Corey's Review: 3
I'm sorry but I don't find a crude, swearing pessimist with serious mental problems entertaining. I'm not one for those pathetic books about people with problems and how they overcome them, but this fits that category only too ill! He doesn't fix any of his problems and then entire book is littered with swearing and messed up thoughts and death. I didn't enjoy this book at all. [Click to see what others said]

Romeo and Juliet
By: William Shakespeare

Corey's Review: 5
This is very likely the only good book I've ever read in school. I wasn't too crazy about reading it (I'm not a really big tragedy fan) but once I got into it and read it, I loved it! It is so beautifully written and moving. It is no wonder that this is made over and over again into plays and movies. I highly suggest this play! [Click to see what others said]

The Old Man and the Sea
By: Ernest Hemingway

Corey's Review: 2 1/2
Have you ever noticed that no one in this book has a name? The (supposedly) tragic story of an old man lost at sea with a large fish and his own meandering musings. Most of these musings are as random as the actual human mind and, since you probably don't care all that much what the person next to you is thinking, most of these musings are irrelevant. I don't think this is a masterpiece in any sense of the word and it is a waste of perfectly good reading time during the school day. [Click to see what others said]

The Odyssey
By: Homer

Corey's Review: 4 1/2
Much to my annoyance, we didn't read this whole thing in school. I think it is a very good book and written very well (at least the translation is good) but my teacher decided that the majority of the book was irrelevant and we didn't read the whole thing. I tried to read everything, but couldn't read it all and stay in line with where my class was, so I never got to read the entire thing(sadly). But! The bits I did read were very good and I think this whole book should be read by classes. [Click to see what others said]

To Kill a Mockingbird
By:Harper Lee

Corey's Review: 3 1/2
This wasn't all bad but it wasn't rivoting either. I think it is interesing how the book is divided into two plot lines with the same underlying theme. For example, the first section is the trial (involving discrimination against Tom Robinson) and then the second bit is more or less about Boo Radley (where the children discriminate against him). It is well written if not completely rivoting. [Click to see what others said]

Of Mice and Men
By: John Steinbeck

Corey's Review: 4
This books wasn't as bad as I at first surmised upon looking back on my reading of it. I'm not saying I would have read it of my own accord or that I would read it again, but it wasn't too bad. It is a touching story with a few odd plot twists and if you have to read something in school this isn't a waste of time. [Click to see what others said]

Corey's Review: 3 1/2
This book very clearly illustrates who even after slavery was abolished, blacks were still treated inhumanely by whites. It is a good story about the triumph over an evil of sorts and the only bit I didn't think had a point was Jefferson's Diary. (You'll see what I mean if you read it, now won't you?) [Click to see what others said]

The Tempest
By: William Shakespeare

Corey's Review: 5
I love this book, in case you were wondering. I love the way Shakespeare winds all the different plots in and out and then brings it all together for a happy ending of sorts. I don't find Shakespeare at all difficult to read, but others do so maybe this isn't the book for you, but I loved it. Then again, I love almost everything Shakespeare wrote. [Click to see what others said]

Lord of the Flies
By: William Golding

Corey's Review: 1 1/2
The '1/2' is a gift. I really didn't like this book one bit and the plot didn't rivot me in any way. I think it was boring, savage and altogether pointless to be reading in school, or anywhere for that matter. I don't know why this book has gotten all the press it has, but I do not recommend it. [Click to see what others said]

Inherit the Wind
By: Jerome Lawrence & Robert E. Lee (not the general)

Corey's Review: 4 1/2
This was a very good play that I almost enjoyed reading. It is a very important issue, even today (Darwinism versus the 'God made everything' theory) and that is why it stands up. I think it is wonderfully written and very clever. I recommend this to people who like to read a good play (and anyone interested in the ongoing battle between fantatic Christians and scientists). [Click to see what others said]

A Raisin in the Sun
By: Lorraine Hansberry

Corey's Review: 3 1/2
This play really didn't have much of a point did it? It was just sort of a 'day-in-the-life' type of thing, no real plot. Pardon me, but I like plots in my reading. [Click to see what others said]

Animal Farm
By: George Orwell

Corey's Review: 4
I wouldn't have picked this book but it turned out to be strangely addictive. It was a rather sad tale, all in all, but I couldn't put it down (quite against my will, mind you). It becomes much more interesting if you know the historical equivilants to all the characters. [Click to see what others said]

Death of a Salesman
By: Arthur Miller

Corey's Review: 3
This was an excessively pointless play. Why did Arthur Miller bother writing this? It has no point! It reminds of the irelevance of 'Raisin in the Sun.' It's very much the same boring old 'day-in-the-life' blah blah blah. It's not all that interesting and the ending is screwed up. [Click to see what others said]

Ordinary People
By: Judith Guest

Corey's Review: 3
The fact that this book was written in the present tense for the entire thing drove me absolutely crazy mad insane. I hate when books are written like that (unless its a children's book). Also, I found the book as a whole entirely unsatisfying. I don't know how or why they pick these books for school, but they need a new method. [Click to see what othere said]

Macbeth
By: William Shakespeare

Corey's Review: 4
Not my all-time favorite Shakespearean play, but it definately wins the award for best book read this year. The ending wasn't very satisfying (the answers to the prophecies and apparitions were positively corny), but the rest of the very well written. The evolution of Macbeth as a character was very nicely done and it was, on the whole, a very good play. [Click to see what others said]

Fortunate Pilgrim
By: Mario Puzo

Corey's Review: n/a
I am not going to dishonor this book by giving it low marks just because I can not remember it in the slightest. I have a strong suspicion that it was a not very good read, but I shan't give it a grade based on the assumption that all books we read in school are bad. I am fairly certain, however, that it was bad. [Click here to see what others said]

The Great Gatsby
By: F. Scott Fitzgerald

Corey's Review: 4 1/2
I think the English department deserves some credit for finally choosing a book that is well-written, eloquent and has characters that come alive. I thought this book was spectacular. I am turning against the tide here and reinstating what everyone else has said about this wonderful book, but I was really taken off guard. This book is the only book I have enjoyed reading in school since about fifth grade with Where the Red Fern Grows. I was just bowled right over with shock and pleasure. I actually, seriously recommend this book. [Click here to see what others said]

Corey's Review
This book wasn't bad, but it certainly wasn't good. What I recall being the most annoying part of it was the fact that whenever Owen speaks, everything is in all capitals. This makes it feel like the book is yelling at your constantly and inevitably leads to a headache from all that yelling. It was well-crafted, however, and the ending fit in perfectly. I liked how Mr. Irving slowly placed all the pieces in place so it was perfect at the end. On the whole, it's probably one of the better books we've read in school, but certainly not the best. [Click to see what others said]

Hamlet
By: William Shakespeare

Corey's Review: 5!!!
This, ladies and gentlemen, is the best play ever written ever. That's right! I absolutely adore this play and have read it a million times without class. This is the play that inspired me to create the Shakespearean Guild at school. I just adore this play. I can not say enough good things about it! Just read it! This instant! Right now! [Click to see what others said]

Antigone
I'm afraid I don't recall the author. Isn't that dreadful?

Corey's Review
In my humble opinion, we should read the entire Oedipus cycle in school, not just the last volume. If you are unfamiliar with Oedipus this play makes only marginal sense. I found the chorus to be annoying (so it's probably just as well we didn't read the whole cycle or I would have gone mad). On the whole, a rather silly play but not bad. [Click to see what others said]

We read other things, I'm quite convinced of it, but I simply can't remember at the moment. See what a month of summer vacation does to the brain?!