Archive
Book Review: Feed by M. T. Anderson
Summary:
Titus is your typical teenager of future America. He lives in a suburb where his parents program the weather. He drives an upcar. He’s got a feed–a microchip in his brain that allows him to chat silently with people, shop, look up anything he wants to know more about, etc… He’s also got a lesion, but a lot of people have those now. He is quite ordinary. But he meets a girl on a trip to the moon who is anything but ordinary. A girl who got the feed late and dares to question it.
Review:
This book has a great concept, essentially exploring what the world would be like if twitter was implanted into our brains. This is rather extraordinary given that twitter didn’t even exist yet when Anderson wrote it. It explores losing our individuality to machines and consumerism. Ceasing to care about important information due to being bombarded by inane information at all hours of the day. I just wish Anderson had taken this concept a different direction.
I immediately connected with Violet, the girl Titus meets on the moon. She’s quirky, is homeschooled, and really is a bit of a nerd who just wants a chance to try out hanging out with the popular kids and doing what they do. Titus is a complete and total asshole to her. I suppose I could forgive him for that if he showed that he learned anything from coming into contact with a person as powerful as Violet, but he doesn’t. He ditches her when she needs him most because she’s making him uncomfortable. He wants to stay in the cocoon of his feed-driven life, and nothing she does or says can change that. He clearly goes from girl to girl, using them up like paper towels or tissues, and then on to the next one. Maybe that was Anderson’s point–that the feed has dehumanized the people who have it–but it made for a less powerful book than if Titus had learned something. Anything.
Similarly some questions just aren’t answered simply because Titus doesn’t care, so we aren’t allowed to know. In particular the lesions are set up as some sinister mystery, but then we never find out why they are occurring. Nobody even really speculates as to why they’re showing up. They’re just there. I seriously doubt there’d be zero speculation over such a phenomenon, even in a future where people are obsessed with consumerism.
Overall, the concept and writing on a sentence level are good, but the story as a whole left me feeling empty and disappointed. There’s telling a bleak story, and then there’s telling a story that’s sympathetic to a jerkwad. This is the latter. If that type of story is something you enjoy, you will enjoy this book. Everyone else should look elsewhere, perhaps to The Hunger Games if you’re looking for a YA dystopia.
3 out of 5 stars
Source: Swaptree
Movie Review: Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) (Series, #2)
Summary:
The machines didn’t just send one terminator back in time; they sent two. The second is a T1000 made of molten metal that can morph into the shape of anything it touches. It’s out to get Sarah’s son, John, who is extra vulnerable since his mother is locked up in a mental institution.
Review:
This is a fan favorite, and people tended to be floored when they found out I hadn’t seen it yet, so I finally got around to watching it. It is deliciously 90s, and when I found out the special effects are phenomenal for the time period. In fact, I wouldn’t be too disappointed to see a movie made today with this level of special effects. The T1000 looks believable, and the fight scenes are dramatic and powerful.
I enjoyed the twist and new approach to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character. His accent is perfect for playing a robot, and this was truly great casting.
Anyone who knows me won’t be surprised that I disliked the mental hospital part of the plot. It presents a very false example of what mental institutions were like in the 90s and demonizes the doctors and other mental health workers. Obviously mental health workers aren’t going to go around believing people who claim to be visited by time traveling robots, but they will and do treat them kindly. Other scifi stories have handled similar plot lines much better, and I was disappointed to see such harsh treatment of a helping institution.
Also, the voice overs by Sarah Connor were completely unnecessary, overly dramatic, and full of cringe-inducing dialogue. It kind of reminded me of the voice over in Blade Runner. Blech.
These two negative elements did not take up much of the screen time, however. That mostly consisted of John Connor and Arnold Schwarzenegger both of whom were quite pleasurable to watch. If you enjoy action movies, you will definitely enjoy this film.
3.5 out of 5 stars
Source: Netflix
Previous Movies in Series:
Terminator
Friday Fun! (A/C, Rent, Gardening)
Hello my lovely readers! Last weekend saw a heatwave here in Boston that finally convinced me to buy an a/c unit. My brother informed me that the new models use far less electricity than I previously had thought, and my dad offered to contribute some money toward one as an early birthday present, so one was acquired! Of course, the day it arrived was so chilly that I had all my windows shut, lol. We plan on installing it this weekend in preparation for the imminent return of the heat. Long as we can find an electric drill to borrow somewhere.
My lease is up the end of August, so I wound up discussing renewing it with my landlord. He told me he’s probably going to have to raise my rent due to taxes. A friend reminded me that it’s a renter’s market, so that’s a bit odd. However, I also just remembered that he gave me a deal when I first rented it, knocking $50 off the original monthly amount he wanted, so I guess that evens it out? Either way, I really don’t want to move. I haven’t been in one place for more than a year since I was 15 years old (15 through 18 consisting of switching back and forth between parents’ houses), and it would just be nice to have 2010 be The Year Amanda Doesn’t Move Anywhere. Also, with the job hunt and graduation in January, I’m expecting that my entire financial situation will be very different in a few months, so I’d rather wait to move until that happens. Anyway, cross your fingers for me that it doesn’t go up too much and that I’ll overcome my patriarchy-induced tendencies to not advocate for myself in monetary situations!
In container gardening news, one of my tomato plants is getting tall, and I’m wondering when I should stake it. I’m a bit clueless about tomato plants. The other one is kind of failing to thrive. It looks healthy, but it’s still only 3 to 4 inches tall. I added some dirt and watered it, but I don’t know what else to do. Thoughts on that? The good news is, my pepper plants are doing awesome! I may have discovered my gardening niche. I also just planted some onions (yes, in containers). I’m super excited about that, because they’re my favorite veggie! Unfortunately, two very sun-lacking days followed my planting of them, so I’m not sure if that’ll affect the germination. Next up, I need to figure out some way (*cough* some free way *cough*) to raise my long container for spinach so it’s closer to the light. I’m thinking using empty boxes since that’s about all I have laying around.
I have yet to decide exactly what I’ll be doing tonight and Saturday (but I guarantee some reading and some videogaming). Sunday I’ll be doing some invasive species removal on the Charles River. Stoked for that! What will you be doing with your weekends?
Book Review: Mostly Harmless by Douglas Adams (Series, #5)
Summary:
Arthur Dent thought his zany days earth-less days were over. The whole Earth-being-blown-up was undone, and he found a woman to love. But when they’re traveling through the universe together, she suddenly disappears and Arthur finds himself in a parallel universe where the exact Earth he once knew doesn’t exist. Meanwhile, Ford Prefect pays a visit to the Guide offices and finds that something just isn’t quite right.
Review:
Thank goodness I didn’t let the flop of the fourth book So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish deter me from finishing the series. Adams returns to his strengths in this entry–outerspace adventures of Ford and Arthur, not to mention zany robots and odd cultures on other planets that manage to reflect the oddities of our own. Plus, the storyline actually moves the original plot of the Earth being destroyed by the Vogons forward.
Some of the jokes rank right up there with The Restaurant at the End of the Universe. One that sticks out in my mind is when Ford messes with a robot’s circuitry making it endlessly joyful. It was a delightful flipping of the endlessly miserable robot, Marvin, featured earlier in the series. It was quite enjoyable to see how hilarious both extremes are. Also of note is the village religious man on a planet Arthur winds up on, who is quite clearly making the village’s religion up as he goes along, and the villagers are semi-aware of this, but shrug and let him. That said, at least half of the jokes, while they tickled my funny-bone in a pleasant way, didn’t have me actually laughing like the first couple of books did. It was a pleasant read, but not uproariously funny.
Entire essays and theses could be written (and probably have been) on the themes in the Hitchhiker series. Excuse me. Trilogy. From belonging to homelessness to the purpose of life, Adams’ work has it all, which is what makes it good humor, actually. It’s humor pointing out the most basic questions of life in a setting that removes it from our own experiences enough to make us see it in a different light.
Some readers will probably be unhappy with the ending. I enjoyed it and saw the humor in it, in spite of it being rather dark. I know that Adams expressed some discontent with it and was in the middle of writing a sequel, The Salmon of Doubt, when he died, which has now been posthumously published, as well as a sixth entry written by Adams’ widow and Eoin Colfer. I don’t cotton to posthumously published works assembled by people who are not the author, nor continuations based on what people “think the author would have wanted.” For all we know, Adams could have changed his mind yet again. I prefer to view Mostly Harmless as the end of the series, as it was the last book truly finished by Adams.
Mostly Harmless is a wonderful closing chapter to the series that contains delightful meta jokes, as well as new territory, and neatly ties up the experiences of the characters. Fans of the series won’t be disappointed with this entry, which is a delightful jump up from the fourth book, but they may be left a bit sad to see the end.
4 out of 5 stars
Source: Raven Used Books
Previous Books in Series:
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
Life, the Universe, and Everything
So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish, review
Please Help the Gulf Animals
My lovely readers, I’m sure no matter where in the world you come to my blog from, you’ve heard about the massive BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. I don’t like to get into politics/big business/whatever, but I am a staunch advocate for animals. These innocent creatures never use oil in their day to day lives. They don’t go around creating genocides. They are less evolved than us and deserve our protection and admiration as the beautiful creatures they are.
This is what the oil spill has done to them:
AP Photographer Charlie Riedel's photo of an oil-covered bird as found on Boston.com.
The National Wildlife Federation is working tirelessly to save these innocent beings, or at least to alleviate their suffering. It’s a huge, unexpected responsibility, and they need all the help they can get.
I beseech you to please go to the National Wildlife Federation’s oil spill donation website and donate today. Any amount helps.
We caused this–human beings–and my heart weeps for them. Even if you normally wouldn’t donate to animal or environmental causes, please consider doing so today, particularly if you find my blog a helpful or enjoyable part of your week. You could give me no nicer gift.
Thank you.
Recipe: Sweet Curry Chickpea Casserole
The Result:
A slightly spicy but simultaneously sweet curry that fills and warms your belly. Be sure to serve with rice and maybe naan. Once you have the spices in stock, it’s also quite cheap!
The Recipe:
Makes 4 servings
1 can or 2 1/2 to 3 cups cooked chickpeas
1 13.5 oz can light coconut milk (double this if you’re leaving it in a crockpot all day)
3/4 cup red onion, chopped
1 1/2 cups celery, chopped
1 to 1 1/2 cups sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped (approximately 1 medium-sized sweet potato)
1 to 1 1/2 cups Granny Smith apple, chopped (approximately 1 medium-sized apple)
3 medium cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 Tablespoon freshly grated ginger or 1 1/2 teaspoon powdered ginger
1 1/2 Tablespoon mild red curry paste
2 teaspoon mustard seed or 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard or 1/2 teaspoon mustard (the condiment)
1 teaspoon cumin seeds or 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
3/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/8 teaspoon allspice
If you will be baking in the oven, preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a large, deep casserole dish, combine all the ingredients and stir until well-combined. Cover and bake for 30 minutes. Stir through, cover, and bake for another 30-40 minutes, until the veggies are tender.
If you will be using a slow cooker, combine all ingredients in the crockpot. Set to low. It will be ready in around 5 hours. If you want to leave it all day, double the amount of coconut milk to 2 cans or put in one can and fill the can with water and add that to the crockpot as well.
Source: Tweaked from recipe sent to me by @InfoJennifer who in turn tweaked it from page 106 of Dreena Burton’s Vive le Vegan
Movie Review: Up (2009)
Summary:
Carl’s wife Ellie has died, and now he’s sitting in the house they shared biding the time until he can join her. An unfortunate conflict with the developers building all around him leads the court to order that he be sent to a nursing home. Defiant, Carl decides to take the trip to South America he and Ellie always meant to take by flying there–with his house. An 8 year old stowaway, a mysterious bird, and dogs with collars that allow them to talk all make for an interesting adventure.
Review:
I know, I know. How had I not seen this already? I admit, I thought the premise sounded dumb at the time it came out, and was surprised at how into it everyone got. I don’t entirely blame myself for this. The advertising ignored everything that makes this movie wonderful and instead focused on the balloon house.
This story showcases the problems faced as an elderly person. Other stories do this, but this is a cartoon, generally aimed at children, and it is frankly a delightful pairing. It’s an old wive’s tale that there’s an innate connection between the elderly and the very young, and this movie decidedly backs that up. Russell, the 8 year old, is lonely due to his absentee father, but in his youth is still full of energy and optimism. Carl, in spite of living a good life, is depressed and lonely without Ellie. There is no one who bothers to care for him. They only see a crotchety old man, which granted is the way he’s behaving, but maybe it’s for a reason? Kevin respects Carl, and this gradually opens him up to connecting with another human being even at this late stage in life.
In addition to the wonderful themes, the scenes are beautifully drawn. The colors are just the perfect mix of cartoony and realistic to make for a visual feast. Additionally, the comic relief of the talking dogs and the mysterious birds are handled with an expert ease that hits the funny button at just the right moments, but are still creative enough to be delightful.
If you happen to have still not seen Up, I highly recommend it. It’s not your average animated movie plot, and it is visually gratifying.
5 out of 5 stars
Source: Netflix
BBAW Links for Judging
To my usual readers: This post is a list of links for the judges of Book Blogger Appreciation Week to use in judging my blog. A regular post will be up later today! If you’re also a book blogger and would like to participate, you may register here.
Niche–Eclectic
- Book Review: Woman on the Edge of Time by Marge Piercy
- Book Review: Love Among the Chickens by P. G. Wodehouse
- Book Review: Battle Royale Ultimate Edition Volume 1 by Koushun Takami (Manga) (Series, #1)
- Book Review: The Gunslinger by Stephen King (Series, #1)
- Book Review: Ethan: Site 39 by Otis V. Goodwin
Best Written
Book Review: From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris (Series, #8)
Summary:
Hurricane Katrina and the bombing of the vampire assembly at Rhodes have left the Louisiana supernatural community reeling and disjointed. This naturally creates the perfect atmosphere for attempted violent takeovers in both the were and vampire communities. Sookie finds herself smack in the middle, as usual, both due to her telepathic abilities and her desire to help her friends. Of course her telepathic abilities can’t tell her where her boyfriend, Quinn, has disappeared to. In the middle of all this, she also finds out some interesting family secrets.
Review:
Not only is Sookie’s character developing and changing, but the series is as well, and that’s what’s keeping it interesting this many books in. If you’ve stuck it out this long, then you’re clearly enjoying something that Harris is doing; however, I would say that the previous book and this one mark a stark change in the style of the series away from paranormal romance to just paranormal fiction. I’m actually not sure what exactly one would call this genre, but From Dead to Worse definitely reads like modern-day fiction just with supernatural characters tossed in. I really enjoy this partly because Harris’ sex scenes are cringe-inducing anyway, but also because it allows for that modern day connection but with problems that I will never have. This makes it a relaxing read.
Unlike some paranormal series, the main character of Sookie has gone through significant character developments. She went from a naive girl desperate to fit in to sadder but wiser woman who enjoys being different. In the first book, we see Sookie being cared for by her grandmother; in this one, we see Sookie caring for not only the witch, Amelia, but also an elderly woman, Octavia. It’s not just this that’s changing, however. Sookie’s experiences leave her wondering if she’s a good person or not, and frankly the reader is left trying to figure that out as well.
Some readers will be thrown by the absence of sex in this book. However, I enjoyed the various types of sexual and romantic interest tension Sookie has with the various men in her life. It is evident that she’s attempting to figure out which direction she wants to go in her life before settling on a man. Racking up this tension throughout one book is a great set-up for the next one.
My only gripes with this entry in the series are two-fold. First, I really don’t like the Jason/Hotshot storyline. Jason could be a very interesting character, as we know from the direction they’ve taken him in True Blood. He’s not used well in the books, though, and I hope Harris fixes this soon. I’m tired of cringing over the Hotshot scenes. Also, this book yet again features a northern woman who yet again is an evil bitch in Sookie’s eyes. This is obviously Harris’ own prejudice coming through as Sookie has been established as a person who is staunchly not prejudiced against anyone. What is with this hating on northern women? It says a lot about Harris that this prejudice seeps into her writing even when writing a character who is not prejudiced. I’m sick of seeing it, and it stings as a northern female fan of the series.
However, in spite of these short-comings, the series is still enjoyable. This book marks a distinct change in the writing from paranormal romance to simply paranormal. Readers who’ve stuck it out this far will either enjoy this change as I do or give up on the series due to its lack of romance. If you’re reading it for the characters and the world Harris has created, you will enjoy this entry into the series. If you’re reading it for paranormal romance, you’ll probably want to look elsewhere.
4 out of 5 stars
Source: PaperBackSwap
Previous Books in Series:
Dead Until Dark
Living Dead in Dallas
Club Dead
Dead To The World
Dead as a Doornail
Definitely Dead
All Together Dead
Friday Fun! (Long Weekend, Job Hunt)
Hello my lovely readers! As ya’ll know, last weekend was a 3 day weekend for moi. I am pleased to report that I managed to hit up some Memorial Day weekend sales with my gal pals. The rest of the weekend was mostly devoted to being lazy, as it should be. I also had my first veggie burgers of the season. I know you can eat them year-round, but for some reason I prefer them when it’s warm out.
Since I’m acquiring my MLIS in January 2011, at my yearly review a couple of weeks ago I talked to my boss about my position. It was newly created when I was hired, so whether they wanted to keep it paraprofessional or make it professional was unclear. Well folks, they want to keep it paraprofessional. I’m welcome to stay, but also have their blessings to start looking for a professional position, which I’ve been doing. So I’m looking for my first professional job. You guys know how job hunting is; I don’t need to go into that. It has, however, been taking up a bit of time. If any of you guys happen to hear of anything or can put a good word in for me, I’d appreciate it. :-)
This weekend I’m looking forward to trying out a longer bike ride again to see if I’m getting any better. This undoubtedly will be combined with picnicking and reading. Happy weekends!
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This work by Amanda Nevius is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
Opinions of a Wolf 