Rating:  Summary: Definite Classic Review: I read this book a few years ago. While I found Carrie to be a memorable character, I found Hurstwood to be even more interesting. I was gripped with a morbid fascination as I followed this man's downfall.
Rating:  Summary: Sister Carrie can teach us all a lesson. Review: The theme of Sister Carrie is searching for the "American Dream." Carrie Meeber is searching for happiness by aquiring wealth and material possessions. The author, Theodore Dreiser, does an excellent job of keeping your attention with the use of his extremely descriptive language. He takes charecters from different classes of the American economy, and shows how they are corrupted by the pursuit of the American Dream. Sister Carrie gets off to a slow start, but the reader is able to connect with the events that unfold. Dreiser's talent lies in the fact that he was able to describe life as he saw it, tragic. Overall, the themes and symbolizism of Sister Carrie teach us that life is filled with success and failure.
Rating:  Summary: CLEAR & CONCISE- PURE THEODORE DREISER WRITING Review: What more could you want in a turn of the century fiction? The tale of a woman's rise in life and with the fall of the men around her, it's splendid. It's too bad that this book had to make a top 100 list before being recognized by people, including me. This book is one all should read.
Rating:  Summary: A rich book! Review: This is an amazingly rich book. It explores its characters fully and philosophically. Dreiser calls you, on occasion, to stop and think about what just happened and what is going to happen. His words target your emotions; you come away having learnt a lot. A great book......
Rating:  Summary: A true American Novel Review: I have read both the mass market version and the newly revised Penguin version which is based upon Dreiser's original un-edited version. Both are a complelling read. Dreiser provides insight into the lives of a variety of turn of the century classes. It is a unique look at a unique era in America. Even if you coniser it a struggle, take the time to read it.
Rating:  Summary: Drieser has a way with words Review: The nitty gritty of the streets, the glamour of broadway, everything from the bottoms of life to the top are captured in this timeless tale of making your way to the top of life, or falling down to the pits. Life is a game, and this book is the perfect example of it.
Rating:  Summary: Yuck! Review: This is one of, if not the most, displeasing thing I've ever read. It's depressing, not cathartic. So it's depressing for no reason. They should attach a packet of Prozac to the last page. The characters are hopeless. You actually wind up rooting for Carrie, just because there is no one else to root for. The book is SO pompous and chauvenist, I could barely stand it. Every female in the story is either cold and materialistic, or young, materialistic and stupid. I haven't encountered such blatant sexism in a "classic" since Howell's "Editha." I will say, though, that Dreiser's actual writing talent is incredible, he has a mystical and dark way with words; too bad he had to waste it on this. My life actually would have been better without reading this.
Rating:  Summary: Nothing less than pleasing Review: As a reader, this book was shockingly fantastic. Classics aren't usually my type of books, but SISTER CARRIE reads just like a Danielle Steel or Sandra Brown, of course with less provokative sex, but more or less of it. Try this delight!
Rating:  Summary: Painful to read Review: I am so glad that this book is on the list of the top 100 fictions, without the attention given, people would forget about this fantastic creation. The maturity of Dreiser's writing isn't very apparent here, which later on develops in An American Tragedy. A whistful romance, a tragic ending, with fantastic writing to go with it. Another book that's just as fabulous (and somewhat ignored) is A Room With a View by E.M. Forster. Both are lovely.
Rating:  Summary: The Catalyst of Beauty-Carrie and Nana Review: Sister Carrie is a marvelous story. Dreiser has created a fascinating heroine. She, like Zola's Nana, makes her living off of other people. However, Carrie is a sympathetic character where Nana is not. Carrie brings down the men with whom she consorts in much the same way as Nana. Both girls are actresses, though Carrie has true talent while Nana makes it on the thrust of her hip. Carrie has only a few more virtues and redeeming qualities than did Nana, but I at least was just as overjoyed at Carrie's success in the theatre as I was satisfied at Nana's revolting end. This is a sign of how well written Sister Carrie is. Dreiser has taken a potentially weak or even vile (with different writing) character, and made her into quite the heroine! A wonderful read-I sat down one night and finished it at three in the morning-I couldn't put it down! The only problem I had was that Carrie never really overcame her bad characteristics, and she did ruin a few lives, but her ending was perfect. I think somehting should have been done to make up for that, but that's strictly personal opinion. It's still five stars despite that!
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