1.28.2005
A Reader's Manifesto: An Attack on the Growing Pretentiousness in American Literary Prose
by B.R. Myers, 134 pgs, paperback
Amazon site
Overall Grade: A-
This book is totally revelant, especially if you've ever had to read weird modern fiction for school. Myers makes a good case & it makes a lot of sense. Basically, good books can be hard to read, bad books are hard to read because they don't make any sense, stylistically, philosophically, etc. That doesn't make bad prose good; it's still bad prose.
Amazon site
Overall Grade: A-
This book is totally revelant, especially if you've ever had to read weird modern fiction for school. Myers makes a good case & it makes a lot of sense. Basically, good books can be hard to read, bad books are hard to read because they don't make any sense, stylistically, philosophically, etc. That doesn't make bad prose good; it's still bad prose.
Labels: genre: non-fiction, media: book
1.22.2005
Going Postal
by Terry Pratchett, 377 pgs, hardcover
Amazon site
Overall Grade: A-
Series: Discworld
Also not as uproariously funny as past Discworld books, but Moist von Lipwig is definitely a great character as is Miss Dearheart, who I wished there'd been more of in the story. Dry humour abounds in these pages. It even got a few quotes into my quotes list which is a very good feat. And who cannot like it when TP puts in twisted literary allusions? Like this gem here
The Postman came down like a wolf on the fold,
His cohorts were gleaming in azure and gold.
I definitely thank my h.s. english teacher for making us read poetry now, hahahahaha, yeah, literary humour is great.
Story: Enter Moist von Lipwig, a man just hung for being a criminal & scammer, and wouldn't the Patrician just happen to offer him a job of revamping Ankh-Morpork's decrepit, failed postal system. I don't know how many wisecracks can be made of the word 'deliver' but definitely a lot. And don't forget that this is in the age of the clacks towers, gee, could wonder how they'd feel about a revived post office...
Amazon site
Overall Grade: A-
Series: Discworld
Also not as uproariously funny as past Discworld books, but Moist von Lipwig is definitely a great character as is Miss Dearheart, who I wished there'd been more of in the story. Dry humour abounds in these pages. It even got a few quotes into my quotes list which is a very good feat. And who cannot like it when TP puts in twisted literary allusions? Like this gem here
The Postman came down like a wolf on the fold,
His cohorts were gleaming in azure and gold.
I definitely thank my h.s. english teacher for making us read poetry now, hahahahaha, yeah, literary humour is great.
Story: Enter Moist von Lipwig, a man just hung for being a criminal & scammer, and wouldn't the Patrician just happen to offer him a job of revamping Ankh-Morpork's decrepit, failed postal system. I don't know how many wisecracks can be made of the word 'deliver' but definitely a lot. And don't forget that this is in the age of the clacks towers, gee, could wonder how they'd feel about a revived post office...
Labels: genre: fantasy, genre: fiction, media: book, series: Discworld
A Hat Full of Sky
by Terry Pratchett, 278 pgs, hardcover
Amazon site
Overall Grade: B+
Series: Discworld, Tiffany Aching #2
Not as humorous as I expected, but still pretty good. This one has more witching stuff in it, which isn't my favorite part of Discworld, so that might have something to do with it. Maybe I just didn't like the child's prespective because it felt like I could grab quite enough pieces of the puzzle to be spurred on in my reading which is usually the case with Discworld books.
Story: As a sequel to 'Wee Free Men' Tiffany Aching heads off to an apprenticeship to learn to be a witch. But of course, magical dangers can't be far away and soon she becomes entangled with an entity known as a hiver that can, well, take over Tiffany's body...and you can guess how the rest of it goes. Definitely could have used more Nac Mac Feegle.
Amazon site
Overall Grade: B+
Series: Discworld, Tiffany Aching #2
Not as humorous as I expected, but still pretty good. This one has more witching stuff in it, which isn't my favorite part of Discworld, so that might have something to do with it. Maybe I just didn't like the child's prespective because it felt like I could grab quite enough pieces of the puzzle to be spurred on in my reading which is usually the case with Discworld books.
Story: As a sequel to 'Wee Free Men' Tiffany Aching heads off to an apprenticeship to learn to be a witch. But of course, magical dangers can't be far away and soon she becomes entangled with an entity known as a hiver that can, well, take over Tiffany's body...and you can guess how the rest of it goes. Definitely could have used more Nac Mac Feegle.
Labels: genre: fantasy, genre: fiction, genre: YA, media: book, series: Discworld, series: Tiffany Aching
