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K-Pax

K-Pax

List Price: $6.99
Your Price: $6.29
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Captivating character study and social commentary
Review: I picked this book up and read it in one day, at two sittings. It's an intriguing novel done as a psychiatric case study of the main character, "prot", a homeless man who believes himself to be from the planet K-PAX. The story is a voyage of discovery into prot's character and a social commentary on the ills of our time. Although there are touches of sadness, the overall quality of the book is optimism. I didn't find it as compelling as the other reviewers, although it was certainly enjoyable and well done. I don't see this as a must-read for sci-fi fans at all--it isn't by any means a science fiction novel. Rather, for those of you interested in the human condition and in people; for those of you willing to take a touch of magical realism with your reality, this will be a good read.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: LOTS OF POTENTIAL, BUT INTELLECTUALLY DISAPPOINTING
Review: I picked up this book with a lot of excitement, thinking someone might actually come up with something and really face some issues.

Instead, I must say I was disappointed with the simple-mindedness with which many complex issues were treated. The whole "all we need is love" anthem is popular and will certainly tug at the heart- and mind-strings of the "hippy" surface-thinker types, but it ignores the deeper reality of our evolved nature. This book over-simplifies things that need to be dealt with in a more intelligent way. It's all well and good to say "oh, can't we all just get along?!?" but if you don't look at the reasons WHY we don't get along, or present any viable ways for us to TRY on a larger scale to get along, what good are you doing?

On the plus side, it was a quick and easy read, and it does raise some issues which need to be brought more into the public forum, namely the looming exhaustion of fossil fuels, and the obselescence of our current religions. But I was saddened by how these issues were simply glazed over with the most cursory treatment, which, rather than exploring the deeper causes and processes at work, were dealt with with a mere wave of the hand.

My disappointment mainly has to do with the fact that no viable alternatives or scenarios are presented (other than pure whimsy and impossibility).

Sure, it's nice to raise awareness and say that we need to change, and show "us terrible humans" at point A, and perfect sustainable lovey-doveys at point B--but the book presents no concrete ideas about exactly how to go about getting from point A to point B, other than the same old "all we need is love" refrain.

Also, the writing wasn't that impressive. A lot of cliches, and the "prot" character was a real bland, flat character. I really didn't feel much involvement with the characters. It goes quick, but there isn't much to the story, what with the format of interviewer/interviewee that gets repetitive.

Maybe my standards are too high? Certainly it's a decent book, and people are better off reading this than the bible or cosmopolitan, but it had the potential to be so much more.

There is a book coming out, in the near future, called "FONGE" that will actually deal with these issues, in an exciting, humorous story, and actually present some viable ideas and alternatives to the ills of the world. Be on the lookout!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Is he or Isn't he
Review: I saw the movie first. The book is just as good - a little different - but nothing extreme like most book/movie differences. I am waiting for a beam of light...

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: A quick, interesting read
Review: I was able to easily finish off this novel in less than a few hours. The story line was enjoyable, but I felt the ending was rushed and easily explained...I would have rather had it a bit more drawn-out. I am glad to see they are making a movie of this novel, because I think Kevin Spacey would make a great prot.I am also interested to see where the author will take this story in his sequel. I also didn't get it until the very end that the author used his name as the novel's psychiatrist...I thought it made this work of fiction even more interesting.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Wanna take a ride?
Review: I was first introduced to K-PAX when I saw the movie as few years ago. Right away I was hooked by the movie. The book brings you into a world that is not here or there. Is he (Prot/ Robert Porter) an Alien or just another mentally ill earthling who has a acute knowledge of science? This book was truly fascinating. I can't tell if this is a Science Fiction novel of a medical thriller.

All I know is that I could not put his book down, and I would have to give it my strongest recommendation.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Alien, Interrupted
Review: Is prot really an alien? Only his psychotherapist knows for sure.

Part sci-fi, but mostly what life is like for a hard core psychiatrist. I learned as much about abnormal psychology as I did about life on K-PAX. Interesting story, fast to read. I enjoyed it a lot. But don't believe the cover that claims this book will take it's place next to Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land - its scope is too narrow.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Characters and a plot that may not be what they appear to be
Review: Is this a story about a psychiatrist and therapy or a story about an extra-terrestial being that comes to Earth? No matter which interpretation you choose, this book is gripping. I have had the pleasure of reading Gene Brewer's sequel to K-PAX in manuscript form and it is even better and more fascinating than this one. So far, no publisher wants to print it. If you want to read it, contact the publisher of K-PAX and tell them you want to read it. Maybe if enough of us do this, his sequel will see the light of day. You won't regret it, I promise you.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: So Real!
Review: K-Pax is a great book to take your mind away from what's bothering you! The author doing we people a big favor. I see fragment of us and others in this book. It is not about the impossibility of Prot utopian ideology, it is about the EARTH in denial of realities. I am now beginning to read K-PAX II, looking forward to read K-PAX Trilogy. Thank you Gene Brewer.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A very good read.
Review: K-PAX is as realistic as they come. Not only does Gene Brewer use his own name, but his wife's as well, and he writes this story with a very realistic feel to it. Its almost as if you are in the room with him as he questions prot about himself.
prot is a young- mid twenties man who insists that he is from another planet. He is checked into MPI, where Dr. Brewer trys to find out who he really is. There, prot begins to have a positive influence on the other patients, who begin to get better as their are exposed to prot.
But soon Dr. Brewer finds that prot is not alone. Deep in his mind, he has another entity, hiding from a tragety that he cannot face. Together, Brewer and prot, along with the help of a journalist, they must find this man before prot leaves for K-PAX.
This man is Robert Porter, a small town man who lost his wife and child. Brewer must find him before prot's influence leaves.
I thought that this was a very good and fast read. Brewer creates some very beleivable characters, including prot and the entire ward, and it is easy to become attached to them. The plot was good as well, with a sense of urgency as the deadline for prot's return approaches. Then Robert, who we don't see. Brewer does a good job of pulling him out and finding out who he is, along with the Journalist.
A great read! There is a sequel, which is 'On a Beam of Light'

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Very imaginative
Review: K-PAX is one of the very few books that I actually wanted to skip to the end to see what was going to happen. I had no idea where the author was going, which was very refreshing. Lots of books I can almost tell you the ending, but with Gene Brewer's K-PAX, I had no idea. Being a psychologist myself, reading this book felt like a case study. I had to tell myself several times throughout the book that this is not real, just fiction. The story of Prot should be one that should be shared with everyone. If you have not read this book, please do so and do it before the movie comes out in October. I thought about this book days after I read and I have let everyone I know borrow it.


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