(B+) 77% | Good Notes: Verbosity monstrosity, pomposity-projecting, sterling creativity, but glitchy as a mystery: no care for dot-connecting.
*Check ou(B+) 77% | Good Notes: Verbosity monstrosity, pomposity-projecting, sterling creativity, but glitchy as a mystery: no care for dot-connecting.
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07/08/2024 - Preamble (1) I always say that I really want to like Michael Chabon books, it's just he makes it exceedingly difficult. Clarity, please! - Foremost among authors, at least ones I've read, he loves showing off his vocabulary. So, a dictionary must always be at the ready. - It was a struggle to get through this in text, I don't know that the audiobook would be any easier. I predict a lot of pausing to google definitions.
07/15/2024 - Chapters 1� (1) One word I don't need a dictionary to understand is "lumpia." Of course, I'm from the Philippines and know it as a natural consequence of birth. - Though I'm certain most every non-Filipino reader wouldn't have any idea, nor any clue, what "lumpia" is beyond the fact it fits in a bag. - This exemplifies my frustration with Chabon in general: the assumption everyone's lived his life and knows what he knows.
07/19/2024 - Chapters 6� (1) A fifth of the way into this thing and I only have a vague idea of what's going on. This despite the fact I've read the book before and this should all just be a refresher. - It's the whole reason why all my audiobooks are rereads, so I don't have to pay too much attention. (2) The ubiquity of Yiddish only adds to the difficulty because it's hard to tell if I've misheard an English word or if it's Yiddish.
07/23/2024 - Chapters 10�12 (1) In what world does this pass for a pulp novel? (2) Just a sampling of Chabon's maddening prose, spanning just three pages: "...in a way that is meant to signify deep ratiocination..." "...burning Conestogas have their effect on people's minds." "He smells the sudden fear ... like caries of the teeth." - It's this sort of arcane priggish locution that rankles my inured imperturbability!
07/28/2024 - Chapters 13�16 (1) Despite how much I find reading Chabon infuriating, there are things to like. The whole idea of a Hasidic sect being a kind of Jewish mafia is very interesting. - It's one of those concepts that, on the surface, you wouldn't think would work but does. - Its rebbe being a spiritual and community authority very much fits into an archetypical mob boss paradigm. Innate respect within a closed society and such.
08/03/2024 - Chapters 17�20 (1) First of all, I'm not a person who kicks up a fuss when Westerners attempt ethnic accents. I appreciate they have the nerve to try, especially in times of increased social sensitivities. - Having said that, Peter Reigert's Filipino accent is awful. It might pass for Chinese or Vietnamese or Thai, but Filipino sounds totally different. (2) Secondly, Tagalog isn't pronounced like tag-along: it's tuh-GAH-lug.
08/09/2024 - Chapters 21�24 (1) In this alternate reality, JFK married Marilyn Monroe. - It's unclear whether he ever married Jackie. (2) There's a big focus on marriages and how they differ. - Berko and Ester-Malka, for example, have a loving marriage, albeit encumbered by ceaseless pregnancies. They're poor but happy. - The Shpilmans have an entirely religious marriage of non-communication and marital duty. They're wealthy but distant.
08/14/2024 - Chapters 25�28 (1) "'The Yiddish Policemen’s Union,' says the pie man." - We finally get the titular line. The significance of which is that, with his badge taken away, his union card is the only way Meyer can prove he's a cop—a plot point that could have been stated more clearly at the outset. (2) "Kitka has on black leather jeans and a matching vest worn over his bare skin..." - Wait, so are they leather or are they jeans?
08/16/2024 - Chapters 29�32 (1) In this alternate reality, Sitka Jews call American English "American." - To "speak American," apparently, isn’t just some sarcastic remark or mock hillbilly affect, as it is in our world. - Alternatively, it could be American English diverged so much post-WW2 as to be recognized as a language. (2) "Landsman has heard different stories about Inspector Willie Dick and his motorcycle." - Willie Dick, eh? SMH
08/21/2024 - Chapters 33�35 (1) "They wait for the question, and it comes, and Dick's manner hardens." - If only Chabon's usual prose was as clear and succinct as his Dick jokes. (2) Another problem I have with Chabon is how unconcerned he is with plot clarity. - I'm always having to retrace my steps when I resume reading. - Chabon gets so distracted demonstrating linguistic gymnastics that connecting the dots ends up as an afterthought.
08/27/2024 - Chapters 36�38 (1) A frustrating effect of this book is reading it makes you feel stupid. Not just the esoteric vocab, but you always feel like you missed something. - Like, why are we visiting this dentist? What chain of clues led here? - Recaps, please! (2) In this alternate history, Manchuria is a country. - While this book's strongest aspect is worldbuilding, I wish Chabon would throw in more divergent tidbits like this.
08/30/2024 - Chapters 39�41 (1) There are two featured homosexual characters, Meyer's dead sister Naomi and Mendel Shpilman, the murder victim at the center of the mystery. - They're both dead (their deaths are tied) and they both only appear in flashbacks. - There's an immediate affinity between them. Despite only just meeting, they form a kind of alliance. - I wonder if Chabon's implying some kind of natural/instinctual gay solidarity?
09/01/2024 (1) - Chapters 42�46 (1) I'm finished with the novel, but there's an author interview I'll listen to before marking this complete. (2) Peter Riegert's fairly good at making voices distinct, but the dialogue at the very end between Meyer and Bina left me totally confused. - They sound exactly the same and I had to break out my hardcover to figure out who's saying what. - A suitably frustrating note to end this frustrating novel on.
09/01/2024 (2) - Interview (1) Well, it's unsurprising the author interview is a lot better than the book. - Funny how two people talking in colloquial speech can be enjoyable and easy to follow. No dictionary needed! (2) Probably the most interesting tidbit from this is that the first draft was written in first-person, but was change to third-person. - Chabon says it worked much better for him. Though, I can attest, not for the reader. (hide spoiler)]...more
(B) 72% | More than Satisfactory Notes: Never feels grand, the heroine's bland, a vacuous teen (for country and queen!), no colorful land (interiors an(B) 72% | More than Satisfactory Notes: Never feels grand, the heroine's bland, a vacuous teen (for country and queen!), no colorful land (interiors and sand).
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08/25/2023 - Preamble (1) It's quite a ballsy move to set this series in Ancient Israel. Especially over a decade ago when anything Biblical was treated with more reverence. To say that miracles and divine acts in scripture were actually carried out by demons is fairly blasphemous. - Even Rick Riordan, in the present with modern attitudes, only ever grazed the subject and only to mark Judeo-Christian tradition as entirely separate.
08/26/2023 - Chapters 1-11 (1) The ancient Kingdom of Sheba, at least in this alternate history, appears to be a matriarchal society, where the ruling class and elite are all women and men toil in the fields. - I'm no expert, but I doubt the ancient Middle East was ever so Amazonian. - The way it's described sort of reminds me of a beehive. (2) King Solomon's portrayed as a harsh ruler. Not quite a tyrant, but definitely not a nice guy.
08/27/2023 - Chapters 12-20 (1) So far, this hasn't felt urgent and there's no real threat. It's about a teenage assassin commanded by the Queen of Sheba to kill King Solomon, all because of unjust taxation. - Granted, much bloodshed's been kicked off over less, but it just seems very small potatoes, and nothing that justifies regicide. (2) This teenager being an object of desire for older men, including Bartimaeus, is pretty unsettling.
08/31/2023 - Chapters 21-29 (1) I think one reason this book isn't clicking for me is it's not particularly special. - The previous books were set in the present day with an interesting contrast between exotic magical beings and an almost Victorian British formality. - This is set in the ancient Middle East where magic and djinnis are par for the course. It's not on-its-face interesting, meaning the story and characters bear that burden.
09/01/2023 - Chapters 30-38 (1) I think I enjoyed this slightly more than I did the first time I read it. Being an audiobook made the difference. Though, it doesn't really change my opinion about the content. Especially on the heels of "Ptolemy's Gate," which was better in every way. (2) The protagonist, Asmira, never rose above her basic description. - Just another generic orphaned, strong-willed girl, like so many other MG/YA heroines. (hide spoiler)]...more
(B+) 76% | Good Notes: On loosened grips, relationships evolve, converge and flip, team ends abrupt as things erupt (too short a fellowship).
*Check out(B+) 76% | Good Notes: On loosened grips, relationships evolve, converge and flip, team ends abrupt as things erupt (too short a fellowship).
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08/21/2023 (1) - Preamble (1) I'd like to think I've evolved as a reader, as a person, as a connoisseur of taste, but apparently not. The last time I read this series was in 2009, and so far my old reviews reflect exactly how I feel about them today. - On the flip side, should I expect my opinion of a book, or any subjective artform, to change over a span of time? I am still me after all. - So far I'm 2/2, we'll see how this one fares.
08/21/2023 (2) - Prologue–Chapter 7 (1) So far, there's been two separate flashback chapters set in Ancient Egypt. Last book used a flashback as a prologue too, but never again afterward. - I presume flashbacks will continue, given they're no longer limited to prologues, and given they feature the titular character. (2) Like Harry Potter and Percy Jackson, John Mandrake here gets all the girls' attention. - Top tier magical ability will do that.
08/22/2023 - Chapters 8-13 (1) I was right, flashbacks are a regular thing now. Meaning we get four points of view: (1) Nathaniel, (2) Kitty, (3) current Bartimaeus, (4) ancient Bartimaeus. - It makes the book a lot less stuffy. The first book, by contrast, was all aristocratic/bureaucratic manners and pretense. (2) I'm rooting for Nathaniel to end up with Piper, his demure secretary. - She's sort of like his Moneypenny or Pepper Potts.
08/23/2023 - Chapters 14-21 (1) Kitty spends three years learning magic only to have a bit of breakdown when she realizes it was a huge waste of her time. - Not unusual, I hear people talk about their college degrees the same way. (2) Part of the reason why this book's the best of the three is that the main characters are actually likeable and act nobly. - Kitty's no longer a thief and terrorist. - Nathaniel's no longer a careerist snob.
08/24/2023 - Chapters 22-26 (1) To me, the absence of any romance cements this firmly as middle-grade rather than young-adult. - Sure, there's a long-standing crush on a teacher and brief mentions of certain characters' attractiveness, but nothing more than that. - At this point in the book, the two principal characters have gotten over their enmity and sort of bonded. Shame there wasn't another book to explore this relationship further.
08/25/2023 - Chapters 27-38 (1) In my first review of this book, I noted that the end battle was disappointing, bringing the book down a few notches. - I have to agree with my past self. It felt clunky and never hit the right notes for me. (2) A closing note on the series: I was skeptical how they'd incorporate all the footnotes, copious throughout the text. I'm pleased to say that I didn't notice them. The narration was rather seamless. (hide spoiler)]...more
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08/17/2023 (1) - Preamble (1) So, I don't remember much about this book. I recall it introduces a girl named Kitty, but that's about it. - The "His Dark Materials" series did the same thing, but the inverse: starting with a girl and adding a boy in the sequel. - I wonder if this copied that formula? There's probably a bunch but I can't think of another example. - Usually series are either solo adventures or start with a core group/duo.
08/17/2023 (2) - Prologue–Chapter 17 (1) Nathaniel is still sort of unpleasant in an arrogant elitist sort of way, but he has some personality now, and isn't just a generic kid protagonist. He's a career-focused dandy now, which is an intriguing shift. (2) Also an improvement is the addition of a genuinely sympathetic character in Kitty. She has the typical tragic backstory of most kid protagonists, including Nathaniel, but hers is fairly unique.
08/18/2023 - Chapters 17-31 (1) Jane seduces Nathaniel, which he assumes must be some sort of magic charm or glamor playing with his emotions. - Alternatively, it could just be teenage hormones doing that. No magic necessary. (2) A few changes in this alternate history: - The American Revolution happens in 2004. - Britain and Bohemia are rival superpowers. - William Gladstone overthrows parliament to found the present magician oligarchy.
08/19/2023 - Chapters 32-38 (1) Jane seduces Nathaniel, which he assumes must be some sort of magic charm or glamor playing with his emotions. - Alternatively, it could just be teenage hormones doing that. No magic necessary. (2) A few changes in this alternate history: - The American Revolution happens in 2004. - Britain and Bohemia are rival superpowers. - William Gladstone overthrows parliament to found the present magician oligarchy.
08/20/2023 - Chapters 39-48 (1) I sort of wish the eventual culprit, the mystery traitor, was more fleshed out. - He ended up being the character most hostile to the protagonist throughout the book, and as such was entirely predictable. - Scooby Doo villains show more personality. (2) The main threat isn't the titular golem, it's a possessed skeleton. - It may be the narration, but he's just too goofy to elevate this book above middling. (hide spoiler)]...more
(B) 72% | More than Satisfactory Notes: Too precious, wears, gets hard to care, its hero whines a lot, quite byzantine, excitement-lean, more filigree (B) 72% | More than Satisfactory Notes: Too precious, wears, gets hard to care, its hero whines a lot, quite byzantine, excitement-lean, more filigree than plot.
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08/13/2023 - Preamble (1) I'm presently reading "The Trials of Apollo" series, and while I'd planned to continue my journey through Rick Riordan audiobooks, I don't read the same author concurrently, it's too easy to get things mixed up. My rule with audiobooks is it has to be something I've read already so I don't have to concentrate too much while multitasking. - This book fits the bill and happened to be available at my library.
08/14/2023 - Chapters 1-17 (1) Not to compare this too much to Harry Potter, but it is one of the first series to ride the initial wave of Pottermania to greater notoriety. - Though, how can you not? Both feature emotionally abused foster-children who learn magic in a school setting. (2) I don't find Nathaniel here all that likeable. He's a whiny know-it-all who's only really interesting for a possessive crush he has on his art teacher.
08/15/2023 (1) - Chapters 18-25 (1) Of all the odd things to find in a modern, present-set, book, the author goes in hard on who, Disraeli or Gladstone, was the greater Prime Minister. - In this alternate history, Gladstone is the greatest ever, whereas Disraeli's bashed to no end. (2) One of my biggest issues with this book is how precious it is about its own lore. - To me, lore is only as good as the characters that make you care about it.
08/15/2023 (2) - Chapters 26-38 (1) I don't find either of the two protagonists all that likeable. - The boy, Nathaniel, whines all the time about things not going his way, and only thinks to plot revenge on people who've wronged him. - The djinni, Bartimaeus, is cheeky and smug, but has no admirable qualities. Even helping Nathaniel is rooted in pure self-interest. (2) Despite all the escapes and explosions, the story's not exciting at all.
08/16/2023 - Chapters 39-44 (1) I don't usually reread books I didn't care for initially, This would be the first. Before I had any prominence or visibility on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ whatsoever, my first review for this book drew a lot of heated opposition. - While this audiobook was a different experience, I can't say reading it again (as many people have suggested/insisted) made me like it any better. If anything, it underscored my initial opinion. (hide spoiler)]...more
(B) 75% | More than Satisfactory Notes: It’s about how the rejoining echoes of long-lost kin affect identity, as avatars of principle and catalysts of (B) 75% | More than Satisfactory Notes: It’s about how the rejoining echoes of long-lost kin affect identity, as avatars of principle and catalysts of conversion....more
(B) 75% | More than Satisfactory Notes: It sees villains through a lens of inadequacy and delusion, who, by indiscriminate bloodshed, seek satiation of(B) 75% | More than Satisfactory Notes: It sees villains through a lens of inadequacy and delusion, who, by indiscriminate bloodshed, seek satiation of desire....more
(B) 75% | More than Satisfactory Notes: It’s sci-fi gothic, where monsters grow from good intentions and saving the world means flying into the danger (B) 75% | More than Satisfactory Notes: It’s sci-fi gothic, where monsters grow from good intentions and saving the world means flying into the danger zone....more
(A) 88% | Extraordinary Notes: Constantly captured by its brilliance, it's a comic book ³¦³ó±ð´Ú-»å&²¹±è´Ç²õ;²Õ³Ü±¹°ù±ð, with meaty text and a complex, layered storyline.(A) 88% | Extraordinary Notes: Constantly captured by its brilliance, it's a comic book ³¦³ó±ð´Ú-»å'²Õ³Ü±¹°ù±ð, with meaty text and a complex, layered storyline....more
(B) 72% | More than Satisfactory Notes: Its new setting adds nothing: unoriginal, it relies on stock children's themes and another flat rehash of serie(B) 72% | More than Satisfactory Notes: Its new setting adds nothing: unoriginal, it relies on stock children's themes and another flat rehash of series formula....more
(B+) 76% | Good Notes: It's the best of the series, but like the rest, an otherwise fine story is spoiled by a chaotic, poorly-written closing battle.(B+) 76% | Good Notes: It's the best of the series, but like the rest, an otherwise fine story is spoiled by a chaotic, poorly-written closing battle....more
(B) 74% | More than Satisfactory Notes: It could do with a more elaborate mythology. Improving on the first book, it's still, for a fantasy, not terrib(B) 74% | More than Satisfactory Notes: It could do with a more elaborate mythology. Improving on the first book, it's still, for a fantasy, not terribly exciting....more
(B) 72% | More than Satisfactory Notes: An interesting premise and humorous to boot, but the story's flat, characters aren't very deep and the ending's(B) 72% | More than Satisfactory Notes: An interesting premise and humorous to boot, but the story's flat, characters aren't very deep and the ending's weak....more
(B+) 77% | Good Notes: Very slow paced and the ending doesn't justify its length, but characters are strong and it shows flashes of brilliance.(B+) 77% | Good Notes: Very slow paced and the ending doesn't justify its length, but characters are strong and it shows flashes of brilliance....more
(B+) 76% | Good Notes: An antiquarian pastiche, it's nothing remarkable but like a ride in the countryside it's pleasant and has an airy charm.(B+) 76% | Good Notes: An antiquarian pastiche, it's nothing remarkable but like a ride in the countryside it's pleasant and has an airy charm....more
(B+) 77% | Good Notes: It starts well and gets interesting in the middle, but the ending's an afterthought and the text is befuddlingly flowery.(B+) 77% | Good Notes: It starts well and gets interesting in the middle, but the ending's an afterthought and the text is befuddlingly flowery....more
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