All Consuming : wagglewarily

A story about "A Short History of Nearly Everything"

nobody@allconsuming.net (wagglewarily) — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 01:43:54 GMT

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson

Extremely interesting reading. I enjoy Bill Bryson because he writes very well and with a lot of wit. This one is not nearly as humorous as his other books and in fact seems to be full of more than a little doom and gloom. Still there is much to be learned here.

My only criticism is that the book focuses entirely on the discoveries of western culture. Many of the historical discoveries described here were actually made first in the East and Middle East, but no mention are made of them here.

Still, it really puts the fragile place we hold in the universe in perspective.

Consumed "A Short History of Nearly Everything"

nobody@allconsuming.net (wagglewarily) — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 01:43:54 GMT

A Short History of Nearly Everything

WORTH IT!

Consumed "Professor Layton and the Curious Village"

nobody@allconsuming.net (wagglewarily) — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 01:31:52 GMT

Professor Layton and the Curious Village

by Nintendo

WORTH IT!

Why I recommend "Professor Layton and the Curious Village"

nobody@allconsuming.net (wagglewarily) — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 01:31:52 GMT

Professor Layton and the Curious Village

by Nintendo

Professor Layton and the Curious Village

This is quite possibly the most fun I’ve had on the DS in the year and a half I’ve owned one. This one may not be for everyone, but I love riddles and puzzles of all kinds and this game has hundreds of them with a great story to go along with them. The movie sequences were kind of amazing; they reminded me of Miyazaki films. I enjoyed the fact that you can work along at your own pace, hitting the puzzles as the mood strikes with no time limit or stress.

Super Mario Galaxy (rated 5 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (wagglewarily) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 02:59:50 GMT

Super Mario Galaxy

by Nintendo

This is probably the best game I’ve played on the Wii. Inventive puzzles, unique gameplay, not too hard or too easy, and wow, beautiful graphics.

It was especially nice for me because of the cooperative opportunities it offered. My wife loved to be the second player: picking up star bits, stunning the bad guys, etc. We had a lot of fun together.

Consuming "Hotel Dusk: Room 215"

nobody@allconsuming.net (wagglewarily) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 02:46:04 GMT

Hotel Dusk: Room 215

by Nintendo

Addictive/Boring? (rated 4 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (wagglewarily) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 02:40:21 GMT

mysims (wii)

Depending on your tastes, this game is super fun and addictive for either the first few days or the first few weeks you play it. At some point, you hit a stage where the novelty wears off and it turns into a grind.

I guess that sounds like I don’t recommend it, but I actually do. It’s super fun, especially if you like being creative. There’s a lot you can do with the furniture building, etc.

_A Place So Foreign and Eight More_ by Cory Doctorow (rated 4 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (wagglewarily) — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 01:47:30 GMT

A Place So Foreign and Eight More

by Cory Doctorow

This is a series of loosely connected short stories set mostly in the near future of earth. The stories try to address the question, “What would happen if advanced alien intelligences developed a relationship with human civilization?” It sounds a little corny when put that way, but the stories are insightful and intelligent.

I enjoyed some stories more than others, but still found the whole thing an easy and fun read. Recommended if you like genuine science-fiction (as opposed to space operas.)

Witch's Business by Diana Wynne Jones (rated 4 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (wagglewarily) — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 01:42:04 GMT

Witch's Business

by Diana Wynne Jones

I enjoyed this book. I found the vernacular a little odd. I’ve read quite a few books by British authors, but still it seemed odd. Of course, it was written in the 70’s and American books written in the 70’s have an odd-sounding vernacular, too. It was short but fairly fun to read.

Recommended if you like other Diana Wynne Jones books.

Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom by Cory Doctorow (rated 5 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (wagglewarily) — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 19:36:14 GMT

Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom

by Cory Doctorow

A really refreshing science-fiction read. I find the epic space operas that seem to predominate the science-fiction genre a little overrated. I really enjoyed this one. It kept me reading “just one more page” right to the end.

It helped that it was set in Disney World, which I’m a fan of. I suppose if the Magic Kingdom isn’t to your taste, you might not appreciate the story. However, it had lots of really good sci-fi ideas that I fully expect to see if I live long enough.

Howl's Moving Castle (rated 5 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (wagglewarily) — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 16:24:03 GMT

Howl's Moving Castle

by Diana Wynne Jones

I read this book because I really loved the Miyazaki movie by the same name. Honestly, names are practically all the book and movie have in common. The characters and cities have the same names, but personalities and appearances are largely different. Likewise the plot is almost entirely different. However, both are excellent and worth checking out because they are such completely different stories. Just don’t expect things to be the same or even similar.

Batman: Year 100 by Paul Pope (rated 4 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (wagglewarily) — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 16:56:43 GMT

BATMAN: Year 100

by Paul Pope

It wasn’t bad, but not really great. It felt like it was missing something. It lacked a feeling of hope that most superhero comics usually maintain. It also never really explains who this Batman is. Is it the original? Or some kind of new imitator.

I don’t mean to sound so down on it though. I liked it on the whole and I’m glad I checked it out of the library.

The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett (rated 5 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (wagglewarily) — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 03:08:04 GMT

Wee Free Men (Discworld Novels)

by Terry Pratchett

I really enjoyed this book. I generally do enjoy Terry Pratchet, though. The book is funny and insightful, like Terry Pratchet generally is. I read the last three quarters of it today.

For some reason, this book is classified as Teen Fiction. Though there is nothing inappropriate in this book for teenagers to read, it seems like a particularly limiting designation. I can tell you from working in a bookstore that adults are more likely to read books from the children’s section than from the teen section. However, I believe any adult that enjoys novels by Douglas Adams or any kind of humorous fantasy would like this book. I suspect the designation has more to do with drawing younger readers to Terry Pratchet than an honest attempt to properly classify the book.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix movie (rated 4 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (wagglewarily) — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 03:08:18 GMT

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

by David Yates (II)

It was fun to watch, you should like it at least a little if you like the books. Better not to think of this movie as a visual version of the book. Rather, it’s more of a visual companion to the book. Order of the Phoenix was the longest book of the series, so far, and yet this is one of the shorter movies. Much was left out. Maybe a director’s cut will be forthcoming?

Superman | Batman Absolute Power by Jeph Loeb (rated 4 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (wagglewarily) — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 03:05:11 GMT

Superman/Batman Vol. 3: Absolute Power

by Jeph Loeb

I enjoyed this graphic novel. I haven’t read very many comic book graphic novels, but this was one of the better ones I’ve read. I think I might start reading more batman comics.

Definitely worth checking out from the library!

The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove by Christopher Moore (rated 4 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (wagglewarily) — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 18:27:26 GMT

The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove

by Christopher Moore

Easy to read, like all of Moore’s books. It was funny at times, but not quite as funny as the other two books I’ve read by him (Bloodsucking Fiends and Lamb.)

Reads a little like a B-movie spoof. Recommended if you like other Christopher Moore books or monster thrillers.

Bluebeard by Vonnegut

nobody@allconsuming.net (wagglewarily) — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 23:30:46 GMT

Bluebeard (Delta Fiction)

by Kurt Vonnegut

I feel I hardly need to write anything about this, since so many others have, but I’ve been trying to write something for everything I read. Anyway, a great book, as I expected from Vonnegut. I read it right after reading his semi-autobiographical book Timequake.

I felt like this one is fairly autobiographical as well. So many elements that appeared here, appeared in Timequake as a genuine memoir. I know he usually likes to refer to Kilgore Trout as his usual literary alter-ego, but Rabo Karabekian seems to be another. For that matter, at times, Circe Berman seemed that way too.

Anyway, it’s recommended if you like good books.

Batman: Year One (rated 5 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (wagglewarily) — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 15:11:50 GMT

Batman: Year One

by Frank Miller

Very exciting to read, even if you don’t particularly like comic books. Not as campy as they can sometimes get.

My Haunted House by Angie Sage (rated 3 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (wagglewarily) — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 17:06:17 GMT

Araminta Spookie 1: My Haunted House (Araminta Spookie)

by Angie Sage

This was okay for a kid’s book I guess. It felt a little hollow. I find it hard to imagine that a lot of kids wouldn’t find this book a little patronizing. The illustrations were nice. If you like spooky/whimsical kids book, this one only takes a little while to read and isn’t bad.

Baron: The Cat Returns (manga) (rated 5 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (wagglewarily) — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 21:03:08 GMT

Baron: The Cat Returns

My wife got this for me. We really like the movie “The Cat Returns” put out by Studio Ghibli and we were pretty interested in the book the movie was based on.

It was not disappointing. I think I would say it’s better than the movie and different enough that if you’ve already seen the movie, there are still plenty of surprises. Also, there’s a setup for a sequel at the end. Recommended if you like manga!

Buffy 8-1 (rated 5 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (wagglewarily) — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 02:25:10 GMT

Buffy the Vampire Slayer #1 (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8)

by Joss Whedon

Reads just like the show watched.

My only complaint is that sometimes the characters are difficult to distinguish. Luckily, Xander wears an eye patch and Dawn is about 90 feet tall.