All Consuming : rhia

Consumed "Born into Brothels"

nobody@allconsuming.net (rhia) — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 17:26:47 GMT

Born into Brothels

by Zana Briski

WORTH IT!

Consumed "Constantine (Widescreen Edition)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (rhia) — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 17:25:26 GMT

Constantine (Widescreen Edition)

by Francis Lawrence (II)

WORTH IT!

A story about "Not Wanted on the Voyage"

nobody@allconsuming.net (rhia) — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 14:05:26 GMT

Not Wanted on the Voyage

by Timothy Findley

Good heavens the despair!

A story about "Team America: World Police - Unrated (Widescreen Special Collector's Edition)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (rhia) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:55:29 GMT

Team America: World Police - Unrated (Widescreen Special Collector's Edition)

Wow. Hilarious, over the top, and totally vicious.

NICE ONE!

A story about "Le Petit Prince (French Language Edition)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (rhia) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:55:04 GMT

Le Petit Prince (French Language Edition)

by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

How pretty! Why have I not read this before now?

A story about "The Darjeeling Limited"

nobody@allconsuming.net (rhia) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:53:29 GMT

The Darjeeling Limited

by Wes Anderson

I can only hope this grows on me like The Life Aquatic did, but I really haven’t thought about it since the weekend, so I must admit that hope is growing dim.

A story about "The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao"

nobody@allconsuming.net (rhia) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:52:06 GMT

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao

by Junot Diaz

This was a sort of crazy Spanglish roller-coaster, a political satire perhaps, vitriol instead, maybe?

The characters, though painted broadly, came through loud and clear, and the resignation that I’ve often seen in those who lived in Latin America during times of similar crises to that of Trujillo…

I am not sure what to think of this book, but enjoyed the process of reading it.

A story about "Perfect Girls, Starving Daughters"

nobody@allconsuming.net (rhia) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:50:19 GMT

Perfect Girls, Starving Daughters

I was hoping this book would be more scientific, more researched, more Naomi Wolfe. Instead it was a strange mix of that, and cri de coeur and rah-rah self help.

Still, it’s one of the only books I’ve encountered that really dissects some of the roots of the eating disorders that pervade today’s young women – the way the assurance that girls could be anything has transformed into pressure to be everything, to have everything.

There were many parts I recognized myself, and many parts where I wanted to strangle the author. I guess asking for perfection from this book would only be a perfect irony.

And yet…

A story about "The Dutch Wife"

nobody@allconsuming.net (rhia) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:47:43 GMT

The Dutch Wife

by Eric McCormack

I was a little disappointed by The Dutch Wife.
The first section of the book was tense and taut and riveting, filled with undercurrents of emotion and mystery.

Then it just got weird for a while, looser, more superficial, and at last tied up in a bizarre sort of … I don’t know, craziness?

I’m a little tired of the apocryphal narrator framing device, too. I mean, didn’t Life of Pi sort of entirely capture that field?

A story about "The Stone Angel (Phoenix Fiction Series)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (rhia) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:45:02 GMT

The Stone Angel (Phoenix Fiction Series)

by Margaret Laurence

It’s not The Deviners, but Margaret Lawrence has the tools to get you deep under the skin of her characters. It’s Prairie Literature without the desperation – it’s there, but she never loses sight of the hope and the drive and the will to be something better than stuck on the plains at the mercy of the elements.

A heartbreaker too, as Morag slips into her age and illness.

A story about "Ratatouille"

nobody@allconsuming.net (rhia) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:42:16 GMT

Ratatouille

It’s not a terribly exciting game but it has some fun aspects. Unfortunately I’m completely stuck about halfway through the kitchen missions. Bah.

A story about "The Secret Life of Bees"

nobody@allconsuming.net (rhia) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:40:41 GMT

The Secret Life of Bees

by Sue Monk Kidd

It’s a quick, quirky read, a little sentimental, and ultimately of little substance. Good for the beach, I’d say.

A story about "Clean House Clean Planet"

nobody@allconsuming.net (rhia) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:39:09 GMT

Clean House Clean Planet

by Karen Logan

This book is a little evangelical and cutesy, but the recipes and strategies for non-toxic, non-commercial home cleaning are sound. A good starting point!

A story about "Children of Men, the"

nobody@allconsuming.net (rhia) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:36:09 GMT

Children of Men, the

by P. D. James

My first reaction to this book is a strong desire to have read it before having seen the movie. But not being in possession of a time machine, instead I had the experience of landmarking the pitons the screenplay was hung on.

Ultimately, though, I think the novel was vastly superior in its nuance and moral ambiguity. One of the things that most irked me about the movie of Children of Men was the cliche, America-centric view of those who’d been banished, that sea of brown skin where people were violent and evil.

This happened in the book too, it’s true, though it was a tangential aspect, and more attention paid to the causes than the results.

And the part where pets really had become substitute children… on the whole far more creepy and thoughtful.

Read this one!

A story about "Accordion Crimes"

nobody@allconsuming.net (rhia) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:28:33 GMT

Accordion Crimes

by Annie Proulx

Accordion Crimes was not so much a novel as a series of loosely interconnected vignettes. And even within the vignettes it was entirely possible the point of view could slip, and you’d be suddenly looking through the eyes of a different character with just the change of a paragraph.

And really, to be frank, none of the situations or characters held the charm, wit, and detail that made The Shipping News such a delightful read.

I don’t think I’d recommend this one…

A story about "My Last Supper: 50 Great Chefs and Their Final Meals / Portraits, Interviews, and Recipes"

nobody@allconsuming.net (rhia) — Fri, 09 May 2008 00:01:51 GMT

My Last Supper: 50 Great Chefs and Their Final Meals / Portraits, Interviews, and Recipes

by Melanie Dunea

So so so pretty and fun! I need to cook from it soon!

A story about "Cat's Cradle"

nobody@allconsuming.net (rhia) — Mon, 05 May 2008 14:06:57 GMT

Cat's Cradle

by Kurt Vonnegut

Bizarre and amazing. What is it about? Does it matter? Does water? Do we?

A story about "Adrian Mole: From Minor to Major By Sue Townsend (The Mole Diaries)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (rhia) — Mon, 05 May 2008 14:06:19 GMT

Adrian Mole: From Minor to Major By Sue Townsend (The Mole Diaries)

by Sue Townsend

This was a re-read. The books get less interesting as Adrian gets older, but it’s a pleasure to hang out with such a lovably hapless misfit.

A story about "The Aviator (Two-Disc Special Edition)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (rhia) — Mon, 05 May 2008 14:05:08 GMT

The Aviator (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Wow! This was really engaging to watch. Creepy, riveting, the whole nine yards. I was very pleasantly surprised.

A story about "Charcuterie: The Craft of Salting, Smoking, and Curing"

nobody@allconsuming.net (rhia) — Mon, 05 May 2008 14:04:26 GMT

Charcuterie: The Craft of Salting, Smoking, and Curing

by Michael Ruhlman

I think I need to buy this one. Not so much for the sausage section, because I’m not so much on the sausage making (eating yes!) but to do all the lovely, lovely curing and smoking.

What a lovely book for the hard core carnivore.

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

nobody@allconsuming.net (rhia) — Mon, 05 May 2008 14:03:30 GMT

A Spot of Bother (Vintage)

by Mark Haddon

This was a pleasant and quick read with a sort-of chaotic and fun plot. Not much meat to it, but that little glimmer of madness makes the caper stick a little bit more than it might otherwise.