Rating: 
Summary: Giving up the Ghost
Review: "Once you have given up the ghost, everything follows with dead certainty, even in the midst of chaos."Surely one of the greatest opening lines ever, and Miller doesn't let up from there. Its hard to know what to say about this book apart from that it will either disgust you or blow your mind. A few years ago, my reaction would have been the former -- but things happen. The fact is, different books matter to us at different periods in our lives, and it can be hard to explain why. I can honestly say, this book has a spiritual dimension that is powerful, and can speak to you during your low times. If the idea of a writer looking at the world using his own consciousness, with absolutely no objectivity, and with complete honesty, sounds good to you-- this is your book. You will find a kindred spirit in Henry Miller, and perhaps even a fatherly, wise (but always laughing) source of solace.
Rating:
Summary: The Love of Living the Moment
Review: After Tropic of Cancer and 60 pages into this book I thought, 'He lost it'. I settled in and waited for the brilliant flashes of prose to trickle out of the day to day life of this Cosmodemonic Telephone Company employee.
It was also at about that time I was picked up by the bottoms of my feet and placed on the shoulders of a drunken man who liked to run with the bulls of Pamplona.
Oscillating between manic observations and eloquent prose Miller writes a treatise, dissertation and thesis on the love of living the moment. Nothing passes his eye or mind without inspection and you constantly find your 'normal' life the target of his thoughts.
Your sensibilities enter the ring blind-folded against the whole history of heavyweight contenders ever to vie for a title. He comes at you from so many angles it's impossible to track. Almost disorienting and exhausting you feel benevolently pummeled, and in the end you realize it's an a**-kicking that you truly deserved and needed
Rating:
Summary: understanding is not required
Review: As I began this book I feared that I would emerge jaded and hateful of humanity. I should have known better; Miller goes deeper than that. I don't understand most of this book, but that's alright. As Miller describes to the reader a favorite book of his that he never quite understood, one is compelled to laugh out loud for valuing understanding so much. He reminds us that those who understand have allowed themselves to settle. Only the confused will struggle on.
Rating:
Summary: One of the twentieth century's greatest books.
Review: Capricorn is an absolutely unique and shattering novel. Miller's ability to write with great cynicism and bitterness about modern life and then instantly plunge to the deepest depths of the philosophy of being is astonishing. At times speaking in a kind of psychobabble, a line or two of this prose/poetry is sometimes enough for one sitting. A bitter novel about the death of the spirit amidst the inevitable continuation of life, Tropic of Capricorn is Miller's masterpiece and one of the twentieth century's greatest works.
Rating:
Summary: Pre-Cancer Masterpiece!
Review: Did you follow the road to Capricorn from Cancer? If so then you know what to expect from Henry Miller. Tropic of Capricorn is an account of his life up to his trek to Paris in the 1930's. Mr. Miller allows us into his world of words and images that consume his mind and soul. In this semi-autobiographical novel, Miller gives us a glimpse into the breakdowns and revelations that brought him from the streets of Brooklyn and onto the pages of literature. From his first word, we follow him on the road to discovering his world and bringing to life the writer within. Through his free-flowing prose and vivid scenery we follow Henry from his many sexual exploits to the dark sided humor of life as only seen through his maddened eyes. This book is one of the few that truly changed my views of life and my purpose. If you have any taste like my own and the life of Henry Miller intrigues you to no end then definitely pick up Tropic of Capricorn. Like a morsel of bread to a starving man, Capricorn only left me hungrier for more Miller to chew on. Other books I adore are, of course, Quiet Days in Clichy, Tropic of Cancer by Miller, The Losers' Club by Richard Perez
Rating: 
Summary: Electrifying
Review: Henry Miller captivates the reader from the first sentences, with his strong and astonishing philosophical thoughts and criticism of religion, of life in America.
He is so daring, direct, sarcastic, obscene, cold, violent, cynical, erratic, passionate, that you feel as if bent, torn, whipped by a storm, a twister, crying and screaming, yet feeling marvelously alive.
With his stunning surrealistic, nihilistic style, you endlessly fly from one world to another, delirious, chaotic, mad, free, ecstatic.
Rating: 
Summary: What is the point of this book?
Review: I am 17 and I got this book at the school library. I have found three main themes the author seems to be putting out: the main character tells the story of a tragic death, the main character complains incomprehenisibly about America, the main character rates the female anatomy in relation to it's personality. This book has absolutely no plot or even a story line, it is simply the ramblings of a sexually disfunctional person.
Rating:
Summary: The Tropics by H.Miller are bold Sexual Realities!
Review: I feel it's the duty of every American to read this book. Henry Miller tells the world to relax and enjoy the entertaining side of sex. I've read this book 2 x's and it gets better each time. This once banned 1930's writter captures everyday life in an attempt to release his mind within New York. This novel touches on Sex,Love,and,Enlightenment; with twist of classism...Like the Inferno? Miller's life begins to founder from the shores of chaos...
Rating:
Summary: THE MOST HONEST AND REVEALING NOVEL ABOUT HUMANITY.
Review: I first read this book when I was 16. Today, I'm 30 but I still manage to read it every two or three years to remind myself to be true to my feelings. Miller's writings, in general, are autobiographical. Some of the events have actually occurred while some are his dreams/visions. However, all are real to the man and real to most anyone who truly knows themself. There's no candy-coating here. Some reviewers see only the sexuality of the book. While that's certainly a great portion of the book it isn't what the book is about. It's about being who we want to be and freeing ourselves from the reigns of "normality" and confinement. That's why it's so disturbing. He expresses himself through his character and the characters around him. He mocks society and himself simultaneously. He is truly "human". My one desire, if I should ever be able to fulfill it, would be to write a novel that's worth ten percent of what this one is. Miller is the best friend one could possibly want to have because he doesn't cover-up his intentions.
Rating:
Summary: A Classic of 20th Century American Literature
Review: I first read Tropic of Capricorn nearly 30 years ago as a freshman in college. Tropic of Cancer was "interesting," but "Capricorn" blew my mind and turned me on to a realm of writing and chronicling of personal experience that influenced me more than any other work of literature I have ever read. This book is a comic (and cosmic) masterpiece on many levels. It is also a vicious social commentary of the times and culture (the 1920's in New York City). More than anything, it is a vibrant work of literature, a lusty and no-holds-barred celebration of the human spirit with all its faults and foibles.. Check out Norman Mailer's commentary on Henry Miller and "Capricorn" in the chapter "The Advocate" in his book The Prisoner of Sex. Likewise, check out Erica Jong's "The Devil at Large." Henry Miller is one of the greatest and most misunderstood writers this country has ever produced. Perhaps it's unfortunate he'll never be taught at anything but the college level (if he's taught at all); but then, again, I wouldn't offer Courvoisier to a highschool sophomore. Some tastes require maturity, but Miller's writing is one I'm glad I had a few years under my belt before diving into it.
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