and Other Stuff

I do have a list of movies I’m working on reviewing, but in the mean time, how about some book info?

I was able to read a number of very good books in 2006 (and I read some real stinkers, too). Doubtless, a trip to a certain city-state helped me get more reading done than I would have otherwise. Also, learning to let skimming suffice on a number of books, as well as letting myself skim/skip to the end of lame books both helped.

Over the next few days I’ll post my top five reads for 2006. For today, though, how about a list of bad books?

Galatea 2.2 by Richard Powers — I know that Powers is a certified genius, and this book is probably a rare work of true greatness. But all of that escapes me when it’s so boring I can barely force myself to continue skimming.

Confessions of a Memory Eater by Pagan Kennedy — Similar to Galatea 2.2 in a number of ways (ploddingly slow), but with the advantage of being shorter. Kennedy tries very hard to write clever turns of phrase, but it simply doesn’t work (said the pot, calling the kettle black).

Finally, Michael Crichton’s Next. This Aussie review sums it up as well as I could, if I were to write a full review.

So, tomorrow, the top 5 countdown begins. And more movie reviews soon. Really, I mean it.