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Showing posts from January, 2010

Sherlock Holmes

Went to see the movie Sherlock Holmes, with Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law. I enjoyed it throughout. The initial presentation of Holmes as a bit off his rocker was pulled off well. Watson's fascination with the cases and Holmes balanced with his frustration with his erratic behavior was front and center. It's funny, though, the mystery was not so much what was going to happen, but how the evil 'magician' Lord Blackwood actually did it. Reason and science triumph again, and Moriarti pulls some strings and waits for the sequel. We saw it at the Lumina, and the soundtrack was jarring - the calliope seemed to be too much for the sound system. Oh well. Info at IMDB .

Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris

I've read them, they're fun. Good mix of suspense, sex, violence, mystery. Amazon collection of 1-7 Number 8 Number 9 I haven't read, not in paperback until April 2010. True Blood, season one and two, are fun to compare to the books. They aren't first-person like the novels, so they range much wider following the other characters, especially Tara and Jason. Some elements are obviously aimed at people who've read the books, to surprise them. Spoiler: the biggest is the continued existence of Lafayette, but the actor/writers in the show are having a great time with him.

The Bottom Billion by Paul Collier, review

I hope that many people in a position to do something have read and considered this book. Most of the recommendations are backed up by studies of the current state of the bottom billion countries. I was out of my comfort zone with this book, and I'm glad - it's made me aware of issues which I didn't know anything about. I am so far removed from doing anything about it, though, that it may just make me more cynical. Amazon link .