Silver: My Own Tale As Written by Me with a Goodly Amount of Murder

Forget Johnny Depp. There is a new pirate on the black waters, and it is Long John Silver. Silver, as imagined by Edward Chupack, is a fun-loving, witty, daredevil who happens to stick a sword or saber into anyone who dares defy him. Is he a hero? I think not, but we can't help but like the rogue-really like him-because he does everything that we want to do. Ever want to tell your boss what you really think? Ever want to hose down your neighbor? Ever want to be in total command of...anything? You can do it vicariously through Silver. The writing is stellar, and there is a surprise on every page because of Chupack's mastery of language. If Nabokov wrote a prirate book, this would be it. Please someone, make a movie of this book!

This is an exciting saga about a deceptive, deceitful, and dishonest pirate. Long John Silver revels in murder and personal gain, often bragging about his heartlessness. "Where there is good and evil there is damnation and salvation. You may presume that I am not fit to treat on salvation. I am. Only the damned are fit to treat on salvation because only they understand what they have been denied." Silver is exceedingly clever and forthright in a way that makes the reader see his immorality as likeable. We are in awe of his malevolent exploits, and revel in his brazen murders. However, there is more to Silver then just murder. He is truly a rich multidimensional character. The pages of this "autobiography" are filled with rhythmic almost poetic prose. There are several stories, past and present, being told throughout this book. Not only do we get a story about Silver's life, we get a treasure hunt too. The way in which these threads intertwine makes the book stay fresh and keeps the reader entertained. In a society where pirates have become the norm, this book breaks the mold. It has all the aspects of a good pirate tale (murder, deception, and most of all treasure) but it explores these aspects in a fresh way. Chupack has created a thoroughly enjoyable page turner.

This book takes on the rhythm of the high seas and carries the reader on for the ride. It is a lively, rollicking story and Chupack really captures the sound and feel of the times and the pirate way of life. I found it hard to put down - a wonderful reading adventure.

From the first page to the last, Silver held my interest by its lyrical character descriptions, humorous dialog, and insightful observations about human nature. The language and images of the book are at once funny and sharp-witted, as is Long John Silver himself. Who would expect a tale of mayhem and murder to be first rate character study with a sense of humor? And a page turner! The treasure in this book is the narrative of Long John Silver as he matter-of-factly reveals his exploits as a pirate, and his relationships with his shipmates and others. Is there adventure? Yes. Is there intrigue? Yes. Most of all there is an artfully written and appealing story. I would recommend Silver to any readers who enjoy literary descriptions, comic observations about human nature and a twist reminiscent of O'Henry.