Being There by Jerzy Kosinski Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Being There
Book Review: Not that funny
Summary: 2 Stars
I was expecting a laugh-out-loud book, but this book is not that funny or witty. The plot is obviously far-fetched -- a garderner becomes a media hero -- but it doesn't matter because implausibility can be great tool for humor. However I thought the author Kosinski didn't really go after this plot, the possibilities were great but there's not enough biting sarcasm . I think the problem is this book was written in the 70's, long before the current Ironic Age, so the whole thing comes off as pretty tame now.Book Review: OK Book
Summary: 3 Stars
I am not the type of person who reads books on a daily basis. For me to even finish reading a book I have to like it enough to get through the first few chapters. This is not one of those book. At the end of every chapter I found myself wanting to just jump to the final chapter and read the conclusion. Though this is not a great book, I do recommend it.Book Review: Other reviewers miss the point
Summary: 3 Stars
During the time period portrayed by the book, people would hide and not acknowledge their retarded offspring. The author goes to great lengths to show physical similarities between the "old man" and Chauncey "the gardener". The old man's discarded clothing fit Chauncey absolutely perfectly as if they were tailored for Chauncey. Chauncey was not listed as an employee. No one knew who Chauncey's father was. There was no records for Chauncey. People of that time period were not known for taking in retarded strangers, the retarded were either institutionalized or otherwise hidden away. Not even the old man's business parter knew about Chauncey. The only possible explaination for these facts would be that Chauncey was the old man's child. Otherwise you would have to credit the old man, a retired lawyer, of having Chauncey working in his house as a gardener for over 40 years, starting when Chauncey was a little boy, as unpaid slave labor. At the end of the book, Chauncey is himself an old man visiting his garden, just like the "old man" used to do (another parallel drawn by the author). When reading this book, please keep it in perspective of the time period that is represented.Book Review: PLAGIARISED word - by - word
Summary: 1 Stars
In Being There, Kosinski, a Polish "writer" working in English, copied almost word-by-word a novel written in the 1920's (or 30s) by T. Dolega-Mostowicz "The Career of Nikodem Dyzma" (Kariera Nikodema Dyzmy). I am sorry to hear that Kosisnki is dead because I would love nothing more than to say this directly in his face: Shame on you!Book Review: Poor quality
Summary: 1 Stars
I thought I was recieivng this item with a few marking in it, it was covered in written notes and poor high lighting...