Rocco Maiolo's Ramblings and Musings

Quite the book. I liked it, but a lot of people out there disagree with me. Here are some quotes from reviews and plain old reader responses: This allegorical dichotomy teaches us nothing new about the Holocaust, nor gives us useful tools for deciphering and understanding its complex socio-historic causes. (wow -- harsh!) I literally just finished Yann Martel's new book Beatrice and Virgil... about 10 minutes ago. I am shaken with rage as the book is one of the most hateful and ghastly jumble of horrors I have ever finished. At least it is mercifully short. (again: harsh. And "literally" just finished? As opposed to what? "Figuratively finished?) a sophomoric piece of Beckett-lite [work] (ouch! And does the write mean "lite" or "like"?) First of all, I wonder what people would be saying if this wasn't a Yann Marlel book. You've gotta think that it's being judged against the success of The Life of Pi . Also, okay, it's aut...

Should I get one? I’m not a luddite — far from it, so I’m not opposed to having one because I like the feel of a book and I like turning pages (although I do like all of the above). Here’s the thing: I get almsost all the books I need from the library. I rareley buy books, so I don’t need a Kindle or a Kobo or a Sony Reader — not really, but since when do these things have anything to do with need. Okay, here’s some justification for having one: 1) it’s green! No paper 2) I can use it at the library 3) When you go on vacation and you can’t decide what book to take and you take six books and you only end up reading one and the other five just take up space… PROBLEM SOLVED 4) They look cool

Every summer I go to the school library where I work and loot it for summer reads. I make out like a bandit. Last year, I brought home Les Miserable and Love in the Time of Cholera — among 10 other titles — neither of which I read. This summer I once again scooped Love in a Time of Cholera, which I’m determined to read and a bunch of Kenneth Oppel books. That’s quite the contrast, huh? Currently I’m reading Conan Doyle’s Sing of Four and I’m going to pick up Yann Martel’s latest, Beatrice and Virgil. I think I’ll also go to chapters and do the buy 3 get the 4th free sale. Oh and then there’s the book depot sale! Crazy.