The Revenant – Michael Punke

A page-turning story of adventure and revenge

The Revenant is an against-all-odds story based on actual events. I will start this post by saying that I haven’t seen the film adaptation of this book, so I can’t speak to how faithful it is to the book, characters, or plot. This review is only for the book. I’m one of those weirdos that generally prefer books instead of the movie versions.

The setting is the early 1800’s in the American great plains and the protagonist is Hugh Glass, a complicated character with a wild past. It’s important to note that this is a work of historical fiction. Some things are known about the real-life Hugh, but this is a novel, not a historical biography.

What is a revenant?

In folklore, a revenant is a visible ghost or animated corpse that is believed to have revived from death to haunt the living.
Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revenant

Themes

Frontier life – Living on the American frontier was incredibly dangerous. It could be hard to find work, make a living, and stay alive in that part of the wild west. You have to make do with what you have and stay safe from warring tribes and wild animals.

The limits of the human spirit – The author states that this is a novel about revenge, but it is more than that. It’s a story about the almost impossible things people can endure to stay alive. What drives you? What makes you tick? What does justice look like to you and what are you willing to do to get it?

Adventure and discovery – The thrill of exploring new places, finding treasures, taming the wild, surviving encounters with bears, the suspense of will-he-make-it-or-not, it’s all in here.

Recommendation

I usually stay away from the historical fiction genre. I find the genre often isn’t as compelling from a story perspective compared to novels and it lacks authenticity compared with (nonfiction) history books. But this was a nice change of pace book that I couldn’t put down. It flows well and brought up some deeper questions for me to consider.

You can find the book on Amazon here. Here’s a link to an article that compares the movie version to what we know about the real Hugh Glass and the events in his life.

The Catcher in the Rye – J.D. Salinger

The teenage angst coming of age anthem

Did you have a period in your life, perhaps during your teenage years, where you rebelled against the superficiality of society and the hypocrites who are often in positions of authority? If so, you’ll likely strongly relate to Holden Caulfield, the angst-filled protagonist in “The Catcher in the Rye.” This classic book by J.D. Salinger, set in the late 1940s, is often listed as one of the most important English novels. It is also one of the most challenged and censored books of all time.

Themes

Teenage angst – Holden is a conflicted teenager, filled with angst at the world, its institutions, and those in authority. He has a rebellious streak that often gets him in trouble and he struggles with trying to keep it all together.

Loss of innocence – In some ways, this is a coming-of-age story where Holden is mourning the loss of innocence during his transition to adulthood. It is a source of anger and frustration.

Identity – Tied in with the above, Holden is struggling to find his own identity. He struggles with authority figures, he struggles to fit in with his peers, he struggles with being isolated.

Recommendation

I never read this book as a teenager. It’s a shame because I know I would have loved it. I can see why so many people list it as one of their favorite books of all time. Holden Caulfield is the poster child for teenage rebellion and angst. He is deeply flawed and conflicted. You can feel it in this book. It is raw and obscene. That’s largely why so many people have tried to get it banned. It makes some people very uncomfortable.

I think it is an important book and I do recommend it. Be warned that there is a good amount of profanity in this book, in case that’s a deal breaker for you. It might take you a bit to catch up with the slang terms that Holden uses. If you are unfamiliar with it, Wikipedia has a list of common phrases in the book and what they mean.

Here’s a link to the book on Amazon.

Dune – Frank Herbert

Considered by many the best science fiction novel of all time

If you’re new to the idea of reading fiction, specifically science fiction, you should start with Dune. Many sci-fi stories (especially movies) are big on effects, wonder, and technology but short on plot and character development. In Dune, Frank Herbert does an excellent job of telling a great story that just so happens to be taking place in a sci-fi setting. Yes, you will have to get into an open mindset to grasp the fantasy elements of the book, but the majority of the story is the human dynamics, political drama, action, and suspense that have made this book so popular.

Themes

How humanity directs technology and vice versa is considered in the book. There will always be a drive or quest for power among people. Technology is neutral in essence but can be used for good or evil. The author explores both of those ends.

Imperialism and the struggle between native populations and the ruling class is an overarching theme in the story. The main characters see what it’s like to be on both sides of the political divide.

The book also has strong messianic themes, but not in the typical religious sense. The author explores the power dynamic of a savior, our basic urge to look for supernatural relief, and how people can use and abuse this power.

“Dune was aimed at this whole idea of the infallible leader because my view of history says that mistakes made by a leader (or made in a leader’s name) are amplified by the numbers who follow without question.”
Frank Herbert, in the Introduction to “Eye“, a collection of short stories

Recommendation

I really enjoyed this one. Once I got started, it was hard to put down. Just the right balance of action, character development, pace of story, and suspense to keep it fun and entertaining. As a nice bonus, it probes some of the deeper questions about what it means to be human and how we interact with others and the world. I’m not really a science fiction fan, but I liked Dune and I think others who normally don’t read sci-fi will like it as well.

There is a whole series of follow up books written by the author and others. I haven’t read any of those, but if you’re interested you can find out more here.

The Road – Cormac McCarthy

It doesn’t get more dystopian than this Pulitzer Prize winner

If you’re looking for a dark novel that you just can’t put down, this is it. I don’t know how else to describe it other than to say that this book is haunting. It might take a bit to adjust to the author’s writing style, lack of punctuation, and dialog flow, but don’t give up because of that.

Setting and Themes

The Road is a true post-apocalyptic novel. Very little information is given on what happened, who the characters are, or where exactly they are. If you find that confusing, please understand it is purposeful. It is a purposely dark book to contrast with the father and son dynamic. The book explores both the dark and light side of humanity. Our capacity for unmentionable horrors and deep love.

Recommendation

I’m going to cut this review short. I feel like saying any more about the book will actually make it more confusing and possibly tip those on the fence toward not checking it out. It is dark. Really dark in certain parts. But at the same time, I just couldn’t put it down. There is something really special there between the father and son. It connects with me as a father in ways that I can’t quite explain.

If you like dystopian, post-apocalyptic novels and/or don’t mind taking a walk down the dark corridors of humanity, I think it’s safe to say that you’ll enjoy this book. While this, like East of Eden, is not my preferred style for a novel, I do appreciate the incredible talent it takes to write something like this. I haven’t seen the film adaptation, but I can vouch for the book.

Here’s a link to The Road on Amazon.

East of Eden – John Steinbeck

An epic masterpiece from an iconic author

John Steinbeck is regarded as one of the greatest American authors and East of Eden is his masterpiece work. This book is an epic as it follows a family through 3 generations through the highs and lows of life. Steinbeck has a way of painting the picture in your mind, not only of the rich scenery but also the subtle mannerisms and depth in the characters. This is a heavy book that covers heavy topics.

“It has everything in it I have been able to learn about my craft or profession in all these years. I think everything else I have written has been, in a sense, practice for this.”
John Steinbeck (source here)

Major themes

East of Eden contains a cyclical story arc that also parallels with the story of Cain and Abel in the book of Genesis. Certain themes and ideas are played out in the book, often in graphic detail. The major themes are:

Human depravity
The search for love and acceptance
Guilt
The battle of good and evil

The author pulls no punches as he explores the depths of depravity, especially through the character Cathy Ames (possibly the greatest villain of all time). The main characters struggle to find family love and acceptance, while at times giving in to their worst impulses.

Final thoughts

While I greatly appreciate the skill and genius it took to compose this masterpiece, it is way too dark for me. The detail in the scenery is beautiful, but the detail of the darkness is overwhelming (for me at least). Samuel Hamilton is my favorite character and there is a lot in this book that is powerful. It really is an excellent novel overall, but the content may be too much for some. I also want to point out a trigger warning of self-harm and suicide in this book.

To Kill A Mockingbird – Harper Lee

harper lee to kill a mockingbird book cover

The highly controversial and popular book that became a beloved movie

What can I possibly say in this post that hasn’t already been said about the classic American novel, “To Kill A Mockingbird”, by Harper Lee? It is at the same time one of the most loved and hated books. It has been banned many times in many school libraries but in other places praised as one of the greatest American novels ever. In some ways, this perfectly reflects the time in history that Ms Lee grew up in and was writing about.

Comparing the movie and the book

If you are one of the few people who hasn’t seen the movie that was based on this book, you’re missing out. Gregory Peck’s acting job as Atticus Finch won him an Oscar and is considered by many to be the greatest film hero ever. Those who are not familiar with the book may assume that the movie is just like it. While the movie does capture most of the book, I feel like the book has more depth and humanity. It also develops some of the surrounding characters to a greater depth.

Major themes in To Kill A Mockingbird

Since many people are familiar with the storyline, I wanted to address the major themes in the novel. These are the following:

Southern culture
Racial injustice
Gender roles
Honor/ethics/morality

The use of racial slurs and profanity will shock many readers. It is difficult to see a word so frequently that is now condemned. The book itself is challenging in how it looks at class struggles, racism, culture, and morality. One of the things I appreciate most is that it causes you to ask questions instead of trying to provide nice and neat answers. What is the right thing to do? Why would someone act that way? What drives the behavior of some people, or even the culture at large? How can we have more compassion for the outsiders in society? It is raw at times and representative of the culture. And it isn’t perfect either. It feels very human.

Final thoughts

This is a powerful book. I can see why some consider it to be the most impactful book they have ever read. I can also see how some people who find it offensive or flawed in how it deals with the issues. I believe this book should be at or near the top of any “must read” list. What do you think?