A few of things:

1. the story is good. I mean it. It’s good. Lots of curveballs, lots of “WTF just happened” moments. I do like that.

2. the writing isn’t so great – but then, it doesn’t get in the way either, so I guess it’s passable. Some of it is a bit rushed, some of the descriptors aren’t working for my mind’s eye. I’m curious enough to know what happens next that I’m able to let it go, even if I’m grumbling a bit on the inside.

3. It is not a standalone but the first in a trilogy. TWOSEQUELS! One of which hasn’t even been published yet. If you’re like me and HATE not knowing what happens next, wait. I have book 2, but I might wait and read it when book 3 comes out because I can NOT stand this kind of indefinite suspense.

So – you’ve been warned.

Caveat lector.

made me buy this.

The writing is ghastly. The story line was compelling enough that I finished it.

Caveat lector: I almost never give up a book half way. I need to know what happens at the end. Hopefully, you’re not like this.

If you are, avoid this.

So – there are apparently immortals walking amongst us who really find the job of spreading love and hate distressing. But the characters are so badly written and the action so stilted, I would recommend you spare yourself the pain of watching it all build. By the end I was skipping entire pages.

There is no way, by Jupiter, I will read the sequel.

In fact, the way the author drip-feeds facts made me think there was a prequel out there to THIS book.

Alas, I wish I had never started this at all.

by far the worst film I’ve seen in a LONG time. What was with the fake British accents? and more importantly, how did they convince someone like Natalie Portman to sign on? 35 minutes in, I knew it was either going to get awesome or really suck. 45 minutes in, it was too late for me to put something else on and finish it in the time I had, so I watched the rest of the film in 3x speed. At least it got some laughs out me that way.

summary: a horrendous, unfunny film.

WAAAY smarter than I thought it would be: the characters are realistic, their interactions are identifiable and their growth is palpable. I liked that the author dared to veer off the expected path and let Andie really grow up and make empowering choices. A much better role-model than all the romance chick-lit heroines out there.

Two thumbs up!

So this book really felt like an amalgamation of all the Hollywood action/psychological thrillers I’ve seen recently: Contagion + Source Code + Limitless (and even Rise of the Planet of the Apes with the animal testing!) Nevertheless, it was a fun ride and I enjoyed the plot. The characters were a little stilted but Douglas tried to give them traits and quirks which were dutifully brought up later to give them continuity.

Thumbs up for Wired. I really wish they’d given it a different title and cover though!

frothy, fun, light with a deeply satisfying centre. Ok, some of it reminded me of “Julie and Julia” and some of it was a bit pat (the homeless guy with a castle of gold) but I enjoyed this book most thoroughly. Full entertaining, value for time and money, with some tempting recipes thrown in.

i got to page 223 on attempt #2 (spaced 3 years after attempt #1) and the protagonist is so selfish/stubborn/self-destructive that I am losing patience with Suri’s patience in crafting her. She’s so unsympathetic, that I’ve just had it with this book.

Moving on …

it just hasn’t grabbed me, i’m half way through and i’m done…

While this is not quite as clever as “haroun and the sea of stories” was when it came out, Rushdie’s second foray into the land of Kahani is still a very good one. I liked the story, he’s back with more capriciously named characters and things (the River Silsila :D), but in an effort to contemporize the story, Rushdie’s made his book into a video game, replete with levels and saves, and lives. Oh well. I guess it’s for a different generation than mine. It’s still very enjoyable. Rushdie has a fun imagination, a very defined morality, and a lilting gift for words.

Fans of noir/graphic novels/sumarai/cowboys/pop-up books – you’re in for a treat. Josh Hartnett and Gackt take on a colorful villain in an origami world that’s a visual delight. The whole set is a pop-up circus and I was excited as much by the way it looked as by the tight action and well paced narrative. A+