All Consuming : paulbeard

A story about "Summerland"

nobody@allconsuming.net (paulbeard) — Wed, 25 May 2005 04:36:47 GMT

Summerland

by Michael Chabon

reading this for the second time.

A story about "Summerland"

nobody@allconsuming.net (paulbeard) — Wed, 25 May 2005 04:36:47 GMT

Summerland

by Michael Chabon

Amazing book. the moody landscape of the Pacific Northwest gives way to the final battle between good and evil, as a baseball game.

Not a kid’s book, by any stretch, though it’s kid-safe.

A story about "Freddy and Simon the Dictator (Freddy the Pig Series)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (paulbeard) — Wed, 25 May 2005 04:36:47 GMT

Freddy and Simon the Dictator (Freddy the Pig Series)

by Walter R. Brooks

A little too heavy on politics (Communists are not the menace they once were): not one of Brooks’ best.

A story about "Freddy the Pied Piper (Brooks, Walter R. Freddy the Pig Series.)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (paulbeard) — Wed, 25 May 2005 04:36:47 GMT

Freddy the Pied Piper (Brooks, Walter R. Freddy the Pig Series.)

by Walter R. Brooks

A good one for younger readers: Freddy saves his friend’s circus, saves Centerboro from a mouse invasion, and keeps the peace at the same time.

A story about "Between the Woods and the Water"

nobody@allconsuming.net (paulbeard) — Wed, 25 May 2005 04:36:46 GMT

Between the Woods and the Water

by Patrick Leigh Fermor

Not as strong as “A time of gifts” but worthy of your time. Will we ever see that final volume?

A story about "The Gormenghast Novels"

nobody@allconsuming.net (paulbeard) — Wed, 25 May 2005 04:36:46 GMT

The Gormenghast Novels

by Mervyn Peake

Amazing book(s). So lushly written it doesn’t need to be filmed (not that a movie could do it justice).

A story about "Content Management Bible (Bible)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (paulbeard) — Wed, 25 May 2005 04:36:46 GMT

Content Management Bible (Bible)

by Bob Boiko

I read this quickly some months back and need to re-read it; I was disappointed in how it approached the material, and I need to see my expectations were out of kilter.

A story about "Beyond Fear"

nobody@allconsuming.net (paulbeard) — Wed, 25 May 2005 04:36:45 GMT

Beyond Fear

by Bruce Schneier

A library book so time ran out on me. A great resource by someone who obviously knows what he’s talking about.

A story about "The Social Life of Information"

nobody@allconsuming.net (paulbeard) — Wed, 25 May 2005 04:36:45 GMT

The Social Life of Information

by John Seely Brown

This was a great book: I borrowed but I liked it so much I wish I had my own copy.

A story about "A Time of Gifts (Isis Large Print Mainstream Series)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (paulbeard) — Wed, 25 May 2005 04:36:45 GMT

A Time of Gifts (Isis Large Print Mainstream Series)

by Patrick Leigh Fermor

A great book: a fantastic mix of history, geography, politics, and humanity, all from a world that no longer exists.

A story about "A Single Shard"

nobody@allconsuming.net (paulbeard) — Wed, 25 May 2005 04:36:39 GMT

A Single Shard

by Linda Sue Park

An excellent and thoughtful book.

A story about "Systems of Survival: A Dialogue on the Moral Foundations of Commerce and Politics"

nobody@allconsuming.net (paulbeard) — Wed, 25 May 2005 04:36:38 GMT

Systems of Survival: A Dialogue on the Moral Foundations of Commerce and Politics

by Jane Jacobs

Fascinating look at two cultures (she calls them syndromes, which sounds too clinical/pathological) that make up human society: the merchant and the policeman as the commercial and guardian cultures.

A story about "Proud Tower"

nobody@allconsuming.net (paulbeard) — Wed, 25 May 2005 04:36:38 GMT

Proud Tower

by Barbara W. Tuchman

Looking at the world she describes as the landed aristocrats in Europe and their struggles with the increasingly frustrated and violent working class and the metamorphosis of America from a benign, inward-looking power to an aggressive and increasingly imperial one—it doesn’t take much to see similarities with today’s headlines. It seems all of a piece with some fin de siÃ‚Âecle undercurrents: the turn of a century incites people to do bold or foolish things, and a new millenium perhaps more so.

I lost the thread of the narrative so the book wasn’t as satisfying as it could have been: the last section seemed almost ominous as I read through it. No spoilers ~~- the chapter title tells all you need to know -~~ but there’s so much more to it.

A story about "Peter and the Starcatchers"

nobody@allconsuming.net (paulbeard) — Wed, 25 May 2005 04:36:31 GMT

Peter and the Starcatchers

by Dave Barry

Funny, but still a ripping yarn.

A story about "Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return"

nobody@allconsuming.net (paulbeard) — Wed, 25 May 2005 04:36:31 GMT

Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return

by Marjane Satrapi

An insightful look at life under a theocracy as well a gripping coming of age story, told with a lot of heart and honesty.

A story about "Blankets"

nobody@allconsuming.net (paulbeard) — Wed, 25 May 2005 04:36:31 GMT

Blankets

by Craig Thompson

A wonderful book. A great example of the power of the graphic novel: in Craig Thompson’s hands, a picture is worth more than a thousand words.

A story about "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay"

nobody@allconsuming.net (paulbeard) — Wed, 25 May 2005 04:36:30 GMT

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay

by Michael Chabon

It’s been awhile since the well-being of fictional characters distracted me from my day. A substantial but rewarding book: full of visuals and clever, illustrative flourishes that aren’t just ornament.