kasia in a nutshell

I have an annoying habit.

After, not before, I finish reading a book I read the reviews. Most people probably (I didn't poll for this, just guessing) read reviews before picking up a book to get a general idea of its readworthiness. Not me. I hate reading anyone's opinion on a book before I've sampled the story myself. Oh, I may skim through the ratings just to see if it's generally liked or just a horrible stinker.. but reading the actual text of the reviews colors how I see the book later. Or worse: gives away a story line.

I find ratings somewhat useful. If a book has a lot of "great, fantastic, 5+++++ stars" ratings combined with a lot of "boo, horrible, waste of time, hiss hiss" ratings then it probably is at the very least controversial enough to be interesting. After all, only a fascinating book could possibly inspire enough people to love it or hate it so much it leaves a mark on its ranking.

Ratings aside, reviews are fascinating to me -- not, not the good ones, I don't bother with those. If I liked the book then I don't need anyone else confirming its delectability. I love reading the bad reviews. The ones who think the book stinks (particularly if they go into great detail why) and the ones who violently disapprove of the author (and how could so many people love this drivel!). There is something delicious about a pointy, knife-twisting picking apart of a book, particularly when the person behind it claims to have never finished it (I couldn't stand it after 10 pages!).

(pick your favorite deity) bless Amazon for creating its review system, it is most entertaining to my twisted mind.

Posted by kasia at 07:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I had a $30 iTunes gift certificate to spend and sadly, the music selections looked quite unappealing -- I either already have all the music I like or I just don't connect to modern music anymore. Can't quite decide, but that's a whole separate discussion. Instead, I decided to go for an audio-book. An international best-seller is usually a semi-safe bet (only semi, after all, Grisham of the-same-book-over-and-over-again is on that list) and I purchased Dan Brown's The DaVinci code (correct, I have not actually read it yet).

I like this audio-book thing. I listened in the car, at the gym, while doing the dishes. This really works out great for me. It took a little bit to get used to the reader's style of faking accents and making women characters sound like fainting transvestites.. but once I got over that part I was able to really get into the book (it's a fast paced triller filled with semi-historical data so it was entertaining) and actually enjoy it.

It's only too bad it costs more to get an audio-book in an mp3 format than it is to get an actual hard cover copy.. I think I'll mostly stick to the free selection. That is unless I get more iTunes certificates (actually, audible.com is cheaper). I envision being able to read, err... listen to more books with this whole book-on-iPod thing -- for me that's a good thing, my free time is about nil.

Posted by kasia at 07:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (12)

I've been reading Neil Peart's Ghost Rider recently.. it's an interesting enough book if not the finest example of literary quality. The relatively poor writing is a little disapointing since his lyrics and previous book, The Masked Rider, are so much better.. This book is probably not the best choice for those who aren't Rush fans and already familiar with the author... quite the witty and smart man. (And just cynical enough for my liking!).

It's mostly a collection of journal entries and letters written while traveling through most of Northern America on a motorcycle as a way to heal wounds after the death of his wife and child (something I'd like to do on a bicycle some day... well, minus the tragedy part). Reading about his ghosts from the past I suddenly had an urge to do a google search for images of his family. I didn't do it, it just seemed goulish, creepy and too much like people staring at a car wreck -- I truly hate that. People who are in pain don't want spectators.. I know this (well) but the urge is still there..

Now I can't shake the feeling that some cosmic karma force is going to get me for even entertaining the idea of turning a man's tragedy into a spectator sport for myself. I should go burn some incense or something..

Posted by kasia at 10:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

For my my new book.. it's next on my reading list now.

Posted by kasia at 08:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Finished reading it last night. Not worth bothering with, really.. it's just a shadow of Aztec which is a terrific book and highly recommended. The ending made me want to throw "Aztec Autumn" out the window.. gratuitous sex scenes didn't help it at all..

Now reading "American Gods".. starts off pretty well..

Posted by kasia at 12:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

.. when you feel empty after finishing it. It's almost as if a family member had died and you'll never see them again.

"Red Azalea" by Anchee Min is one of those books, highly recommended.

Posted by kasia at 04:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)