Buddy, Can You Spare a Tie? By David Sedaris Reveiw

This memoir story has been exceptionally different than most others that I've ever read.  Some biographies or memoirs pay little regard to the clothes of the person.  This story was all clothes.  And it wasn't just a straight description of the clothes that David Sedaris wears but rather the story behind that particular article.  He tells odd stories about stupid things that he has bought at the description of his father or sister.  David Sedaris' sense of humor really comes to life in this story as he describes his absurd wardrobe.  

 

John Lennon:The Life by Philip Norman Review

This biography was different then most others that I have read about famous musicians.  The story of John Lennon is almost beyond compare to others.  The books begins with detailed account of Lennon's grandfather's life as a ship hand working in England.  From then on, the book retells most every month of every year of Lennon's life from his first public appearance as a musician to the rise of the Beatles and eventually his death in New York City.  The writing style of Philip Norman is another factor that sets this biography apart from the rest.  This biography is written with the style of a novel following Lennon's life through his eyes rather then those of a bystander.  The book stays from the overuse of quotes from newspapers and magazines but favors quotes of Lennon.  Due to it's immense detail, this biography is no quick reads as some are, it's some 900 pages took me almost three weeks to finish and it was well worth it.  

The Remarkable Rocket by Oscar Wilde Review

This story was my favorite of the stories in The Happy Prince and Other Tales by Oscar Wilde.  I am a fan of the work of Oscar Wilde due to his writing using not humans as characters but rather animals and inanimate objects.  In this story it is fireworks that are used as a majority of the characters.  These fireworks are waiting in a castle to be set off after a wedding that night.  One very self-concerned rocket is to be saved as the finale and speaks the most through the story.  He speaks quite highly of himself and goes on to denigrate the other fireworks.  He claims that since he is the last rocket to be set off he is clearly superior to all others.  He speaks of how it is his one and only dream to burt high in the air among the stars gazed upon by hundreds of spectators.  His own words lead him to tears of "pity" for the other "inferior" rockets.  As a result of his tears he is too wet to be set off and thrown away.  The next day, two boys find the rocket and accidently set him off in broad daylight.  No one observes as the rocket explodes over some woods far from the city.  I believe this story just goes to show that those who talk down on others and have over confidence in themselves may be unwanted and unseen by other people.