Pretentious is a word that comes to mind. Trying too hard pops up as well. I was told that "Jitterbug Perfume" would be entertaining, maybe even funny. I didn't laugh a single time. I had heard it would be thought provoking, the only thing I was provoked into, was scanning pages in the last third of the book rather than taking my time, simply because I was too vested to drop the novel entirely.
"Jitterbug Perfume" touches on some interesting themes, but does so in a way that is downright awful. When writers add things like "By the end of this paragraph..." they've just ruined their own work. Suspension of disbelief is completely taken away, and if it's supposed to be funny, all I can say is: Fail. On several occasions, Tom Robbins makes little meta-comments, supposed to tickle my fancy but ending up grinding my gears.
By the time I had fought my way to the ending, I was just happy to be done with it. As for the story itself? Could've been really good, if it had been written by a different writer. ]]>
Although mr. Ferriss has some good ideas and goals, there is one word that describes why, I am not a fan of this book: Scumbaggery.
While I totally agree with Tim Ferriss, when he says that most meetings are useless and should be avoided, I cannot agree with his recommendation of making up excuses and lies, in order to leave early or not show up. This is just one example of behavior recommended in this book, and it quite frankly disgusts me.
I am all for automating the dull aspects of my life, taking on personal assistants and applying to 80/20 principle where ever it fits, but I never ever want to do so at the price of my own dignity. The book has good ideas but is ultimately written for people without scruples of any kind.
The author brags about winning a martial arts contest by bending the rules. He's being a scumbag and encouraging others to follow in his footsteps. I'm sorry, but that's not me. ]]>
This novel sucked me in and kept me counting the minutes until I could sit down and read more. I chewed my way through 1000+ pages with great delight and only wish there were 1000 more.
I enjoyed Follett's "Pillars of the Earth" but honestly was not expecting this independent sequel to be as good as its predecessor. I was wrong. On top of it being a masterfully told tale of love, hate, passion, greed and all those other basic themes of life, it is also an amazing window into a different time.
I am not a historian but this novel made me want to learn more. Late at night, I found myself reading up on medieval customs, food, architecture, social structures and more. Things that I've only ever found mildly appealing in the past. It is extremely rare, that any novel has this effect on me.
Not only that, but it's also very well written. The suspense never stops, and even on the very last page, I still feared that something terrible might happen. Without giving anything away, I can reveal that during the course of this novel, many bad things do happen. A lot of those to good people. Good things happen to bad people, too, making you root even harder for the little guy.
World Without End is one of the most riveting novels, I have ever read. I highly recommend it. ]]>
Rasmus
read and liked
Todd's
review of The 4-Hour Work Week: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich:
"Timothy Ferriss spoke at a management meeting last week where I work. A few of the managers came back pretty impressed, so I cadged a copy off of a manager and skimmed/read it one sitting Friday night.
The effect of this book is like being...more "
"Timothy Ferriss spoke at a management meeting last week where I work. A few of the managers came back pretty impressed, so I cadged a copy off of a manager and skimmed/read it one sitting Friday night.
The effect of this book is like being...more "
I had extremely high expectations prior to reading this book. After all, this is the culmination of a long and amazing series. Perhaps, I would say, the best series of crime novels since Chandler. Maybe even better. This was the last one. DI John Rebus's last days before retirement.
It was with a mix of dread and hope, that I picked it up and started reading. I wanted things to end well for Rebus, but I knew it wasn't going to be all rosy and happy either. It just wouldn't be Rebus, if that had been the case. I won't spoil it here, suffice to say that the ending lived up to every bit of expectation and then some. It would have left me screaming for more, had I not been in a public place at the time of finishing the novel. Just one more page? Please?
John Rebus has grown to be a friend of mine. He's not a perfect guy, in fact he's extremely stubborn and sometimes a bit of an ass, but I like him. His sarcasm, his taste in music and his distaste for authority is similar to my own. I was sad to see him retire and would like nothing more than to drop down to the Ox and buy the man a pint and a malt. Alas, he is but a figment of Ian Rankin's imagination, so I'll have to settle for thanking the author instead.
So, thank you mr. Rankin, not just for a fantastic series that got better and better through the years, but also for a fitting and deserving end to a distinguished, albeit fictional, career.
This is a great novel on several levels. The plot, the characters, the descriptions - all of it is as good as the best of the other books in the same series. But with the added touch of being what it is. The exit music. ]]>
Rasmus
read and liked
Jon Mountjoy's
review of Exit Music:
"Okay, I've read all of the Rebus series. I suspect this is the final book, given the title. I don't often read the genre, but I've grown to love the warty, very human Rebus. He fights the world, and himself. I suppose I started reading these book...more "
"Okay, I've read all of the Rebus series. I suspect this is the final book, given the title. I don't often read the genre, but I've grown to love the warty, very human Rebus. He fights the world, and himself. I suppose I started reading these book...more "
This is a classic among graphic novels, published in the mid-eighties it stands as a testament to that era; near the end of the Cold War and before the collapse of the Soviet Union. In some ways it hasn't stood the test of time, in that it can seem almost kitchy at times, but the story is still great.
Perhaps I was lured by the "one of the 100 best novels of all time" title, but though I was entertained, my favorite grahpic novel of all time remains: Frank Miller's Dark Night Returns. ]]>
This is definitely the biggest scope of any of the Rebus-novels, I have read. World leaders, rioting crowds and terrorism sets the stage, as my favorite Scottish Detective Inspector goes through the motions, trying to solve a murder nobody seems interested in. Much like himself. Rebus is not getting any younger and it is at the point now, where younger colleagues are treating him with curious distance.
Once again Rebus finds himself going up against The Man, this time on both sides of the law. And as usual, his own inner demons poke their heads out too.
Siobhan, his protege, is becoming a more central character with each novel and this one is by no means any exception. In fact, her role in "The Naming of the Dead" is equal to that of John Rebus.
The flow, plot, characterization and humor in this book is flawless. I had to pace myself to make it last as long as possible. John Rebus is a stubborn drunk whose heart is in the right place, though it has done him very little good in life. In this book, we get a good glimpse into his fear for the future. Especially his own, as that of a retired cop with no real friends or family to speak of.
This is my new favorite in this already fantastic series. ]]>
After having read "American Gods", my expectations were pretty high for this one, and while "Good Omens" is a little more scattered and doesn't feel as complete, it was still a very entertaining read. After all, which part of Armageddon is not funny, when everyone involved seems to have little to no idea about what's really going on. Except a witch who died 300 years prior. ]]>