The Book of Five Rings from SmarterComics by Miyamoto Musashi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a graphic novel approach to the perennial classic of strategy. Illustrations are used to show the parallel between Mushashi's ancient words and modern day sports, business, and combat. While some of the analogies can be a little strained, overall this was an excellent approach. Each illustration helped drive home Musashi's points, often in multiple ways.

I found a single proofing error in the book, and like I said, sometimes that parallels are a little exaggerated, otherwise I would instantly give this book five stars. However, I unreservedly recommend this book for those interest in strategy and combat.

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Murder Your Darlings: Algonquin Round Table Mystery by J.J. Murphy
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

"Murder Your Darlings" is an audacious idea: what if Dorothy Parker and her fellow wits at the Algonquin Round Table were embroiled in a murder mystery?

The book does a lot things right. For one, it seems to capture the essence of many of the writers. For instance, Parker's dialog seems to be note-perfect and I found myself reading many of her quips aloud to my fiancee'. Some of the dialog is incredibly funny!

Unfortunately, I lost interest in the book. For one, I didn't feel drawn into the characters. They said interesting things, but they themselves didn't come across as interesting to me. Perhaps I was merely looking for more serious fare, but the book didn't grab me.

Also, the audacity of Murphy's topic -- that of writing about famous writers -- also serves to the book's detriment. It's hard to read a book about historically great writers without being extremely conscious of any failings of the author's own prose. Murphy's writing is serviceable, but alas, looks less so when put into the context of the members of the Round Table. It's also why I think so many books and movies about Shakespeare fall short: when writing about a great author, it's difficult to write prose capable of bearing even the slightest comparison to the Bard.

So while I enjoyed the chapter or so that I read, I ultimately put it down. I may pick it up again someday if the mood hits me just right. It's certainly not a bad book. It just failed to draw me in.

Readers of this review should be aware, however, that I have a notoriously short attention span and lack patience with books that do not grab me immediately. For instance, I could not stand "Dune", which I know has legions of fans. The fact that I did not get into this book does mean that others will not love it.


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I got a chance to rewatch an old favorite film of mine with Kate, my brother, and his wife:

It was a somewhat tough sell when I popped in the DVD and the Norwegian issued from the speakers and subtitles appeared on the screen. Not exactly what you'd think of to watch late on Christmas Eve. Kate and I knew how wonderful the film, and then first my brother began to realize it, and shortly thereafter, his wife was convinced, too.

In the film, the eponymous character is a mama's boy. He has lived with his mother all his life. She did all the shopping. She handled all the bills. She was even the one who used the phone.

Problem is that his mother has just passed away, and the police find poor Elling, hiding in a kitchen cabinet in his mother's apartment, hoping that these strangers would just leave him alone.

Elling is carted off to the local mental hospital, where he forms an unlikely friendship with his dorm roommate Kjell Barne: a 40-year-old virgin who thinks of only sex and food. The enormous, enthusiastic "orangutan" Kjell Barne seems like an unlikely compadre for the intensely private and persnickety Elling, yet the two form an immediate bond, and two years later, they're given their big chance.

Norway's new social welfare program has provided the pair an apartment of their own, a chance to demonstrate to the doctors and social workers that these two people are capable of living outside the institution. If not, as their social worker is quick to point out, there are plenty of other people waiting for the apartment. This seems a no-brainer, but try telling that to Elling, who passed out from anxiety on trying to enter the grocery store across the street, or to Kjell who often goes for weeks without bathing or even changing his underwear.

Yet the friendship between the two of them is great, and they work together to try to master the art of living in the real world: often to hilarious results.

"Elling" is a wonderful film. It's warm, funny, poignant, quirky, moving, and ultimately, very human. And it was just the right movie to watch with our loved ones at the darkest time of the year.

I thought I'd kick off the new blog as my way of celebrating the holidays. Thank you for dropping by, and I hope you have a great holiday season.

Until I get more content here, please stop by at some of my friends' blogs, listed in the Blogroll section of this blog.

    Jeff