life.In fact, I have gone on to purchase half a dozen or more as gifts for friends (including a Wave for myself), only I had them properly engraved/etched this time as recommended by the manufacturer.

Christmas is coming...

CS4 tools needs improvement
We bought two of this because it looks so great in the review and advertisement. After using it for a month, there are some flaws, which should be improved to make it a practical tool. Does anyone know what's the awl for? To us, it is too blunt to be useful. It should have sharper edge so we can actually open envelopes, remove staples, etc. The set of screw drives is comprehensive but take care not to exert too much force on them especially the small one, the tip WILL BEND. Anyway, it was be repaired with the other CS4 :-). If you are a Swiss knife user, you will find the Philips screw tip drive too big for common screws found in the office. Also, you should be real careful about the blade, cause it is really sharp... it hurts but we love it. If you are not too fussy about the strength of the tool, go get it.

Great little Multitool
I recieved this a gift and I can tell you that it's one of the best tools I've ever used. However, I do have two concerns. One is that the blades don't lock which means that if enough pressure is applied, it can hurt someone by folding in. As well, the saw has a tendency to fold onto the awl, I have to use quite a bit of force to make sure that it folds properly. However, the blade is really sharp and the screwdriver bits are the best I've ever seen. As well the tools open with a solid click which is somewhat reassuring. This tool is right for you if your looking for a small multi-tool that will be used for general not industrail use! ... Read more

Asin: B000059GVG
Subjects:  1. (Multitools)    2. Camping Accessories    3. Camping    4. Tools    5. Home    6. Hand Tools    7. Multi-tools    8. (Swiss Army Knives)    9. (Knife)   

Pi
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Average Customer Review:
DVD (24 April, 2001)
list price: $14.98 -- our price: $11.24
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

Patterns exist everywhere: in nature, in science, in religion, inbusiness. Max Cohen (played hauntingly by Sean Gullette) is a mathematician searching for these patterns in everything. Yet, he's not the only one, and everyone from Wall Street investors, looking to break the market, to Hasidic Jews, searching for the 216-digit number that reveals the true name of God, are trying to get their hands on Max. This dark, low-budget film was shot in black and white by director Darren Aronofsky. With eerie music, voice-overs, and overt symbolism enhancing the somber mood, Aronofsky has created a disturbing look at the world. Max is deeply paranoid, holed up in his apartment with his computer Euclid, obsessively studying chaos theory.Blinding headaches and hallucinogenic visions only feed his paranoia as he attempts to remain aloof from the world, venturing out only to meet his mentor, Sol Robeson (Mark Margolis), who for some mysterious reason feels Max should take a break from his research. This movie is complex--occasionally too complex--but the psychological drama and the loose sci-fi elements make this a worthwhile, albeit consuming, watch. Pi won the Director's Award at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival. --Jenny Brown ... Read more

Features

• Black & White
• Closed-captioned
• Dolby
• Widescreen

Reviews (428)

My new Hypothesis: "Some patterns are better not found."
Well written screenplay executed brilliantly, with top-notch music. Max, the main character is obsessed with number theory. He considers mathematics as the universal language, and that there is a pattern in everything that occurs in this universe, he sets about trying to find it.

After him are people who are interested in his stock market analyses for monetary purposes, and more strangely, a group of Rabbis who are convinced the same pattern of numbers is the key to their salvation. Now this can be interpreted by viewers in two different ways.

Personal NOTE: I think Max is loosing it and these people are a figment of his imagination. However, Max is the only one who can understand the semantics of the 216 digit number that is key to the universal lock. In the end, Max succeeds on his quest, but what he understands is never revealed to us. What he does however is wierd enough for me to give this movie 4 stars.

This movie maynot be for everyone. Viewers who thought that movies like Fight Club, A Clockwork Orange & Full Metal Jacket had pretty intellectual messages, then don't let this one go by. Think about owning it, only after you have rented it.

Not for me - it wore me out.
Just saw this, recorded from TV. Interesting for a while, but the repetition of the images and sounds finally turned me off - you don't have to show me the same things 50 times to make a point - wore me out, finally, and I zipped forward, just to see how it ended. It ended by me erasing the whole thing. Glad I didn't rent it. I have to agree with the negative comments already made.

My favorite movie
Maybe it's because I can relate to this character's flight in and out of madness or maybe it's because this is just an amazing film but either way, it is definitely number one on my top 10 list.

The movie mixes themes of paranoia, genius, mathematics, higher power, mania and mysticism. What other movies really do that? All with a unique style and brilliant vision.

Aronofsky didn't ever do it again as far as I'm concerned. I hated Requiem For A Dream. I guess it''s because I could care less about a bunch of pretty drug addicts and a whacked middle-aged woman who was surrounded by annoying music.

It doesn't matter because Pi is a masterpiece and very few people make even one of those per lifetime. ... Read more

Asin: 078401213X
Subjects:  1. Science Fiction   

JSRF- Jet Set Radio Future
Average Customer Review:
Video Game (01 March, 2002)
list price: $49.99
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Editorial Review

You say you want a revolution? The setting is Tokyo, the year 2024. Freedom is a valuable commodity, and freedom of expression even more so. The thumping beats and mean streets of the original freeform counterculture skating game Jet Grind Radio are back in Jet Set Radio Future. Featuring unique comic-style graphics, new tricks, and hot tunes, Jet Set Radio Future brings the hip skate game into a brave new world. Choose a character, strap on your rocket-powered skates, and immerse yourself in living, breathing cities filled with opportunity. Along the way, you'll compete with rival gangs, be chased by cops, and perhaps discover something unthinkable. Join up with a friend and work together to reach new places, create new attacks, and perform astounding stunts. Wherever your adventure takes you, it's all about extreme skating, extreme action, and, of course, extreme style. ... Read more

Reviews (134)

The Game is Great!!!
I rented this game for my XBox at first. Eventually, the game had to be returned to Blockbuster. But, I knew exactly what game was next on my wish list. The game has the most interesting storyline to date and it is great to play.

This game gives you hours and hours of gameplay. It doesn't take that long to intially complete the game, but you have all these other things you can do in the game. Collecting the Graffiti Souls gives you the opprotunity to gain new characters.

This graphics are interesting but they are in no way bad. After playing the game for like six hours straight, you eyes will start to burn. But, I doubt anyone would do that.

The tricks in this game are hot and the characters are great. This game is not as easy as one would think it to be, but it is great fun.

My sister is obsessed with this game!
There is no point to this game. All that happens is you skate around,do grafetti and things happen. It is so pointless no wonder it was free with the xbox! It is so Toyko-atized. No affence to people in Toyoko. The grapics are so stupid. My 10 yr old sister is so obseesed with this game that she came out in a towel just to see if we had beat it yet. This game will rot your brain. Burn it and cover it with meleted jet set games. DO NOT PLAY!!!

Sweet Soul Brotha
Jet Set Radio is the best Xbox game next to Halo.The game has so much style that it's not even funny and it's a shame that people thinks it stinks since and I think it's dumb that this game comes for free(it's another way of saying the game stinks so it'll come for free with the xbox).The game is excellent.It has amazing Visuals.The Visuals are just as good as Jet Grind Radio but a tad bit better.The game is probably one of the best looking Xbox games around and has superb character models.

The games controll is very well down, smilebit and Sega did an excellent job with the controlls and I give them credit for that but not as much credit as I give them for the amazing Music!The music in this game is ten times better then Jet Grind Radio.Some of the best music I've heard in a game acctually.Very well done I must say.The only problem is that it doesn't have a time meter and there are occasional slowdowns if you're close to too many characters of yours.

I'll make this short and sweet..

Good
-best looking Xbox to date with amazing visuals
-great fast paced gameplay
-loads of stuff to find and characters to unlock
-A pretty cool though kind of lame storyline
-The seqaul to the best DC game ever, in my opinion..

Bad
-Some slow downs here and there
-The game can be completed very quickly
-Needs more music


Overall this is my favorite Xbox game and it has great visuals, awesome music, terrific fast pace action is the best Xbox in my opinion.Heck I think it's better then Halo!..well sort of...Overall this game is terrific and that is why I give it a..

4.6 out of 5 stars.

Very awesome Xbox game...

Lates.. ... Read more

Asin: B00005V5LO
Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Xbox (x box)    3. Microsoft    4. Action    5. Adventure   

Ok Computer
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (01 July, 1997)
list price: $17.98 -- our price: $13.49
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

Radiohead's third album got compared to Pink Floyd a lot when it came out, and its slow drama and conceptual sweep certainly put it in that category. OK Computer, though, is a complicated and difficult record: an album about the way machines dehumanize people that's almost entirely un-electronic; an album by a British "new wave of new wave" band that rejects speed and hooks in favor of languorous texture and morose details; a sad and humanist record whose central moment is Thom Yorke crooning "We hope that you choke." Sluggish, understated, and hard to get a grip on, OK Computer takes a few listens to appreciate, but its entirety means more than any one song. --Douglas Wolk ... Read more

Reviews (1656)

Most Influential Album of My Life
I was a stranger to Radiohead when I purchased Ok Computer, and upon playing it the first time I skipped through the songs and put it up for months. Not very impressed. I then learned that it was nominated for a Best Album grammy so I dug it up and gave it another chance. That was the same day I was born. I have always been a huge fan of Indie rock. My musical taste was and is always against the grain somewhat. This album changed the entire was I looked at music. I blossomed into something completely different. These lyrics, these melodies, and these songs do so much for me as a music fan. I have experienced this album so many times, and still it hits me as it did the second time. I feel privledged to be a huge fan of Radiohead now. And never want to think about what my music collection would look like had I never picked this album up. Kudos to Thom and Co. for creating something that can actually change lives.

Yeah...It's a Classic
This is a must own for any music fan's collection. This album is a completely original masterpiece. As far as Radiohead goes, I actually like Kid A better because it is definitely unlike ANYTHING I've ever heard.

Lethargic
This album could really have been outstanding, but is lacking an edge to put it over the top. Thus, I can't recommend this album without reservation. ... Read more

Asin: B000002UJQ
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream
by Hunter S. Thompson
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (12 May, 1998)
list price: $12.00 -- our price: $9.00
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

Heralded as the "best book on the dope decade" by the New York Times Book Review, Hunter S. Thompson's documented drug orgy through Las Vegas would no doubt leave Nancy Reagan blushing and D.A.R.E. founders rethinking their motto.Under the pseudonym of Raoul Duke, Thompson travels with his Samoan attorney, Dr. Gonzo, in a souped-up convertible dubbed the "Great Red Shark." In its trunk, they stow "two bags of grass, seventy-five pellets of mescaline, five sheets of high-powered blotter acid, a salt shaker half-full of cocaine and a whole galaxy of multicolored uppers, downers, screamers, laughers.... A quart of tequila, a quart of rum, a case of Budweiser, a pint of raw ether and two dozen amyls," which they manage to consume during their short tour.

On assignment from a sports magazine to cover "the fabulous Mint 400"--a free-for-all biker's race in the heart of the Nevada desert--the drug-a-delic duo stumbles through Vegas in hallucinatory hopes of finding the American dream (two truck-stop waitresses tell them it's nearby, but can't remember if it's on the right or the left). They of course never get the story, but they do commit the only sins in Vegas: "burning the locals, abusing the tourists, terrifying the help." For Thompson to remember and pen his experiences with such clarity and wit is nothing short of a miracle; an impressive feat no matter how one feels about the subject matter. A first-rate sensibility twinger, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is a pop-culture classic, an icon of an era past, and a nugget of pure comedic genius. --Rebekah Warren ... Read more

Reviews (346)

This Book is Freakin' Sweet
This book is just a tale a two dudes' debaucherous trip to Las Vegas. Not that I would know, but the book reads like an acid trip. That is what makes the book entertaining to read. It offers a glimpse into a life not visited by most people; a life that most are too afraid to visit. Hunter S. Thompson's reputation preceeds him. He is notorious for missing deadlines; and this trait is evident in his preocupation with getting high in this book. The anecdotes within the pages are so disturbing, they are entertaining: laugh-worthy when there is actually nothing funny about the situation. Thompson is able to make the reader feel as if he is next to the dudes as insanity unfolds. Though the character is middle-aged in the book, there is a feeling of cockyyouthfullness that travels via osmosis to the reader.

Sad and Funny
For those of us who never smoked dope or attended an AA meeting, Mr. Thompson allows us a glimpse into an overly medicated mind. The result is both humorous and sad.
The plot: Journalist, Thompson, travels to Las Vegas with his Samoan attorney to cover a dirt bike race and a convention of District Attorneys, who are gathering to discuss America's drug problem. Of course, the real story is the obscene amount of drugs that Thompson and his attorney absorb, and the bizarre interactions those two have with the unlucky sober.
Yes, it's very funny. I especially enjoyed Thompson's blow by blow description of DAs trying to come to grips with the "drug crazed" of 1971, betraying the full depths of their ignorance. No wonder the drug problem has only become worse since then.
While I laughed, however, a strong undercurrent of sadness stuck with me throughout the book. Each chapter includes at least one drug-charged encounter of Thompson and his attorney with an unfortunate, wide-eyed waitress, cop, concierge, bar tender, pedestrian or average Joe. For those who have friends or family member suffering from drug addiction, you will sympathize with these poor people. The author wrongly suggests that he repeatedly fools people with his antics; rather, what most likely happened from the perspective of his sober observers was that they saw no point in challenging an obviously drug deranged psycho.
While it was funny and poignant, I give this book 4 stars because it could have been better. Thompson was able to write this book on drugs because he carried a recorder with him at all times. After a drug binge, he would return to the tapes and weave them into a somewhat coherent story when he was more sober. But he still could have added more meaning. For example on page 179 he makes several insightful comments about the meaning of the 1960's, but cuts them short. Too bad, really. Thompson obviously had more to say of real meaning, but he was too high to do it.
The irony of the book is that the heroes (if you can call them that) were searching for the "American Dream." Thompson merely showed us some of the worst aspects of American life. By killing himself lately, he added the final blow to that story.

Luridly Entertaining and Brilliant! Now and forever!
This nonfiction account of Hunter S Thompson's search for the American Dream is a trip you won't soon forget. It is not for the meek or squeamish. The substance abuse is staggering. I imagine there is some degree of exaggeration. Thompson himself had admitted as much in interviews. I must warn that the consumption in this book will be shocking if not scandalous to many.

FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS rocks with an unerring intensity. This book is written like a typewriter tanked on meth. The road trip, the hitchhiker, the booze and the drugs, spending an employers money destroying hotel rooms. It is a full force assault on the senses. It left me dazed and confused. It is hilarious at times but in that guilty way when you know that you really shouldn't be laughing. Raoul Duke is like Jerry Seinfeld in that you know he's a jerk but you can't help liking him.

Thompson was an extreme individual. He was notorious for missing deadlines. Reading this book makes it easy to see why. He was very absorbed in the moment. He seemed more intent on getting hammered than on writing the book. But in the end, his extraordinary talent allowed him to produce an amazing book.

Thompson is able to convey the sensation of being there as all this insanity unfolds. The carefree excitement of youthfulness is captured here. I always feel more alive when I finish this novel.

This book is for readers who like an intense, tumultuous trip into madness. It is shocking and even offensive to some but it is a great ride for those that like a bit of shock value in their entertainment. Pick up a copy! Another book I need to recommend -- very much on my mind since I purchased a "used" copy off Amazon is "THE LOSERS CLUB: Complete Restored Edition" by Richard Perez, an exceptional, manic novel I can't stop thinking about, by an author whose style was very much influenced by Thompson. ... Read more

Isbn: 0679785892
Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Journalism    5. Journalists    6. Literary    7. Pop Arts / Pop Culture    8. Popular Culture - General    9. Thompson, Hunter S    10. United States    11. United States - 20th Century/60s    12. Current Events / American