Third time’s a charm?
Its one of my most used idioms and has a surprisingly high rate of accuracy. Unfortunately, “third time’s an infuriating ,mother-fucking waste of time,” when it comes to Brasyl. I had started reading this on two separate occasions and abandoned it for lack of interest but was convinced I could plow through by sheer will this time. Part of the reason it has taken so long for this review to post is that I Read more [...]
Brasyl – Ian McDonald
Third time’s a charm?
Its one of my most used idioms and has a surprisingly high rate of accuracy. Unfortunately, “third time’s an infuriating ,mother-fucking waste of time,” when it comes to Brasyl. I had started reading this on two separate occasions and abandoned it for lack of interest but was convinced I could plow through by sheer will this time. Part of the reason it has taken so long for this review to post is that I Read more [...]
A Good and Happy Child – Justin Evans
This book was such a disappointment. A Good and Happy Child had a lot of potential that was simply squandered by poor writing and a general lack of imagination. I had actually had this novel on my list since last October when I researched a few titles to include in my Halloween season horror reading. At the time, I had difficulty finding a digital copy and so abandoned it, but recently I crossed over it purely by accident while browsing the Read more [...]
Things Fall Apart – Chinua Achebe
Things Fall Apart is one of those books that I was first exposed to as a teenager and which has remained in my conscience since. Yet despite its clearly having had an impact, this is the first time I’ve actually reread it. I am pleased and amazed at the degree to which this book has lost none of its original appeal and magnetism in the near two decades that I’ve had it shelved. It was the right decision to expose it to myself and other impressionable Read more [...]
The Lord of the Rings – J.R.R. Tolkien
I had made my mind up quite some time ago that when I was to finally reread The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, that I would do so in one veritable sweep of all three volumes back to back. To the best of my recollection, the last, and surprisingly only time I had read them was in my early teens and even then I am not convinced that I ever actually finished Return of the King. Despite this, the story, characters, and overall world of Middle Read more [...]
And Then There Were None – Agatha Christie
And Then There Were None is my second Agatha Christie murder mystery novel. Although this is Christie’s best selling work by far and the one that many are probably most familiar with due to its numerous stage and film adaptations, I found it inferior to Murder on the Orient Express, which is part of the Hercule Poirot series. That being said, it is still a very enjoyable read and worth the minimal time needed to complete it.
The basic plot Read more [...]
Orchid Fever – Eric Hansen
I picked this book up at the West Hollywood Library bookstore for a dollar and couldn’t have been more pleased with the find. The complete title, Orchid Fever; A horticultural Tale of Love, Lust, and Lunacy was more than enough to entice my curiosity. It’s a fairly short narrative non-fiction read and contains equal parts scientific trivia, sharp humor, and political intrigue. The botany obsession presented here creates political and social Read more [...]
The Ghost Brigades – John Scalzi
After the abomination of a reading experience that was State of Wonder, it was cathartic to throw myself into the trustworthy hands of science fiction author John Scalzi. I had read his exceptional novel Old Man’s War about a year ago and so had no hesitation in starting the sequel, The Ghost Brigades. Set in the same universe and relative time period but with a cast mostly unique to each, both novels utilize a classic action paced plot and Read more [...]
