All Consuming : trivimp

Consuming "Getting Naked Again: Dating, Romance, Sex, and Love When You've Been Divorced, Widowed, Dumped, or Distracted"

nobody@allconsuming.net (trivimp) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:25:44 GMT

Getting Naked Again: Dating, Romance, Sex, and Love When You've Been Divorced, Widowed, Dumped, or Distracted

by Judith Sills

Consuming "New Year's Day"

nobody@allconsuming.net (trivimp) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:25:23 GMT

New Year's Day

by Bacon Brothers

Kill to Get Crimson (rated 5 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (trivimp) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 18:29:13 GMT

Kill to Get Crimson

by Mark Knopfler

Mark Knopfler does it again… with a beautiful, thoughtful, nuanced set on Kill to Get Crimson. There’s no straight-up Money-for-Nothing-style rockers on this disc; instead, Knopfler delivers his trademark character sketches of world-weary tradesmen (prizefighters, tattoo artists, tinkers, etc.) with a spare, muted elegance. Fully half of the tracks are written in 3/4 waltz time, something most guitar heroes couldn’t pull off, but here it lends a sweetly nostalgic folk-y feeling. Knopfler’s lyrics are as pointed as ever… in particular, “Punish the Monkey” (a sardonic ditty about a corporate flunky left holding the bag for his boss) is such a wry turn of phrase that one hopes it will enter the general lexicon. Get the album now.

The Druidcraft Tarot

nobody@allconsuming.net (trivimp) — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 14:12:33 GMT

The Druid Craft Tarot

by Philip Carr-Gomm

This has become my favorite tarot deck. The beautiful, lush images are so evocative that they practically read themselves. Choosing a tarot deck is a highly personal experience, but I would recommend the Druidcraft Tarot to anyone with an affinity for things Celtic.

A review of "Beginner's Greek: A Novel"

nobody@allconsuming.net (trivimp) — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 00:19:29 GMT

Beginner's Greek: A Novel

by James Collins

An entertaining debut novel… It’s a frothy comedy of manners set in modern times, but fraught with enough lover’s misunderstandings, villanous bosses, social conflict, and assorted wildly improbable mishaps to make it feel right at home on the regency romance shelf. Collin’s character development is somewhat weak ~~- we never find out exactly why all these different men fall in love with the rather ordinary heroine -~~ but the lyrical language shines as the plot blooms slowly into its ultimimate denouement. I found it entertaining in a made-for-TV-movie kind of way, and in fact it would probably play well on Lifetime channel if it ever were adapted for the screen… it’s that kind of romance.

Lush Life by Richard Price (rated 4 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (trivimp) — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 00:17:10 GMT

Lush Life: A Novel

by Richard Price

Lush Life is a really, really good crime procedural that could have been better. It’s got a lot going for it: no one does dialog better than Richard Price, and the beautifully flawed characters all ring true ~~- Eric, the would-be actor/restaurant manager; Matty, the hard-boiled detective; Tristan, the projects kid turned triggerman -~~ they all come together in a gritty East Side stew seasoned with Price’s wry prose. But it’s slow. Very slow… and I never found myself caring a whole lot about any of the characters, or even having a clue about their motivation. Fish swim in a New York sea, a mugging goes bad, who knows why? All in all, it was an enjoyable, thoughtful read, but I think it could have benefitted from a little more tightening up in the editing process.

The Kite Runner (rated 4 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (trivimp) — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 11:36:06 GMT

The Kite Runner

by Khaled Hosseini

Parts of the narrative are terribly cliched, but you’ll have to admit it’s a very compelling read. I couldn’t put it down. The basic themes of betrayal and redemption are beautifully filled out over a multi-generational saga. Recommended.

Bitter Sweets (rated 4 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (trivimp) — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 19:01:26 GMT

Bitter Sweets

by Roopa Farooki

Bitter Sweets is a lightweight epic - that is to say, it’s a charming novel with a bit of an identity crisis. Is it fluff, or epic fiction? A multi-generational saga, or soapy fun? This, I think, is part of its charm, as is the author’s delightfully dry tone in detailing the most outrageous deceptions and coincidences. On the whole, though, the novel is about as substantial as cotton candy. This would make a good beach-bag book - a fun, but not memorable, read.

Why I gave up consuming "Influencer: The Power to Change Anything"

nobody@allconsuming.net (trivimp) — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 17:17:05 GMT

Influencer: The Power to Change Anything

by Kerry Patterson

This was touted as a layman’s book, but it’s not, by any stretch—it’s jargony, poorly organized, and difficult to read. I have to say that I also found it to be offensive in the extreme, particularly the sequences regarding the highly fictionalized overweight man trying to diet. See poor slob Henry try to live on nothing but carrots, but his willpower is so weak that he wolfs down a two-pound chocolate bar! The whole scenario is so over-the-top that it makes me wonder how “true” their other case studies are.

Can’t recommend.

A review of "Run"

nobody@allconsuming.net (trivimp) — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 12:58:26 GMT

Run

by Ann Patchett

Run is a beautifully crafted, if slightly flawed, gem.

What makes a family? The myriad ways in which Patchett’s characters are related to one another are methodically explored… common blood, common loves, common ideals. The worlds of privilege and poverty, existing side-by-side yet virtually invisible to one another, can be drawn together by these common threads, enriching those who are linked by them.

These are lovely themes, and certainly give Patchett at lot to work with, but the story never soared for me… the lush lyricism of Bel Canto just didn’t come through here. Still, I found Run to be a pleasant, quick read, with a satisfying if slightly predictable denouement.

Why I gave up consuming "Cobb: A Biography"

nobody@allconsuming.net (trivimp) — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 15:48:45 GMT

Cobb: A Biography

by Al Stump

“Ty Cobb wanted to play, but none of us could stand the son-of-a-bitch when we were alive, so we told him to stick it!”

Moo, You Bloody Choir

nobody@allconsuming.net (trivimp) — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 01:32:29 GMT

Moo, You Bloody Choir

by Augie March

I first heard Augie March on NPR a couple of weeks ago, and was quite taken with their nimble, Dylan-esque lyrics (everyone keeps saying it, but really, it’s true) and dreamlike, 60s-psychadelic sound. The album is a terrific compilation of songs that stretch in many directions – some emo, some jazz, even a little country – without losing shape for the most part. (My one gripe is that the slightly punk “Just Passing Through”, while a good listen, just really doesn’t seem to fit with everything else on the disc. Perhaps that’s intentional, in which case, the joke’s on me.)

Highly recommended!

Sailing to Philadelphia (rated 5 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (trivimp) — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 21:18:34 GMT

Sailing to Philadelphia

by Mark Knopfler

Still better than a Fuolornis Fire Dragon!

I’ve had this CD for seven years or so and it still gets frequent rotation. This is such a multi-layered, evocative collection. Personal favorites are the rollicking “What It Is”, “Speedway at Nazareth” (which revs up and takes off in the second half of the song, in perfect sync with the race described in the lyrics), and the haunting “Prairie Wedding” which still moves me to tears. “Do America” is such a brash, cocky bit of rock-star swagger that you just know that Knopfler can still make that custom Strat hoot and moan like a band of angels on a Saturday night.

One of my all time faves!

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell

nobody@allconsuming.net (trivimp) — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 11:56:41 GMT

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell

by Susanna Clarke

JK Rowling meets Jane Austen. A lovely fantasy set in an alternate Regency period, this book is not a fast read by anybody’s count (and I am usually a very fast reader), but it’s well worth the effort as the author spins a charming tale which affords a tantalizing glimpse into the whimsical, frightening world of Faerie amongst the drawing-room humor. As the story moves deeper into the magic, the tone becomes darker, drawing the hero into an otherworldly quest of sorts. The scholarship is thorough but unobtrusive. A challenging but ultimately satisfying read!

The Other Boleyn Girl (rated 4 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (trivimp) — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 02:23:58 GMT

The Other Boleyn Girl

by Philippa Gregory

An entertaining read, although it does take some liberties with the history. Mary Boleyn was indeed Anne’s older (not younger) sister, and she was indeed Henry VIII’s mistress and bore him two children before her first husband died of plague, after which she remarried far below her rank and left her sister’s court. The rest of the details are a bit fantastical, but who cares? The soapy scheming of the various familial factions keeps the plot moving along nicely. The author does a nice job of keeping a period-sounding tone without becoming archaic, and beautifully describes the contrast between the luxury of the glittering, frenetically joyous court (which must please a spoiled monarch at all costs) and the far-less-sumtuous, earthy delights of country living.

A good beach book for history buffs.

A review of "Is it HOT in here, or am I just HOT?"

nobody@allconsuming.net (trivimp) — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 11:58:35 GMT

Is it HOT in here, or am I just HOT?

by Sunny Hersh

Waaaaay too much information. The author takes a scattershot approach to aging and sexuality, and tries to cover every topic that might apply to someone over 40. The big O. Toys. Erotica. How to deal with a straying husband. How to deal with online dating after the divorce. How to deal with teens. How to deal with aging/infirm parents. How to deal with the empty nest. Drugs that can help or hurt your performance. Drugs that can help or hurt his performance. And so on and so on. Good lord, I would have been happy with about a third of the information, and save the rest for the sequels.

All that being said, the author is witty and saucy, frank and informative. It’s all good stuff, there’s just way too much of it. Plus there’s about a million typos (I wonder if it was rushed to print… or maybe the publisher just isn’t up to industry standards)

Good luck finishing it, I had real trouble… and I hardly ever put a book down once I’ve started it.

Magic Hour

nobody@allconsuming.net (trivimp) — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 13:57:20 GMT

Magic Hour

by Susan Isaacs

Recipe for a fairly formulaic murder mystery:

1 dead bazillionaire (in this case, a movie mogul)
1 hard-boiled cop with an alcohol problem
1 ex-wife with every motive, but a heart of gold
1 mistress who was cheating on the dead guy
1 mobster with childhood ties to the dead guy
Assorted housekeepers, assistants, and hangers-on, to taste

Stir together and allow the plot to develop. Garnish with a few “we-found-the-killer-no-wait-we-didn’t” twists. Best served as light fare.

The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns (rated 5 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (trivimp) — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 12:03:34 GMT

The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns: Basic Designs in Multiple Sizes & Gauges

by Ann Budd

The single most useful pattern book you can have in your knitting library. Given any gauge and any size (ranging from toddler to plus-sized adult), this book will have a basic pattern for a sweater, vest, scarf, socks, hat, tam, mittens or gloves. Way useful. I use this book all the time as a jumping-off point for my own designs… get the basic pattern, then add cables or colors or ribbing or a collar or… well, you get the idea.

The companion volume, the Handy Book of Sweater Patterns, is equally useful. Get ‘em both.

The Gates of Fire (rated 4 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (trivimp) — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 12:07:20 GMT

Gates of Fire: An Epic Novel of the Battle of Thermopylae

by Steven Pressfield

With the movie release of “300” in the offing, I predict that Thermopylae will become an ancient-world “hot spot” for a season or two, with Sparta taking a turn in the spotlight much like Troy or gladiatorial Rome did after those movies. This novel has the goods on a very complete imagining of Spartan life, not just the famous battle. Told from the point of view of a gravely-wounded survivor of the Hot Gates, captured by the enemy & compelled to tell his story to Xerxes himself, its wealth of historical detail hums with authenticity while never bogging down in military jargon. This one’s a page-turner even though you know how it’s going to end.

A review of "Eragon (Inheritance, Book 1)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (trivimp) — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 12:32:18 GMT

Eragon (Inheritance, Book 1)

by Christopher Paolini

A heavily derivative, Tolkien-esque fantasy epic, Eragon tries to soar but barely manages to get off the ground. A mildly engaging pair of main characters (who are somewhat cliched themselves, The Boy and His Dragon) never seem to escape the dreaded Forest of Fantasy Cliches, encountering mysterious fey elves, earthy bumbling dwarves, monstrous goblins led by a horrifying shapeshifter, a wise old storyteller who is more than he first seems, &c. I’m sure it will all make a fine LOTR-type action movie, but it’s been done before, hasn’t it?

An enjoyable, but not a memorable, read.

The Return of the Goddess (rated 5 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (trivimp) — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 16:10:22 GMT

The Return of the Goddess: A Divine Comedy

by Elizabeth Cunningham

A beautiful modern fairy-tale of a story about ordinary people discovering the many ways that we are tied to one another and to the Earth. Pagans and non-pagans alike should enjoy this one.