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A Box of Matches: A Novel

A Box of Matches: A Novel

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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Nicholson Baker is a pathetic human being
Review: The world is full of whiners, and this guy is the king. As a pup, Nicholson Baker attended the School Without Walls where, "learning has no limit." Unfortunately for us, the only message he got resulted in his permanent low self-image.

If you purchase ANY of this poor misbegotten soul's books, you are doing nothing more than feeding the mouth of a permanent pessimist.

Nicholson, we're praying for you and your children.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Book of Small Pleasures
Review: There are 33 matches in a box, hence the 33 chapters in this book. Every morning (each chapter), Emmett, a medical textbook editor (with a pet duck), lights a match to start a fire in the fireplace. Each chapter starts with a 'Good morning', and then minute observations on minutiae of life from an ordinary man.

Nicholson Baker's prose is effortless and light. He's probably one of the most elegant prose stylists writing today, and he clearly has written a gem with this one. His comic sensibility is sneaky and fun, and I found myself laughing out loud in public places while thinking about passages from this book.

The contemplation of details of life and the tangential fantasies that spring from mundane activities lead to subtle and touching refletions on life itself. This book is, above all, about what makes life worth baring. And the book's ultimate accomplishment is that it bares the beauty of life without resorting to building a dramatic resolution or an epiphany, but rather shows life as is, quietly and truthfully. One of the most pleasurable reads of this past few years.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: There's No Such Thing as Trivia
Review: This should have been the most boring book in the history of writing. The plot: a man wakes each morning at 4:00, and we get a couple of pages of his thoughts while he is making a fire. The Things he talks about: his pet duck, needing to pee, the best way to shave, and how well belly-button lint burns. Yes, belly-button lint. This should have been either a really boring novel or a really irritating one, but it was neither. Nicholas Baker finds in this world of minutia a lot to live for and a lot to write about.

A Box of Matches is at turns humorous, touching, and wise. It's quick and light and entertaining, and you come away with a little greater appreciation for the smallest things in life. It's a truly worthwhile and life-affirming read.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A Book About Everything And Nothing
Review: Trying to describe Nicholson Baker's book "A Box of Matches" to someone who has not yet read it is quite a difficult feat. Although the book does not have an exciting plot with twists and turns ultimately leading to a final climax, it is still one of the best books that I have ever read. Why? Mainly because it contains a universal theme that one can easily relate to. The main character Emmett's brutal honesty in tackling every day issues and thoughts. He lets us inside his head and most times thinks thoughts that all of us have once pondered, yet were too scared or embarrassed to share with another, however, it is those little crude, funny, or solemn thoughts that link us all together. It contains many profound "tips" and quotes that one can use as a source of guidance in his/her life. The way the book is set up, the author is not badgering readers with advice, nor does he preach to them. Through his character Emmett, he shows us and most importantly reminds us how good life is when we have those moments where we can simplify our lives.


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