Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008
The 19th Wife
By David Ebershoff
enjoyable to read, capably written, this novel approaches the history and present of multiple marriage within the LDS church.
a fan of historical fiction, i appreciated the extensive research and attention to detail the author afforded his subject matter. while the mormon church enjoys a wealth of documentation due both to its relative youth [...]
No Comments » - Posted in bookery by autumnrouse
Thursday, September 18th, 2008
The Rake
By William F. Buckley
plucked this one off of an endcap at the library and was hoping for better.
written in an approachable, easygoing tone, this novel took a different tack than the typical Washington Scandal Book, most of which are rigid, intense, and gripping. here instead we had a scandal, cover up which resorts to arson [...]
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Thursday, September 18th, 2008
The Centaur
by John Updike
i realize this is meant to be a modern classic, but dudes, this is a weird little novel.
into what would otherwise be a poignant and well written character study, Updike has entwined strange tendrils of Greek mythology.
the opening scene is exemplary of this trend; we have our main character, a high school teacher, [...]
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Tuesday, September 16th, 2008
Snow Crash
(Bantam Spectra Book) by Neal Stephenson
i’ve had quite a few people prod me to read this novel and finally over one weekend, i did. thank you prodders.
i consider myself tech fringe; by which i mean while i am not a tech person myself, so many of my loved ones and friends ARE that i am [...]
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Tuesday, September 16th, 2008
Martin Dressler: The Tale of an American Dreamer
By Steven Millhauser
this was a strange little book all around. charged with an understated but tangible fervor for capitalism, architecture, and sex it hinted ineffectually at the themes and thrust of Ayn Rand’s “The Fountainhead.”
and though it purports to be the “tale of an american dreamer” no dreams emerge from the imagination of our [...]
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Wednesday, September 10th, 2008
Then We Came to the End: By Joshua Ferris
my initial moments reading this book were filled with eager anticipation and mild confusion. i owe this both to the skill of this first-time novelist at capturing the particular and compelling timbre of a corporate creative environment with uncanny accuracy, and the peculiar manner which he employed to do so. once i was able [...]
No Comments » - Posted in Book Review, bookery by autumnrouse
Tuesday, August 19th, 2008
“The Good Thief” By Hannah Tinti
The Good Thief
Hannah Tinti
Publication: The Dial Press (2008), Hardcover,
336 pages Publication date:2008
This review is of the as-yet unreleased “The Good Thief”, a novel by Hannah Tinti and published by The Dial Press. It becomes available in the fall of 2008. I obtained an advance copy via LibraryThing’s Early Reviewer program. Thanks to The Dial [...]
No Comments » - Posted in Book Review, bookery by autumnrouse
Saturday, July 12th, 2008
Season of the Snake: A Novel
by Claire Davis
This novel had a sinuous way about it similar to its eponymous creature. Quick to slip away from scrutiny too intense or a light too bright being cast upon it, it still made for an enjoyable read.
The prologue of this book may be its very best bit: haunting, beautiful as a reflection on [...]
No Comments » - Posted in bookery by autumnrouse
Wednesday, July 9th, 2008
The Tenderness of Wolves
by Stef Penney
picked this novel up off a table piled high over at the costco. as i am well aware, the origins of a book are not always indicative of their quality, in this case, i will say i was happily surprised.
set at the twilight of the 19th century in a remote Canadian village, the [...]
No Comments » - Posted in Book Review, bookery by autumnrouse
Monday, June 23rd, 2008
Special Topics in Calamity Physics
by Marisha Pessl
I can bestow on this book the highest compliment I have: I want to own it so I can write all over it. I borrowed it from friend Lyza after reading her review and inhaled it. At 500 pages, it was well under 24 hours in my hands.
Written from the [...]