The stand alone nature of the discworld books is unique. I read The Fifth Elephant as my first discworld book, which takes place almost four or five books into the Vimes/Watch story. I didn't have any problems following the plot or being confused about who was who, it worked by itself. But when I re-read it after…

I've been watching the anime for Fullmetal for the first time, and I love it. I know that the first anime series doesn't follow the manga after a certain point, but am not sure when the anime starts to deviate from the source material. How is the experience of the books compared to the anime? Good, better, about the…

Having just watched the newest Muppet movie, I have to agree. The characters and the general zaniness were there, but the magic was gone. The only element I can think of that was missing is Jim Henson.

Crying of Lot 49 is the only Pynchon that I've read so far. It was beautiful, but I'm so intimated by the sheer scope of his other works that I haven't picked up anything else by him.

Same here, especially since she is basically awful to him. Something big better be revealed in the next book to make me like her, though I have my theories about her backstory.

It's really good, and if you've never read Le Guin before you are in for a real treat. She is a fantastic writer.

I had heard that the last three were controversial. After I finish my next book, I think I'll start in on those.

Don't feel bad, I often go through reading dry spells until I remember how much I miss reading. Putting pressure on yourself will just make you less likely to read anything. I am also doing an annual Austen re-reading, but I always read Pride and Prejudice because I love that book. Have fun with Emma!

"Color of Magic" is probably one of the worst Discword books, Pratchett's stuff gets remarkably better in later books. I'd also recommend "Guards, Guards" or "Reaper Man" as good introductions. "Going Postal" is also good, but comes pretty late in the series. That doesn't really matter since each book also works as a…

I've missed this feature the last few months thanks to work, so I'm glad to finally be able to share what I've been reading!

Excellent Gateway to Geekery Gwen, really enjoyed it. I could watch the two of them dance forever. I hope that it gets put in a more prominent place on the homepage so more people find it.

I have not @avclub-dbfad2d301c63ce91f1fe1d13689f53f:disqus. And since I assume it is as bad as the other two, I better not watch it since I might die of an aneurysm before the movie is over.

I totally agree. The bull-shit patriotic flag waving slo-mo shots make me irrationally angry. I hate it so much that once while flipping through channels on the TV, I landed on Armageddon and immediately started cursing at the screen. The only other movie that does this to me is Legends of the Fall.

I read this way late, but thank you @avclub-67c8c573cdc7b9c6e55387030680cb78:disqus. This was exactly what I was looking for.

I've never thought of Cohen as a great musician. He's really a poet who just happens to put his words to music. I'd be curious to find out why he actually decided to be a singer/songwriter rather than just a straight up poet.

I haven't yet, but it is definitely on my list next.

I am really enjoying it (edited: The Dispossessed). The writing is beautiful and based on the description I thought it would be a more heavy-handed allegory for the Soviet Union vs. the United States, which of course isn't true, at least not yet. It is much more subtle and seems more interested in exploring what it…

I loved Name of the Rose, even the boring first 100 pages! I might have to take a look at Baudolino. How comparable is it to Name of the Rose?

If it makes you feel better, there are a lot of critics of Gladwell who believe that he cherry-picks his data to support his claims, and don't think his work always holds up under academic scrutiny. So things might not be as hopeless as you think!

Can't believe I actually found this with the new layout. I'm still on a Le Guin kick, and am about half-way through the third book in the Earth Sea Trilogy. Main thing I'm struck by the series is how very different each book is. Most YA fiction series now is focused on a single plot or single character that you follow…