http://johnadcox.wordpress.com Books, Music, Pubs, Coffee, Toys, and anything else that strikes my fancy. Mostly books. Wed, 25 Jan 2012 04:17:38 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ http://1.gravatar.com/blavatar/f75f779bfbd87526f42ddcebe0f395a2?s=96&d=http%3A%2F%2Fs2.wp.com%2Fi%2Fbuttonw-com.png http://johnadcox.wordpress.com http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2012/01/24/review-beer-from-a-growler/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2012/01/24/review-beer-from-a-growler/#comments Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:07:56 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=1339 Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2012/01/24/review-beer-from-a-growler/feed/ 0 johnadcox FaceTweet it! ale yeah growler 0OE041LOOV0Z5MUKXDUMUYSMGXQUDQCB421EAGBPXYKQREUQ_300x300 Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2012/01/20/ten-places-to-get-amazing-pizza-in-atlanta/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2012/01/20/ten-places-to-get-amazing-pizza-in-atlanta/#comments Fri, 20 Jan 2012 22:24:32 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=1259 Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2012/01/20/ten-places-to-get-amazing-pizza-in-atlanta/feed/ 0 johnadcox FaceTweet it! antico-pizza-napoletana images menu-04-pizza bambi 002 page2-1003-full GetImage.ashx 08_Img7080 Decatur pg0001im_full Website_Pizza_Picture_357x280 Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/12/28/book-review-the-night-circus-by-erin-morgenstern/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/12/28/book-review-the-night-circus-by-erin-morgenstern/#comments Wed, 28 Dec 2011 23:37:41 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=1230 The Night Circus continues a string of truly good reads that began with Among Others and The Magician King. It's a book I'll be thinking about for a while, and one I'll alms certainly read again some day ... something increasingly rare when my to-be-read stack reaches the ceiling. It's certainly one I'll be pushing on my friends. It's one that I can recommend to a wide swath of them, because The Night Circus will appeal to a very broad range of tastes. It's romantic, it's mysterious, it's evocative (certainly that!), magical, it's lovely, and it's (at times) heartbreaking. And it's almost impossible to describe. I wanted to rush through The Night Circus, and I wanted to savor every word. I couldn't wait to get to the end; I wanted it to go on forever. Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/12/28/book-review-the-night-circus-by-erin-morgenstern/feed/ 5 johnadcox NightCircus.final_.2 THE-NIGHT-CIRCUS-jacket-e1306491176869 Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine Excerpt-Erin-Morgensterns-The-Night-Circus-5184FCU-x-large-1 http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/11/10/book-review-the-magician-king-by-lev-grossman/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/11/10/book-review-the-magician-king-by-lev-grossman/#comments Thu, 10 Nov 2011 23:46:30 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=1201 The Magician King was a book I'd be reviewing. Largely because, when someone asked about a third book, Mr. Grossman joked about writing as many as his agent thought he could sell. Great, I thought. This isn't a book. It's an episode. I couldn't have been more wrong. While The Magician King assumes familiarity with the first book (although it does a fine job of reminding you of the hight points if it's been a while since you read it), this is a sequel with it's own beginning, middle, and very definite end. And darned if it's not an out an out better book. More, Quentin Coldwater (how great is that name?), the main character, grows and changes in this book. Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/11/10/book-review-the-magician-king-by-lev-grossman/feed/ 2 johnadcox 9780670022311_MagicianKing_CVF.indd magician-king-tree2-2 Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/10/31/book-review-jo-waltons-amazing-among-others/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/10/31/book-review-jo-waltons-amazing-among-others/#comments Mon, 31 Oct 2011 14:00:53 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=1178 Among Others is more than amazing. It's a book that's going to save someone's life some day. Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/10/31/book-review-jo-waltons-amazing-among-others/feed/ 4 johnadcox 6a00d8345295c269e20153907f1833970b-320wi Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/10/28/beer-review-heavy-seas-greater-pumpkin/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/10/28/beer-review-heavy-seas-greater-pumpkin/#comments Fri, 28 Oct 2011 20:02:06 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=1157 A Christmas Carol, or holiday feasts in a Norman Rockwell painting. There is something quaint and lovely about it, something distinctly autumn, a comfort scent. Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/10/28/beer-review-heavy-seas-greater-pumpkin/feed/ 2 johnadcox Greater-Pumpkin_0 heavyseasgreaterp-300x300 Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/09/12/root-beer-review-boylan/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/09/12/root-beer-review-boylan/#comments Mon, 12 Sep 2011 06:21:35 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=1145 Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/09/12/root-beer-review-boylan/feed/ 0 johnadcox 41582_132585933440274_860_n Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/09/09/music-review-old-blue-truck-by-charles-de-lint-and-crow-girls-by-maryann-harris/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/09/09/music-review-old-blue-truck-by-charles-de-lint-and-crow-girls-by-maryann-harris/#comments Fri, 09 Sep 2011 19:54:18 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=1129 Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/09/09/music-review-old-blue-truck-by-charles-de-lint-and-crow-girls-by-maryann-harris/feed/ 0 johnadcox CharlesdeLint-OldBlueTruck MaryAnnHarris-CrowGirls Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/08/11/theatre-review-noises-off-at-the-georgia-shakespeare-festival/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/08/11/theatre-review-noises-off-at-the-georgia-shakespeare-festival/#comments Thu, 11 Aug 2011 15:45:45 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=1112 Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/08/11/theatre-review-noises-off-at-the-georgia-shakespeare-festival/feed/ 1 johnadcox 1-no5 1-no2 Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/08/05/one-more-root-beer-review-abita-root-beer/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/08/05/one-more-root-beer-review-abita-root-beer/#comments Fri, 05 Aug 2011 20:52:34 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=1102 Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/08/05/one-more-root-beer-review-abita-root-beer/feed/ 1 johnadcox pop_abita Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/08/04/one-more-root-beer-review-sprecher-root-beer/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/08/04/one-more-root-beer-review-sprecher-root-beer/#comments Thu, 04 Aug 2011 15:39:11 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=1088 Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/08/04/one-more-root-beer-review-sprecher-root-beer/feed/ 4 johnadcox rb_n_mug Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/08/01/root-beer-review-tommyknocker/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/08/01/root-beer-review-tommyknocker/#comments Mon, 01 Aug 2011 20:22:08 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=1073 Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/08/01/root-beer-review-tommyknocker/feed/ 2 johnadcox RB TK-Rootbeer-Web Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/07/31/hard-cider-review-ace-pear/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/07/31/hard-cider-review-ace-pear/#comments Sun, 31 Jul 2011 18:41:21 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=1060 Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/07/31/hard-cider-review-ace-pear/feed/ 1 johnadcox 3004 3004 Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/07/30/root-beer-review-jones-root-beer/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/07/30/root-beer-review-jones-root-beer/#comments Sat, 30 Jul 2011 18:32:01 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=1040 Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/07/30/root-beer-review-jones-root-beer/feed/ 7 johnadcox Unknown photo-1 Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/06/13/film-review-disneys-lovely-animated-tangled/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/06/13/film-review-disneys-lovely-animated-tangled/#comments Mon, 13 Jun 2011 20:22:06 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=976 Tangled, was released back in November, and I'm guessing that most of you probably missed it in theaters, which is a shame. I didn't catch it until (close to) the last week. It's available on DVD now, and I hope you'll check it out if you haven't. It's Disney's best effort since Beauty and the Beast. Yes, music aside, it's better than The Lion King—which, despite that astonishing opening sequence and fantastic score, never did find a middle act. The animation is, in a word, stunning. And learning from their compatriots at Pixar, Disney absolutely nailed both the story and the characters. It's been a while, Disney animators. Welcome back. Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/06/13/film-review-disneys-lovely-animated-tangled/feed/ 3 johnadcox tangled201 Rapunzels-tower-Disneys-Tangled cine-tangled-3 tangled_21-535x300 Tangled-Zachary-Levy-550x289 tangled-directors01_sword-fight tangled Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/06/09/hard-cider-review-magners-irish-cider/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/06/09/hard-cider-review-magners-irish-cider/#comments Thu, 09 Jun 2011 14:47:46 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=936 Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/06/09/hard-cider-review-magners-irish-cider/feed/ 2 johnadcox 2262832_f520 3 Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/06/08/book-review-the-magicians-and-mrs-quent-by-galen-beckett/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/06/08/book-review-the-magicians-and-mrs-quent-by-galen-beckett/#comments Wed, 08 Jun 2011 14:34:25 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=955 The Magicians and Mrs. Quent when I decided to pop online to check out the reviews. It's a rather irritating habit (irritating to me; I can't imagine that anyone else cares), but I like see if every one else agrees with my own assessment. The first review I read (I tried to find it again to link, but alas, it seems to have vanished) offered this critique: "nothing new." For the record, that doesn't seem to be the majority opinion, but frankly, I can't say I disagree. None of the ingredients, or few of them, anyway, are what you'd call groundbreaking. But then, it's not always the ingredients that make the stew; it's how they're mixed. Sure, The Magicians and Mrs. Quent is pastiche. But it's very good pastiche. Outstanding, even. My wife and I too turns reading it aloud to one another, and we had an absolute blast. Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/06/08/book-review-the-magicians-and-mrs-quent-by-galen-beckett/feed/ 4 johnadcox TheMagiciansAndMrsQuent shapeimage_2 Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/06/06/hard-cider-review-crispin-browns-lane-imported-english-cider/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/06/06/hard-cider-review-crispin-browns-lane-imported-english-cider/#comments Mon, 06 Jun 2011 15:24:51 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=910 Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/06/06/hard-cider-review-crispin-browns-lane-imported-english-cider/feed/ 2 johnadcox photo Unknown Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/06/03/beer-review-baudelaire-saison-ale-from-jolly-pumpkin-ales/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/06/03/beer-review-baudelaire-saison-ale-from-jolly-pumpkin-ales/#comments Fri, 03 Jun 2011 06:30:50 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=863 Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/06/03/beer-review-baudelaire-saison-ale-from-jolly-pumpkin-ales/feed/ 1 johnadcox IMG_20110407_191834-300x224 jolly-pumpkin-io-saison-1 photo Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/05/31/belated-book-review-jonathan-strange-and-mr-norrell-by-susanna-clarke/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/05/31/belated-book-review-jonathan-strange-and-mr-norrell-by-susanna-clarke/#comments Tue, 31 May 2011 14:39:59 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=892 Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. Don't get me wrong—I adored it. I've recommended it to dozens of my friends. But not all of them. I don't even recommend it to all of my friends who like fantasy, or mythic fiction, or British drawing room comedies of manners. It's a massive book, something like 400,000 thousand words (that's a guess; I haven't actually counted them). Nonetheless, I found myself enchanted from page one. Magic and sly witticisms were so thick I had to swat them away like flies, and the oh-so-English narrative delighted me. The characters are engaging and well-drawn, and the period voice, complete with obsolete spellings and elaborate, fanciful footnotes (don't dare skip them!) delighted me. All the same, when I was nearly halfway through, I found myself still wondering when the actual story was going to get started. It had been going all along, but Ms. Clarke, like any good magician, had distracted my attention. Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/05/31/belated-book-review-jonathan-strange-and-mr-norrell-by-susanna-clarke/feed/ 8 johnadcox jonathan_strange n126825 Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/05/30/hard-cider-review-the-saint-from-crispin-cider/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/05/30/hard-cider-review-the-saint-from-crispin-cider/#comments Mon, 30 May 2011 19:45:44 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=826 Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/05/30/hard-cider-review-the-saint-from-crispin-cider/feed/ 8 johnadcox images Unknown Unknown-1 Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/05/28/book-review-the-wise-mans-fear-by-patrick-rothfuss/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/05/28/book-review-the-wise-mans-fear-by-patrick-rothfuss/#comments Sat, 28 May 2011 22:38:30 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=808 The Name of the Wind, The Wise Man's Fear, was released a few years later than promised, but it was worth the wait. The new volume picks up right where the last one ended. The central character, Kvothe, has been narrating the truth about his life—already a legend—to a scholarly young man known as Chronicler. Kvothe promised that the telling would take three days. The first volume was day one; the new one is the second day. The final volume, day three, should be released within our lifetimes, if all goes well. There's apparently a sequel trilogy coming after that. I have no idea when, but I feel utterly safe in saying that whenever it arrives, it will, like The Wise Man's Fear, be worth the wait. Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/05/28/book-review-the-wise-mans-fear-by-patrick-rothfuss/feed/ 1 johnadcox The Wise Man's Fear map Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/04/24/book-review-guardians-of-the-desert-by-leona-wisoker/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/04/24/book-review-guardians-of-the-desert-by-leona-wisoker/#comments Sun, 24 Apr 2011 19:23:28 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=793 Secrets of the Sands, Guardians of the Desert, actually expands on the earlier book's strengths—the world is deeper and more complex and the characters have grown. Leona's sense of pace hasn't dulled, and the mental pictures conjured by her spare but elegant prose and much more vivid. Her subtle, wicked wit is still apparent—and still luring to catch the reader unaware. Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/04/24/book-review-guardians-of-the-desert-by-leona-wisoker/feed/ 4 johnadcox n376569 Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/03/24/book-review-of-something-utterly-new-strange-and-powerful-the-orange-eats-creeps/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/03/24/book-review-of-something-utterly-new-strange-and-powerful-the-orange-eats-creeps/#comments Thu, 24 Mar 2011 19:44:00 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=762 The Orange Eats Creeps. I get these fleeting, nightmarish image of a young woman, wild-eyed and too thin, scrawling the words on the underside of a bridge somewhere, or on the walls of the kind of bar I'd be afraid to enter, even if I was cool enough to know how to find it. I picture her mainlining caffeine laced with meth, or something, some drug I've read about in newspapers, not for stimulation but to dull the fire of stranger substances screaming though her veins like electricity. Because you see, witnessing the birth of an new kind of literature, a utterly new way to pound and twist blocks of English into something mind-blastingly fresh, is a little frightening. Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/03/24/book-review-of-something-utterly-new-strange-and-powerful-the-orange-eats-creeps/feed/ 2 johnadcox The Orange Eats Creeps Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/02/12/beer-review-saint-somewheres-lectio-divina/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/02/12/beer-review-saint-somewheres-lectio-divina/#comments Sat, 12 Feb 2011 21:20:53 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=749 Saint Somewhere Lectio Divina First, I have to admit a hint of bias. I bought amy first Saint Somewhere's Lectio Divina at my neighborhood Candler Park Market because, quite frankly, I feel in love with the bottle. I know, I know. You can't judge a book by its cover and all that. But with a front label that suggests the idyllic whimsy of Maxfield Parrish and a lyrical back label that echoes, almost, the pen of my favorite poet, William Butler Yeats, they could have filled the thing with mule piss, and I would have been predisposed to like it. Thankfully, they did no such thing. The Belgian-style ale inside absolutely lives up to it packaging. Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/02/12/beer-review-saint-somewheres-lectio-divina/feed/ 1 johnadcox saint-somewhere-lectio-divina-lite Saint Somewhere Lectio Divina DSCN6539-153x299 Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/01/20/book-review-mr-timothy-a-novel-by-louis-bayard/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/01/20/book-review-mr-timothy-a-novel-by-louis-bayard/#comments Thu, 20 Jan 2011 16:16:25 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=726 Scarlet, the unworthy followup to Margaret Mitchell's brilliant Gone With The Wind. Mr. Timothy: A Novel succeeds largely because in Dickens' original, Tiny Tim is little more than a caricature, a sort of cherubic plot point with a crutch. Building on our shared memory of "God bless us, every one!" Bayard shapes Timothy into a fully realized character—one that fascinates and, yes, makes us care. Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/01/20/book-review-mr-timothy-a-novel-by-louis-bayard/feed/ 1 johnadcox Pasted Graphic Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/01/09/book-review-looking-for-the-king-an-inklings-novel/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/01/09/book-review-looking-for-the-king-an-inklings-novel/#comments Sun, 09 Jan 2011 19:13:52 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=694 Looking for the King: An Inklings Novel by David C. Downing. It's a delightful read. The story tells of a young American, Tom, who has come to England in the years just before World War II to research a book on the historical King Arthur. Along the way, he encounters a lovely young woman, Laura, who is haunted by dreams that seem to be leading her to specific historical sites, all of which are connected to a famous lost artifact—the Spear of Destiny that pierced the side of Christ as he hung on the cross. Along the way, our heroes are fortunate enough to receive some help from the Inklings themselves, especially Williams, Tolkien, and Lewis. Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/01/09/book-review-looking-for-the-king-an-inklings-novel/feed/ 0 johnadcox LookingForTheKing Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/01/05/review-j-d-rothschilds-hot-chocolate-blend/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/01/05/review-j-d-rothschilds-hot-chocolate-blend/#comments Wed, 05 Jan 2011 19:47:18 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=681 Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/01/05/review-j-d-rothschilds-hot-chocolate-blend/feed/ 2 johnadcox 50314_175692971920_4351194_n Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/01/03/beer-review-abita-christmas-ale/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/01/03/beer-review-abita-christmas-ale/#comments Mon, 03 Jan 2011 17:10:21 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=672 Mike Mikula, the brilliant cartoonist, introduced me to Abita Christmas Ale when he found Sweetwater Festival Ale a little too sweet for his tastes. While I am usually more fond of the sweeter and spicier winter ales, I have to admit, this is a mighty tasty alternative. Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2011/01/03/beer-review-abita-christmas-ale/feed/ 2 johnadcox Abita-Christmas-Ale-768x1024 Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/12/21/beer-review-sweetwater-festive-ale/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/12/21/beer-review-sweetwater-festive-ale/#comments Tue, 21 Dec 2010 14:47:38 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=653 This year, I was fortune enough to fine two (two!) favorite Christmas ales: Red Brick's Long John (reviewed yesterday) and Sweetwater's Festive Ale—both from my very own home town, Atlanta. As I mentioned, the annual arrivals of the Christmas/Festive/Winter ales at my local pubs are some of the most eagerly anticipated joys of the season for me. This is an especially good year for Christmas ale. Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/12/21/beer-review-sweetwater-festive-ale/feed/ 5 johnadcox Festive-Bottle-with-Glass-a Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/12/20/beer-review-red-brick-long-john-winter-ale/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/12/20/beer-review-red-brick-long-john-winter-ale/#comments Tue, 21 Dec 2010 00:20:03 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=648 Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/12/20/beer-review-red-brick-long-john-winter-ale/feed/ 0 johnadcox Red-Brick-John-John Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/12/06/a-few-expanded-thoughts-on-the-future-of-television/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/12/06/a-few-expanded-thoughts-on-the-future-of-television/#comments Mon, 06 Dec 2010 14:47:29 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=635 Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/12/06/a-few-expanded-thoughts-on-the-future-of-television/feed/ 6 johnadcox Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/12/05/web-tv-review-the-best-sketch-comedy-show-and-a-few-thoughts-on-the-future-of-television/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/12/05/web-tv-review-the-best-sketch-comedy-show-and-a-few-thoughts-on-the-future-of-television/#comments Sun, 05 Dec 2010 22:15:44 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=615 Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/12/05/web-tv-review-the-best-sketch-comedy-show-and-a-few-thoughts-on-the-future-of-television/feed/ 4 johnadcox Picture-12-300x228 Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/book-review-lost-lore-a-celebration-of-traditional-wisdom/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/book-review-lost-lore-a-celebration-of-traditional-wisdom/#comments Fri, 29 Oct 2010 15:09:35 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=592 Just last night, my wife Carol and I discovered something nifty that we didn't know we could do with our iPhones. That wasn't the first time that's happened — almost every week, we're learning something new about our latest gadgets and toys. Er, I mean tools of our trade. But it seems like for everything that's learned, something is lost. It makes me a little sad to think of the gems of knowledge, once deemed critical, that are now relegated to the dusty attics of our brains until, at last, they vanish forever. That's why I was delighted to discover Lost Lore: A Celebration of Traditional Wisdom. Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/book-review-lost-lore-a-celebration-of-traditional-wisdom/feed/ 1 johnadcox 61ETRNn6qHL._SL500_AA300_ Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/10/22/web-tv-review-my-bitchy-witchy-paris-vacation/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/10/22/web-tv-review-my-bitchy-witchy-paris-vacation/#comments Fri, 22 Oct 2010 17:16:56 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=558 My Bitchy Witchy Paris Vacation is a six-part Web series created by writer/filmmaker Alexis Niki that follows a menopausal mother and her two daughters, one pregnant and one adolescent. It's not really a drama, and it's not really a comedy (although it has plenty of both to offer), which means it likely never would have found a home in the TV Guide grid. But the portrait it paints of three women at three very different and pivotal points in their lives, and their efforts to bond, are fascinating. Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/10/22/web-tv-review-my-bitchy-witchy-paris-vacation/feed/ 5 johnadcox Suitcases Esmée Buchet-Deak as Miranda Kate Michaels as Diane Pelham Spong as Ashley Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/10/09/6-blogs-for-writers-and-those-who-lead-the-creative-lifestyle/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/10/09/6-blogs-for-writers-and-those-who-lead-the-creative-lifestyle/#comments Sat, 09 Oct 2010 21:52:50 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=545 Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/10/09/6-blogs-for-writers-and-those-who-lead-the-creative-lifestyle/feed/ 2 johnadcox Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/10/03/a-brace-of-beer-reviews-victorys-moonglow-and-old-chubb/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/10/03/a-brace-of-beer-reviews-victorys-moonglow-and-old-chubb/#comments Mon, 04 Oct 2010 00:44:56 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=526 Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/10/03/a-brace-of-beer-reviews-victorys-moonglow-and-old-chubb/feed/ 1 johnadcox victory Oskar_Blues_Old_Chub_200 Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/09/22/book-review-the-meaning-of-night-by-michael-cox/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/09/22/book-review-the-meaning-of-night-by-michael-cox/#comments Wed, 22 Sep 2010 17:42:20 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=502 A few months ago, I wrote a blog post listing my fifteen favorite first sentences in literature. At the time, I hadn't read Michael Cox's The Meaning of Night: A Confession, or I would have been forced to give serious consideration to including it. It begins: After killing the red-haired man, I took myself off to Quinn's for an Oyster Supper. Now that's a pretty good start. It's an opening that hooks us immediately on the story, certainly. It's hard not to wonder what's going to follow that. More, it hooks us on character—who is this narrator, and how can he describe an act of terrible violence in such a casual manner? I'm happy to report that the book lives up to the promise of that first sentence. It is a dark, chilling read, and an utterly compelling one. Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/09/22/book-review-the-meaning-of-night-by-michael-cox/feed/ 1 johnadcox meaning Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/08/03/game-review-falling-into-a-story-with-the-lord-of-the-rings-online/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/08/03/game-review-falling-into-a-story-with-the-lord-of-the-rings-online/#comments Tue, 03 Aug 2010 20:11:01 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=470 The Lord of the Rings Online is a computer game that actually captures the feeling of falling into a story. There are some limits, of course, but by and large, Middle-earth is yours to explore at will—from Thorin’s Hall in the west to Lórien and perilous Mirkwood in the east. Using the arrows on your keyboard, you can send your character wandering through the towns and forests of the Shire, or through the dangers of the Old Forest and the Barrow Downs (both deliciously creepy), or even all the way to Bree and Rivendell, where old friends will be waiting. The experience of the game is astonishingly immersive—sounds, voice, and music blend seamlessly with the visuals. Every environment is lovingly—at times even astonishingly—rendered. Even more than Peter Jackson’s films, the game feels like Tolkien’s Middle-earth. Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/08/03/game-review-falling-into-a-story-with-the-lord-of-the-rings-online/feed/ 2 johnadcox BagEnd-1 PPony-1 BarrowDowns MoriaWestGate LorienSunrise House TomBom BirdBaby Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/07/27/book-review-the-great-reset-by-richard-florida/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/07/27/book-review-the-great-reset-by-richard-florida/#comments Tue, 27 Jul 2010 16:56:16 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=445 The Rise of the Creative Class) could thoroughly examine today's economic climate and its long-term implications, and write a book that leaves the reader with a rather surprising feeling of optimism. Nonetheless, he's done just that in The Great Reset: How New Ways of Living and Working Drive Post-Crash Prosperity. It's a absolutely fascinating and even exhilarating, if perhaps a bit too broad, read. More importantly, it expresses a vision that seems to make readers on both sides of the vast political divides want to roll up their sleeves and get busy. Like the best visionary works, it's a very practical and timely call to action. Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/07/27/book-review-the-great-reset-by-richard-florida/feed/ 1 johnadcox the_great_reset_book_cover Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/07/19/claymore-scotch-ale/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/07/19/claymore-scotch-ale/#comments Mon, 19 Jul 2010 23:29:41 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=436 Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/07/19/claymore-scotch-ale/feed/ 5 johnadcox claymore Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/07/09/secrets-of-the-sands-by-leona-wisoker/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/07/09/secrets-of-the-sands-by-leona-wisoker/#comments Fri, 09 Jul 2010 15:01:22 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=416 Dune or The Arabian Nights. She's created a logical and consistent language that feels exotic but (despite the ubiquitous apostrophes) doesn't feel like Klingon or Tolkien's masterful Elvish. She manages to use her language to make her world seem textured and real, but still keeps her dialogue fresh, lively, and yes, even contemporary. Secrets of the Sands is a fun read—it's delightfully original, and it deserves attention. Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/07/09/secrets-of-the-sands-by-leona-wisoker/feed/ 3 johnadcox Secrets of the Sands Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/06/16/breakfast-lunch-and-dinner/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/06/16/breakfast-lunch-and-dinner/#comments Wed, 16 Jun 2010 18:29:39 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=390 Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/06/16/breakfast-lunch-and-dinner/feed/ 0 johnadcox storefront n239197644636_7731 4326274962_fb5c6a9b12_m ar124951440616751 Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/05/18/secret-voyage-by-blackmores-night/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/05/18/secret-voyage-by-blackmores-night/#comments Tue, 18 May 2010 20:04:01 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=377 Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/05/18/secret-voyage-by-blackmores-night/feed/ 3 johnadcox 51jhfPsn2ZL._SS500_ Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/05/14/total-oblivion-more-or-less-by-alan-deniro/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/05/14/total-oblivion-more-or-less-by-alan-deniro/#comments Fri, 14 May 2010 16:02:41 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=370 Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/05/14/total-oblivion-more-or-less-by-alan-deniro/feed/ 2 johnadcox 51zXZK8s1gL._SS500_ Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/05/13/left-hand-brewing-companys-milk-stout/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/05/13/left-hand-brewing-companys-milk-stout/#comments Thu, 13 May 2010 23:30:03 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=354 Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/05/13/left-hand-brewing-companys-milk-stout/feed/ 0 johnadcox usa-left-hand-milk-stout Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/05/11/jakes-hot-fudge-and-capobiancos/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/05/11/jakes-hot-fudge-and-capobiancos/#comments Tue, 11 May 2010 17:14:47 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=332 the Jake, Jake of Jake's. Jake assured me that the rumors were true. Homemade hot fudge is on the way. In fact, if I would come down and be the official taster, he would name the hot fudge after me. A blogger's work is never done. Since I take my responsibilities very seriously, I agreed. Someone, after all, has to do it. The whole name thing, of course, has nothing to do with it. Not to kill the suspense, but since I was the official taster, and the product is named for me, it's not much of a stretch to imagine that the review is (spoiler alert!) going to be a good one. The simple truth is, the reality far exceeded my expectations. It is, quite simply, the best I've ever tasted. Speaking of handmade, the Irwin Street Market also boasts a bakery called Capobianco's, which bills itself as "the King of Cannolis." They are fantastic. The pastry is light and wonderful, and the fillings of sweetened, whipped ricotta and chocolate chips are to die for. They also offer a surprising (and constantly evolving) list of variations, including chocolate dipped (I suspect Jake may have something to do with that chocolate sauce, although that is just speculation), chocolate mint, and even blueberry. The blueberry is amazing. When I was tasting Jake's Hot Fudge, I overheard Franky Capobianco, the baker himself, ordering fresh mango. That's a variety I can't wait to try. Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/05/11/jakes-hot-fudge-and-capobiancos/feed/ 1 johnadcox ISM_newlogo2 Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/04/27/jakes-ice-cream-at-the-irwin-street-market/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/04/27/jakes-ice-cream-at-the-irwin-street-market/#comments Tue, 27 Apr 2010 16:13:07 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=321 Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/04/27/jakes-ice-cream-at-the-irwin-street-market/feed/ 4 johnadcox Jakesnew Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/04/19/deuces-wild-beginners-luck-by-l-s-king/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/04/19/deuces-wild-beginners-luck-by-l-s-king/#comments Mon, 19 Apr 2010 14:07:07 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=311 Deuces Wild: Beginners' Luck work is the at first reluctant friendship that grows between the two leads. Imagine what might have happened in Star Wars had Luke met Han in that bar without Obi Wan and some urgent mission. Imagine them slowing coming to respect, and even like each other and they drift planet to planet, constantly finding new trouble to get themselves out of. The growth of that friendship is what keeps you smiling in spite of yourself and turning the pages. Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/04/19/deuces-wild-beginners-luck-by-l-s-king/feed/ 0 johnadcox 210SbjsFO1L._SL500_AA300_ Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/03/23/intown-acupuncture/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/03/23/intown-acupuncture/#comments Tue, 23 Mar 2010 16:39:23 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=304 Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/03/23/intown-acupuncture/feed/ 0 johnadcox Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/03/16/the-ruling-sea-by-robert-v-s-redick/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/03/16/the-ruling-sea-by-robert-v-s-redick/#comments Tue, 16 Mar 2010 16:42:36 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=294 my review of The Red Wolf Conspiracy also applies to it's sequel, The Ruling Sea. Once again, Robert V. S. Redick has created a fantasy that recaptures the swashbuckling adventure that I first fell in love with in my youth in books like The Sea Hawk, Captain Blood, The Three Musketeers, Treasure Island, and those marvelous, under-appreciated tales of Lloyd Alexander. Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/03/16/the-ruling-sea-by-robert-v-s-redick/feed/ 1 johnadcox RS Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/02/26/the-red-wolf-conspiracy-by-robert-v-s-redick/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/02/26/the-red-wolf-conspiracy-by-robert-v-s-redick/#comments Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:38:25 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=287 The Red Wolf Conspiracy is something that seems all too rare in the fantasy genre these days. He's written a book that's fun. Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/02/26/the-red-wolf-conspiracy-by-robert-v-s-redick/feed/ 3 johnadcox 513wchQO6UL._SS500_ Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/01/29/the-angels-game-by-carlos-ruiz-zafon/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/01/29/the-angels-game-by-carlos-ruiz-zafon/#comments Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:06:23 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=270 The Shadow of the Wind. Continuing with the "holy crap this is good" theme, today I'm taking a look at his follow up, The Angel's Game. While both The Shadow of the Wind and The Angel's Game are completely stand-alone novels, they are subtly connected. The two novels both a part of what Zafón says will eventually be a four-book cycle of loosely connected stories with overlapping narratives and characters. While either can be read alone, reading both makes each a deeper and richer experience. In fact, I read The Angel's Game at the same time that my wife Carol and I were reading The Shadow of the Wind aloud to one one another, a strange and wonderful experience. Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/01/29/the-angels-game-by-carlos-ruiz-zafon/feed/ 3 johnadcox angels-game1 Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/01/28/the-shadow-of-the-wind-by-carlos-ruiz-zafon/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/01/28/the-shadow-of-the-wind-by-carlos-ruiz-zafon/#comments Thu, 28 Jan 2010 18:30:49 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=255 The Shadow of the Wind for a while now. I've hesitated largely because I needed to think of something to say other than simply, holy crap this is good! I first read the book back when it was first published in the United States—it was already a best seller in Europe—about four years ago or so. Over the holidays, faced with some sixteen hours in the car with two trips to Morristown Tennessee and Birmingham, Alabama, my wife and I decided to take turns reading it aloud to each other. I wondered, frankly, if it could possibly be as good as I remembered. It was. No, wait. It was even better. Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2010/01/28/the-shadow-of-the-wind-by-carlos-ruiz-zafon/feed/ 3 johnadcox The Shadow of the Wind Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/12/04/last-night-in-twisted-river-by-john-irving/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/12/04/last-night-in-twisted-river-by-john-irving/#comments Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:43:38 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=248 Last Night in Twisted River is the product of an author completely unafraid to brave the danger plunge deeply into the river that twists through his own psyche. The journey, part Twain, part Dickens, and all Irving, is one well worth taking. Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/12/04/last-night-in-twisted-river-by-john-irving/feed/ 2 johnadcox Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/11/12/great-first-sentences-in-literature/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/11/12/great-first-sentences-in-literature/#comments Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:41:00 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=217 Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/11/12/great-first-sentences-in-literature/feed/ 6 johnadcox Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/11/08/the-magicians-book-a-skeptics-adventures-in-narnia-by-laura-miller/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/11/08/the-magicians-book-a-skeptics-adventures-in-narnia-by-laura-miller/#comments Sun, 08 Nov 2009 16:06:20 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=210 The Magician's Book: A Skeptic's Adventures in Narnia with a constant grin on my face, as passage after passage made me cry out with delight, "friend!" Here is someone who seems to not only understand the love I felt for C. S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia, a love that still endures very deeply in my heart, but also my love of stories and reading. Indeed, she helped me understand that love better, and by consequence, the person I am and the writer I want to be. Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/11/08/the-magicians-book-a-skeptics-adventures-in-narnia-by-laura-miller/feed/ 0 johnadcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/10/23/european-romanticism-a-brief-history-with-documents-by-warren-breckman/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/10/23/european-romanticism-a-brief-history-with-documents-by-warren-breckman/#comments Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:12:37 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=206 European Romanticism: A Brief History with Documents takes an interesting approach: it allows readers to discover a topic as historians would, but reading through the actual documents of the period, including literature, essays, letters, and more. A fairly brief introduction—some forty pages—gives a very thorough overview and introduction. After that, the period is the reader's to explore. Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/10/23/european-romanticism-a-brief-history-with-documents-by-warren-breckman/feed/ 0 johnadcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/10/14/the-magicians-by-lev-grossman/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/10/14/the-magicians-by-lev-grossman/#comments Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:14:18 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=187 The Magicians at Blue Elephant Bookshop, I knew it was a book that was coming home with me. The jacket blurb promised a book for adults who, as young readers, had adored the Narnia, Oz, and Harry Potter stories, and books like T. H. White's The Once and Future King. And indeed, The Magicians draws liberally and lovingly from those sources. There is a magic school filled with eccentric professors and strange wonders, teaching by turning students into animals (as Merlyn does with the Wart in The Once and Future King), and even a hidden fantasy world accessed through a sleepy "between" world filled with pools, a motif familiar to anyone who has read C. S. Lewis' The Magician's Nephew, one of the best of the Narnia books. Even the characters in The Magicians grew up reading and loving a series of fantasy books. That fond, nostalgic love is one of the reasons we are so drawn to them. But don't get the idea that The Magicians is a mere pastiche. The Magicians is told from a decided, utterly (even ironically) original, and heartbreaking, adult point of view. Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/10/14/the-magicians-by-lev-grossman/feed/ 1 johnadcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/10/11/grocery-items-bacon-and-tomato-sauce/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/10/11/grocery-items-bacon-and-tomato-sauce/#comments Sun, 11 Oct 2009 16:11:59 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=178 Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/10/11/grocery-items-bacon-and-tomato-sauce/feed/ 3 johnadcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/10/09/the-book-of-ratings-and-failblog-like-the-internet-only-on-paper/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/10/09/the-book-of-ratings-and-failblog-like-the-internet-only-on-paper/#comments Fri, 09 Oct 2009 21:49:06 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=163 Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/10/09/the-book-of-ratings-and-failblog-like-the-internet-only-on-paper/feed/ 0 johnadcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/10/06/silverlock-by-john-myers-myers/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/10/06/silverlock-by-john-myers-myers/#comments Tue, 06 Oct 2009 18:28:25 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=154 Silverlock (I still have my first 1979 Ace paperback, as well as a hardcover first edition and a lovely new hardback that includes the Companion), author Larry Niven enthuses: “You’ll get drunk on Silverlock. When you finish reading, you will feel like you got monumentally drunk with your oldest friends; you sang songs and told truth and lies all night or all week; you’ll sit there grinning at nothing and wondering why there isn’t any hangover.” I couldn’t agree more. Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/10/06/silverlock-by-john-myers-myers/feed/ 4 johnadcox 51KEYGewnkL._SL500_AA300_ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/10/05/a-book-thats-not-quite-in-a-book/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/10/05/a-book-thats-not-quite-in-a-book/#comments Tue, 06 Oct 2009 01:33:44 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=137 Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/10/05/a-book-thats-not-quite-in-a-book/feed/ 0 johnadcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/10/04/dreaming-with-open-eyes-the-shamanic-spirit-in-twentieth-century-art-and-culture-by-michael-tucker/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/10/04/dreaming-with-open-eyes-the-shamanic-spirit-in-twentieth-century-art-and-culture-by-michael-tucker/#comments Sun, 04 Oct 2009 19:30:09 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=128 Dreaming With Open Eyes: The Shamanic Spirit in Twentieth Century Art and Culture, Michael Tucker has compiled a veritable encyclopedia of the literature of shamanism: literal (historic and anthropologic) and metaphorical, and draws compelling connections between the ancient and the bleeding edge. Modern artists working on the fringe of creative boundaries, Tucker argues, strip away some of the filters of contemporary experience and perceive the world in a metaphoric, archetypal way, as Aboriginal dream painters do. The result is art that reaches past the the filters of the consciousness mind to challenge the unconscious mind directly in its native grammar, the language of symbol. Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/10/04/dreaming-with-open-eyes-the-shamanic-spirit-in-twentieth-century-art-and-culture-by-michael-tucker/feed/ 1 johnadcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/10/01/the-third-angel-by-alice-hoffman/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/10/01/the-third-angel-by-alice-hoffman/#comments Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:21:41 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=122 The Third Angel, Alice Hoffman's prose is as lovely as ever. She is a master of a sudden and lyrical turn of phrase that seems as effortlessly graceful as a dancer's casual step. Every line has magic and poetry in it, the kind that makes you smile and, more than occasionally, look back to reread a phrase or passage. An example: "It was that silver-colored time between night and morning, when the sky is still dark, but lights are flicking on all over the city. It was quiet, the way it is in winter when snow first begins to fall." How perfectly and specifically evocative, concrete detail spun from froth and lace, and without a wasted syllable! Her prose has always been elegant, the way Earthbound angels would write, and she only gets better. Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/10/01/the-third-angel-by-alice-hoffman/feed/ 1 johnadcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/09/25/aventinus/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/09/25/aventinus/#comments Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:27:51 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/09/25/aventinus/ Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/09/25/aventinus/feed/ 4 johnadcox Schneider_Aventinus Add to Facebook Add to Digg Add to Del.icio.us Add to Stumbleupon Add to Reddit Add to Blinklist Add to Twitter Add to Technorati Add to Yahoo Buzz Add to Newsvine http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/09/16/tuesday-night-irish-music-jam-session-at-the-grange-public-house/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/09/16/tuesday-night-irish-music-jam-session-at-the-grange-public-house/#comments Wed, 16 Sep 2009 23:26:56 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=110 Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/09/16/tuesday-night-irish-music-jam-session-at-the-grange-public-house/feed/ 4 johnadcox 2010-06-04-16.25.22-small http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/09/13/vienna-roast-by-atlanta-coffee-roasters/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/09/13/vienna-roast-by-atlanta-coffee-roasters/#comments Sun, 13 Sep 2009 17:05:43 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=106 at least a month or two old. If you're lucky. It's picked, shipped to the US, roasted, packed, warehoused, distributed, and ... well, you get the idea. At Atlanta Coffee Roasters, the beans are roasted literally every day. Much to my surprise, the difference in taste is amazing. Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/09/13/vienna-roast-by-atlanta-coffee-roasters/feed/ 1 johnadcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/09/10/palimpsest-by-catherynne-valente/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/09/10/palimpsest-by-catherynne-valente/#comments Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:28:46 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=97 Palimpsest is in it's lush, dense, baroque, poetic and, yes, even haunting language. Every line is lovingly wrought, a treasure. Every paragraph aches with loveliness. It is utterly sensual and at times even erotic. It's also refreshingly witty. But it's like rich food; it's delicious, even decadent, but it's hard to take too much at once. It's a book to savor, in small bursts of bliss, and return to. It's not a book for careless beach reading; it is for autumn, with blanket, firelight, and blood-red wine. Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/09/10/palimpsest-by-catherynne-valente/feed/ 6 johnadcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/09/09/i-called-i-by-desmond-drive/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/09/09/i-called-i-by-desmond-drive/#comments Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:25:50 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=91 Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/09/09/i-called-i-by-desmond-drive/feed/ 1 johnadcox 51S4ZQ-57SL._SS500_ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/09/09/the-promised-land-by-dar-williams/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/09/09/the-promised-land-by-dar-williams/#comments Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:51:30 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=84 The Promised Land is a good place to start. But then, so is The Honesty Room, My Better Self, The Beauty of the Rain, The Green World, or … heck, any of them.. Do yourself a favor and listen. Closely. Then listen again. Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/09/09/the-promised-land-by-dar-williams/feed/ 0 johnadcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/09/08/anointed-the-passion-of-timmy-christ-ceo/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/09/08/anointed-the-passion-of-timmy-christ-ceo/#comments Tue, 08 Sep 2009 21:40:12 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=53 Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/09/08/anointed-the-passion-of-timmy-christ-ceo/feed/ 0 johnadcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/09/08/in-good-company-the-company-they-keep/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/09/08/in-good-company-the-company-they-keep/#comments Tue, 08 Sep 2009 20:59:49 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=42 The Company The Keep: C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien as Writers in Community, I hadn’t realized how strong was my urge to be a “completist.” A new book out on the Inklings? By all means, I had to have it, period. This is fortunate, because if I paused to remind myself that I’d already read Humphrey Carpenter’s superb biography The Inklings, and then to ask if I really, really needed another book on the subject, the rational part of my brain might have said “no,” and (it’s not completely impossible) might have carried the day. And that would have been too darn bad. Glyer’s book makes a wonderful companion to Carpenter’s more well known volume, and stands very well on its own. Carpenter’s book is a biography; Glyer’s is an examination of the very significant ways in which, as a community, the Inkings challenged, inspired, influenced, and supported one another. The Company The Keep is a terrific and insightful read. Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/09/08/in-good-company-the-company-they-keep/feed/ 1 johnadcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/09/08/the-gnostic-bible/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/09/08/the-gnostic-bible/#comments Tue, 08 Sep 2009 20:39:39 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=36 The Gnostic Bible is a welcome resource. As a matter of fact, The Gnostic Bible is quite possibly the most comprehensive collection of Gnostic materials ever gathered in one volume. The Gnostic Bible collects a wealth of primary sources, Gnostic texts from a wide variety of sources, including three continents and spanning more than 1300 years. The expected texts are present, of course, including the famous Gospel of Thomas, along with some unexpected resources. Making the volume especially useful to students of Gnosticwisdom traditions, the texts are well-organized into distinct movements of Gnostic tradition: Sethian, Valentinian, Syrian, Hermetic, Mandaean, Manichaean, and even, surprisingly, later Islamic and even Cathar texts. Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/09/08/the-gnostic-bible/feed/ 0 johnadcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/09/08/coyote-moon/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/09/08/coyote-moon/#comments Tue, 08 Sep 2009 20:34:54 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=32 Coyote Moon can be anything other than mythic. Coyote Moon doesn't have a lot to do with coyotes, or even with tricksters (although I have a feeling that author John Miller himself may qualify), but the novel is certainly mythic. First, baseball plays a major role in the story. As the brilliant book Ground Rules: Baseball and Myth shows, baseball is a goldmine for mythic material. Add in liberal doses of cutting edge physics (if you're not up on your science, don't worry), possible reincarnation, and the search for meaning and miracles, and the result is a myth lover's delight. Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/09/08/coyote-moon/feed/ 2 johnadcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/09/08/the-genealogy-of-greek-myth-an-illustrated-family-tree-greek-myth-from-the-first-gods-to-the-founders-of-rome/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/09/08/the-genealogy-of-greek-myth-an-illustrated-family-tree-greek-myth-from-the-first-gods-to-the-founders-of-rome/#comments Tue, 08 Sep 2009 20:23:15 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=27 The Genealogy of Greek Myth is a handy resource. Packed with well-researched information, this book provides "at a glance" charts and surprisingly detailed information about the complex and often confusing relationships of the immortal Olympians and the mortal heroes they interact with. The author, Vanessa James, spent eighteen years putting the Genealogy of Greek Myth together, and it shows. The data is more than complete, it is exhaustive. More, it provides a truly elegant and genuinely useful way to trace the dynasties and major events of Greek and Roman myth. Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/09/08/the-genealogy-of-greek-myth-an-illustrated-family-tree-greek-myth-from-the-first-gods-to-the-founders-of-rome/feed/ 1 johnadcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/09/08/spirits-in-the-wires/ http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/09/08/spirits-in-the-wires/#comments Tue, 08 Sep 2009 20:13:11 +0000 JohnAdcox http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/?p=13 Continue reading →]]> http://johnadcox.wordpress.com/2009/09/08/spirits-in-the-wires/feed/ 0 johnadcox