Okay, so maybe there’s some inverse law where a book is really good, the film has to be crap and if the film is good, the book is crap. This is how I feel about The Last Unicorn and The Princess Bride. Seriously, does anyone remember how weird the animation of The Last Unicorn was? … Continue reading
Tag Archives: Book review
Book review: The Sword in the Stone
This was supposed to be about The Once and Future King but I can’t get into the next book. It feels entirely nonsensical but also just really dull. The Sword in the Stone was entertaining enough, though it did entirely have that feeling that the author didn’t even remotely entertain the idea that women or … Continue reading
Book review: Homeland
So this book has all the subtlety of a sledgehammer to your face. Given that, it’s still sort of enjoyable? But by about page 200, you’re a bit tired of all the sneers and plotting. It’s not even subtle plotting – everyone’s motivations are just told to you, rather than having anything come together slowly. … Continue reading
Book review: Assassin’s Apprentice
I’m trying to muster up the enthusiasm to write this review but it’s kind of hard as nothing really happened.So plot: a young boy is dropped off at a castle (he is the illegitimate child of the person next in line for the throne) and is treated alternatively really nicely or really badly, depending on … Continue reading
Book review: The Crystal Cave
The first of three Arthurian-themed books on this list and it was disappointing on more than one level. First: the tone Basically, Merlin, is a bit of a prick. The tone of his voice is insufferable know-it-all. Considering one of the things he does is organise adultery, it’s…wearing. As well, it was just too forced … Continue reading
Book review: Woodie Guthrie, American Radical
This was an excellent read, a super dense 207 pages that covers Woody’s life and exactly how bloody radical he was. It’s hard to believe there was such a large radical left movement in the United States. Then you’re reminded again of McCarthyism and it’s horrors and you understand why it’s so hard to rebuild. … Continue reading
Book review: The Guest Cat
This was a delightful 136 pages.The book revolves around a man, his wife and the neighbour’s cat, over a period of 3 years. Its really quite a quick read – though not quite sure why it’s a New York Times best seller. I mean, it’s a nice story and all but it’s not life changing … Continue reading
Book review: Cryptonomicon
I think the point where I went from being merely frustrated and annoyed at the overly long, pointless and most often trite passages of this book came around page 484. This is because the next 7 or 8 pages are solely about Randy (one of the main characters) eating Cap’n Crunch. At this point, I … Continue reading
Book review: The People’s Car
The People’s Car: A global history of the Volkswagon Beetle – Bernhard Riegar A few months ago @psythor and I went to the German exhibition at the British Museum. Of course, going through the bookshop, I couldn’t help but pick up this book. It is what it says on the tin – a global history … Continue reading
Book review: The Martian Chronicles
So this was all good except for the casual sexism and occasional threat of domestic violence. So, there isn’t really a plot as it’s a collection of short stories about Martians, people going to Mars, people leaving Mars and a few people going back to Mars. Some of them were really quite creepy and others … Continue reading
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