Grave Peril is written by Jim Butcher and read by James Marsters. The audio book is put out by Buzzy Multimedia Publishing. I will be reviewing both the story and the reading performance.
The story is a great piece of mind candy. It is not a great piece of literature but you don't need great literature to be a fun ride in reading. The universe of Harry Dresden is an interesting, fun place to visit. There are rules to his magic are consistent or at least not jarring you out of the moment. One of the great things is that what happens in one book follows through the rest of the books. There are too many series where you can read them in any order because although things happen, they have no long term effects in most cases. With the Dresden Universe there is.
I also found it interesting how it was developed about Harry"s relationship with his God Mother. There was also progress with him and his love. I also enjoyed the fleshing out of the universe of how the wizards deal with the vampires.
About my only complaint with this one is that it had a little bit of a feel of reading a Hardy boys book, in the sense that Harry was getting either knocked out or pushed to the very limit just to be pulled back in the nick of time. Guess what, it is still a fun ride. I also can never get enough of Bob. Bob the Skull for president.
James Marsters does a great job of reading this book. He has a good voice and reading style for presenting books on audio. He sounds like Harry Dresden which helps with the performance. I think he also looks like Harry Dresden except I imagine Harry as being either dark brown or black hair rather than the blond the Mr. Marsters is. That really does not affect the performance but it does make for a comment.
The audio book itself can be gotten in MP3 format which is really nice. The whole book on one CD. From a clutter around the house factor, that is nice. It also makes it easier if you like taking things to listen to on the go. You can take a lot more on the road to listen to when it takes less space.
Final review
The story itself is a 4.
Reading Perfomance is a 5. You could not get a better reader for this series.
MP3 format is also a 5.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
The Professor's Daughter, a Graphic Novel
The Professor's Daughter, by Joanne Sfar, is a graphic novel. It's quite an easy read, really, but...it's confusing.
The premise, apparently: Imhotep IV is a mummy in modern-day society. He's alive and evidently he and "The Professor's Daughter" have fallen in love. Various hijinks result from this.
I think. Eventually his father, Imhotep III gets involved and...yeah. It's weird.
Really, the book reads like the middle of the story. It starts with Imhotep IV and the Professor's Daughter walking around the City. Wherever they are.
A Mummy...in a suit and hat...walking around. This garners no unusual looks, no attention whatsoever.
Eventually he unwraps himself, for reasons explained in the book, and he looks like...well, like anyone else, really.
It's a weird book. I didn't get it, I guess. I was more confused than entertained. It was cute, though.
2 out of 5, because it was cute. And when you think about it, that's pretty sad that a confusing book that I didn't get still gets a higher rating than the latest Xanth novel.
The premise, apparently: Imhotep IV is a mummy in modern-day society. He's alive and evidently he and "The Professor's Daughter" have fallen in love. Various hijinks result from this.
I think. Eventually his father, Imhotep III gets involved and...yeah. It's weird.
Really, the book reads like the middle of the story. It starts with Imhotep IV and the Professor's Daughter walking around the City. Wherever they are.
A Mummy...in a suit and hat...walking around. This garners no unusual looks, no attention whatsoever.
Eventually he unwraps himself, for reasons explained in the book, and he looks like...well, like anyone else, really.
It's a weird book. I didn't get it, I guess. I was more confused than entertained. It was cute, though.
2 out of 5, because it was cute. And when you think about it, that's pretty sad that a confusing book that I didn't get still gets a higher rating than the latest Xanth novel.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Masquerade, Book 2 of the Blue Bloods series
Yup, it's Book 2 of the Blue Bloods series by Melissa de la Cruz.
The series starts out with an interesting premise - that there are vampires on earth, and that they are the "Fallen Angels" that rebelled against God at the beginning of creation, and followed Lucifer. They are then condemned to wander the earth, constantly reincarnating, and trying to redeem themselves and regain their places in Heaven. These are the Blue Bloods. And yes, all the aristocrats and royalty throughout history are the Vampire Blue Bloods.
Well....most of 'em are trying to redeem themselves. Some don't care, and want instead to rule the earth...or...something. Anyway, they don't drink human blood - they drink BLUE BLOOD, and they drink 'em dry. Since apparently some of the Blue Blood's blood must be preserved for them to reincarnate, when the "renegades" (or "Silver Bloods", as they're called) drain a Blue Blood dry, then that Blue Blood is lost forever, never to reincarnate.
It's an interesting premise, with a decent grasp of the "angelic" mythos. The author makes liberal use of the existing mythological hierarchy of angels, and introduces such beings as Abbadon, Azrael, Metraton, Michael and Gabriel to us. Lest you be disappointed by her treatment of Michael and Gabriel, though, I hasten to say that Michael and Gabriel left Heaven voluntarily in order to try to "guide" their fellow angels back to heaven. The first liberty that's taken with the mythos is that "Gabriel" isn't really "Gabriel", it's "Gabrielle", and she was supposedly the "eternal mate" of Michael. Angh.
So...setting that aside. This book suffers from "Second Book In A Series Syndrome", better known as "Two Towers-itis". The book makes no sense whatsoever as a standalone book - you absolutely must read the first book to understand it. It has no "book plotline" that crops up at the beginning of the book and is at least semi-resolved at the end - it exists solely to further push the overall story arc of "who are the Silver Bloods and how can the Blue Bloods win the fight against them". Which, I might add, it leaves entirely unresolved. It makes progress, much like Frodo and Sam through the Dead Marshes, but at the end, we're still somewhere on the Stairs of Cirith Ungol, waiting to see what the Silver Bloods will throw at us next.
The treatment of the "fallen" is a bit...odd...as well. de la Cruz is flirting with the topics of incest as two of the "lifemated" angels, Azrael and Abbadon (angels of Death and Destruction, respectively), are reincarnated as twin brother and sister - and children of Michael. Eurgh. The ick-factor goes pretty high on some of the interactions between them. Metraton is presented as the father of all the other angels - or at least of Michael.
Azrael / Mimi isn't acting very much like she wants redemption, by the way. Therefore, I'm sure that her stint as a Red Herring / Silver Blood cover in Masquerade won't be her last flirtation with Doom. I expect she'll get accused at least once more as a Silver Blood before Redeeming Herself - either that or she'll get accused, her accuser will be brushed off with a "you accused her of that last time, too, and she wasn't then, stop persecuting her" and then she'll turn out to have thrown her lot in with the Silver Bloods after all.
And...sorry, but the Big Reveal at the end of the book wasn't exactly a surprise.
Overall, a bit of a disappointment after the promise of Book 1. Hoping that Book 3 will be better and be more than just a Plot Pusher.
2.5 / 5 bones for this one.
The series starts out with an interesting premise - that there are vampires on earth, and that they are the "Fallen Angels" that rebelled against God at the beginning of creation, and followed Lucifer. They are then condemned to wander the earth, constantly reincarnating, and trying to redeem themselves and regain their places in Heaven. These are the Blue Bloods. And yes, all the aristocrats and royalty throughout history are the Vampire Blue Bloods.
Well....most of 'em are trying to redeem themselves. Some don't care, and want instead to rule the earth...or...something. Anyway, they don't drink human blood - they drink BLUE BLOOD, and they drink 'em dry. Since apparently some of the Blue Blood's blood must be preserved for them to reincarnate, when the "renegades" (or "Silver Bloods", as they're called) drain a Blue Blood dry, then that Blue Blood is lost forever, never to reincarnate.
It's an interesting premise, with a decent grasp of the "angelic" mythos. The author makes liberal use of the existing mythological hierarchy of angels, and introduces such beings as Abbadon, Azrael, Metraton, Michael and Gabriel to us. Lest you be disappointed by her treatment of Michael and Gabriel, though, I hasten to say that Michael and Gabriel left Heaven voluntarily in order to try to "guide" their fellow angels back to heaven. The first liberty that's taken with the mythos is that "Gabriel" isn't really "Gabriel", it's "Gabrielle", and she was supposedly the "eternal mate" of Michael. Angh.
So...setting that aside. This book suffers from "Second Book In A Series Syndrome", better known as "Two Towers-itis". The book makes no sense whatsoever as a standalone book - you absolutely must read the first book to understand it. It has no "book plotline" that crops up at the beginning of the book and is at least semi-resolved at the end - it exists solely to further push the overall story arc of "who are the Silver Bloods and how can the Blue Bloods win the fight against them". Which, I might add, it leaves entirely unresolved. It makes progress, much like Frodo and Sam through the Dead Marshes, but at the end, we're still somewhere on the Stairs of Cirith Ungol, waiting to see what the Silver Bloods will throw at us next.
The treatment of the "fallen" is a bit...odd...as well. de la Cruz is flirting with the topics of incest as two of the "lifemated" angels, Azrael and Abbadon (angels of Death and Destruction, respectively), are reincarnated as twin brother and sister - and children of Michael. Eurgh. The ick-factor goes pretty high on some of the interactions between them. Metraton is presented as the father of all the other angels - or at least of Michael.
Azrael / Mimi isn't acting very much like she wants redemption, by the way. Therefore, I'm sure that her stint as a Red Herring / Silver Blood cover in Masquerade won't be her last flirtation with Doom. I expect she'll get accused at least once more as a Silver Blood before Redeeming Herself - either that or she'll get accused, her accuser will be brushed off with a "you accused her of that last time, too, and she wasn't then, stop persecuting her" and then she'll turn out to have thrown her lot in with the Silver Bloods after all.
And...sorry, but the Big Reveal at the end of the book wasn't exactly a surprise.
Overall, a bit of a disappointment after the promise of Book 1. Hoping that Book 3 will be better and be more than just a Plot Pusher.
2.5 / 5 bones for this one.
New Moon by Stephanie Meyer
I bought this last night, got home around 8:30 and headed to bed around 9 to start reading. I was finished by 3 am. Could NOT put it down.
New Moon picks up on Bella's birthday. She's not happy about turning a year "older" than Edward but agrees to go to a birthday party that Alice has planned for her out at the Cullen's house. She promises Edward that she'll "behave" (read: won't be grumpy and sarcastic) because this is the first real birthday the Cullen family has been able to celebrate for 70 some years and they're all excited.
Of course, being the klutzy Bella, while she is opening her presents she gets a paper cut. The family, reluctant "vegetarians" that they are, go nuts over the smell of just a little drop of blood. Uproar takes place and, in the end, the Cullen family decides to leave the tiny town of Forks. Edward breaks it off with Bella, believing that she'll be better off without him, stating that it's been fun but...yeah...and tells her "it'll be as if I were never here" and leaves her taking all memorabilia from their time together so she has nothing but her memories...
Bella spends the next few months in emotional withdrawal from everything she loves. She pulls away from everyone, her father, her mother who has flown up from Florida, her school friends. She finally begins to recover when she renews her friendship with Jacob Black, an American Indian living on the reservation outside of Forks.
Then, just as everything starts to come alive for Bella, Jacob gets sucked into a "cult" and begins to change.
The themes in the book might seem trite and over done but Ms. Meyer has once again taken the familiar and made them hauntingly new.
I ached for Bella as I read this book. I cried when Edward and the Cullen family left her. I wanted desperately to be there, to hold Bella while she cried, while she was having the never ending nightmares that stalked her through the months of her absolute desolation. The end of the book...again starting around the last 1/3...gave me hope, made me happy and sad again.
Once I finished this book, I cried. Not because it was over, although I did want it to continue forever, but because it was beautifully done. Hope was not in vain and the book continues to weave itself into my thoughts and even my dreams.
I'm giving this one 5 of 5 berries as well.
New Moon picks up on Bella's birthday. She's not happy about turning a year "older" than Edward but agrees to go to a birthday party that Alice has planned for her out at the Cullen's house. She promises Edward that she'll "behave" (read: won't be grumpy and sarcastic) because this is the first real birthday the Cullen family has been able to celebrate for 70 some years and they're all excited.
Of course, being the klutzy Bella, while she is opening her presents she gets a paper cut. The family, reluctant "vegetarians" that they are, go nuts over the smell of just a little drop of blood. Uproar takes place and, in the end, the Cullen family decides to leave the tiny town of Forks. Edward breaks it off with Bella, believing that she'll be better off without him, stating that it's been fun but...yeah...and tells her "it'll be as if I were never here" and leaves her taking all memorabilia from their time together so she has nothing but her memories...
Bella spends the next few months in emotional withdrawal from everything she loves. She pulls away from everyone, her father, her mother who has flown up from Florida, her school friends. She finally begins to recover when she renews her friendship with Jacob Black, an American Indian living on the reservation outside of Forks.
Then, just as everything starts to come alive for Bella, Jacob gets sucked into a "cult" and begins to change.
The themes in the book might seem trite and over done but Ms. Meyer has once again taken the familiar and made them hauntingly new.
I ached for Bella as I read this book. I cried when Edward and the Cullen family left her. I wanted desperately to be there, to hold Bella while she cried, while she was having the never ending nightmares that stalked her through the months of her absolute desolation. The end of the book...again starting around the last 1/3...gave me hope, made me happy and sad again.
Once I finished this book, I cried. Not because it was over, although I did want it to continue forever, but because it was beautifully done. Hope was not in vain and the book continues to weave itself into my thoughts and even my dreams.
I'm giving this one 5 of 5 berries as well.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Swimming Without a Net (Fred the Mermaid book 2) by MaryJanice Davidson
I think I've said before that I adore Ms. Davidson. She has a way with wit that makes me come back for more...and more...and more. Her Fred the mermaid series (oh please let it be a long series, Ms. Davidson! Please! Much longer than the Royals!! Please?) kicks off with Sleeping with the Fishes where Fred Bimm (the LEAST likable mermaid ever portrayed in fiction...from the book description from book one "Fred is not your ordinary mermaid. She's not blonde. She's not buxom. And she's definitely not perky. In fact, Fred can be downright cranky. And it doesn't help matters that her hair is blue.") is introduced along with her mother, Moon Bimm, best friend Jonas, Mer-Prince (er excuse me, Prince of the Undersea Folk I mean) Artur and Dr. (PhD AND MD) Thomas Pearson.
In this sequel, they're all (thankfully!) back along with a Deadwood loving Mer-King and many many Undersea Folk. However, the plot comes along and you find that the Undersea Folk are of 2 minds. Some (the "Air Breathers") want to "come out of the water closet" and others (the "Traditionals") want to be...well, traditional about it and stay hidden. Fred, being a child of both worlds, is invited to the resulting meeting, a "Pelagic" to discuss the pro's and con's of each decision.
Along the way, we get another glimpse into the romance of Jonas and Dr. Barb, Thomas' fascination with Mermaids (and his invention the "Underwater Recreation Vehicle or URV, pronounced irv) more of Fred's background and Fred FINALLY makes a choice between Thomas and Artur.
The resulting book is a fun, fluffy piece of mind candy that you'll want to return to time and again. It's going to be one of those "comfort reads" for me. You know the ones...where you don't know WHAT you want to read, you just know you HAVE to read SOMETHING and you turn to the same books time and again for this because they're so darn entertaining.
How can anyone not love an author like MaryJanice Davidson who dedicates Swimming Without a Net to "Everyone who has ever been irritated at a Disney Princess...Detox with Fred and rejoyce!" Her turn of phrase is hilarious as well. I almost wet the bed when Fred talked about her mother discovering her one night stand lover (Fred's father) was a merman when Moon's newborn baby "popped a tail" while being bathed for the first time. Ms. Davidson may not be the deepest writer out there but that's okay with me. I adore her and hope she'll be writing for many many decades to come.
Giving this book 4 out of 5 berries.
In this sequel, they're all (thankfully!) back along with a Deadwood loving Mer-King and many many Undersea Folk. However, the plot comes along and you find that the Undersea Folk are of 2 minds. Some (the "Air Breathers") want to "come out of the water closet" and others (the "Traditionals") want to be...well, traditional about it and stay hidden. Fred, being a child of both worlds, is invited to the resulting meeting, a "Pelagic" to discuss the pro's and con's of each decision.
Along the way, we get another glimpse into the romance of Jonas and Dr. Barb, Thomas' fascination with Mermaids (and his invention the "Underwater Recreation Vehicle or URV, pronounced irv) more of Fred's background and Fred FINALLY makes a choice between Thomas and Artur.
The resulting book is a fun, fluffy piece of mind candy that you'll want to return to time and again. It's going to be one of those "comfort reads" for me. You know the ones...where you don't know WHAT you want to read, you just know you HAVE to read SOMETHING and you turn to the same books time and again for this because they're so darn entertaining.
How can anyone not love an author like MaryJanice Davidson who dedicates Swimming Without a Net to "Everyone who has ever been irritated at a Disney Princess...Detox with Fred and rejoyce!" Her turn of phrase is hilarious as well. I almost wet the bed when Fred talked about her mother discovering her one night stand lover (Fred's father) was a merman when Moon's newborn baby "popped a tail" while being bathed for the first time. Ms. Davidson may not be the deepest writer out there but that's okay with me. I adore her and hope she'll be writing for many many decades to come.
Giving this book 4 out of 5 berries.
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
I bought this book 6 months ago because everyone was telling me how wonderful it was and of course, my library had book 2 and 3 of the series but not book 1. Then, when it came from Amazon, I set it aside. I'm not sure if I was afraid that it wouldn't be as good as everyone assured me it was, or if I wanted to savor the discovery of a new author or what, but I'm very glad I did wait.
Because the wait was so worth it.
Twilight starts out with17 year old High School Junior, Isabella "Bella" Swann moving from sunny Scottsdale,AZ to Forks, WA where it rains pretty much 362 days of the year. Her first day at school she meets Edward, a beautiful mysterious "boy" who seems to hate her. Intensely bothered by his apparent hatred, Bella tries to ignore him. But it's already too late. She's attracted to him and he to her. The revelation that Edward is a vampire (of the "vegetarian" variety...they dine on animals instead of humans) is almost anticlimactic, Bella's apparent nonchalance is more compelling given Edward's insistence that they not become friends. Again it's too late. They fall in love and Bella is introduced to the vampiric world by Edward.
Ms. Meyer has beautifully recreated the vampire mythos in this book. While it is a book aimed at the YA crowd, it is surprisingly sensual in its delivery. I've read much smuttier (much much smuttier) books than this and have been "meh" about them. With Twilight, I found myself a bit aroused by the tender love story between Bella and Edward. This is not to say that the book is unsuitable for the younger audience, (although I probably wouldn't give it to anyone under the age of 15) and I also wouldn't say that it is a "romance" novel either. There is action, almost terrifyingly so, toward the last 1/3 of the book.
I will be going out and buying the next two novels in the series (in hardback!) and will report on them here. I truly fell in love with this book. It gets, and deserves, 5 out of 5 berries.
Because the wait was so worth it.
Twilight starts out with17 year old High School Junior, Isabella "Bella" Swann moving from sunny Scottsdale,AZ to Forks, WA where it rains pretty much 362 days of the year. Her first day at school she meets Edward, a beautiful mysterious "boy" who seems to hate her. Intensely bothered by his apparent hatred, Bella tries to ignore him. But it's already too late. She's attracted to him and he to her. The revelation that Edward is a vampire (of the "vegetarian" variety...they dine on animals instead of humans) is almost anticlimactic, Bella's apparent nonchalance is more compelling given Edward's insistence that they not become friends. Again it's too late. They fall in love and Bella is introduced to the vampiric world by Edward.
Ms. Meyer has beautifully recreated the vampire mythos in this book. While it is a book aimed at the YA crowd, it is surprisingly sensual in its delivery. I've read much smuttier (much much smuttier) books than this and have been "meh" about them. With Twilight, I found myself a bit aroused by the tender love story between Bella and Edward. This is not to say that the book is unsuitable for the younger audience, (although I probably wouldn't give it to anyone under the age of 15) and I also wouldn't say that it is a "romance" novel either. There is action, almost terrifyingly so, toward the last 1/3 of the book.
I will be going out and buying the next two novels in the series (in hardback!) and will report on them here. I truly fell in love with this book. It gets, and deserves, 5 out of 5 berries.
Crazy Little Thing Called Death: A Blackbird Sisters Mystery by Nancy Martin
If you've never read a Blackbird Sisters mystery by Nancy Martin, you are missing something fun.
Impoverished heiress, Nora Blackbird and her sisters, the horse crazy recovering alcoholic, Emma and the estrogen driven earth mother, Libby, are back for another snoop among the snooty. This time, Nora takes it upon herself to find out if America's Sweetheart actress, Sweet Penny Devine (a sort of Shirley Templesque figure) is REALLY dead this time. Seems Sweet Penny has a thing for disappearing and then reappearing at just the right time...for example, at her funeral. Just for kicks mind you.
Weaved within the mystery is the romance between Nora and mobster son Michael "Mick" Abruzzo, the terrifying antics of Libby's twinhomicidal maniacs sons, and some other colorful characters.
The mystery was solved rather easily...but when aren't they? *G* The ending of the book was gaspingly shocking and the epilogue left you hanging until the very very very end.
This sixth volume of the Blackbird Sisters mysteries is a great, fun, fluffy quick read. It's not the best in the series so I'll be giving it 3.5 berries out of 5.
Impoverished heiress, Nora Blackbird and her sisters, the horse crazy recovering alcoholic, Emma and the estrogen driven earth mother, Libby, are back for another snoop among the snooty. This time, Nora takes it upon herself to find out if America's Sweetheart actress, Sweet Penny Devine (a sort of Shirley Templesque figure) is REALLY dead this time. Seems Sweet Penny has a thing for disappearing and then reappearing at just the right time...for example, at her funeral. Just for kicks mind you.
Weaved within the mystery is the romance between Nora and mobster son Michael "Mick" Abruzzo, the terrifying antics of Libby's twin
The mystery was solved rather easily...but when aren't they? *G* The ending of the book was gaspingly shocking and the epilogue left you hanging until the very very very end.
This sixth volume of the Blackbird Sisters mysteries is a great, fun, fluffy quick read. It's not the best in the series so I'll be giving it 3.5 berries out of 5.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Tales of the Komets
Tales of the Komets is by Blake Sebring and is copyright 2007 and printed by AuthorHouse.
You don't need to be a Komets' or hockey fan or from the Fort Wayne Area to enjoy enjoy this book. The vignettes are funny enough and well enough written for universal appeal. However, it's main audience will be Komets and Hockey fans. If gives a history of the Komets that focus both on ice and behind the scenes. You do not need to know the game of hockey to be able to follow it. It deals with both the funny times and the struggles of a minor league team and the players that played for the team. The most impressive story was the story of how one of the players faith life showed through the illness of one of his children.
It is a great read especially when you have time to only read little snippets. There is a big section on statistics for those who love to number crunch.
4.5 out of 5 pith helmets if you like hockey and a 4 out of 5 Pith helmets if you do not. Either way, it is worth the read.
You don't need to be a Komets' or hockey fan or from the Fort Wayne Area to enjoy enjoy this book. The vignettes are funny enough and well enough written for universal appeal. However, it's main audience will be Komets and Hockey fans. If gives a history of the Komets that focus both on ice and behind the scenes. You do not need to know the game of hockey to be able to follow it. It deals with both the funny times and the struggles of a minor league team and the players that played for the team. The most impressive story was the story of how one of the players faith life showed through the illness of one of his children.
It is a great read especially when you have time to only read little snippets. There is a big section on statistics for those who love to number crunch.
4.5 out of 5 pith helmets if you like hockey and a 4 out of 5 Pith helmets if you do not. Either way, it is worth the read.
Monday, December 10, 2007
The Royal Mess
The latest in MaryJanice Davidson's series about the Alaskan Royal Family. This one revolves around a previously unknown Royal - a woman who was the result of a liaison between the King of Alaska and a "fling" a few weeks before his marriage to the Queen of Alaska.
The usual irreverence, humor, and inevitable sex is contained in this far-too-short book. I've read novellas longer than this, and I regretted the humor and irreverence didn't last longer. I never have been much of a fan of sex scenes in books, so I can't speak to that one way or the other. However, these books are always a fun read, sex scenes or not, and I do enjoy them as brain-candy.
4 bones.
The usual irreverence, humor, and inevitable sex is contained in this far-too-short book. I've read novellas longer than this, and I regretted the humor and irreverence didn't last longer. I never have been much of a fan of sex scenes in books, so I can't speak to that one way or the other. However, these books are always a fun read, sex scenes or not, and I do enjoy them as brain-candy.
4 bones.
Questions for the movie answer man
Another good book by Roger Ebert. He answers questions that have been sent to him regarding his reviews, and movies in general. They're organized alphabetically by topic. Some answers are funny, some are serious, and they make for another easy-to-pick-up read. I didn't think it was quite as entertaining as the movie reviews, but that could be because a lot of the subject matter is rather specific to the industry, and I had no frame of reference for it.
3.5 bones for this one.
3.5 bones for this one.
I hated, hated, hated, HATED this movie
This book is a compendium of several of Roger Ebert's movie reviews. They're all of movies he gave 2 stars or fewer - so reading his reviews is like watching a slow-moving trainwreck. He's acerbic, witty, and pointed in his reviews. He never loses sight of the fact that they're HIS reviews, and HIS impressions of the movie. He doesn't recommend a movie, or say "you'll hate it" or otherwise insult our intelligence. And, of course, the worse the rating, the more entertaining the review.
However, the book is very entertaining, and is an easy "drop-in-and-out" book.
I loved, loved, loved LOVED this book.
4.5 bones for it. Well done, Mr. Ebert.
However, the book is very entertaining, and is an easy "drop-in-and-out" book.
I loved, loved, loved LOVED this book.
4.5 bones for it. Well done, Mr. Ebert.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Change One Diet by Reader's Digest
So, I've started reading the "diet" books that I've checked out from the library. The first one is the Change One Diet from Readers Digest. It's a good concept. Basically, you change one thing at a time begining with breakfast. For a week (or so) you just eat breakfast in a healthy way. The diet advocates eating whole grains, a small amount of protien and a fruit for breakfast everyday. It continues with lunch and then with dinner, each step bringing you closer to "dieting". Then the program has you work on things like eating out and celebrations and finally maintenance. After mastering all of these, the plan then (finally) works in fitness.
The thing I like about this plan is that they totally advocate changing things slowly. The human body isn't geared toward making and maintaining huge changes all at one time. I can get behind something like this.
What I don't like about the book is that they leave fitness for the very end. Everyone knows that the actual easiest way to lose weight is Calories in < Calories out. Right? What is the easiest way to get those calories "out"? Exercise. (yes, I hate it too but there it is.)
All in all, the book is a good read. I'm still reading parts of it but for now, the very basic idea of the book is "change just one thing at a time". Good advice.
Pretty much, from what I've read so far, I'll give the book 3 out of 5 berries.
The thing I like about this plan is that they totally advocate changing things slowly. The human body isn't geared toward making and maintaining huge changes all at one time. I can get behind something like this.
What I don't like about the book is that they leave fitness for the very end. Everyone knows that the actual easiest way to lose weight is Calories in < Calories out. Right? What is the easiest way to get those calories "out"? Exercise. (yes, I hate it too but there it is.)
All in all, the book is a good read. I'm still reading parts of it but for now, the very basic idea of the book is "change just one thing at a time". Good advice.
Pretty much, from what I've read so far, I'll give the book 3 out of 5 berries.
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