Anyone interested in how comic books function as an art form needs to read this. RCH's writing is a bit indulgent at times, but he provides very clearAnyone interested in how comic books function as an art form needs to read this. RCH's writing is a bit indulgent at times, but he provides very clear, insightful, detailed analysis 80% of the time....more
I got over 100 pages into it before throwing in the towel. It's awful. I've read all of Neal Stephenson's novels except his first (The Big U) and his I got over 100 pages into it before throwing in the towel. It's awful. I've read all of Neal Stephenson's novels except his first (The Big U) and his worst (Anathem). I started his worst twice and got over 200 pages in and gave up both times. It's terrible. It's such a bad experience of reading, with some gems of ideas buried beneath the lack of understanding of what others will find stimulating as a novel. Anathem is so bad it's worse than this book.
Having said that, the idea behind everything would make a great scholarly nonfiction essay. This is something that this novel shared with Anathem. Great idea, horrible execution.
To give you context for my opinion, I adore The Baroque Cycle and believe it's the best fiction written in my lifetime. I love Cryptonomicon and thought Seveneves and REAMDE were entertaining and yet thought-provoking.
Anyway, read about the first 50 pages and if you don't like it, stop--it only gets worse and worse....more
I loved their Book of Mythicality. I love GMM. I had hopes for this. Unfortunately, their skills in novel writing are equal to their skills in the 10 I loved their Book of Mythicality. I love GMM. I had hopes for this. Unfortunately, their skills in novel writing are equal to their skills in the 10 word story gag they do on their show...not very entertaining to anyone but possibly themselves. The worst part is this is 100,000 words. It reads like STRANGER THINGS fan fiction, and I can't stand ST. The worst part is tone shifting. Tone is something even ghost writer (not ghost dog) Lance Rubin could not fix. No hate for the boys. Just for this admirable but failed attempt at long form fiction....more
This is one of two just terrible books by NS. One might say they are anathema to me. Everything else he has published is good, and some of it (The BarThis is one of two just terrible books by NS. One might say they are anathema to me. Everything else he has published is good, and some of it (The Baroque Cycle, especially) is positively brilliant....more
It's always interesting when an atheist expresses spiritual thoughts. That confliction of beliefs somehow reassures me in my own faith, reassures in aIt's always interesting when an atheist expresses spiritual thoughts. That confliction of beliefs somehow reassures me in my own faith, reassures in a manner much like when JH starts to get serious and deep and then finishes the thought with a witty metaphor. If you enjoy JH's fake fact tales, these real opinion tales will likely also amuse and enlighten you....more
This is a great survey and overview of footy in Australia. Even though it's conclusion is not proven by details, the author is right--both parties areThis is a great survey and overview of footy in Australia. Even though it's conclusion is not proven by details, the author is right--both parties are bonkers....more
Amazing mystery that is about the characters and humanity as much or more than it is the mystery. The most stunning, wonderful, and entertaining part Amazing mystery that is about the characters and humanity as much or more than it is the mystery. The most stunning, wonderful, and entertaining part of this novel is the shifting points of view throughout the narrative. Each section is told by the character who had the most to tell about the story, sometimes with overlapping narratives that show how the same events were viewed quite differently by different people. This sophisticated yet page-turning mystery makes Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes read like childrens' books....more
This is witty, charming, funny, heart warming, and thought provoking. My heart broke, my eyes teared up, and I laughed out loud at several points readThis is witty, charming, funny, heart warming, and thought provoking. My heart broke, my eyes teared up, and I laughed out loud at several points reading this tender, weird, wonderful tale....more
Great overview. Some of the comments make no sense to me as a non-musician, so an explanation of some of the terms for a layman would have been helpfuGreat overview. Some of the comments make no sense to me as a non-musician, so an explanation of some of the terms for a layman would have been helpful....more
Very in depth but still missing some details. How do you title a book this way then never explain what modal jazz is? Still the best book of its kind Very in depth but still missing some details. How do you title a book this way then never explain what modal jazz is? Still the best book of its kind that I've seen....more