Christine Verstraete

Captain Blackbird reviewed a book.

“I picked this up merely for the idea of it - I'd seen Butler's "Severance" and couldn't pass up the idea of, even though I'd skimmed it and found, basically, the same problems I found with this book.

I love the idea this book employs: what various famous people are thinking during sex....”

“I picked this up merely for the idea of it - I'd seen Butler's "Severance" and couldn't pass up the idea of, even though I'd skimmed it and found, basically, the same problems I found with this book.

I love the idea this book employs: what various famous people are thinking during sex. The problem is that Butler doesn't actually try to give these people their voices. He's too preoccupied being poetic and artsy. In the end, all of the voices sound the same. It's funny because a lot of the thoughts are preposterous given the situation - rather, the dialogues are commentary on their famous places in history, not what they would ACTUALLY be thinking during sex.

Some I did like particularly. Eve's seemed reminiscent of the origin of women's shame. Marie Antoinette's was beautifully bitter (could bring forth a great alternative history fiction, IMO). The couple on the Titanic was beautiful and sad. Bonnie and Clyde was probably my favorite - romantic. Inga Arvad with Hitler was also quite moving.

Overall: fantastic idea, carried out with pretentiousness.”

Captain Blackbird reviewed a book.

“My brother urged me to pick this up. From the first time I heard about it in high school, I wasn't interested. But, as I've stated in earlier reviews, I'm more easily convinced to try certain books these days. Plus I wanted to see the movie at least, and my brother wanted me to read it...”

“My brother urged me to pick this up. From the first time I heard about it in high school, I wasn't interested. But, as I've stated in earlier reviews, I'm more easily convinced to try certain books these days. Plus I wanted to see the movie at least, and my brother wanted me to read it first.

I first read Card from a short story he wrote. I liked his style but not his subject. This time around, I found his writing to be easy, but hardly brilliant and very stuffy. He writes like he was preparing this book for students to study in class. I hated the pretentiousness of the characters. I was bored with the battles and the politics and the strategies. But the idea the book was founded on was pretty riveting and it kept me going. All in all, worth it, but I wouldn't read it again.”

Captain Blackbird plans to read a book. (see 2 more books added to shelf)

Captain Blackbird reviewed a book.

“I remember looking at this book at the Covina bookstore when I was very young, but never had the guts to ask to buy it :) it was really fun and informative to read. I wish I could read the other ones in the series, but they aren't at the library.”

Captain Blackbird is now reading a book. (see 2 more books added to shelf)

Captain Blackbird reviewed a book.

“I picked this up soon after it was published because I skimmed the first page and found the narrative intriguing. I felt that I might enjoy this book better than the other Clive Barker stuff I've read.

Well, it certainly was a fast read. But I can't say I really enjoyed it. I don't have...”

“I picked this up soon after it was published because I skimmed the first page and found the narrative intriguing. I felt that I might enjoy this book better than the other Clive Barker stuff I've read.

Well, it certainly was a fast read. But I can't say I really enjoyed it. I don't have much hope in Barker as a writer - I don't think he's very good, and I think the only reason why he is so popular is because of his shock value (like Marilyn Manson). I hated the first person narrative - Mr. B was way too generous with his words. It made it look like Barker was showing off how great he could write. Barker has a problem connecting events - he doesn't seem to understand cause and effect, as important plot points seem to suddenly make themselves present at random times without any cause or reason (I was constantly asking myself, "where did THAT comes from?"). Finally, the whole story itself was boasting - Mr. B.'s constant claim of violence and "mind blowing" story really fell short in the end. The climax was hardly memorable. It was just overall a forgettable story. But easy and fast *shrug*”

Captain Blackbird reviewed a book.

“If I could, I'd give this book 2 and a half stars. It was sort of meh to me. I read it because my friend's mom gave it to me for free and it's such a lovely hardcover copy, published quite a long time ago. But the story itself was very long winded and tedious - very British, haha. I can...”

“If I could, I'd give this book 2 and a half stars. It was sort of meh to me. I read it because my friend's mom gave it to me for free and it's such a lovely hardcover copy, published quite a long time ago. But the story itself was very long winded and tedious - very British, haha. I can understand what this book did to fiction, how it began the treasure hunting craze. But it just didn't appeal to me. Quartermain isn't that great of a hero to me either. He was merely a voice-box to the tale with hardly much to contribute to my learning except for the rare philosophical insight. I suppose it was only worth it to have read this classic at least the one time - I didn't feel that there was too much time wasted anyway.”

Captain Blackbird is now reading a book.

Captain Blackbird reviewed a book.

“It only took me, what, six months to read this giant thing? I feel pretty stupid taking this long to realize the agenda of a book of short stories: leave all of the good ones for the end -_-

I trudged through the first half of this book because the stories were pitiful. Boring,...”

“It only took me, what, six months to read this giant thing? I feel pretty stupid taking this long to realize the agenda of a book of short stories: leave all of the good ones for the end -_-

I trudged through the first half of this book because the stories were pitiful. Boring, unimaginative, tedious. But when I got to the second half, great stories shone through, enough to bring my originally given two star rating to a four star.

Overall, it was worth the read. And I might pursue some other books by these authors. But I wouldn't own it or read it again.

Favourites:
"The Ice Dragon" by George R.R. Martin
"The Miracle Aquilina" by Margo Lanagan
"Dragon's Gate" by Pat Murphy
"The Dragons of Summer Gulch" by Robert Reed (LOVE)

I also loved Card's writing and the world Charles de Lint created.The weirdness of "Dragon's Fin Soup" is indescribable - it's too bad it didn't stick with the awesome mythology it started with...and generally, the last half of the stories were all very well written, even though I didn't much care for their entirety.”

Captain Blackbird plans to read a book. (see 2 more books added to shelf)

Captain Blackbird plans to read a book. (see 2 more books added to shelf)

Captain Blackbird plans to read a book. (see 3 more books added to shelf)

Captain Blackbird is now following bulphan.

Captain Blackbird reviewed a book.

“I enjoyed this even more than the first one. My mom was right: the journey and adventure in this volume is really fun, much like the great Oz books. I'm still rather blown away reading the old sentiments of the time, especially since I'm reading "King Solomon's Mines" right now as well, but I'm...”

“I enjoyed this even more than the first one. My mom was right: the journey and adventure in this volume is really fun, much like the great Oz books. I'm still rather blown away reading the old sentiments of the time, especially since I'm reading "King Solomon's Mines" right now as well, but I'm also grateful to read a book that isn't censored, being an old copy.”