All Consuming : hornbreaker

Why I recommend "Ship Fever"

nobody@allconsuming.net (hornbreaker) — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 05:04:36 GMT

by Andrea Barrett

I’m recommending this to everyone I know who likes short stories or natural science. A very worthy National Book Award winner – I picked it up off my cousin’s shelf and hurried to finish it before my visit ended. Otherwise I would have savored these beautiful, thoughtful stories. My favorite was “Rare Bird,” but the title novella was amazing in its depiction of an epidemic.

I might mark it as "worth consuming" later (rated 2 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (hornbreaker) — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 05:02:03 GMT

Rabbit Redux

by John Updike

It depends on how the tetralogy ends. I’m working my way through the Rabbit series, and I hear the 3rd and 4th are the best. I certainly hope they’re better than this one. It had its moments, but the Skeeter section drove me completely crazy. And I know Updike loves to write about sex, but I’m not sure why he was compelled to use the word “cunt” on nearly every page.

People are afraid to eat sushi in New Hampshire (rated 2 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (hornbreaker) — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 13:53:21 GMT

Rules of Attraction

by Bret Easton Ellis

The best part of this book is references to other books. They talk about “the kid from LA” from the first page on, and if you haven’t figure out it’s Clay from “Less Than Zero” by halfway through, a teacher calls him by name. One of the main characters, Sean, is Patrick Bateman’s younger brother. My favorite reference, though, is to “that weird Classics group (and they’re probably roaming the countryside sacrificing farmers and performing pagan rituals).” Donna Tartt and Bret Easton Ellis went to Bennington together, and her book “The Secret History” is much better than this.

A story about "Roman Mysteries #1: Thieves of Ostia (Roman Mysteries)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (hornbreaker) — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 23:23:41 GMT

Roman Mysteries #1: Thieves of Ostia (Roman Mysteries)

by Caroline Lawrence

I should have written this book, but Caroline Lawrence beat me to it. Instead, I’m glad it’s out there so my Latin students can read it. The details about Roman life are fantastic. I like any book that starts with maps of Roman houses (complete with impluvia) and a map of Ostia, circa 79 AD.

Up next, they go to the Bay of Naples. Hmmm… I hope nothing bad happens to them there.

Pirates of the Caribbean 2, in one word

nobody@allconsuming.net (hornbreaker) — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 03:18:31 GMT

Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Blarrrrrrrrrrrrghhh.

A story about "Sonic Drive In"

nobody@allconsuming.net (hornbreaker) — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 19:36:15 GMT

Sonic Drive In

by ODB

In some tiny town in Texas, Rachel orders a cheeseburger without mayonnaise. They bring her one with mayonnaise. “But I ordered it without mayonnaise,” she tells the carhop, and the woman just stares at her and says “but it has mayonnaise.” Though this conversation seemed stuck at an impasse, Rachel eventually got an additional, mayo-free bun.

A review of "Big Love - The Complete First Season"

nobody@allconsuming.net (hornbreaker) — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 20:57:47 GMT

Big Love - The Complete First Season

by Sarah Pia Anderson

I watched the first 6 episodes when I had free HBO, then Netflixed discs 3 and 4. I only watched disc 3 and sent 4 back without watching it. I figure if I don’t want to consume the rest of it, it counts as not worth consuming. It really doesn’t compare to Rome, The Wire, Lost, etc. It does have its moments though.

Why I recommend "My Super Ex-Girlfriend"

nobody@allconsuming.net (hornbreaker) — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 03:46:31 GMT

My Super Ex-Girlfriend

by Ivan Reitman

Only because I really love Uma Thurman. It’s pretty terrible otherwise.

Why I like people who have consumed "AMO AMAS AMAT & MORE (Hudson Group Books)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (hornbreaker) — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 01:15:24 GMT

AMO AMAS AMAT & MORE (Hudson Group Books)

by Eugene H. Ehrlich

They’re Latin lovers like me and they’re Anglophiles. My boyfriend’s dad, who is both, gave me the book and we had a good email conversation about the vocative case.

The problem with this book is if you’re an American like me, it’s full of references you really don’t get. Plus all the cases are in the wrong order (the British order!) But it’s quite enjoyable even if you just wish you were British.

It's just too extreme. (rated 3 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (hornbreaker) — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 19:31:38 GMT

Mission Impossible 3

by J.J. Abrams

I admit, I got tense when things were exploding and people were running across highways and sliding down buildings. But this was just too extreme. It kept raising the bar too high with the action sequences and then going back to Tom Cruise and his wife blowing kisses at each other and calling each other schmoopy. There was no substance, just empty action sequences.

A story about "Roman Holiday (Special Collector's Edition)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (hornbreaker) — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 20:49:30 GMT

Roman Holiday (Special Collector's Edition)

by William Wyler

I show this movie to my Latin class right before winter break every year. It was filmed entirely on location and you can see lots of beautiful Roman attractions as Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck run around the city. It’s actually filmed in black and white because the director feared the city would outshine the actors if he filmed in color.

Why I recommend "Superman Returns (Widescreen Edition)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (hornbreaker) — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 00:55:14 GMT

Superman Returns (Widescreen Edition)

by Bryan Singer

This just barely tips the scale into “Worth Consuming.” The effects are cool but it drags on at least half an hour too long. I always like Parker Posey, and Spacey is a pretty good Luthor, but Kate Bosworth fails to impress. And all of the actors seem too young, Kate and Brandon Routh especially.

A story about "Federal Hill"

nobody@allconsuming.net (hornbreaker) — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 15:01:51 GMT

Federal Hill

I saw this as part of the Rhode Island Independent Film Festival, at an outdoor screening on an inflatable screen. The director was there and said this is probably his favorite film of all that he’s done. It was also really cool to watch a movie set and filmed in Providence while actually sitting outside in Providence. That doesn’t happen every day!

The Young Bette Davis (rated 4 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (hornbreaker) — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 22:50:18 GMT

Of Human Bondage

Bette Davis begged for her part in this movie and won it, despite the director believing it would ruin her career to play a slutty, manipulative woman. Instead, it set her up for much better unusual roles in movies like “All About Eve.” This is mainly worth seeing for the film trivia. The film transfer to DVD is awful, and the movie itself is dated, but still rather interesting. Don’t expect too much, just enjoy Bette Davis’s first brush with a dark and offbeat role.