JPod - Douglas Coupland

Advantages: It has a nice cover
Disadvantages: The stuff in between is bad

..."Oh God, I feel like a refugee from a Douglas Coupland novel." "That asshole" "Who does he think he is?" As opening lines to novels go that was a first for me. I've never known an author name check them self so brazenly and I have to say it set me off on the wrong foot with this book. I've never read Coupland before so wasn't really sure what to expect. As the celebrated author of 'Generation X' I was looking forward to an IT literate book for the information age. What I got was something far less, a self serving work lacking irony and intelligence. A book that wastes the reader's time and provides little in return. But I'm rushing to a conclusion so let me step back and tell you a little about it before I completely trash it. The story follows events over a year or so of Ethan Jarlewski's life. A regular kind of guy he...

brereton66 07.03.2008 · Read review
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Review of JPod - Douglas Coupland

Generation X - Douglas Coupland

Advantages: An intelligent read
Disadvantages: A bit on the light side

...I must be such a sucker. A year or so back I bought the book Jpod by Douglas Coupland and hated it with a degree of hostility out of all proportion to its inherent quality, yet here I am shelling out good money for another one. I?d bought that first book largely on the basis of the author?s reputation as a modern, zeitgeist surfing writer with a savvy appreciation of the turn of the century world. A reputation almost entirely earned with this break through novel; ?Generation X?. Unfortunately, Jpod was so annoyingly self-regarding, so out of touch with the 21st century that I felt almost personally insulted that I had been so duped ? hence my disproportionate loathing. Still, once bitten ? never learn is my motto and I resolved to go back to the source of all this trouble and actually read Generation X, the book that created a reputation...

brereton66 11.03.2009 (15.03.2009) · Read review
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Review of Generation X - Douglas Coupland

BLACK DOUGLAS

Advantages: Strong malt flavour
Disadvantages: Hard to find on draught

...and a drawing of a mean looking character on the label. Who the flickin' sneck is he I wonder? I feel a legend coming on....... * SIR JAMES the GOOD aka THE BLACK DOUGLAS * Sir James Douglas fought for Scottish independence at the side of King Robert the Bruce. He fought with the Bruce at Methven in 1306 then led a raid on Douglas Castle, his own estate, which had been occupied by the English. Disguised as peasants, Sir James and his men surprised and defeated the English garrison. He then went on to attack and capture Roxburgh Castle. He also played a major role in the defeat of the English at the Battle of Bannockburn and was one of the signatories of the Declaration of Arbroath, at Arbroath Abbey, in 1320. On the death of the Bruce in 1329, he was entrusted with the King's heart in order to carry it on a crusade to the Holy Land. He...

proxam 04.12.2002 · Read review
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Review of Black Douglas Ale

A romantic whodunnit from Nora Roberts

Advantages: An absorbing read
Disadvantages: A little predictable

... ANGELS FALL NORA ROBERTS In this book - "Angels Fall" - Nora Roberts mixes mystery and romance. This book, published in 2006, contains three main subplots in the story -- a murder mystery, Reece's romance with Brody, and Reece's struggle to gain back normality. Ms Roberts manages to incorporate the three aspects together resulting into and novel. The story starts with the heroine, cook Reece Gilmore, as her car has broken down in Angel's Fist, Wyoming. Reece decides decides to stay in the little town for a day - but that day turns into months as she takes a a job as a cook in the local diner, rents the apartment upstairs and settles into town life at Angel's Fist. It is then, through dreams and flashbacks from Reece, that e learn that she hasbeen the victim of a viscious and brutal crime in...

oldchem 18.07.2009 · Read review
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Review of Angels Fall - Nora Roberts

Robert Ludlum's Moving Tale of Betrayal...

Advantages: Fabulous book, one of Ludlum's best..
Disadvantages: None at all..

...The Tristan Betrayal Author: Robert Ludlum Pages: 521 About the author and the book ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Robert Ludlum is the author of 23 novels published in 32 languages and 40 countries, and, at one time was the world's best selling author. His novels are a blend of sophisticated plotting and extreme pace.There are more than 210 million copies of his books in print. He is best known for 'The Scarletti Inheritance', The Chancellor manuscript , Osterman Weekend and the Jason Bourne series - 'The Bourne identity, The Bourne Supremacy and 'The Bourne ultimatum' among others. His plots are intricate with twists upon twists, managing to mesmerize the readers. He is an expert at writing Political Thrillers.The Tristan Betrayal is a classic Political Thriller set in the 1940's in Paris , Moscow both reeling under Hitler...

kiran8 15.03.2009 · Read review
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Review of The Tristan Betrayal - Robert Ludlum

Robert Post

Advantages: good tunes and really catchy
Disadvantages: only one really outstanding track

...This is a self-titled album by singer songwriter Robert Post. He comes from a small village in Norway called Langevaag and he got together with two friends, Tor and Alf, and set about to record an album. Tor does the drums and Alf plays bass for Post. Mike Hedges is the producer of the album, who has produced work for many different artists such as the Manic Street Preachers or Travis. This album looks like it could be set to be big in due time. Again, I first heard some of his music through a friend, when he downloaded one of the songs though iTunes. Once I?d heard this song, I wanted to hear more as it was so upbeat and yet seemed to be different to general pop music that you would hear on the radio. I listened to the album with enthusiasm waiting for more wonderfully crafted songs that really make you want to sing along. I...

lc15 20.06.2007 · Read review
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Review of Robert Post - Robert Post

Robert Fripp Exposed

Advantages: Brilliantly creative, inventive, innovative... etc. album played by a stunning list of musicians
Disadvantages: some might find it pretentious

...The chances are that you?ve heard Robert Fripp?s guitar even if you?ve never heard the name. Ever wondered whose amazing guitar that is on Bowie?s Heroes? What about Scary Monsters? He?s played with and produced Peter Gabriel, the Talking Heads, Brian Eno, David Sylvian, The Future Sound of London, Blondie Andy Summers (of the Police), The Orb; also The California Guitar Trio, Trey Gunn, Bill Rieflin (for those who know who they are) and is married to Toyah Wilcox of all people, but otherwise better known as the only remaining founder member and force behind King Crimson. Fripp has made a vast array of solo albums, mostly his ambient soundscapes that are themselves beautiful. He?s had other bands too beyond Crimson: The League of Gentleman (back in 1980), Robert Fripp?s String Quintet (1994); but there is only one available solo...

No_name 08.12.2003 · Read review
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Review of Exposure - Robert Fripp

Douglas Adams Douglas Adams Douglas Adams

Advantages: Really great and well written ideas
Disadvantages: No movie, and the sad news of Douglas Adams?s death

...I wouldn?t say Douglas Adams was a hero of mine but he is someone I admired a great deal. I love the way he wrote and the ideas he came up with, it wasn?t until his death a year ago that it really came home to me of how much a part he played in my life, he will be very missed. I have written a couple of opinions about Douglas Adams?s lately, and have done several, most of the following I wrote but left out due to the length of those ops. So seeing as a new revised edition of what is essentially a biography of Douglas Adams has just come out and been read by this fan I thought I?d include it here. ~~Don?t Panic - Douglas Adams & The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy~~ Written by Neil Gaiman and originally came out as ?Don?t Panic: The Official Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy Companion?, in 1987. It was revised by David K...

seagulls-lost-horizon 14.08.2002 · Read review
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Review of Don't Panic - Douglas Adams & The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy - Neil Gaiman

Robert Heinlein, First and Best

Advantages: A very entertaining thoughtful reat
Disadvantages: Not to every ones liking

...Starship Troopers by Robert A Heinlein. Published in 1959. Very brief synopsis:- With this book you follow the life of one Juan (Johnny) Rico from his enlistment in the Federal Service, Mobile Infantry, up to his command of a platoon of these troops in an Interstellar war. Mankind is facing a Bug like alien species, something like a giant ant crossed with a spider. Johnny Rico comes from a background of wealth and privilege and through peer pressure and naivety he signs up for service. Only a person who has completed a minimum two year service has the Right to vote. Not everybody wants to serve and thus vote. A good part of the book is taking up with his time at boot camp and the training he undergoes. Running in the background that we are not aware of is the situation that is getting steadily worse, going from normal peace...

Coloneljohn 18.04.2005 · Read review
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Review of Starship Troopers - Robert A. Heinlein

Douglas Coupland - creater of modern classics

Advantages: A great social commentator
Disadvantages: his later books are not as good

...I love Douglas Coupland. He is definately one of today's most important and influential authors. His novels include the modern classic Generation X, (1991) Life after God (1994) Girlfriend in a coma, (1997) All families are psychotic, (2001) Hey Nostradamus (2003) and many more. He has also written some non-fiction such as 'Polaroids from the Dead' and 'city of glass'. He is an amazing visionary and there really is no-one else writing like him. His post-modern approach to story telling is beautiful, moving and often very funny. He has been described as a visionary and important social commentator. A Canadian born in 1961, he has studied art and design all over the world. He also creates art and even makes his own furniture. Truley a creative talented man. His later novels such as Microserfs and JPod are (obviously...

mycatis 09.04.2008 · Read review
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Review of Douglas Coupland