Evilida
Edmonton Public Library
Evilida's Completed Shelf
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Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective AgencyDirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, DVDSeason One
DVD - 2017DVD, 2017
Evilida's rating:
Added Feb 19, 2019
Evilida's rating:
Added Aug 20, 2016
Comment:
Too much of the narrator, not enough story.
David is the (rather creepy) narrator of this vampire's tale. David is a dirty old man in the body of an eternally young vampire, fixated on Merrick, a young witch he has known and lusted after since she was fourteen. He asserts, with little evidence, that Merrick is "good", but the story doesn't actually show her being generous or thoughtful in any way and many of her actions (i.e. stealing priceless antiquities) are ethically dubious.
Descriptions of creamy skin and large nipples glimpsed under diaphanous blouses replace actual characterization. Lestat and Louis appear but stay very much in the background.Too much of the narrator, not enough story.
David is the (rather creepy) narrator of this vampire's tale. David is a dirty old man in the body of an eternally young vampire, fixated on Merrick, a young witch he has known and lusted after since she…
Evilida's rating:
Added Nov 15, 2014
Comment:
One of the sub series of Discworld novels that have Moist von Lipwig. con-man turned civic booster, as the main character. Ankh-Morpork, which was a medieval city state in early Discworld novels, is at a late Victorian/Edwardian level of development with centralized banking, a post office, telegraphy and now a railway.
There isn't much room for magic in Moist von Lipwig's Ankh-Morpork.. Instead there is a lot of earnest prose about combatting religious fundamentalism and embracing modernity. In my opinion, this novel really needs a good antagonist - the villain of the piece hardly appears at all and when he does he's not particularly impressive.
Not a patch on Pratchett's earlier work, unfortunately and recommended only for those who are Pratchett completists.One of the sub series of Discworld novels that have Moist von Lipwig. con-man turned civic booster, as the main character. Ankh-Morpork, which was a medieval city state in early Discworld novels, is at a late Victorian/Edwardian level of…
Evilida's rating:
Added May 28, 2014
Comment:
I love all of Barbara Pym's novels. Her novels are witty, funny, perceptive and kind-spirited. (This kind spirit this generosity towards ALL her characters, is where she differs from Jane Austen, who tends to be much too fond of her main characters and too unpleasantly judgemental of all others.) Barbara Pym is a hidden treasure. You don't have to be a fan of romances to enjoy them. They "work" just as well as deliciously observant social portraits of a particular time and placeI love all of Barbara Pym's novels. Her novels are witty, funny, perceptive and kind-spirited. (This kind spirit this generosity towards ALL her characters, is where she differs from Jane Austen, who tends to be much too fond of her main…
Evilida's rating:
Added May 28, 2014
Comment:
Not really a novel. More a long shaggy dog story.
Evilida's rating:
Added May 28, 2014
Comment:
A very good book with a main character who is a little naïve but forced by circumstances to open his eyes to the hypocrisies around him and make tough moral and ethical decisions. The novel is set in England after an unnamed catastrophe has affected people's ability to perceive colour. I find the Thursday Next series to be getting a little tired, and appreciated this change of pace. I hope there is a sequel. (Jasper Fforde has a habit of announcing books that never appear.)A very good book with a main character who is a little naïve but forced by circumstances to open his eyes to the hypocrisies around him and make tough moral and ethical decisions. The novel is set in England after an unnamed catastrophe has…
Added May 28, 2014
Comment:
This is an idea that a better writer (such as Alice Munro) would have used as the basis for a short story. Instead it is padded to novel length. Ellen, has to decide between two men and the cities they live in. Her choices are her wealthy patrician husband Andy in Atlanta and sexy commitment-shy ex-boyfriend Leo in New York. Neither Andy nor Leo had any personality to speak of and I came to dislike Ellen thoroughly by the end of the novel. There is a mismatch of the subject headings for this novel - it has nothing to do with missing teenagers or the Internet.This is an idea that a better writer (such as Alice Munro) would have used as the basis for a short story. Instead it is padded to novel length. Ellen, has to decide between two men and the cities they live in. Her choices are her wealthy…
Evilida's rating:
Added Sep 15, 2013
Comment:
Terry Pratchett's best novel.
Evilida's rating:
Added Sep 15, 2013
Comment:
Creates an interesting setting - a long perhaps endless string of parallel earths with gifted people "stepping" from one earth to another. However, this novel is all about setting up the background for a series of novels. Considered by itself, as a stand-alone, it doesn't have a strong or compelling ending so doesn't quite satisfy and the lead character is one of the least interesting persons in the novel.Creates an interesting setting - a long perhaps endless string of parallel earths with gifted people "stepping" from one earth to another. However, this novel is all about setting up the background for a series of novels. Considered by itself, as a…
Evilida's rating:
Added Sep 15, 2013
Comment:
This novel is about English football and in particular features a couple who seem based on Posh and Becks (Mr. and Mrs. David Beckham). Not being a fan of English football, I found it rather dull. I wanted less Posh and Becks and more wizards.
Evilida's rating:
Added Sep 15, 2013
Comment:
The last few Discworld novels have felt a little dry to me. I don't think I laughed once. Some of Pratchett's spark seems to have disappeared as technology replaces magic in the Discworld. Stalwart Commander Vimes doesn't have any of the endearing quirkiness of earlier magical heroes such as Rincewind or Margrat.
Terry Pratchett never adequately disguises the didactic nature of this book: toleration and respect for all peoples is a commendable lesson but I just don't feel that I need to be beaten over the head with that message.
I hope this slump ends soon.The last few Discworld novels have felt a little dry to me. I don't think I laughed once. Some of Pratchett's spark seems to have disappeared as technology replaces magic in the Discworld. Stalwart Commander Vimes doesn't have any of the…
I Love You Phillip MorrisI Love You Phillip Morris, DVD
DVD - 2011DVD, 2011
Evilida's rating:
Added Sep 15, 2013
Comment:
I have a weakness for stories about people who take on new identities - The Great Imposter and Catch Me if You Can being two examples.
This is a rather odd movie. It takes a real life story with a tragic ending and plays it as exaggerated, candy-coloured, over-the-top comedy. Not that the real-life story doesn't have its absurdity, but it seems a strange stylistic choice. The story it tells is strong enough without all the glossy artificial trappings.
Jim Carrey tones down his usual mugging a bit, though not quite enough for me. Ewan McGregor's performance was a lot more subdued and recognizably human.I have a weakness for stories about people who take on new identities - The Great Imposter and Catch Me if You Can being two examples.
This is a rather odd movie. It takes a real life story with a tragic ending and plays it as exaggerated,…
Moonrise KingdomMoonrise Kingdom, DVD
DVD - 2012DVD, 2012
Added Apr 25, 2013
Comment:
I liked the stylized charm of this film. It is a couple of steps further removed from reality than the Royal Tenanbaum's or The Life Aquatic. It has more the quality of a fable. If you are a Wes Anderson fan, you will enjoy all the background details that are packed into his settings.
However, I thought that the childhood romance at the centre of the story lacked heart and emotional heft. I think the problem was with the character of Suzy, who is very much a younger version of Margo Tenabaum in the Royal Tenanbaums. She's emotioinally cold, spoiled, neurotic and angry at the world. I found her an unsympathetic heroine.I liked the stylized charm of this film. It is a couple of steps further removed from reality than the Royal Tenanbaum's or The Life Aquatic. It has more the quality of a fable. If you are a Wes Anderson fan, you will enjoy all the background…
Comment: