Yet Another Hunger Games Book Review (The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins)

Cover of "The Hunger Games"

Cover of The Hunger Games

Well, I finally broke down and read the first book in the Hunger Games series – the aptly titled The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I had downloaded the series on the Kindle when they offered a highly discounted version and figured with the movie out and all the discussion that I might as well read it.

And perhaps it was due to all the hype but quite frankly I was a little disappointed. Sure, it is in many ways an imaginative example of world building and setting the stage for some interesting characters and some powerful emotions.

And I don’t mean to say it wasn’t entertaining because it was and I enjoyed it. The story really kept you moving forward and you wanted to find out how all the dynamics would play out.

But from a literary perspective it just didn’t wow me. It was interesting and creative and entertaining but just wasn’t one of those books where you end thinking: “Wow, that was awesome.” Or one where you immediately want to jump into the next book. I am, however, pretty clearly an outlier on this one.
Continue reading

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

They Eat Puppies, Don’t They? – Christopher Buckley to speak in Columbus

In what is either a master marketing plan or a rather bizarre stroke of luck Christopher Buckley has a new book out with the title They Eat Puppies, Don’t They? just as the subject of dogs as a meal became a subject in the presidential race and lit up social media.

As luck would have it, if you live in Central Ohio you have the chance to hear Mr. Buckley talk about his new book thanks to the folks at the Thurber House:

What: Thurber House‘s May Special Event featuring Christopher Buckley, author of They Eat Puppies, Don’t They?

When: Wednesday, May 16; A wine and hors d’oeuvres reception will be held from 5:30-6:45 p.m., followed by the reading at 7:00 p.m.

Where: Columbus Museum of Art

Details: A past Thurber Prize for American Humor award winner, Buckley is one of the most beloved political satirists writing today. In his brand new novel, They Eat Puppies, Don’t They?, a Washington lobbyist and his attractive female aid are determined to gain Congressional approval for a top secret weapons system. In order to get passage for this, they start a rumor that the Chinese secret service has plans to assassinate the Dalai Lama … the result: a series of crises taking the Chinese and the United States to the precipice of war.

More details available here.

Posted in News | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Podcast: Jay Nordlinger on the Nobel Peace Prize

On today’s edition of Coffee and Markets, Pejman Yousefzadeh and I are joined by Jay Nordlinger to discuss his book on the Nobel Peace Prize – Peace, They Say: A History of the Nobel Peace Prize, the Most Famous and Controversial Prize in the World.  We discussed the way the famous prize is structured, the interesting people who have won it, the politics that are so often involved, and who he would nominate for a Peace Prize if he could.

Listen here.

Posted in Interviews | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

John Tomasi on a libertarian approach to social justice

Today’s edition of Coffee and Markets, covers a subject of particular interest to me.  Pejman Yousefzadeh and myself were joined by John Tomasi to discuss his book Free Market Fairness, which makes the argument for a libertarian approach to social justice.

Despite its seemingly philosophical and analytical nature, this is a subject of some importance in my mind.  The Right simply must find better ways to address concerns about justice and fairness – mere reactionary impulses won’t work.

Listen to the podcast here.

Posted in Interviews | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

James Delingpole on Watermelons: The Green Movement’s True Colors

On today’s edition of Coffee and Markets, Pejman Yousefzadeh and I were joined by James Delingpole to discuss his book Watermelons: The Green Movement’s True Colors. We discussed the arguments for and against global warming and the possibility for a different and better approach to science and scientific inquiry.

Listen to the podcast.

Posted in Interviews | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment