Great story, total page-turner. The symbolism stuff is still fascinating, though slightly less effective than the last time around. I feel like I lear...moreGreat story, total page-turner. The symbolism stuff is still fascinating, though slightly less effective than the last time around. I feel like I learned a lot, or became more curious, but it didn't cause the same ruckus as the DaVinci Code. Great read.(less)
Sad and lovely, this book is a very strong look at the Polish people and their culture. It's a little rose-tinted. But since a story about the Warsaw...moreSad and lovely, this book is a very strong look at the Polish people and their culture. It's a little rose-tinted. But since a story about the Warsaw ghetto cannot have any kind of happy ending, it's nice to have a little happy along the way.(less)
Drawing heavily from Narnia (acknowledged, of course), this book is both creative and familiar. It's shocking more adult that it's magic-y counterpart...moreDrawing heavily from Narnia (acknowledged, of course), this book is both creative and familiar. It's shocking more adult that it's magic-y counterparts - a few scenes are so grown up compared to what you're used to reading about boarding school magicians that they actual sear into your mind. Very effective. I enjoyed this book very much.(less)
A wonderfully written, fantastically dense book that completely transports you to Venice in body and mind. The plot is a bit too intricate for itself...moreA wonderfully written, fantastically dense book that completely transports you to Venice in body and mind. The plot is a bit too intricate for itself at times, moving so much between first-, second- and third-person viewpoints that it confuses the reader. But the effort is heroic and the end result is enjoyable.(less)
I say it again: Michael Chabon's writing is unparalleled. He is, along with Jonathan Safran Foer and Cintra Wilson, my favorite master of the whizz-ba...moreI say it again: Michael Chabon's writing is unparalleled. He is, along with Jonathan Safran Foer and Cintra Wilson, my favorite master of the whizz-bang, firework sentence and the perfectly impossible capture of an idea.
This is a very quick read - a fun, sometimes serious, little tale of a grand adventure. (less)
This book is a little racier than most historical fiction, but that's not enough to help it rise above the general population. Solid, interesting, ave...moreThis book is a little racier than most historical fiction, but that's not enough to help it rise above the general population. Solid, interesting, average. I don't know why, but books set in/around/during the Spanish Inquisition tend to bore the pants off me.(less)
I started out hating this woman. But I think she kind of hated herself. She was like a bad 'Sex and the City' paraody - she couldn't shut up about sho...moreI started out hating this woman. But I think she kind of hated herself. She was like a bad 'Sex and the City' paraody - she couldn't shut up about shoes and track suits and martinis. I think people tend to tone themselves down in print, the make themselves look better than reality, which turned me off even more toward Ms. Orian. But as the book progressed and she eased up, I liked her more and more. By the end, she arcs into a character you can understand, and she's come to understand herself.
The idea of the trip she and her husband take - one year cross-country in a converted bus - is unique and fun. The luxury outfitting they do to their rig is amazing. I enjoyed this tale, as soon as Ms. Orian and I both got over her desperate materialism and hysterics.(less)
I liked this, and it was surprising. Having so recently read Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight, I thought this did a decent job of fictionally portra...moreI liked this, and it was surprising. Having so recently read Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight, I thought this did a decent job of fictionally portraying the Africa of recent times.(less)
'The Book of Air and Shadows' is not really a literary mystery. It's a regular mystery whose plot features a literary icon. I'm enjoying the mystery a...more'The Book of Air and Shadows' is not really a literary mystery. It's a regular mystery whose plot features a literary icon. I'm enjoying the mystery aspect, but I must admit that when the story centers on a potentially undiscovered Shakespeare autograph manuscript, I would like the meat of the story to be a little more worthy of the idea it's trying to sell. In this vein, I prefered 'Codex' by Lev Grossman and 'The Rule of Four' by Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason.(less)
This story is solid and definitely paints a detailed portrait of its characters' lives. The emotion didn't really resonate with me, though. Not the wa...moreThis story is solid and definitely paints a detailed portrait of its characters' lives. The emotion didn't really resonate with me, though. Not the way I wanted it to. (less)
Jimmy can do no wrong by me, but this is a near-miss. It's for kids, and while it's sweet it's too easy and too simple. The message is very 'after sch...moreJimmy can do no wrong by me, but this is a near-miss. It's for kids, and while it's sweet it's too easy and too simple. The message is very 'after school special' and the cultural references are so thinkly veiled they're almost insulting. But still, a soccer playing, tango dancing, costume wearing pig in NYC is kind of a cute idea. Read it to a kid, they'll love it.(less)
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