Read in 2003
Submitted by jim on Tue, 01/21/2003 - 05:32
Tags:
- April
- The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus ... Funny, heart-breaking and depressing, but strangely uplifting for parents in that you simultaneoulsly realize that you're a good parent (hopefully) while at the same time recognizing the little things you do wrong writ large in the extremism of Mrs. X. Another good book club book - the nominators are on a roll.
- Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield ... I think if Michael Crichton, at the hight of his powers, wrote a novel about the Battle of Thermopylae it would come out similarly (that's a compliment). Good work from Pressfield on bringing home the battle and the Spartan lifestyle. I've now read two fictionalized (to varying degrees) accounts of this battle. I really should read one of the histories. Recommendations? LBangs?
- March
- The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon ... A book club selection that I enjoyed quite a bit. If nothing else, Chabon has a fabulous vocabulary.
- Carpe Jugulum by Terry Pratchett ... The latest Discworld "Witches" book. Of course I loved it.
- February
- Duke 2000 and Revolt of the English Majors by Garry Trudeau ... These are the two latest large Doonesbury collections and they are consistently great. That Trudeau has been cranking out great material for 30+ years astonishes me.
- The Return of Depression Economics by Paul Krugman ... Krugman is the Carl Sagan of economics, and I always enjoy him for any number of reasons, not the least of which is his ability to make Republicans froth at the mouth. This is one of his non-partisan books, and it's still good.
- Poker Nation by Andy Bellin ... Opened up an alien world to me, depicting it as glamorous, exotic, seedy, and pathetic all at once. Good book.
- Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand ... Loved it. The sort of story you couldn't write as fiction because nobody would believe it. Wonderfully written and gripping. Highly recommended.
- January
- If Chins Could Kill by Bruce Campbell ... A very enjoyable window into blue-collar filmmaking. Definitely recommended.
Author Comments:
I find book reviews take more words, time, and energy than movie reviews and I'm lacking at least two of the three. So these'll be much shorter than my corresponding movie list, but I'd be happy to discuss any of the books listed in more depth if anybody asks.
Add to this a steady diet of National Geographic, World Press Review, Family Handyman, This Old House, and a bunch of web sites, and that's my reading in a nutshell.
Cloned From:
Jim, I'm glad to hear/see you liked it.
How odd. I keep seeing references to Seabiscuit and based on the subject matter I keep completely dismissing it. Take it I should rethink that strategy?
As someone who once had the same strategy, I'd recommend a rethink. I had no interest in the subject matter either. My wife used to work with horses professionally, and she read it months ago and really liked it. Even that wasn't enough to get me over the hump. It had to be required reading (it was a book club book) to motivate me (and I started it two days before the meeting, so I'm glad it grabbed me!). Good stuff. Even the first three chapters, which only introduce you to each of the three main "characters" (not counting the horse), are engrossing.
Jim, I just read somewhere they are making into a movie with Tobey Mcguire. I am not sure who he is playing because I have not read the book but I thought I heard he was going to be a jockey...
Cool. Just did a quick search and turned up this. Maguire is going to play Red Pollard, Seabiscuit's regular jockey (George Woolf, Seabiscuit's "when Red is injured" jockey, will be played by a real jockey). I don't think I would have come up with that cast, but I'm always pleased to see Jeff Bridges working. And having just looked up who Chris Cooper is, I think he's a very good fit for the role of Tom Smith
Chins is wonderful. I steal my brother's copy whenever I'm home. Mr. Campbell's start in movies (along with Sam Raimi & crew) is at once wonderfully simple and respect-commanding.
Yeah, great stuff. And it's nice to get a sense of perspective on how hard the job is, and what life is like for the non-bazillionaires.
I really liked Kavalier and Clay. It's wonderfully funny and heartbreaking and I'd recommend it to everyone. Comic book fans will find it particularly interesting. I also enjoyed Chabon's Wonder Boys.
Jim, have you really not read anything since March?
Well, I had March on there twice, so it's really been since April. But no, I've read a few things: the new Harry Potter, Thief of Time by Terry Pratchett, Straight Man and Empire Falls by Richard Russo (somebody should take some acclaim away from John Irving and give it to Russo), and Treasure Hunters (Bone Vol. 8) by Jeff Smith. I think there must be one other thing in there that escapes me at the moment. This list has just fallen by the wayside. With my schedule these days, it's all I can do to review all the movies I see. Alas...
If you can't review it you should at least make note of it so we know what books to ask you about! :-)
Fair enough. I'll try to pick this list up again with the next book I read. :-) My previous post pretty much brough you up to date.