Review: One Shot

One Shot by Lee Child
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

One of the better reacher stories. I can see why they used this one for the movie (although the movie changed some stuff)

Recommended.

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Review: The Enemy

The Enemy by Lee Child
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Another reacher story - actually back story as this one happens in 1990.

My 3 stars pretty much says it all: good if your into the reacher series.

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Review: Tripwire

Tripwire by Lee Child
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Read enough of these now to say tripwire is one of the best reacher stories.

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Review: Our Kind of Traitor

Our Kind of Traitor by John le Carré
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Very typical Le carre : tough read, layered and dark.

An acquired taste.

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Review: A Wanted Man

A Wanted Man by Lee Child
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

typical reacher. good fun.

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Review: CyberStorm

CyberStorm by Matthew Mather
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Pretty typical end of the world story based on the idea of cyberattack.

Ending was pretty predictable in addition to being abrupt.

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Review: Reamde

Reamde by Neal Stephenson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a very long book. Very long. Basically it's a hacker/terrorist action thriller. Except because its so detailed and well, long, it doesn't exactly "zip" like many action books. What redeems it is that Stephenson is clearly very very talented (this is the first book of his I have read).

That said, giving it three stars because it is so slow to get going and I was not found of the fact that he has so so much Almost needless detail and loves to jump from point if view to point of view and back and forth in time. This break in the flow of the story was mildly annoying. For these reasons I give it 3 stars instead of 4.

Recommend however if you have the time.

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Review: Bad Monkey

Bad Monkey by Carl Hiaasen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A crazy funny detective story set in the Florida keys.

Really well done.

Highly recommended.

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Review: The Dinner

The Dinner by Herman Koch
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Giving this 3 stars. It was a tough call. The plot mesmerizing and disturbing the book is very well written. But in the end, it was disappointing. There only reason the characters seem to behave in the way they do is some unknown genetic disease.

I'd recommend it with the warning that if you are a parent, it will tug on your worst fears.

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Review: The Closing of the American Mind

The Closing of the American Mind by Allan Bloom
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Decided to read this to see if it was relevant at all. The sad answer is yes, but it flaws are even larger with age.

Most of bloom's arguments are of the "get off my lawn" sort of grumpy old men. Nearly all of part I falls into this category.

Part 2 is more philosophy than anything else and bloom's mastery of it is unquestionable.

Part 3 is mixed: in some ways dated, in some ways more relevant.

Regardless, bloom's contention: that a liberal education does not exist is even more true now than it was back in 1987. Despite his call to arms over 25 years ago, almost nothing has been done. The vast majority of america's universities are simply mechanisms one endures to get a job (or, given the most recent economic conditions, not get a job).

While much of the political conservative world internalized Bloom in the 1980s and 90s, I think one thing they miss is that bloom really takes no stand one way or the other on "right" vs "left" as we currently understand them (but he did have strong - not good - opinions on the 60s and the "radical left" of that era).

In the end, a tough book to read whose arguments are interesting but whose evidence is stale. Sadly, Bloom died in 1992 but it would have been fun to hear what he would have said 25 yrs later.

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Review: A Reader on Reading

A Reader on Reading by Alberto Manguel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Went back and forth on this book 3 stars or 4? Went with 4 because its so well written. Many of the essays are exquisite many are annoying.

I despise Alice in wonderland so the fact that it is woven throughout nearly every essay grated.

Overall if you are looking for essays on reading and literature as well as some nice insights on authors, I recommend. Personally, I probably wouldn't have read.

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Review: The Presidents Club: Inside the World's Most Exclusive Fraternity

The Presidents Club: Inside the World's Most Exclusive Fraternity by Nancy Gibbs
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If your a political junky a fun read.

The one knock is that for most political junkies, much of this book is already known. Indeed, given the lengthy notes and bibliography, most of the stories in here have been reported in prior books and articles. What this book does quite nicely is put them in a coherent context.

There is little to no original history and the sections on the more recent presidents (George w bush, Barack Obama) are quiet thin.

Nevertheless, recommend.

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Review: How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading

How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading by Mortimer J. Adler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book deserves a detailed review but, I think the best review I could give it is this:

Oh how I wish I had read this when I was 18!

Highly recommended.

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Review: The Celtic Conspiracy

The Celtic Conspiracy by Thore D. Hansen
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Good idea bad execution.

I almost stopped reading this about a quarter of the way through. But, in the sprit of fairness I kept going hoping it would get better. It didn't.

Should be a 1 star review but I gave it an extra star because the central idea of the plot could have made a good book. Alas it didn't.

Not recommended.

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Review: The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America

The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America by George Packer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is not a happy book. But does weave a narrative that must be told about how America in 2013 came to be - not through the acts of the famous but through the lives of everyday people.

After reading this, I'm left with the thought that any hope of undoing the "great unwinding" of America will happen by the actions of everyday people.

Recommended with reservation: you will be depressed while reading this.

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Review: Casino Royale

Casino Royale by Ian Fleming
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Classic.

Not like the films, much darker.

Highly recommended

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Review: Ender's Game

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Great scifi is many things at once: a great story, philosophy, commentary on human history, psychology and more. Very few scifi novels reach that pinnacle. Enders game does.

Why not 5 stars? Despite the fact that it is great scifi, with a great story and characters, for me there still is a one flaw: it's difficult to follow the battles and this makes it just a bit too esoteric for 5 stars.

Also, on a fundamental level it's a kids book or at least should be.

Despite that, highly recommended.

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Review: The Alchemist

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Beautiful little book but alas not my cup of tea.

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Review: Wool Omnibus

Wool Omnibus by Hugh Howey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Very good but long (it's original format was as an amazon kindle serial) post apocalyptic story.

Recommend

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Review: World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War

World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

To be honest I thought long and hard about giving this 3 stars instead of 4. The plot is simply a puzzle you have to patch together on your own from the various interview "vignettes" that make up the book. But, as an end of the world Zombie story, it's very good. So, for that and it's attention to every small detail, I give it the extra star.

Recommend.

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Review: The Nature of Things

The Nature of Things by Lucretius
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Read this in preparation for reading "The Swerve" about the discovery of Lucretius' poem. Have to say that it is a difficult read. The translation is not "modern" in any sense. That said, the ingeniousness of Lucretius is evident: very nearly explaining the true scientific nature of the world at a time when humankind ascribed everything to "the gods".

My recommendation is to find a different (better) translation (although I don't know if one exists).

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Review: The Eye of God

The Eye of God by James Rollins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fun read. Really well done.

Recommend.

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Review: The Alienist

The Alienist by Caleb Carr
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Although not really a "page turner" of a mystery, this is a really well done book. The plot and story are more of a "whydoneit" than "whodoneit".

I did find it hard to get through the first half if the book - mainly because there's lots of backstory and speculation vice "action". Additionally, there is an incredible amount of science - namely psychology. Nevertheless, even this is interesting given the setting - New York in the 1890's when Teddy Roosevelt was police commissioner.

The action picks up in the last half of the book and I found that despite my initial misgivings, I would like to pick up the adventures of the stories investigators in the sequel.

If you like historical fiction and mystery, you will like this book.

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Review: Odyssey

Odyssey by Homer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As with my review of Lombardo's translation of the Iliad, I will not comment on homers masterful and classic story. Many others have done so and I can add little.

But, like his translation of the Iliad, Lombardo's modern and dramatic style make this classic engaging.

Highly recommended.

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Review: Iliad

Iliad by Homer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The back cover of lombardo's translation of the Iliad boldly states "this is as good as Homer gets in English". I don't doubt it. The language is clearly more modern than other translations I have sampled and its pace is gripping.

Obviously, the are tons if ink spilled in reviewing the Iliad, so I will not even attempt to add to it in describing Homer's story.

But, I will say it is, at essence a war story and Lombardo has captured it in English incredibly well. The average reader may dread the suggestion of reading Homer as it has a reputation as dense ancient poetry. Not so with Lombardo.

Highly recommended.

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Review: Live by Night

Live by Night by Dennis Lehane
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A classic prohibition gangster tale, masterfully told.

As a reader, I enjoy a lot of fun junk food. But occasionally I'll enjoy a nice steak dinner. This book is one of those.

Incredibly plotted, paced and characterized this book about a Boston Irish gangster in the 1920's through the 1930's follows the now classic gangster path but with a few new twists.

No doubt it will be adapted sometime down the road, although it will be tough to do.

Highly recommend.

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Review: The Fear Index

The Fear Index by Robert Harris
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Interesting thriller about a hedge fund math genius and his master money making algorithm.

Well written, quick paced read.

Recommended.

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Review: The Angel of Darkness

The Angel of Darkness by Caleb Carr
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

If you enjoyed the alienist, you will like this book even more. Not only because there is more to like but because many if the weaknesses of the first book are missing in the second.

Now, it is a long slog but it is a pleasant one. While there are a few patches that drag and many of the authors foibles are on display (character after character constantly saying "I'll tell you what I've learned as soon as we get with everyone else and sit down to a fine meal." And then several pages describing the walk to the restaurant before the character tells his tale. ) the choice of voice in this book (as compared to the alienist) seems to smooth over these patches.

As usual, the author has a fine eye for per turn of the century New York but he does not let it get in the way.

All in all worthwhile.

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Review: The Hangman's Daughter

The Hangman's Daughter by Oliver Pötzsch
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Good historic thriller set in the 1600's. very well written. As several reviews have noted the hangman's daughter is not really the focus of the book. Rather, it's the hangman who is kind of the neighborhood executioner, doctor, private eye.

SPOILER (kinda) One knock against it is that since it is a "whodoneit", would have been better to have even suspected the ultimate villain. He kind of pops in at the end and says "oh,yeah, I did it".

All in all very good worth the time.

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Review: The Malice of Fortune

The Malice of Fortune by Michael Ennis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Very good historical mystery with most of the characters based in real people. Great theme of "science" (represented by di Vinci) vs psychology (represented by Machiavelli).

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Review: Yesterday's Gone: Season One

Yesterday's Gone: Season One by Sean Platt
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A fun read. Serialized so its long. Which means still not sure what the cause of the catastrophe is. Hopefully in season 2.

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Review: Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End

Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End by Manel Loureiro
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Very good zombie end of the world story although its a bit light on hope. Danger mayhem and fear for 90% of the story.

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Review: The Map of Time

The Map of Time by Félix J. Palma
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I didn't really like this book about 1/3 of the way through. It's broken into 3 sections and after the first I began to feel cheated. But I plowed on to the second section and things didn't seem to be getting better. Until section two turned into a lovely little story and the threads that tie all three sections are revealed. The final third is a mind blowing and thought provoking bow tie that wraps the whole novel.

Really well done. Helps is your a fan of h.g. Wells but that's not mandatory.

Recommend highly.

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Review: Inferno

Inferno by Dan Brown
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I'll write a longer review sometime later but I think this summarizes:

In a strange reversal, lets hope the inevitable film is better than the book.

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Review: The Hobbit

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The book that started it all. And a classic of fantasy.

For those who have never read it, most highly recommended.

If you are familiar with the Lord of the rings, the hobbit merely sets the stage. On many levels it is a happier story: it's villains not as villainous as those in the Lord of the rings: bad rather than evil. A good introduction for a young reader to the world of middle earth.

I've probably now read this three or four times and each time enjoy it more

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Review: Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

a bit geeky, good story with good pacing, well written. although final solution is a bit obvious.

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Review: The Night Circus

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a book that you will either love or not. I am in the latter category. I found its plot slow and thin and considered abandoning it several times. I did finish it, and found the last third of the story pick up significantly.

There has been a lot of praise for this book and I can understand why, its a bit "arty" and presents the reader with a mood and style that is unique. Ms. Morgenstern is clearly a talented writer. However, like I said - its either your cup of tea or not.

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Review: Ready Player One

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thee ultimate geek read. Really well done.

look its not Shakespeare but its a great quick fun read.

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Review: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Fun read.

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Review: Survivors

Survivors by James Wesley, Rawles
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Read the author's first book, patriots. Typical christanist/survivalist fare. Despite that, was interesting read. This is the sequel/prequel and its just not as good. Fills in some gaps from the first book but just not as well written.

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Review: The Spy Who Jumped Off the Screen

The Spy Who Jumped Off the Screen by Thomas Caplan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Really good thriller. Recommend.

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Review: A Feast for Crows

A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Better than than the last book, not as much history and flashbacks but still long. The quicker pacing made the length bearable plus there was plenty of action. However, I'm now 4 books into this story and the author keeps killing off or leading into dead ends all the sympathetic characters. I'm wondering if I even want to continue with this series. Perhaps, it would just be best to watch the HBO treatment of the story. Can't say that I am a fan of the author's decision to make book 4 and book 5 separate books of the same story time frame. After book 3 nearly 1/2 the characters disappear in book 4 until book 5 when there story will be told. Since I already own book 5, I guess I'll give it a shot.....

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Review: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carré
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Slow to get moving, tough to follow the jargon and gives proof to fact that the British and the Americans are 2 people's separated by a common language. That said, it is what everyone says it is : a masterful spy story.

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Review: 11/22/63

11/22/63 by Stephen King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Really good. Recommend.

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Review: A Storm of Swords

A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Wow. Incredibly long. Quite a slog. More than once I considered giving up but like on occasion, there are sections that fly and sing and move the great narrative forward. Unfortunately, it seems that after two great books in the traditon of Tolkein, Martin decided that he had forgotten in the first two portions of the series to spew forth for long passages on history and song and ancillary storylines. Guess he decided to make up for it here. This book could have been half the length.

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Review: Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First off, regardless of how much you know about Jobs or Apple this is a really thorough bio. However, since I have followed apple and jobs since 1983, many of the stories in this book are well known to those who followed him and Apple. Also, most of the best bits have been put out in the media over the last several weeks. I was also struck by the fact that, as an apple watcher, how many of the "rumored" stories were either true or mostly true.

The real insight here is the fact that Jobs provided 40 interviews to Isaacson so you get to hear his take on his life. That said, I would have liked to see a bit more independent analysis from Isaacson. Its clear he likes Jobs but he never really takes a critical eye to Jobs' place in history. Isaacson is rightly critical of Jobs' personality flaws, but as to his technical and business decisions (many of which I think were right) - not so much. Perhaps that has to come when some more perspective has been gained by time and by someone more grounded in technology. That said, definitely worth the read.

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Review: A Game of Thrones / A Clash of Kings

A Game of Thrones / A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Kind of a long slog, not as good as the first book of the series. Martin feels the need to alternate each chapter between characters making it tough to maintain continuity of the story, especially given the number of characters he parades in and out of each scene. Also, he uses the second book to impart the backstory he missed in the first.

Where the first book seems written for the screen, this one is going to be tough for the HBO crew to translate for the series.

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Review: A Game of Thrones

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

2 thoughts: really well written story, equal to Tolkein, without all the unpronounceable poems. Thought #2: the hbo series was damn near 100% faithful to the book.

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Back to blogging?

It's been a while since I have updated this blog. The reason I had left it alone for so long is that I began to use Twitter. Twitter, combined with google reader's "share with note" feature is a great way to "micro blog". Add in facebook and you suddenly have a pretty full featured communication/social/content creation tool.

The problem? As you would expect - limitations. 140 characters is not always the best way to express ideas/thoughts/commentary.

So, back to blogging. At least on occasion.

So, even though the last post to this blog was back in 2008, you can still find out what's been happening since then via my shared feed on google reader or my tweets.

Only good news for NJ tonight:

AP just called the race in NJ, but there is good news.

Cory Booker can now run for Gov. in 2013.

wiki entry

Renegade

So I am about 3/4 through the new Richard Wolff book on the Obama campaign, Renegade and I came across this....

Remember when There were posts all over the blogsphere was flipping out right after the Palin pick?

Remember that this was posted:



Well...looks like somebody read Obama's mind:

"His friend Marty Nesbitt shared with him an e-mailed photo, which summed up their collective response to weak-kneed Democrats. It was a picture of the candidate delivering his convention speech, with the caption "Everyone Chill the Fuck Out. I Got This."
Obama chuckled. "Exactly," he said. "That's exactly how I feel"."

Thinking that maybe the freakout I'm seeing on healthcare might require the same response.

Barack Obama, Couch Potato?

The New York Times has an article out tonight that examines President-Elect Obama's whereabouts since he was elected. I noticed this:

After two years of daily speeches and rallies, he has retreated into an almost hermitlike seclusion, largely hidden from public view and spotted only when he drops his two daughters off for school or goes for a workout at the gymnasium in a friend’s apartment building.

Now, the press (and perhaps the world) seems to be waiting with bated breath for Obama's next move, next statement or next appointment. But, after the last several days it looks like Obama has decided to spend the next several weeks working from Chicago. He resigned his Senate seat today (effective Sunday) so apparently there will not be a valedictory appearance on the floor of the Senate as there was after he had secured the nomination.

The Times article notes that Obama may spend as little time as possible in Washington until Inauguration day. The Obama transition team has noted that appointments will be announced from Chicago and not Washington. So, for all you sooth sayers out there - keep an eye on the passengers arriving at O'Hare (anybody want to know where Hillary Clinton was today?).

Its beginning to look like this transition will be managed the same way the campaign was: no drama. Right now, it looks like Obama wants a 9 to 5, workmanlike existence. Perhaps even a bit of couch potato time (and I would expect a trip back to Hawaii around the holidays for his Grandmother's memorial service) before January 2009.

For a guy who excited all those crowds, sounds really boring. No doubt just the way Obama wants it.

Election 08: Winners & Losers

After 2 years, and too many hours in front of the computer reading the websites and blogs late at night, there are a few winners and losers to call out.

Now, I am sure there are other winners and losers, but these few stand out to someone who has been reading the political blogs from pretty much the time political blogging got its start around the 2000 election.

First, the winners:

1. President-Elect Barack Obama and his amazing New Media Team. Probably changed political campaigns forever. (with a hat tip to Howard Dean and his 2004 team)

2. Markos Moulitsas Zúniga and the entire Daily Kos community. They got behind Obama early, losing a lot of Clinton supporting community members in the process, and become what was primarily the initial driving force on the net for Obama. Kos himself has a lot to crow about but one thing that might be overlooked is his book Crashing the Gate, which provided many markers along the road to victory for the Democratic party this election (sadly, his co-author finds himself in my loser list below).

3. Nate Silver. From an anonymous poster at Daily Kos to the mastermind of political simulations at FiveThirtyEight.com he both conducted a master class in political polling and interpretation and absolutely NAILED the final results of many of the primaries and the general election. With the exception of Indiana (but who is complaining) - check out his final projection map and compare it to the final election results - they are identical and, his popular vote projection is amazing. Come next election I suspect he will be fending off offers to bring his statistical models to network TV (the HDNet gig was cool, but, judging from his appearances on the big news networks, he will be somebody is sure to want him as 2012's Chuck Todd).

4. Andrew Sullivan. A journalist who seems to have become more of a blogger, Sullivan was the first conservative blogger to note that the emperor had no clothes (and, has paid a price for it among the red state bloggers) and get behind Obama in a big way (come to think of it, I can't think of another conservative blogger who supported Obama). His influence was on display after the Palin pick when the entire internet was abuzz with rumors (which were routinely shouted down at Daily Kos) about Govenor Palin's pregnancy and Bristol Palin. Sullivan was the first "big name" to mention it. The next morning Palin announced her 17 year old was pregnant, likely forced on it by a "big name" blogger addressing the issue.

5. The Huffington Post. Established itself as the left's answer to the Drudge Report rather than a community like Daily Kos or MyDD, which is its major accomplishment. Although it did have a hand in the bittergate story, I would like to see it invite more of the unknown netroots community onto its front page posts rather than Hollywood celbs and mainstream journalists.

6. Politico.com. Although I would not classify Politico as part of the netroots, it "made its bones" this election as a place for political reporting.

7. Talking Points Memo. Josh Marshall, already an established journalist, established himself and his TPM operation as a serious internet based publication.

Now, the Losers:

1. By definition, Red State and The Corner are losers, but I put them as the biggest losers for their total loss of reality as it became clear that Obama was going to win and Palin was a disaster pick for the country.

2. Drudge Report from hyping non-stories to making up crazy poll numbers looks like Matt Drudge is not ruling anyones world right now.

3. Although I hate to do it, I have to put Jerome Armstrong, founder of MyDD in my losers column. He backed the wrong horse in the primaries and seemed to be living in an alternate realty as Clinton's hopes vanished (on this note, let me add Taylor Marsh to that category). Even when Obama won, Armstrong seemed to be grudgingly and half heartedly behind the Democratic ticket when he made his ever infrequent appearances on the site he founded.

4. The Clinton and McCain web teams. They were just out everythinged by the Obama New Media team.


So. I am sure there are more...your thoughts?

Rahm as Chief of Staff ???

I am of mixed feelings regarding Emanuel, as is Ezra Klein

Emanuel is a brawler. He's legendarily tough and effective and ruthless. Hes the type of guy who makes enemies, then makes lists of his enemies, then makes lists of his enemies' friends, then makes lists of how they'll pay. If you thought the Obama administration would be all about bringing people together and would simply make sad faces when stubborn congressmen refused to come to the table, this is a clear sign otherwise. If good feelings don't suffice, bareknuckle politics will happily be employed...
Emanuel warns Democrats away from attempting universal health insurance or comprehensive reform, and suggests they content themselves with expanding S-CHIP (he also gives a plug to his brother, Ezekiel Emanuel's, health care plan, but says his "plan is well beyond Washington's current reach."). That's not change we can believe in.

If Obama uses Emanuel right, he will be the pit bull - the bad cop to Obama's good cop. But, the danger is if Obama is overly influenced by Emanuel's desire for practicality over possibility, the changes Obama was elected to enact may be more incremental than revolutionary.