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Daniel Roy

Daniel Roy

Travelling the world, one meal at a time.
http://www.backpackfoodie.com more »
  • Montréal, QC, Canada
  • member since July 26 2008

Reviews

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Displaying 1-10 of 87 reviews
  • A Case of Exploding Mangoes
    • Rated 4 stars

    “A highly unusual page-turner, "A Case of Exploding Mangoes" chronicles the last days of Pakistan's dictator Zia ul-Haq, before he famously died, along with his top generals, in a plane accident.

    The tone is highly satirical and farcical, and Mohammed Hanif's prose is sharp, witty and hilarious throughout. One point of view in the novel follows General Zia, while the second is a first-person account of an Air Force cadet who may or may not have a role to play in the General's death. This adds up to a slick story that's impossible to put down, and surprised me at every chapter.”

    Daniel Roy wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink )
  • Le tour du monde sans un rondLe tour du monde sans un rondMatteo Pennacchi

    Le tour du monde sans un rond

    by Matteo Pennacchi
    • Rated 3 stars

    “Un récit surprenant, amusant et sympathique. Matteo Pennacchi raconte son voyage de près de 100 jours, au cours duquel il a fait le tour du monde sans un sou en poche. La façon dont il charme ceux qu'il rencontre afin d'obtenir le gîte ou une place à dormir est absolument facinante.

    Le vocabulaire employé dans le récit semble parfois légèrement raciste ou colonialiste, mais je n'arrive pas à déterminer s'il s'agit de la voix de l'auteur, ou de la traduction française, d'ailleurs plutôt mauvaise. Somme toute, le récit est inspirant, une merveilleuse invitation au voyage et à la connaissance de l'autre.”

    Daniel Roy wrote this review Thursday, October 8 2009. ( reply | permalink )
  • The White Tiger
    • Rated 4 stars

    “"The White Tiger" is a novel of contemporary India in all its grit and death, away from the saffron-scented saris that we envision in the West. The novel deserves the accolades it gets: it's powerful, striking, memorable, and utterly fascinating. Its protagonist is at times repulsive, at times utterly endearing, and his fall from grace - or his ascension, I should perhaps say - is filled with dark humor and irreverence.

    An unforgettable first novel, and an insight into modern Indian society we Westerners rarely get to see.”

    Daniel Roy wrote this review Sunday, September 27 2009. ( reply | permalink )
  • Mainspring
    • Rated 2 stars

    “"Mainspring" starts with a bang, and promises a lot of adventure and excitement down the line. Unfortunately, Mainspring's clock soon winds down, and all sorts of gears begin poking out of the work, until one is left with broken pieces of plot.

    (SPOILERS: I discuss some specific plot points and themes of the story that will spoil it for you.)

    The first half of "Mainspring" was an inspiring adventure romp. Unfortunately, the second Hethor passes the Equatorial Wall, and enters the Southern Earth, things take a turn for the worst.

    I expected some Arthur Conan Doyle-style adventuring; what I didn't expect from Jay Lake's debut was embarrassing writing. In the heart of the jungle, Hethor encounters, wait for it, a tribe of ape-like pigmies who show him their prehistorical wisdom. Think it can get worse? You should read the furry fanfic-level erotica he gives us as the wise and wild woman of the tribe gives herself to him in all her furry glory. Ugh.

    The further the book went, the less fine-tuned it became, until the writer pulled a Deus Ex Machina - literally; Hethor can change reality by seeing God in the clockworks. By then the novel had devolved to poor fanfic.

    As for the big revelation at the end... I had it figured out in the first 20 pages, and hoped against all hope it wouldn't turn out to be true. Alas.

    A fantastic setting that unwinds into meaninglessness. Perhaps the sequel tweaks the machine, but I won't be bothering with it.”

    Daniel Roy wrote this review Thursday, September 24 2009. ( reply | permalink )
  • The Alchemy Of Stone
    • Rated 4 stars

    “"The Alchemy of Stone" is a memorable, touching story filled with surprising kindness. The protagonist, Mattie, is a sentient automaton emancipated by her master, and her good nature and quiet struggle with what it means to be alive are riveting and unforgettable.

    The events in the novel are interesting, but it is Mattie's kindness, and conflicted relationship to her maker, that really struck a chord with me. Mattie is a feminist figure, trying to find a place for herself in a world free of her male master, trying to define herself in spite of what others project on her.

    A magnificent story of rare complexity and elegance.”

    Daniel Roy wrote this review Monday, September 21 2009. ( reply | permalink )
  • Bottomfeeder: How to Eat Ethically in a World of Vanishing Seafood
    • Rated 5 stars

    “Most of us by now are familiar about the inhumane and destructive aspects of industrial meat, but we tend to assume that seafood is alright, except for a few exceptions such as dolphin bycatch in tuna fishing, or whale-hunting.

    That's why "Bottomfeeder" came as such a - needed - shock to me, and probably will to you. Taras Grescoe exposes the underlying political, social, environmental and health impacts surrounding the complex world of seafood, from Atlantic cod to oyster farming, and from Indian shrimp farms to the disappearance of bluefin tuna.

    All I can say is, this book is absolute required reading if you've got an ounce of social responsibility in your body. It will cause you a headache, though: no longer will seafood be a simple alternative to meat, and you'll end up obsessing, like me, over where that piece of salmon was farmed, or whether to eat that critically-endangered cod in your fish and chips.

    Environmental impact and mass exctinction on land is easy to spot. But while we look away, the oceans are being reduced to wastelands by unscrupulous corporations and governments including those of Europe, Canada and the US. This book is an urgent wake-up call.”

    Daniel Roy wrote this review Saturday, September 5 2009. ( reply | permalink )
  • Speaker for the Dead
    • Rated 5 stars

    “"Speaker for the Dead" confirmed my impression of "Ender's Game" - the first novel in the Ender's Quartet was a story of child abuse.

    Lemme back up. (Please be advised I'm spoiling "Ender's Game" in this review.)

    I really enjoyed "Ender's Game", but I've grown increasingly uncomfortable with its depiction of children violence, and how its ending glorified the Xenocide of the buggers. Yeah, it showed Ender as repentant for its action, but there was no denying the level of satisfaction Ender's final victory gave the reader.

    What makes "Speaker for the Dead" so awesome is that it takes these questions, and explore them without holding back. Ender is now 40 year-old, and feels deep guilt for the Xenocide. Humanity has conveniently forgotten its own role in shaping Ender's life to commit this crime, and now blames Ender solely for it. All this sets the stage for Card to explore the meaning of being human, and criticize moral colonialism.

    The story at the heart of "Speaker for the Dead" is deeply human, a family tragedy set against the backdrop of an interspecies first contact. The role that Ender plays when he arrives there is poignant, magnificent, and thought-provoking. The way Ender deals with the alien species made me ponder the way we, as a society, act against beings that our society somehow deems our moral inferiors, whether they are animals, convenient enemies of the state, or simply human brothers we judge to be more primitive than us.

    Fans of Battle School rivalries will not be satisfied by this novel. But if they give it a chance, they will find a mature, sad, thought-provoking story, and one which is ultimately a lot more satisfying than "Ender's Game".”

    Daniel Roy wrote this review Sunday, August 30 2009. ( reply | permalink )
  • The Killing of Worlds
    • Rated 4 stars

    “If you read 'The Risen Empire' and are wondering whether you should read 'The Killing of Worlds', then what the heck is the problem with you? Yes, of course you should read it! Don't you want to know what happens to Laurent Zai and his crew? Sheesh.

    If you haven't read 'The Risen Empire', and are wondering whether the conclusion of the Succession 2-part series is worth it, then I'm happy to report that it is. It's hard to match the sheer adrenaline and intensity of the opening of 'The Risen Empire', but 'The Killing of Worlds' comes terribly close with a gut-wrenching, epic space battle filled with tension and brilliant strategies. 'The Killing of Worlds' also justifies the series' comparisons with Herbert's 'Dune', as the political stakes are raised and the political arena turns into a deadly battle of wits.

    Overall, the Succession series was immensely satisfying, epic, exciting and intelligent. I found the hard SF elements in the second half of 'The Killing of Worlds' to be unnecessarily convoluted and distracting, but otherwise the SF was flawless. A real gem.”

    Daniel Roy wrote this review Friday, August 7 2009. ( reply | permalink )
  • Empire of Illusion: The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle
    • Rated 5 stars

    “In this poignant and eloquent essay, Chris Hedges argues that our society of spectacle is the morally-corrupt revel of a culture on the verge of collapse. The argument is not a new one, and may sound overly dramatic, but it's hard to argue with Hedges' thorough research and convincing arguments.

    Hedges supports his theses with compelling illustrations from our society, notably the World Wrestling Entertainment, the porn industry, universities, and the corporate culture of happiness. In each case, he demonstrates sharp insight, and his analysis is thorough and thought-provoking. The chapter on porn, illustrating through devastating examples the culture of death and power that permeates pornography, was shocking and insightful. Hedges' final plight, contrasting the collapse of Yugoslavia and the rise of Milosevic with our own plunge into corporate totalitarianism, made a deep impression on me. A highly recommended wake-up call.”

    Daniel Roy wrote this review Saturday, August 1 2009. ( reply | permalink )
  • The Risen Empire
    • Rated 4 stars

    “The book's cover notes a resemblance to Asimov's Fondation and Herbert's Dune. I wouldn't say the novel is as clever and deep as them, but it's sure as hell as entertaining. The SF is smart, and the action starts at the first sentence and rarely lets go. This is smart action SF, with interesting characters, mind-blowing tech ideas, and exciting space battles. I was literally bouncing throughout the first 100 pages.

    Be warned that this book is half of the original manuscript called 'Succession'. This means 'The Risen Empire' ends pretty abruptly. Be sure to have Book 2, 'The Killing of Worlds', on hand when you finish this one - you'll thank me!”

    Daniel Roy wrote this review Wednesday, July 29 2009. ( reply | permalink )
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