a Nerd's Nebulous Notes

Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen

stevesmoot — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 23:28:49 +0000

Ok, I just reread Pride and Prejudice, which is in my top 10 of books, period. I don’t really know what drives the attraction, but sometimes P&P just has to be read, or viewed (and the 5 hr BBC/A&E edition is the one to watch). This week, I actually did both, which is enabling me to contrast the two, BTW I’m not going to worry about spoilers, so if somehow you don’t know what happens in the book, skip the review… The major differences I noticed were in pace and focus. The book starts a lot faster than the movie, and (oddly) even devotes more detail to Darcy’s initial attraction, which IMHO makes it all make more sense. The secod change is that the miniseries spends a lot more cycles on the younger daughters and the army connection (plus buring lots of screen time on the parties), it really is more of a major plotline on the screen than in the book, though of course hardly trivial. The oddest difference is near the end, after Jane starts on her trip, which ends so poorly, the book makes it much more evident that she’s changing her mind than the movie. And the biggest difference is after she observes her letter’s impact on Darcy – on screen we see HIM acting, which reveals the big secret (in the book), and which makes his coming retry more evident, while in the book that is totally missing and instead we hear Jane realize more and more she’s down the wrong path, and thinking it’s all hopeless & regretful. Sigh, even typing this paragraph pulls me back to the books in a desire to reread.

It’s All Too Much – Peter Walsh

stevesmoot — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 00:52:09 +0000

Peter is apparently a TV cleaning star. Picked up It’s All Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff based on the 43 folders review, but was not nearly as excited. The central message is that you need to start decluttering based on imagining what your life should be like, that should empower you to toss all the crap you have accumulated. That’s a powerful concept, too bad it was padded out into a book (ok, I like the title too). Get it from the library and read the second half quickly.

Dead as a Doornail – Charlaine Harris

stevesmoot — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 00:46:52 +0000

Continuing the Southern Vampire series with Dead as a Doornail/a>, I continue to be a weak fan. Better than not reading them, but they’re sort of a pain. Nice to see what Charlaine can come up with, tired of Sookie’s complaints and worries repeated ad nauseam. There’s a nice twist to this one, that would be a spoiler, so I’ll just say I appreciated that it wasn’t a perfect score.

On the Wealth of Nations – P J O’Rourke

stevesmoot — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 00:43:13 +0000

I was disappointed in On The Wealth of Nations, as a fan of both PJ and Smith, I thought it would be great. Now, admittedly I haven’t actually read Smith, just know the ideas, but the book lacked the real punch of PJ, and didn’t cover much new from Smith. Better than reading the Monarch notes though.

Horse Under Water – Len Deighton

stevesmoot — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 00:38:43 +0000

Continuing to make my way though the Rap Sheet’s Books you have to read, picked up Horse Under Water. It’s not their recommendation, but is the prequel to Funeral in Berlin which is. The story is ok+, it’s certainly a different view on the secret agent – mostly concerned with politics, adventure just sort of mixed in as a bonus. Perhaps the secret agent as civil servant, would be a good description.

Cloak of Darkness – Helen MacInnes

stevesmoot — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 00:33:59 +0000

Cloak of Darkness is a sort of sequel (common characters) to books of hers with Robert Renwick, looking at the exploits of InterIntell, and his relationship with his wife (also from previous books). Lots of emphasis on their relationship, since she cant use her usual ‘falling in love’ plot. Anyway, recommended, for adventure fans.

Jhegaala – Steven Brust

stevesmoot — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 00:29:31 +0000

Steven is one of those authors who just cant produce enough for me. I both long for another Vlad book to arrive, and dread it as I know that with each one the series end will draw closer. Jhegaala explores the East much more than previously, and it’s a different place. Also need to see Vlad produce, while so hampered by the need to keep a low profile. There is a core mystery and it’s tricky…though I was at the end of a 17hr flight when I started it, so maybe it’ll be more clear to you. Needless to say, recommended for all fans of Fantasy, though this isn’t the place to start (The Book of Jhereg is).

When the Sacred Ginmill Closes – Lawrence Block

stevesmoot — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 00:23:38 +0000

When the Sacred Ginmill Closes is my first of his Matthew Scudder Mysteries, based on a recommendation from the Rap Sheet’s excellent “Books you have to read” feature. Man, this is a seedy NYC I barely experienced. Nicely wrapped mystery, on the edge of believability, but stays on the side of light. I redouble Rap’s recommendation.

Blue Ocean Strategy – Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne

stevesmoot — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 00:15:20 +0000

Wow. Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make Competition Irrelevant is a great strategy book. Most strategy books (admittedly not an area in which I’m really well read) contain a single good idea and a limp wristed action plan to go from there. BOS has a ok idea, with great advice about how to take this idea and run with it. A solid read, based on the recommendation from the always entertaining and sometimes informative Ryan Holiday.

Captain’s Fury – Jim Butcher

stevesmoot — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 00:10:12 +0000

Captain’s Fury
Captain’s Fury, the 4th in the Codex Alera, improves things from the dismal 3rd book, but is still outpaced by his Dresden series. The real problem is that the bad humans lack only monocles and maniacal laughs…by book 4 they should really be more credible. Ok, will continue, but not thrilled.