Thread Of Dire Judgment

[Jayme]

What about Much Ado About Nothing? That one's good stuff! It's like the first Seinfeld.

[Liz]

Alex wrote: "I'm gonna post twice in a row because I was so distressed about the confusion between 1491 and 1421 that I thought it deserved its own post.

Wow...I really was distressed. Y'know, sometimes I wor..."
I think it's hard to compare ratings for novels that are in totally different genres. To me that's being unfair to the literature, because you should treat something as what it is. A while ago when I posted something in the What are you reading thread? some people criticized me for not liking Twilight saying, "Treat it for what it is, a young adult novel!" I replied with, "Well, I've read YA which I feel is better than this." I wasn't about to compare it to one of the classics, because that's not necessarily what it's meant to be.

[VMom]

Alex wrote: "I'm gonna post twice in a row because I was so distressed about the confusion between 1491 and 1421 that I thought it deserved its own post.
"

Oh, now I just have to rant about book titles that are just numbers.
It really shouldn't be encouraged as a trend, or all our conversations will be "How I loved 65321, so much better than 65331, don't you think?"
It's even in movies, where you could end up renting 9 instead of District 9 by accident.
:)

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads]

I gave 4 stars to 1491, which is a very interesting read.

1421 is the one that's badly-written pseudo-history.

[Bridgit]

Alex wrote: "Mary! Oh God no! They're two very different books. 1491 is awesome. It's really fun to read and it'll blow your mind to find out how much of what you were taught about Native Ameri..."

Alex - i really havent heard much about 1421, but am curious where your vehemence comes from? It does not appear you have read it - are you basing your opinions on other reviews? Have you read it and just not listed it?

I'm always curious about how people can have such strong opinions about books/authors that they have not read.

[Sasha]

Hi Bridgit, having uninformed opinions is one of the few joys in my tiny, black life. :P No, I sound sorta weirdly vehement about 1421 because it happens to cover a topic of particular interest to me, that's all. I looked into it carefully for that reason. Here's a New York Times review that lays it out nicely - including a namecheck for When China Ruled the Seas: The Treasure Fleet of the Dragon Throne, 1405-1433, a more accurate book about the same topic.

And in general, books that get their history wrong bug me because people are spending their precious spare time trying to learn about things, and they're being misinformed. It's unfair to them.

Mayakda, I totally agree. Naming books after years seems to be some sort of trend or something; see also 1776 and 1453. Gets confusing fast.

[Sasha]

ps I think I've already said this, but I love your taste in books Susanna. I am totally e-stalking your bookshelves.

pps Jayme, I don't like Seinfeld either. *covers head in shame*

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads]

Bridgit, I tried to read as much as possible of 1421. I had to give up on it, because I found the prose style so annoying. That and if the author reminded us one more time that he was a captain in the Royal Navy, I was going to scream.

You forgot 1759, Alex. (1776 is worth reading; haven't read 1453. I didn't think much of 1759.)

I've made a point of never having seen Seinfeld.

[El]

I'm bad with numbers under any circumstances, but these last few posts have my head spin.

I'm usually that girl in a group that at least once manages to ask, "What does that mean?" only to be given a nasty look from everyone else before someone rolls their eyes and says, "Duh, it's from Seinfeld? Sheesh." I never got into that show.

[Matthew]

I just finished 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' and must say that I was not overly impressed. It had a decent story but some of the writing seemed to just drag on. It received two stars from me.

Just weighing in that 'Seinfeld' has got to be in the Top Ten of best shows ever made on tv... at least on my list.

[Jayme]

Yeah, Matthew! These guys are missing out. I didn't like it at first, but one day I realised it was genius. Same with Family Guy.

Anyway, back to books. You get a big "Boooo" from me for not liking Dorian Gray, Matthew. It was pretty rockin'.

Also when are we moving on from History books. I haven't read any of them and I really want to force my opinions on you guys, but these books are making me feel dumb and not well-read.

[Sasha]

Matthew, you're a fellow Masshole! Go Sox! Holy crap, Wakefield has been untouchable in spring training this year. Francona needs to remember that Wake is money before spring break. I love Buchholz and/or Matsuzaka, but someone needs to sit down while Wake does his thing; it's worth real wins. Once August hits his back will act up anyway; problem solved.

*cough* sorry. Back to dire judment. El, Family Guy is way awesomer than Seinfeld. Jayme, this feels like a good time to insult you for not reading history books. Hoser.

Seriously, I am tipsy.

[El]

Feel free to bring up a new topic/genre to bash, Jayme. And don't feel dumb or not well-read. Your GR shelves indicate you're neither.

(Whoops, is that too "nice" for this thread?)

[Mary]

Thanks, Susanna and Alex, for educating me. I confess I'd never heard of 1421. Obviously something to avoid. But now I can add 1491 to my TBR list.

[Matthew]

Alex wrote: "Matthew, you're a fellow Masshole! Go Sox! Holy crap, Wakefield has been untouchable in spring training this year. Francona needs to remember that Wake is money before spring break. I love Buch..."

Where to begin...

Alex yes I am from MA...however, I'm a Yankees fan!! This has been a very good offseason for me relishing in yet another World Championship. I dare say that NY will be tough again this year...even though our rotation still worries me a little.

Family Guy is a favorite of mine as well, but Seinfeld is still a better show. (My wife chimes in saying that they both SUCK!!!...she is also a Red Sox fan....booo)

As far as 'Dorian' goes...it was ok, it just didn't do anything special for me. I can appreciate the storylines, but maybe I was just expecting more as it is a 'classic'.

[Jayme]

Yeah, that was way too nice for this thread El. You should take a lesson from Alex and call me a Hoser. Although haven't you and Matthew heard? Baseball is dead, you should pick a sport that doesn't put me to sleep.

Back to books though, has anyone read those Matthew Pearl books? I keep seeing them on to-read lists, and the titles make me want to read them, cause they're about awesome authors, but I think I'd be disappointed.

Matthew, you have a lot of boy fiction on your shelves. Not sure about that. And did you really read Canterbury Tales? How was it?

[Sasha]

Dead to me, Matthew. Dead to me. Your wife sounds hot though.

Jayme, I have read Canterbury Tales and loved it. (But then, I like a lot of things that suck, so take that as it is.) Pick it up and just read one or two of them to get a feel for it. Wife of Bath, I guess, that's what everybody reads.

I've heard bad things about Dante Club - I looked into it pretty carefully 'cause, like you, I thought it sounded wicked great, but people don't seem to think he's a very good writer.

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads]

The Canterbury Tales are great.

The Dante Club was ... interesting.

[Kaion]

You should know Susanna, that I have scientifically found that "interesting" as looped back from being derisive to complimentary again. :)

I have a copy of The Dante Club but haven't gotten around to reading it yet. I seem to hear that a lot about historical fiction writers though (either that they are bad writers or bad researchers... or in Dan Brown's case, both).

[Jayme]

Yeah, maybe I'll steer clear of those books then. Unless someone I think is cool tells me they're awesome.

Canterbury Tales is on my list, it is just not likely to make it to the top anytime soon. And everyone seems to have it on their list, but I rarely see people who've rated it.

[Liz]

I've read parts of The Canterbury Tales. It was in high school and I think I enjoyed the stories but did not fully appreciate them.

[Matthew]

Jayme wrote: "Yeah, that was way too nice for this thread El. You should take a lesson from Alex and call me a Hoser. Although haven't you and Matthew heard? Baseball is dead, you should pick a sport that doesn'..."

For starters, baseball is alive and great. Second only to football in my book.

Well yes there is a lot of male fiction on my shelves, I think it is a good thing, but am willing to expnad sometime in the near future.

Canterbury Tales was good and I enjoyed it. I should reread it though as the last time was in high-school.

So Matthew Pearl's 'The Dante Club' is actually the next book I'll be reading after 'Shutter Island'. I'm looking forward to it.

[Matthew]

Alex wrote: "Dead to me, Matthew. Dead to me. Your wife sounds hot though.

Jayme, I have read Canterbury Tales and loved it. (But then, I like a lot of things that suck, so take that as it is.) Pick it up ..."

Aww, Alex, can't we all get along...lol. I have the utmost respect for Boston fans because over the years the true fans have shown huge amounts of loyalty and committment.

I hope that 'The Dante Club' isn;t disappointing though. I should be starting it by the end of this week if not sooner.

And hey,...we both liked 'Canterbury Tales'.

[Juniper]

Alex wrote: "Hoser."

*snort* That is too funny Alex. A bit of the Canadian creeping into your lexicon. Most excellent, eh?

[KHoopMan]

Matthew: thank you for your respect of Red Sox fans. In return, we will "boo" you and throw things at you every chance we get. Yankees suck, Yankees suck...

[Matthew]

Eliza wrote: "Matthew: thank you for your respect of Red Sox fans. In return, we will "boo" you and throw things at you every chance we get. Yankees suck, Yankees suck..."

lol. I wouldn't expect any less...lol

[Kaion]

We've run out of books to talk about, eh? Baseball... if they edited it to just include the actual hitting and running parts, I'd watch it.

[Carol]

I hated Edgar Sawtelle and Owen Meany so there. onward and upward to movies?

[Sasha]

Ew, there's nothing worse than a Yankee fan who's not a total jerk. Who am I supposed to hate on now? Sheesh.

Unfortunately we're a bit short on real fans these days. All that stupid "winning" has ruined everything for us. Thank God we probably won't have that problem this year.

I suppose we could debate Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game. Except that everyone likes that book.

[Bridgit]

Did not like Dante Club at all, but I read it years ago so can't remember any substantive reasons why other than I think I thought it was boring. Which is never good for a mystery.

[Sasha]

We haven't kicked Harry Potter around yet. I thought those books were charming at first, but I got increasingly bored. Didn't really care for the last three books. The usual complaint: Harry kinda just stands around while other people like him and fix his problems for him. It starts to feel formulaic to me after a while.

[Carol]

Beware the School of Hogwarts Alex. They will turn you into a swine of a different color.

[VMom]

Alex wrote: "We haven't kicked Harry Potter around yet. I thought those books were charming at first, but I got increasingly bored. Didn't really care for the last three books. The usual complaint: Harry kin..."

I just re-read books 4-7. Don't dare talk rubbish about Harry Potter, you squib!
:)

[Sasha]

And I never gave Eliza props for being a fellow Sox fan. What up Rhode Island! High five.

You guys should know that Eliza's profile says, "I love historical fiction, Mexican food and justice." That is awesome.

[Sasha]

Bleh. How'd #5 and #6 not bore you? I'm seriously mystified.

[VMom]

Hem, hem. Number 5 was great -- wonderful villain in Dolores Umbridge, Hermione creates Dumbledore's Army, Fred & George legendary exit from Hogwarts. Plus the Black house were we first meet Kreacher and learn about the Black family tree.
Number 6 is Draco's book, and I admit I am a Malfoy fan. Their family loyalty is touching, really. :)

[Matthew]

The Harry Potter series has to be one the list of everyone to read before they die. Just a great series. However... I will say that the ending of the final book did seem a little over the top to me...I'm not sure if I was disappointed or just not sure how to feel about the how resurrection thing going on there.

Ok, just finished 'Shutter Island' and I must say it is a great read. I may be partial though as I do like Dennis Lehane quite a bit too. 'Mystic River' and 'Gone, Baby Gone' were favorites of mine as well.

Starting 'The Dante Club' tomorrow. I'm looking forward to it, but keep hearing these negative rumors...

And thanks Alex, for the compliment! I'm sure we'll meet somewhere in the playoffs this year.

[Jayme]

I loved all the Harry Potters. Sure they had a definitely formula, but they were all entertaining!

I liked how much darker the last few books got, not boring at all.

[El]

I preferred the later HP books as well. I liked as they got darker also. The first couple books bugged me. Oh, but I hated Kreacher.

[Clare]

Oh dear Harry Potter. I grew up with Harry, in fact half the kids who turned eleven were expecting their letters to Hogwarts. I waited for the books to come out religiously. I loved the idea, the characters, everything. The sixth one I didn't really like, it didn't have much of a plot just Harry finding out about Voldie's past but I thought the final one would get better. It didn't, first book I ever threw at the wall :(

[Cindy]

Clare wrote: "It didn't, first book I ever threw at the wall :( "

Oh your poor wall! I hope you turned the huge dent into a nice book nook or something. ;)

[KHoopMan]

The Thread of Dire Judgment turns The Thread of Mutual Admiration...here is Alex's hilarious review of Middlesex: "Best generation-spanning hermaphrodite epic ever." LOL! Seriously though, that book also made a major impact on me.

[Rachel]

Alex you can hate on the Harry Potter books all you want...they are kinda formulaic but I find that a flaw in most YA series...just don't heap any "they're anti-christian" remarks...I've had my share with Harry Potter and the Bible: The Menace Behind the Magick.

[Sasha]

No fear, Rachel, I'm a godless heathen. :)

Thanks Eliza!

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads]

Clare wrote: "Oh dear Harry Potter. I grew up with Harry, in fact half the kids who turned eleven were expecting their letters to Hogwarts. I waited for the books to come out religiously. I loved the idea, th..."

That's some dent!

[Kaion]

I grew up with Harry Potter too Clare, except I didn't get the big fuss. :( I was (still am) a hanger-on so I did read the first four, but they lost me completely there. A tournament so important we've never heard of it before? That lasts ALL YEAR? (Like the house competitions weren't tedious enough.) Where they further endanger students? And the students finally leave the castle somewhat for me to find that outside witch culture is exactly like inside witch culture.

The first book I threw at a wall? Probably when Susan didn't show up, damn you, C.S. Lewis (possibly why I never reread Narnia).

Or maybe when Will and Lyra got disgustingly romantic in The Amber Spyglass.

Or maybe when Will and Bran *didn't* before the memory erasure in Silver On The Tree.

[Juniper]

Alex wrote: "No fear, Rachel, I'm a godless heathen. :) !"

So, on this thread of dire judgement, I guess it would be hugely inappropriate to, say, umm...The Bible - discuss.

I'm just kidding! (Or am I?)

:D

[Katie]

Jennifer wrote: "Alex wrote: "No fear, Rachel, I'm a godless heathen. :) !"

So, on this thread of dire judgement, I guess it would be hugely inappropriate to, say, umm...The Bible - discuss.

I'm just kidding! (..."

I give Leviticus one star. Rules, rules, rules...zzzzzzz.

[Sasha]

I haven't read the thing, so I wouldn't be able to chime in, unfortunately. I hear Leviticus is a little on the weird side, but overall there are some nice ideas.

[Juniper]

Okay, so I had heard there are very funny reviews of The Bible at Amazon and, OMG, some of them are hysterical!

For example (since, Katie, you mention Leviticus):

"After being told that this was a "Good Book" I was really looking forward to reading it.

Alas, it lost me almost immediately. For example; After several "days" of light the sun suddenly appears in the sky on the fourth day? I looked for a footnote to explain this obvious inacuracy but found that the story lacks any supporting references what-so-ever. I Looked back at older versions of the book hoping for some explanation and only became more confused when it became clear that the earlier text has both the sun and the moon somehow wedged between two layers of water!

I also found many parts of the "Old" Testament downright insulting. For example, in the section called Leviticus we are told not to trip blind people or swear at deaf people! (Lev 19:14) Just who was this book writen for that they needed to be told that it's not cool to trip blind people!? And why is a woman "unclean" twice as long after giving birth to a female child then she is after giving birth to a male child? (Lev 20) I'm guessing a guy wrote this stuff!

So I skimmed through the first section of the book, which was filled with endless rituals involving sacrifices and other barbaric practices, and moved on to the "New" testament, hoping for the best.

What a disapointment! I found the main character, Jesus, was all over the map. One moment he was all forgiveness and the next he was telling people that they had to hate their families if they wanted to follow him. (Luke 14:26). In the chapter entitled Matthew, Jesus suceeds in removing demons from two locals only to cast them into the town's herd of pigs who then race down a hill and drown themselves. The townies, who are naturally more than a little distressed at the loss of all of their pigs, ask Jesus to shove off and who can blame them! (Matthew 8:28-34)

By the time I read the part about Jesus berating a fig tree for not having figs on it I'd had enough. (Matthew 21:18-19)

To call this a "Good" book is truly a stretch. Don't waste your time!"

and, how about this:

"I picked this up because I heard it advertised as the Gospel, which translates to "good news." It opens up by telling the reader how the human race is doomed because two poorly developed characters ate an apple that a snake told them to eat. That's not good news."

or:

"Do not buy any other books by this author. The plot is full of holes (if God knows everything that's going to happen, how can humans have free will?) and random entrances by characters who are never heard from again (what happened to those aliens that Ezekiel met?!) This book also never explains why God is always referred to as a male, and is full of other misogynistic themes throughout. The God character really isn't very believeable, either - if he's perfect, why does he throw a hissy fit every time humanity screws something up? Especially if he already knew it was going to happen? Definitely not worth the $4.95."

I am absolutely in a mess of laughter over the crazy reviews people have posted. Who knew Bible reviews would be so entertaining??

I am really not trying to be offensive I'm just seriously wondering what these reviewers thought they were reading/buying??