Tuesday, January 20, 2004
Book #30
Dan Brown
The Da Vinci Code
2003
Started: January 18, 2004
Finished: January 27, 2004
Borrowed this from my father. I'm about a third of the way through it right now. It's not too bad, though the dialogue is pretty rough, and so far, there's not a whole lot to distinguish Robert Langdon from a Jack Ryan or a Bourne.
But it's rolling along easily, like a pot boiler should.
I understand that the Catholic Church didn't care much for the book. I can see a little bit what they might have gotten riled about, but if I were the most powerful religion on the planet, I wouldn't have worried too much about it.....
Reminds me a lot of Michael Crichton, after finishing it, except that Brown's created himself a serial character, like a Jack Ryan or a Bourne.
The dialog in it's pretty weak. But on the whole, I kind of liked it. It's light reading.
Dan Brown
The Da Vinci Code
2003
Started: January 18, 2004
Finished: January 27, 2004
Borrowed this from my father. I'm about a third of the way through it right now. It's not too bad, though the dialogue is pretty rough, and so far, there's not a whole lot to distinguish Robert Langdon from a Jack Ryan or a Bourne.
But it's rolling along easily, like a pot boiler should.
I understand that the Catholic Church didn't care much for the book. I can see a little bit what they might have gotten riled about, but if I were the most powerful religion on the planet, I wouldn't have worried too much about it.....
Reminds me a lot of Michael Crichton, after finishing it, except that Brown's created himself a serial character, like a Jack Ryan or a Bourne.
The dialog in it's pretty weak. But on the whole, I kind of liked it. It's light reading.
Sunday, January 18, 2004
Book #29
Flannery O'Connor
The Complete Stories of Flannery O'Connor
Started: January 15, 2004
Finished: January 28, 2004
There is no real start or finish date. I've been picking and choosing stories as I go....I've read half of the stories either in school or on my own. I'm just finishing up what I haven't read....
Flannery O'Connor
The Complete Stories of Flannery O'Connor
Started: January 15, 2004
Finished: January 28, 2004
There is no real start or finish date. I've been picking and choosing stories as I go....I've read half of the stories either in school or on my own. I'm just finishing up what I haven't read....
Friday, January 09, 2004
Book #28
Jean Shepherd
In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash
1966: (Reading the 2000 Broadway Books printing)
Started: January 9, 2004
Finished: January 17, 2004
It was Shepherd's stories that the movie A Christmas Story were based upon. Not far in, but I'm finding the movie stayed true to Shepherd's tone, at least as far as the adventure with the Red Ryder B.B. Gun went.
Very funny. Shepherd spins a nice phrase. I wrote about it on the main blog. I also like the way the stories themselves are framed around the concept of the narrator (Ralphie) reflecting on his youth with childhood pal Flick.
Jean Shepherd
In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash
1966: (Reading the 2000 Broadway Books printing)
Started: January 9, 2004
Finished: January 17, 2004
It was Shepherd's stories that the movie A Christmas Story were based upon. Not far in, but I'm finding the movie stayed true to Shepherd's tone, at least as far as the adventure with the Red Ryder B.B. Gun went.
Very funny. Shepherd spins a nice phrase. I wrote about it on the main blog. I also like the way the stories themselves are framed around the concept of the narrator (Ralphie) reflecting on his youth with childhood pal Flick.
Book #27
Pauline Kael
Movie Love: Complete Reviews 1988-1991
1991: Plume
Started: January 5, 2004
Finished: January 9, 2004
I was first introduced to Ms. Kael in a criticism class a few years back. Since then, any time I run across one of her books, I'll pick it up.
Found this one on the same dollar table I found the Bob Costas book on tape.
I read Ms. Kael as I was going to sleep the past few nights. Had a bout with insomnia day before yesterday, and ended up finishing it today.
I like Pauline Kael, because where Roger Ebert, or Peter Travers, or Leonard Maltin, and especially my generation of critics (and among them I count Richard Roeper and definitely Harry Knowles), were all raised on movies, Pauline Kael was not, it seems. And while they're not ignorant of the other artforms, those other artforms aren't their primary point of reference, like they seem to be Ms. Kael's.
Pauline Kael seems to look at movies from, I don't know. A more cultured viewpoint.
There's one part of me that's astounded at how Pauline seems to focus on what's wrong with a movie. Rain Man is Dustin Hoffman humping the same note on a piano.....Little Mermaid is, essentially, a very well done toy commercial.
But when something does catch her eye (and it's usually something subtle--the interplay between characters, or actors), and she is pleased, it's funny to read:
From her review of Avalon:
When Barry Levinson directs autobiographical material, he catches the rhythms of grouchiness, of irritation, in preening of the commonplace remarks that people make all the time. He's especially virtuosic at catching the sound of people who know each other all too well: they've bored each other and picked at each other for years, but they always stop short of drawing blood.....
Pauline Kael
Movie Love: Complete Reviews 1988-1991
1991: Plume
Started: January 5, 2004
Finished: January 9, 2004
I was first introduced to Ms. Kael in a criticism class a few years back. Since then, any time I run across one of her books, I'll pick it up.
Found this one on the same dollar table I found the Bob Costas book on tape.
I read Ms. Kael as I was going to sleep the past few nights. Had a bout with insomnia day before yesterday, and ended up finishing it today.
I like Pauline Kael, because where Roger Ebert, or Peter Travers, or Leonard Maltin, and especially my generation of critics (and among them I count Richard Roeper and definitely Harry Knowles), were all raised on movies, Pauline Kael was not, it seems. And while they're not ignorant of the other artforms, those other artforms aren't their primary point of reference, like they seem to be Ms. Kael's.
Pauline Kael seems to look at movies from, I don't know. A more cultured viewpoint.
There's one part of me that's astounded at how Pauline seems to focus on what's wrong with a movie. Rain Man is Dustin Hoffman humping the same note on a piano.....Little Mermaid is, essentially, a very well done toy commercial.
But when something does catch her eye (and it's usually something subtle--the interplay between characters, or actors), and she is pleased, it's funny to read:
From her review of Avalon:
When Barry Levinson directs autobiographical material, he catches the rhythms of grouchiness, of irritation, in preening of the commonplace remarks that people make all the time. He's especially virtuosic at catching the sound of people who know each other all too well: they've bored each other and picked at each other for years, but they always stop short of drawing blood.....
Book #26
Bill Scheft
The Ringer
2002
Started: January 7, 2004
Finished: February 21, 2004
Bill Scheft is a writer on the Late Show with David Letterman, and he's got a column in Sports Illustrated. He's a regular contributor to the Bob and Tom Show, and he's an all around funny guy.
This is my read-at-work book. If Iowa Baseball Confederacy was any indication, it'll be roughly June before I finish The Ringer.
I'm about 30 pages in, though. So far, it's made me laugh out loud twice....so it's got that going for it....
It's nicely done, but it's not exactly meant for me, I think. It's very much another generation's book....essentially a man finding himself late in life.
I think there's a very large part of Bill Scheft in College Boy.
Bill Scheft
The Ringer
2002
Started: January 7, 2004
Finished: February 21, 2004
Bill Scheft is a writer on the Late Show with David Letterman, and he's got a column in Sports Illustrated. He's a regular contributor to the Bob and Tom Show, and he's an all around funny guy.
This is my read-at-work book. If Iowa Baseball Confederacy was any indication, it'll be roughly June before I finish The Ringer.
I'm about 30 pages in, though. So far, it's made me laugh out loud twice....so it's got that going for it....
It's nicely done, but it's not exactly meant for me, I think. It's very much another generation's book....essentially a man finding himself late in life.
I think there's a very large part of Bill Scheft in College Boy.
Sunday, January 04, 2004
Book #25
Bob Costas
Fair Ball: A Fan's Case for Baseball
2000: Broadway Books
Started: January 2, 2004
Finished: January 6, 2004
I picked up the unabridged book on tape off a dollar-table at a used book store in Chattanooga. Listening to it while I drive.
I'd always held off on picking this up to read it. Partly because I didn't want to pay $18, or even $10 for a book that it looked like would take me a couple of hours to read. And it's not at the library for me to check out.
I've always been a little annoyed by Bob Costas. I mean, I like (basically) his play calling, and his show on HBO always brought up good things, but something about him always seemed a bit disingenuous. Like he's trying to simultaneously ingratiate himself and talk down to you.
And he's very "popular stance" when it comes to anything but baseball....the man announced pro wrestling matches, and even was ring announcer for the "War to Settle the Score," between Hulk Hogan and Rowdy Roddy Piper....but has since emerged as one of the wrestling industry's biggest and most vocal critics.....
However, he is a baseball man, and I've always been willing to listen to his ideas about baseball, even if I haven't always agreed with him.
Fair Ball is, essentially, Bob's plan to get the great game back on track, especially since it's wandered so much even in the past ten years from the game it was.
More thoughts when I finish.
I liked Bob's views on the salary floor and salary ceiling, though I think that would ultimately cause more movement of players between teams, even with the safeguards he has in place. I'm really sick of mercenary baseball.
Bob hates the wild card. I'm kind of ambivalent, though he raises the excellent point: name one really good pennant race since the wild card started. So on that point, I'd be inclined to go along with him.
Most important was his point that both the players and a few of the owners are going to have to make sacrifices. The players are going to have to realize that making sure the highest possible salary is unimaginably huge isn't necessarily what's best for him. And some owners are going to have to realize that winning and competition don't necessarily entail destroying the competition (Mr. Steinbrenner).
Personally, I think one of the biggest problems is that too many corporations own teams and view them only as part of a larger entity. The owner of the Mariners has never been to a Mariners game. That's a travesty, to me. Too many of these clubs are taking the money they get in the luxury tax and just putting it in their pockets, and not using it to be competitive. Baseball is not their priority. Money is.
Stupid capitalism.
Give Bob a read. It's a short book, and he cares very much about what he's talking about.
Bob Costas
Fair Ball: A Fan's Case for Baseball
2000: Broadway Books
Started: January 2, 2004
Finished: January 6, 2004
I picked up the unabridged book on tape off a dollar-table at a used book store in Chattanooga. Listening to it while I drive.
I'd always held off on picking this up to read it. Partly because I didn't want to pay $18, or even $10 for a book that it looked like would take me a couple of hours to read. And it's not at the library for me to check out.
I've always been a little annoyed by Bob Costas. I mean, I like (basically) his play calling, and his show on HBO always brought up good things, but something about him always seemed a bit disingenuous. Like he's trying to simultaneously ingratiate himself and talk down to you.
And he's very "popular stance" when it comes to anything but baseball....the man announced pro wrestling matches, and even was ring announcer for the "War to Settle the Score," between Hulk Hogan and Rowdy Roddy Piper....but has since emerged as one of the wrestling industry's biggest and most vocal critics.....
However, he is a baseball man, and I've always been willing to listen to his ideas about baseball, even if I haven't always agreed with him.
Fair Ball is, essentially, Bob's plan to get the great game back on track, especially since it's wandered so much even in the past ten years from the game it was.
More thoughts when I finish.
I liked Bob's views on the salary floor and salary ceiling, though I think that would ultimately cause more movement of players between teams, even with the safeguards he has in place. I'm really sick of mercenary baseball.
Bob hates the wild card. I'm kind of ambivalent, though he raises the excellent point: name one really good pennant race since the wild card started. So on that point, I'd be inclined to go along with him.
Most important was his point that both the players and a few of the owners are going to have to make sacrifices. The players are going to have to realize that making sure the highest possible salary is unimaginably huge isn't necessarily what's best for him. And some owners are going to have to realize that winning and competition don't necessarily entail destroying the competition (Mr. Steinbrenner).
Personally, I think one of the biggest problems is that too many corporations own teams and view them only as part of a larger entity. The owner of the Mariners has never been to a Mariners game. That's a travesty, to me. Too many of these clubs are taking the money they get in the luxury tax and just putting it in their pockets, and not using it to be competitive. Baseball is not their priority. Money is.
Stupid capitalism.
Give Bob a read. It's a short book, and he cares very much about what he's talking about.
Friday, January 02, 2004
Book #24
Karen Armstrong
Muhammed: a Biography of the Prophet
1993: HarperCollins
Started: December 30, 2003
Finished: January 18, 2004
I like Armstrong's writing, and her calm explanation of the histories of religion.
That said, this one's terribly dry. Not nearly as good as her history of Islam, or the Battle for God.
Karen Armstrong
Muhammed: a Biography of the Prophet
1993: HarperCollins
Started: December 30, 2003
Finished: January 18, 2004
I like Armstrong's writing, and her calm explanation of the histories of religion.
That said, this one's terribly dry. Not nearly as good as her history of Islam, or the Battle for God.
Book #23
Dom DeLillo
Pafko at the Wall: The Shot Heard Round the World
1997: Scribner
Started: December 30, 2003
Finished: January 1, 2004
It was originally published as the prologue to his novel Underworld, I picked this up off a remainder table. It's a look at the Polo Grounds on October 3, 1951, the day Bobby Thomson hit his home run to lead the New York Giants over the Brooklyn Dodgers.
This is nice. I especially liked the interplay between Cotter, a black teenager who's sneaked into the game, and Bill Waterson, a white professional at the game, and then afterwards, when Cotter has wrested Thomson's home run ball from Waterson.
Dom DeLillo
Pafko at the Wall: The Shot Heard Round the World
1997: Scribner
Started: December 30, 2003
Finished: January 1, 2004
It was originally published as the prologue to his novel Underworld, I picked this up off a remainder table. It's a look at the Polo Grounds on October 3, 1951, the day Bobby Thomson hit his home run to lead the New York Giants over the Brooklyn Dodgers.
This is nice. I especially liked the interplay between Cotter, a black teenager who's sneaked into the game, and Bill Waterson, a white professional at the game, and then afterwards, when Cotter has wrested Thomson's home run ball from Waterson.
