Both these things are true: I liked and felt satisfied with All Clear, the second of two books about time-traveling Oxford historians who get stuck in Britain in World War II; and, it is perfectly possible I will never read another book by Connis Willis. Blackout left us on a cliffhanger. Eileen, Polly, and Mike, [...]
Archive for May, 2011
The Good Wife
Posted in Misc., tagged all the shows I used as examples are shows I love (although I am going off Glee) so try not to judge, as a late-life convert to the wonders of TV I am predictably fanatical about it, I do not dislike The Wire for being so dense but it's more like a long miniseries than a serial television show, I say this with all the love in the world for miniserieses, if you don't like Michael J. Fox and America Ferrara may I inquire whether you are by any chance dead inside?, it has to be a mark of how great this show is that I haven't even mentioned Alan Cumming who is also wonderful in it, The Good Wife, The Good Wife is just everything that is great about being great, the phrase "senior partner" never doesn't sound evil to me so thanks for that Joss Whedon on May 19, 2011 | 34 Comments »
This has gone on long enough, this business where I haven’t written an entire post about The Good Wife and how marvelous it is. Readers, I need a moment of your time. (Good Wife reference! Get it? Anyone? Get it? Legal Sister?) If you are like Past Jenny, you have heard of The Good Wife [...]
Turned out not to be a review: The Habit of Art, Alan Bennett
Posted in Misc., tagged Alan Bennett, Alan Bennett also wrote The History Boys which I also wanted to love passionately but didn't, can someone else read this and tell me what you think so I can adopt your opinion?, comparisons are odious, I need to just go check out a copy of The Invention of Love from the library, in fairness I only saw the film of The History Boys and not read the play, point of interest (to me anyway): Humphrey Carpenter also edited the edition of Tolkien's letters that I own, probably the worst post I have ever posted, seriously this post makes me ashamed of myself, The Habit of Art, why will my brain not stop cfing? on May 18, 2011 | 21 Comments »
Disclaimer: I started this review with goodish intentions, and it went all pear-shaped as I went on with it. I am so sorry. I nearly didn’t post it, but then I thought, Well, what if someone who reads this blog loves W.H. Auden and lives in Washington DC, and without this blog post they wouldn’t [...]
Review: Which Brings Me to You, Steve Almond and Julianna Baggott
Posted in 2 Stars, Heard about from the internets, tagged giving the book two stars for the format, I am thrilled that Game of Thrones is giving Sean Bean some US exposure in a non-villain part because I think he should have way more non-villain roles to show off how extremely awesome he is, if you know of any other epistolary novels please tell me so I can read them because I never don't love the epistolary aspect even if sometimes I don't love the novels themselves, incidentally Game of Thrones is pretty good even if it does have incest and blond girls with weirdly black eyebrows, Julianna Baggott, man-crush in this case means extreme feelings of platonic love for a dude such as the (man-)crushes I have on Bill Nighy and Howl Jenkins, Pop Culture Happy Hour is fun and charming and you should listen to it, Steve Almond, Which Brings Me to You on May 12, 2011 | 18 Comments »
I am a sucker for an epistolary novel. I will read anything epistolary, even something so patently ridiculous as Clarissa. (Yes, I’ve read Clarissa. Yes, it was really silly. I have recently learned there was a BBC adaptation of it with Sean Bean and since I have for Sean Bean feelings that teeter on the [...]
Review: Translations, Brian Friel
Posted in 4 Stars, Heard about from a person, tagged and now to convince Broadway to revive some Brian Friel plays, Brian Friel, by the time this post publishes I'll have seen Arcadia for the second time HOORAY, Cillian Murphy was adorable in that film, drama, fortunately my theater-savvy coworker sees plays for free and then tells me which ones are worth seeing, I'm really sad I missed Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, plays with language games will be particularly appreciated, recommend me all the plays you have ever loved, recommendations of plays by women and/or people of color will be particularly appreciated, superb endings, Translations on May 6, 2011 | 17 Comments »
I have now read two of Brian Friel’s plays (this one on the recommendation of my theater-savvy coworker) and I have determined that I am strongly in favor of him. Ordinarily I do not seek out the Lit’rature of Ireland, ancestral home though it is.* Because the Lit’rature of Ireland seems terribly depressing, and even [...]
Review: The Anthologist, Nicholson Baker
Posted in 4 Stars, Heard about from a person, tagged Nicholson Baker, thank you Mumsy!, The Anthologist, there isn't always a rest on May 3, 2011 | 21 Comments »
I meant to sneak this post in under the wire for National Poetry Month, but April came to a rapid and surprising end before I was able to. Never mind. The Anthologist is a book for all seasons. The Anthologist follows the slightly scattered thoughts of poet Paul Chowder about poetry and life as he [...]
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