All Consuming : Jenn

Gross Anatomy Written a Little Less Grossly (rated 5 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (Jenn) — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 01:59:22 GMT

Body of Knowledge: One Semester of Gross Anatomy, the Gateway to Becoming a Doctor

by Steven Giegerich

I loved this book! I picked it up for 99 cents and was so glad that I did. I thought it may have been chock full of medical terms that I wouldn’t understand, or gross stories on disection. What it did have was a loving story that followed the semester and history of 4 members of the Class of 2002. And how Gross Anatomy changed their ways of thinking.

I would recommend this book to anyone with a slight interest in medicine or “a day in the life” lover. Or even just anyone who really wants to know what it feels like to disect the human body.

Great Story

nobody@allconsuming.net (Jenn) — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 17:12:57 GMT

Elsewhere

by Gabrielle Zevin

I enjoyed this quick teen read. It had such a different story about the afterlife. I had assumed it may have been more religious and was very happy to see it wasn’t.

Not to spoil the ending but I didn’t like it very much. For those of you who have not read it, what was supposed to happen did happen and I was hoping for a different outcome. :) (No spoilers!!)

Set In Toronto... (rated 4 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (Jenn) — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 17:09:53 GMT

Bitten & Smitten (Warner Forever)

by Michelle Rowen

...which was a great and nice surprise! I loved reading the snippets about places that are familiar to me such as the QEW and The Bloor Viaduct with it’s luminous veil.

I liked this as much as the Queen Betsy stories and maybe a teensy bit better. Sarah just seems so much more real than The Undead series. And I loved the Undead series.

A story about "A Room For The Dead"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Jenn) — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 04:11:55 GMT

A Room For The Dead

by Noel Hynd

The most annoying thing about this is the use of characters names. I noticed this within the first few chapters and it slowly started to drive me crazy. Even though the type was fairly large, I counted 12 mentions of O’Hara’s name on one page! Made me want to run the whole thing through Word and do a “find/replace” for the name O’Hara and replace it with “him/he”. Other than that annoying feature, the story was definately intrigueing.

A story about "The Bookseller of Kabul"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Jenn) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 00:29:16 GMT

The Bookseller of Kabul

by Asne Seierstad

I have read a few other books from this oppressed time/country, so I knew it would not necessarily have a happy ending. What I found most interesting is that after reading the blurb on the back of the book, I assumed I would end up feeling sorry for the bookseller. To my surprise I wound up hating him. He was greedy, selfish and entirely unable to break free from his ways of life, even though he thought himself to be a liberal.

Two thumbs up, though, to this book set in before, during and after the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Fat is Definately "Phat" :)

nobody@allconsuming.net (Jenn) — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 03:47:46 GMT

Fat (Gollancz SF)

by Rob Grant

Although I have yet to read Rob Grant’s first book, I thought I would dive into “Fat” headfirst. I was definately not disappointed as I sat down in a low-lit bar to read through this one. I thoroughly enjoyed how each chapter was dedicated to one of three main characters and how everthing was brought together in the end.

It was a really enjoyable read while, at the same time, making you wonder if they will someday decide to have a “Fat Tax” and thinking how if it does happen…I’ll be in trouble! :)

Two Thumbs Down (rated 2 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (Jenn) — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 14:02:15 GMT

Halloweenland

by Al Sarrantonio

Not a great story. A good premise but not nearly enough horror. Also, the short story “The Baby” was just a rehash of “Halloweenland” with an alternate ending.

A review of "Lord of War (Widescreen)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Jenn) — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 15:20:36 GMT

Lord of War (Widescreen)

by Andrew Niccol

I think this was very much like “Thank You For Smoking” but with a lot more violence. I enjoyed it, but felt like I hated Mr Arms Trafficker by the end of it. Okay, by the middle of it. All right….after about 5 minutes of watching him. Which means, cage did a great job of convincing you to hate him. :)

Not Exactly A Romance (rated 5 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (Jenn) — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 18:09:14 GMT

Undercover in High Heels

by Gemma Halliday

...which is perfect! I like chic lit just as much as the next girl, but I like my chic lit to not make me feel like barfy over the syrupy love scenes. This was perfect! It had some romance, lots of comedy and a mystery all rolled into one loveable book.

Time to head out and find the two books that came before this one. (And, no, it didn’t spoil anything by reading it out of order, in my humble opinion.)

Clara Rinker Revisited! (rated 4 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (Jenn) — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 17:48:12 GMT

Mortal Prey

by John Sandford

I really enjoyed this one in the series as I had forgotten that Clara Rinker had snuck past Lucas Davenport in the book prior. This was a great follow-up that had everything one could ask for in a “Prey” book – lots of action, tons of guns, and an interesting way of luring out the bad guy.

A review of "The Black Dahlia (Widescreen Edition)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Jenn) — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 15:00:08 GMT

The Black Dahlia (Widescreen Edition)

...but I was rather disappointed that this movie did not truly cover the investigation(s) into The Black Dahlia murder. Maybe I should have read the back of the DVD before picking it up. Thank God I only paid $5 on the used rack at Blockbuster.

The only part I liked was that it was filmed in a 1940’s noir type. Some of the lighting and script were great.

But overall, this movie sadly falls flat and I couldn’t wait for it to be over.

The Funniest Stuff! (rated 5 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (Jenn) — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 00:32:12 GMT

Comedy Central Roast of William Shatner (Uncensored)

by Joel Gallen

This has got to be one of the funniest things I have ever watched! If you are offended easily or you don’t like toilet humour or potty mouths, then this is definately not for you. On the other hand, if that stuff makes you laugh, you’ll love it! Betty White is the funniest 80-something year old lady I think I have ever heard in my life.

Why I recommend "Dying Light"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Jenn) — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 03:15:57 GMT

Dying Light

by Stuart MacBride

Following in the footsteps of his first book, Cold Granite, Stuart MacBride has written another stunner of a thriller. Definately not for the faint of heart, this book has a lot to offer to those of us who love our thrillers gritty.

A review of "Hannibal Rising"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Jenn) — Sun, 11 Feb 2007 01:44:54 GMT

Hannibal Rising

by Thomas Harris

I couldn’t believe that I sat and read the whole thing. And I can’t believe that they made this into a movie without Anthony Hopkins. Although, after reading it, I totally understand why Sir Hopkins wanted nothing to do with this.

Throughout the story, I kept waiting for it to pick up. Finall, in the last 100 pages it did….only to wilt and wither at the end once again. It is very hard to imagine, after being given the background information on Hannibal’s childhood, why that would drive him onto his killing sprees in later life.

As MrJebbie74 says: The book must have been written to make more money.

A story about "Syrup"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Jenn) — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 16:06:50 GMT

Syrup

by Maxx Barry

I enjoyed this one so much, that I immediately wandered on over to www.maxxbarry.com and resigned up for his Jennifer Government game. The second website I went to was Chapters/Indigo to order his third book “Company.”

A question I have about "A Brother's Journey: Surviving a Childhood of Abuse"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Jenn) — Sun, 14 Jan 2007 21:41:55 GMT

A Brother's Journey: Surviving a Childhood of Abuse

by Richard B. Pelzer

Why should Richard Pelzer be allowed to gain money from the story of his brother: David “A Child Called IT” Pelzer? I felt a need to read this book, but it disgusted me from the beginning to the end.

Great Read!

nobody@allconsuming.net (Jenn) — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 04:34:15 GMT

Immoral

by Brian Freeman

This was my first book by Brian Freeman. I will definately be looking for his second book Stripped and he is at present writing a third one. (He also returns e-mails for anyone who would like to send him something about how they like his work, or dislike for that matter.)

A Few Things....'The Stories of Bobby Gold'

nobody@allconsuming.net (Jenn) — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 04:31:44 GMT

The Bobby Gold Stories: A Novel

by Anthony Bourdain

1) It’s obvious that Anthony Bourdain has a background in “kitchen” even if you didn’t know he was a chef. Maybe more of the book should have been centered there.

2) Lots of books have been written about mob/prison life, and this one actually wouldn’t stick out as a book to mention when discussing books on these topics.

3) The twist was a nice surprise, but not much information was given at the end to make me feel like the book was finished.

Awesome!! (rated 5 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (Jenn) — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 04:28:49 GMT

More Than You Can Chew

by Marnelle Tokio

I have read quite a few teen boks and a few of these have covered the topic of eating disorders. I honestly do not believe that any of them have made me cry so much as I did with this book. It made it very hard to finish the book as I could barely see between the big wet tears. This covers anorexia in such a way that you tend to understand where the gils are coming from.

I just wonder one thing….what happened to Chris?