http://www.goodreads.com/review/list_rss/21835 en-US Fri, 30 Mar 2007 07:19:08 -0700 60 http://www.goodreads.com/ 200 41 http://www.goodreads.com/images/layout/gr_logo.gif 494422 Fri, 30 Mar 2007 07:19:08 -0700
author: John Biguenet
name: Jason
average rating: 3.48
book published: 2003
rating: 4
read at: 01/05
date added: 03/30/07
shelves:
review:
Good, not great book.
]]> 494400 Fri, 30 Mar 2007 07:18:23 -0700
author: John Biguenet
name: Jason
average rating: 3.67
book published: 2004
rating: 5
read at: 04/04
date added: 03/30/07
shelves:
review:
This is one of my favorite books. A great collection of short stories, many capturing the essence of New Orleans perfectly. My favorite story is the last, "And Never Come Up." Highest recommendation.
]]> 227502 Sat, 10 Mar 2007 18:49:57 -0800
author: Bill Buford
name: Jason
average rating: 3.71
book published: 2006
rating: 3
read at: 12/06
date added: 03/10/07
shelves:
review:
I have a feeling that Bill Buford really likes the fact that he spent time in Mario Batali's kitchen. There's a tinge of man-crush in his fawning praise of Batali. And while he does a great job of bringing the reader into the kitchen, it's losing its focus when it travels to Italy (not once, but TWICE) to talk about things besides Batali or working in Batali's kitchen. And yes, there's the New Yorker elitist touch in describing the Europena landscape, which is inherently awesome because it is not Red State American. If you're hungry, read the book. Otherwise, wait until the paperback.
]]> 215055 Fri, 09 Mar 2007 12:40:15 -0800
author: Scott Smith
name: Jason
average rating: 3.23
book published: 2006
rating: 3
read at: 01/07
date added: 03/09/07
shelves:
review:
Stephen King previewed this book as the "greatest thriller of the year" about six months before it was released to the public. So I was curious, since he generally has good taste in books. It sat on my shelf for a few months before I got around to it. All I really have to say is: shit eating. That's what this book was missing. It talked about shit and piss through the rest of it, all it needed was them to consume the stuff. The Ruins has to be the most scatalogical book I've read. Was it good? Kinda. It was certainl psychological. But I don't think I really cared about their hopeless psyches. I wanted to know why there was a hill full of man eating plants. I couldn't care if Jeff was a dick, or Pablo was a Greek, or Matthias was a sketchy German. Thus, give me shit-eating.
]]> 214337 Fri, 09 Mar 2007 12:23:14 -0800
author: Chris Hedges
name: Jason
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2007
rating: 4
read at: 02/07
date added: 03/09/07
shelves:
review:
I initially saw author Chris Hedges speak on BookTV about this book, and was enchanted by the fiery invective and seething passion he had for his subject matter. It was a powerful sermon aimed at the "dominionist" movement in fundamental Christianity, led by people like Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson. On the surface, his argument is obvious at points, as this group is already much maligned by mainstream media and the liberal elite. But his perspective is refreshing, as he not only delves into the specific ways that these dominionists afflict the poor, tired, and desperate, but also the ways that their counterparts, the liberal community at large, has aided in their growing powerbase. As he states, the paradox of liberalism is to allow every opinion as valid, no matter how hateful and violent, and thus he does not expect the average liberal mind to have any teeth and power to combat it. He does not make easy targets of the masses of downtrodden souls who make up the movement, often giving them humane descriptions and sympathy for their situation. Hedges refuses to blame the victims, but instead blames the society that created them and the villains who exploit them. While the book is too short and sometimes repetitive, it is a fiery sermon from the Mount, a angry diatribe against a growing threat, and shows the anger and passion that is necessary to make it stop.
]]> 214675 Fri, 09 Mar 2007 12:22:35 -0800 ]]>
author: David Mamet
name: Jason
average rating: 3.31
book published: 2007
rating: 3
read at: 02/07
date added: 03/09/07
shelves:
review:
I greatly enjoy reading books about the inner workings of Hollywood, not specifically from the actor/producer standpoint, but from the less hot-shot and A list people like writers, cameramen, or even just critics. William Goldman's "Who Killed Hollywood" is one of my favorite books and one I always refer to when thinking about movies. And for this reason I picked up Bambi vs. Godzilla. While I have seen some of David Mamet's movies before, this is my fist experience with his writing. I know the man is a good writer, but he flaunts this fact often throughout the first and last third of the book, using incredibly cryptic phrases, flowery paragraphs, and incessantly verbose thought patterns. For such a proponent of "getting to the point," he doesn't follow his own advice. The best parts of the book are when he's talking about the thing he knows best: writing a story. For this section, the book is a must read, as it explains the duties of a writer from a master of the craft. However, when he went into the general business of the movie industry, he lost focus often and delved mostly into toothless bitching. Mamet is a wonderful cynic and can teach all inspiring cynics a trick or two, but his anger and vehemence feels misdirected and chained. He might be trying to burn some bridges, but isn't ready to light the first match. And for that, I cannot wholly recommend this book, except as an unbalanced attempt at sticking it to the big wigs in Hollywood. If you like that sort of thing, give it a try. Otherwise, it's merely ok.

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