Comments for Much Review About Nothing http://muchreviewaboutnothing.com A cultural diary of my life in New York Sat, 18 Feb 2012 12:45:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Links of the week, 2/17/2012 by nvc http://muchreviewaboutnothing.com/2012/02/links-of-the-week-2172012/#comment-2688 nvc Sat, 18 Feb 2012 12:45:29 +0000 http://muchreviewaboutnothing.com/?p=3366#comment-2688 I'll get to the articles later, but I had to see the dog pictures right away. My favorites: the Shiba Inu, of course; the meditating beagle; the long-haired dachshund who reminds me of the dog in "Heroic Measures" (a wonderful book!). And I'm spitefully glad that there wasn't a picture of the ultimate winner, the pekingese - NOT my favorite look for a dog. :-p I’ll get to the articles later, but I had to see the dog pictures right away. My favorites: the Shiba Inu, of course; the meditating beagle; the long-haired dachshund who reminds me of the dog in “Heroic Measures” (a wonderful book!). And I’m spitefully glad that there wasn’t a picture of the ultimate winner, the pekingese – NOT my favorite look for a dog. :-p

]]> Comment on The Night Circus by Mary Beth http://muchreviewaboutnothing.com/2012/02/the-night-circus/#comment-2621 Mary Beth Mon, 13 Feb 2012 23:57:30 +0000 http://muchreviewaboutnothing.com/?p=3341#comment-2621 Honestly, writing about books is really hard for me, so that’s why I don’t do it much. But I hope you enjoy <em>The Night Circus</em>! Especially since you get to have Jim Dale read it to you. Love him! Honestly, writing about books is really hard for me, so that’s why I don’t do it much. But I hope you enjoy The Night Circus! Especially since you get to have Jim Dale read it to you. Love him!

]]> Comment on The Night Circus by HVC http://muchreviewaboutnothing.com/2012/02/the-night-circus/#comment-2618 HVC Mon, 13 Feb 2012 23:10:31 +0000 http://muchreviewaboutnothing.com/?p=3341#comment-2618 It isn't often that you review books on your blog, so I took myself right down to the library and picked up an audio version of The Night Circus. It's narrated by Jim Dale!! Bonus! It isn’t often that you review books on your blog, so I took myself right down to the library and picked up an audio version of The Night Circus. It’s narrated by Jim Dale!! Bonus!

]]> Comment on Downton Abbey by Jeff http://muchreviewaboutnothing.com/2011/02/downton-abbey/#comment-2596 Jeff Sun, 12 Feb 2012 21:49:46 +0000 http://prod.muchreviewaboutnothing.com/2011/02/downton-abbey/#comment-2596 I apologize for not knowing your name. The page on which your fine review of the first season of Downton Abbey appeared does not state your name. This was the best review of the first year of the program I've read. Thank you. Concerning what could be the motivation of Thomas and Miss O'Brien (I think that's first time I ever typed the word "Miss"), the question of what could be the motivations of real life bullies comes to mind. To those among us who aren't bullies, they are inscrutable. A desire for power or resentment over a lack of power I suppose. You wrote: "I hope to see more nuance there in the show’s second season, now entering production." Having seen as much of the second series as I have, I believe the opposite of nuanced would be a fairer description. Not that we won't keep watching in our house. We are hooked. I apologize for not knowing your name. The page on which your fine review of the first season of Downton Abbey appeared does not state your name.

This was the best review of the first year of the program I’ve read. Thank you.

Concerning what could be the motivation of Thomas and Miss O’Brien (I think that’s first time I ever typed the word “Miss”), the question of what could be the motivations of real life bullies comes to mind. To those among us who aren’t bullies, they are inscrutable. A desire for power or resentment over a lack of power I suppose.

You wrote: “I hope to see more nuance there in the show’s second season, now entering production.” Having seen as much of the second series as I have, I believe the opposite of nuanced would be a fairer description. Not that we won’t keep watching in our house. We are hooked.

]]> Comment on Links of the week, 2/3/2012 by nvc http://muchreviewaboutnothing.com/2012/02/links-of-the-week-232012/#comment-2467 nvc Sat, 04 Feb 2012 12:41:27 +0000 http://muchreviewaboutnothing.com/?p=3332#comment-2467 The first link I clicked on was the new illustrations for "The Handmaid's Tale" because that book has haunted me ever since I read it. And apparently it has haunted the author herself. On the same web page as the illustrations is a link to an essay by Margaret Atwood, "Haunted by the Handmaid's Tale". It is interesting to read about her writing process and her ideas that led to the novel. Here is one thing that she wrote: "I made a rule for myself: I would not include anything that human beings had not already done in some other place or time, or for which the technology did not already exist. I did not wish to be accused of dark, twisted inventions, or of misrepresenting the human potential for deplorable behaviour." When I remember all that is done in "The Handmaid's Tale" that statement is particularly disturbing. And one can't help asking "Could this really happen?" The first link I clicked on was the new illustrations for “The Handmaid’s Tale” because that book has haunted me ever since I read it. And apparently it has haunted the author herself. On the same web page as the illustrations is a link to an essay by Margaret Atwood, “Haunted by the Handmaid’s Tale”. It is interesting to read about her writing process and her ideas that led to the novel. Here is one thing that she wrote: “I made a rule for myself: I would not include anything that human beings had not already done in some other place or time, or for which the technology did not already exist. I did not wish to be accused of dark, twisted inventions, or of misrepresenting the human potential for deplorable behaviour.” When I remember all that is done in “The Handmaid’s Tale” that statement is particularly disturbing. And one can’t help asking “Could this really happen?”

]]> Comment on Links of the week, 1/27/2012 by nvc http://muchreviewaboutnothing.com/2012/01/links-of-the-week-1272012/#comment-2330 nvc Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:03:49 +0000 http://muchreviewaboutnothing.com/?p=3319#comment-2330 I am not convinced by Eliot's argument in favor of "Coriolanus" over "Hamlet". One line in particular is just baffling: "...more people have thought "Hamlet" a work of art because they found it interesting, than have found it interesting because it is a work of art." Huh? I can't judge "Coriolanus" because I have never seen it - never even had the chance to see it until this movie. On the other hand I have probably seen at least 10 productions of "Hamlet". Surely that says something about the merits of the plays - and to me it makes a better argument than Eliot's sophistry. I am not convinced by Eliot’s argument in favor of “Coriolanus” over “Hamlet”. One line in particular is just baffling: “…more people have thought “Hamlet” a work of art because they found it interesting, than have found it interesting because it is a work of art.” Huh? I can’t judge “Coriolanus” because I have never seen it – never even had the chance to see it until this movie. On the other hand I have probably seen at least 10 productions of “Hamlet”. Surely that says something about the merits of the plays – and to me it makes a better argument than Eliot’s sophistry.

]]> Comment on My new all-consuming project! by nvc http://muchreviewaboutnothing.com/2012/01/my-new-all-consuming-project/#comment-2281 nvc Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:28:55 +0000 http://muchreviewaboutnothing.com/?p=3315#comment-2281 Ah ... this explains A LOT. I may not understand all of your parameters, but I definitely understand the impulse to categorize! It sounds like a great project, worthy of your time. Ah … this explains A LOT. I may not understand all of your parameters, but I definitely understand the impulse to categorize! It sounds like a great project, worthy of your time.

]]> Comment on Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto in A Major, Mahler’s Ruckert-Lieder, Copland’s Clarinet Concerto, and American opera arias by nvc http://muchreviewaboutnothing.com/2012/01/mozarts-clarinet-concerto-in-a-major-mahlers-ruckert-lieder-coplands-clarinet-concerto-and-american-opera-arias/#comment-2219 nvc Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:36:38 +0000 http://muchreviewaboutnothing.com/?p=3303#comment-2219 Thanks for the clear and informative explanation. I also appreciate the reference to the piano since that excuses my ignorance of the term. Very thoughtful of you. :-) Thanks for the clear and informative explanation. I also appreciate the reference to the piano since that excuses my ignorance of the term. Very thoughtful of you. :-)

]]> Comment on Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto in A Major, Mahler’s Ruckert-Lieder, Copland’s Clarinet Concerto, and American opera arias by Mary Beth http://muchreviewaboutnothing.com/2012/01/mozarts-clarinet-concerto-in-a-major-mahlers-ruckert-lieder-coplands-clarinet-concerto-and-american-opera-arias/#comment-2215 Mary Beth Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:18:32 +0000 http://muchreviewaboutnothing.com/?p=3303#comment-2215 "Al niente" is an Italian phrase that means "to nothing" and indicates a controlled diminuendo into silence. As a pianist, you wouldn't see it much since a note on the piano decays on its own. “Al niente” is an Italian phrase that means “to nothing” and indicates a controlled diminuendo into silence. As a pianist, you wouldn’t see it much since a note on the piano decays on its own.

]]> Comment on Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto in A Major, Mahler’s Ruckert-Lieder, Copland’s Clarinet Concerto, and American opera arias by nvc http://muchreviewaboutnothing.com/2012/01/mozarts-clarinet-concerto-in-a-major-mahlers-ruckert-lieder-coplands-clarinet-concerto-and-american-opera-arias/#comment-2210 nvc Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:38:55 +0000 http://muchreviewaboutnothing.com/?p=3303#comment-2210 As always, a lovely account of your experience at a concert - the perfect blend of musical description and personal feelings. However, for the less musically knowledgeable among us, can you define "al niente"? As always, a lovely account of your experience at a concert – the perfect blend of musical description and personal feelings. However, for the less musically knowledgeable among us, can you define “al niente”?

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