OIL!


 

Customer Reviews


Bernard J. Ryan Said: Book/film ( Jun. 4th 2010 )

It must be pointed out that the film-makers of There Will Be Blood were INSPIRED by the book, they didn't suggest that the film was actually BASED on the book, therefore the movie and novel are different. I haven't as yet, seen the movie , but I did enjoy the novel, and I'm glad to see it is in print.
Sinclair can tell a good story, even though he didn't write books just to tell a story.
H G Wells was another one of those "message to spread" writers, denouncing those who thought of a novel as a mere form relaxation, or just an entertainment. A lot of his "message/topical novels are now unread. (In fact, it is mostly his entertainments, like the science fiction tales, that are read/in print today).
The same may apply to Sinclair, but even despite of a tendency to "lecture" he can still tell a good story, while concurrently giving the capitalists a bashing,(one of his favorite themes).

SuZ-Q Said: Jeez... ( Apr. 23rd 2010 )

Although I, like numerous others, started reading this because of "There Will Be Blood" (which I found disturbingly fascinating), I can't say I enjoyed this book at all. I'll just reiterate that it is NOTHING like the movie.

Before I got Kindle for iPod, I ordered this in paperback, which I never received OR was reimbursed for, so I read "King Coal" by the same author instead. It was a real slog and was so predictable and overwrought that I didn't even bother reading the last chapter or so. It's very rare that I've not finished a book after hours and hours of reading, but it was just too much work and not nearly enough intellectual stimulation.

I found "Oil!" to be cut from the same cloth once I got past the first few chapters. If you want to be beaten over the head with the evils (perceived or genuine) of Capitalism, be my guest. I haven't finished the last chapter or two of this book yet either for the same reasons as stated above although I have done my best to persevere. The fact that I got it last November does not bode well for reaching the end.

Although I normally like stories set in this era (circa 1900-1920), I find this book odious mostly because it deals with serious issues in such flippant ways by many of the characters in such an inconsistent way. I suspect that the body of this author's work in general is an absolute chore to read. On the other hand, however, many of the author's insights on the oil business itself are frightenly accurate. For that I give Mr. Sinclair kudos.

By about the middle of the book, our idealistic "hero" (who goes by the nickname "Bunny" - which is just irritating), can't seem to make up his mind about nearly anything - especially the people he chooses to associate with for vastly different and mostly selfish reasons - or to follow any convictions he may espouse or propose to espouse. He hates the corporations and encourages the workers' movements (in complete opposition to how he himself became so wealthy and privileged), but can't seem to pry himself away from either of these factions long enough to give himself any true respectability or certainty in whichever forum.

It's a preachy trudge by an author that can't seem to do much else in my (admittedly limited) experience. His writing is repetitive, politically wishy-washy on most points in regards to his protagonist and just generally becomes really boring.

Stick with the movie.

Miami Bob Said: Fun Topic with Several Flawed Concepts ( Apr. 1st 2010 )

This book concentrating on events of the last century's turn reads more like Sinclair Lewis than Upton Sinclair. Sinclair Lewis is a master of Americana schmaltz -- Upton Sinclair is not. His great strength is descriptive literature about man's abuse to other men for capitalistic gain.

Upton Sinclair is the great scrivener of and for the working man, whose triumphant The Jungle amazingly delivers the reader to the turmoil, pain and anxiety of the Polish immigrant laborers at the Chicago stockyards. The description of the workplace is amazing - so much so that the meat packing stench of the carrion and charnel houses seem to pervade from the pages. That book is a masterpiece. This book is not.

This book is not the same. It is about a father and son who strike it rich as wildcatters in California and the wealth and adventure of the two as the boy grows older and father grows wealthier. But, the dialogue can bother you. As age creeps upon the two, some things evidence maturation - while others do not. For instance, after bedding a big time Hollywood actress for years, earning millions with dad in oil, watching graft and worker oppression on a daily basis, the 20-something son continually says to his father "Why . . . [do bad people do bad things to not so bad people]?" The innocence of the questions are okay from elementary school boys - not Hollywood sexing, veteran of WW I, college-educated, worldly traveled people: what the son is!

But, the mixing of fiction with real world personalities always makes evocative reading - where you must ask: who is this character in real life. And, good fiction which intertwines with real world events can be great - think The Godfather.

But, of the 90 or so books written by this author, this is not his best. Not his worst, I am sure, but not his best. But, in the end it parallels the great The Jungle when he states, ". . . an evil Power which roams the earth, crippling the bodies of men and women, and luring the nations to destruction by visions of unearned wealth, and the opportunity to enslave and exploit labor."

By the way: the cover says that this book is the source for There Will Be Blood. Not. They are very different portrayals about the same people

K. Josic Said: Somewhat puzzling ( Feb. 22nd 2010 )

Yes, I am one of those that read the book after seeing the movie. And overall,
I didn't think it was that bad. In particular, the first quarter (on which the movie
is based) is a well-told story with memorable characters and events. The problem
with the remainder of the book is that it becomes progressively more like a
recruiting pamphlet for the Socialist Party. Sinclair makes many good points,
but does so in a heavy-handed manner. As the book progresses, the world
becomes increasingly more black and white. The second half is an unequivocal
indictment of capitalism, and near glorification of the Russian Revolution. We
all know how that turned out...

MATTHEW Said: great read ( Jan. 1st 2010 )

This is a novel about greed says the back cover. And it was. I thoroughly enjoyed it. This made my summer 2009. The print is small and the pages are numerous so it takes some time to get through it, but Upton Sinclair is a genius and like The Jungle : The Uncensored Original Edition this book is remarkable. Glad to have read it.

Ever wondered what it was like in California right after the dawn of cars that top out at 45 mph. This is the book for you. Beautiful descriptions of the countryside. This book is about business in its virulent form.