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wurd nurd

wurd nurd

I'm currently an unemployed cubicle jockey, but my heart lays with the those special transports called books. If you have recommendations, I'd love to hear them (but, please, I keep my shelves up to date; it's annoying to get a rec for a book I've clearly read/rated/reviewed). And if you find yourself emailing me several times with no response,... more »
  • Irvine, CA, USA
  • member since October 29 2007

Reviews

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Displaying 1-10 of 340 reviews
  • Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar: Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes
    • Rated 5 stars

    “While this book may not help you to score an A in Philosophy 101, it may help you to understand the very elemental basics of the major tenants and schools of philosophy, not to mention teach you some horrifically cheesy jokes. The jokes and the authors’ analysis often had a rimshot (bah-dum-dum) tone, while the actual philosophic information was well-laid out and easily understandable without being dull or academic. A novel and informational little book that serves its purpose well.”

    wurd nurd wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink )
  • Ella Minnow Pea: A Progressively Lipogrammatic Epistolary Fable
    • Rated 5 stars

    “An adorable, clever, funny book! While the premise and epistolary structure may seem gimmicky at first, it actually allows for so much freedom of expression and presents the genuine issue of communication in a relatable light. Be prepared to sound words aloud by the end, when things get a little funky. Not surprisingly, while the brunt of the conflict is rooted in language and a corrupt power, it can easily be analogized to religion, politics or celebrity. A fast little read that will definitely make you think. ”

    wurd nurd wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink )
  • The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Century 1910
    • Rated 3 stars

    “I absolutely adored the original League graphic novel, so I was a little disappointed by this one. The reliance on what appears to be Threepenny Opera tunes, in addition to the desperate attempt to draw together so many threads in such a small space amounts to a heaping gob of confusion. A bit of editing, more polished artwork, and a more streamlined overall mystery would have made this another epic installment. As it is, it’s just average. ”

    wurd nurd wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink )
  • Return to Hundred Acre Wood

    Return to Hundred Acre Wood

    by David Benedictus
    • Rated 2 stars

    “Very cute at times, but overall disappointing. Most of the stories feel a little too unfinished or rushed without any resolution, while the defining characteristics feel too blown-up to be very likeable and Lottie is flat-out annoying. While the stories are probably very good for reading aloud, the language is more advanced, which will require quite a bit of defining. Not for adults hoping to catch up on their childhood favorites, but definitely good for a short bit of read-aloud before bed.”

    wurd nurd wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink )
  • Arkham Asylum, 15th Anniversary Edition (Batman)
    • Rated 4 stars

    “Thank goodness for McKean’s artistic genius. As usual, Morrison lays it on thick, with the subtlety of a sledge-hammer. Every word, nuance, action and thought just HAD to be infused with classic/cliché imagery and the overwrought underlying theme. Luckily, McKean’s impressionistic/horrifying artwork succeeded in tempering Morrison’s flair for the melodramatic, creating a disjointed, claustrophobic, nightmarish tale of insanity, destiny and redemption. ”

    wurd nurd wrote this review 4 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink )
  • Freakonomics
    • Rated 5 stars

    “Humorous, lively and well-paced, this book does to economics what Malcolm Gladwell did to marketing and sociology. While statistical data is used, it’s in a narrow and limited context, leaving the compelling arguments to the anecdotes and other anomalous evidence. This, in itself, isn’t a problem, as it makes for thoughtful reading. Especially glaring was the final chapter about race, parenting, and naming a child an obviously “black” name undermines that child’s potential success. Of course, the first thought is of a black boy born to an unmarried, itinerant mother, who named her little boy a “black” name: Barack Hussein Obama. Just a reminder that, while numbers may not lie, analyses and generalizations don’t always speak the truth.”

    wurd nurd wrote this review 4 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink )
  • In Defense of Food
    • Rated 5 stars

    “Pollan is passionate and knowledgeable about food and culture, and he clearly conveys his passion without coming off as self-righteous or academic. In briefly analyzing the relationship between nutrition and health, Pollan clearly shows how nutrition science has been deleterious to the health and well-being of Western populations. His recommendations to shift a emphasis to whole foods and simple food (i.e., foods with no more than 5 ingredients on the label) and away from processed and packaged food, are sensible and realistic. The most humanizing portion of the book is at the end, when Pollan waxes poetic about gardening and the closer relationship between producer and consumer. Not preachy, it’s a fitting close to an informative and passionate manifesto. ”

    wurd nurd wrote this review Sunday, October 11 2009. ( reply | permalink )
  • From Dead to Worse
    • Rated 5 stars

    “Thankfully, the editing issues of the previous installment have been cleared up, and the eighth book in the series is back to its exciting, effervescent and twisty self. Although the Quinn side-plot was distracting and felt a bit too tacked-on for the sake of a clean conclusion, the pacing and character development were on par and the introduction of new characters allowed for the series to develop in different directions. I especially like the introduction of Amelia and Octavia, which bring a much closer, and human, element to the story, rather than it just being Sookie and the supernatural world. It’ll be interesting to see where the story goes with all the changes and, judging by the preview, it looks to be great fun!! ”

    wurd nurd wrote this review Thursday, October 8 2009. ( reply | permalink )
  • All Together Dead
    • Rated 2 stars

    “Of the books so far, this is definitely my least favorite. It’s like the manuscript had an over-zealous editor who cut too much; now I know how it feels watching the Harry Potter movies without having read the books. Overall, the story is good (not great), and the book is entirely about Sookie’s place, as isolated as she is. Her individual relationships to Quinn, Eric, Bill, the Queen, Andre, Barry and everyone else are secondary as Sookie runs around a regional vamp convention. The terrorist act is heart-wrenching and chaotic, and it’s difficult to track what’s happening. The Katrina disaster is handled sensitively, providing a relatable and realistic catalyst for much of the action. I just hope the next book gets the storytelling back to par. ”

    wurd nurd wrote this review Wednesday, October 7 2009. ( reply | permalink )
  • Definitely Dead
    • Rated 4 stars

    “I’m genuinely impressed with how well this series is turning out. The storylines remain fresh without being reduced to tangents or gimmicks (a big pet peeve of mine), and the action is swift and far from repetitive. This time around, Sookie ends up in a budding relationship with weretiger Quinn, is apparently being stalked for murder, and ends up in New Orleans to uncover and prevent tragedy. Despite the action-packed and many-threaded plot, the writing is lucid and clear and everything is tied up at the end, while allowing for plenty of growth for the next book. ”

    wurd nurd wrote this review Tuesday, October 6 2009. ( reply | permalink )
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