Category: books

book – All the Pretty Horses

On By Rick McIn books, product complaints, travel, travel MexicoLeave a comment

For some reason I thought I’d like All the Pretty Horses, the award winning novel by Cormac Mccarthy.

That would be wrong.

… The plot is simple enough. John Grady Cole, a 16-year-old dispossessed Texan, crosses the Rio Grande into Mexico in 1949, accompanied by his pal Lacey Rawlins. The two precocious horsemen pick up a sidekick–a laughable but deadly marksman named Jimmy Blevins–encounter various adventures on their way south and finally arrive at a paradisiacal hacienda where Cole falls into an ill-fated romance. …

The writing is excellent. But the plot plods and has nothing more to redeem it than tired “folk wisdom of uneducated cowboys” cuteness. The last time that engaged me, Clint Eastwood was a young man.

Thumbs down.

All the Pretty Horses

All the Pretty Horses

I bought it as an audio book. But since no one has (yet) come up with a convincing enough neologism to claim the prize, I cannot VERBalize what I did with Pretty Horses.

… “ristened” … GAK.

win an audio book from Rick

On By Rick McIn books, humour, product endorsementsLeave a comment

I recently read listened to an audio book called I Am America (And So Can You!) by Stephen Colbert.

Now if you love Colbert, you will love this book.

If you really love Colbert (as I do) you will really love this book.

He’s a one trick pony — making fun of stuffy right-wing mentality by pretending to be a diehard right-winger himself.

I Am America (And So Can You!)

I Am America (And So Can You!)

The contest:

Brian challenged me to come up with a new word to properly describe the process of listening to an audio book. A new verb.

Not “read”. Not “listen”.

Whoever comes up with the best neologism wins a free Audible.com audio book from RickMcCharles.com !!

Contact me.

Banff Mountain Festival

On By Rick McIn books, movies, travelLeave a comment

Up in the mountains for the weekend, for those interested, I’m blogging the films and book presentations over on my hiking website.

For example, John Harlin III (the son) presented the personal background story of his new book, The Eiger Obsession: Facing the Mountain that Killed My Father.

IMAX had a big hit with Everest. They’ve followed that up with a movie called The Alps.

Harlin, in the film, repeats the cimb of the Eiger where his father had fallen to his death. With his wife and daughter looking on.

To see the trailer click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Banff Hostel – Mountain Film festival

On By Rick McIn books, movies, travelLeave a comment

For the Banff Mountain Festival I’ll be staying at the Banff International hostel.

Coolest attraction there is the man made ice climbing wall. (Not sure if it is in operation yet this winter.)

hostel-ice-wall.jpg

I have a standard $150 ticket package for events. But I’m guessing just the ambiance of the mountain resort over the festival days will be the highlight.

book – A Thousand Splendid Suns

On By Rick McIn books, product complaints, product endorsementsLeave a comment

I had mixed feelings while reading the second novel by Khaled Hosseini of Kite Runner fame and infamy.

Certainly it’s not as strong as Kite Runner.

I bought the audio book anyway because the subject is so important to me: the plight of Islamic women.

Too bad Hosseini is so predictably sentimental. From the New York Times, MICHIKO KAKUTANI:

And like its predecessor, it features some embarrassingly hokey scenes that feel as if they were lifted from a B movie, and some genuinely heart-wrenching scenes that help redeem the overall story.

It could be a fantastic book, but isn’t.

Yet, I will likely still read Hosseini’s next book. And watch the inevitably successful movies adapted from them.

I guess I’m hooked.

A Thousand Splendid Suns

A Thousand Splendid Suns

movie – Kite Runner – delayed

On By Rick McIn books, Islam, movies, product complaints, product endorsementsLeave a comment

I read the book. Here was my review then:

Kahled Hosseini – The Kite Runner. 2003. Books set in Afghanistan are hot in 2006. This critically acclaimed example is a great eye-opener for those who do not know that part of the world, like myself. It is intense. Painful to read. It reminded me of A Separate Peace, by Knowles. By the last page, however, I was disappointed. Far too cliché and predictable. It is lame in the way formulaic TV movies are lame.

Still, I am very keen to see this important movie.

Author Khaled Hosseini has come out in support of a decision to delay the film version of his novel The Kite Runner over fears for the stars’ safety.

Studio Paramount Vantage has put the film back by six weeks, after three young Afghan actors said they could be targeted over a homosexual rape scene.

The studio has also arranged for three families to go and live abroad.

Hosseini said he “applauded” the decision. “Afghanistan has become a pretty violent place,” he added.

The overall message of the film is tolerance, love, friendship and forgiveness …

“If the boys and their families think there is a reasonable risk of threat to them, then you have to take all of the steps that you can to make sure they are okay,” he told the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper.

“I applaud the studio for delaying the release of the film even though it goes against whatever commercial wisdom there is.”

BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Kite Runner author supports delay

To see the movie trailer click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Is Colombia the NEW New Zealand?

On By Rick McIn books, movies, travelLeave a comment

A new film might do for the nation what Lord of the Rings did for New Zealand.

Colombia is my favourite country in South America, mainly due to the friendliness of the people.

We’ve been tracking Colombia’s rise from narcotics netherworld to “hipster tropical destination du jour” for some time now, and it looks like an upcoming potential blockbuster movie could help complete the transition. Love in the Time of Cholera, the novel by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, hits North American theaters in November.

World Hum | Travel | Is Colombia the New New Zealand?

Oops, watching the trailer … looks a bit of a chick flick.

Maybe skip the movie, fly directly to gorgeous Cartagena, Colombia.

Lonely Planet Colombia

Lonely Planet Colombia

White Fang – the book

On By Rick McIn books, product endorsements, travelLeave a comment

This past summer, a cheechako in the Yukon, I brought with me Jack London’s great novel White Fang as an audio book.

I had read it in my youth, but knew White Fang would get me into the Yukon.

London is no brilliant wordsmith, but his ability to put himself into the mind of a wolf dog is staggering. He must have watched these animals for weeks and months.

The book brings home the harsh violence of wilderness. And the even greater violence of supposedly-civilized humans.

White Fang is sold to the sadistic coward Beauty Smith who wagers on him in dog fights. (After reading this account, I’m hoping they send Michael Vick to prison.)

The book also explores themes of morality and redemption. There’s a happy ending with the long suffering wolf playing with his puppies.

White Fang is not as good as London’s The Call of the Wild, but they are both worth reading.

White Fang The Call Of The Wild

White Fang & The Call Of The Wild

BC wild salmon recipes

On By Rick McIn books, foodLeave a comment

The (ever humble) artist formerly known as Rockin’ Ronnie is in print once again.

salmon.jpg

It has a planked salmon recipe from me, as well as some great salmon recipes from actual BC chefs.

link via BC wild salmon recipes – on Ron’s business blog