All Consuming : contraversion

A review of "The Black Jewels: Trilogy: Daughter of the Blood / Heir to the Shadows / Queen of the Darkness"

nobody@allconsuming.net (contraversion) — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 20:37:46 GMT

The Black Jewels: Trilogy: Daughter of the Blood / Heir to the Shadows / Queen of the Darkness

by Anne Bishop

I certainly wasn’t reading my way through the trilogy because I was dying to know what would happen to Dorothea and Hekatah’s plans to destroy various SaDiablo’s.

Watching Daemon and Jaenelle’s relationship begin and grow and change was what really drove me through the books. It’s an excellent romance, a middling fantasy, but utterly enveloping and kept me up past my bedtime for a few weeks.

A review of "Glass Soup"

nobody@allconsuming.net (contraversion) — Fri, 06 Jan 2006 19:47:05 GMT

Glass Soup

by Jonathan Carroll

Victor and Isabelle are my favorite Carroll protagonists.

A review of "Outside the Dog Museum"

nobody@allconsuming.net (contraversion) — Tue, 20 Dec 2005 00:42:16 GMT

Outside the Dog Museum

by Jonathan Carroll

It was OK as Jonathan Carroll books go, but the Big Reveal was communicated through heavy-handed exposition from slightly mysterious characters, which I hate. And, besides which, it wasn’t particularily moving. Still, the thing I love most about Carroll’s characters is that they are so unapologetically male, which is refreshing, and Harry Radcliffe is no exception.

A story about "Anansi Boys: A Novel"

nobody@allconsuming.net (contraversion) — Fri, 11 Nov 2005 21:27:21 GMT

Anansi Boys: A Novel

by Neil Gaiman

Something about it reminded me of Jonathan Carroll (in a good way), but I can’t quite place my finger on it.

A story about "Tigana: 10th Anniversary Edition"

nobody@allconsuming.net (contraversion) — Fri, 07 Oct 2005 17:16:11 GMT

Tigana: 10th Anniversary Edition

by Guy Gavriel Kay

Other than being an inventive and original fantasy, it had large real-world resonance in demonstrating how conquered or otherwise disenfranchised people behave and are motivated.

A story about "Thomas the Rhymer"

nobody@allconsuming.net (contraversion) — Sat, 23 Jul 2005 17:19:20 GMT

Thomas the Rhymer

by Ellen Kushner

Cute, fluffy read.

A story about "Nation of Rebels: Why Counterculture Became Consumer Culture"

nobody@allconsuming.net (contraversion) — Sat, 23 Jul 2005 17:19:19 GMT

Nation of Rebels: Why Counterculture Became Consumer Culture

by Joseph Heath

I’m surprised I haven’t heard of this book until spotting it in a pile at Green Apple. I think it’s because it criticizes the left without coming from the right. Who would’ve told me about this book?

A story about "It's a Good Life, If You Don't Weaken"

nobody@allconsuming.net (contraversion) — Sat, 23 Jul 2005 17:19:19 GMT

It's a Good Life, If You Don't Weaken

by Seth

Morose introspection! I like it. More notable, however, is the beautiful choice of color. Black and greyish-blue on creamy white paper. Each part ends with a black page with full bleeds, like a fade to black. It makes you love books.

A story about "A Cook's Tour: Global Adventures in Extreme Cuisines"

nobody@allconsuming.net (contraversion) — Wed, 25 May 2005 04:35:00 GMT

A Cook's Tour: Global Adventures in Extreme Cuisines

by Anthony Bourdain

A fan of the show, a fan of the man. Naturally, I loved this book as well. It makes stark what is so missing from our greasy, bland American food culture.

A story about "Dharma Punx: A Memoir"