All Consuming : despinoza

A story about "Author! Author!"

nobody@allconsuming.net (despinoza) — Sat, 16 Jul 2005 11:56:26 GMT

by Arthur Hiller

The Phantom Professor says: “Author! Author! features one of Al Pacino’s comic performances (alongside a giggly Dyan Cannon and a twitchy Tuesday Weld), playing a Broadway playwright who just can’t get the problems of Act 2 solved. And watch for two new films about Truman Capote, one starring Philip Seymour Hoffman as the tiny terror—and what great casting is that?

A story about "The Paper"

nobody@allconsuming.net (despinoza) — Sat, 16 Jul 2005 11:54:28 GMT

The Paper

by Ron Howard

The Phantom Professor says: “How about some movies about the writing life? The Paper captures how it feels to be on deadline for a big story (time seems to devolve into slow motion).”

A story about "The Village Book"

nobody@allconsuming.net (despinoza) — Sat, 04 Jun 2005 10:59:42 GMT

The Village Book

by Nicolas Freeling

I stopped reading Freeling’s crime novels years ago; resumed interest on reading about my cousin’s trip to The Netherlands. Could there be a less pompous author? In this book he seems to be writing for himself as much as for the reader. Unfortunately, Freeling couldn’t make up his mind about this book. He comes back to the same subjects repeatedly, particularly his ambivalence about his relationship with his mother, and never resolves the matter. The book is an uneven hodgepodge; as memoir, it’s not nearly as satisfying as The Kitchen Book.

A story about "Memoirs of Hadrian"

nobody@allconsuming.net (despinoza) — Sat, 04 Jun 2005 10:55:16 GMT

Memoirs of Hadrian

by Marguerite Yourcenar

I picked this up on a 2nd hand table because I liked Patricia Crone’s Pre-Industrial Civilizations and it seemed to complement that book. I found it just right for reading during a cold & wet short week on the Maine coast. The book excellent all around: the memoirs, the discussion of sources, and the account of its origins.

A story about "Barbarism and Religion, Vol. 1: The Enlightenments of Edward Gibbon, 1737-1764"

nobody@allconsuming.net (despinoza) — Sat, 04 Jun 2005 10:50:33 GMT

Barbarism and Religion, Vol. 1: The Enlightenments of Edward Gibbon, 1737-1764

by J. G. A. Pocock

A good book, but much longer than it could be with way too much detail about one minor publication of Gibbon’s.

A story about "Quicksilver (The Baroque Cycle, Vol. 1)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (despinoza) — Mon, 30 May 2005 11:35:05 GMT

Quicksilver (The Baroque Cycle, Vol. 1)

by Neal Stephenson

Got it from the pub lib just before our week’s holiday in Williamsburg! Halfway through and liking it.

A story about "The Contours of Agency: Essays on Themes from Harry Frankfurt"

nobody@allconsuming.net (despinoza) — Mon, 30 May 2005 11:35:03 GMT

The Contours of Agency: Essays on Themes from Harry Frankfurt

Mentioned on CT and other blogs. Contains G.A. Cohen’s “Deeper into Bullshit”—Commentary on Franfurt’s On Bullshit (The Importance of What We Care About : Philosophical Essays by Harry G. Frankfurt)

A story about "The British Navy and the State in the Eighteenth Century"

nobody@allconsuming.net (despinoza) — Mon, 30 May 2005 11:35:02 GMT

The British Navy and the State in the Eighteenth Century

by Clive Wilkinson

Complements previous reads by N.A.M. Namier (biography of Sandwich and his Wooden World). Unusual combination of administrative and naval history. The 18th c. British navy was a huge accomplishment for a state to achieve.

A story about "The Meaning of Everything: The Story of the Oxford English Dictionary"

nobody@allconsuming.net (despinoza) — Mon, 30 May 2005 11:35:02 GMT

The Meaning of Everything: The Story of the Oxford English Dictionary

by Simon Winchester

Have this on loan. Plan to read along with Winchester’s The Professor and the Madman.

A story about "The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of The Oxford English Dictionary"

nobody@allconsuming.net (despinoza) — Mon, 30 May 2005 11:35:02 GMT

The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of The Oxford English Dictionary

by Simon Winchester

Saw this on David Bigwood’s reading list. Fits with my current reading of Stories of English. Have it on loan.

A story about "The American Transcendentalists, Their Prose and Poetry."

nobody@allconsuming.net (despinoza) — Mon, 30 May 2005 11:35:01 GMT

The American Transcendentalists, Their Prose and Poetry.

by Perry, Ed. Miller

We had Indian take-out recently; I arrived a little early and the 2nd-hand book shop was open: Three gems: this one and two others. Emerson et al !!

A story about "The Stories Of English"

nobody@allconsuming.net (despinoza) — Mon, 30 May 2005 11:35:01 GMT

The Stories Of English

by David Crystal

A thorough treatment of an interesting subject. Found it on the new books shelf in my public library. I got through most of it and returned it on the due date rather than renewing the loan.

A story about "Cart and Cwidder (Dalemark Quartet, Vol. 1)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (despinoza) — Mon, 30 May 2005 11:35:00 GMT

Cart and Cwidder (Dalemark Quartet, Vol. 1)

by Diana Wynne Jones

A good book by one of my favorite authors. A decade ago, a colleage brought back a wonderful reading list from a children’s lit conference in Dublin. DWJ was one of the best finds on the list. I’ve read just about all of it, but own almost none. — We had Indian take-out recently; I arrived a little early and the 2nd-hand book shop was open: Three gems: this one and two others.

A story about "Pre-Industrial Societies (New Perspectives on the Past)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (despinoza) — Mon, 30 May 2005 11:35:00 GMT

Pre-Industrial Societies (New Perspectives on the Past)

by Patricia Crone

It’s a hugely broad summary and Crone carries it off very well. I like it so much that I ordered a copy on half.com. Recommended by my friend Jane.

A story about "God's Rule : Government and Islam"

nobody@allconsuming.net (despinoza) — Mon, 30 May 2005 11:35:00 GMT

God's Rule : Government and Islam

by Patricia Crone

I read the conclusion and stopped reading. Too much detail in history that isn’t in my main area of interest… It’s tough to keep the Arabic names straight, but Crone writes well and the topic is a good one. Reminds me of Gibbon’s fascination with the contrast between Islam and Christianity.

A story about "Pragmatism and Sociology"

nobody@allconsuming.net (despinoza) — Mon, 30 May 2005 11:34:59 GMT

Pragmatism and Sociology

by Emile Durkheim

Durkheim’s ideas are interesting. His books are tedious; I prefer lectures, such as these. Will be starting this when I’ve gotten some other reading out of the way.

A story about "Representing the Royal Navy: British Sea Power, 1750-1815"

nobody@allconsuming.net (despinoza) — Mon, 30 May 2005 11:34:59 GMT

Representing the Royal Navy: British Sea Power, 1750-1815

by Margarette Lincoln

Am reading this at work.Recent reads in this category: British Navy and the State in the 18th century (Wilkinson) ; The Wooden Walls (Rodger); The Insatiable Earl; A Life of John Montague, 4th Earl of Sandwich (Rodger)

A story about "Abstracting Craft: The Practiced Digital Hand"

nobody@allconsuming.net (despinoza) — Mon, 30 May 2005 11:34:58 GMT

Abstracting Craft: The Practiced Digital Hand

by Malcolm McCullough

I’ve put in a request to borrow this. Lorcan Dempsey quotes from this book: “Technologists understand that they must build more stable and unobtrusive media. They must establish more coherent contexts into which the technology may disappear.” And he says, ” Incidentally, the Malcolm McCullough book is one of the most suggestive I have read in a long time.”

A story about "Gifts"

nobody@allconsuming.net (despinoza) — Mon, 30 May 2005 11:34:58 GMT

Gifts

by Ursula K. Le Guin

Novella – not very long. Aimed at kids 13 and up. Not her best, but still left me wishing for more.
I’ve tried to read everything by Le Guin—started with Earthsea which I read to my son and daughter when they were too young to read.

A story about "The Industrial Revolution, 1760-1830 (OPUS S.)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (despinoza) — Mon, 30 May 2005 11:34:57 GMT

The Industrial Revolution, 1760-1830 (OPUS S.)

by T. S. Ashton

Re-read, actually. Short, concise, nicely written; blunt and witty both.

A story about "Paris Was Yesterday, 1925-1939"

nobody@allconsuming.net (despinoza) — Mon, 30 May 2005 11:34:57 GMT

Paris Was Yesterday, 1925-1939

by Janet Flanner

My read at home these days.

We had Indian take-out recently; I arrived a little early and the 2nd-hand book shop was open: Three gems: this one and two others.