Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Tropic of Cancer
Book Review: An unparalleled literary experience
Summary: 5 Stars
For those of you contemplating the leap across the bounds of"decent" society into the licentious domain of Henry Miller,allow me to preface your experience.At its essence, Tropic of Cancer is an unmitigated bearing of the artistic human soul.
Oft-slandered, the book has been poorly misconstrued by the mass American public (who are perhaps a bit frightened by it). Others have attacked the erratic and spontaneous nature of the prose, failing to recognize the derivative brilliance Miller achieves with his reckless creativity.
Only after you have abandoned all pre-conceived notions of the conventional, well-mannered, plot-driven novel will you be able to genuinely appreciate the nihilistic, orgiastic, apocalyptic, meta-spiritual opus of counterculture that is Tropic of Cancer. In the brazen, veracious words of Henry Miller... "This is not a book, in the ordinary sense of the word. No, this is a prolonged insult, a gob of spit in the face of Art, a kick in the pants to God, Man, Destiny, Time, Love, Beauty... I am going to sing for you, a little off key perhaps, but I will sing. I will sing while you croak, I will dance over your dirty corpse..."
Book Review: Awe-inspiring
Summary: 5 Stars
Before I chose to research this book as part of a course on banned books (it was banned for over 30 years in the US!), I had never heard of Miller in my life...I'm forever grateful that I became aware of this book. Now, it took me a little while to get used to the blunt street language and graphic (be forewarned....REALLY graphic) description that Miller uses, but once you get a sense of the spirit of the book, you get over it. This book amazed me... I gasped aloud more than once at the unlikely beauty and fierce passion that explodes from the page. This is unlike any other book ever written. Amazing.Book Review: Awe-inspiring simplicity
Summary: 5 Stars
It takes a very talented writer to turn a list of complaints about every turn life has to offer into a stunning work of literature. And it takes an especially talented human being to transcend these complaints and turn them into true lust for life.I will never forget the shock of recognition I felt after reading one page of ToC. For anyone who's spent an extended span of time outside of his/her own natal country, HM's disgust/addiction to the ways of the ex-pat are dead-on and intoxicating.
A fabulous book, which was probably censored for all the wrong reasons and amazingly misinterpreted for scores of years. I think we're just now finally able to get what it is HM was going for.
Book Review: Beautiful losers
Summary: 5 Stars
This is one of the books that, like Ulysses, has had its reputation as a smutty book expounded so much that you may well be surprised at how lean - with the passage of time - it actually seems in the department. However, you will not fail to be impressed by the beauty of the prose and the sheer forcefulness and clarity of Miller's writing. Although he writes here about the darkest, grittiest, most painfully honest, down-to-earth every day subjects, he does it with a passion and exuberance, and a sheer joy for life. Although Miller was not a man in the best of circumstances when he was living the life the he describes in this book - a life that most of us, surely, would not wish to replicate - he was not a man despondent or dejected; indeed, he was positively brimming over with his joy in his circumstances. Though Miller writes candidly and very honestly about things that most every other book fails to mention - dirt, bugs, feces, sexually transmitted diseases - as long as he had food (and perhaps the occasional lay), he was happy. One may well call him a hedonist, but rarely do we see one embrace life so fully, its warts and all, as did Miller. We are lucky to have the chronicle of his experiences. Immediately famous and immediately banned as obscene upon its release in 1934, one sees, upon reading this book in the present day light, just what a major impact it has had on modern day literature. Aside from opening up a whole new school of literature and a new spector of art with this autobiographical novel, it also became the central point in the famous court decision that changed U.S. censorship laws forever. And yet, aside from its mere historical importance, the book remains vibrant, fresh, and exciting even today. Essential reading for anyone who craves their great literature off the beaten path.Book Review: Blech
Summary: 1 Stars
I read this book for my book club- our theme being banned books. We read this book on a recommendation from a friend and all came to the same conclusion- NEVER TAKE THE ADVICE OF THIS FRIEND AGAIN!
The book was basically a long train of thought. It takes us through the ideas and ramblings of a man living in Paris. There is no actual plot and the characters are in and out of his ramblings with no logic.
I have to say that there were certain themes to the book we picked up on. There was a lot of sex, food and going to the bathroom. The author/narrator was selfish and spent a lot of the book talking about how he got out of work, but still managed to eat and sleep with women.
I did not enjoy this book at all and I'm surprised that it has such high reviews on Amazon, as I usually agree with most of the stars a book is given. I would not recommend this book if you are looking for a read that will provide a well thought-out plot with in-depth characters and a strong message.