false 1 178 171 true 5647686 read 3 true 4978336 currently-reading 4 true 4978335 to-read http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/79043157 to: Understanding Movies: The Art and History of Film (The Modern Scholar) by Raphael Shargel
Listening to this 14-lecture course is a worthy substitute for attending a film class at a good college. After presenting a bit of film theory and practice, Shargel hits the usual highlights of Western cinema, including the German expressionists, Italian neorealists, and the French new wave. He focuses on representative movies from Stagecoach to Persepolis, and directors from D. W. Griffith to Clint Eastwood. He touches briefly on "gender" and "race", meaning movies by women and blacks. Shargel doesn't say much about Asian cinema or American cinema from outside the U.S. I would say he overpraises the "American New Wave" movies of the 70s. Still, this is an enjoyable set of lectures. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/79041633 to: The Modern Scholar: Islam and the West (Audio CD) by Seyyed Hossein Nast
In this 14-lecture course Seyyed Hossein Nasr presents a summary of Islam's history of interaction with the West, and overviews of Islamic civilization and culture, including theology, art, literature, and education. For those who have not been exposed to Islam, this is a great introduction to the Islamic point of view, and a correction to pro-Western histories of Islam. Note that it does not dwell on negative aspects of Islamic history or culture. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/79040835 to: Rings, Swords, and Monsters: Exploring Fantasy Literature (eAudiobook) by Michael D.C. Drout
The title of this course is a little misleading. Drout is a serious scholar of J. R. R. Tolkien, and this 14-lecture course on Fantasy literature is slanted towards predecessors of Tolkien, Tolkien's works (7 lectures), and a few followers/imitators of Tolkien. However, if you like Tolkien, it's great stuff. If you don't, there are a few lectures on children's fantasy, Arthurian fantasy, and magic realism. There's a good review of Ursula K. LeGuin. Don't expect to learn about the popular horror branch of fantasy literature though--that is not in the scope of this course. Drout is, as always, knowledgeable and fun to listen to. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/79040246 to: The Modern Scholar: From Here to Infinity ~An Exploration of Science Fiction Literature~ (14 Lectures on 7 Audiocassettes) by Michael D.C. Drout
This 14-lecture course presents an almost a decade-by-decade overview of sf while highlighting a handful of key English-language sf writers up through the 1990s, such as Robert Heinlein, Cordwainer Smith, Frank Herbert, Ray Bradbury, J. G. Ballard, William Gibson, and Neal Stephenson. It's hard to quibble with what Drout presents, although you can't help but be disappointed by what's left out. Drout is an engaging and knowledgeable teacher. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/79039804 to: The Modern Scholar: Unseen Diversity: The World of Bacteria (Audiobook) by Betsey Dexter Dyer
This 14-lecture course provides an introduction to bacteria, explaining how many bacteria are all around us and inside us, and explaining why the vast majority of bacteria are harmless and not pathogenic. Given the recent "anti-bacteria" craze, it's a useful attitude correction. Betsey Dexter Dyer uses analogies well and simplifies the subject without dumbing it down. It seems to be a companion to her book A Field Guide to Bacteria. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/79039323 to: Bad Things Happen (Hardcover) by Harry Dolan
This first novel is a mystery in which bad things happen to people associated with a magazine of crime short stories. If you like mysteries with multiple plot twists, you may like this one. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/77843594 to: The Cold Dish (Walt Longmire, #1) by Craig Johnson
Craig Johnson's first novel is a mystery about Walt Longmire, a sheriff in contemporary Wyoming, as he tracks the killer of boys previously accused of raping a Cheyenne girl. Longmire is assisted by his best friend, Henry Standing Bear, and the colorful cast of the sheriff's office. Johnson's writing is very good, whether describing the Wyoming landscape or fleshing out the secondary characters. Imagine the sensibilities of James Lee Burke and Tony Hillerman, with a better sense of humor. I look forward to reading more books in series. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/77498163 to: Beat the Reaper: A Novel (Hardcover) by Josh Bazell
I can't remember the last time I read an entire novel in one day. Bazell's first novel was an light, easy read and true to the old cliche "hard to put down". It's a very funny book with some high-concept scenes that are outrageous and memorable--especially the climactic scene in the hospital at the end, which I sure would like to share, but won't. The novel tells two stories, with chapters alternating between Dr. Peter Brown's memorable workday at the hospital and his past history as he became a friend and hitman for a mob family. I liked the behind-the-scenes, comical look at hospital operations. I could see Bazell making a lot of money in movies or television with his imaginative, humorous style. The novel's frequent footnotes interrupted the fast-paced narrative too many times for my taste. But I did learn a lot along the way. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/77119082 Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith (Paperback) by Jon Krakauer
bookshelves: currently-reading
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/71880659 to: The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress (Paperback) by Robert A. Heinlein
The colonies on the Moon revolt against Earth to gain their freedom. Imagine a lunar version of the American Revolution, with the colonists speaking a modified lingo of their own, having modified family structures, having wild-west individualist thoughts on law and justice. It's narrated after-the-fact, which diminishes the suspense, and written like an Ayn-Randish libertarian tract at times, but it's thought-provoking and has a sense of humor. One of Heinlein's best novels. ]]>