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Weekly Geeks 2009.22: Review Catch-Up

wg-relaxingThis week’s Weekly Geeks topic is to get caught up on reviews. We’re supposed to list the reviews we’re behind on, then solicit questions from readers to help write the reviews. We’ll then link back to the people who asked the questions for the review.

I’ve loved this topic since Dewey first suggested it for Weekly Geeks #12.  Way back when, I asked for questions on some books I was behind on and some old favorites I wanted to review. I answered most questions on Stardust by Neil Gaiman, and then answered some others on Reading Lolita in Tehran and Eragon/Eldest. It was fun going back to those today and seeing how much I’ve learned as a reviewer/blogger.

Anyway, while I’m not actually as behind as I could be, I am hoping to get caught up writing reviews over the weekend. Here are the books I currently have unreviewed:

  • The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
  • Under the Banner of Heaven by John Krakauer
  • The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean — I’m actually doing this one as a co-review with Nicole from Linus’s Blanket, so any questions you ask will probably get answered by both of us (major bonus!)
  • The Sinful Life of Lucy Burns by Elizabeth Leiknes
  • The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
  • Rabbit, Run by John Updike

Read any of these? Thinking about reading them? Leave your questions about any book and/or links to your reviews and I’ll be sure to answer them!

Comments on this entry are closed.

  • Jackie (Farm Lane Books) June 16, 2009, 8:44 am

    I’m thinking about reading Run, Rabbit Run – Is it complicated to follow? Does it feel dated? Would you recommend it?

  • Eva June 16, 2009, 11:05 am

    While I thought The Orchid Thief was interesting, and well written, it lacked a spark for me…I wasn’t particularly excited whenever I picked it up. Did you have a similar experience? Or did you love it?

    I usually avoid true crime books, because I find it voyeuristic. Was Under the Banner of Heaven like that?

  • Bart June 16, 2009, 1:48 pm

    Do you have any thoughts on Lucy Burn’s moral compass?

    Everyone who I know who has read it, has enjoyed The Disreputable History, to the ‘nth degree. Did you enjoy the book and should I just keep it on the wishlist, or search out a copy, like RIGHT NOW!? 🙂

  • Care June 16, 2009, 5:14 pm

    I’m curious about your thoughts on The Orchid Thief but don’t have any grand questions for you. (Did you wish it had pictures?! I did.)

    Of course, I want to know if you think I should read the Updike. And I’ve heard John Krakauer throws too many big words in his books – did you find it pretentious? (smirk)

  • Jennie June 16, 2009, 5:41 pm

    In Battle of the Books, a reviewer (can’t remember who was reviewing that one) said that Frankie was about first love. Do you agree? Or did the reviewer miss the point?

  • softdrink June 16, 2009, 10:05 pm

    The Orchid Thief: Did you see the movie? If so, how does the movie derive from the book?

    I love Jennie’s question for Frankie Landau-Banks. Also for that book, did you find any of the book over the top?

  • Jodie June 17, 2009, 5:36 am

    Is the Joan Diddion book light reading or would you describe it differently?

    I’m afraid of reading Updike (reviews I’ve read and the fact that David Baddiel worships him and I almost never like books Baddiel likes) – how afraid should I continue to be? Are his books as sexist as I expect?

  • kay June 17, 2009, 6:30 am

    I have one question! 🙂 I read “The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks” and mostly liked it, but there’s been a lot of buzz about it and people often seem disappointed; were you?

  • Sherrie June 17, 2009, 11:12 am

    Hi Kim,
    Can this book, The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean, keep me interested enough to finish this book? I have read about this book at other blogger’s sites. But don’t know if the subject of Orchid’s is enough to keep me interested. Have a great day!

    Sherrie

  • Ali (Worducopia) June 17, 2009, 12:15 pm

    The only one of those that I’ve read is The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks and I loved it (my review is here, but I heard from some teens that they felt Lockheart had the wrong idea about feminism. I mentioned their comments here and it led to an interesting reaction and discussion in the comments. So my question is, um…I dunno. Do you see Frankie as a good role model for girls? Do you think that her actions are too boy-focused to be truly feminist?

  • uncertainprinciples June 17, 2009, 5:48 pm

    I have Rabbit, Run on my TBR. Is it as good as everyone makes it out to be? (I’ve actually not heard a single negative statement about it).

    Have you read much else of John Krakauer? If yes, how does ‘Under the Banner of Heaven’ compare?
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