( Muriel Barbery, The Elegance of the Hedgehog )

Kristin Cashore, GracelingWHOOSH! (That's the book galloping by ( Read more... )

Hilary Mantel, Wolf HallMMMMmmmm. So good ( Read more... )

Her Fearful Symmetry, Audrey Niffenegger

I mostly loved this, even though it sagged a bit in the middle. Some people seem to hate it because it's not The Time Traveller's Wife. Well, it's not. But it is a graceful, odd, faintly sad novel, populated by characters who are more subtle and have more complex motives than you might first suspect. It has ( Read more... )

I had popcorn and two pints of beer for dinner last night, because lidocafe and I went to see a movie, and then debriefed it (and of course discussed many other things) at a quite nice pub afterwards.

Those of you who have read and loved the book of The Time Traveller's Wife, as both lidocafe and I had, can be reassured that it's not a travesty. It is a ( Read more... )

Victoria is sweltering under an unofficial heatwave; it's too hot to do much at all except loll about and read books, which is hardly a tough assignment. I'm trying to get a little bit of "home" work (sorting and clearing, getting my garden under control) done every day, but at the moment it's too warm to do anything except in the basement. ( Read more... )

Of course, I didn't go to the movies while I was in Europe, but I did see three films while going to and fro, and I've been catching up with my "Zip" list now that I have so much free time. Some brief comments:

Doubt (seen on outgoing plane). This was a film of a stage play, and it shows, rather, though the performances were all very strong. ( Read more... )

I have never found Brad Pitt attractive. I know we’re supposed to - he represents that brand of “all American” clean cut wholesome good looks that is the “ideal” for the rest of us - but there is something curiously bloated about his eyes and his lips that has always repelled me. And there is nothing going on behind his eyes. I would far rather ( Read more... )

Rosemary Kirstein, The Steerswoman, The Outskirter's Secret, The Lost Steersman, and The Language of Power.

It was papersky who first mentioned this series in her blog, and then I think sartorias referred to them, and then possibly truepenny. When writers whose works you admire write about how much they admire another writer, it's usually worth checking her out, and the ( Read more... )

A Mighty Heart ( Read more... )