Re-read from December 2014: Well I breezed through this one pretty quickly, I remembered parts of it, but not really all of it. The Universe is still Re-read from December 2014: Well I breezed through this one pretty quickly, I remembered parts of it, but not really all of it. The Universe is still fun and well developed - the introduction of Miss Havisham is also a lot of fun.
Review from 2012: Fforde and the Next universe remains as charming as the last time I visited it. This book seemed a little slow in comparison to the events of the last one, but it felt like he was also setting some things in motion for the next book, so I guess I'll have to read that one as well. ...more
Fascinating look at Hitchcock from a different perspective. Some of the conclusions he reaches seem like a bit of stretch, but it's a new way to think Fascinating look at Hitchcock from a different perspective. Some of the conclusions he reaches seem like a bit of stretch, but it's a new way to think about Hitchcock films for sure. ...more
An alright Christmas book, some of the earlier Christmas history was more interesting than the present day stuff. It got a bit list-y after a while. S An alright Christmas book, some of the earlier Christmas history was more interesting than the present day stuff. It got a bit list-y after a while. Still a fun read about the tradition that is Santa. ...more
This was an interesting look at Eisner and Disney. The author clearly likes Eisner, but he also highlighted some of the tensions around the Disney com This was an interesting look at Eisner and Disney. The author clearly likes Eisner, but he also highlighted some of the tensions around the Disney company in general. ...more
One of my favorite aspects of Disney World is the architecture, so I really enjoyed this book especially because it was heavy on the pictures and didn One of my favorite aspects of Disney World is the architecture, so I really enjoyed this book especially because it was heavy on the pictures and didn't over emphasize one park or Disney project. Definitely recommend to anyone heading on a Disney trip. ...more
So, I get to count this towards my count of books read this year, because I damn well did read every single painful (assigned) word of this thing. If So, I get to count this towards my count of books read this year, because I damn well did read every single painful (assigned) word of this thing. If anyone cares I will tell you why I hated it. But B&T care about nothing but film and aesthetics, and I care about ideological meaning, so I think we will agree to disagree. In one stunning moment they discuss how the end of inflation in Germany in the 1930s (inflation so bad no one could buy bread with thousands of dollars) was a blow to the film industry there. Sure, no one could buy bread and people were starving to death, but B&T remain concerned only with the national cinema. Ok. ...more
Read for a class. My professor really loved this book, and I thought it as an interesting take one the reconsideration of communication history from a Read for a class. My professor really loved this book, and I thought it as an interesting take one the reconsideration of communication history from another lens. ...more
This would be much closer to a 3.5 for me. I ended up getting it from the library because I was heading to Connecticut for Thanksgiving, and I felt th This would be much closer to a 3.5 for me. I ended up getting it from the library because I was heading to Connecticut for Thanksgiving, and I felt the need to continue my WASP reading after Cheerful Money: Me, My Family, and the Last Days of Wasp Splendor. This isn't a light and funny romp through the world of the very wealthy. There's some of that, but you can also see the terrible price all that splendor has cost. Burden's writing is funny but the situations are not. ...more
Fantastic book. I agree with her on everything that she bitches about especially the uselessness of heels, porn, and the way women tend to attack each Fantastic book. I agree with her on everything that she bitches about especially the uselessness of heels, porn, and the way women tend to attack each other on issues that men never do. This also contains my favorite essay on abortion ever, which is wonderful, honest, emotional and really smart. The whole book could be summed up like that, fiercely smart, wickedly funny and with a giant lovely heart at the center of it.
This remains one of my favorite quotes about feminism : "When statistics come in saying that only 29 per cent of American women would describe themselves as feminist – and only 42 per cent of British women – I used to think, What do you think feminism IS, ladies? What part of ‘liberation for women’ is not for you? Is it freedom to vote? The right not to be owned by the man you marry? The campaign for equal pay? ‘Vogue’, by Madonna? Jeans? Did all that good shit GET ON YOUR NERVES? Or were you just DRUNK AT THE TIME OF SURVEY?"
On men and sex: "You know, when it comes to sex, you really do have to remember men are blessedly forgiving creatures. They don't care what kind of knickers you're wearing. By the time you've taken your skirt off, you could be wearing a Gregg's paper bag with leg holes torn in it, and it wouldn't put them off. THERE ARE MEN OUT THERE HAVING SEX WITH BICYCLES."
I also really appreciated the twin chapters on motherhood, and this line on not being a mother: "Whilst motherhood is an incredible vocation, it has no more inherent worth than a childless woman simply being who she is, to the utmost of her capabilities. To think otherwise betrays a belief that being a thinking, creative, productive and fulfilled woman is, somehow, not enough. That no action will ever be the equal of giving birth."
Also I highly recommend Chloe's review for some more fabulous quotes.
Believe the hype. I found this awesome and impossible to put down. It was also one of those books to affect me physiologically, heart pounding, shakin Believe the hype. I found this awesome and impossible to put down. It was also one of those books to affect me physiologically, heart pounding, shaking, etc. I kept expecting to turn on the TV and hear people talking about Nick and Amy.
This book is perfect for a long plane flight, car ride or any other time when you have nothing else going on for a couple of hours. Take my advice and don't do what I did, which is start this book near the end of the semester, when I should be doing a million other things but literally couldn't stop thinking about finishing this book. Also stop reading reviews about this before you spoil yourself. Seriously. ...more
I read this for my media history class. It gets one star for the following reason, I don't think it's really a history of television. It's a history o I read this for my media history class. It gets one star for the following reason, I don't think it's really a history of television. It's a history of some technology related to television and broadcasting, and then it's mainly a recounting of American history with some television bits thrown in. I don't think Barnouw likes television or feels affectionate towards any of it, except maybe some of the live anthology dramas of the 1950s. He's only interested in news, PBS, and "things that are serious." "I Love Lucy" a landmark show by many accounts, is mentioned briefly and then quickly dispatched with. He mentions a lot of the highlights from the period, which are worth discussing (and seeing): Nixon's Checkers speech, the moon landing, the zippo ligther story, but very little from fictional television, especially sitcoms not tied to big "important themes." I encourage you to read a television history, if you want to do such a thing, it not that's fine too, but read one by people who like television, like Watching TV: Six Decades of American Television, which presents the television shows and most of the same history you get from Barnaouw. ...more
I did really like this even though it wasn't quite what I expected it to be. I thought it would be more of a how-to guide rather than series of storie I did really like this even though it wasn't quite what I expected it to be. I thought it would be more of a how-to guide rather than series of stories. But either way, I liked it and I thought it had interesting stories about maintaining friendships as an adult. ...more
Assigned for my media history class. I am not the biggest fan of radio, and mostly find the discussion of it boring. (Sorry, radio scholars). However Assigned for my media history class. I am not the biggest fan of radio, and mostly find the discussion of it boring. (Sorry, radio scholars). However this book is awesome. I almost didn't appreciate it until we began reading other histories of radio. It's hard to explain what makes this so awesome, but I liked it. ...more
Assigned for my media history class, the pictures are awesome, the history a little less so. Don't let that "to the present" in the title fool you. He Assigned for my media history class, the pictures are awesome, the history a little less so. Don't let that "to the present" in the title fool you. He stops around 1955. ...more
I love these books. It's hard to explain how compelling they feel, the sort of tight claustrophobic world that she creates, and then exploits. It's ne I love these books. It's hard to explain how compelling they feel, the sort of tight claustrophobic world that she creates, and then exploits. It's never just strictly about who did it, but why. I had my doubts about Scorcher Kennedy, but I liked him in this. The only reason I was reluctant to start reading this one, is that there isn't another one immediately waiting for me to loose myself in. ...more
I actually took a media history class with Czitrom while I was at Mount Holyoke (having utterly no idea how famous he was at the time I was doing so) I actually took a media history class with Czitrom while I was at Mount Holyoke (having utterly no idea how famous he was at the time I was doing so) so I didn't read this until it was just assigned for my Media History class, and since I read the whole thing I'm counting it towards this year's books. I find the set up of the book a little odd, I liked the first half of media histories more compelling than the second half, but I'm also more familiar with communication history than some other people would be. Either way, I think it's a book for people who are very interested in these communication technologies....more
This was an odd little book, again taken on recommendation from Ann Patchett and Parnassus Books, she describes it as: "At first the book seemed like This was an odd little book, again taken on recommendation from Ann Patchett and Parnassus Books, she describes it as: "At first the book seemed like an entertaining pastiche: a dash of Jane Austen, a little Turn of the Screw, some Downton Abbey, but the farther I read the more I realized it was something wholly original." And all of that is true. I was more delighted by the dash of Jane Austen meets Downton Abbey then I was by the more original parts though. It's sort of hard to explain, didn't dislike it, but didn't love it. ...more
Really liked this book, more of a 3.5 stars. In part because Marcus Sammuelsson is very humble, very gracious, works hard and clearly loves food a who Really liked this book, more of a 3.5 stars. In part because Marcus Sammuelsson is very humble, very gracious, works hard and clearly loves food a whole lot. It made me want to eat Sweedish and Ethopian food. I had Ethopian food once in D.C., and the next time I'm in New York I want to make a trip to Red Rooster. If you are looking for a chef memoir I would still recommend starting with My Life in France or Blood, Bones, and Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef, but this is still a great story. ...more
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