300 offers a very cool reimagining of the Battle of Thermopylae. Like the famous movie adaptation, the book oozes style (I particularly enjoyed the ex300 offers a very cool reimagining of the Battle of Thermopylae. Like the famous movie adaptation, the book oozes style (I particularly enjoyed the exotic interpretation of the Persian Emperor and his armies), and the story is action packed and engaging.
This is not the deepest or most nuanced graphic novel I've ever read; it is the literary equivalent of an action movie. However, it succeeds on those terms very well. The artwork had some definite high points (creativity being #1), but personally I like Miller better as a storyteller than as an artist, and overall I found the art to be a mixed bag.
A strong, exciting, fun read. 4.5 stars, highly recommended! ...more
In Live and Let Die, the second of Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels, a change has come over our hero. The cold, callous secret agent of Casino Royale hIn Live and Let Die, the second of Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels, a change has come over our hero. The cold, callous secret agent of Casino Royale has softened a bit: he’s (at least temporarily) morphed from Daniel Craig’s hardened killer to the great Sir Roger Moore:
[image]
007 is off to the colonies in order to investigate a large number of mysterious gold coins that have begun popping up throughout the United States, and how this might be connected to the Queen’s enemies in the Kremlin. His search leads him to Harlem, where a criminal mastermind called Mr. Big has set up an impressive operation. But it’s not all work and no play for Mr. Bond, as he forms two relationships to occupy his free time. The first is with Felix Leiter, a CIA agent and bit player from Casino Royale who forges quite the bromance with our hero as they team up to take down Mr. Big. The second is with a female associate of Mr. Big named Solitaire. Solitaire earned her name because she has opted to swear off men…although that decision was made before she met you-know-who:
[image]
Happily for Solitaire, the James Bond of Live and Let Die has learned to play nicer with others since his adventures in book #1. While in Casino Royale Bond seemed to mostly use other people as objects to achieve his top-secret aims, 007 actually seems to like – even love - his allies this time around. This chumminess is one aspect that makes Live and Let Die less dark than the first entry in the James Bond series. The other is the general plot, which is much zanier than the first book. Here we find for the first time some of the elements of the Bond series that have been lampooned so successfully in movies like Austin Powers and TV shows like Archer: diabolical voodoo-practicing villains, nefarious traps (complete with sharks, of course), and wild, impractical plots to kill our hero. The whole story just feels a little bit campier.
[image]
That’s not to say that this is an altogether bad thing – but it’s noticeable. Another aspect of the book which bears mentioning, and will be very noticeable to 21st century readers, is a sort of casual racism that our hero and his allies display throughout the novel. It was not enough to hurt my enjoyment of the book, but it’s there, and many readers are likely to find it off-putting. Just be warned.
Anyway, throughout the course of Bond’s journeys through Harlem, the Gulf Coast, and the Caribbean, all of the traits that have made this series so enduringly popular are on display. The book has a brisk pace and is a lean, tight read throughout. Fleming’s prose is straightforward but very strong and a real pleasure to read. And even if some of the hardest edges have been softened, Bond still makes for a hall-of-fame protagonist, drinking, smoking (although he cuts consumption of his beloved Chesterfields down to ten a day while preparing for a particularly tough mission), shooting, and flirting his way across this great nation of ours as he strikes a blow against Communism in the name of Queen and Country.
Overall, this second book was not quite as strong as the excellent Casino Royale, which was a bit more focused, had some better twists, and built up the tension more effectively. But it’s a fun thriller that fans of the genre will likely enjoy. 3.5 stars, recommended!...more
Every legend has a beginning. For Agent 007, that came in Ian Fleming’s 1953 novel Casino Royale.
[image]
Now, I’ve been a fan of the various Bond movieEvery legend has a beginning. For Agent 007, that came in Ian Fleming’s 1953 novel Casino Royale.
[image]
Now, I’ve been a fan of the various Bond movies for years, but I’d never tackled one of the novels until now. Casino Royale is the first of 14 Bond novels and story collections that Fleming produced, and it’s a little rough around the edges (as one might expect from a rookie novelist). The prose is not bad by any means, but it’s nothing fancy. More puzzling is the structure. I remember watching the movie version of this story and wondering why it was put together the way it was; as it turns out, the movie was pretty faithful to its source material. In a nutshell, the action in the casino and the faceoff with the villain all take place in the second third of the book, leaving the final third to a rather meandering final act that felt a bit anticlimactic. I didn’t hate this, but it definitely felt a little “off,” and I can easily see it bothering some readers. Speaking of bothering readers, it will be no surprise to most that James is not a card-carrying member of NOW, but the 1950s version takes things uncomfortably far:
“These blithering women who thought they could do a man’s work. Why the hell couldn’t they stay at home and mind their pots and pans and stick to their frocks and gossip and leave men’s work to the men?”
Say it ain’t so, James. So, with all of this nitpicking, why the four-star grade?
In one word: style. I thought this book was as cool as a chilled martini, and found it great fun to read. The clothes…the booze…the cars…the caviar…all fantastic. It reminded me a bit of the show Mad Men in this respect. The scenes at the baccarat table were suspenseful and well crafted, and Fleming does a great job of explaining what for many readers will be an obscure game (in the film, they changed it to Texas Hold ‘Em) so the action at the table is easy to follow. Le Chiffre is a good, sinister villain, and Bond (ice cold in his original incarnation) is a compelling hero.
Overall this was a very fun spy thriller with some great moments. At under 200 pages this is a quick breezy read, and fans of the movies will be interested to see how 007 was portrayed 60 years ago when he first hit the scene. As I noted above (and other reviewers have pointed out before me), this is a cold, almost cruel 007, from his pontifications on the role of the modern woman to the book’s gut-punch of a final line: (view spoiler)["The bitch is dead now" (hide spoiler)] Oof. Maybe not the man you’d want dating your sister, but he’s a hell of a lot of fun to read about. 4 stars, recommended!...more
The Big Sleep, Raymond Chandler’s debut novel, is one hell of a hardboiled detective story. The book stars Philip Marlowe, an absolutely first-rate heThe Big Sleep, Raymond Chandler’s debut novel, is one hell of a hardboiled detective story. The book stars Philip Marlowe, an absolutely first-rate hero (anti-hero?) who manages to somehow solve crimes as a private eye in between guzzling booze, chain-smoking cigarettes, and seducing women like a 1930s version of Don Draper. Marlowe is hired by General Stormwood, a dying millionaire, to handle a blackmailing case involving one of his daughters. But things are not as simple as they first appear, and Marlowe finds himself in an escalating situation involving racketeers, pornography, and even murder.
[image] Marlowe on the job.
The plot is strong and famously complex. I thought Chandler did an outstanding job pacing the story out and providing twists and turns, particularly given that this was his first novel. At the end of the book, the story makes sense, yet it’s not easy to grasp exactly what is going on as the plot unfolds, making the story a real page-turner. But I don’t want to spoil any of the surprises, so instead of going into the plot in more detail I want to talk about what makes Chandler such a joy to read: his truly first-rate prose.
The writing on display in this book is simply too good to be true. The dialogue is razor-sharp, and Chandler’s style is perfect for a hardboiled crime thriller of this nature. Some of my favorite Marlowe-isms:
- ”She approached me with enough sex appeal to stampede a businessmen’s lunch and tilted her head to finger a stray, but not very stray, tendril of softly glowing hair. Her smile was tentative, but could be persuaded to be nice.”
- ”Her smile was now hanging by its teeth and eyebrows and wondering what it would hit when it dropped.”
- ”It seemed like a nice neighborhood to have bad habits in.”
- ”Neither of the two people in the room paid any attention to the way I came in, although only one of them was dead.”
- “I got out my office bottle and took the drink and let my self-respect ride its own race.”
- “I was as empty of life as a scarecrow’s pockets. I went out to the kitchenette and drank two cups of black coffee. You can have a hangover from other things than alcohol. I had one from women.”
Chandler’s style isn’t as fancy as, say, Faulkner or Pynchon or McCarthy. But it is just as good in its own way, and it’s perfect for the tale he is telling. You can hear Marlowe ripping off these lines in your ear (with a cigarette dangling from his lip and a glass of scotch tinkling in his hand). The book is chock-full of literary goodies, including the superb final lines:
- (view spoiler)[
”On the way downtown I stopped at a bar and had a couple of double Scotches. They didn’t do me any good. All they did was make me think of Silver-Wig, and I never saw her again.”(hide spoiler)]
Simple, unassuming, but somehow perfect.
To sum up, I thought the writing was sublime. The plot was a page-turner. And Marlowe made for an extremely entertaining protagonist (even if he’s maybe not the ideal role-model). I haven’t read a ton of crime fiction/mysteries, but this is my favorite so far. And according to other Goodreaders & the savants at Wikipedia, some of the later Marlowe novels are even better! I can’t see how Chandler can raise the bar much higher than this, but I look forward to finding out. 5 stars, highly recommended!...more
Imagine waking up from a coma to discover the world around you has totally changed: Charlie Sheen is no longer on TV, Peyton Manning doesn’t have a siImagine waking up from a coma to discover the world around you has totally changed: Charlie Sheen is no longer on TV, Peyton Manning doesn’t have a single endorsement to hang his hat on, and (most importantly) brain-devouring zombies now stalk the earth.
[image]
That’s the basic premise of Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead. The first volume follows our hero, Rick, as he tries to find his people and figure out just what the hell went wrong when he was under. Rick is eventually able to link up with his family and his old partner, Shane. They form part of a group of survivors, determined to hold out until help arrives. But as the days drag on, rescue looks less and less likely and tension starts to build.
[image]
I picked this up because I liked the TV show (season one mostly mirrors this book, but with some significant changes). I can happily report that readers who’ve seen the show and know the basic story can still have a lot of fun with this volume. While there’s plenty of zombie smashing action, Kirkman is also clearly interested in how 21st century people, who’ve lived all their lives in relative comfort, would adapt to a post-apocalyptic environment. There’s much more focus on the details of survival and the group dynamic than I expected, which I found interesting. And the artwork, which is entirely in black and white, is impressive (if sometimes gruesome).
[image]
Anyway, I am not much of a zombiephile but I really enjoyed this collection. 4 stars, recommended! ...more
A Reader’s Guide to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
Step One: Don’t Panic
[image]
Within the first 30 or so pages of this book, the planet will be bA Reader’s Guide to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
Step One: Don’t Panic
[image]
Within the first 30 or so pages of this book, the planet will be blown to smithereens and you, gentle reader, will be hurtling through space alongside the zaniest group of characters this side of Alpha Centauri. The plot is not exactly fueled by logic and reason so it can be a bit disconcerting for newcomers. The important thing is to relax and enjoy the ride. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy isn’t beloved for its intricate plotting anyway, but for its constant, nonstop hilarity. So take a tip from the most remarkable book ever to come out of the great publishing corporations of Ursa Minor and remain calm if you find yourself wondering just what the hell is going on at any given time.
Step Two: Prepare Yourself to Learn the Ultimate Answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything
This book provides the ultimate answer to life, the universe, and everything which is pretty great. Note that you may not love this answer but what can you do.
Step Three: Don’t Forget Your Towel
[image]
If you find this book as funny as I do, you'll need this to mop up the tears of laughter that will be streaming down your face. Comedy is more subjective than drama, and I begrudgingly accept that not everyone will love this book. I myself have been head over heels for it since I was a kid and decided to write this review mostly as an excuse to read it again. I think Adams’ writing style is hysterical and my only complaint with this book is its brevity. This is one of my all-time favorites and gets a big fat 6 stars from me.
Roald Dahl wrote a lot of outstanding children's books, but this one is hard to top. Features a great plot, a likeable main character, and Oompa LoompRoald Dahl wrote a lot of outstanding children's books, but this one is hard to top. Features a great plot, a likeable main character, and Oompa Loompas. What more could you want? The movie version (1971 edition) is a classic, but the book is still worth reading for kids of all ages. 5 stars, highly recommended!...more
This was good, not great. It's a "classic" in the sense that it was a major novel in the 19th century, but it hasn't help up that well. An entertaininThis was good, not great. It's a "classic" in the sense that it was a major novel in the 19th century, but it hasn't help up that well. An entertaining read, in the same sense that a reader might enjoy a thrilling Western, but not an all-timer in my opinion. 3.5 stars....more
A big, swashbuckling 19th century adventure. I'm definitely due for a reread of this one, which I thoroughly enjoyed the first time around. 4 stars, rA big, swashbuckling 19th century adventure. I'm definitely due for a reread of this one, which I thoroughly enjoyed the first time around. 4 stars, recommended....more
An interesting (and philosophical) look at first contact between humanity and an alien race. Sagan isn't best known as a novelist, but he does a good An interesting (and philosophical) look at first contact between humanity and an alien race. Sagan isn't best known as a novelist, but he does a good job here of building anticipation and suspense. He doesn't quite stick the landing in my opinion (important in this kind of book), but it's still an entertaining read that SF fans will enjoy. 4 stars, recommended....more
Overall, a strong conclusion to The Hunger Games trilogy. I noted in my reviews of both The Hunger Games and Catching Fire that the first book felt muOverall, a strong conclusion to The Hunger Games trilogy. I noted in my reviews of both The Hunger Games and Catching Fire that the first book felt much more like a standalone novel to me than the start of a series. What made The Hunger Games so irresistible was the drama of the games themselves: the combination of these poor teenagers fighting both the elements and the other players in a battle to the death. The dystopian society that allows the Games to happen is almost window dressing to the main event (in book one, Katniss is embroiled within the games by the end of the first chapter, and remains a player almost to the very end). The magic of the first book is the contest, and that seemed almost impossible to replicate, which fueled my doubts about the story as a series.
Well, Collins managed to delay my concerns in Catching Fire. After an uneven first section, she simply tosses the usual suspects back into the arena and does what she does best. She changes enough both in the content of the arena and the tone of the story to keep our interest, but essentially she’s pushing the buck: as a reader, we can see that at some point we’re going to have to leave the natural drama of the Games and get on with the bloody business of revolution. And in Mockingjay, we’re finally there. This was not a perfect book. There are real problems, including the depiction of Katniss. Our heroine spends an inordinate time in Mockingjay either (1) hospitalized; (2) heavily medicated; or (3) consumed by despair. In her defense, she’s got a lot on her plate. But at times, it’s hard to justify the hardened killer of the arena with the indecisive girl who spends chapter after chapter hiding behind the washing machine.* The first half of the book suffers as a result.
But eventually everybody gets their shit together and the plot is able to advance. And once this happens, I was impressed. Mockingjay is…pretty dark at times. Collins doesn’t pull a lot of punches. Considering that this is a series based on the conceit that a future society could advertise the murder of children as entertainment, we’re already starting from a pretty dark point. And to her credit, Collins doesn’t really back away from the abyss, but faces it straight on. I went into Mockingjay a little apprehensive, understanding from talking to people and reading reviews that this book was somewhat divisive. I get why people would find this book off-putting: either because Collins’ goes too dark with it (which I didn’t feel) or because of her depiction of Katniss (which I did have some problems with). But give Collins credit for having the courage of her convictions, if nothing else: she does not back off and Mockingjay does not treat its characters with kid gloves. At all.
Ultimately, I feel like The Hunger Games is a true YA classic, which will be read for a long time. Some combination of The Lottery, Running Man, and My Side of the Mountain took root in Collins’ brain and struck gold. The sequels are commendable follow-ups that take that story and carry it to a fine conclusion. If these books haven’t dethroned Harry Potter as the pinnacle of 21st century young adult fiction, they’ve made their case for second place and then some. 4 stars, and may the odds be ever in your favor.
*I read in Stephen’s review and others about the ultimate inconsistency with Katniss’s character: her vote at the end of the book when (view spoiler)[Coin suggests reinstituting the games (hide spoiler)]. The fact that Katniss suggests this will be where she finds out if Haymitch “really understands me” leads me to believe that this was all a setup to lull her target into a false sense of security, but it’s poorly set up and was a total spit-take moment for me as well....more
Loading...
