The Organ Grinders

Rating:
Summary: The Good, The Bad and the Ugly ...
Review:
The Good:

The plot moves fairly quickly. Easy to read. Lots of wacky characters and situations. Some funny parts. The ecological and medical information in the book seem well researched.

The Bad:

Too preachy. Fairly predictable. The parts of the book having to do with "business" were utterly implausible - either he didn't research business practices at all or didn't care to present even a vaguely realistic portrayal of how a bio-tech company really works. Also, - the whole religious delusion thing didn't work at all - it added nothing to the book and didn't go anywhere, - almost as if he meant to do something with it and never got around to it.

The Ugly:

Although this book was a quick read, and was fairly engaging it reads like a draft of a novel that never underwent that last necessary revision before being published. Glaring implausibilities share the same page with well researched medical passages.

Overall, it wasn't good enough that I'd recommend it to a friend, and not bad enough to put me off Bill Fitzhugh. I'll read Pest Control and see how that one is.


Rating:
Summary: The Good, The Bad and the Ugly ...
Review:
The Good:

The plot moves fairly quickly. Easy to read. Lots of wacky characters and situations. Some funny parts. The ecological and medical information in the book seem well researched.

The Bad:

Too preachy. Fairly predictable. The parts of the book having to do with "business" were utterly implausible - either he didn't research business practices at all or didn't care to present even a vaguely realistic portrayal of how a bio-tech company really works. Also, - the whole religious delusion thing didn't work at all - it added nothing to the book and didn't go anywhere, - almost as if he meant to do something with it and never got around to it.

The Ugly:

Although this book was a quick read, and was fairly engaging it reads like a draft of a novel that never underwent that last necessary revision before being published. Glaring implausibilities share the same page with well researched medical passages.

Overall, it wasn't good enough that I'd recommend it to a friend, and not bad enough to put me off Bill Fitzhugh. I'll read Pest Control and see how that one is.


Rating:
Summary: Waste of Time
Review: As a teenager who are more exposed into the music world of pop and punk rock genre, i have no interest about organ procurement, imunosupressive drugs or...baboons. Ironically, i do like science fiction and sci-fi movies. The kind like Star Wars,A.I,or even Titan A.E. I'm a 'no-no' for Analog(A science fiction book)as it makes me go to bed early after reading a couple of its pages. Since i write and compose my own songs, i's crcial for me to read. I came across 'The Organ Grinders' late one evening at one of the local library in Singapore. I discovered that Bill Fitzhugh have a unique style of attracting the readers mind. Bill knows exactly when and how to increase the level of his reader's anticipation. This, in short,prevent the readers from putting down or close the book to grab some snacks or beverage or even do other task...such as going to the bathroom! Paul and Gorgette character plays an important role not only in the story itselves, but to also to who it may concerns, Especially to couples who planning to get married and having a child. Sounds like a 'self-help' books isn't it? You bet. I used to think that baboons are ugly monkeys which act as a parasite in the human world. Now, i've learned that genetically, baboons are different from human beings by less than 1%! Since i do not like to be refered as parasite in the human society, i've took back my words on the baboon subject. The reason why i've fell in love with this book is because the scripts and storylines are easily understand. I guess the author had prepared a very good plan on how the characters, events and tones slowly fits in till the conclusion. And as an active comedy movie goers, i definitely enjoyed every bit of humour in the book. There was a time when i read while laughing-out-loud throughout the whole page in one of the chapters. The Organ Grinders, by Bill Fitzhugh, has somehow changed my perception of biotech sciences and the importance of keeping the world green and a much safer place to live in. Beside having a great time reading it, i've acquired some important techniques that i will be able to apply in my reports, journals or composition. I hope it's not too late to congratulates Bill, upon his excellent works. I wish him the very best of luck in his future works and endeavor. Thank you.

Rating:
Summary: Dissapointed in CO
Review: Funny, disturbing, profoundly sad in parts - how do you fit so much into one book? As I was reading "Organ Grinders" news came of two doctors in Thailand accused of harvesting organs before the "one careful owner" had quite finished with them. If everything else he describes is really happening, boy - are we in trouble. I read this, cuddled my baby son and bought no more disposable nappies.(I'm an ICU pharmacist and all of the pharmacology was spot on!)

Rating:
Summary: Grind alright!
Review: I read Pest Control and absolutly loved it - it is the type of book you can denfinately see being made into a movie. However, I found The Organ Grinders very difficult to read. Much as I appreciate how Fitzhugh is trying to make us see some of the ills of the modern world (very commendable!) but I just found it heavy going. In fact I'm only three quarters of the way through and it's taken four weeks to read this far (I normally finish a book within a week). I could quite happily put the book on the shelf and forget about it; the only thing keeping me reading it is the fact I don't want to waste the time I've already invested. Sorry if I sound scathing, Just disappointed, Pest Control is brill, Maybe I should shelf The organ Grinders and read that again!

Rating:
Summary: Funny, Exciting, and a bit upsetting! A fine combination.
Review: I really enjoyed "The Organ Grinders". It is just as funny as his first book, "Pest Control", but definitely has some darker overtones. I would classify this book as a combination of Mystery, Science Fact/Fiction, and Comedy. It sounds like an odd combination, but read the book and you'll see what I mean!!! I normally stay away from both Mysteries and Science Fiction. I am more interested in Historical Novels, Fantasy, and the like. "Pest Control" was recommended to me by a friend and I guessed correctly that I would enjoy another book by the same author.

What did I like about "The Organ Grinders"? I am an engineer, so from the "nerd perspective", the accurate science in the book was great and a bit scary. He has obviously done a TON of research and it really shows. Just as he did in "Pest Control", most chapter begin with a bit of science. I also liked, and disliked, many of the characters in the! book. If anyone has trouble disliking the unredeemable Mr.Landis, they have a serious problem. He's a quality villain, if ever there was one. Paul Symon and Georgette are well developed characters and were very real. Some of the other characters are people I would never want to meet and would certainly never make some of the life-choices they make in the book, but they contribute to the story in so many ways. The book is also very funny. Just as I had to read "Pest Control over again to catch more of the Bob Dylan jokes, I know I need to read this one again to catch more of the Paul Simmon tidbits. I have the same last name as one of the characters, which was a bit of a bonus chuckle.

What didn't I like? There are some things that I don't really want to know about or think about. Thanks to this book, I am now more aware of some ethical, emotional, and environmental issues that can't be wished away (my preferred approach). The book is sure to upset every reade! r about something. In many ways the upset is a good thing.! The areas of unpleasantness that are almost a character in this book are things we should be upset about.

Rating:
Summary: Pretty Good
Review: Not as good as Pest Control but pretty good. Go ahead and get it, you won't regret it.

Rating:
Summary: ongoing disappointment
Review: When I started reading this book, I was excited. After all his first book was a laugh-a-minute. The reviews of this book were upbeat and funny, however, I didn't think it was at all. The plot jumped around a bit, and the whole animal rights point of view was pushed a little to far. I don't disagree with the notion, but I fell it killed the story. And the ending wasn't that great either. It felt like at about 80% through the book, the ending happened, and then the last 20% was either to bring the word count up, or just to give a 'readers digest' version of the rest of the main characters lives.

Rating:
Summary: Hilarious
Review: Without a doubt the funniest and smartest comedy I've read in quite a while. Fitzhugh is as able with the laughs as he is well-researched, and the combination provides a blazingly intelligent and fun read that is brilliant in its mixed-nuts hilarity. Flat-out gut-busting and sharp as a tack, I think "Organ Grinders" is Fitzhugh's best book -- his others are worthy, too, by the way -- and a book anyone who wants to think and laugh at the same time MUST pick up. Enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: Hilarious
Review: Wow. This book is part Frankenstein (with animal parts instead of human parts) and part search for the fountain of youth. Oh, and part Hunter S. Thompson. You'll learn more than you might want about what the medical biotech sector is up to and you'll be laughing all the way through. Well, not all the way. There was one scene that just about makes you cry. But in the end, you'll come away shaking your head in amazement that all these ideas came together as well as they did.