notw

Image

Neutral rating for The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain. Historical fiction.

You know the story. It did have some moments. Overall, rather tedious. I’m glad I read Connecticut Yankee first or I never would have gone on with the Twain.

Our friends threaded their way slowly through the throngs upon the bridge. This structure, which had stood for six hundred years, and had been a noisy and populous thoroughfare all that time, was a curious affair, for a closely packed rank of stores and shops, with family quarters overhead, stretched along both sides of it, from one bank of the river to the other.

… >> Read more

Image

Thumbs up for Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari. Sociology.

The title accurately represents the topic. I did enjoy reading this book overall, but it fell flat for me personally because, as a sociology book written by a humorist, it wasn’t that funny (not Mary Roach-funny), and I was already familiar with a lot of the research presented. Two things I learned: Tinder is more sensible than it seems; and we should probably, as a society, take another look at the assumption of monogamy, because smart people should question the validity of any rule that is practiced more in the breach than the observance.… >> Read more

Image

Thumbs up for Fluency by Jennifer Foehner Wells. Science fiction.

A charming, quick-reading science fiction book (with a bit of tasteful romance) featuring a linguist who doesn’t really do any linguist-ing. Sigh.

He stiffened a bit, but didn’t open his eyes. “I know it’s okay. I’m just fucking tired of playing Princess Buttercup to your Wesley. Next time, I’m rescuing you, goddamn it.”

… >> Read more

Image

Thumbs down for Ghost World by Daniel Clowes. Graphic novel. 

There are very few times when I’ll say that the movie was better. This is one of them. In a nutshell, the girls in the movie are bitchy and entertaining. The girls in the graphic novel are depressed, bitchy and very far from entertaining.… >> Read more

Image

Comic-Con and the Business of Pop Culture: What the World’s Wildest Trade Show Can Tell Us About the Future of Entertainment by Rob Salkowitz. Business.

Sort of business. Definitely business? Except maybe not; it’s about comics, of course, their past, present, and several possible futures. Well, what the hell, I don’t have to categorize it properly anyway since I know the author and can’t review it.… >> Read more

Image

Supercharge Your Kindle Sales: Simple Strategies to Boost Organic Traffic on Amazon, Sell More Books, and Blow Up Your Author Mailing List by Nick Stephenson.

How to Sell Books by the Truckload on Amazon – Power Pack!: Sell Books by the Truckload & Get Reviews by the Truckload by Penny C. Sansevieri.

How To Get Honest Reviews: 7 Proven Ways to Connect With Readers and Reviewers by Heather Hart and Shelley Hitz.… >> Read more

Image

Oh, so belated, this list. But hey, it’s done at last.

Conservation of Shadows by Yoon Ha LeeMath, honor, magic, music, Asian mythology, war, genocide, lexicography, weaponry, time travel, and spaceships….(full review)

Graceling by Karen CashoreYou can think of Graceling as Tamora Pierce upgraded.(full review)

The Grapes of Wrath by John SteinbeckIf you have not read it, read it. If you have read it, read it again.(full… >> Read more