Thursday, October 31, 2013

Two Foreign Flicks

DVD

This is the End starring [same pack of guys as always].  Some zombie or alien invasion leaves a bunch of actors stuck in a house.


The Heat starring Sandra Bullock, Melissa McCarthy.  Cop buddy comedy.  You know the drill.

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

23 Feet and 10 Inches of Joe Sacco

Sacco

The Great War:July 1, 1916: the first day of the Battle of the Somme by Joe Sacco.  Joe Sacco is an illustrator and comic-journalist (like a photo-journalist but requiring more lead time) who has covered conflicts and news stories around the world.  His latest book is an historical look at the Battle of the Somme in 1916.  Sacco did one illustration - 23' 10" long - folded into a book.

There are no descriptions within the illustration, Sacco tells the story from one continuous panel to the next from initial battle planning, to the massive week-long bombardment, to the disastrous first day of fighting.  A separate booklet has a brief history of the Battle and a smaller, annotated version of the full illustration.

Joe Sacco's The Great War: July 1, 1916: the first day of the Battle of the Somme

Joe Sacco's The Great War: July 1, 1916: the first day of the Battle of the Somme

Joe Sacco's The Great War: July 1, 1916: the first day of the Battle of the Somme

Joe Sacco's The Great War: July 1, 1916: the first day of the Battle of the Somme

Joe Sacco's The Great War: July 1, 1916: the first day of the Battle of the Somme

Joe Sacco's The Great War: July 1, 1916: the first day of the Battle of the Somme

Joe Sacco's The Great War: July 1, 1916: the first day of the Battle of the Somme

Joe Sacco's The Great War: July 1, 1916: the first day of the Battle of the Somme

Joe Sacco's The Great War: July 1, 1916: the first day of the Battle of the Somme

AudioBooks on CD

1356 by Bernard Cornwell.  12 hours on 10 CDs.  Cornwell's latest novel about English killing French and French killing English.

Silencing Eve by Iris Johansen.  12.6666666 hours on 11 CDs.  Johansen's latest novel about novel about character Eve Duncan.

One Summer: America, 1927 by Bill Bryson.  17 hours on 14 CDs.  Bryson latest book about things that happened many years ago, with jokes.

Police by Jo Nesbo.  17 hours on 14 CDs.  Nesbo's latest novel about a Norwegian policeman.

Monday, October 28, 2013

Gagnon, Gischler, Grisham

Fiction

The Shadow: Volume Two: Revolution by Victor Gischler and Aaron Campbell.  Gischler writes another comic.  Gischler adds in things like "Ka-Klik" and "Whump".

Don't Turn Around by Michelle Gagnon.  Gagnon writes a YA thriller. Gagnon adds in things like, "She decided to ignore the warning and went back to her laptop."  Gagnon has a raccoon problem.

Sycamore Row by John Grisham.  Grisham writes another lawyer book.  Grisham writes things like, "Anotehr women sobbed loudly in response."

The Litter of the Law by Rita Mae Brown.  Brown writes another mystery novel with a cat.  Gerard refuses to write the cat as co-author.

We Are Water by Wally Lamb.  Lamb writes another family drama.  Lamb writes things like, "To rescue the mood I tell her that on of the late night hosts - Jimmy Kimmel, I think it was - referred to Ahmadinejad at Scruffy McWindbreaker."

Spirit of Steamboat by Craig Johnson.  Johnson writes a Christmas story with his Walt Longmire character.  Johnson writes things like, "The blonde, ignoring the sarcasm, looked at Lucian."

The Abominable by Dan Simmons.  Simmons writes another scary historical novel.  These words appear in this order, "Summer...is just...when Professor Hall...rubbed his forehead...outside...Nepal."

Guests on Earth by Lee Smith.  13-year-old girl goes to mental hospital in 1936.  Smith writes things like, "I left it there."

Cross and Burn by Val McDermid.  Scotswoman writes of more killing and psychology.  Page 44 says, "Full bear, neatly trimmed."

Outlaw by Ted Dekker.  Dekker writes another spiritual fiction novel.  Dekker writes, "You bled?"

The Creeps by John Connolly.  Connolly writes a "clever and quirky follow-up."  Connolly toured Australia and you missed it.

Ask Not by Max Allan Collins.  Collins writes another period mystery.  Collins writes these words in this order, "She laughed...holding up a palm...and...drowning...the exotic dancer."

Donald Driver, German Zombie Attorney

NonFiction

Driven by Donald Driver with Peter Golenbock.  Growing up poor in Houston.  Playing for the Packers.

DVD

Mad Men: Season 5 starring That One Dude, That Other Dude With Grey Hair, That Redheaded Lady With Bosoms.  Advertising people drink too much and dress nicely.


World War Z starring Brad Pitt, CGI Zombies, CGI Explosions, CGI Helicopters.  German zombies almost take over the world.



AudioBooks on CD

David and Goliath: underdogs, misfits, and the art of battling giants by Malcolm Gladwell.  6 CDs at 7 hours.  Why do underdogs win?  Or something like that.  I'm too distracted by the author's crazy hair.

The Black Book by Ian Rankin.  9 CDs at 10 hours.  John Rebus digs deadly dirt in cold case of arson.

Identical by Scott Turow.  11 CDs at 12 hours.  "Tangle of deception" with politics and murder.