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All of these feel incomplete, and the nonfiction should probably get strong "bias! Read carefully" disclaimers, but this entry is long enough already. As usual, my opinions are mine, and are based on my experience: my flaming hatred of the Republican party should not be confused with an inversely high opinion of any other political party. (I have high hopes for the incoming administration because I expect them to be competent, not because I expect them to do what I'd like all the time.) I'm a fiscal conservative with a socially liberal bent: I disagree with everyone some of the time.
So, books!
And the Band Played On: Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic (Randy Shilts): Nonficton. Title doubles as description. ( The human disregard for an infection ravaging a disliked minority group is the real story of AIDS in the '80s. )
Shilts rocks for capturing the helplessness and agonizing deaths of the '80s, and for getting me mad about it 20 years later. Rock on, Randy Shilts, and rest in peace: you did good work on Earth.
Jade Tiger (Jenn Reese): Martial artist Shan Westfall reunites five ancient jade artifacts lost when the all-female Jade Circle was destroyed during her childhood. This would make a rocking awesome wuxia movie! Shen's martial arts skills, the CGI-enhanced "jade animal" fight, the dramatic soundtrack as the action moves across three continents and through multiple wardrobes of high-class awesome - this would be amazing.
As a book, I was entertained for an afternoon on the metro. The romance is as subtle as a gold brick applied between the eyes, but Shen's angst about not living up to her beloved dead mom's perfect example was enjoyably angsty. Sidekick Lydia's fluttery personality is disappointing - I want awesome women, all the time! - but internally consistent. Ian the archaeologist - whose name I had to look up - is cute, in a bland "moneyed, sweet guy who follows you around" way.
The Fellowship of the Ring (J.R.R. Tolkein): Reread. I can say nothing that hasn't already been said. I find bits of the movie intruding at times, but that's the consequence of putting a book on screen.
The Last Unicorn (Peter S. Beagle): Fantasy novel. A nameless unicorn leaves her forest when she realizes the other unicorns have vanished from the world. I am missing the bandwagon of book love on this one, possibly because I'm being distracted by insane feminism.
( Let me digress on this. )
I'm glad I've checked off another piece of the Western SF/F canon, but I have no real affection for the The Last Unicorn itself.
Rent (Jonathan Larson): The liberetto, with supporting material. I've been listening to the original cast recording since my sister bought it, but I've never seen the play live, and wanted to see what's cut. So I read all the non-libretto parts first. (Hah.) What's striking is how much the Rent's evolution shows Larson's evolution as a composer/writer, from 1989 to 1996. At 35 he was just learning what he could do; he was barely getting started! What's also striking is how many people it takes to put the 15 actors onstage.
Imperial Life in the Emerald City: Inside Iraq's Green Zone (Rajiv Chandrasekaran): Nonfiction. Adventures of the Coalition Provisional Authority, 2003-2004. ( Oh my rage, let me show you. )
Serendipity: Americans return Green Zone to Iraqi control today. It's about time.
So, books!
And the Band Played On: Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic (Randy Shilts): Nonficton. Title doubles as description. ( The human disregard for an infection ravaging a disliked minority group is the real story of AIDS in the '80s. )
Shilts rocks for capturing the helplessness and agonizing deaths of the '80s, and for getting me mad about it 20 years later. Rock on, Randy Shilts, and rest in peace: you did good work on Earth.
Jade Tiger (Jenn Reese): Martial artist Shan Westfall reunites five ancient jade artifacts lost when the all-female Jade Circle was destroyed during her childhood. This would make a rocking awesome wuxia movie! Shen's martial arts skills, the CGI-enhanced "jade animal" fight, the dramatic soundtrack as the action moves across three continents and through multiple wardrobes of high-class awesome - this would be amazing.
As a book, I was entertained for an afternoon on the metro. The romance is as subtle as a gold brick applied between the eyes, but Shen's angst about not living up to her beloved dead mom's perfect example was enjoyably angsty. Sidekick Lydia's fluttery personality is disappointing - I want awesome women, all the time! - but internally consistent. Ian the archaeologist - whose name I had to look up - is cute, in a bland "moneyed, sweet guy who follows you around" way.
The Fellowship of the Ring (J.R.R. Tolkein): Reread. I can say nothing that hasn't already been said. I find bits of the movie intruding at times, but that's the consequence of putting a book on screen.
The Last Unicorn (Peter S. Beagle): Fantasy novel. A nameless unicorn leaves her forest when she realizes the other unicorns have vanished from the world. I am missing the bandwagon of book love on this one, possibly because I'm being distracted by insane feminism.
( Let me digress on this. )
I'm glad I've checked off another piece of the Western SF/F canon, but I have no real affection for the The Last Unicorn itself.
Rent (Jonathan Larson): The liberetto, with supporting material. I've been listening to the original cast recording since my sister bought it, but I've never seen the play live, and wanted to see what's cut. So I read all the non-libretto parts first. (Hah.) What's striking is how much the Rent's evolution shows Larson's evolution as a composer/writer, from 1989 to 1996. At 35 he was just learning what he could do; he was barely getting started! What's also striking is how many people it takes to put the 15 actors onstage.
Imperial Life in the Emerald City: Inside Iraq's Green Zone (Rajiv Chandrasekaran): Nonfiction. Adventures of the Coalition Provisional Authority, 2003-2004. ( Oh my rage, let me show you. )
Serendipity: Americans return Green Zone to Iraqi control today. It's about time.