All Consuming : MarinaWolf

Consumed "Dance Hall of the Dead"

nobody@allconsuming.net (MarinaWolf) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 03:40:29 GMT

Dance Hall of the Dead

by Tony Hillerman

WORTH IT!

Consumed "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde"

nobody@allconsuming.net (MarinaWolf) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:10:33 GMT

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

by Robert Louis Stevenson

WORTH IT!

Consumed "Eclipse (Twilight Saga)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (MarinaWolf) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:30:14 GMT

Eclipse (Twilight Saga)

by Stephenie Meyer

WORTH IT!

Consumed "New Moon (The Twilight Saga)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (MarinaWolf) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:29:46 GMT

New Moon (The Twilight Saga)

by Stephenie Meyer

WORTH IT!

Consumed "Breaking Dawn"

nobody@allconsuming.net (MarinaWolf) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:28:34 GMT

Breaking Dawn

by Stephenie Meyer

WORTH IT!

Consumed "Finger Licken' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich"

nobody@allconsuming.net (MarinaWolf) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:27:21 GMT

Finger Licken' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich

WORTH IT!

Consumed "The Tale of Applebeck Orchard (The Cottage Tales of Beatrix P)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (MarinaWolf) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:25:47 GMT

The Tale of Applebeck Orchard (The Cottage Tales of Beatrix P)

by Susan Wittig Albert

WORTH IT!

Consumed "The Rant Zone: An All-Out Blitz Against Soul-Sucking Jobs, Twisted Child Stars, Holistic Loons, and People Who Eat Their Dogs!"

nobody@allconsuming.net (MarinaWolf) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:24:51 GMT

The Rant Zone: An All-Out Blitz Against Soul-Sucking Jobs, Twisted Child Stars, Holistic Loons, and People Who Eat Their Dogs!

by Dennis Miller

WORTH IT!

Consumed "Santa Clawed: A Novel"

nobody@allconsuming.net (MarinaWolf) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:23:54 GMT

Santa Clawed: A Novel

by Rita Mae Brown

WORTH IT!

Consumed "Fatally Flaky"

nobody@allconsuming.net (MarinaWolf) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:22:36 GMT

Fatally Flaky

by Diane Mott Davidson

WORTH IT!

Consumed "Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim"

nobody@allconsuming.net (MarinaWolf) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:22:01 GMT

Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim

by David Sedaris

WORTH IT!

Consumed "Carnivale - The Complete First Season"

nobody@allconsuming.net (MarinaWolf) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:15:18 GMT

Carnivale - The Complete First Season

WORTH IT!

Consumed "The Riches - Season 1"

nobody@allconsuming.net (MarinaWolf) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:15:04 GMT

The Riches - Season 1

WORTH IT!

Consumed "Bait and Switch : The (Futile) Pursuit of the American Dream"

nobody@allconsuming.net (MarinaWolf) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:13:49 GMT

Bait and Switch : The (Futile) Pursuit of the American Dream

by Barbara Ehrenreich

WORTH IT!

Consumed "The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (MarinaWolf) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 05:40:29 GMT

The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1)

by Rick Riordan

WORTH IT!

Consumed "Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream"

nobody@allconsuming.net (MarinaWolf) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 05:38:47 GMT

Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream

by H. G. Bissinger

WORTH IT!

Consumed "Atonement"

nobody@allconsuming.net (MarinaWolf) — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 03:18:20 GMT

Atonement

by Ian McEwan

WORTH IT!

A Tuscan Childhood (rated 4 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (MarinaWolf) — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 04:10:06 GMT

A Tuscan Childhood (Vintage Departures)

by Kinta Beevor

By the time I was one-third of the way through this book, I realized that the title was a bit misleading. There is more about Beevor’s adult years documented here than childhood ones, but the constant theme is more about the area, the land, and the people, so not quite living up to my primary expectation was easy to forgive.

The travel descriptions, both in- and out-of-country were well-done; I had a very good feel for the scenery and the physical experience, and, the historical and geographic knowledge shared here definitely heightened my appreciation for my ancestor’s homeland. The thing that makes this travel book special is that it was written by someone who has lived her research; and yes, you can tell the difference.

Also emotionally moving was her portrayal of the scope of wartime (political birth, hardships, and rebuilding). I have to say that I personally feel fortunate that my family emigrated to America well before this time, but I also have to wonder how well my distant cousins survived.

The list of Beevor’s family and friends reads like a Who’s Who of the literary and art circles of the time. In some sections, it seemed as though every other page had some reference to an author, artist, or book I wanted to follow up on; this book could really have used a good indexing.

The sad end to the “castles” truly made me melancholy for everything that’s been lost due to war.

[originally posted to Momma Writes About Books

Miracle and Other Christmas Stories (rated 5 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (MarinaWolf) — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 03:39:56 GMT

Miracle and Other Christmas Stories

by Connie Willis

In this collection, science-fiction author Willis gives us 8 Christmas-themed stories, some of which build on traditional stories: A Christmas Carol, the Nativity, and Miracle on 34th Street. I enjoyed these very much (not a bad one in the bunch, IMO), as I’ve gotten a bit jaded over hearing the same old mushy tales over the years. A few of these had an actual science-fiction flavor, which I especially appreciated, as this is what I was expecting from Willis.

Not a book for the too-traditional-minded; most of these stories need a notched-up openmindedness to truly enjoy them. While there were some very nice lessons, I found only one truly quoteable passage among them: “There are things you don’t ask for because you know you can’t have them, and then there are things so far outside the realm of possibility, it would never even occur to you to want them.”

[posted originally to Momma Writes About Books]

Painted Truth, By Lise McClendon

nobody@allconsuming.net (MarinaWolf) — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 05:28:24 GMT

Painted Truth: An Alix Thorssen Mystery (Walker Mystery)

by Lise McClendon

It’s been a few years since I finished Bluejay Shaman, so I thought I’d move along with this short series, and this on also helps me toward the Seconds Challenge, which ends soon.

With this book, I learned a little about the art world (and again feel grateful I’ve nothing to do with it), and a little more about arson investigations (although I’m sure they come off better in real life). The mystery itself got a bit out of hand, however, and the relationship closure was awfully harsh. I found the protagonist to be little more stereotypical than necessary—I find it hard to believe that Nordic stoicism won’t call a slut to the carpet for knowingly using the wrong bed. Ew! I’m also getting impatient with characters who tough it out through concussions. For Pete’s sake, can’t authors write some believable recovery time?

The Christmas Letters, by Lee Smith (rated 3 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (MarinaWolf) — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 05:25:36 GMT

The Christmas Letters

by Lee Smith

A short little book that chronicles a family’s history (covering 5 generations) through yearly holiday-time (news)letters. A long with the good times and bad, the author also shows the progression of technology, religious adherence, and societal expectations.

Far from being a perfect family, those portrayed here have very authentic problems, trials, and failings. Of course, we do not get to know the characters very deeply, as only so much reality can go into a Christmas letter. Many of the letters include a recipe; funny [because I am a real recipe hound], none of them were noteworthy enough for me to copy before I send this on. I’m guessing they are Very Southern in nature, and I’ve yet to really find that particular cuisine enjoyable. YMMV.