Rating: 
Summary: Good Book
Review: "The Human Comedy" by William Saroyan, which is set in Ithaca, Ca, is about a family whom in time of war shows more courage than even the soldiers of World War II. The struggles and obstacles that the Macauleys face is a reflection of how the families have their own personal war to overcome. Dealing with the death of his father and an older brother drafted in the war, fourteen-year-old Homer still has a simple dream; to become the fastest telegraph messenger in the west. But even through the innocent dreams of a little boy there brings the reality of the nightmares of the real world. Homer is assigned to deliver telegraph messages of wartime to those who wait for their loved ones return. In the midst of enjoying his new line of work, he realizes that he has come "face-to-face with human emotions at its most naked and raw" state. He is awed by the way the letters can affect the feelings of the loved ones. Homer has to cope with the harsh truth of war.
The author's unique writing style goes beyond the norm of how a story is supposed to be told. Instead of the chapters transitioning from one to the next, Saroyan's approach is fragmented into the importance of the plot. Saroyan portrays a broad view of the sophistication of life. In Homer's world we can see him facing obstacles, choices, and emotions that all people go through. In my opinion, I believe that the author has done a good job with depicting the life of wartime families. However, at first I was not intrigued by the story, but as I read on, I was grabbed by it's realistic view on peoples' emotions. Homer represents the individual. Even though his situation may be more extreme than the average, he is basically confronted with decisions that will eventually shape his characteristics of being man. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy reading about surviving trials and tribulations. I have found this book to be fun and satisfactory.
Rating: 
Summary: Incredibly memorable
Review: My adult cousin gave me this book when I was about ten. We had not spent much time together, but she apparently had me figured out. I found the book spellbinding, although it was hard to say why. I recently reread it, and still appreciate its simplistic realism. Saroyan tells us of everyday dreams and anguish and triumph and tragedy, without an ounce of extremism or melodrama. "The Human Comedy" is perfectly real, and utterly memorable, as well as being a very well-written book. My recent reread was of a borrowed copy, and now I find myself ready to buy it.
Rating:
Summary: Incredibly memorable
Review: My adult cousin gave me this book when I was about ten. We had not spent much time together, but she apparently had me figured out. I found the book spellbinding, although it was hard to say why. I recently reread it, and still appreciate its simplistic realism. Saroyan tells us of everyday dreams and anguish and triumph and tragedy, without an ounce of extremism or melodrama. "The Human Comedy" is perfectly real, and utterly memorable, as well as being a very well-written book. My recent reread was of a borrowed copy, and now I find myself ready to buy it.
Rating:
Summary: WOW! CLASSIC!
Review: O.K. I am a 24 year old college student/us army vet and this book was and is my favorite. I first read this thoughtful and hilarious (odd but it pulls both off easily) work at 14. Since then I seem to read it again almost once yearly. Now contrary to some reveiwers of this book I hardly ever sit and read books for pleasure. The Human Comedy is one of the exeptions to this rule. If you can relate to growing up poor but still finding life wonderful this book is a must read. The main thought/theme is about the war and and its effects on small town america but specifically the Macualy family. For all soldiers or former soldiers it gives an acuarate potrait of life at home during a war. How family life must go on and how wonderfull and painful the experiences are living in times of conflict. My reveiw will not nearly touch all the different plot lines and characters in this short but classic work. Just read it for yourself and I know you will love it.
Rating:
Summary: The Great American Novel
Review: One of the favorite time wasting conversations at cocktail parties used to be discussions of the "great American Novel." Everyone wanted to write it, everyone had an opinion over whether Hemingway or Fitzgerald or Steinbeck were the ones that already had. Well, if anyone with half a brain and more than a third grade education has stumbled on Saroyan's The Human Comedy the discussion can be ended. True, Hollywood mixed it with so much treacle that enjoying Mickey Rooney's performance has to be rated as a guilty pleasure, but the novel itself is damn near perfect. A scatching indictment of war, a treatise to family values, a celebration of the simple pleasures, an ode to the dying small town: The Human Comedy is all of the above and more. Forced down the throats of a generation of eighth graders by well meaning English teachers, this simple and compelling tale is often mistakenly labeled as a children's book. A good, quick read the first time, this is the type of novel that can be re-read over and over, with each read opening new vistas of thought and levels of meaning. For my stilted taste, none of Saroyan's later works came close. In his foreword, he apologizes for not having waited to be mature enough to give the story its due. He was wrong. The characters are broad brushed, but with enough detail to color in personalities of folks we all have known. Homer, the arguable main character, is a bit too staunch to judge by today's standards, but probably existed in most small towns in the war torn 1940's. Ulysses, the hope of the future and the innocence of childhood, is an everyman under the age of ten. I need not inventory every character, for each has their own value and depth. Simply put, this is a novel to compare others to. Read it or suffer a less fulfilling life than you could have had.
Rating: 
Summary: Home is where the Heart is
Review: Set in California's rural wine country in the mid 40's, this novel introduces readers to the Macauley family of fictitious Ithaca. A widow with four chidren endures the financial and psychological deprivations of World War II. Gently and lovingly she touches the lives of her brood who are brimming with the
excitement of exploring the world--and themselves--with zeal and naivty. Marcus, who plays accordian, is away in the Army, soon to be sent overseas. Seventeen-year-old Bess is also musical; she and her girlfriend next door sing and play piano, but are restless at the idea of college--it's jobs they crave. While four-year-old Ulysses observes everything that moves in his hometown--absorbing trivia like an eager sponge. Despite the references to Greek literature, this story is eminently American. The real protagonist is 14-year-old Homer, who comes of age as the temporary man of the house. His new job as a telegraph messenger brings him into contact with many strangers and painful situations--thrusting him into adult awareness before his boyhood has been played out. The Unity of Time makes
this an intense read: some one hundred pages are devoted to just one day in the life of this family and the members of their little community--a microcosm of Americana and all we hold dear. Saroyan's style includes much juvenile dialogue, interspersed with surprising adult philosophies on coping with life. A tender story of love, kindness and friendship--all blended with humor and pathos, THE HUMAM COMEDY remains a gentle classic for all who
have lived in a small town--or wished that they had!
Rating:
Summary: Comedy?... THINK AGAIN
Review: The Human "Comedy" is not a funny story at all. It is a little sad and depressing although it does have a good plot. I bought the book thinking that it was going to be full of humor, but i thought wrong. It is an interesting and amusint book, yet it is not a comedy. The Human Comedy is a short novel that drags on.
Rating:
Summary: A Heart-Warming Story
Review: The Human Comedy is a heart-warming story of a family during World War II. This book portrays the part of World War II that is often forgotten, its families. The fourteen year old Homer Macauley is the central character of this story. His brother is at war and his father is dead, so he must be the breadwinner for his mother, brother and sister. Through his job as a telegraph messenger Homer becomes more connected to the war than he would like - having to deliver death notices of soldiers to their families. Through the development of characters and light side plots, Saroyan shows the simplicities and struggles of the families of World War II. Saroyan not only shows the way the war affected the families of World War II, but by using simple anecdotes about little boys at play or Homer at school, he shows that life went on during the war. This book contains simple human truths that are constant throughout history. The reader gets the message that no matter what tragedy happens, life will go on. I found this story to be emotional, humorous, and very touching. The simple lives of the Macauley family represents all family's struggles and joys, during World War II.
Rating:
Summary: The Book that confused my friends
Review: The Human Comedy is the story of Homer Macauley's life during the war. With his brother off to fight WWII he must support the family with his new job. The plot for this book might be confusing to some readers. Struggling to deal with his job, Homer is upset he must deliver unhappiness with his deliveries. This book, which has strong character development for the main character, gives vivid details on how Homer becomes more mature. The setting is in Ithaca, California. As most books, this book is told in third person omniscient.
Rating:
Summary: The Human Comedy.... more like "The Human Drama"!
Review: This book is a story about a California family whose eldest son is sent off to war. The younger brother must provide for the family by getting a job as a telegraph messenger. There is alot of drama within the book and much of it is not needed. There is very little humor in this story. I have now learned the meaning of "Don't judge a book by its cover". I would recomend this book to anyone who likes family drama and light reading.
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