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July 09
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Sebastian
gave
 
to:
Shoeless Joe (Hardcover)
by W.P. Kinsella
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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read in July, 2008
Sebastian said:
"Had this in my collection for a long time then on impulse pulled it off the shelf to read (and after many years since seeing the book's movie version "Field of Dreams").
Kinsella is a fine writer no question, but the book just didn't com...more
Had this in my collection for a long time then on impulse pulled it off the shelf to read (and after many years since seeing the book's movie version "Field of Dreams").
Kinsella is a fine writer no question, but the book just didn't come together for me. I know it was based on a previous short story, and maybe that is the version worth reading. Here, I found it boring and overly long (even at 200 or so pages). The "hero" Ray Kinsella was as unlikeable a main character as I've come across. And not being a baseball fan at all, I think most of the book's focus on baseball lore was lost on me. For Kinsella in this book baseball is clearly a religion, a way of life, even a universe unto itself. I just couldn't get on board with his passion for the game. Also the inclusion of the author J.D. Salinger as a character just seemed contrived and awkward....less
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April 08
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Sebastian
gave
to:
Mr. Timothy (Paperback)
by Louis Bayard
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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read in January, 2008
Sebastian said:
"Picked it up not knowing what to expect, and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's Tiny Tim, Ebeneezer Scrooge and London but many years after the events of Dickens' "Christmas Carol".
Dark in tone, but beautiful writing--there were many sentences...more
Picked it up not knowing what to expect, and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's Tiny Tim, Ebeneezer Scrooge and London but many years after the events of Dickens' "Christmas Carol".
Dark in tone, but beautiful writing--there were many sentences and passages I re-read out loud throughout the book. And that has never happened before....less
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Sebastian
gave
to:
Hard Rain (Paperback)
by Barry Eisler
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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read in February, 2008
Sebastian said:
"This one too I read on the subway. The second book in the "John Rain" series (it's the sequel to "Rain Fall") but well written and stands on its own so one need not necessarily have read the first book to get up to speed.
Great...more
This one too I read on the subway. The second book in the "John Rain" series (it's the sequel to "Rain Fall") but well written and stands on its own so one need not necessarily have read the first book to get up to speed.
Great dialogue and action scenes, crisp writing overall, as our hero, hitman John Rain goes about his business in modern day Japan. Eisler is getting better as he goes along; here he serves up an interesting commentary on Japanese politics and society, along with the chases, planning and killing which is no mean feat.
Clearly these books are written with possible future screenplays and films in mind, but there's nothing wrong with that. Good stuff!...less
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Sebastian
gave
to:
Rain Fall (John Rain Thrillers (Paperback))
by Barry Eisler
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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read in January, 2008
Sebastian said:
"A great subway book--that's actually where I read this. It's the first novel in a series, set in contemporary Japan (Tokyo). Very well written, with lots of background and depth for the "hero" John Rain--a Vietnam Vet, half-American/half-Ja...more
A great subway book--that's actually where I read this. It's the first novel in a series, set in contemporary Japan (Tokyo). Very well written, with lots of background and depth for the "hero" John Rain--a Vietnam Vet, half-American/half-Japanese hitman for hire, who is having doubts about his line of work and who/what he has become as a result. The author claims to be a former CIA agent stationed in Japan, and the action and setting certainly suggest such knowledge. Whatever, it's a quick-but-fun read. And the series is continuing!...less
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Sebastian
is currently reading:
The Stainless Steel Rat (Mass Market Paperback)
by Harry Harrison
bookshelves:
currently-reading
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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March 27
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New comment on Alex's review of
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
reply to this comment
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Sebastian
gave
to:
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (Mass Market Paperback)
by Susanna Clarke
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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Sebastian said:
"Over-rated, overly long and very disappointing. Clarke is clearly a talented writer, but she never engaged with her characters, or had the characters engage with each other. Result: deadly dull.
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February 14
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New comment on Amy's review of
The Handmaid's Tale
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July 10
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Sebastian
gave
to:
And Then There Were None (Paperback)
by Agatha Christie
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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