8.19.2005
Vanity Fair
by William Makepeace Thackeray, 809pgs, paperback
Amazon site
Overall Grade: A-
I will admit there were parts in this book that I skimmed a little. Especially with 800 pages, sometimes I didn't care to have all the lords named, or listen to Thackeray go off on an imaginary tangent, or "talk" to his reader. I do love period pieces though, and this was definitely one of them. Set around the time of the second Napoleonic War & after, it follows the story of two girls, Amelia Sedley and Rebecca Sharp after they depart from their finishing school. Emmy & Becky are about as different as two people can be, although you'll hate or be frustrated with both of them. My favorite character is Dobbin. So dutiful & absolutely trying his hardest, but just can not ever have his love returned. sigh
Amazon site
Overall Grade: A-
I will admit there were parts in this book that I skimmed a little. Especially with 800 pages, sometimes I didn't care to have all the lords named, or listen to Thackeray go off on an imaginary tangent, or "talk" to his reader. I do love period pieces though, and this was definitely one of them. Set around the time of the second Napoleonic War & after, it follows the story of two girls, Amelia Sedley and Rebecca Sharp after they depart from their finishing school. Emmy & Becky are about as different as two people can be, although you'll hate or be frustrated with both of them. My favorite character is Dobbin. So dutiful & absolutely trying his hardest, but just can not ever have his love returned. sigh
Labels: genre: fiction, media: book
His Excellency: George Washington
by Joseph Ellis, 275pgs, hardcover
Amazon site
Overall Grade: B+
This book is very good for a short read on good ole George. The prose style is nice and keep pace well. Ellis uses common language so that this doesn't become a stuffy old academic discourse. which the size almost makes impossible in its smallness. Very focused on George.
Amazon site
Overall Grade: B+
This book is very good for a short read on good ole George. The prose style is nice and keep pace well. Ellis uses common language so that this doesn't become a stuffy old academic discourse. which the size almost makes impossible in its smallness. Very focused on George.
Labels: genre: biographical, genre: historical, genre: non-fiction, media: book
8.18.2005
The Gifts of the Jews
by Thomas Cahill, 270pgs, hardcover
Amazon site
Overall Grade: B
Series: Hinges of History
This had some very interesting points about how the Jews have affected the outlook and basically developed the western view of linear time. I hadn't read much about the OT before this so it was nice to be walked through it by Cahill, who surprisingly is rather even-handed to the accounts and mostly takes the author's word for what happened, even if its not historic (if only he could be so kind to Jesus!) Anyway, you might enjoy this if you need a little refresher on while we all think Jewish. Also part of Cahill's Hinges of History series.
Amazon site
Overall Grade: B
Series: Hinges of History
This had some very interesting points about how the Jews have affected the outlook and basically developed the western view of linear time. I hadn't read much about the OT before this so it was nice to be walked through it by Cahill, who surprisingly is rather even-handed to the accounts and mostly takes the author's word for what happened, even if its not historic (if only he could be so kind to Jesus!) Anyway, you might enjoy this if you need a little refresher on while we all think Jewish. Also part of Cahill's Hinges of History series.
Labels: genre: historical, genre: non-fiction, media: book, series: Hinges of History
The Mountains of Majipoor
by Robert Silverberg, 225pgs, hardcover
Amazon site
Overall Grade: B
Yeah, even though this book wasn't particularly good, I couldn't put it down. It was a breeze to finish, much shorter than the other Majipoori books. Set like 500 years in the future from Valentine and the Metamorph war, its about this pathetic, annoying princeling who accidently gets himself booted from Castle Mount because of shooting someone's prized animal. In an effort to redeem him, his friends send him on a diplomatic mission to free some palentologists being held captive in the fierce white north by a lost little tribe of Majipoor. And of course, they aren't the only ones lost in the great white north either.
Amazon site
Overall Grade: B
Yeah, even though this book wasn't particularly good, I couldn't put it down. It was a breeze to finish, much shorter than the other Majipoori books. Set like 500 years in the future from Valentine and the Metamorph war, its about this pathetic, annoying princeling who accidently gets himself booted from Castle Mount because of shooting someone's prized animal. In an effort to redeem him, his friends send him on a diplomatic mission to free some palentologists being held captive in the fierce white north by a lost little tribe of Majipoor. And of course, they aren't the only ones lost in the great white north either.
Labels: genre: fantasy, genre: fiction, media: book, series: Majipoor
The Story of Britain
by Rebecca Fraser, 785pgs, hardcover
Amazon site
Overall Grade: A-
While quite dry in some places (thus meriting the minus), I thought this was a very good work for covering the history of Britain from the Roman conquests up to pretty much the last minute. It was very edifying to me to finally learn that chronology of English history because I encounter so much Brit stuff through my affinity for it, and this will give me a better understanding of where they are coming from. This is definitely non-fiction folks.
Amazon site
Overall Grade: A-
While quite dry in some places (thus meriting the minus), I thought this was a very good work for covering the history of Britain from the Roman conquests up to pretty much the last minute. It was very edifying to me to finally learn that chronology of English history because I encounter so much Brit stuff through my affinity for it, and this will give me a better understanding of where they are coming from. This is definitely non-fiction folks.
Labels: genre: historical, genre: non-fiction, media: book
Desire of the Everlasting Hills
by Thomas Cahill, 320pgs, hardcover
Amazon site
Overall Grade: C+
Series: Hinges of History
You can tell from this book that Cahill is obviously not Catholic. But besides that there are some interesting takes on the New Testament, which might interest you if you haven't heard much about their actual context before. I personally found some of the style topics addressed intriguing. Even though I had some beef with some of Cahill's points because they go against dogma, I would still say that this is worth reading if you haven't heard anything like it before. This is part of Cahill's Hinges of History series, which focuses on civilizations that have profoundly affected the outlook and demeanor of western civilization, and I'm not just talking laws, more like concepts of space and time and charity. I don't think Cahill comes down strongly enough on Jesus' side, but at least he does at all.
Amazon site
Overall Grade: C+
Series: Hinges of History
You can tell from this book that Cahill is obviously not Catholic. But besides that there are some interesting takes on the New Testament, which might interest you if you haven't heard much about their actual context before. I personally found some of the style topics addressed intriguing. Even though I had some beef with some of Cahill's points because they go against dogma, I would still say that this is worth reading if you haven't heard anything like it before. This is part of Cahill's Hinges of History series, which focuses on civilizations that have profoundly affected the outlook and demeanor of western civilization, and I'm not just talking laws, more like concepts of space and time and charity. I don't think Cahill comes down strongly enough on Jesus' side, but at least he does at all.
Labels: genre: historical, genre: non-fiction, media: book, series: Hinges of History
Ragged Dick
by Horatio Alger
Read it free online @ Page-by-Page Books
Overall Grade: C
What was the point of this story? I really don't know. I think it was some sort of social justice piece. But since I'm nearly a century removed from it, it didn't really have the appropriate affect. As a plain work of fiction it sucked. Ragged Dick is an orphaned bootblack who spends all his money extravagantly. Until one day he sees a money opportunity in showing a visiting lad the city-sights while his uncle attends to business. Being inspired by the confidence this book has in him Dick ammends his ways. He finds a real room to rent, opens a bank account to save his money and starts being tutored in reading & stuff. Other events conspire so that he eventually can leave his bootblacking and get a job for more money. Maybe this is a good example of socal Darwinism.
Read it free online @ Page-by-Page Books
Overall Grade: C
What was the point of this story? I really don't know. I think it was some sort of social justice piece. But since I'm nearly a century removed from it, it didn't really have the appropriate affect. As a plain work of fiction it sucked. Ragged Dick is an orphaned bootblack who spends all his money extravagantly. Until one day he sees a money opportunity in showing a visiting lad the city-sights while his uncle attends to business. Being inspired by the confidence this book has in him Dick ammends his ways. He finds a real room to rent, opens a bank account to save his money and starts being tutored in reading & stuff. Other events conspire so that he eventually can leave his bootblacking and get a job for more money. Maybe this is a good example of socal Darwinism.
Labels: genre: fiction, media: book
Valentine Pontifex
by Robert Silverberg, 347pgs, hardcover
Amazon site
Overall Grade: B+
This was a pretty good book. A nice follow up on the first two. Basically the Metamorph war finally breaks out into the open & there's like some disgruntled people and crop failures, and Valentine is trying to avoid the inevitability that he has to become Pontifex. I much prefer Hissune, Valentine's little protege, to Valentine himself. Valentine is too noble, always looking for the diplomatic, pacificist way to end things. Hissune is a pragmatist and goes for exactly the most effective and necessary solution to a problem.
Amazon site
Overall Grade: B+
This was a pretty good book. A nice follow up on the first two. Basically the Metamorph war finally breaks out into the open & there's like some disgruntled people and crop failures, and Valentine is trying to avoid the inevitability that he has to become Pontifex. I much prefer Hissune, Valentine's little protege, to Valentine himself. Valentine is too noble, always looking for the diplomatic, pacificist way to end things. Hissune is a pragmatist and goes for exactly the most effective and necessary solution to a problem.
Labels: genre: fantasy, genre: fiction, media: book, series: Majipoor
8.05.2005
Hans Christian Andersen
by Jens Andersen, 554 pgs, hardcover
Amazon site
Overall Grade: B-
While this has some interesting perspectively on what was behind Hans Christian Andersen and his fairy-tales and other works, there is just too much material here. You fairly drown in this guy's life. At first you are simpathetic to him, but then he gets on your nerves and by the end, his life and pictures of him are just darn creepy. But still, it is a good treatment and good writing. Just a ton of it.
Amazon site
Overall Grade: B-
While this has some interesting perspectively on what was behind Hans Christian Andersen and his fairy-tales and other works, there is just too much material here. You fairly drown in this guy's life. At first you are simpathetic to him, but then he gets on your nerves and by the end, his life and pictures of him are just darn creepy. But still, it is a good treatment and good writing. Just a ton of it.
Labels: genre: historical, genre: non-fiction, media: book
SPQR V: Saturnalia
by John Maddox Roberts, 275 pgs, hardcover
Amazon site
Overall Grade: A-
Series: SPQR
This was one of those stories that just clipped along and I was done with the book before I knew it. After discovering this author, this is the first in his SPQR series that I got a hold of to read. Now I definitely need to read the rest of them. The only reason this one didn't make it a perfect A is that the political structure of Rome is just thrown at the reader and not explained too well. Very confusing. But somehow I don't think the rest of the series is this bad. Anyway, this is a murder mystery set in old-school Rome, during the time of Julius Caesar. Decius Metellus the Younger as a sort of reputation as a detective and snooper, and while this is usually exasperating to his family, this time it is put to their use in figuring out who poisoned one of their relatives. You learn an awful lot about how everyday life in Rome worked. Terrific, I'm addicted to the series now.
Labels: genre: fiction, genre: historical, genre: mystery, media: book, series: SPQR
Troilus and Cressida
by William Shakespeare
Complete Shakespeare plays online free!
Overall Grade: C
I think this is one of the Bard's lesser known plays, at least I hadn't heard of it except that it was on the website. Set during the time of the Trojan War, with all the plethora of characters that entails. Troilus is one of King Priam's sons who falls in love with Cressida, who as far as I can figure is the daughter of one of the Greek leaders, who somehow ended up in Troy. In any case this is the Trojan War rehashed once more, in the Bard's iambic pentameter. There are only so many versions one can stomach of the same story.
Complete Shakespeare plays online free!
Overall Grade: C
I think this is one of the Bard's lesser known plays, at least I hadn't heard of it except that it was on the website. Set during the time of the Trojan War, with all the plethora of characters that entails. Troilus is one of King Priam's sons who falls in love with Cressida, who as far as I can figure is the daughter of one of the Greek leaders, who somehow ended up in Troy. In any case this is the Trojan War rehashed once more, in the Bard's iambic pentameter. There are only so many versions one can stomach of the same story.
Labels: genre: fiction, media: book, media: play
A Great Improvisation
by Stacy Schiff, 412 pgs, hardcover
Amazon site
Overall Grade: A-
This is a very good biographical look at Ben Franklin during the later part of his life when he was involved in convincing the French government to support the colonies during the Revolutionary War. You get a very good look at the people involved in this delicate interplay. And you get a keen new perspective on stupid, pig-headed Americans (especially who can't speak French) and the wily, double-dealing British and French diplomats and politicians in Paris at that time. Guaranteed to teach you more about the French connection to the Revolutionary War, and to keep you entertained with deft prose while you're at it.
Amazon site
Overall Grade: A-
This is a very good biographical look at Ben Franklin during the later part of his life when he was involved in convincing the French government to support the colonies during the Revolutionary War. You get a very good look at the people involved in this delicate interplay. And you get a keen new perspective on stupid, pig-headed Americans (especially who can't speak French) and the wily, double-dealing British and French diplomats and politicians in Paris at that time. Guaranteed to teach you more about the French connection to the Revolutionary War, and to keep you entertained with deft prose while you're at it.
Labels: genre: historical, genre: non-fiction, media: book
Roadside Geology of New Mexico
by Halka Chronic, 237 pgs, paperback
Amazon site
Overall Grade: B-
While this book had lots of interesting information, it could definitely have used an update since it was written in the 1980's. But still the landscape doesn't change noticably, so it had good info. I suppose if you are actually driving through NM, this would be a handy and intresting book. But I was just frustrated because it talked about everything piecemeal instead of with a nice overall view of the state geology age by age.
Amazon site
Overall Grade: B-
While this book had lots of interesting information, it could definitely have used an update since it was written in the 1980's. But still the landscape doesn't change noticably, so it had good info. I suppose if you are actually driving through NM, this would be a handy and intresting book. But I was just frustrated because it talked about everything piecemeal instead of with a nice overall view of the state geology age by age.
Labels: genre: non-fiction, genre: science, media: book
