9.28.2005
SPQR II: The Catiline Conspiracy
by John Maddox Roberts, 261 pgs, paperback
Amazon site
Overall Grade: B+
Series: SPQR
This was the first of the early books in the series that I have read. It was a nice look into Decius' earlier years/cases when he was actually earning his playboy reputation hurhurhur. Anyway, this one was cool because Roberts worked it right in with a real part of Roman history the Catiline conspiracy. Again, another excellent book. You rarely notice that the chapters are so long because you just want to keep reading.
Amazon site
Overall Grade: B+
Series: SPQR
This was the first of the early books in the series that I have read. It was a nice look into Decius' earlier years/cases when he was actually earning his playboy reputation hurhurhur. Anyway, this one was cool because Roberts worked it right in with a real part of Roman history the Catiline conspiracy. Again, another excellent book. You rarely notice that the chapters are so long because you just want to keep reading.
Labels: genre: fiction, genre: historical, genre: mystery, media: book, series: SPQR
9.21.2005
The Da Vinci Code
by Dan Brown, 454pgs, paperback
Amazon site
Overall Grade: C
I didn't have much but ire for this book until all my friends and family told me to just read the dang thing so that I could validate my opinion. So I did. May I first say that Brown did a fair to decent job of story-telling. He does pretty good at presenting how normal people like Sophie and Langdon would think & act in extreme situations. Things I did not like: obviously most all of the church history is largely biased and at least slanted to his own purposes (as I expected--might they consider Semetic religions and other ancient middle-eastern religions that did not have higher reverence for divine females?). The Church is not portrayed in a very good light and is vilified right up to the end. In addition to that, Brown does a good enough job story-telling that most people don't notice how inanely boring it is when he jumps off on expository tangents all the time. I personally thought his pace suffer because of this, and just his general inexperience at writing. If you haven't heard of this book, get your head out of the sand!
Amazon site
Overall Grade: C
I didn't have much but ire for this book until all my friends and family told me to just read the dang thing so that I could validate my opinion. So I did. May I first say that Brown did a fair to decent job of story-telling. He does pretty good at presenting how normal people like Sophie and Langdon would think & act in extreme situations. Things I did not like: obviously most all of the church history is largely biased and at least slanted to his own purposes (as I expected--might they consider Semetic religions and other ancient middle-eastern religions that did not have higher reverence for divine females?). The Church is not portrayed in a very good light and is vilified right up to the end. In addition to that, Brown does a good enough job story-telling that most people don't notice how inanely boring it is when he jumps off on expository tangents all the time. I personally thought his pace suffer because of this, and just his general inexperience at writing. If you haven't heard of this book, get your head out of the sand!
Labels: genre: fiction, media: book
Dragon & Slave
by Timothy Zahn, 300pgs, hardcover
Amazon site
Overall Grade: B
This book was good in the fact that Zahn is moving the series along and not making the main characters continue on a fruitless quest like some authors would. It was very satisfying for the plot to move along at the end. However, the main characters got kind of annoying, perhaps just due to the transitional period in his changing ethics. The slavery situation didn't help either, however Zahn does a better job at writing it than most authors would. No romanticism there.
Gist - Jack & Draycos are trying once again to get information on who destroyed Draycos' ship and is teamed up with the enemies that his people are trying to escape. This time the plan is to get the data from the computers of slaveowners who might have supplied the slaves to those mercenaries, except that Jack has to sell himself into slavery in order to get to that information...
Amazon site
Overall Grade: B
This book was good in the fact that Zahn is moving the series along and not making the main characters continue on a fruitless quest like some authors would. It was very satisfying for the plot to move along at the end. However, the main characters got kind of annoying, perhaps just due to the transitional period in his changing ethics. The slavery situation didn't help either, however Zahn does a better job at writing it than most authors would. No romanticism there.
Gist - Jack & Draycos are trying once again to get information on who destroyed Draycos' ship and is teamed up with the enemies that his people are trying to escape. This time the plan is to get the data from the computers of slaveowners who might have supplied the slaves to those mercenaries, except that Jack has to sell himself into slavery in order to get to that information...
Labels: genre: fiction, genre: scifi, genre: YA, media: book, series: Dragonback
The Brothers Grimm
PG-13, 118 minutes
Official website
IMDB webpage
Overall Grade: B+
It's rare to say that a movie gets better as it goes along, but this one actually did. The beginning was not really plodding, but not very inspiring either. But once that actual rescue business begins, it gets good. You can also definitely sense Gilliam's influence on the comic and visual touches and just the general presentation is somewhat farsical.
Official website
IMDB webpage
Overall Grade: B+
It's rare to say that a movie gets better as it goes along, but this one actually did. The beginning was not really plodding, but not very inspiring either. But once that actual rescue business begins, it gets good. You can also definitely sense Gilliam's influence on the comic and visual touches and just the general presentation is somewhat farsical.
Labels: genre: fantasy, genre: historical, media: movie
Finding Neverland
PG, 106 minutes
Official website
IMDB webpage
Overall Grade: A-
This is definitely a heartstring-tugging little story that I quite enjoyed. Its nice to see a biographic pic that does end peachy-perfect, nor does it have a happy romance in it. Ah, very nice. For those of you who missed it, this movie is about James Barrie and the children that inspired him to write 'Peter Pan'.
Official website
IMDB webpage
Overall Grade: A-
This is definitely a heartstring-tugging little story that I quite enjoyed. Its nice to see a biographic pic that does end peachy-perfect, nor does it have a happy romance in it. Ah, very nice. For those of you who missed it, this movie is about James Barrie and the children that inspired him to write 'Peter Pan'.
Labels: genre: historical, genre: non-fiction, media: movie
9.12.2005
Alexander
R, 175 minutes
Official movie site
IMDB site
Overall Grade: B-
While somewhat entertaining, this movie had a real lack of historical weight. I think they tried to be accurate but it was a hollywood movie after all and they just gave into splendor at some point. At least you don't notice how extraordinarily long it is. I was also put-off in retrospect by the uncharacteristic way & things they talked about. It does not fit at all my wealth of knowledge gained from classes on Ancient Greek literature. Sigh.
Official movie site
IMDB site
Overall Grade: B-
While somewhat entertaining, this movie had a real lack of historical weight. I think they tried to be accurate but it was a hollywood movie after all and they just gave into splendor at some point. At least you don't notice how extraordinarily long it is. I was also put-off in retrospect by the uncharacteristic way & things they talked about. It does not fit at all my wealth of knowledge gained from classes on Ancient Greek literature. Sigh.
Labels: genre: historical, media: movie
Shanghai Noon
PG-13, 110 minutes
IMDB site
Official Grade: B+
This was hilarious, but just not as funny as the sequel which I saw first. Maybe because I'm an Anglophile, and love British stuff but am only tepid out Wild West motifs. Anyway, the idea is that the Chinese priness is kidnapped and Jackie Chan's character is part of an imperial group sent to America to ransom her. Of course, things don't go right, he gets separated from his party and ends up having to work with Owen Wilson's character, a friendly, if conniving, train robber to save the princess.
IMDB site
Official Grade: B+
This was hilarious, but just not as funny as the sequel which I saw first. Maybe because I'm an Anglophile, and love British stuff but am only tepid out Wild West motifs. Anyway, the idea is that the Chinese priness is kidnapped and Jackie Chan's character is part of an imperial group sent to America to ransom her. Of course, things don't go right, he gets separated from his party and ends up having to work with Owen Wilson's character, a friendly, if conniving, train robber to save the princess.
Labels: media: movie
Airplane!
PG, 88 minutes
IMDB website
Overall Grade: C+
I didnt' really think this lived up the expectations that other people had set for it before I saw it. Yes, this movie is like 25 years old, but that doesn't really matter because its not a lot of pop culture. Mostly its all this raunchy, dead-old humor, anyway... gist: Pilots & crew become sick from eating the in-flight fish dinner. Only hope is for a retired fighter pilot with a phobia of flying to land the huge plane. Other gags included.
IMDB website
Overall Grade: C+
I didnt' really think this lived up the expectations that other people had set for it before I saw it. Yes, this movie is like 25 years old, but that doesn't really matter because its not a lot of pop culture. Mostly its all this raunchy, dead-old humor, anyway... gist: Pilots & crew become sick from eating the in-flight fish dinner. Only hope is for a retired fighter pilot with a phobia of flying to land the huge plane. Other gags included.
Labels: media: movie
The Dukes of Hazzard
PG-13, 106 minutes
Official Movie Site
IMDB site
Overall Grade: B
Remake of the old school tv-show. Okay, many many people did not want to go see this movie with me on the general premise that it would be very stupid. It was pretty stupid. But it was also funny. And sometimes even the smartest of us like some low-brow (though not always dirty) humor. It has a very concise plot and does leave any room for thinking, but then again, this is one of those movies where you just let your brain fall asleep and enjoy the break :-)
Official Movie Site
IMDB site
Overall Grade: B
Remake of the old school tv-show. Okay, many many people did not want to go see this movie with me on the general premise that it would be very stupid. It was pretty stupid. But it was also funny. And sometimes even the smartest of us like some low-brow (though not always dirty) humor. It has a very concise plot and does leave any room for thinking, but then again, this is one of those movies where you just let your brain fall asleep and enjoy the break :-)
Labels: media: movie
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
PG-13, 120 minutes
Official Movie Site
Overall Grade: B+
Gist: John & Jane Smith appear to be a well-to-do suburban couple stuck in a tepid marriage. Actually, they are both assassins working for different organizations. Only they don't know that until they almost kill each other on conflicting mission assignments. Then its an all-out battle to take each-other out.
Very entertaining. You'd normally expect this movie to be sort of tepid itself. Especially with these A-list actors. Touche. Definitely worth the cost of a rental if you can't find it in the theaters anymore.
Official Movie Site
Overall Grade: B+
Gist: John & Jane Smith appear to be a well-to-do suburban couple stuck in a tepid marriage. Actually, they are both assassins working for different organizations. Only they don't know that until they almost kill each other on conflicting mission assignments. Then its an all-out battle to take each-other out.
Very entertaining. You'd normally expect this movie to be sort of tepid itself. Especially with these A-list actors. Touche. Definitely worth the cost of a rental if you can't find it in the theaters anymore.
Labels: media: movie
9.11.2005
SPQR IX: The Princess & The Pirates
by John Maddox Roberts, 188 pgs, hardcover
Amazon site
Overall Grade: B
Series: SPQR
This is the second SPQR book that I've read, and although I highly enjoy the series so far, this book was just a bit sluggish for me. It had no really good mystery at its guts, the pirates were almost a side-note, Cleopatra is annoying as heck, and it just didn't really feel like Rome which I love. I totally need to read the rest of these books.
Gist: Decius gets shipped out to Cyprus to try & crack down on a recent increase in piracy. Of course he manages to get involved in trying to solve a local murder while he's at it.
Reread: May 2010 - added cover picture
Labels: genre: fiction, genre: historical, genre: mystery, media: book, series: SPQR
Star Wars: Survivor's Quest
by Timothy Zahn, 368pgs, hardcover
Amazon site
Overall Grade: A
Series: Star Wars
This was definitely an A book. I didn't even know it existed until I stumbled across it looking for other Zahn stuff. As always with Zahn & star wars, it plays to his own creations in that little universe, Mara, Chiss & Outbound Flight. most of the stuff with Mara & Luke is pretty pithy. But I thoroughly enjoyed the interplay between all the different factions. The gist of the story: Mara & Luke receive an invitation to join a Chiss detachment that is going to visit the recently discovered ruins of the mythic Outbound Flight. I don't want to say more for fear of ruining the story for you, but Zahn is very good at throwing zingers throughout. Yea! I can't want for his Outbound Flight book that comes out in Febuary & actually tells the story of what happened.
Amazon site
Overall Grade: A
Series: Star Wars
This was definitely an A book. I didn't even know it existed until I stumbled across it looking for other Zahn stuff. As always with Zahn & star wars, it plays to his own creations in that little universe, Mara, Chiss & Outbound Flight. most of the stuff with Mara & Luke is pretty pithy. But I thoroughly enjoyed the interplay between all the different factions. The gist of the story: Mara & Luke receive an invitation to join a Chiss detachment that is going to visit the recently discovered ruins of the mythic Outbound Flight. I don't want to say more for fear of ruining the story for you, but Zahn is very good at throwing zingers throughout. Yea! I can't want for his Outbound Flight book that comes out in Febuary & actually tells the story of what happened.
Labels: genre: fiction, genre: scifi, media: book, series: Star Wars
Tong Lashing: Sir Apropos of Nothing #3
by Peter David, 375pgs, hardcover
Amazon site
Overall Grade: B+
These books usually have me laughing outloud, and this was no exception. Just didn't cause as many outrageous laughs as the previous ones. Maybe because Apropos is becoming more reflective and less reflexive. There were still some of the crazy puns that David uses so liberally. This was still quite funny, but it does not seem at all certain that there will be another book after this one. Here, Apropos flees from Wuin where he was previously warlording (see Woad to Wuin), catches a ride on an ill-fated boat & ends up in his world's equivalent of the far East, a place they call Chinpan. haha
Amazon site
Overall Grade: B+
These books usually have me laughing outloud, and this was no exception. Just didn't cause as many outrageous laughs as the previous ones. Maybe because Apropos is becoming more reflective and less reflexive. There were still some of the crazy puns that David uses so liberally. This was still quite funny, but it does not seem at all certain that there will be another book after this one. Here, Apropos flees from Wuin where he was previously warlording (see Woad to Wuin), catches a ride on an ill-fated boat & ends up in his world's equivalent of the far East, a place they call Chinpan. haha
Labels: genre: fantasy, genre: fiction, media: book, series: Sir Apropos of Nothing
Dragon & Soldier
by Timothy Zahn, 293 pgs, paperback
Amazon site
Overall Grade: B
I normally enjoy Zahn's works and this was no exception. This is the second in his Dragonback series which I think is ostensibly for young adults, but is good enough for adults anyway. This time around Jack is still trying to help Dracos get the information he needs on the mercenaries who ambushed his advanced fleet so that it won't happen again. The idea is for Jack to join up with a mercenary group so that he can get the information from the inside. Unfortunately, things don't turn out as planned. What I love about Zahn's writing is that you never want to stop reading. It never becomes tedious & you could totally plow your way right through the whole book if he didn't use chapter format.
Amazon site
Overall Grade: B
I normally enjoy Zahn's works and this was no exception. This is the second in his Dragonback series which I think is ostensibly for young adults, but is good enough for adults anyway. This time around Jack is still trying to help Dracos get the information he needs on the mercenaries who ambushed his advanced fleet so that it won't happen again. The idea is for Jack to join up with a mercenary group so that he can get the information from the inside. Unfortunately, things don't turn out as planned. What I love about Zahn's writing is that you never want to stop reading. It never becomes tedious & you could totally plow your way right through the whole book if he didn't use chapter format.
Labels: genre: fiction, genre: scifi, genre: YA, media: book, series: Dragonback
Iliad
by Homer, translated by Stanley Lombardo, 492 pgs, paperback
Amazon site
Overall Grade: A-
Excellent, excellent. I had been tracking down this book for a while because I loved Lombardo's translation of the Odyssey. This was no disappointment. Lombardo doesn't shy away from using modern language & manners of speech to get at a truer more gritty & realistic feel from the translation. It sounds more like real speech, but also more lyrical & beautiful than bits of other translations I've encountered.
The Iliad obviously is a story set within the Trojan War between the Greeks & the Trojans. Agammemon insults Achilles by taking the girl Achilles was given during their pillaging when he has to return his own to appease the gods. (The gods are still hard to get used to, they act so much like people.) Achilles refrains from the fighting & holds his troops back as well because of the slight to his honor, until his best friend & lover Patroclus is killed by Hector.
I thoroughly recommend this translation though, especially if you're thinking of taking a crack at this classic just for fun.
Amazon site
Overall Grade: A-
Excellent, excellent. I had been tracking down this book for a while because I loved Lombardo's translation of the Odyssey. This was no disappointment. Lombardo doesn't shy away from using modern language & manners of speech to get at a truer more gritty & realistic feel from the translation. It sounds more like real speech, but also more lyrical & beautiful than bits of other translations I've encountered.
The Iliad obviously is a story set within the Trojan War between the Greeks & the Trojans. Agammemon insults Achilles by taking the girl Achilles was given during their pillaging when he has to return his own to appease the gods. (The gods are still hard to get used to, they act so much like people.) Achilles refrains from the fighting & holds his troops back as well because of the slight to his honor, until his best friend & lover Patroclus is killed by Hector.
I thoroughly recommend this translation though, especially if you're thinking of taking a crack at this classic just for fun.
Labels: genre: fiction, genre: foreign language, genre: historical, media: book
