The Pleasure of My Company

The Pleasure of My Company, by Steve Martin
When I picked up this book the other day at the library, I wasn’t looking for anything in particular. I’d read a few graphic novels in a row, followed by a couple start/stops of books that didn’t really work for me. Basically, I just wanted something interesting.

Not Your Daddy’s Comic Book

I’ve always had a faint love for comic books, reaching back to my recuperation from surgery after a skiing accident when I was ten. I wasn’t allowed back to school for three months, and then after that I wasn’t allowed to play any sports or be remotely active for a long while. Sadly, this meant [...]

A Book Survey

As requested…
1. What is a book that changed your life?
I suppose it would have to be Charlie in the Chocolate Factory, if only because it was the first book I can remember reading. Other than that, I’m not really sure that books have changed my life, unless you count make me late for places and [...]

Greatness everywhere: The Princess Bride

The Princess Bride, by William Goldman (1973)
The Princess Bride, Directed by Rob Reiner (1987)
Generally, when I read books that movies are based on, it’s with regret. Rarely, almost never, does the movie compete at all. Books simply have more room for description, imagination… Movies are restricted by what you can actually see.
(Aside: one exception where [...]

Great Books: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, by Roald Dahl
Sometimes, it’s not what’s true that matters, it’s what you remember that does. I distinctly remember Charlie and the Chocolate Factory being the first book I ever read. I remember my mother reading the book to me, chapter by chapter, and then one day having something to do [...]

Great Books: The Edge

The Edge,  by Dick Francis
Dick Francis was a professional jockey in his first life, and apparently a fairly decent one.  I never knew this, largely because it happened well before I was born, and also because I have little or no interest in horse racing. (Other than some years watching the fastest two minutes in [...]

Great Books: Lonesome Dove

Lonesome Dove, by Larry McMurtry
People either like Western movies or they don’t, and the same is true for Western books. Whether it’s Louis L’Amour, Cormac McCarthy, or Larry McMurtry, I think people tend to decide whether or not they are going to like the book by the cover. For most, a cowboy hat on the [...]

Read ‘em and weap

As most of you know, I’m a reader. As long as I can remember, I’ll read anything you put in front of me. Like some people who shall remain nameless (liz) are always following their favorite Jessica Simpson, I read. I read books. Lots of books. I read magazines. Lots of em. (I think I [...]

Hotlanta, Philly and college basketball

Had to make what was supposed to be a quick trip to Atlanta and back at the beginning of this week. As it turns out, flying into Bangor in February is not the easiest thing in the world, so I got held over in Philly on Tuesday. Other than the missed work time, that didn’t [...]

Great Books: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Looking at my list of favorite books (and yes, I made a list of books and movies that should be in my top ten. What do you want from, it’s winter in Orono, and I can’t drink like I used to. Also, I’m a nerd. We knew this.) Anyways, looking at my list of favorite [...]