Books

What’s On the Bookshelf? Vol. 2

What's On the Bookshelf?

Today’s book is Espresso Tales by Alexander McCall Smith, the second book in the 44 Scotland Street series. Like its predecessor, Espresso Tales is a collection of a Scotsman serial. The result? Short, bite sized bits about the people who live in the Georgian townhouse at 44 Scotland Street.

McCall Smith’s books are the perfect antidote to the doom and gloom of the outside world. The characters ring true, and the situations they get into are certainly entertaining.

I was happy to discover while reading this that Bertie, the over stressed hyper-intelligent six year old, is frequently featured in this collection.

On Coraline

General Geekiness

It’s definitely cute. It’s definitely creepy.

All said, I’m not sure what I think about Coraline. I definitely enjoyed it, but at the same time, was really creeped out.

I didn’t read Neil Gaiman’s book prior to seeing it (I know, bad bookworm), but I had an idea that it would be strange.

The movie kept me entertained the entire time; I never felt bored or antsy. Coraline felt like a real kid. She wasn’t perfect, like some kids’ movie heroes; in fact, I found her bratty and annoying. But that isn’t a bad thing. Her dreams were vivid and felt like real dreams.

I thought that the artwork was spectacular. I wish that I had seen Coraline in 3D. It really would have come to life then!

The worst part of the movie was the annoying little ghost kids. Their voices were bland and poorly acted. They might be dead, but Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride certainly showed that the dead can be lively.

All in all, its a cute movie. Kids over the age of 12 (or younger ones who can easily distinguish reality from movies) should enjoy it. Parents will like it too.

What’s On the Bookshelf? Vol. One

What's On the Bookshelf?

What’s on the Bookshelf?

Lately I’ve been reading Dennis Lehane’s The Given Day. Unlike some of his better known works like Gone Baby Gone, The Given Day is historical fiction.

On my last trip to the library, I spotted this on display, happily chillin’ next to Chuck Palahniuk and Stephen King, quite the odd trio. Intrigued by the old photographs used on the cover, I picked it up and started to read it.

I’m roughly a third of the way through the 700 page behemoth, and I’m enjoying it. It certainly is taking a while to get through, and I’m a fast reader.

As can be expected with Lehane, the city of Boston is a character by itself, and he brings it to life very well.

As for the story itself, it involved the Boston Police Department, the Spanish Influenza and the Boston Red Sox, circa 1918. Not to mention the undercurrent of social unrest, plenty of anarchists, communists and other menaces to society. There are undercover cops, bar fights, deaths, Babe Ruth and more.

My assessment of the book might change as I delve further into it, but for the time being its an entertaining look back to a different time.