[**] ISBN: 159859088X (CD) 9780786285785 (hardcover)
This was enjoyable, but I was hoping for so more. Over the course of four-plus hours, Ed regales the listener with memories of Johnny Carson. Often these are new and funny (which is what I expected), sometimes only one or the other, all too often they are neither.
It's obvious that Ed Mcmahon has a high regard for Johnny Carson and he wants to make a convincing case for us to like him, too. Here and there, there are genuine insights into the man that was our late-night master of ceremonies for thirty years. Ed also shares some interesting background on his own journey into television and how he and Johnny were thrown together. Most of the time, however, we are left bobbing on the surface wishing we could see beneath the water line.
How many times must Ed remind us he was a side-show barker? A marine? A mini-celebrity in Philadelphia local television? Why must he tell us the well-known Ed Ames "hatchet throwing story" at all, much less two times or more?
I still have fond memories of Johnny and Ed. They were the "forbidden fruit" of after-bedtime television when I growing up. In this audio book, Ed adds a few more good memories. I just wish he would have added more.
Friday, April 27, 2007
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (J.K. Rowling)
[****] ISBN: 9780590353403
More catching up for me. I suppose I must concur with the rest of the world and declare that this is a highly entertaining and readable book. It is definitely incredible that this is the first effort by the author. She hit so many notes just right. Almost as incredible is the fact that she's apparently sustained it through many more volumes.
More catching up for me. I suppose I must concur with the rest of the world and declare that this is a highly entertaining and readable book. It is definitely incredible that this is the first effort by the author. She hit so many notes just right. Almost as incredible is the fact that she's apparently sustained it through many more volumes.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
The Great Gatsby (F. Scott Fitzgerald)
[***] ISBN: 9780684801520
Yes, it's really that Gatsby. I probably read this back in high school, but I have no strong memory of it. I think I probably enjoyed it more this time around. Yet was also disappointing.
The writing is evocative and beautiful. The plot is spun out in an interesting and charming manner, even though it is ultimately quite simple. The characters are richly drawn, if mostly unsympathetic, misguided and tragic. The settings appear sketchy, with only major features and no minor details. This is a book to which to return, in order to learn poetic, lyrical and emotional storytelling.
Yes, it's really that Gatsby. I probably read this back in high school, but I have no strong memory of it. I think I probably enjoyed it more this time around. Yet was also disappointing.
The writing is evocative and beautiful. The plot is spun out in an interesting and charming manner, even though it is ultimately quite simple. The characters are richly drawn, if mostly unsympathetic, misguided and tragic. The settings appear sketchy, with only major features and no minor details. This is a book to which to return, in order to learn poetic, lyrical and emotional storytelling.
Friday, April 13, 2007
Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! (Richard P. Feynman)
[***] ISBN: 9780393019216
This was quite entertaining to listen to. It's not so much a biography, or even a memoir, as a bunch of personal anecdotes. These happen to be more interesting than the personal anecdotes of most people, even most celebrities. And somehow, Mr. Feynman (and his co-author) manage to organize them in such a way that they actually do say quite a bit about the life of this well-loved and quirky physics professor (there are even some references to the physics he did). Along the way, he manages to say or imply quite a bit about what it means to live life to the fullest. However, I was a bit taken aback (and somewhat disappointed) by some of the more colorful adventures and his free-wheeling attitude toward sex and drinking.
This was quite entertaining to listen to. It's not so much a biography, or even a memoir, as a bunch of personal anecdotes. These happen to be more interesting than the personal anecdotes of most people, even most celebrities. And somehow, Mr. Feynman (and his co-author) manage to organize them in such a way that they actually do say quite a bit about the life of this well-loved and quirky physics professor (there are even some references to the physics he did). Along the way, he manages to say or imply quite a bit about what it means to live life to the fullest. However, I was a bit taken aback (and somewhat disappointed) by some of the more colorful adventures and his free-wheeling attitude toward sex and drinking.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
A Day With Wilbur Robinson (William Joyce)
[***] ISBN: 9780060229672
Saw the film (Meet the Robinsons); had to read the book, even though it's a slim volume for young children (ages 4-8). It's easy to see why someone thought this was charming. But it also must have been a chore adding a real story to what is essentially just a collection of humorous vignettes. Apparently, there is a second edition that adds a few more scenes, but is still not exactly what is in the film. Fun!
Saw the film (Meet the Robinsons); had to read the book, even though it's a slim volume for young children (ages 4-8). It's easy to see why someone thought this was charming. But it also must have been a chore adding a real story to what is essentially just a collection of humorous vignettes. Apparently, there is a second edition that adds a few more scenes, but is still not exactly what is in the film. Fun!
Thursday, April 05, 2007
The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume One, 1929-1965 (Robert Silverburg, ed.)
[****] ISBN: 0765305364
I got this in order to read the short story that inspired the current move The Last Mimzy. The story is "Mimsy Were the Borogroves" by Lewis Padgett (1943). It's pretty good, and indicative of the era. It raises interesting questions about nature verses nurture, sparingly told and barely framed within a time travel context. It will be interesting to see what the film makers have done with it.
As to the collection itself, if I didn't already have a couple of solid collections of short science fiction stories, I would be tempted to obtain a copy for my own library. These were chosen (a while ago) by the members of the Science Fiction Writers of America as a way to honor stories that were written before the society began bestowing the Nebula awards. I would love to, and probably should, read through the entire thing. But that will probably have to wait.
I got this in order to read the short story that inspired the current move The Last Mimzy. The story is "Mimsy Were the Borogroves" by Lewis Padgett (1943). It's pretty good, and indicative of the era. It raises interesting questions about nature verses nurture, sparingly told and barely framed within a time travel context. It will be interesting to see what the film makers have done with it.
As to the collection itself, if I didn't already have a couple of solid collections of short science fiction stories, I would be tempted to obtain a copy for my own library. These were chosen (a while ago) by the members of the Science Fiction Writers of America as a way to honor stories that were written before the society began bestowing the Nebula awards. I would love to, and probably should, read through the entire thing. But that will probably have to wait.
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