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Kafka, Franz. The Metamorphosis. I'm sure it's just one large, complex allegory of the futility of man and aging. It's not a bad read, but it's not a great one. Can't recommend it. |
eBook
200401 |
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Martel, Yann. Life of Pi. A very quick, easy, fascinating and interesting read. I loved the writing style and was immediately immersed in the book. When someone told me what the story was about, prior to reading the book, I scoffed and thought never to read it. I'm glad I gave in. When you read it, I suggest you save the Author's Note for last. Recommended. It deserved the Booker. |
paperback
200401 |
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Gaiman, Neil. Coraline. Once again Gaimen surprises me with the relative levity of this children's book. It's a pretty good story but a little too brief; definitely aimed at kids; suspenseful; and very successful. This is one talented guy. |
paperback
200401 |
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Banks, Iain. The Wasp Factory. The Daily Express calls Banks "Weirdly talented". I'd say that's an understatement. The book is very well written and set up such that suggestions are made and events alluded to but made clear in later chapters, and it all comes together in the end in a quick finish. I do really like that style, but I really can't say I liked this book. At all. It's shocking in an abrupt, casual and uncensored way. I'll give Banks another try with a different novel just to see if all his stuff is like this. If it is, two will be my limit. |
paperback
200401 |
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Gibson, William. Idoru. A continuation from Virtual Light, but with greater character depth, more personality, and a deeper approach to AI. I liked it a lot. More for it's approximations of my now and my then than for its future possible. Worth the read. |
eBook
200402 |
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Homer. The Odyssey. Trans. Samuel Butler. I finally read Homer and discovered I should have read The Illiad first. The story was good, but repititious in the way the Bible is. I didn't particularly care for the relaxed, colloquial style of Butler and would only recommend this translation if you're reading the book because you have to. |
paperback
200403 |
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Homer. The Odyssey. Trans. S. H. Butcher. Like reading it once wasn't enough of an epic, I read this translation at the same time as reading Butler's. This one is way better. The prose is beautiful and almost breathtaking. It took more time and effort to get through this version, but it was well worth it. I'd like to thank Project Gutenberg for making this recommended book freely available. |
eBook
200403 |
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Brown, Dan. The Da Vinci Code. Highly over-rated. The idea is good, though not new; the writing can be best described as simple; the "secrets" revealed aren't exactly secrets. I was very disappointed. |
hardcover
200404 |
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Pratchett, Terry. The Wee Free Men. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Even though it's supposed to be a children's book and aimed unabashedly at girls, I had a good time reading it. I laughed out loud at times, felt for the protagonist, and was more caught up in the really fabulous and humourous writing than in the story itself. There are some nods to great books like The Lord of the Rings and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, but they are included expertly and humourously. I can recommend this book for it's story but more for it's style. Well done. |
hardcover
200404 |
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Gibson, William. All Tomorrow's Parties. The third in the Bridge Trilogy, it expertly weaves together some of the finer points from the first two, answers some questions, and begs a fourth novel. Rydell, Chevette, Laney, Fontaine, and to some extent Skinner, are all present, as well as some new characters who help move the story back to the Bridge. Another good, quick, easy read with plenty of insight. I enjoyed it. |
eBook
200404 |
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Kadrey, Richard. Metrophage. In a drug-addled and not-too-distant LA, the Committee is at odds with the Police and the Croakers and the Dealers, and it's the rest of Last Ass society that suffers. It's an OK quick read with a really great look back at Gulf War I. It's not bad, but not an essential read. |
eBook
200405 |
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Rushkoff, Douglas. Cyberia : Life in the Trenches of Hyperspace. For a ten year old book (documentary?) on computer culture, it has weathered remarkably well. The history lesson is fair, some of the interviews are quite interesting, but after the 20th recitation on the effects of different psychedelic drugs it got more than a little trying. The writing is OK, but I got bored. |
eBook
200406 |
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Gaiman, Neil. American Gods. An epic in hardcover by Gaiman. It really doesn't get much better than that. It was fantastic in every meaning of the word. Granted, I read a first edition and did spot numerous errors, but they are easily forgiven for such lines as "Chicago happened slowly, like a migraine." Brilliant! |
hardcover
200406 |
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Gibson, William. Pattern Recognition. Gibson's writing style changes somewhat for this book. The sentences are short, choppy, comma-filled, and occasionally without verbs. It takes a bit to get into the rhythm, but then it just flows. The story is solidly set in today and now, and it takes us through many countries and cultures, but always keeping close ties to cyberspace. It has that familiar Gibson feeling of despondancy and loss, and tells a good tale along the way. I enjoyed it. |
hardcover
200407 |
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Winward, Walter. The Canaris Fragments. The book started out with great promise but it soon became evident that Winward was determined to include far too much detail. The story also began as intriguing but that didn't last past the half way point. Skip it. |
paperback
200407 |
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Deighton, Len. Billion Dollar Brain. Deighton has a tremendous sense of humour and I really enjoyed his style of writing in this novel, but I found the content to be a little too descriptive. There were places where an entire section could have been easily left out with no detriment to the story or plot. The story itself was OK but so obviosuly dated. Still, I would read another Deighton just for his writing. |
paperback
200408 |
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Winchester, Simon. The Professor and the Madman. Somehow, Winchester has managed to take a fascinating true story and make it into a longwinded, meandering collection of related tangents. His research and attention to detail are impressive, to say the least, but his inclusion of personal opinions, postulations and speculations almost turn this into a work of fiction. And it is annoyingly repetitive. Great story, but not so great book. |
hardcover
200409 |
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Rushdie, Salman. The Satanic Verses. Rushdie is a wordsmith with charisma and style, humour and impertinence. His descriptions are bold and erudite and have a certain flair that assures me his tongue is firmly planted in his cheek. I certainly enjoyed the writing and I mostly enjoyed the story. Rather lengthy, but worth the read. |
eBook
200412 |
