J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Christina and I decided to both re-read this before the movie comes out next week. I have to say, I am not looking forward to watching Michael Gambon over-emote the speeches about Love and the potion scene. All the teen romance should be fun though.
Thursday, July 09, 2009
more craig ferguson
I'm starting to feel like it's my duty to post Craig Ferguson's puppet-laden dance/lipsynch monologues. This one was pretty good, though I didn't actually know the song (embarrassing, I know!).
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
partially read
Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan's The Strain
I'm giving up this horror novel at 129 pages. It started off strong, as people react to an airplane that, just after landing, suddenly goes dark, and everyone on board is found dead. Great atmosphere, not a surprise from del Toro. But it's just boring after a while as people try and figure out what could have caused this (the book jacket reveals that it's vampires of some sort, which really ruins the narrative tension). Even a Holocaust survivor armed for battle against evil can't make things more interesting (which is a mark of how quickly things get boring, despite the choppy chapters that feel like quick scene cuts). I don't love horror stories to begin with, but this probably should have just been a movie.
I'm giving up this horror novel at 129 pages. It started off strong, as people react to an airplane that, just after landing, suddenly goes dark, and everyone on board is found dead. Great atmosphere, not a surprise from del Toro. But it's just boring after a while as people try and figure out what could have caused this (the book jacket reveals that it's vampires of some sort, which really ruins the narrative tension). Even a Holocaust survivor armed for battle against evil can't make things more interesting (which is a mark of how quickly things get boring, despite the choppy chapters that feel like quick scene cuts). I don't love horror stories to begin with, but this probably should have just been a movie.
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
2009 book 142
Vestal McIntyre's Lake Overturn
Kind of a sweeping epic centered in Idaho in the 1980s, this novel manages to bring a wide variety of characters to vivid life, from two single moms in a trailer park to a junior high boy struggling with his sexuality to his older brother, a Mexican raised by rich white foster parents and torn between both worlds to a pair of high school girls desperate to flee their small town. Plus more! The characters are definitely the highlight here, as most of the plot is small-town-family stuff, and things do take a turn for the depressing at the end. The title refers to a phenomenon where a lake gives off CO2 gas and kills people, the subject of s science project by two of the characters. A-/B+.
Kind of a sweeping epic centered in Idaho in the 1980s, this novel manages to bring a wide variety of characters to vivid life, from two single moms in a trailer park to a junior high boy struggling with his sexuality to his older brother, a Mexican raised by rich white foster parents and torn between both worlds to a pair of high school girls desperate to flee their small town. Plus more! The characters are definitely the highlight here, as most of the plot is small-town-family stuff, and things do take a turn for the depressing at the end. The title refers to a phenomenon where a lake gives off CO2 gas and kills people, the subject of s science project by two of the characters. A-/B+.
Monday, July 06, 2009
2009 book 141
Elina Hirvonen's When I Forgot
Translated from the Finnish, this vaguely stream-of-consciousness novel deals with a young woman reading a book in a cafe and reflecting on her troubled family and her American boyfriend, who also has a troubled family, on the eve of the Iraq war in 2003. I had no strong feelings about it either way. B.
Translated from the Finnish, this vaguely stream-of-consciousness novel deals with a young woman reading a book in a cafe and reflecting on her troubled family and her American boyfriend, who also has a troubled family, on the eve of the Iraq war in 2003. I had no strong feelings about it either way. B.
Sunday, July 05, 2009
2009 book 140
Jane Hamilton's Laura Rider's Masterpiece
This was a ridiculous and depressing novel about a woman with literary aspirations who engineers an affair between her husband and a local radio personality. D.
This was a ridiculous and depressing novel about a woman with literary aspirations who engineers an affair between her husband and a local radio personality. D.
2009 book 139
Kate Walbert's A Short History of Women
I remembered enjoying Walbert's previous two novels, so figured I'd give this one a shot even though it was getting middling reviews. But ugh, it was not very good. It's the story of five generations of women (who take turns narrating chapters) and what happens to them after the first decides to starve to death in the name of suffrage. I kept waiting for there to be a larger point, or a twist, or anything of interest, but it was mostly five women whining a lot. B-.
I remembered enjoying Walbert's previous two novels, so figured I'd give this one a shot even though it was getting middling reviews. But ugh, it was not very good. It's the story of five generations of women (who take turns narrating chapters) and what happens to them after the first decides to starve to death in the name of suffrage. I kept waiting for there to be a larger point, or a twist, or anything of interest, but it was mostly five women whining a lot. B-.
Thursday, July 02, 2009
2009 book 138 1/2
The Merge Records Companion: A Visual Discography of the First Twenty Years
What a nice surprise to find this in my mailbox (with volumes 7 and 8 of the Score! box set celebrating Merge's 20th anniversary). This has very little text, so it's hard to count as a full book, but I certainly spent plenty of time perusing it! The awesome folk at Merge had band members, Merge employees, family, and friends pose with each and every album Merge has released in its 20 years--of course it was fun to flip through the first ten years of Merge album covers and marvel at the art, but the last ten are the ones that got to me! Those were the ones that I've played on WXDU, and bought and loved (sometimes more than once--I own three copies of Essex Green's Cannibal Sea, b/c I kept forgetting I owned it already and wanted them to have my money anyway), and even reviewed occasionally. I am awash in nostalgia! Anyway, the visual discography is a really cool idea, this is a great presentation, and I'm proud to know people whose hands appear here! It will be on sale later this year, so keep an eye out for it if you're not a Score! subscriber.
What a nice surprise to find this in my mailbox (with volumes 7 and 8 of the Score! box set celebrating Merge's 20th anniversary). This has very little text, so it's hard to count as a full book, but I certainly spent plenty of time perusing it! The awesome folk at Merge had band members, Merge employees, family, and friends pose with each and every album Merge has released in its 20 years--of course it was fun to flip through the first ten years of Merge album covers and marvel at the art, but the last ten are the ones that got to me! Those were the ones that I've played on WXDU, and bought and loved (sometimes more than once--I own three copies of Essex Green's Cannibal Sea, b/c I kept forgetting I owned it already and wanted them to have my money anyway), and even reviewed occasionally. I am awash in nostalgia! Anyway, the visual discography is a really cool idea, this is a great presentation, and I'm proud to know people whose hands appear here! It will be on sale later this year, so keep an eye out for it if you're not a Score! subscriber.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
2009 book 138
Sarah Dessen's Along for the Ride
It's a measure of what a reliably good writer Dessen is that I was totally into this book, even though it has a lot of bikes in it (I have a longstanding antipathy toward bikes). Anyway, one of her very likable protagonists spends the summer before college with her dad, stepmom, and new baby sister and learns lessons about family and friendship and of course meets a troubled but sweet love interest. Only it's all really good and steers away from cliches, b/c it's Dessen. A.
It's a measure of what a reliably good writer Dessen is that I was totally into this book, even though it has a lot of bikes in it (I have a longstanding antipathy toward bikes). Anyway, one of her very likable protagonists spends the summer before college with her dad, stepmom, and new baby sister and learns lessons about family and friendship and of course meets a troubled but sweet love interest. Only it's all really good and steers away from cliches, b/c it's Dessen. A.
Monday, June 29, 2009
2009 book 137
J. Courtney Sullivan's Commencement
The jacket copy doesn't do this book justice--four totally different girls, one a sweet Southerner, one a radical feminist, one a lapsed Catholic, one recovering from her mother's recent death all meet at Smith and become totally awesome friends, and now they're all getting together four years later for one's wedding! I mean, it sounds like some cheesy Julia Roberts movie. Luckily, that's just the bare bones of the story, and there's so much more to these characters and their lives in college and afterward. I did have slightly mixed feelings about the ending, but this was a really, really great read. And I would not be at all surprised to see this made into a movie--ooh, guys, read this book and we can have imaginary casting sessions in the comments!--but I hope it would do right by the novel and not be a totally cheesefest. Anyway. A/A-.
The jacket copy doesn't do this book justice--four totally different girls, one a sweet Southerner, one a radical feminist, one a lapsed Catholic, one recovering from her mother's recent death all meet at Smith and become totally awesome friends, and now they're all getting together four years later for one's wedding! I mean, it sounds like some cheesy Julia Roberts movie. Luckily, that's just the bare bones of the story, and there's so much more to these characters and their lives in college and afterward. I did have slightly mixed feelings about the ending, but this was a really, really great read. And I would not be at all surprised to see this made into a movie--ooh, guys, read this book and we can have imaginary casting sessions in the comments!--but I hope it would do right by the novel and not be a totally cheesefest. Anyway. A/A-.
2009 book 136
Peter Abrahams' Reality Check
A perfectly serviceable YA mystery involving a boy whose girlfriend goes off to boarding school in Vermont and then disappears. B.
A perfectly serviceable YA mystery involving a boy whose girlfriend goes off to boarding school in Vermont and then disappears. B.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
2009 book 135
Ian Sansom's The Book Stops Here
I enjoyed the first Mobile Library Mystery, a totally light book about a Jewish librarian in the middle of nowhere, Ireland. This is the third book in the series (somehow I missed the second), but it's nowhere near as fun as the first. For one thing, the mystery barely exists--the library van is stolen and the librarian and his friend have to track it down, which is just not interesting at all--and for another, the main character is really whiny. There's a cute subplot where his friend and his mom kind of like each other, but otherwise this book wasn't worth reading at all. C-.
I'm picking up some library books tomorrow, and hoping fervently that one will be a good read!
I enjoyed the first Mobile Library Mystery, a totally light book about a Jewish librarian in the middle of nowhere, Ireland. This is the third book in the series (somehow I missed the second), but it's nowhere near as fun as the first. For one thing, the mystery barely exists--the library van is stolen and the librarian and his friend have to track it down, which is just not interesting at all--and for another, the main character is really whiny. There's a cute subplot where his friend and his mom kind of like each other, but otherwise this book wasn't worth reading at all. C-.
I'm picking up some library books tomorrow, and hoping fervently that one will be a good read!
Saturday, June 27, 2009
2009 book 134
Jennifer Steinhauer and Jessica Hendra's Beverly Hills Adjacent
What, another book about an LA academic with a husband in showbiz? I was hoping it would be fluffier and more fun than the last one I read. I guess it was fluffier, but this story of a UCLA professor and her struggling academic husband was really unlikable. All of the characters were total jerks! It really annoyed me. I'm not sure why I kept reading, except to see what these assholes would do next. And of course they got a totally ridiculous ending to boot. C-.
What, another book about an LA academic with a husband in showbiz? I was hoping it would be fluffier and more fun than the last one I read. I guess it was fluffier, but this story of a UCLA professor and her struggling academic husband was really unlikable. All of the characters were total jerks! It really annoyed me. I'm not sure why I kept reading, except to see what these assholes would do next. And of course they got a totally ridiculous ending to boot. C-.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
2009 book 133
Margaret Leroy's Yes, My Darling Daughter
This was one of the books from Oprah's summer reading lists--it's really only a mystery in the most tenuous sense. It centers on a young single mother with a troubled little daughter; eventually, the mother comes to think her child is somebody's reincarnation and turns to an unusual psychology professor for help. From there it becomes much more predictable, but is still a fairly satisfying story. B+.
This was one of the books from Oprah's summer reading lists--it's really only a mystery in the most tenuous sense. It centers on a young single mother with a troubled little daughter; eventually, the mother comes to think her child is somebody's reincarnation and turns to an unusual psychology professor for help. From there it becomes much more predictable, but is still a fairly satisfying story. B+.
YAY!
The new Miyazaki movie comes out in August!! It looks SO CUTE.
I know I was disappointed in his last movie (Howl's Moving Castle), but only b/c I didn't think it did justice to the book--I still think Miyazaki's cartoons are totally great. This one is apparently geared toward a younger audience, which is fine with me!
I know I was disappointed in his last movie (Howl's Moving Castle), but only b/c I didn't think it did justice to the book--I still think Miyazaki's cartoons are totally great. This one is apparently geared toward a younger audience, which is fine with me!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
2009 book 132
Nina Kiriki Hoffman's Fall of Light
Oh my god, was this book terrible. It starts off with an interesting concept--a makeup artist with magical powers is in love with the actor she works on, only he gets possessed by some local magical thing--but it just got worse and worse as it went on, until the totally ridiculous and anti-climactic ending. D.
Oh my god, was this book terrible. It starts off with an interesting concept--a makeup artist with magical powers is in love with the actor she works on, only he gets possessed by some local magical thing--but it just got worse and worse as it went on, until the totally ridiculous and anti-climactic ending. D.
Monday, June 22, 2009
stuff!
Edith Wharton rules!
Conversely, Holden Caulfield is lame. (I've never liked him.)
I'm sure you all have seen Buffy vs Edward Cullen, but it's hilarious and awesome.
I'm totally into this Tooth Fairy kit.
Seriously, why are they remaking Red Dawn? That movie is terrible. I mean, sure, it's fun to yell "WOLVERINES!!!!!!" but really, is that enough to base a movie on?
Art Spiegelman has a comic in the Washington Post about the St Louis, a famous ship full of Jewish refugees that the US refused to let enter the country and sent back to Europe just in time for the Holocaust. Nice one, America!
Conversely, Holden Caulfield is lame. (I've never liked him.)
I'm sure you all have seen Buffy vs Edward Cullen, but it's hilarious and awesome.
I'm totally into this Tooth Fairy kit.
Seriously, why are they remaking Red Dawn? That movie is terrible. I mean, sure, it's fun to yell "WOLVERINES!!!!!!" but really, is that enough to base a movie on?
Art Spiegelman has a comic in the Washington Post about the St Louis, a famous ship full of Jewish refugees that the US refused to let enter the country and sent back to Europe just in time for the Holocaust. Nice one, America!
2009 book 131
Sandra Dallas' Prayers for Sale
I've read and enjoyed a couple of Dallas' earlier novels (Tallgrass and Buster Midnight's Cafe) and was glad to see she had a new one out. Unfortunately, it veers way too much into heartwarming/women's fiction territory for my taste, as an elderly woman in 1930s Colorado tells her life story to the new young housewife in town. The ending was supposed to be surprising but I mostly thought it was completely unbelievable. B-.
I've read and enjoyed a couple of Dallas' earlier novels (Tallgrass and Buster Midnight's Cafe) and was glad to see she had a new one out. Unfortunately, it veers way too much into heartwarming/women's fiction territory for my taste, as an elderly woman in 1930s Colorado tells her life story to the new young housewife in town. The ending was supposed to be surprising but I mostly thought it was completely unbelievable. B-.
Friday, June 19, 2009
2009 book 130
Alice Hoffman's The Story Sisters
This may be Hoffman's best novel to date. Of course, I've absolutely hated every other Hoffman book I've read, so that's not saying much! I did mostly like it--it's about three sisters and their secret language and secret made-up land and how they grow up and are damaged and whatnot. I do kind of hate that Hoffman made the characters have the last name Story, so the title is literal instead of metaphorical--it's just cheesy. Otherwise a pretty good read. B+.
This may be Hoffman's best novel to date. Of course, I've absolutely hated every other Hoffman book I've read, so that's not saying much! I did mostly like it--it's about three sisters and their secret language and secret made-up land and how they grow up and are damaged and whatnot. I do kind of hate that Hoffman made the characters have the last name Story, so the title is literal instead of metaphorical--it's just cheesy. Otherwise a pretty good read. B+.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
2009 book 129
Martin Walker's Bruno, Chief of Police
This was a fairly light read, considering it involves a murder of an elderly man in a small town in France and brings up all sorts of racial tensions for the locals. I loved the protagonist, the titular Bruno, and his interactions with his fellow townspeople. Also, all their food sounded delicious! And there was even a little romance and historical research. The murder's wrap-up was really satisfying, to boot. A.
This was a fairly light read, considering it involves a murder of an elderly man in a small town in France and brings up all sorts of racial tensions for the locals. I loved the protagonist, the titular Bruno, and his interactions with his fellow townspeople. Also, all their food sounded delicious! And there was even a little romance and historical research. The murder's wrap-up was really satisfying, to boot. A.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
