Category: Review
You need these reviews in your life.
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Pattern Recognition
Review: This is a book that has not aged well. Set in the present, which is 2003, it struggles to appear futuristic with the technology of the time. I lived in that time, and I prophesied that we were getting there, but not there yet. CD-ROMS, limited to what a CD could hold, and a Read more
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The Shadow Line
Review: Another dark, chilling tale of nautical adventure from Joseph Conrad. Even when the sun is shining in his novels, it’s like it’s coming through curtains, never full, bright, happy sunshine. Lots of nautical lingo, and you would need to be a sailor to understand what they all mean, eg. why squaring a yard or Read more
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Song of Solomon
Review: Outstanding. A work that is so good it kept me reading for hours. Could not bear to put it down. 5 stars If I had to have a quibble, it would only be that Guitar Bains turns into a ninja near the end, but that helps to move the plot forward, if a little Read more
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Fast and Loose
Review: She was 14 when she wrote this, so what can you really expect? It was still a good read, and a fast one at that, but the cardboard characters and predictable plot leaves a lot to be desired. But now, when I am done all of Wharton’s writing, I can say I read all Read more
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The Marne
Review: One of the lesser known works of Edith Wharton, but also one of her best in my opinion. A brilliant little glimpse into how Americans viewed World War One. Overall rating: How I discovered or acquired this book: In Our Time podcast Noteworthy experiences while reading this book: Tiddy Check out author’s other books? Read more
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The Mammoth Book of Extreme SF
Review: Well exited volume from Mike Ashley, as always. Hard, hard SF. Lots of science, time paradoxes, and more science. Took some doing to get it done, but it was worth it to get out of comfortable SF for a bit Overall rating: How I discovered or acquired this book: Amazon recco Noteworthy experiences while Read more
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The Great Gatsby
Review: Perfect. Like if Edith Wharton got high on coke. At once thoughtful, funny, provoking, sentimental. Just a great novel that deserves to be called a classic. Overall rating: How I discovered or acquired this book: — Noteworthy experiences while reading this book: Adding herring to taquitos is not as good as I thought Check Read more
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WWI British Poets
Review: Excellent anthology. Just can’t get enough of the war poets. Overall rating: How I discovered or acquired this book: — Noteworthy experiences while reading this book: — Check out author’s other books? Recommend this book? To whom? — Ratings (1-10, 10 being exceptional): Read more
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Hope: Entertainer of the Century
Review: A great read. An excellent journalist researched and wrote an excellent biography. You see the skull beneath the skin. The brand that Bob Hope developed became the man himself. It was a wild ride in a century-long career. A fascinating glimpse into early vaudeville all the way through to the modern age of Hollywood Read more
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The Mammoth Book of New Jules Verne Adventures
Review: Superb selection of Jules Verne pastiches. Some very thoughtful, some very modern, all very well written. Will check out some of the authors’ other works. Especially Peter Crowther, that story and the name of that bar. Gotta see more of that. Overall rating: How I discovered or acquired this book: Finishing half-read books Noteworthy Read more