I really had to force myself through this one. It’s a bit cold and most of the characters I found extremely difficult to connect with (or even to want to).
However, I absolutely adore (ADORE!) her next book “The History of Love” and I would highly recommend you read that one (instead of this OR any other book!). (Search this page for the title or author to hear my enthusiasm. It was one of my very favorite reads of 2005.)
I’ve changed my mind on Company of Thieves, the lead sounds EXACTLY like Erin McKeown. Is it her? I should google it. As Sashi would yell at me if I asked him, “GOOGLE IS YOUR FRIEND.”
Eh. Maybe later.
Our November challenge book. I had to leave Dad in the lurch on this one, I just had too much school work in November (with finals in the beginning of December) to undertake this one.
Dad: It was harder to get into than I expected / I remembered really liking Conrad. It was one of those sort of prescient things that could be so easily adapted: a South American country gets sucked into the capitalism of the West, because of its resources. Of course, this starts warping the society there; you’re watching it happen.
It’s an interestingly written book: always taking some weird perspective, lots of flashbacks, leaving things behind. You know ahead of time who makes it and who doesn’t, because he tells you throughout the text. Odd hero as well: he won’t marry the right chick / her dad kills him. Very odd ending for a book about something else.
Worth it but I did have to flog through it.
Bought:
This book is fantastic. The characters are hilarious and deep and interesting and quirky and the plot is both silly and serious and there’s love stories and friendships and fights and just so much to love.
There were two small things that I felt were a bit surprisingly … dropped off at the end (lacking sufficient explanation as to their closure). But that did not stop me at all from loving the ending the rest of the characters get.
Kalix is a fantastic character. I would be sorely tempted to use that name for my firstborn, were there going to be one (there isn’t).
Highly recommended from me to you. (Recommended to me by someone on Flickr after they saw I had read and enjoyed The Good Fairies of New York.)
It was entertaining and fun and weirdly action-packed and RDJ and Jude Law have nice bromantic chemistry and the steampunk-ness of it all was visually stimulating.
But it had little to nothing to do with Sherlock Holmes. I mean, my god, people, if you’re going to make a movie about Sherlock Holmes, a GREAT PLOT SHOULD BE THE POINT. This movie really falls short there.
So you know, go to it to have fun. But not to find yourself intellectually challenged. As the real Sherlock Holmes, at his best, always does.
I loved it. It’s creepy and icky and SUPER GORY and it actually kind of ANNOYED THE FUCK OUT OF ME when some Zombie-dressed people (I’m not joking about that) laughed at stuff that was super gory when it clearly was NOT funny. It’s super imaginative and interesting and totally worth seeing in the theater. And Ethan Hawke is actually pretty good in it and so is Sam Neill. The dude who plays Ethan Hawke’s brother is yummy. FYI. If you, say, need for there to be a yummy boy for you to be interested.
The best movie I saw in November was nonexistent. 🙁 Waah! I had no time to go to the movies! Too much studying to do!
The best book I read in November was a tie between two books by the same author Fire and Graceling by Kristin Cashore. They were FANTASTIC!!
The best gig I went to in November was the only gig I went to: it was Joseph Arthur and he was amazeballoons. Just overflowing with talent and creativity.
My favorite tunes in November, besides Joseph Arthur who I listened to constantly all month, were songs featured on my favorite show Sons of Anarchy like “Mary” by Patty Griffin and a cover of “Ruby Tuesday” by Katey Sagal. I also listened to a lot of Matt Hires, with some Shwayze thrown in for good measure.
The best movie I saw in October was a tie between two Chicago Film Festival Flicks: SPY(IES) (ESPION(S) en francais) and Fish Tank. But I also really loved Whip It! and Zombieland.
The best book I read in October was The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest, by Stieg Larsson, a fantastic end to his trilogy!! And I also loved Liar, by Justine Larbalestier and The White Darkness, by Geraldine McCaughrean.
The best movie I saw in September was…whoops! I didn’t make it to the theater even once in September. How sad!! 🙁
The best book I read in September was a tie between Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins and White Time, by Margo Lanagan.
The best gig I went to in September was also nonexistent. My concert-going in 2009 was extremely LOW and 2010 is looking to be even lower. I may need to just eliminate this category in monthly write-ups!!!
My favorite tunes in September were albums from The Avett Brothers and Kid Cudi as well as songs from two of my favorite TV shows Sons of Anarchy and Glee.