Moonrise by Ben Bova (1996) – Reading a Ben Bova book is like having a really satisfying meal. He is notable for his epic science fiction (Moonrise is over 550 pages), and this one doesn’t disappoint. Ben is skillful at providing a very good science fiction main course while giving the reader a lot of insight into the personal lives of his characters as the side dish. He’s quite the chef. For me, I am perfectly content with just the beef, but his side dishes […]
A fantastic, biting play, with just the right amount of comic relief.
Two years ago, my friend C invited me to come see Good People at the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago with her. I was really glad I did for several reasons. First, it’s a really, really good play. Second, before it started, we were talking about where we were in the doctoral work (we started out together and are the only two in our year), and she helped me sort out some of the self-defeat and pessimism I’d been experiencing. Seriously, I could not have done […]
Grief is indeed a rabbit hole.
A few years ago, a couple I became friends with in my MA program lost their daughter in the second trimester. It was highly traumatic, and they struggled with the fallout for a long time, even after they got pregnant with their first son. In the midst of this process, they went to see the film adaptation of David Lindsay-Abaire’s play Rabbit Hole and said they found it cathartic. I still haven’t seen the film with Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart, but I’ve been meaning […]
After the girl is gone
One the first page of the first chapter a girl goes missing, barely fifteen and somebody’s daughter. And pretty. Asian with round, blue eyes. We meet the family at the breakfast table where she is, uncharacteristically, missing. The father is already halfway to work. And something about the chapter made me think; why is it that we are so obsessed with the gone girl. Why do we trace her life in those left behind?
Drama and lessons from the school of life.
Forty-fourth book reviewed as part of the 130 Challenge. Yet again I turn to a play by Oscar Wilde and yet again I come away entirely delighted by the experience! Every one of his works has his distinct imprint of acerbic satire and astute observations. While his characters are from the late 20th Century, his observations of the human condition are timeless. And while he is wickedly sarcastic, he almost always manages to convince you that in the end, people are essentially good at heart. […]
So endeth these Star Wars.
I apologize in advance for this review. Not only did I forget that I read this, and hence forget to rate it on Goodreads for almost two months, I read it so long ago I barely remember anything I wanted to say about it AND ALSO I didn’t take any notes. (Please refer to my reviews of the first and second books in the series for actual quality review material.) Here’s what I remember: This was my least favorite of the three adaptations. Of course, […]