Eric added 19 books to this list. Add your votes »
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Eric added 6 books to this list. Add your votes »
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bookshelves: fiction
Somehow, when I'm depressed I seem to end up reading an Artemis Fowl book. Maybe it's just the larger print. More likely it's that Eoin Colfer consistently taps the child within on the shoulder and makes him smile. Thank you, Mr. Colfer, for another good ride through the intersection between fairyland and human foolishness. ]]>
by Toni Morrison
One of my favorites, Carrie. I love to believe that a person might, if they just have the right moment of mindfulness, be able to step into the sky. Be well. Eric ]]>
bookshelves: fiction
It is often the case the second books aren't nearly as interesting as first books. Of course, the author gets blamed even though it is actually a result of low advances and fast turnarounds imposed by the publishing industry. In spite of the fact that she's on a publisher's schedule where she's turning out a book every six months, Devon Monk manages to provide a really fun read that capitalizes on her first novel's characters and story line. The book reads well alone, but it really rocks as a sequel that develops the growing series. The ending wrapped up the story nicely, made me happy, and made me want to grab the next book immediately. I read the whole book on three planes between Tucson to Portland. If you like Urban Fantasy, I strongly suggest Monk's Allie Beckstrom series. The magic is fresh, the voice is gritty, and the ride is fun. ]]>
For me, it was clever and occasionally funny enough to make me laugh out loud, so I think it's worthwhile for any Pratchett fan. ]]>
bookshelves: fiction
Sadly (it's not a good sign when a book review starts out with sadly), my experience with Stardust came after the fabulous film. I couldn't help comparing the two. The book was fun to read, but it introduced many elements that I expected Mr. Gaiman to develop. I also expected a final confrontation with the darker forces of fairy that would be worthy of the dramatic development of the beginning and middle of the book. Clearly, the screenwriter understood the need for payoffs on intriguing dramatic elements. In the end, I had fun being in the imaginative world, but I felt cheated by the weak ending. ]]>
Somehow, I missed this one in college. You'd think that studying postmodern literature would include it, but I missed it. Now that I've read it, I can see how it would have been amazing to me then, twenty years ago when I was in love with all things postmodern. Now, I found it boring. Of course, it is the very subjectivity that I find compelling in post-post-modern-modern fiction that is absent from the book. Of course, that's part of the point, and it made it's point back then. Now, what I found interesting was the deceptive simplicity of style, which Camus called "the American style." The simple prose lent perfect tone to the neutral, egalitarian existential voice of The Stranger, and that was worth the read. Also interesting were the moments at which I caught myself realizing how carefully he had to craft his prose so the character appeared to be at peace with his choices, his life, and his end. To render a character so completely devoid of passions, excepting the simple pleasures of moments of life, must have been very difficult and an exercise in both crafting character and in creating a perfect context against which to contrast that character. In the end, I give it four stars for craft, but I withhold the fifth because I was not emotionally transported by the experience. It was a wonderful exercise in intellect. ]]>
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