Friday, March 2, 2012

so close...

well, it's officially been four months since i've purchased a book.  with the help of some dear friends and family, i got over the slump that was february.  i'm now more than half way through the project and feel like the next two months should be a piece of cake...hopefully.

anywho, here's what i've been up to:

leaves of grass - walt whitman
medium: print
obtained through: the generosity of loved ones
impression: i've been a fan of whitman's for a long time and have long considered him to be the first american poet.  turns out i was right.  he's amazing, and his verse has helped me get through this extraordinarily difficult month.



world war z - max brooks
medium:audio
obtained through: library
impression: eh.  it was fine.  nothing special, nothing i'll read again or recommend.




 
black wave - john and jean silverwood
medium:audio
obtained through: library
impression: interesting.  a family's account of the shipwreck that ended their two year sail around the world.  this book really provides a detailed experience of the wreck and demonstrates that everybody--every family--goes through ups and downs.



packing for mars - mary roach
medium:audio
obtained through: library
impression:  fun and interesting, but at times a bit repetitive.  i now can confidently say i know more about space, the shuttle program, and what happens to human beings in space than i did before "reading" it.


 
room - emma donoghue
medium:audio
obtained through: library
impression:  i really wanted to like this book.  i actually think that if i'd read it in print rather than listening to it that i might have enjoyed it more.  the narrator, in this case an adult with a terribly childish sounding voice attempting to sound like a five year old, really got on my nerves and detracted a great deal from the book.  the story was interesting and left you wanting more, and i'm certain that if it had been told in a different narratorial style that would have been lost.
 


the monster of florence - douglas preston

medium:audio
obtained through: library
impression:  thoroughly interesting.  this is the tale not only of florence's only serial killer, but also of the journalists who attempted to solve the crime alongside the police.  i can't say anything else---you'll just have to read it to find out more.


 
zombies don't cry - rusty fischer
medium:electronic
obtained through:barnes and noble free book fridays
impression:  ehh..i'm in the middle of this right now.  it's fine--mildly entertaining and an easy, mind-numbing read.  the perfect thing to read when i need a break from school stuff...




metamorphsis - ovid
medium: print
obtained through: already owned it
impression: i love it, always have, and always will.






beowulf - unknown
medium: print
obtained through:already owned it
impression: oh beowulf, how i both love and hate you.  i had a totally new reading experience this time around, though.  took lots of notes and recorded some ideas for a paper.




 
laies - marie de france
medium: print
obtained through:already owned it
impression: see "ovid" above

 




inferno - dante
medium: print
obtained through:already owned it
impression: i haven't read dante in a few years, so i'm enjoying the read.  plus, now i have a ton more background info on the political history of florence due to reading the monster of florence that's adding extra dimension.