Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Book Review: Inkdeath
This book was so hard to get into, but since I read the first two books of the trilogy I was kind of committed to finishing it. There was really only one way the book could have ended, so the only real "surprise" were the events leading up to the inevitable. Even those weren't that interesting.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Book Review Bonanza
The Angel's Game, by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Bottom Line: Creepy. In a good way. I think.
Snow Crash, by Neal Stephenson
Bottom Line: Too cool for school, and too cool for me.
Hey Neal Stephenson, if you're going to name the main character "Hero Protagonist," go ahead and name the bad guy "Evil Villian" just so nobody is confused.
The Book of Air and Shadows, by Michael Gruber
Bottom Line: I could not root for anybody in this book, so I had to stop reading it.
The main character is a pretentious boob. I suspect the author is a pretentious boob.
Bottom Line: Creepy. In a good way. I think.
Snow Crash, by Neal Stephenson
Bottom Line: Too cool for school, and too cool for me.
Hey Neal Stephenson, if you're going to name the main character "Hero Protagonist," go ahead and name the bad guy "Evil Villian" just so nobody is confused.
The Book of Air and Shadows, by Michael Gruber
Bottom Line: I could not root for anybody in this book, so I had to stop reading it.
The main character is a pretentious boob. I suspect the author is a pretentious boob.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Book Review: The Year of the Flood
The review for www.bookbrowse.com had to be around 50 words in length, so below is what I submitted to them. I'll expand my review later to let you know why I thought the book sounded more realistic this time. For now, enjoy the brief review below.
Dystopic Sci Fi that hits close to home
I enjoyed this book immensely. I would recommend reading Oryx and Crake before trying this book. When I first read Oryx and Crake, for which The Year of the Flood is a sequel, I thought it was an appealingly silly vision of a dystopic future. But after reading The Year of the Flood, it no longer sounds silly, it sounds like some of the events in the book could really happen. If you liked Brave New World, The Road, or We, you would probably enjoy this book.
Dystopic Sci Fi that hits close to home
I enjoyed this book immensely. I would recommend reading Oryx and Crake before trying this book. When I first read Oryx and Crake, for which The Year of the Flood is a sequel, I thought it was an appealingly silly vision of a dystopic future. But after reading The Year of the Flood, it no longer sounds silly, it sounds like some of the events in the book could really happen. If you liked Brave New World, The Road, or We, you would probably enjoy this book.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
The Year of the Flood
Yesterday I got a book in the mail. Not just any book, a book that is not even for sale yet. I will be one of the first people to read it. The book is so new there's a disclaimer on the back that reads:
Advanced Reading Copy - NOT FOR SALE
This is an uncorrected proof. Please note that any quotes for reviews must be checked against the finished book. Dates, prices, and manufacturing details are subject to change or cancellation without notice.
I recently joined an online book club called http://www.bookbrowse.com/. As a member, I am able to read a few books a year before they are actually published and for sale to everyone else. As a book lover, that is probably one of the most exciting things I've been able to do. The only caveat is that I have to read it within a month and provide a review. So I have to carve out a few minutes a day at least to read the book. I'm so excited!
Advanced Reading Copy - NOT FOR SALE
This is an uncorrected proof. Please note that any quotes for reviews must be checked against the finished book. Dates, prices, and manufacturing details are subject to change or cancellation without notice.
I recently joined an online book club called http://www.bookbrowse.com/. As a member, I am able to read a few books a year before they are actually published and for sale to everyone else. As a book lover, that is probably one of the most exciting things I've been able to do. The only caveat is that I have to read it within a month and provide a review. So I have to carve out a few minutes a day at least to read the book. I'm so excited!
Monday, July 6, 2009
Book Review: Open and Shut
Open and Shut, by David Rosenfelt
Summary
A defense attorney agrees to handle an appeal for a case that was originally prosecuted by his father. Shortly after that his father dies and he must delve into his father's past to find out what really happened.
Ramblings
This is a suspenseful book told from the perspective of the witty and self-deprecating defense attorney, Andy Carpenter. It was a fun book to read and very short. I'd say it's a good book for a rainy day when you're looking for something fun that will not make you have to think too hard.
Bottom Line
A fun and funny read, not an in-depth story by any means, but I'd recommend it if you like whodunits.
Summary
A defense attorney agrees to handle an appeal for a case that was originally prosecuted by his father. Shortly after that his father dies and he must delve into his father's past to find out what really happened.
Ramblings
This is a suspenseful book told from the perspective of the witty and self-deprecating defense attorney, Andy Carpenter. It was a fun book to read and very short. I'd say it's a good book for a rainy day when you're looking for something fun that will not make you have to think too hard.
Bottom Line
A fun and funny read, not an in-depth story by any means, but I'd recommend it if you like whodunits.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Book Review: The White Tiger
The White Tiger, by Aravind Adiga
Summary
A poor boy from rural India becomes a wealthy Bangalore businessman. The book opens as the man reflects on how he got where he is - by murdering his former master and stealing his money to start a business.
Ramblings
This book is almost two books in one. It is at once a dark comedy and a glimpse into the stark contrasts that exist in India (light and dark, rich and poor, rural and urban). The book can be read simply as the story of Balram, a boy born without a name and without a birthday, and the circumstances and motivations of his life. It can also be read as an expose of India, its political systems and social realities. Caste systems from the past collide with social mobility of the present. In the old India, you did what you were born to do based on your caste. In the new India, "entreprenuers" (as Balram calls himself) can climb their way out of servitude and into the business class.
Bottom Line
A well written quick read that lingers in the mind.
Summary
A poor boy from rural India becomes a wealthy Bangalore businessman. The book opens as the man reflects on how he got where he is - by murdering his former master and stealing his money to start a business.
Ramblings
This book is almost two books in one. It is at once a dark comedy and a glimpse into the stark contrasts that exist in India (light and dark, rich and poor, rural and urban). The book can be read simply as the story of Balram, a boy born without a name and without a birthday, and the circumstances and motivations of his life. It can also be read as an expose of India, its political systems and social realities. Caste systems from the past collide with social mobility of the present. In the old India, you did what you were born to do based on your caste. In the new India, "entreprenuers" (as Balram calls himself) can climb their way out of servitude and into the business class.
Bottom Line
A well written quick read that lingers in the mind.
Opine
opine, intranstive verb: to express opinions
I've decided to start doing book reviews on my blog. I hope that will make it more interesting, and that way I can talk about more than what my toddler has done lately.
My Shelfari bookshelf is linked on the right of my blog. I only have it showing books that I am currently reading, because I don't like to have too many things in my sidebar. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the upcoming book reviews.
I've decided to start doing book reviews on my blog. I hope that will make it more interesting, and that way I can talk about more than what my toddler has done lately.
My Shelfari bookshelf is linked on the right of my blog. I only have it showing books that I am currently reading, because I don't like to have too many things in my sidebar. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the upcoming book reviews.
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