All Consuming : musenchild

Consuming "Vanity Fair (Penguin Classics)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (musenchild) — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 04:17:37 GMT

Vanity Fair (Penguin Classics)

by William Makepeace Thackeray

Consumed "The Sea (Man Booker Prize)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (musenchild) — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 04:17:20 GMT

The Sea (Man Booker Prize)

by John Banville

Consuming "The Sea"

nobody@allconsuming.net (musenchild) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 06:01:23 GMT

The Sea

by John Banville

Consumed "The Red Queen"

nobody@allconsuming.net (musenchild) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 04:37:20 GMT

The Red Queen

by Margaret Drabble

Consumed "Robinson Crusoe"

nobody@allconsuming.net (musenchild) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 04:36:20 GMT

Robinson Crusoe

by Daniel Defoe

WORTH IT!

Consumed "Wuthering Heights"

nobody@allconsuming.net (musenchild) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 06:37:57 GMT

Wuthering Heights

by Emily Bronte

WORTH IT!

Consumed "The Keepers of Truth"

nobody@allconsuming.net (musenchild) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 06:37:27 GMT

The Keepers of Truth

by Michael Collins

Consumed "The Plot Against America"

nobody@allconsuming.net (musenchild) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 03:12:42 GMT

The Plot Against America

by Philip Roth

WORTH IT!

Consumed "A Christmas Carol"

nobody@allconsuming.net (musenchild) — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 06:17:40 GMT

A Christmas Carol

by Charles Dickens

WORTH IT!

Consumed "The Three Musketeers (Oxford World's Classics)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (musenchild) — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 18:22:06 GMT

The Three Musketeers (Oxford World's Classics)

by Alexandre Dumas

WORTH IT!

A story about "A Spot of Bother (Vintage)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (musenchild) — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 02:41:48 GMT

A Spot of Bother (Vintage)

by Mark Haddon

I picked up this book on a whim because I liked The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time so much. Mark Haddon has a special talent for taking you inside the perfectly logical thought processes of his characters. When you realize that the character is completely unhinged, it hits fairly close to home. I read this book wanting to know “what happens” but I came out thinking a lot about myself. A very fun, sometimes disturbing, and always thought-provoking ride.

The lovely language of whining (rated 2 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (musenchild) — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 21:01:23 GMT

Disgrace

by J. M. Coetzee

There are very, very few books that I would deem “not worth consuming.” Even books which I know are poorly written but have engaging characters and/or plot merit a “worth consuming!” from me. I love reading, and a book does not need to be profound or qualify as great literature to be worthwhile.

That said, I feel that Disgrace was a waste of my time. The writing was hauntingly beautiful, the only really enjoyable part of the book. I had absolutely no sympathy for the protagonist; instead, like his daughter, I was irritated by pretty much everything he said and did. His self-righteous internal dialogue simply justified actions which he knew were unreasonable. I can see the message and how this character adds to it; I just don’t think it’s worth suffering the experience of his personality to get there.

This is the first of J.M. Coetzee’s books that I have read, and because of the skill of his craft and beautiful language, I have high hopes for the others. I simply hope that they lack Disgrace’s infuriating protagonist.

After all the fuss... (rated 3 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (musenchild) — Sat, 13 May 2006 00:05:43 GMT

da vinci code

by dan brown

It’s really just an okay mystery novel. It reminds me of the movie that just came out, National Treasure (although if I’m not mistaken this book came first). I guess I can see why this book receieved so much attention – it makes some controversial assumptions – but at the basic level it’s a very ordinary, less-than-brilliant action/adventure/mystery novel. If the movie is well done it may be better than the book, which already reads like a film. The characters are pretty much one-dimension, and some of the “surprises” are groaners that feel like a desperate author’s ploy to keep the reader’s attention. It definitely does that (I sat down and read it in one day) but nonetheless, I don’t think The DaVinci Code will make it into the ranks of great literature. It’s an entertaining read but a mediocre example of the art. I’m really sort of disappointed. Maybe I’ll read some of the “replies” to the information presented here, if I can find a good unbiased version, and at least learn something from it.