Comments for The Shelf Life http://theshelflifeblog.com Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:14:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 Comment on Tres exciting, tres fun by Mark Watson http://theshelflifeblog.com/2008/09/30/tres-exciting-tres-fun/#comment-1994 Mark Watson Thu, 02 Oct 2008 02:58:53 +0000 http://theshelflifeblog.com/2008/09/30/tres-exciting-tres-fun/#comment-1994 Gee, Linda, you just made my day! I'm blushing! As for sci fi, the best I've read include Neal Stephenson's "The Diamond Age: or A Young Lady's Illustrated Primer" and K.W. Jeter's "Noir." Stephenson's got a new novel out now, "Anathem" set in a far-future earth-like world, and I hope to be able to review it. This guy is brilliant. He's working with Jeff Bezos (Amazon.com) on company called Blue Origin, developing a manned suborbital vehicle. My next fiction review will be of Christopher Fowler's "The White Corridor," a "Peculiar Crimes Unit" mystery set in contemporary London. It was quite a contrast to go from the workmanlike style of the hard-boiled Riordan novel to the almost baroque descriptions in Fowler's essentially classic locked-room puzzle. Thanks so much! We'll talk again soon, I hope. Gee, Linda, you just made my day! I’m blushing!
As for sci fi, the best I’ve read include Neal Stephenson’s “The Diamond Age: or A Young Lady’s Illustrated Primer” and K.W. Jeter’s “Noir.” Stephenson’s got a new novel out now, “Anathem” set in a far-future earth-like world, and I hope to be able to review it. This guy is brilliant. He’s working with Jeff Bezos (Amazon.com) on company called Blue Origin, developing a manned suborbital vehicle.
My next fiction review will be of Christopher Fowler’s “The White Corridor,” a “Peculiar Crimes Unit” mystery set in contemporary London. It was quite a contrast to go from the workmanlike style of the hard-boiled Riordan novel to the almost baroque descriptions in Fowler’s essentially classic locked-room puzzle.
Thanks so much! We’ll talk again soon, I hope.

]]> Comment on Tres exciting, tres fun by Linda Pifer http://theshelflifeblog.com/2008/09/30/tres-exciting-tres-fun/#comment-1970 Linda Pifer Wed, 01 Oct 2008 01:48:00 +0000 http://theshelflifeblog.com/2008/09/30/tres-exciting-tres-fun/#comment-1970 Mark, I really enjoy your book reviews. I've just loved reading since I was a kid. When I retire in about 5 yrs. (God willing) I plan to dig into so many books, and many you've reviewed. I'm keeping a list of the ones I want to read. You know, I just really deplore the pathetic reading abilities of young folks these days. In comparison to books, video games and etc. are just so empty. I have taught for nearly 30 yrs., and the reading/spelling abilities of my students are just deplorable. I grad. from highschool in 1959 (ancient history), but I got a damned GOOD education. I grad. from Ole Miss in 1963 (yeah, went through the Meredith deal..no fun, but the right thing to do), with a liberal arts ed. I can discuss Chaucer,Shakespeare, Milton, etc.even though I was a biology major. So why am I telling you this? It's because I admire your intense interest in literature. Your reviews are excellent, and I appreciate them very much. If I were are a total "science-oriented" person,I would probably ignore fiction. Au contraire! I do love fiction, as it is a wonderful escape from the real world. Since my doctoral degree is in microbiology, I love scifi..but there's not too much good stuff there right now, in my opinion. Could you recommend some good scifi novels? I'd settle for good crime/mystery. Keep up the Lik good work,dude! Linda Pifer Mark, I really enjoy your book reviews. I’ve just loved reading since I was a kid. When I retire in about 5 yrs. (God willing) I plan to dig into so many books, and many you’ve reviewed. I’m keeping a list of the ones I want to read. You know, I just really deplore the pathetic reading abilities of young folks these days. In comparison to books, video games and etc. are just so empty. I have taught for nearly 30 yrs., and the reading/spelling abilities of my students are just deplorable. I grad. from highschool in 1959 (ancient history), but I got a damned GOOD education. I grad. from Ole Miss in 1963 (yeah, went through the Meredith deal..no fun, but the right thing to do), with a liberal arts ed. I can discuss Chaucer,Shakespeare, Milton, etc.even though I was a biology major. So why am I telling you this? It’s because I admire your intense interest in literature. Your reviews are excellent, and I appreciate them very much. If I were are a total “science-oriented” person,I would probably ignore fiction. Au contraire! I do love fiction, as it is a wonderful escape from the real world. Since my doctoral degree is in microbiology, I love scifi..but there’s not too much good stuff there right now, in my opinion.
Could you recommend some good scifi novels? I’d settle for good crime/mystery. Keep up the Lik good work,dude! Linda Pifer

]]> Comment on Hunting a hunter by Mark Watson http://theshelflifeblog.com/2008/09/16/hunting-a-hunter/#comment-1710 Mark Watson Sun, 21 Sep 2008 02:22:44 +0000 http://theshelflifeblog.com/2008/09/16/hunting-a-hunter/#comment-1710 Thanks! Yes, the book explains the name that way. Thanks! Yes, the book explains the name that way.

]]> Comment on Hunting a hunter by Linda Pifer http://theshelflifeblog.com/2008/09/16/hunting-a-hunter/#comment-1697 Linda Pifer Sat, 20 Sep 2008 20:04:58 +0000 http://theshelflifeblog.com/2008/09/16/hunting-a-hunter/#comment-1697 Good review! I'd probably like the book. "Klamath" is an awful name. May be named for Klamath Falls, Oregon. Thanks, Linda Good review! I’d probably like the book. “Klamath” is an awful name. May be named for Klamath Falls, Oregon. Thanks, Linda

]]> Comment on TV on the printed page by Lindsey Turner http://theshelflifeblog.com/2008/09/17/tv-on-the-printed-page/#comment-1597 Lindsey Turner Wed, 17 Sep 2008 17:45:40 +0000 http://theshelflifeblog.com/2008/09/17/tv-on-the-printed-page/#comment-1597 Love SFU. Love TWoP. And it looks like I will love this book. Love SFU. Love TWoP. And it looks like I will love this book.

]]> Comment on Characters after a mystery lover’s heart — with a dagger by Mark Watson http://theshelflifeblog.com/2008/09/03/characters-after-a-mystery-lovers-heart-with-a-dagger/#comment-1577 Mark Watson Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:31:45 +0000 http://theshelflifeblog.com/2008/09/03/characters-after-a-mystery-lovers-heart-with-a-dagger/#comment-1577 Came across the book among those in the pile. Found out about the author through his afterword. Came across the book among those in the pile. Found out about the author through his afterword.

]]> Comment on Characters after a mystery lover’s heart — with a dagger by maria http://theshelflifeblog.com/2008/09/03/characters-after-a-mystery-lovers-heart-with-a-dagger/#comment-1394 maria Fri, 05 Sep 2008 21:29:33 +0000 http://theshelflifeblog.com/2008/09/03/characters-after-a-mystery-lovers-heart-with-a-dagger/#comment-1394 The books sounds interesting. How did you hear about the author? The books sounds interesting. How did you hear about the author?

]]> Comment on A sterile spookiness by Gil Hennon http://theshelflifeblog.com/2008/08/23/a-sterile-spookiness/#comment-1179 Gil Hennon Tue, 02 Sep 2008 23:04:40 +0000 http://theshelflifeblog.com/2008/08/23/a-sterile-spookiness/#comment-1179 I did read Neuromancer many years ago. Gibson can be difficult to follow sometimes. His style reminds me of the "train of thought" writers who became popular in the sixties and seventies. Since I like novels with a lot of tech, I will give Spook Country a try. It sounds like it is similar to The Blue Nowhere by Jeffery Deaver, which I enjoyed. Thanks, Mark! I did read Neuromancer many years ago. Gibson can be difficult to follow sometimes. His style reminds me of the “train of thought” writers who became popular in the sixties and seventies. Since I like novels with a lot of tech, I will give Spook Country a try. It sounds like it is similar to The Blue Nowhere by Jeffery Deaver, which I enjoyed.

Thanks, Mark!

]]> Comment on Beating Wood with an Ugly Stick by Mark Watson http://theshelflifeblog.com/2008/08/21/beating-wood-with-an-ugly-stick/#comment-1003 Mark Watson Sat, 30 Aug 2008 20:08:24 +0000 http://theshelflifeblog.com/2008/08/21/beating-wood-with-an-ugly-stick/#comment-1003 Nice work. This clause made me LOL: "I think his writing bears as much resemblance to the authentic roar of the streets and voices of the crowds as Dr. Scholls does to Dr. Faustus." Nice work. This clause made me LOL:

“I think his writing bears as much resemblance to the authentic roar of the streets and voices of the crowds as Dr. Scholls does to Dr. Faustus.”

]]> Comment on A sterile spookiness by Mark Watson http://theshelflifeblog.com/2008/08/23/a-sterile-spookiness/#comment-976 Mark Watson Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:06:14 +0000 http://theshelflifeblog.com/2008/08/23/a-sterile-spookiness/#comment-976 Oh, yes, absolutely. Many classics have met that standard. In modern works, I think Neal Stephenson's "The Diamond Age: or A Young Lady's Illustrated Primer" and "Cryptonomicon" meet that standard. I also thought "Noir," by K.W. Jeter was extraordinarily well done. Oh, yes, absolutely. Many classics have met that standard. In modern works, I think Neal Stephenson’s “The Diamond Age: or A Young Lady’s Illustrated Primer” and “Cryptonomicon” meet that standard. I also thought “Noir,” by K.W. Jeter was extraordinarily well done.

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