Alicia
I will limit myself to commenting that the editors of the book disliked it enough that it seems that they didn't even bother to read it beyond the first chapter, as the book was rife with typos of the nastiest sort - sentences that abruptly become new chapters, misspelled words, etc. Really now.
I wasn't sure that I really even liked this book until I had nearly finished it. None of the characters - a handful of selfish and self-indulgent thirty-somethings - are particularly likeable, and I had trouble finding myself sympathizing with their intertwined lives and thoughts, and, as a result, I didn't really care what happened to any of them. Perotta's writing, though, is subtly compelling, and I found myself required to continue to read, if only to confirm my dislike for the novel. In the final chapters of the work I surprised myself with the thought, “I may actually have liked this book,” and have been wondering just what about this story was so interesting. I've come to figure that my dislike of the characters and the story may have been the point: I cared as little about them as they did of each other. I'm not sure if this was the author's intention, but it certainly is an interesting way of getting the reader to identify with a group of characters I didn't particularly want to find myself identifying with. Perhaps this peculiar construction of a relationship between reader and character made me a bit more understanding of all of their shortcomings.
Very outdated, although I can see those with minimal internet experience getting quite a bit of good information on setting up their own informational website from the book.
I didn't really like any of the patterns in this book, but the projects they suggest are definitely easy enough to finish in a weekend, if you're not really planning on doing much more than knitting.
These stories weren't necessarily mysteries, more like logic puzzles, but the writing is fun and the stories are pretty good.
I get the feeling that Howard Zinn is tired. This recent book, a short work of less than fifty pages, exemplifies Zinn's trademark economy of writing, but it lacks the underlying drive and passion of his other pieces. I had the impression while reading - which took me little more than ten minutes - that the tract was meant to be read years in the future, a succinct addition to a time capsule, giving a general description of the state of the union under the Bush regime for those who hadn't experienced any of it. It is so simple in its aim, even oversimple, that I can see this work being used as an introductory primer on the Iraq War for middle school aged children.
I'm not sure that I'm very interested in the story, or the characters - they're pretty stock Marvel (anti-)heroes, and the plot doesn't really seem to be going far. Some of the inhumans may think they've been sent to destroy humans, others have come on a diplomatic mission (the purported reason for their visit), and I'm sure that a catastrophic fight/battle/falling-out will occur. The art is interesting, but nothing stunning.
But: the inhumans have been sent from their home on the Moon to live among the humans in ... Madison, WI! They attend the UW, live on “Fraternity Row”, and shop on State Street. They even visit the Memorial Union Terrace (which looks much more like a beach in Malibu than the lakeshore in Madtown...).
I'll read the next in the series just to see how close to right I am, and to see how they decide to portray Madison in this next volume.
Not particularly well written, and the finale didn't really make much sense, but it is enjoyable to read a story set in a place with which I am familiar.
Janice Law has a particular knack for capturing the voice of her characters, which is something she does in this book not only in dialogue, but also through the written words of the individuals who populate the book. The three main characters around whose relationships the book revolves are all writers with very distinct styles and patterns of writing, and Law captures the personalities of those words very well. The story leaves quite a bit to be desired in the first part, but the writing forced me onwards. Part 2 of the novel throws a very interesting twist into the murder mystery, and I appreciated the subtlety of the plot from there on out.
Well written, well researched, and well timed. I had no idea McCain is really as bad of a person as he is, and as brilliant of a politician. Frightening - a must read for anybody looking for talking points for the ‘08 presidential election.
A really great introduction to Islam, intended for American Muslim teenagers. The basics in an easy-to-read format, with personal accounts from a questionnaire given to that same audience. Anyone who is interested in learning the fundamentals of the religion - regardless of their own personal beliefs - can pick this up and breeze through it quickly.
Abysmal. Absolutely abysmal. I have no idea why I picked this book off the shelves, why I started reading it, why I continued to read it. Perhaps it was the short blurb on the front that suggested that one of the characters may commit suicide - I suppose that I was just hoping that one would.
I'm embarrassed.
Some gossip, some silliness, some drama, some adventure, and some girls getting to know one another and themselves. Very cute. And though Bronte's love for fanciful words sometimes makes her sound like something out of an SAT vocab prep book, she also produces such gems as, “I am out of style in the most cumbersome way.”
What a funny little tale about the magic of reading and learning and the power of imagination! The illustrations are absolutely hysterical.
Probably helpful to someone who has never used Facebook (or any social networking site) before, but very, very basic.
Wierdly hilarious. Fascinating and engaging. Read it. Then go to the Slow Wave website and submit your dream to be made into a comic strip.
An interesting introduction to the legal process. Fascinating to have the actual transcripts of opening and closing arguments, witness examination, etc., alongside drawings and headlines from newspaper coverage of the trial.
Pretty fascinating and scary, but a quick read that gives you an inside look into police detection.
Some very interesting research and some great ideas and starting-points that I would like to be able to implement in my own library.
What a bunch of sour grapes!! At the very least this book gives insight into the mindset of an information specialist very different than mine, and an opportunity to learn how to speak directly to those concerns posed by people like the author.
I found the RefGrunt sections endlessly amusing, though, and I feel that I should apologize to all of the folks to whom I read selections aloud... I've decided that doing something similar could be entertaining, from time to time.
Hank the snake is looking for inspiration, and visits the big city to find it. He asks many people where they get theirs, and he follows their diverse suggestions to an art gallery and home, finding that his inspiration is close to his own, sinuous shape. One could potentially find inspiration anywhere, and I am grateful for Frazier's inspiration for this charming picture book. A true delight.