Reviews Round-up
Oct. 5th, 2015 02:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alobearA few brief reviews to clear my list:
I think I actually started Bonehunters, the sixth Malazan novel by Steven Erikson, on the way home from our New Year trip to Edinburgh in January. Aaaaaand I finally finished it - yesterday! Whilst falling down the fanfiction rabbit hole repeatedly throughout the year hasn't helped, I think I can mostly lay the blame for my shocking lack of reading this year at the feet of Bonehunters. Don't get me wrong - it's not a bad book, not in the least. The whole series does fluctuate a bit, and the amount of time it took me to finish this one doesn't allow me to say it kept me gripped throughout - but I thought it was pretty good overall. I do find it difficult to remember all the ins and outs of the arc plot from one book to another, and I have to admit picking the book up and putting it down again over several months didn't make that any easier - but it's still chock full of awesome characters, great description, unexpected plot points, and an amazing amount of detail. So, while I probably won't be returning to Malazan this year, I'm glad to see that the next instalment is already on my shelf for when I want it.
Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare presents the reader (or listener, in my case) with a world of factions - Down Worlders, Nephilim and demons make uneasy alliances or play out centuries-old feuds on the streets of Victorian London. The setting was rich and well realised, the range of characters was broad and intriguing, and the story moved along at a reasonable pace. I'm just not sure I liked any of the main players enough to care what happens to them in the next book in the series.
The Intern was a fun way to spend a random Friday afternoon. The casting is good, the acting is fine, the story is enjoyable, and there are enough funny bits to maintain interest. I thought the first half was significantly better than the second half, and I'm not sure what the message about gender roles and maintaining relationships was quite supposed to be - but it was sweet overall, and had some great individual moments.
The Martian, on the other hand, was an excellent way to spend a specific Friday evening - and I thought it was great. Contrary to a review Dave read, I would not say it's better than the book. That would be quite hard, since it's one of the best books I've read in a while, and the film necessarily left out some of the depth and a lot of the science. Yes, I actually missed the science! However, Matt Damon is a fantastic choice to play Mark Watney, and is admirably supported by Jeff Daniels, Jessica Chastain, Kate Mara, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and - Sean Bean! Read the book first, if you haven't already (just go now and get a copy and read it already!) - then very much enjoy the film.
I think I actually started Bonehunters, the sixth Malazan novel by Steven Erikson, on the way home from our New Year trip to Edinburgh in January. Aaaaaand I finally finished it - yesterday! Whilst falling down the fanfiction rabbit hole repeatedly throughout the year hasn't helped, I think I can mostly lay the blame for my shocking lack of reading this year at the feet of Bonehunters. Don't get me wrong - it's not a bad book, not in the least. The whole series does fluctuate a bit, and the amount of time it took me to finish this one doesn't allow me to say it kept me gripped throughout - but I thought it was pretty good overall. I do find it difficult to remember all the ins and outs of the arc plot from one book to another, and I have to admit picking the book up and putting it down again over several months didn't make that any easier - but it's still chock full of awesome characters, great description, unexpected plot points, and an amazing amount of detail. So, while I probably won't be returning to Malazan this year, I'm glad to see that the next instalment is already on my shelf for when I want it.
Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare presents the reader (or listener, in my case) with a world of factions - Down Worlders, Nephilim and demons make uneasy alliances or play out centuries-old feuds on the streets of Victorian London. The setting was rich and well realised, the range of characters was broad and intriguing, and the story moved along at a reasonable pace. I'm just not sure I liked any of the main players enough to care what happens to them in the next book in the series.
The Intern was a fun way to spend a random Friday afternoon. The casting is good, the acting is fine, the story is enjoyable, and there are enough funny bits to maintain interest. I thought the first half was significantly better than the second half, and I'm not sure what the message about gender roles and maintaining relationships was quite supposed to be - but it was sweet overall, and had some great individual moments.
The Martian, on the other hand, was an excellent way to spend a specific Friday evening - and I thought it was great. Contrary to a review Dave read, I would not say it's better than the book. That would be quite hard, since it's one of the best books I've read in a while, and the film necessarily left out some of the depth and a lot of the science. Yes, I actually missed the science! However, Matt Damon is a fantastic choice to play Mark Watney, and is admirably supported by Jeff Daniels, Jessica Chastain, Kate Mara, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and - Sean Bean! Read the book first, if you haven't already (just go now and get a copy and read it already!) - then very much enjoy the film.
