# Review a book while totally missing the point **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 7, 2012, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/review-a-book-while-totally-missing-the-point/633947 "2012-09-07T03:23:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![ministryman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@ministryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ministryman)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/review-a-book-while-totally-missing-the-point/633947/41 "2012-09-17T20:33:07Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > While the book boasts a magnificent cast of colorful characters, from our protagonist the aardvark to his eventual confrontation with the zebra, I found the writing to be lacking in cohesion. The plot was difficult to determine, and at times I got the sense that the author felt a desperate urge to impress us with his knowledge of common and uncommon terminology alike. Ummmm…Dr. Doolittle? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/review-a-book-while-totally-missing-the-point/633947/42 "2012-09-17T20:50:16Z")
> [@Alka\_Seltzer](#): > > A thrilling adventure story which breathes life into of the imagined worlds of children. Never does the author forget that “boys will be boys”. > > _The Lord of the Flies_ I saw the movie remake for the millionth time over the weekend. I would have reviewed it much like you did, except I would have added “And having the time of their lives! So join Ralph, Jack, Biggy, and the whole gang!” ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/review-a-book-while-totally-missing-the-point/633947/43 "2012-09-18T00:00:05Z")
> [@ministryman](#): > > Ummmm…Dr. Doolittle? Aardvark at the beginning, zebra at (well, more likely near) the end… ---
**Author:** ![newcomer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e5b9ba/32.png) [@newcomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcomer)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/review-a-book-while-totally-missing-the-point/633947/44 "2012-09-18T00:27:07Z")
Colorblind prude learns art of non-disclosure agreements ---
**Author:** ![bldysabba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@bldysabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bldysabba)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/review-a-book-while-totally-missing-the-point/633947/45 "2012-09-18T09:22:59Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > Hrm, I haven’t read them, but from my viewing of the movie and from what my wife confirms is more explicit in the first book, the “love story” is basically manufactured by the protagonist in order to get support from the audience. Is this not so? Sure it is, but _that_ aspect is only manufactured by the author so she can make a survival death match revolve around love. ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Imp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Imp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Imp)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/review-a-book-while-totally-missing-the-point/633947/46 "2012-09-18T10:43:28Z")
> [@willthekittensurvive](#): > > Not only did this book offer no new insights into our hobby, would it kill the publishers to include basics like Scottish timetables, a check list of current rolling stock or perhaps some nice illustrations(like the re-engineered class 57) ? Trainspotting! ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/review-a-book-while-totally-missing-the-point/633947/47 "2012-09-18T13:00:59Z")
A young girl wanders alone, searching desperately for a place to fit in, only to be rejected just when she thought her journey was done. Goldilocks and the three bears ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/review-a-book-while-totally-missing-the-point/633947/48 "2012-09-18T13:17:24Z")
Horticulturalists may find the guide useful if they are fern fanatics…and have a few dead dogs. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/review-a-book-while-totally-missing-the-point/633947/49 "2012-09-18T14:40:01Z")
> [@newcomer](#): > > Colorblind prude learns art of non-disclosure agreements The Scarlet Letter ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/review-a-book-while-totally-missing-the-point/633947/50 "2012-09-18T15:14:12Z")
Accompanied by his family, a man addresses the challenges of winterizing a remote building. _The Shining_ ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/review-a-book-while-totally-missing-the-point/633947/51 "2012-09-18T16:21:30Z")
Yet another “Mom always liked me best!” story, but most of the humor falls flat. Sophie’s Choice ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/review-a-book-while-totally-missing-the-point/633947/52 "2012-09-18T17:05:23Z")
Members of the ruling classes play divide-and-conquer with the lower orders, ultimately swindling an elderly disabled man out of his retirement fund. _Treasure Island_ ---
**Author:** ![newcomer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e5b9ba/32.png) [@newcomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcomer)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/review-a-book-while-totally-missing-the-point/633947/53 "2012-09-18T18:30:05Z")
> [@newcomer](#): > > Colorblind prude learns art of non-disclosure agreements 50 Shades of Grey :o ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/review-a-book-while-totally-missing-the-point/633947/54 "2012-09-18T19:46:48Z")
Lengthy descriptions of social interactions (especially involving the intricate transactions required when contracting the services of sex workers) aside, this tome documenting the complexities of procuring and selling cattle and the arrangements necessary for obtaining the correct level of help mostly succeeds as a period piece. However, more attention to detail in the realm of native/settle interactions vis-a-vis the concept of Manifest Destiny and the extinction of animal species would benefit from a more intensive examination. The Pulitizer Prize-winning novel _Lonesome Dove_ ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/review-a-book-while-totally-missing-the-point/633947/55 "2012-09-18T21:56:33Z")
A prejudiced and passionately driven cadre of Englishmen dooms a royal immigrant’s resettlement. _ **Dracula** _. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/review-a-book-while-totally-missing-the-point/633947/56 "2012-09-18T22:20:04Z")
A hard-hitting expose of the sewer that was the budding tech industry in the 80’s, focusing specifically on one clown who thought he called all the shots. Stephen King’s I.T. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/review-a-book-while-totally-missing-the-point/633947.md?page=2)