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.

2 comments:

The Humble Narcissist said...

I LOVED The Monster of Florence (though I have a dirty little true crime habit from time to time). If you're still hunting for things to read from the library, see if yours has Shadowdivers by Robert Kurson. It is absolutely fascinating non-fiction about deep sea diving and will SUCK YOU IN. You've been warned.

duessa said...

SWEET! I ADORE true crime and narrative non-fiction--I will totally look it up.

Did you know that there's a movie version of Monster of Florence in the works? Apparently George Clooney is slated to play Doug Preston! SQUEEE!