All Consuming : Jennifer

Consuming "Stories From Louisiana History (1905)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Jennifer) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 05:01:11 GMT

Stories From Louisiana History (1905)

by Grace Elizabeth King

A review of "Pox Americana: The Great Smallpox Epidemic of 1775-82" (rated 4 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (Jennifer) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 05:00:58 GMT

Pox Americana: The Great Smallpox Epidemic of 1775-82

by Elizabeth Anne Fenn

Interesting subject matter, but the writing leaves a lot to be desired.

Consumed "Pox Americana: The Great Smallpox Epidemic of 1775-82"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Jennifer) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 05:00:58 GMT

Pox Americana: The Great Smallpox Epidemic of 1775-82

by Elizabeth Anne Fenn

WORTH IT!

Consumed "In the Company of the Courtesan: A Novel"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Jennifer) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 05:00:06 GMT

In the Company of the Courtesan: A Novel

by Sarah Dunant

WORTH IT!

Consumed "A Venetian Affair: A True Tale of Forbidden Love in the 18th Century"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Jennifer) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 04:59:41 GMT

A Venetian Affair: A True Tale of Forbidden Love in the 18th Century

by Andrea Di Robilant

WORTH IT!

Consumed "The Virgin Blue"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Jennifer) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:38:57 GMT

The Virgin Blue

by Tracy Chevalier

Consumed "Girl with a Pearl Earring"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Jennifer) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 23:07:14 GMT

Girl with a Pearl Earring

by Tracy Chevalier

WORTH IT!

A review of "Girl with a Pearl Earring"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Jennifer) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 23:07:14 GMT

Girl with a Pearl Earring

by Tracy Chevalier

A great book from a talented writer.

In contest to the major complaints about this book, which I have read in reviews on other sites:

1). “It’s a boring book and lacks action.” Anyone who reads a book that is, at its heart, about the artistry of Vermeer and then complains about its lack of action just confuses me. Have you even SEEN a painting by Vermeer? I suppose a painting of a woman standing by a window holding a piece of paper is boring, too. If you don’t get the point.

2). “The main character is arrogant and annoying.” Yes, sometimes she is. But you know what is most annoying of all? Books narrated by main characters that don’t ever do things that normal human beings do, like overstep their boundaries and assume they know it all. Griet is an intelligent and emotionally sensitive eye into Vermeer’s world; we should be grateful that she is both endearing and irritating, smart and full of hubris. It makes her real and not predictable.

3). “The movie was better”. The movie is never, ever, ever better. Ever. Now shut up and go watch television; books are not for you.

4). “The characters lack depth.” How is this even possible in a novel that is almost exclusively psychological in content? The book would be about ten pages long if the author didn’t manage to present complicated portraits on the individuals in the story. I suspect readers doing a lot of skimming looking for action, then claiming that the characters were weak just to save face for not having the patience to read the novel in the first place.

A review of "Rebel Angels (Readers Circle)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Jennifer) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:28:51 GMT

Rebel Angels (Readers Circle)

by Libba Bray

Somehow I thought this novel was about something completely different, but it wasn’t a total loss. The novel has some problems (thin characters, some obvious plot devices, creatures and themes cobbled together from other fantasy and scifi novels) and some strengths (some imaginative and effectively creepy images and scenes). Not much of a period novel, either, aside from mentioning corsets and social graces; a lot of the main character’s opinions and leanings are strangely modern, and very anachronistic in her supposed time period. It was a quick read, though, and not much of an investment, so I can’t really complain. Would’ve been a great summer beach novel.

I am surprised it was a NY Times bestseller, though. It’s hardly a high-caliber work. I don’t get out much in contemporary fiction, though, so perhaps I ought not be surprised?