All Consuming : laze

A story about "The Wizard of Oz"

nobody@allconsuming.net (laze) — Thu, 15 Sep 2005 03:09:56 GMT

The Wizard of Oz

by L. Frank Baum

I’m listening to the wonderfully-read audiobook version that’s available for a mere $6.00.

It’s interesting to note the differences between the book and the movie since I never read the book growing up.

A story about "Murder in Clichy"

nobody@allconsuming.net (laze) — Mon, 12 Sep 2005 13:35:27 GMT

Murder in Clichy

by Cara Black

I don’t read much fiction and haven’t read a mystery in… who knows how long. I picked this one up because it used Cao Dai as a major drive behind the plot.

The book was fine, I guess. Nothing special. The writing was decent, the ending made sense… about the only part that drove me nuts was the chapter where the lead character jumped on stage with a rock band and the chase that ensued. It felt really, really awkward and out of place, like it belonged in a crappy Hollywood blockbuster.

I also got annoyed at how the main character would always sneak into random places, like through the backdoor of a house to hide from someone, and the people inside the house would never think it odd that a random person (who they always assumed was someone else) was standing there. Contrived.

All-in-all, an alright book, but I doubt I’ll be reading any others in the series.

A story about "The Mole People: Life in the Tunnels Beneath New York City"

nobody@allconsuming.net (laze) — Mon, 22 Aug 2005 17:52:02 GMT

The Mole People: Life in the Tunnels Beneath New York City

by Jennifer Toth

Though the book is ten years old, it’s an excellent look at the infamous “mole people,” homeless that set up house underground, levels and levels under New York’s subway. Even the most open-minded of us tend to look at these people as freaks, but Toth reminds us of the human element behind even the most hard-to-grasp story.

Very well written, particularly for such a (at the time) young writer.

A story about "Diary of a Mosquito Abatement Man"

nobody@allconsuming.net (laze) — Thu, 11 Aug 2005 13:54:03 GMT

Diary of a Mosquito Abatement Man

This graphic novel collects comics drawn between 1989 and 2004 about the author’s stint as a Mosquito Abatement Man in Illinois and Colorado. It’s a quirky topic, but the end result is insightful, particularly where he decided to leave the job he’s done for five years.

A very quick, but engrossing, read.

A story about "Out on the Porch"

nobody@allconsuming.net (laze) — Thu, 11 Aug 2005 13:50:11 GMT

Out on the Porch

This 1992 book was mentioned in a recent Washington Post article on the resurgence of front porches (were they ever really “gone”?). The cover’s nice and, after all, how could a book about front porches be bad?

It is.

The pictures are bland, many faux-sepia toned, and the “content” consists of an awful foreword and a bunch of quotes from other books that somehow-~~sometimes only very loosely~~-relate to porches. If it was written today, I would have assumed someone Googled “porch quotes” and just used the result to cut-and-paste in this book.

A total waste of time.

A story about "Vinyl Junkies: Adventures in Record Collecting"

nobody@allconsuming.net (laze) — Fri, 22 Jul 2005 17:20:24 GMT

Vinyl Junkies: Adventures in Record Collecting

by Brett Milano

Great book…

A fun, easy read that reminds me that it’s OK to be an obsessive collector, no matter how strange it is when you think about it objectively.

A story about "Diary of a Mad Old Man"

nobody@allconsuming.net (laze) — Wed, 20 Jul 2005 02:57:59 GMT

Diary of a Mad Old Man

by Junichiro Tanizaki

An old man’s sexual urges go into hyperdrive after his stroke. The object of his lust is his daughter-in-law. While he can’t very well restrain his lust, you can’t help but feel he’s more than just a dirty, old man.

Tanizaki first caught my attention with In Praise of Shadows. This is my first experience with his fiction and I’m definitely encouraged to explore his work more deeply.

A story about "Can't Stop Won't Stop : A History of the Hip Hop Generation"

nobody@allconsuming.net (laze) — Wed, 13 Jul 2005 17:24:21 GMT

Can't Stop Won't Stop : A History of the Hip Hop Generation

by Jeff Chang

465 pages of truly essential reading for anyone that considers themselves a “head.” Chang does a phenomenal job of juxtaposing hip-hop and history, giving the music a context. My only complaint: it ends somewhat abruptly at the 2000 DNC protests. It’s a good ending, mind you, but I felt like it snuck up on me.

Great stuff and I look forward to seeing a follow-up in another 15 years.

A story about "Can't Stop Won't Stop : A History of the Hip Hop Generation"

nobody@allconsuming.net (laze) — Thu, 30 Jun 2005 18:48:10 GMT

Can't Stop Won't Stop : A History of the Hip Hop Generation

by Jeff Chang

The first 200 pages cover hip-hop through 1982. I don’t think any other book has given the early days (which began well before “Rapper’s Delight”) that much space.

Great, in that it gives true historical and cultural context to the movement and albums that have shaped hip-hop over the last 30+ years.

A story about "Doris #1-18 Anthology 1991-2001"

nobody@allconsuming.net (laze) — Mon, 27 Jun 2005 20:05:53 GMT

Doris #1-18 Anthology 1991-2001

Reading this collection of issues of Doris is getting an insight into someone seemingly very different from myself, yet the emotions and thoughts are very similar. Important things become unimportant and unimportant things take on an importance greater than they initially seem to deserve. Great stuff and it’s wonderful to see it’s still being produced, all these years later.

A story about "ChiRunning"

nobody@allconsuming.net (laze) — Tue, 21 Jun 2005 14:53:36 GMT

ChiRunning

by Danny Dreyer

Started this book, but I have to return it to the library since someone else has requested it. Will return to it later and pick up at page 47.

A story about "Superstud: Or How I Became a 24-Year-Old Virgin"

nobody@allconsuming.net (laze) — Fri, 03 Jun 2005 22:57:57 GMT

Superstud: Or How I Became a 24-Year-Old Virgin

by Paul Feig

Holy God I can’t wait to read this.

A story about "Scouting For Boys: The Original 1908 Edition"

nobody@allconsuming.net (laze) — Thu, 02 Jun 2005 03:53:48 GMT

Scouting For Boys: The Original 1908 Edition

by Robert Baden-Powell

No, “Scouting for Boys” isn’t the Michael Jackson handbook.

Why I have it is a mystery. It was sent to me to review by Oxford Press, who has my parents address down for an online poetry magazine I published 13 years ago! This is the second book I’ve gotten.

In any event, this actually looks like a really entertaining, kitchy book as well as being historically interesting.

A story about "Last Man Standing: The Tragedy and Triumph of Geronimo Pratt"

nobody@allconsuming.net (laze) — Wed, 25 May 2005 11:18:14 GMT

Last Man Standing: The Tragedy and Triumph of Geronimo Pratt

by Jack Olsen

A fascinating look at an FBI conspiracy to frame Black Panther Geronimo Pratt. At the same time, an astounding tale of an innocent man’s will to live, stay sane, and make the world see the truth.

A story about "Santa's Twin"

nobody@allconsuming.net (laze) — Wed, 25 May 2005 11:18:14 GMT

Santa's Twin

by Dean Koontz

Captivating illustrations and a fun story about Santa’s evil twin brother make for a pleasant change from the usual holiday fare.

A story about "No Beginning, No End: The Intimate Heart of Zen"

nobody@allconsuming.net (laze) — Wed, 25 May 2005 11:18:12 GMT

No Beginning, No End: The Intimate Heart of Zen

by Jakusho Kwong

101… “Going straight, point to point, dot to dot, on a ninety-nine-mile curve.”

A story about "Waking Up: A Week Inside a Zen Monastery (Week Inside¹series)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (laze) — Wed, 25 May 2005 11:18:12 GMT

Waking Up: A Week Inside a Zen Monastery (Week Inside¹series)

by Jack Maguire

An interesting look into a week at the Zen Mountain Monestary in New York state. Zen practice and training ain’t all navel-gazing, ya know…

A story about "In Praise of Shadows"

nobody@allconsuming.net (laze) — Wed, 25 May 2005 11:18:10 GMT

In Praise of Shadows

by Junichiro Tanizaki

Early on Tanizaki says that he bets some of history’s best haikus were written while sitting on the toilet. Good stuff…

The focus on simplicity in Japanese architecture and traditional life is something that brings some calm to the day-to-day grind. I read this short book once before in college for an Asian Civ class and really enjoyed it and am looking forward to breezing through it again.

A story about "The Ornament of the World: How Muslims, Jews and Christians Created a Culture of Tolerance in Medieval Spain"

nobody@allconsuming.net (laze) — Wed, 25 May 2005 11:18:10 GMT

The Ornament of the World: How Muslims, Jews and Christians Created a Culture of Tolerance in Medieval Spain

by Maria Rosa Menocal

Looks like a worthwhile read, but it’s too heavy for me right now… I’ll definitely be coming back to this one soon, though.

A story about "A Short History of Nearly Everything"

nobody@allconsuming.net (laze) — Wed, 25 May 2005 11:18:10 GMT

A Short History of Nearly Everything

by Bill Bryson

“There’s not much between us and oblivion.” Nice!

I’ve been reading this book for probably close to a year-and-a-half… it’s an outstanding look at complicated scientific concepts in laymen’s language, but it’s still one of those “heavy” books that takes a while to get through.

A story about "Oblivion: Stories"

nobody@allconsuming.net (laze) — Wed, 25 May 2005 11:18:10 GMT

Oblivion: Stories

by David Foster Wallace

Though his style and structure are almost distractingly detailed, there’s something very likeable about the way DFW writes. This is the first time I’ve read anything of his, so I wasn’t quite expecting a 3 1/2 page paragraph in which there was a 2 1/2 page-long sentence.

(Returned because the item was requested. Will return to this eventually, as the second story seemed more enjoyable than the first.)