Leni Zumas's writing crackles. Her books are sharp, bleak, funny, and possibly dangerous. When her collection of short stories, Farewell Navigator,...
Continue »
An incredible adventure in a world our descendants might see
This is a truly futurist novel that puts you squarely into a terrifyingly detailed world, where the oil has run out, global warming has raised the oceans, and large corporations contend with nations for the next bio-engineered food crops just one step ahead of likewise biologically engineered plagues. Not for the faint of heart, but one of the best novels I have read in the last 10 years.
Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No
(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
This book is just fun from one end to the other. Mix a tough-minded single mom protagonist with an alternate Seattle full of wild characters - airship smugglers, vagabonds and survivors, a mad inventor, a district inhabited by famished zombies, and relentless crackling action. I loved it and would like to see more from Ms. priest in this setting. A rollicking yarn!
Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No
(2 of 3 readers found this comment helpful)
I enjoyed this novel, which introduces some memorable characters and a goodly number of character types including the very engaging Steammen, who are gallant, generous and wise. The setting is a steampunk-esque fantasy world that is on the brink of total conflict. The novel runs more rapidly and less deep by far than say, Pullman or Sterling. The galloping pace keeps you from ever entirely getting your bearings; but that's part of the fun! Roll with it and see where it takes you!
Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No
(2 of 3 readers found this comment helpful)
I just finished Clapton's autobiography, which is a rich read for someone like me. I was a disc jockey for many years and can relate the music I heard along the way to what was happening in the scenes he describes.
It's an extraordinary self-retrospective, because he does have this integrity of the heart, for the music, a devotion and passion to the blues that transcends all the relationships, the mileage, the addictions and the heartbreaking losses.
I love how he describes writing and being in the studio and playing out, and how he sees the music as his guiding star. Eric's real "Layla" is the passion he has for his art.
Clapton's writing style is very much like Louis Armstrong's in "My Life in New Orleans," maybe because his devotion to the music is so palpable.
I read it in about three days and am rereading it now.
Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No
(2 of 3 readers found this comment helpful)
Powell's City of Books is an independent bookstore in Portland, Oregon, that fills a whole city block with more than a million new, used, and out of print books. Shop those shelves — plus literally millions more books, DVDs, and eBooks — here at Powells.com.
Don't Miss
Customer Comments
Douglas McGowan has commented on (4) products.
The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
Douglas McGowan, July 1, 2010
An incredible adventure in a world our descendants might see
This is a truly futurist novel that puts you squarely into a terrifyingly detailed world, where the oil has run out, global warming has raised the oceans, and large corporations contend with nations for the next bio-engineered food crops just one step ahead of likewise biologically engineered plagues. Not for the faint of heart, but one of the best novels I have read in the last 10 years.
(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
Boneshaker by Cherie Priest
Douglas McGowan, October 15, 2009
Steampunk zombierompThis book is just fun from one end to the other. Mix a tough-minded single mom protagonist with an alternate Seattle full of wild characters - airship smugglers, vagabonds and survivors, a mad inventor, a district inhabited by famished zombies, and relentless crackling action. I loved it and would like to see more from Ms. priest in this setting. A rollicking yarn!
(2 of 3 readers found this comment helpful)
The Court of the Air
Douglas McGowan, June 5, 2009
A good summer readI enjoyed this novel, which introduces some memorable characters and a goodly number of character types including the very engaging Steammen, who are gallant, generous and wise. The setting is a steampunk-esque fantasy world that is on the brink of total conflict. The novel runs more rapidly and less deep by far than say, Pullman or Sterling. The galloping pace keeps you from ever entirely getting your bearings; but that's part of the fun! Roll with it and see where it takes you!
(2 of 3 readers found this comment helpful)
Clapton by Eric Clapton
Douglas McGowan, December 14, 2007
I just finished Clapton's autobiography, which is a rich read for someone like me. I was a disc jockey for many years and can relate the music I heard along the way to what was happening in the scenes he describes.It's an extraordinary self-retrospective, because he does have this integrity of the heart, for the music, a devotion and passion to the blues that transcends all the relationships, the mileage, the addictions and the heartbreaking losses.
I love how he describes writing and being in the studio and playing out, and how he sees the music as his guiding star. Eric's real "Layla" is the passion he has for his art.
Clapton's writing style is very much like Louis Armstrong's in "My Life in New Orleans," maybe because his devotion to the music is so palpable.
I read it in about three days and am rereading it now.
(2 of 3 readers found this comment helpful)