I did not love
The Da Vinci Code
I stayed up 'til 10am reading it (yes, missed class). I'd read a couple chapters right after buying it yesterday afternoon, but I didn't pick it up again 'til about midnight/1am. Why did I insist on reading it in one sitting if I didn't love it? *shrugs* I just like doing that sometimes. Especially if the story is supposed to take in some unbroken block of time like this one, doesn't it make more sense to read it all at once?
Anyway, why didn't I love it? Mainly I just don't like the way Dan Brown writes. I was expecting this really, not only exciting, but also beautiful, moving piece of work and... well it's just another pop thriller. I don't know why I was expecting otherwise, really, but then I guess I don't often read pop fiction. (The exception being Harry Potter of course, which I finally tried on Richa's recommendation and enjoyed... which is why I thought I'd give Da Vinci Code, which she also loved, a try.) I didn't need poetry but he really lacked subtlety. To hint at some "dark secret" page after page without saying anything about it seems like such a contrived, overt device to create the phenomenon of "a page-turner." And then there were just some lines that I had to roll my eyes at. I think these devices would have been more allowable in a "fantasy" story, but in this they just seemed sooooo stupid. Besides the lame, not-so-elegant writing style... I got annoyed by the riddles, because fairly often *I* solved them several pages before the "brilliant cryptologist or symbologist" did. And then I tired of exposition on the Grail because I'd already heard the stories/legends in college (mostly from Darren).
It was fun though, if only because I had the opportunity to stay up all night reading again and because I knew some of the landmarks and theories. And it was definitely necessary for my "education" as a well-informed, pop culturally-literate consumer.
Taking the Long Way, Dixie Chicks (2006)
A weak follow-up to Home. Don't know if anything of theirs will ever measure up to that for me. There are couple cute jam/sing-along songs, but nothing that jumps out at me as a hit. "Lullaby" is probably my favourite, although it's very repetitive. Still its simplicity is part of its charm. Oh and the lyrics. Could we be any more obvious? I prefer a little mystery and elegance. Then again, they're not afraid to say it straight, so that's cool too I guess. Can't decide if this is better than their first albums though... It's less "poppy," but it's also less catchy. Though I have been listening to it on repeat since I dl-ed it. I even posted a review on iTunes (my first). I thought they'd decided not to post it, but I just found it. And I must say... I am *amazed* by the number of people who gave it 5 stars. *shakes head* Well, maybe I'm not. Most people are not very discerning.
10,000 Days, Tool (2006)
Fuji called it an "album of last songs." Apt, I thought. If you look at their past stuff, there are always a few songs, normally near the end, that share this sort of background-y, rolling atmosphere. I like those songs, and I think they're a big part of a Tool album, but they're not the explosive tracks that define (or defined?) Tool. Anyway, this entire album has that kind of atmosphere, so I like it, but again, can admit it's not brilliant. The only tracks I can definitely say I like are the two Wings tracks (parts 1 and 2, about his mother Judith again). In any case, I'm glad I bought it, as I've listened to and enjoyed their stuff for so long, but never actually bought anything of theirs, so it was about time I contributed. (Bad person, bad fan, I know.)
Besides, I will never get over Maynard's voice and poetry.
On another note, my religion prof okay-ed my final paper topic, so I took the opportunity to order myself Escaflowne on DVD... for under $40 (from DVD Pacific)! Amazing. Unlike the previous three... I *do* love Escaflowne.
I stayed up 'til 10am reading it (yes, missed class). I'd read a couple chapters right after buying it yesterday afternoon, but I didn't pick it up again 'til about midnight/1am. Why did I insist on reading it in one sitting if I didn't love it? *shrugs* I just like doing that sometimes. Especially if the story is supposed to take in some unbroken block of time like this one, doesn't it make more sense to read it all at once?
Anyway, why didn't I love it? Mainly I just don't like the way Dan Brown writes. I was expecting this really, not only exciting, but also beautiful, moving piece of work and... well it's just another pop thriller. I don't know why I was expecting otherwise, really, but then I guess I don't often read pop fiction. (The exception being Harry Potter of course, which I finally tried on Richa's recommendation and enjoyed... which is why I thought I'd give Da Vinci Code, which she also loved, a try.) I didn't need poetry but he really lacked subtlety. To hint at some "dark secret" page after page without saying anything about it seems like such a contrived, overt device to create the phenomenon of "a page-turner." And then there were just some lines that I had to roll my eyes at. I think these devices would have been more allowable in a "fantasy" story, but in this they just seemed sooooo stupid. Besides the lame, not-so-elegant writing style... I got annoyed by the riddles, because fairly often *I* solved them several pages before the "brilliant cryptologist or symbologist" did. And then I tired of exposition on the Grail because I'd already heard the stories/legends in college (mostly from Darren).
It was fun though, if only because I had the opportunity to stay up all night reading again and because I knew some of the landmarks and theories. And it was definitely necessary for my "education" as a well-informed, pop culturally-literate consumer.
Taking the Long Way, Dixie Chicks (2006)
A weak follow-up to Home. Don't know if anything of theirs will ever measure up to that for me. There are couple cute jam/sing-along songs, but nothing that jumps out at me as a hit. "Lullaby" is probably my favourite, although it's very repetitive. Still its simplicity is part of its charm. Oh and the lyrics. Could we be any more obvious? I prefer a little mystery and elegance. Then again, they're not afraid to say it straight, so that's cool too I guess. Can't decide if this is better than their first albums though... It's less "poppy," but it's also less catchy. Though I have been listening to it on repeat since I dl-ed it. I even posted a review on iTunes (my first). I thought they'd decided not to post it, but I just found it. And I must say... I am *amazed* by the number of people who gave it 5 stars. *shakes head* Well, maybe I'm not. Most people are not very discerning.
10,000 Days, Tool (2006)
Fuji called it an "album of last songs." Apt, I thought. If you look at their past stuff, there are always a few songs, normally near the end, that share this sort of background-y, rolling atmosphere. I like those songs, and I think they're a big part of a Tool album, but they're not the explosive tracks that define (or defined?) Tool. Anyway, this entire album has that kind of atmosphere, so I like it, but again, can admit it's not brilliant. The only tracks I can definitely say I like are the two Wings tracks (parts 1 and 2, about his mother Judith again). In any case, I'm glad I bought it, as I've listened to and enjoyed their stuff for so long, but never actually bought anything of theirs, so it was about time I contributed. (Bad person, bad fan, I know.)
Besides, I will never get over Maynard's voice and poetry.
On another note, my religion prof okay-ed my final paper topic, so I took the opportunity to order myself Escaflowne on DVD... for under $40 (from DVD Pacific)! Amazing. Unlike the previous three... I *do* love Escaflowne.
posted by Bibhatsu at 08:41
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home